Anniversary Getaway

This past weekend marked our 12th Anniversary (March 14th). Linda and I had a wonderful time getting away to a local Bed and Breakfast, the Crow’s Rest, going out for Steak and Lobster at Elements and spending an evening at a casino (we didn’t come home rich!). I included a few pictures from the Crow’s Rest.

 

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We definitely want to thank Landon, Kayla and Kadence Morris for making our getaway possible. While we were away, they volunteered to take care of our dogs and really made it a worry-free weekend.

Worthiness to Receive Holy Communion

General Principles
by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger

[Note: The following memorandum was sent by Cardinal Ratzinger to Cardinal McCarrick and was made public in the first week of July 2004.]

1. Presenting oneself to receive Holy Communion should be a conscious decision, based on a reasoned judgment regarding one’s worthiness to do so, according to the Church’s objective criteria, asking such questions as: "Am I in full communion with the Catholic Church? Am I guilty of grave sin? Have I incurred a penalty (e.g. excommunication, interdict) that forbids me to receive Holy Communion? Have I prepared myself by fasting for at least an hour?" The practice of indiscriminately presenting oneself to receive Holy Communion, merely as a consequence of being
present at Mass, is an abuse that must be corrected (cf. Instruction "Redemptionis Sacramentum," nos. 81, 83).

2. The Church teaches that abortion or euthanasia is a grave sin. The Encyclical Letter Evangelium vitae, with reference to judicial decisions or civil laws that authorize or promote abortion or euthanasia, states that there is a "grave and clear obligation to oppose them by conscientious objection. [...] In the case of an intrinsically unjust law, such as a law permitting abortion or euthanasia, it is therefore never licit to obey it, or to 'take part in a propaganda campaign in favour of such a law or vote for it’" (no. 73). Christians have a "grave obligation of conscience not to cooperate formally in practices which, even if permitted by civil legislation, are contrary to God’s law. Indeed, from the
moral standpoint, it is never licit to cooperate formally in evil. [...] This cooperation can never be justified either by invoking respect for the freedom of others or by appealing to the fact that civil law permits it or requires it" (no. 74).

3. Not all moral issues have the same moral weight as abortion and euthanasia. For example, if a Catholic were to be at odds with the Holy Father on the application of capital punishment or on the decision to wage war, he would not for that reason be considered unworthy to present himself to receive Holy Communion. While the Church exhorts civil authorities to seek peace, not war, and to exercise discretion and mercy in imposing punishment on criminals, it may still be permissible to take up arms to repel an aggressor or to have recourse to capital punishment. There may be a legitimate diversity of opinion even among Catholics about waging war and applying the death penalty, but not however with regard to abortion and euthanasia.

4. Apart from an individual's judgment about his worthiness to present himself to receive the Holy Eucharist, the minister of Holy Communion may find himself in the situation where he must refuse to distribute Holy Communion to someone, such as in cases of a declared excommunication, a declared interdict, or an obstinate persistence in manifest
grave sin (cf. can. 915).

5. Regarding the grave sin of abortion or euthanasia, when a person’s formal cooperation becomes manifest (understood, in the case of a Catholic politician, as his consistently campaigning and voting for permissive abortion and euthanasia laws), his Pastor should meet with him, instructing him about the Church’s teaching, informing him
that he is not to present himself for Holy Communion until he brings to an end the objective situation of sin, and warning him that he will otherwise be denied the Eucharist.

6. When "these precautionary measures have not had their effect or in which they were not possible," and the person in question, with obstinate persistence, still presents himself to receive the Holy Eucharist, "the minister of Holy Communion must refuse to distribute it" (cf. Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts Declaration "Holy Communion
and Divorced, Civilly Remarried Catholics" [2002], nos. 3-4). This decision, properly speaking, is not a sanction or a penalty. Nor is the minister of Holy Communion passing judgment on the person’s subjective guilt, but rather is reacting to the person’s public unworthiness to receive Holy Communion due to an objective situation of sin.

BENEDICT XVI'S PRAYER INTENTIONS FOR MARCH

 

VATICAN CITY, 1 MAR 2010 (VIS) - Pope Benedict's general prayer intention for March is: "That the world economy may be managed according to the principles of justice and equity, taking account of the real needs of peoples, especially the poorest".

  His mission intention is: "That the Churches in Africa may be signs and instruments of reconciliation and justice in every part of that continent".

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Lenten Reflections - Confession

I am reprinting an article I wrote for our Knights of Columbus Newsletter. Maybe it will help some of my family and friends who are Protestant to understand some of what it means to be Catholic Christian.

Brother Knights and Friends;

Many of our Protestant friends have a problem with our practice of Confession. Here are some comments and some apologetics for Brother Knights. The most common argument is that there is “That is not in the Bible”. Well, here are instances of Biblical support:

Biblical References to Confession (Penance, Reconciliation)

• John 20:22-23
  And with that he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven."
• 2 Corinthians 5:18-20
  All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God.
  • Source: Bible Answers for Bible Christians http://www.biblechristians.org/answers.cfm?ID=95

Well,  there are two instances in the Bible where God breathes on man, in Genesis where Life is given to Adam and in John, where Christ breathes His Spirit and gives new life to mankind. I think all of us have times where we have felt a kind of dread in entering the Confessional. I have had those times, and it has kept me away from the Grace which is always present in the Forgiveness of Our Lord. For whatever the reason I have stayed away, I have come back and felt a huge weight lifted off my shoulders. When I was in college, I took my walks down the front of St. Gregory’s with Fr. Ian, Fr. Louis, or Fr. Theodore.

If we think back, we can hold on to the real answer to our Protestant friends suspicions. The answer is the way we feel when we come out of the Confessional, when we feel like there is no forgiveness for how we have behaved, or how we’ve treated our friends, or our wives, or our children. But, without fail, there is forgiveness, there is no judgment, just those simple words,

“I Absolve You in the Name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.”

With those simple words, we walk away feeling more refreshed than any shower, any caress, and light on our feet to receive the Body and Blood of the Savior that Redeems us, and forgives us through the Ministry of the Church.

When we confess our sins to a priest, we are confessing the guilt of our sinfulness. Why this is uplifting is that we hear Jesus, through the person of the priest, say the words:

 “Your Sins are forgiven!”

This is important because when we hear and believe, God's grace is poured out on us.  While going to God directly is good, after a while, when we don't hear God answering us, we begin the spiral downward. Believing that God does not hear us, and our hearts become hardened. The effect of God's Grace lessens because we do not believe we are worthy to receive this Grace. Thus, speaking your sins out loud to another person who stands in the person of Jesus as the head of the Church, is humbling because the priest, who is human, understands. It is uplifting because Jesus understands us as well. The Grace poured out is from the Heart of Jesus responding in and through the actions of the priest.

Vivat Jesus!

Next week, Eucharist…

 

Thank you, Fr. Jim, for your input into this article….

Andrew’s Senior Pictures

Enjoy, Andrew had his Sr. Pictures taken and I scanned them. He graduates this year from Dove Science Academy.

Brody has Surgery

Brody Million, our 1 and 1/2 yr old grandson, had surgery to remove his tonsils and adnoids as well as insert tubes in his ears this morning. He is resting comfortably at home. Last we heard is that he is a bit cranky but has kept soft foods and liquids down.

Pope Benedict’s Prayer Intentions for February

BENEDICT XVI'S PRAYER INTENTIONS FOR FEBRUARY

VATICAN CITY, 1 FEB 2010 (VIS) - Pope Benedict's general prayer intention for February is: "That by means of sincere search for the truth scholars and intellectuals may arrive at an understanding of the one true God".

  His mission intention is: "That the Church, aware of her own missionary identity, may strive to follow Christ faithfully and to proclaim His Gospel to all peoples".

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Happy Birthday, Shirley Anne McGrew Beio

Today, February 2nd, is Christina and my mother, Shirley’s Birthday. This would have been her 72nd Birthday. Born in 1938, mother died just shy of her 70th birthday in 2007. She is what WE remember the Ice Storm for. Shirley passed away on December 11th, 2007. Mother was our Groundhog :) Our joke for today was to ask her if she “Saw her shadow”.

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Happy Birthday Mother

Tulsa World Publishes Story on March for Life

Yesterday, yes, Jan. 26th, the Tulsa World published an article about the March for Life held last Friday. The official estimates, published in the article, estimated that over 3,000 attended the March. I am including a link to the article for you to read. I encourage you to also read the comments to the article at the bottom. I was amazed at the lack of media attention to the march while, in most cases, if the protest would have had a dozen and was something more ‘popular’ or politically correct the media would have been all over it.

Click here to view the story

Tulsa March for Life on Jan 22nd

I am reposting this from the Knights of Columbus BLOG to my family Blog in hopes of bringing more attention from my family and friends as well. This is a very important issue for me and Linda and I encourage anyone to attend this Pro-Life March in Tulsa next Friday!

Abortion was legalized in the United States 37 years ago this month.  Since then over 50 million babies have lost their lives to abortion.  Pray for an end to abortion and join Most Rev. Bishop Edward J. Slattery who will celebrate the Mass for Life at Holy Family Cathedral at 5:00pm on January 22, 2010.  After Mass join Bishop Edward J. Slattery and participate in the 1^st Tulsa March for Life.  The March starts at Holy Family Cathedral and ends at 6^th & Boston at the new Chapman Centennial Green where a rally will take place.  A rally will be held approximately 30 minutes long with three speakers.  Dr. Kevin Donovan will speak on when life begins, Cynthia Carney will share her testimony of having an abortion and Dr. McCutchens from Mount Zion Baptist Church will speak how abortion has impacted the black community.

I am enclosing a pdf file of the 'official' poster for our first-ever Tulsa March for Life. Please feel free to download and print out a many copies as you need to:

• post this weekend around your church campus
• ask people to bring one home
• ask volunteers to post them in coffee shops, food stores, and other community bulletin boards.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact me or go to our blog at tulsamarchforlife.wordpress.com.  Thank you for your time.

For Life,

Tracy Callicoat

Diocese of Tulsa

Family Life, Pro-Life and Natural Family Planning

918-307-4939

tracy.callicoat@dioceseoftulsa.org

BENEDICT XVI'S PRAYER INTENTIONS FOR JANUARY

VATICAN CITY, 30 DEC 2009 (VIS) - Pope Benedict XVI's general prayer intention for January 2010 is: "That young people may learn to use modern means of social communication for their personal growth and to better prepare themselves to serve society".

His mission intention is: "That every believer in Christ may be conscious that unity among all Christians is a condition for more effective proclamation of the Gospel".

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ChilderMas Today…. Remember our Innocent Children today.

In centuries past, Advent season began with Martinmas (the feast of St. Martin on November 11). Advent was "the little Lent" that prepared the faithful for the celebration of Christmas (Christ's Mass).

Christmas was in turn followed by Childermas (the Mass of the Holy Innocents) and continued until Candlemas (the Mass of Blessed Candles), also known as the Feast of the Presentation. In ancient times, great celebration centered not around Christmas, but around the Feast of the Epiphany. Indeed, in the eastern churches, the Mass of the Nativity was celebrated on the Feast of the Epiphany, for the earliest Christians said it was only fitting to celebrate God's revelation of His Son to the pagan Magi on the same day that His Son leapt out of the inner sanctuary of Mary's womb into the larger world itself.
Today, apart from Christmas, most of the "-mas" days have been forgotten. But there is one laudable custom which should be retained. As the song notes, there has long been a tradition of small gift-giving during the first twelve days of the Christmas season, the period between Christmas and Epiphany, Dec 25 and Jan 6.

Today is ChilderMas - a day to celebrate our children and honor the gift that God gave us in our children. God Bless you all!
J

Merry Christmas!

This year, for the Feast of the Nativity of Our Lord, Tulsa has had a White Christmas. Unfortunately, this has caused many of us to miss Mass. We did not have the Honor Guard at Holy Family last night. The good news is that those that would have attended did not get out in this weather and risk injury or death on the roads. Linda, myself, our children and grandchildren pray that you have a safe Christmas celebration with your families and all return to your homes safely. It is the gift from our Creator of a helpless child, God Himself, that we remember today. This is not a “holiday” but the Holy Day that we recall this incredible miracle which led to hope and our very salvation.

Merry Christmas! and Vivat Jesus!

J.A. and Linda Arroyo

A Year in Review

Merry Christmas!

This has been an eventful year. As for the career in teaching, it did not do so well the latter half of the year. I have been doing driver’s education which has been paying the bills. Zarrow was a challenge which, when the contract was over, I was more than happy to leave. Unfortunately, I found that my former boss was not very professional when it came to parting ways. Apparently she has been more than happy to embellish things when it comes to reference calls.

Enough on that. Linda has worked this year to create a new business, 2 Ladies Cleaning has been doing rather well. Though it has been a challenge having a partner, she has been doing quite well for herself.

We continue to struggle with our children’s personal issues. Linda and I do what we can to be the support that our children need and be there for our grandchildren. We have found, like probably most grandparents, that we are not the parents so we definitely have a challenge. Isn’t it fun when you know the answer but you often have children that won’t take the answer? Why do they ask the question? LOL

Some children we see, some we do not. The door is always open but we sometimes wonder if it is wide enough to get their attention!

I had a chance to renew old friendships at the high school reunion this year! It was our 30th and about time! It came at a rough time personally but, in the process of renewing friendships, we also renewed our marriage. It can be rough to go through a marriage when your children are being battered by the elements and easy to lose sight of each other. We realize that this is the first day of the rest of Our lives and we need to be there for each other.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all of our old friends, new friends, and family. May you all keep sight of what is really near and dear this holiday season!

Linda and J. Arroyo

A Christmas History

In centuries past, Advent season began with Martinmas (the feast of St. Martin on November 11). Advent was "the little Lent" that prepared the faithful for the celebration of Christmas (Christ's Mass).


Christmas was in turn followed by Childermas (the Mass of the Holy Innocents) and continued until Candlemas (the Mass of Blessed Candles), also known as the Feast of the Presentation.
In ancient times, great celebration centered not around Christmas, but around the Feast of the Epiphany. Indeed, in the eastern churches, the Mass of the Nativity was celebrated on the Feast of the Epiphany, for the earliest Christians said it was only fitting to celebrate God's revelation of His Son to the pagan Magi on the same day that His Son leapt out of the inner sanctuary of Mary's womb into the larger world itself.

Today, apart from Christmas, most of the "-mas" days have been forgotten. But there is one laudable custom which should be retained.

As the song notes, there has long been a tradition of small gift-giving during the first twelve days of the Christmas season, the period between Christmas and Epiphany, Dec 25 and Jan 6.

This year, we would like to encourage you to give a gift to seminarians!

Christmas Approaches!

Yesterday, Rainee, Chloe, Alec, Grandma and Grandpa went to the Knights of Columbus Christmas Party. Things were a bit hectic so they actually missed a visit from St. Nick but, even with missing him, they all had a great time. I am going to include a couple of videos and pictures from the festivities. Alec had the chance to sing along with Santa again this year (he loved that last year and was looking forward to it again this year.)

Rainee and Chloe met some new friends and had a great time building a puzzle and playing with these girls. We had a great dinner and enjoyed the evening out. Grandma and Grandpa, however, were well worn out by evening’s end and were happy to bring the little ones home and relax at home!

Alec and Santa

Alec Singing along with Santa

The day before, Grandma, Rainee and Chloe began working on a Gingerbread house.

Getting ready for the holidays!

Well, the Arroyo family is getting the lawn decorations and the inside decorations up for the holidays. Yes, this is the Christmas season! The season where we remember a supreme event which makes us complete, the birth of our Savior! ‘Tis the Season – not for shopping, but for remembering how we are not condemned by our faults but redeemed by Our Lord.

A chance to get out

Linda and I went to see Mister Pistol Friday night in Tulsa. It was a chance for us to take part in a 'mini' Reunion of my 1979 High School class. Several of us, that live in and around Tulsa and Claremore, were able to get together to listen to another classmate, John Page and his band, Mister Pistol. Linda and I had a wonderful time and I actually had the chance to go dancing with my wife. Wow! Dating is FUN!

Halloween was busy!

Well, we had 5 of our 13 grandchildren over for Halloween this year. We also saw 3 of our 6 kids with an addition of Michael's girlfriend, Felicia! Whew! It was busy! Of our kids, Frances, Landon and Michael were over at some point during the day and night, Rainee, Chloe, Alec, Brody and Kadence were over for the festivities! I am attaching some pictures of the fun!

Landon, Michael and Felicia

Rainee, the cat!

Kadence as Princess Leia

Chloe, the Geisha Girl

Alec as Optimus Prime

Welcome to the Family!

Our newest addition, grandchild number 13! Emersyn Morris was born on Thursday, October 15, 2009!