Category: Uncategorized

I know this blog hasn’t been around for long, but somehow I don’t expect the screen shot to change much between now and November:

You probably don’t know this, but there’s an election happening in Canada. We don’t have fixed election dates so the government can call an election at any time. They thus decided to call one last Sunday for mid-October. However, the country’s five major political parties are facing a new problem: few ordinary Canadians understand why the election has been called. My own personal theory is that Americans are having one, so Canadian politicians want one too.
Because most Canadians feel their political entertainment needs are being met by the U.S. election, they’re not tuning in to the Canadian one. Of course this worries Canadian politicians who are vying for the attention of voters. So what to do has become a big question north of the border.
Here are my two suggestions:
1 – Instead of the usual podium set-up during the leaders’ debate, pick a pond (this should be easy, Canada has the greatest concentration of bodies of water of any country) and place each party leader in his or her own canoe. Then halfway through the debate unleash some Georgia bunnies.
2 – Force each party leader to debate using a Dr. Seuss style. I imagine it would go something like this:
I think 4th is on to something. Perhaps Canadian networks could drum up more interest by requiring party leaders to speak like Dr. Seuss during the debates.
“Dion is no leader,
He’s out of touch too,
Come mid-October,
Please vote Tory blue”
“Harper is scary,
He’s Dubya’s shill
Vote for me Liberals,
You know the drill.”
“Stephen and Stephane
In the East and the West,
But here in Quebec,
Vote seperatist.”
“My right-wing opponents,
Oh how they rave,
But vote for the Dippers,
And I promise to shave.”
“Four leaders in suits,
All of them men,
Vote Green this election,
For more estrogen”

Seven years’ ago, Sonya and I woke up early to see her parents off. We had been expecting to accompany them that morning on a day trip to New York City. We had been living along the Pennsylvania/New York border, and I was due to start a new job in Florida about a week later. So we thought this likely our last chance for a while to visit the World Trade Center and other sites offered by the city.
If only we had known.
Sonya’s grandfather suffered a medical emergency the previous afternoon, and my in-laws had to head back to Canada. So we abandoned the trip. About four hours later, while sitting in the Diocese of Scranton tribunal office, the terrorists struck. Many of the firefighters and police officers who lost their lives in the line of duty were from our diocese. This is for you:

To the other 3,000 victims of the attacks, you are gone, but not forgotten. As the proud father of two Americans, this is for you:

And to the passengers of United Flight 93 who died in Pennsylvania, the state that gave Sonya and I our firstborn: Although evil men singled you out as victims, you chose to die heroes in the name of liberty. This is for you:

Joe, Linda, Anne, Pat & Pat, Nancy, Charlie, Fr. Rob, Msgr. Pratico and Bishops Timlin & Dougherty – thank-you for getting us through the day. Sonya and I wish we could be with you in Scranton today.
Ironically and unknowingly, the week following the attacks we would move to Shore-T Road in Nokomis, Florida, where some of the terrorists had lived while undergoing flight training in the neighboring town of Venice. The community’s pain was compounded by a hurricane that hit around the same time as the terrorists. To Joe, Keith, April, Jim and Linda, the other Jim, Carl and the rest of our Florida neighbors who welcomed us during difficult times, we remain grateful for your southern hospitality.
Our prayers are with you and all our American brothers and sisters as you mourn your fallen. May their souls, and the souls of all the faithfully departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
God bless each and every American, and God bless America.

ZENIT has a two-part interview this week with our own favorite canonist Pete Vere.

(On the reception of doctrine)
Good Teacher
Place your yoke upon our shoulders, for this yoke is gentle. May your doctrine, all radiant from your goodness, penetrate deeply within us!
Make us carry your burden, for this burden is light. May your commandments, far from encumbering us, enter into our life as your gentle good will!
Make us fulfill your law, for this law frees us and lifts us up. May we never complain of being chained by your word or your will, for you have wanted no chains but only those of love!
Make us take up your cross, for this cross is lighter, when it is carried by your own shoulders, and embraced by your generosity!
Engrave in us your image, whatever it may cost us, for in your heart every fatigue is changed into rest, and every pain becomes blessedness.
–by Jean Galot, S.J. (1919-2008); translation: RC