Traditional Anglicans maintain the faith
I know it’s a sin to click my own Google ads, but sometimes I find them interesting and can’t resist.
Not that there is anything forbidden (I think) about the West Australian Apostolic District of the Anglican Catholic Church in Australia.
I’m just surprised it exists because I had never heard of them before.
According to their web site: “The Traditional Anglican Communion (TAC) is a worldwide association of Continuing Orthodox Anglican Churches, working to promote the Catholic Faith as the Anglican Church has received it and to resist the secularization of that Church.” (more…)
Ancient language goes modern
It’s rather ironic I learned about The Vatican’s web site from a blog named The Inquisitr 
I’m not surprised The Vatican has a web site; it’s just I had never thought about it before and had never visited.
As The Inquisitr reveals, a Latin section was only recently added.
I’ve never studied Latin and I was born just after the Second Vatican Council, so I never experienced a Latin Mass.
I can appreciate the value of Latin. From Roman times to the Industrial Revolution it was the universal language. (more…)
Religion
I admit that we lost contact with organised religion after the twins were born. It required a big effort to get the family to mass and the twins were a handful. Traditional denominations in Australia have lost members partly because they haven't been family friendly. As congregations grow older it's hard for parents to take young children to church in an environment where they have few peers. That's no reason though to forget or ignore one's faith. I came across a web site called the Catholic Show which reminds people that the church is a vibrant, growing, relevant organisation. With Kathleen attending a Catholic secondary school next year it's likely we'll become more involved in the local parish.
Psalm 119
Psalm 119 is a long and beautiful psalm. I read it tonight and felt inspired to write about it. Being a sneaky bloke I tried to find some text online to cut and paste. Interesting!
My hard copy reference was the Good News Bible (1976) I still have from school. The passage I’m interested in is: (v89-90):
"Your word, O Lord will last forever; it is eternal in heaven.
Your faithfulness endures through all the ages; you have set the earth in place, and it remains."
The Jewish Publication Society translation is:
"For ever, O the Lord, Thy word standeth fast in heaven.
"Thy faithfulness is unto all generations; Thou hast established the earth, and it standeth."
Christian versions I saw are similar. Here’s another:
"The Lord exists forever; your word is firmly fixed in heaven.
Your faithfulness endures to all generations; you have established the earth, and it stands fast."
Most other online quotes are in old language. Makes me grateful the Catholic system adopted the Good News Bible. I guess there was no obligation on their part to use the Protestant King James version.
It’s ironic that the Protestant cause was partly founded on making the Bible available in everyday language, but many today prefer to read it in Old English!
As for the passage … God will never abandon us. We should never abandon Him!
Preparing for high school
It’s hard to believe that our eldest child is now at the age we have to select a secondary school for her in 2006. It seems only a fraction earlier than yesterday that Kathleen was starting primary school.
I went with her to orientation nights at Bright P-12 College and Marian College over the last two weeks. Bright is 6km from Porepunkah and it’s 25km to Marian in Myrtleford. Kathleen has spent all her primary years at Porepunkah and we live within easy walking distance of the 130-student school.
After careful deliberation we’ve decided that Kathleen will go to Marian. We’re Catholic, and the religious aspect is important, but we also feel the peer group there will be more academically motivated.
Kathleen initially preferred Bright, because most of her friends will be going there, but two other Porepunkah girls are going to Marian and she’s now looking forward to it.
Master and Commander
Master and Commander by Patrick O’Brian is a delightful book and a wonderful starting point for anyone interested in nautical fiction.
It’s the first in O’Brian’s Aubrey-Maturin series and I’m glad I started here, as it sets the scene for future novels.
Jack Aubrey is a frustrated lieutenant waiting in a Mediterranean port for his first command of the Napoleonic War when he meets out-of-work doctor Stephen Maturin. (more…)
Pell for Pope
I read today that Cardinal George Pell, Archbishop of Sydney (formerly Melbourne), is considered an outside chance to become Pope.
I like George. He speaks his mind; he’s strong and rational.
George is 50-1 with the international bookmakers. That’s a great thing about being Catholic. Gambling and drinking in moderation are acceptable vices.
