Cathedral of Christ the Light

Father Jeffrey Keyes has tons of pictures and commentary at his site:

Many bloggers who write from a distance have the audacity to judge a building based on pictures and news reports. Both Whispers and the American Papist are young catholics who seem to make gossip their hobby, and they are host to many comments calling the Cathedral hideous, and a monstrosity. Well, last Thursday I was a participant in one of the most beautiful liturgies I have ever been part of. It was an amazing event.

First of all, the building sings. The acoustics are wonderful andf the sound of singing in the place is worthy of any cathedral.

Secondly, the heart of any worship space is the people. No one who was there had a single word of complaint.

Yes, I am a bit more traditional. This might not have been what I would have built. But I believe this is a place for the ages, and future ages will judge it differently after it has had years of experience. Cathedrals are built over hundreds of years.

Bishop Declares Day of Prayer

A DAY OF PRAYER FOR

OUR NATION AND WORLD

OCTOBER 7, 2008

FEAST OF OUR LADY OF THE ROSARY

As our government leaders attempt to bring stability to financial institutions of our nation and give hope to market and trade sectors of our economy, I ask that the Catholic Community of Northern Alabama, in the Diocese of Birmingham, set aside Tuesday, October 7, 2008, the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, as A Day of Prayer for our Nation and World.

With further rumors of the proliferation of nuclear weapons in Iran, complicating an already precarious situation on the international scene, we need also to pray for peace in our world.

I ask that each Sunday over the next several weeks, parishes and Religious houses include in their Sunday General Intercessions the following prayers:

“That the Holy Spirit may guide our government leaders as they address the problems facing our nation’s economy and as they seek proper paths to peace in our world, we pray to the Lord…”

“For the guidance of the Holy Spirit as voters choose the best possible candidates as leaders for local, state, and national offices, people who will protect the most vulnerable among us, especially the unborn, and promote the cause of life in all its forms and family life, we pray to the Lord…”

On Tuesday, October 7, 2008, at 10:00 a.m., I will dedicate the Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes on the grounds of Our Lady of the Angels Monastery in Hanceville. This is the 150th anniversary year of the apparitions to St. Bernadette in Lourdes, France.

I ask that Catholics of the Diocese have recourse to the prayer of the Rosary daily during the Month of October we as a nation put God back into the center of our solutions for all our national and international problems.

Most Reverend Robert J. Baker, S.T.D.

Bishop of Birmingham in Alabama

Tebow Speaks

Not that Tebow, but his dad…in Arkansas, where the Gators play this Saturday. From the Arkansas News Bureau:

Early in his remarks to the club, Tebow mentioned the day-to-day difficulties of life and said, “Two of the hardest things in life are being the spouse you need to be and being the parent you need to be.”

Too often, people retreat from adversity, he said.

He got a laugh when he said, “You’re an Arkansas Razorback fan, you know what difficult is,” and another chuckle when he added, “Frankly, I hope it’s difficult for you on Saturday.”

He mentioned that nobody had accepted the blame for the current economic crisis.

“When it comes to you and your family, it’s the same thing …,” he said. “When you screw up, you’ve got to stand up with your family and do that and say, ‘I was wrong, I screwed up, my fault, forgive me, I’m sorry.’ If those words aren’t in your mouth frequently, you’re either deluded or just too proud to admit it.”

All of us mess up, he said.

Too many parents, he said, quit parenting when their children are in their teens. “They take the path of least resistance,” he said. “When their teenager says, ‘No, I don’t want to do that,’ too many parents give in. If I could say one thing, it’s don’t give in, I don’t care how old your kids are …”

He mentioned his son had given him the national championship ring he had won as a freshman and that the gift meant a lot, but that he does not wear it and that the title glow was short-lived.