From the Ordinary to the Extraordinary

Bring on the Funny: Day 2

Ben Yanke — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 18:12:59 +0000

To all you fellow graduates in the HFH class of 2013, and all of the Classes 0f 2013!

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Bring on the Funny: Day 1

Ben Yanke — Sun, 16 Jun 2013 17:30:40 +0000

Here it is: Day 1! I hope you enjoy it.

You’re sure to enjoy this: a group dressed up as monks with a little choreography to the Hallelujah Chorus. You’ll be sure to enjoy it!

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New Mini-Series: Bring on the Funny!

Ben Yanke — Sat, 15 Jun 2013 17:07:00 +0000

I will not be blogging normally this week. Sorry, y’all.

But fear not, dear readership! I’ll be putting together a mini-series to keep you all entertained this week! Starting tomorrow, check back, I’ll be posting something new each day to make you laugh and smile. Sunday through Friday, every day! Also, feel free to use the share buttons at the bottom of each post if you want to quickly share it!

Also, throughout the week and afterwards, let me know: did you like it? Should I do more things like this? Hated it, loved it, go back to what you were doing before, whatever you have to say! Let me know!

Don’t want to forget to check back?

Subscribe via RSS or email, and you’ll get instant updates!

Or click HERE to subscribe by email if the form does not work.

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Epic School Promo

Ben Yanke — Sat, 15 Jun 2013 04:11:00 +0000

The most epic school promo video ever:

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24/7 Confessional: Curé of Ars in Madison, WI

Ben Yanke — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 03:06:59 +0000

I’m proud to say that the Very Rev. Richard Heilman is a priest in my diocese, within half an hour of my home. I’m even luckier that I get to attend there frequently. I can not say enough about this man. Here’s just some of the things he’s done so far.

Now, as the title says, he recently installed a 24/7 confessional in his rectory (also his office), and Fr. Z has covered it. I will reproduce his post in full. Congrats to Fr. Rick.

I’m very interested in getting this app, especially if more priests begin to use it, as Fr. Z outlines below. Now THAT would be amazing.

Yes, this one got me a little excited.

In the past I have posted about a very cool priest, Fr. Richard Heilman, pastor of glorious Pine Bluff, WI. You may recall that he founded a group called the Knights of Divine Mercy and that some months ago he switched to celebrating Mass ad orientem exclusively.

Fr. Heilman just celebrated his 25th anniversary, btw!

When they hauled the versus populum altar out of the church and into the rectory, I posted this:

Months later, here is an update.

I went to a celebration at the parish for Father’s 25th anniversary. He wanted to show me what he did with that altar they hauled out of the church to the rectory.

As you step into the front door of the rectory, there is a small vestibule with three doors. To the center, you enter the house. I’ll get to the left in a moment.

To the right, you find this!

The Blessed Sacrament is present with the permission of the local bishop.

He put clear appliques on the windows.

There are a couple chairs and kneelers.

“But Father! But Father!” you might be chirruping. ”What behind the door to the left!”

Father Heilman’s office.

But with a difference.

He has installed a small confessional window in the door of his office and placed a kneeler in the small vestibule across from the little chapel.

This means that people can come to the rectory for confession pretty much at any time when Father is at home or, at least, in his office, and they can then pray before the the Eucharistic Lord and do their penance.

The outer door to the rectory will be rigged up soon with a wireless intercom and locking/unlocking gizmo.

When someone comes into that little vestibule, it will be as if they are in a confessional. Father than then zip over from the desk to the door on his rolling chair, open the window (there is an obscuring barrier for anonymity), and hear the penitent!

Like so!

But wait! THERE’S MORE!

If that wasn’t cool enough….

Father has developed an app for his confession availability! MyConfessor!

People can see on the app whether Father is available. There is a description/bio of the priest, there is a good Examination of Conscience and helpful prayers.

Father can, from his desktop, switch his status to available/not available. He can also do so from his own mobile device if need be.

But WAIT! THERE’S MORE!

By linking with Google Maps, and when other priests get this app working, you will be able to see drop pins for priests hearing confessions by their availability!

Think about another way to use this app.

Perhaps I, who travel a lot, am in – say – an airport for a long layover. I am stuck at gate X8472 waiting for my flight. I get out my phone, open MyConfessor, pin myself at Gate X8472 and switch my status to available. While there are problems of anonymity and lack of a grate, etc. (I never hear confessions without a grate of some kind), most priests who travel in their black clothes and collar have heard confessions on the fly. Another scenario, World Youth Day… a conference… a rally. It is at least an interesting idea to tweak.

The very cool Fr. Heilman as viewed from near his desk.

The door behind him is the little chapel. The door to his left is the front, outside door to the rectory.

He even said he wouldn’t mind getting up in the night were someone to ring.

(FYI – He also has a really big dog in the house.)

What great zeal and creative use of tech!

Ultimate Fr Z Kudos and congratulations.

UPDATE:

To be clear the APP is NOT YET FUNCTIONAL. The kinks are being straightened out.

I will update you.

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Subscribe!

Ben Yanke — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 03:18:23 +0000

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Pope Francis: You need to Participate in Politics

Ben Yanke — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 01:10:08 +0000

This is why I do what I do, when it comes to politics. Pope Francis recently talked to school kids, answering their questions.

I’ve heard people say before that they are sick of politics, so they are done getting involved. Pope Francis does not agree:

“We can’t play the role of Pontius Pilate and wash our hands of it,” he said. “Politics is one of the highest forms of charity because it seeks the common good.”

He said those who complain that politics is “too dirty” should ask themselves why. Perhaps it’s “because Christians haven’t gotten involved with an evangelical spirit.”

It’s easy to blame others, he said, but people need to ask themselves: “Me? What am I doing” about it?

HT CatholicVote

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RSS Readers: Move your Subscription

Ben Yanke — Sat, 08 Jun 2013 20:26:50 +0000

I am moving my feed to a new location. If you are seeing this, you haven’t yet moved your RSS subscription, so please do!

Here is the new URL:

http://feeds.feedburner.com/FromTheOrdinaryToTheExtraordinary

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Senior Rips up School Approved Speech and Prays

Ben Yanke — Sat, 08 Jun 2013 16:30:34 +0000

This is absolutely fantastic. It looks like the video does’t start until later in the speech, so you have to read the article to get the whole story. I hope there’s no retaliation against him.

I’ve noticed something key, which comes into play in this story (and many others): whenever liberals don’t like something, they make sure it’s banned for everyone. For example, sending the IRS against conservative groups (and who knows who else now! The scandal keeps getting bigger and bigger), or prayer in schools.

As a rule, when conservatives are against something, they may protest, but they don’t take every policy choice they can to ban it, because they see the value in freedom. They’ll let you be stupid if you want (for example, drinking that jumbo soda).

I think we are going to see, and need to see, more things like this, as our culture and our government become more and more restrictive and opposed to the good, the true and the beautiful. Pray, people. Pray like you never have before. We’re going to need it.

A South Carolina valedictorian’s commencement address sparked wild applause from the crowd when he tore up his pre-approved speech, and instead began reciting the Lord’s Prayer.

The Pickens County School District banned prayer at schools altogether after a barrage of complaints from local atheist groups about the inclusion of prayer at various ceremonies.

In an apparent act of protest, Liberty High School’s Roy Costner IV ripped up his valedictory speech and began talking about his Christian upbringing and how his parents led him to the Lord at a young age.

The crowd erupted in applause when Costner said, “I think most of you will understand when I say, ‘Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.”

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FEED READER USERS: SWITCH YOUR SUBSCRIPTION

Ben Yanke — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 16:58:01 +0000

I am moving my feed to feedburner. If you use the RSS subscription, please move your subscription to here:

http://feeds.feedburner.com/FromTheOrdinaryToTheExtraordinary

Please move your feed! If you already have, thank you! You can ignore this message.

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Are you a Salesperson Looking for a job?

Ben Yanke — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 18:52:52 +0000

The company I’m working for is hiring a new salesperson:

Do you know someone who is great at motivating people to try something new? We at CalAdventures are searching for a dynamic, out-going individual for an Inside Sales Associate position who wants to be part of a quickly growing company working 15-20 hours per week to highlight our amazing, no-risk free trial offer to potential new business clients by phone!

If you or someone you know may be interested in working from home in this part-time position with CalAdventures, check out the requirements at www.caladventures.com/jobs and email your resume to hr@caladventures.com . Please feel free to share this far and wide.

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Corpus Christi 2013 With Bishop Morlino

Ben Yanke — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 22:18:49 +0000

This year’s Corpus Christi procession in downtown Madison went fabulously. Below you can find photos by Tom Reitz of the day. I had the fun job of keeping both thurifers topped off and smokin’ as you can see in the 3rd and 5th picture!

Also, I want to give a shoutout and thank you to the Amberstein band, that was playing on the square this past Sunday. As the procession began to near their stage, they promptly stopped their music and stood in reverent silence for about 5 minutes, as the entire procession passed by.

I was not expecting it, but I was very happy they did. I intend to begin a thank-you-letter-writing campaign to them, and would encourage you to join me!

I did some research, and they can be reached at:

Amberstein
5325 Frosty Ln
Madison, WI 53705

I highly encourage you to take 5 minutes and thank them. People are so very quick to write hate mail. Encourage civil and positive behavior like this! Thank them!

Adoration with Pope Francis

Bringing Him to the streets

Bringing Him to the streets of Madison

Let my prayer rise like incense before you…

On the Capital Square

The band stopping as the procession nears

On the Capital Square

On the capital property

Walking up the capital steps for benediction

At the capital, with two thurifers constantly incensing the Blessed Sacrament

At the capital

Prayer at the capital

Adoration with Bishop at the Capital

Msgr. Holmes giving the benediction as Bishop Morlino, servers, seminarians and others pray

Procession back to Bishop Morlino’s car with the luna (the small liturgical implement that holds the host) to return the host to the church.

Bishop Morlino leaving the capital with his Master of Ceremonies, Fr. Greg Ihm

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Consummatum est.

Ben Yanke — Sat, 01 Jun 2013 06:44:30 +0000

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Corpus Christi Procession With Bishop Morlino

Ben Yanke — Wed, 29 May 2013 15:31:02 +0000

There has not been much publicity on this year’s Corpus Christi procession with Bishop Morlino in downtown Madison, but I can assure you that we ARE having one this Sunday, June 2nd, 2013. Plan to be there!

The schedule is as follows:

10:00 - Adoration at St. Patrick Church (404 E. Main St.) in solidarity with Pope Francis and the Universal Church

11:00 – Sung Mass in the Ordinary form with Bishop Morlino at St. Patrick’s

12:30 (directly following Mass) – Eucharistic procession to the State St. corner of the State Capital, talk and benediction

If anyone gets any good pictures during the Mass or procession, let me know, and I’d love to post them here. Send me a message, and I’ll email you back so that you can reply with them attached.

NB: If any boys or men are interested in serving for the procession, I may be able to get you a spot. Seminarians of the Diocese of Madison will be serving the Mass, and other servers, including the parish servers, will be sitting in choir. Following the Mass, all of them will be assisting with the procession, where the real numbers are needed.

If you’re interested, send me a message right away and I’ll probably be able to get you in. Bring a black cassock and surplice, if you have one. If you have more than one surplice, “more lace, more grace” is the principal to live by here in Madison!

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Memorial Day

Ben Yanke — Tue, 28 May 2013 06:06:26 +0000

For all those who have died protecting us and our freedom.

Pray for freedom, particularly religious freedom, that their blood may not be in vain.

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How Long, O Lord?

Ben Yanke — Tue, 28 May 2013 02:43:02 +0000

I’m sure you’ve all heard about the DOJ wiretapping the AP for quite some time. If not, just google around for it, and you’ll find more than you want to know about the current situation. Yet another scandal for the administration to fight against.

Now, we have:

Benghazi: 4 Americans killed after they were refused additional security on the anniversary of 9/11. A vicious coverup ensued, and is now beginning to become unraveled.
AP Reporters, now in addition to Fox Reporters, being wiretapped.
The IRS, the most powerful organization on the planet, targeting right-leaning organizations.
Homeschooling Families being deported because homeschooling “isn’t a human right”
Obama trying to go to the UN to go over the heads of congress and neuter the 2nd amendment
Just to name a few…

Keep in mind: this is directly after Obama speaks to graduates about those who frequently warn of government tyranny.

Here’s my question: when do we call this tyranny? How many more scandals? How much more erosion of freedom? HOW MANY MORE DEAD BODIES OF AMERICANS explained away?

Another point: The media isn’t helping anything. I’m no fan of Bush, but if he had said that he learned about a scandal on the news, I just wonder what the media would have said. Hmmm… can you guess?

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Pentecost and …. Global Warming?

Ben Yanke — Sat, 25 May 2013 20:23:26 +0000

Ha! Not sure what to think of this. Quite funny, if you ask me, even though it wasn’t intended to be!

Only at the bastion of liberalism known as Pray Tell! No, I’m not linking to them, I’ve reproduced the post in full:

Posted by Teresa Berger | May 18, 2013

For the first time ever, Christians will celebrate Pentecost with carbon dioxide concentrations in the air at 400 parts per million (measured by the world’s most important monitoring station. An updated reading by the NOAA adjusted this to 399.89, but Scripps continued to measure 400.08).

Even if the original Pentecost event was credited with a daily increase in numbers (Acts 2:47), this number 400 is not good news – neither for this Pentecost, nor for the planet, nor for Pentecosts to come. A safe level of CO2 in the atmosphere is 350 parts per million, significantly lower than the levels currently measured. We have already witnessed the devastating effects as we moved above 350, for example in rising seas and extreme weather. (And in case someone still wonders: the rapid rise of carbon dioxide levels is the work of human hands, not, for example, that of cow farts, as some still seem to think).

My wish for Pentecost 2013 is this: that Christians around the globe will not only fervently invoke God’s Spirit to renew the face of the earth, but also commit themselves, with equal fervor, to refrain from further marring the face of the earth, for example by reigning in the use of fossil fuels, and transitioning to renewable energy, energy efficiency, and sustainable food practices.

One thing is certain, on this first Pentecost at 400: the future Pentecosts Christians will still celebrate on this beautiful planet will be numbered unless we bring the number 400 back down to 350.

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THIS. IS. EPIC.

Ben Yanke — Sat, 25 May 2013 00:43:22 +0000

This is THE greatest prank I’ve ever seen. I don’t know what else to say.

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Ordinandi Bios

Ben Yanke — Thu, 23 May 2013 17:00:27 +0000

Here are the bios for the three men being ordained tomorrow. Hope to see you there!

Dcn. Stephen Petrica

Former Anglican priest / psychotherapist; received into the Church in 2006

Originally from Maryland, Steve worked in psychotherapy for 14 years, followed by work in the public health field after receiving his Master of Divinity degree from Yale University and a Master of Public Health degree from Johns Hopkins. As an Anglican priest, he served as an Anglican chaplain at Yale and as a pastor of a church in Arlington, Va. After discerning his conversion to Roman Catholicism, Steve was received into the Roman Catholic Church on October 9, 2006 in New York City. Dcn. Stephen considered the monastic life, which brought him to Wisconsin.

Dcn. Vincent Brewer

Former Navy and Army National Guard Reservist / Harley Davidson rider

A native of Richland Center, WI, Vince was in the Navy and later the Army Nation Guard Reserve. Vince worked in the fields of telecommunication and technical communication management, after studies at UWPlatteville and before discerning a vocation to the priesthood. Dcn. Vince studied at Blessed John XXIII National Seminary, Weston, MA, where he received his Master of Divinity.

Dcn. Garrett Kau

Avid traveler & Skilled in the art of Charcuterie

From Jefferson, WI, Garrett went to school in Fort Atkinson before entering UW-Madison, where he received his BA in bacteriology. Garrett’s seminary studies took him to St. John Vianney Theological Seminary, in Denver, CO, where he received his philosophy and theology degrees, as well as his Master of Divinity. Garrett has traveled to the Amazon, Germany, Australia, Spain, and numerous other places in recent years. Dcn. Garrett is also an armature charcutier, or one who specializes in the branch of cooking devoted to prepared meat products, such as bacon, ham, sausage – which we all know Wisconsin loves/needs!

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Fr. Steve Petrica’s Ordination and Mass of Thanksgiving

Ben Yanke — Wed, 22 May 2013 20:12:47 +0000

I would like to invite you and encourage you to assist at the upcoming ordination of three fabulous men for the Diocese of Madison this Friday: Rev. Mr. Vince Brewer, Garret Kau, and Steve Patrica by Bishop Robert Morlino.

Readers of this blog would do well to note that Fr. Petrica’s Mass of Thanksgiving (Saturday, 10am at Holy Redeemer) will be a great highlight for the reform of the reform. The Mass itself will be celebrated in Latin, according to the Ordinary Form of the Roman Rite, ad orientem. The votive Mass of the Holy Spirit will be celebrated, and the liturgy itself will be sung in latin, with the exception of sung readings in English.

Additionally, local schola director Aristotle Esguerra and the available members of the Knights of Divine Mercy Schola will be singing the gregorian propers for the votive Mass.

Yours truly will be acting as principal Master of Ceremonies, assisted by seminarians of the diocese who will be serving.

Finally, Fr. John Zuhlsdorf, now in residence in Madison, will be preaching.

Unfortunately, Bishop Morlino will not be celebrating the Mass of Ordination ad orientem, although I’d invite you to discuss it with him afterwards, and show your support for it.

Note well: It is THIS FRIDAY and Saturday.

Mass of Sacerdotal Ordination: Friday, May 24th at 7:30pm @ St. Maria Goretti.

Fr. Petrica’s Mass of Thanksgiving: Saturday, May 25th at 10:00am @ Holy Redeemer in Downtown Madison followed by a brunch onsite.

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By Popular Request…

Ben Yanke — Mon, 20 May 2013 19:26:09 +0000

I wasn’t planning on posting any of these, but I guess people really want to see them… you people reading this on FB, click the link. It’s the only prom pics I’m posting. As usual, click the pics for larger versions.

Update: added another cool shot from downtown at the bottom.

Alas, I forgot my hat in the car.

Pictures from Mrs. L and JP (the crazy one)

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Psalm with antiphon or antiphon with Psalm?

Ben Yanke — Sat, 18 May 2013 06:57:00 +0000

An interesting viewpoint from Kathy Pluth at the Chant Cafe:

I’ve been wondering lately whether we give the Psalms full credit when considering the Propers.

If you were to ask me, “What is a Proper?” I would answer, “It’s an antiphon–and some verses of a Psalm if you have time.”

Two things have recently made me wonder if I’m not looking at the Propers from a 180 degree wrong angle. Perhaps I have it backwards, and the introit is A Psalm, which alternates with an antiphon that shows the Psalm in greater light.

The first thing that caught my attention in this matter was the plenary address given at last year’s Colloquium by Fr. Guy Nicholls of the Birmingham Oratory. Fr. Nicholls convincingly demonstrated that the Introit Psalms in Ordinary Time are not chosen according to the readings of the day or according to any other external device, but run sequentially through the Book of Psalms from beginning to end. In effect, the Introit Psalms of the year are a Psalter. If this is true–if we are meant to be singing the Book of Psalms throughout the year as monks sing them through the week–then the Psalms are much less incidental to the Propers than I had thought.

The second indication that I was taking the Psalms less seriously than they deserved, and perhaps taking the Antiphons more seriously than warranted, was this interesting definition of “Introit” from the old, online Catholic Encyclopedia:
The Introit (Introitus) of the Mass is the fragment of a psalm with its antiphon sung while the celebrant and ministers enter the church and approach the altar. In all Western rites the Mass began with such a processional psalm since the earliest times of which we have any record.
I’m sure most of us have had the experience of needing the briefest possible proper, and if you are like me, you would have chosen to sing the antiphon and left the Psalm for another day when there was more time. However, I’m not convinced that this is the right way to go.

The article in the Catholic Encyclopedia, as I read it, seems to suggest that the Introit started as a Psalm only, and that antiphons were added later. Over time the antiphons came to be the defining aspect of the Introit, perhaps in part because the antiphon alone needed to be printed, in order to provide the melody. The Psalm would be sung to a Psalm tone, and by the cantor, who would not need it to be printed in the book. Eventually the Psalm was shortened to one verse with its Gloria Patri unless further verses were needed for reasons of time.

I wonder whether this is a unique scholarly view, or whether it might be safe to say that the Psalm is at least as essential to the singing of the responsorial Propers as is the singing of the through-composed antiphon.

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Msgr Octocat

Ben Yanke — Fri, 17 May 2013 13:12:14 +0000

I had bit of fun yesterday with inkscape. One of my online buddies, Adam Wood, is creating an online repository for open source sacred music (mainly GABC and Lilypond) on a service called GitHub, and their official mascot is a little guy called octocat.

Well yesterday, I turned him into Msgr Octocat. Click him, all the details are there!

And for the two of you interested, the chant is Populous Sion (Advent II int.), the tile is from St Mark’s in Venice, and the surplice of from my fantastic vicar general’s main surplice (in case you’re unclear, both the surplice and VG are fantastic ).

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Obama: Reject the Voices that Warn of Tyrany

Ben Yanke — Thu, 16 May 2013 17:18:52 +0000

Recently, President Obama recently gave another indoctrination session commencement speech, and this time, he’s getting even worse. Now he’s saying that we should “reject those voices” that warn us of government tyranny.

Unfortunately, you’ve grown up hearing voices that incessantly warn of government as nothing more than some separate, sinister entity that’s at the root of all our problems. Some of these same voices also do their best to gum up the works. They’ll warn that tyranny always lurking just around the corner. You should reject these voices. Because what they suggest is that our brave, and creative, and unique experiment in self-rule is somehow just a sham with which we can’t be trusted.

We have never been a people who place all our faith in government to solve our problems. We shouldn’t want to. But we don’t think the government is the source of all our problems, either. Because we understand that this democracy is ours. And as citizens, we understand that it’s not about what America can do for us, it’s about what can be done by us, together, through the hard and frustrating but absolutely necessary work of self-government. And class of 2013, you have to be involved in that process.

This is getting scary. Let’s contrast this with some of what the founding father’s said:

My reading of history convinces me that most bad government results from too much government.

-Jefferson

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DOJ: We can read your Email

Ben Yanke — Tue, 14 May 2013 01:38:16 +0000

How consoling. The Federal Department of Justice is more than willing to look into every part of your life. But it’s all for a good cause, right? Just there to protect us? Yeah. Sure. The Government has never done anything wrong with our personal data.

More, from the Capitalism Institute:

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) recently obtained documents from the Department of Justice that demonstrate a serious erosion of the Federal Government’s guarantees of a citizen’s right to privacy, under the Fourth Amendment to the Constitution. The Constitution is a document designed not to limit citizens, but to limit the Federal government, and guarantees protection of individual rights.

Under a recent Freedom of Information Act request (FOIA), the ACLU discovered that the Justice Department has obtained legal opinions from attorneys that subpoenas alone can be used to force a third party, such as an email or cloud storage provider, to surrender files to the Department as part of investigations. The problem with this is that subpoenas are intended for use to compel an individual to testify.

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Chanting The Scriptures

Ben Yanke — Wed, 08 May 2013 17:44:41 +0000

Kathy Pluth’s recent post at the Chant Cafe reminded me of one of my new things that has been happening in the homeschool and traditional liturgical sphere here in Madison: chanted readings.

While it was rubricised as required for every sung Mass before the wrecking ball of the post-conciliar reforms (note, the reforms after the council were the problem, not the council), but it’s a practice that has rarely been done following the council. Thankfully, at papal Masses, and diocesan Masses in the Diocese of Madison, chanting the gospel has recently made a return.

However, something even more rare is the chanting of the first and second readings.

Thanks be to God, we have more priests being willing to sing their parts of the Mass, adding additional dignity and prayerfulness, but even in many Masses that are mostly sung, it always falls flat when you get to the first reading, and the lector comes up and starts reading the reading. Notably, I was recently asked to sing one of the readings at Fr. Rick Heilman’s 25th ordination anniversary Mass.

Musicam Sacram says “Liturgical worship is given a more noble form when it is celebrated in song, with the ministers of each degree fulfilling their ministry and the people participating in it” (no. 5).

Celebrating our liturgies in sung prayer gives it a more noble form! That’s not just talking about the four hymns, or singing the Holy. We should be trying to sing as many of the prayers as possible, because the true language of worship is singing.

Musicam Sacram, an instruction from the Holy See regarding the music at Mass, says that we should really be singing the readings if we are singing the responsorial psalm, alleluia, processional hymns or chants. The new Missal gives us music for chanting the readings.

Why not use them, and give our liturgies “a more noble form”? Go ask your choir director. Ask your pastor. Look up Musicam Sacram and read it!

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Adoramus Te

Ben Yanke — Sun, 05 May 2013 05:29:09 +0000

HT Jeffrey Tucker

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Catholic Meme: Cafateria Catholics

Ben Yanke — Fri, 03 May 2013 03:18:12 +0000

This is a Catholic meme back from when I went with friends (pictured below) to the March for Life. I should have posted this sooner…better late than never though!

This is from the cafeteria under the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington DC, which is what made the joke funny. It can also be enlarged by clicking.

Enjoy!

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Our Shepherd on the Manner of Receiving Communion

Ben Yanke — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 18:30:31 +0000

Bishop Morlino: I invite you to receive kneeling as an extra sign of reverence for the Holy Eucharist

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Milton Friedman on Capitalism

Ben Yanke — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 21:16:26 +0000

This is an absolute must-watch. Check it out. However, if you can’t, check out the transcript below. This is one of the best apologies for the free-market that I have heard yet. My crazy socialist professor needs to hear this.

Phil Donahue (interviewer): When you see around the globe, the mal-distribution of wealth, a desperate plight of millions of people in underdeveloped countries.

When you see so few “haves” and so many “have-nots.” When you see the greed and the concentration of power. Did you ever have a moment of doubt about capitalism and whether greed is a good idea to run on?

Milton Friedman: Well first of all tell me is there some society you know that doesn’t run on Greed? You think Russia doesn’t run on greed? You think China doesn’t run on greed? What is greed? Of course none of us are greedy, it’s only the other fellow who is greedy.

The world runs on individuals pursuing their separate interests. The great achievements of civilization have not come from government bureaus. Einstein didn’t construct his theory under order from a bureaucrat. Henry Ford didn’t revolutionize the automobile industry that way. In the only cases in which the masses have escaped from the kind of grinding poverty you’re talking about – the only cases in recorded history – are where they have had capitalism and largely free trade.

If you want to know where the masses are worst off, it’s exactly in the kinds of societies that depart from that. So that the record of history is absolutely crystal clear that there is no alternative way so far discovered of improving the lot of the ordinary people that can hold a candle to the productive activities that are unleashed by a free enterprise system.

Donahue: But it seems to reward not virtue as much as ability to manipulate the system…

Friedman: And what does reward virtue? You think the Communist commissar rewarded virtue? You think a Hitler rewarded virtue? You think – excuse me – if you’ll pardon me – do you think American Presidents reward virtue ? Do they choose their appointees on the basis of the virtue of the people appointed or on the basis of their political clout ? Is it really true that political self-interest is nobler somehow than economic self-interest ?

You know, I think you’re taking a lot of things for granted. Just tell me where in the world you find these angels who are going to organize society for us ? Well, I don’t even trust you to do that.

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