Happy 4th of July

Since the general civilizations of mankind I believe there are more instances of the abridgements of freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations. - James Madison

The condition on which God has given liberty to man is eternal vigilance. - John Philpot Curran  

(Both taken from Phillip's book of Great Thoughts & Funny Sayings)

The 110th Rule

Labour to keep alive in your breast that little celestial fire called conscience. - George Washington (Rules of Civility & Decent Behavior in Company and Conversation)

The hidden fruit of suffering

Even suffering is part of the truth of our life. Thus, trying to  shield the youngest from every difficulty and experience of  suffering, we risk creating, despite our good intentions, fragile  persons of little generosity: The capacity to love, in fact, corresponds to the capacity to suffer,  and to suffer together.   -Benedict XVI

The genius of humility

We don't know a millionth of one percent about anything. - Thomas Alva Edison  (From The 2,548 Best Things Anybody Ever Said)

Canada Day and the return of Quote-a-thon

Canada is the vichyssoise of nations: Cold, half-French and difficult to stir. - Staurt Keate (From the Traveling Curmudgeon)

With the beginning of July 2011 I hope to mark a return to random babbling on this blog about various topics. - Padre

Blessed Feast of the Sacred Heart to all Catholics!  His mercy endures forever!

Other endings

It isn’t necessary to imagine the world ending in fire or ice — there are two other possibilities: one is paperwork, and the other is nostalgia. - Frank Zappa

In Word & Sacrament

The intermediate coming is a hidden one; in it only the elect see the Lord within their own selves, and they are saved. In his first coming our Lord came in our flesh and in our weakness; in this middle coming He comes in spirit and in power; in the final coming He will be seen in glory and majesty.
Because this coming lies between the other two, it is like a road on which we travel from the first coming to the last. In the first, Christ was our redemption; in the last, he will appear as our life; in this middle coming, he is our rest and consolation. - St. Bernard