“Men feel that the cruelty to the poor is a kind of cruelty to animals. They never feel that it is injustice to equals; nay, it is treachery to comrades. This dark, scientific pity, this brutal pity, has an elemental sincerity of its own, but it is entirely useless for all ends of social reform.” G.K. Chesterton, Charles Dickens

How am I as a person contributing to injustice?

For over 250 years here in San Antonio, the parishoners of the city’s cathedral, San Fernando, put on a massive Passion Play in the streets of downtown San Antonio. It’s a tradition for many families to travel downtown to witness it, the oldest Passion play in North America according to local newscasts. One of our TV stations has saved it on streaming video for you to watch: http://www.woai.com/mediacenter/local.aspx?videoid=520146

The dialogue is in Spanish, with an English translation. I hope you enjoy this long-held tradition that takes a year in the making for some of my fellow San Antonians.

Viva Cristo Rey!

Some beautiful words from my friend, Catholic artist Sharmane:

This past weekend I was privileged to sing in a wedding. The bride was the most beautiful bride I have ever seen! I experienced something I have never experienced before. God filled my soul with such joy as he spoke to me. He was telling me that all of his children are “that beautiful” in His eyes. He sees our beauty from the depths of our soul. He has breathed his life in each of us. I closed my eyes and pictured myself as HIS bride.

Ah, you are beautiful, my beloved, ah, you are beautiful! Your eyes are doves behind your veil. — Songs of Songs 4:1

I took this lovely quiz with answers I believe were what the Church teaches, and my score came out to be 55, which the site says means…

The moderate hermeneutic might be seen as the voice of reason and open-mindedness. Moderates generally score between 53 to 65. Many are conservative on some issues and progressive on others. It intrigues that conservatives tend to be progressive on the same issues, while progressives tend to be conservative on the same issues. Nonetheless, moderates have a flexible hermeneutic that gives them the freedom to pick and choose on which issues they will be progressive or conservative. For that reason, moderates are more open to the charge of inconsistency. What impresses me most about moderates are the struggles they endure to render judgments on hermeneutical issues.

Interesting.

Take the quiz here: http://buildingchurchleaders.com/assessments/individuals/her meneuticsquiz.html

from…myself. During a conversation today:

i dont like this whole “life is a process” thing sometimes, you know? It would be so great if we could just go to heaven already. But i guess i would rather be on earth perfecting myself than in purgatory for umpteen thousand years.

While doing some spring cleaning today, I ran across several poems that I thought would be nice to post here. All poems are copyright Angela Santana.
(Read on …)

This weekend is a healing weekend. I came to church needing Divine Mercy, and my whole experience was one of healing:

1. Reconciliation - There is no substitute for this Sacrament. I am convinced.

2. Readings - All about a new beginning, a new life in Christ:

Thus says the Lord GOD:
O my people, I will open your graves
and have you rise from them,
and bring you back to the land of Israel.
[...]
I will put my spirit in you that you may live…

How beautiful, that God would call us His own. This prophecy foretells the resurrection of the dead, both spiritually and physically. “With the Lord there is mercy and fullness of redemption.” (Psalm 130) God knew just what I needed to hear in order to restore and heal me. It was comforting to repeat this line over and again. Then the reading from the Letter of Paul to the Romans, arguably the foremost letter when speaking about morality issues, was a reminder for me that although my flesh is weak, God’s own spirit will strengthen me to live as a follower of Christ. The power of grace is evident here — sharing in God’s own life.

Finally, the Gospel speaks of Christ’s humanity: His pity for the people, His tears for His dead friend. But we also see Christ’s divinity, as He raises Lazarus’ dead body to life. (Sidenote: Don’t we see both the humanity and divinity of Christ in every gospel story?)
3. Eucharistic Presence - After receiving the LORD, I tried to listen to His voice. It’s been a while since I’ve made an effort to be still and listen. He said, Come to me, Angela. See how much I love you. I am here. I am here with you now. I have forgiven you. I have freed you.

I know that you have fallen down, but look — I have picked you up again! I am holding your hand. Even when you fall, I am holding your hand. I never leave you.

Though we fall, though we fail to love God with all that we are, we must kneel before the Lord, beg His forgiveness, and let Him lift us back on our feet, with His Spirit in our souls and His True Presence as our strength. Every time I fail, I see how great the Lord’s plan is for me, and how foolish it is to do anything besides what the Lord wants of us.

WHOA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! SO EXCITING!

“The Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration are establishing a new foundation in San Antonio, Texas and will be arriving at Our Lady of Atonement sometime in May.” — Jeff Miller’s blog

WOW! I’m so glad that they’re coming to town! They bless wherever they are with their beautiful, holy, prayerful presence. I hope the Lord will make this foundation fruitful. I’ve always admired their order. Yay! {grin}

The Sisters who will come to San Antonio (L) and the parish they will live in (R), Our Lady of the Atonement Catholic Church.

Our Lady of the Atonement is an interesting parish here. As their website says, they are “the first of several ‘personal parishes’ erected in the United States for the Anglican Use Liturgy. This parish has no affiliation with the so-called ‘Continuing Anglican Movement,’ nor with any branch of the Episcopal or Anglican churches. Rather, its members, many of whom are converts from the Episcopal Church, have been granted permission to retain some elements of the Anglican liturgical heritage while being fully Roman Catholic. Throughout the world the Catholic Church has numerous liturgical rites all under the authority of the Roman Pontiff, and the Church has always taught that there can be legitimate diversity in unity. While the liturgy used at Our Lady of the Atonement Parish is not a separate Rite, it is the only approved variation of the Latin Rite in the United States.”

It’s interesting that the order decided to go to this particular parish, but the parish is known for its reverence and tradition. You can even tell that from the church’s architecture. They celebrate the Low, High, and Solemn Latin Masses at this parish. They also have a highly-respected Catholic grade school, Atonement Academy.

BIG DISCOVERY!!!

I’ve known about Leeland’s existence since they released their first record, but I’ve never taken the time to really learn more about them. Today, I was surfing on MySpace and began listening to some of their songs. I was just blown away by the Catholic value of some of their songs, especially “Carried to the Table.” Do yourself a huge favor & give them a listen.

In personal news, on Thursday, my boyfriend and I celebrated three months together. I can’t believe how much I have grown as a person since I entered this relationship. So often, I feel like I’m living in a miracle, a fairy tale, a dream. The beautiful power of real love astounds me like nothing but the Lord has astounded me (- and the Lord is Love). Josh has taught me so much about life and about God by his words and actions, and he feels the same about me. Probably one of the greatest feelings I have ever experienced is when Josh and I are kneeling together after receiving Holy Communion, with such a great amount of joy in our hearts, minds, bodies and souls. I have never loved anyone like I love Joshua.

Part of the blessing of this relationship has been how God has humbled me. Young adulthood really hits you when you realize the power of hormones, the struggle to stay chaste, and what chastity means. It makes you re-examine what you have been taught in theory and you are challenged to put all of your beliefs into real practice. I thank God that He has blessed me with a Catholic boyfriend who understands that struggle, and never wants to pressure me into doing something I don’t want to do. That being said, we still struggle.

I’ve come to realize the importance of picking yourself up when you fall spiritually. Confession has been one of the greatest blessings these past three months, and I’m so grateful to our university chaplain and my other confessors for truly being Christ in word and deed during the celebration of the Sacrament of Mercy. The Eucharist has also taken on a new meaning with all the things I’ve learned the past 93 days. The love of Christ becomes ever more unfathomable when you find yourself in love with another human being. The enormous strength of love that can exist between two sinful creatures pales in comparison to the glorious and EVER so merciful Love between Christ and His Church, His people. Yes, never before have I felt so unworthy to receive the Lord, and never before has receiving Communion been so great a gift. Words simply cannot capture all that I feel on this subject.

How great is our God, how wonderful His love. How mysterious, that He should wish us to spread His Perfect Love. This song describes perfectly the lesson that Abba has taught me:

Carried to the Table {by Leeland}

Wounded and forsaken
I was shattered by the fall
Broken and forgotten
Feeling lost and all alone
Summoned by the King
Into the Master’s courts
Lifted by the Savior
And cradled in His arms

I was carried to the table
Seated where I don’t belong
Carried to the table
Swept away by His love
And I don’t see my brokenness anymore
When I’m seated at the table of the Lord
I’m carried to the table
The table of the Lord

Fighting thoughts of fear
And wondering why He called my name
Am I good enough to share this cup
This world has left me lame
Even in my weakness
The Savior called my name
In His Holy presence
I’m healed and unashamed

You carried me, my God
You carried me

Words & Music by Leeland Dayton Mooring, Steve Hindalong and Marc Byrd / © 2006 Meaux Mercy (BMI) / Meaux Hits / Never Say Never Songs (ASCAP) / New Spring (ASCAP). All rights for the world on behalf of Never Say Never Songs administered by New Spring (ASCAP) / Meaux Mercy / Blue Raft Music (BMI)

Go Dawn! Sex is a gift from God and so, so, so sacredly connected to marriage and our souls.

This drives me nuts: “Sex goes downhill after marriage.” Well YEAH, if you’re used to having it often with someone who is not your spouse, that makes tons of sense. But if you save sex for your spouse, how beautiful it will be to give your body and soul to that one person, time after time! Renewing your covenant with each other and with God, who is Love!