Bartholomew I to Visit Pontiff

Posted on by Fr. Peter

VATICAN CITY, JAN. 8, 2008 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI will receive in audience Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople, who will visit Rome to mark the 90th anniversary of the Pontifical Oriental Institute.

The Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity confirmed the audience is scheduled for Thursday, March 6.

The patriarch will visit Rome for the celebrations of the anniversary of the foundation of the Pontifical Oriental Institute, entrusted to the Society of Jesus, and established by Pope Benedict XV in 1917.

Bartholomew I himself received a doctorate from the institute.

Benedict XVI visited the patriarch in Turkey in 2006, on the occasion of the feast of St. Andrew.

On Dec. 6, the Pope received a delegation from the Pontifical Oriental Institute and recognized that the role the institute provides has “an effective ecumenical value, because drawing from the heritage of wisdom of the Christian East enriches everyone.”

ZE08010807 – 2008-01-08Permalink: http://www.zenit.org/article-21436?l=english

New Hampshire

Posted on by Fr. Peter
So New Hampshire votes today! I am listening to NPR and it seems there are very long lines of people turning out to vote! I guess the weather is helping to get the vote out. If you are reading this and live in the Granite State go vote if you have not already done so.

Fr. Greg and I were going to be in New Hampshire today to podcast and cover the election for OCN but we both have funerals today so the election will take a back seat. I am sure we will cover the vote here in Massachusetts when that time comes next month.

Follow up from yesterday

Posted on by Fr. Peter
So it would seem I had 35 hits yesterday because I included Brittany Spears and Dr. Phil in my post. I wonder if I will get another 35 today because I did it again. No comments were left so I do not know if anyone read my ramblings. I also did not hear if Dr. Phil was able to get Brittany (another 35 hits) on the show. More to come…

Dr. Phil & Britany

Posted on by Fr. Peter
I usually have a lot of respect for Dr. Phil. I like to watch his show and he seems to really help people. Now I know that much of what he takes on is driven by ratings but I think he has stooped to a new level with this Brittany Spears business.

Rod Dreher has a posting about it on his Crunchy Con Blog.

I feel bad for any person that has to go through what that family is going through. With that said I believe that much of it is brought on by themselves. Brittany Spears, Lindsay Lohan, Paris Hilton and that ilk all need help. I also find it amazing that we eat this stuff up! The other day I was watching the local news and it was breaking news about Brit going to the hospital. What about our men and women fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan? What about gas prices going up while the oil companies post record earnings? What about the presidential election? No we get breaking news about another famous person acting stupid. Sorry if this sounds harsh but like the stars that fall we bring this all on ourselves. We live to see news about the so called beautiful people. Tom Cruise and whats-her-name have a child before they are married, BAM breaking news. Tom Brady, and his this week girl friend, have a child before marriage, BAM, braking news. Three fire fighters get hurt last night fighting a fire and where is it? Buried in a little box on page whatever in the paper.

Where are our priorities? What do we believe? Go for it Dr. Phil, make all the money you can. When your show airs latter on this week I bet it will have the best ratings of any show you have done all season, but I don’t think I will be watching.

Iowa

Posted on by Fr. Peter
Well the first shots of the Presidential election season have been fired. The Iowa Caucus. Now I am not sure what happens at this event but it is traditionally the first test for candidates and as usually none of the front runners got the nod, who knows. Now the talking heads say the big test is New Hampshire.

It seems the election season get earlier and earlier each time round. I remember an episode from the West Wing. The President has just been re-elected (is that a hyphenated word?) and people started working on the next election. That seems strange. Anyway we are off and running. Actually we have been off and running for what seems like four years already.

We need to start paying attention to the candidates. I have not done much research as I usually wait till only the serious ones are left, well the ones who can get elected anyway. We need to pay attention to what they say. I told someone the other day that we need to read for ourselves what the candidates have to say and not listen to what other people said they said. We need to make up our own minds and let someone “spin” or if you believe Bill O’Riley “no spin” Read the candidates website and their official statements. Match their words with what we believe as Orthodox Christians or whatever we maybe. (I mean that in a nice way) I guess the bottom line is make up your own mind.

I try to stay on the fray of the political discussion and I do have some pretty hard and fast thoughts on things that I don’t always share. However, I feel this election will be one of the most important ones since reconstruction. Pay attention and make an informed decision. Don’t vote for the guy, or girl, that looks the best!

New Year Blessing

Posted on by Fr. Peter
I have noticed that several people have found the blog by searching for the New Year Blessing so I thought I would recycle this post. I also want to wish all of my readers a very Happy, Blessed, and Healthy New Year! Thank you for reading my words over the last year and also listening to my new podcast that was started this year.

I am off in a few minutes to a celebration of Hogmany and then back here latter on. Be safe today.

God, bless to me the new day,
never vouchsafed to me before;
it is to bless your own presence
you have given me this time, O God.

Bless to my eye,
may my eye bless all it sees;
I will bless my neighbor,
may my neighbor bless me.

God, give me a clean heart,
let me not from sight of your eye;
bless to me my family,
and bless to me my means.

Ancient Celtic Prayers collected by Alexander Carmichael (1832-1912), published in Carmina Gadelica (Edinburgh: Floris Books, 1992). These are prayers, hymns, and incantations collected in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland in the 18th century.

New England Patriots

Posted on by Fr. Peter
Well I have seen some great sports in Boston, two world series wins, and a few super bowl wins but tonight the New England Patriots went 16-0 on the season! It is 11:20pm and I need to go to be before Liturgy tomorrow. Great Day!

His Majesty King Michael I’s Message for the New Year of 2008

Posted on by Fr. Peter
Romanians,

After our first year of membership within the European Union, one can say that democracy and liberty are stable in Romanian society. I know there are still problems in the fields of education, health and the living conditions of elderly people and that there are reasons for disappointment. However, the economy is on an ascending trend and is breaking away from the past, politics is dynamic and we have, for the first time in history, Romanian elected representatives in the European Parliament.

Our country has joined the dignified family of free nations. From now on we can start to distinguish between prosperity and identity, freedom and duty, between politics and fundamental values. Our public sector representatives should serve their institutions, and their country, not be served by them. We need stable institutions with an eye on the future.
Romania needs to build a European Constitution, which will assign clear, unequivocal and complementary roles to the State’s institutions. This is a question of honour, respect for our traditions and for democracy. In this way, we can complete our country’s economic and social reconstruction.

A nation, just like a human being, has its personality and its inner life. Romania, like each and every one of us, has her story, deeply interwoven with her past and her destiny. Romania will have a place in the international system if she can demonstrate that knows how to respect democracy and cultivate an instinct for the national good.

So help us God!
Michael R
The Savarsin Castle, 26th December 2007

From the blog of Prince Radu
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