In the meantime….

One of my favorite things to do each day is read the news – Catholic news, world news and then tech news (and in that order!). I find that blogs tend to be a great source of both information, thoughtful commentary and just enough snarkiness to satisfy.

The problem is that anyone can pontificate (see my previous posts). But its fairly rare to find thoughtful blogs. So when one comes along, its worth pointing out.

Today’s featured blog is one that I discovered about a year ago. I was doing some research on the Brown Scapular. I had received my umpteenth bit of flak about suggesting it and needed some clout to come back against some of the ridiculous charges of superstition – as well as the legitimate frustration that some wear it superstitiously! Enter Sister Mary Martha, who fields questions at her blog. She answered the question quite nicely, but included this last bit which is both humorous and true:

Do I think if you wear a Brown Scapular and lead a sinful life and are not sorry ever but just run around saying, “Ha ha, I’m wearing a brown Scapular! Satan will never get me!” that you won’t see the fires of hell? Not a chance. Satan already has you.

The one time you take it off to shower, you’ll slip on the soap and crack your head open. The bus that knocks you out of your shoes will knock you right out of your scapular. The flood waters that wash you away will wash the scapular off your neck. Your evil boyfriend will remove it while you sleep and murder you for your jewels. The paramedic will take it off to give you a shot of adrenaline that doesn’t work. The nursing home worker will steal it from you. The atomic blast will vaporize the Scapular one millisecond before it vaporizes you. As you tumble, end over end, down the basement stairs with no one home to hear all the thumping, your scapular will be tossed off and land right before your eyes along with you at the foot of the stairs. As the life drains from you as you lay bleeding from your head wound, you will reach pathetically for your scapular, but the cat will grab it and run out the basement window. At some point, you are going to want to throw it in the wash. When you do, you’ll drop dead.

You are not going to get away with it, mark my words.

So, while you’re waiting for me to get back in the game here, head on over to Sister Mary Martha’s blog. I guarantee it’ll be worth your time

Peace,
Father Maurer