Definition of a Christian?



From The Office of Readings:



Christians are indistinguishable from other men either by nationality, language or customs. They do not inhabit separate cities of their own, or speak a strange dialect, or follow some outlandish way of life. their teaching is not based upon reveries inspired by the curiosity of men. Unlike some other people, they champion no purely human doctrine. With regard to dress, food and manner of life in general, they follow the customs of whatever city they happen to be living in, whether it is Greek or foreign.



And yet there is something extraordinary about their lives. They live in their own countries as though they were only passing through. They play their full role as citizens, but labour under all the disabilities of aliens. Any country can be their homeland, but for them their homeland, wherever it may be, is a foreign country. Like others, they marry and have children, but they do not expose them. They share their meals, but not their wives. They live in the flesh, but they are not governed by the desires of the flesh. They pass their days upon earth, but they are citizens of heaven. Obedient to the laws, they yet live on a level that transcends the law.



Christians love all men, but all men persecute them. Condemned because they are not understood, they are put to death, but raised to life again. They live in poverty, but enrich many; they are totally destitute, but possess an abundance of everything. They suffer dishonour, but that is their glory. They are defamed, but vindicated. A blessing is their answer to abuse, deference their response to insult. For the good they do they receive the punishment of malefactors, but even then they rejoice, as though receiving the gift of life. They are attacked by the Jews as aliens, they are persecuted by the Greeks, yet no one can explain the reason for this hatred.



To speak in general terms, we may say that the Christian is to the world what the soul is to the body. As the soul is present in every part of the body, while remaining distinct from it, so Christians are found in all the cities of the world, but cannot be identified with the world. As the visible body contains the invisible soul, so Christians are seen living in the world, but their religious life remains unseen. The body hates the soul and wars against it, not because of any injury the soul has done it, but because of the restriction the soul places on its pleasures. Similarly, the world hates the Christians, not because they have done it any wrong, but because they are opposed to its enjoyments.



Christians love those who hate them just as the soul loves the body and all its members despite the body’s hatred. It is by the soul, enclosed within the body, that the body is held together, and similarly, it is by the Christians, detained in the world as in a prison, that the world is held together. The soul, though immortal, has a mortal dwelling place; and Christians also live for a time amidst perishable things, while awaiting the freedom from change and decay that will be theirs in heaven. As the soul benefits from the deprivation of food and drink, so Christians flourish under persecution. Such is the Christian’s lofty and divinely appointed function, from which he is not permitted to excuse himself.



Diognetus gives us a lot to meditate upon. How do we see his view of a Christian matching up with how we view our lot in this world?

Terror Alert Raised Amid Threats Against Boston, NY, DC and East Coast Beaches







One wonders if one of these times the boy who cried wolf will actually be bitten?



From ABC News:



An FBI bulletin obtained by ABCNEWS points to two recent e-mails intercepted by U.S. intelligence. One message, according to the bulletin, warns of "a possible devastating attack in the next 48 hours and urged all Muslims to leave all cities, especially Boston, New York and the commercial coastline."



However, one government official said intelligence analysts have serious doubts about the credibility of the source of those messages.



A separate message targets Washington and again points to possible attacks against New York and the nation's beaches.



The nation's terror-alert status was yellow — the third level, signifying "elevated." Orange is the fourth level, and red is the fifth and highest level.

How One Diocese Dealt with Clergy Abuse Complaint



From the Albany timesunion.com:



Candles and incense burned in the chapel as a circle of clerics splashed holy oils on him, David Leonard recalled of what he described as his exorcism 25 years ago.



Murmured prayers swelled into shouts and accusations, he said. The priests were trying to expel demons they believed were troubling the 35-year-old man who said a priest sexually abused him when he was a child.

Who is Joe Scarborough?







A Floridian...

A graduate of both the University of Alabama and Florida...

A former member of Congress...

and host of MSNBC show called Scarborough Country...

and now named the "generic angry white man" by some bloggers.



For more...Joe Scarborough for Congress

Pope Reflects on His Own Death



From Pope's day before God nears, Yahoo News:



"Yesterday, I turned 83. I am ever more aware of the fact that the day when I have to account for my life before God is always closer," the pope, speaking in Polish, said on Monday in unprepared remarks in St Peter's Square to thousands of visiting Poles.

Trouble in Orthodoxy



From Telegraph | News | Greek bishop is accused of hiring hit-man to kill Patriarch:



A Greek Orthodox bishop is to be charged under anti-terrorism laws in Athens for allegedly plotting to murder the head of the ancient Patriarchate of Jerusalem.

Bishop Timotheos of Vostra is accused of offering to pay a hit-man $500,000 (£354,000) to have his clerical rival, Patriarch Irenaios, killed.



According to Irenaios's lawyer, Timotheos offered the money to a Palestinian radical, Yusaf Naim al-Mufti. He was said to be angry that he had lost out to Irenaios in the 2001 election to become patriarch - one of the most sought-after roles within the Greek Orthodox Church.

Happy Birthday Pope John Paul II!



E-MAIL the Pope!







E-Mail the Holy Father a Birthday Wish by going to the Vatican Web Site and click on "BIrthday of the Holy Father" or just send your message to: John_Paul_II@vatican.va