 |
|
available in full graphics and/or textonly |
We first learned of this demotion through an e-mail from one of our subscribers and then contacted the Dish Network to get the skivvy. As with most companies, it is nigh unto impossible to get through to the decision makers as we were put off by a representative named Sheryl who claimed she was in charge of promotions for the company, but when we asked her how many channels the Dish Network carried, she couldn't give us a number. Not too knowledgable for someone promoting a product. But we can give you a number, the toll-free number to call and register your complaint: 888-621-2078 or 800-333-DISH (3474). We also asked her why EWTN was being "cut in half," and she could only say, "they decided on it." We asked who "they" were and finally got her to admit it came from the top, the powers-to-be in the person of Mr. Ergan, the CEO. We were able to coax his e-mail out of her and proceeded to e-mail Mr. Ergan, or "Charlie" as he's referred to at charliechat@dishnetwork.com. We include his e-mail address here so you, too, can flood him with posts protesting his decision to pare back EWTN. Hopefully the numbers will impress him and he will reconsider. Anyway, we inquired of Mr. Ergan on why a corporation boasting 180 channels needs to double-up two stations, especially in light of the fact they carry East and West Coast time versions of the same channel on different channels such as Nickolodeon, sports, etc. which are basically repeats but more for the convenience of time zones. That is all well and good, but not at the expense of another channel's full capabilities and especially the caliber of programming offered by EWTN! For a full listing of the channels offered you can go to their webpage at www.dishnetwork.com because there is also a box you can fill out asking for a specific channel to be added. We recommend you go there and write in EWTN with the words 24 hours full time after it. We also asked Ergan if he realized he was biting the hand that feeds him in so far as Mother actively promoted the Dish on her programs, encouraging viewers to subscribe to the Dish Network so they could be assured of receiving EWTN in their area where cable did not carry it, or, as in the case with our cable company, where it is piggy backed with another network (such as the Discovery Channel here) and we only can get EWTN from 3 a.m. to 9 a.m. daily. Many purchased the dish at Mother's urging and now, they, too are about to be betrayed. As we reminded Ergan, is this anyway to reward loyalty? Will he buy back the dish from all those promised 24 hours of EWTN programming? For those with the dish network, we understand Ergan has his own program on Monday evening, April 6 on Channel 100 at 6 p.m. Eastern Time. Why not flood him with calls on this EWTN situation. If you don't speak up, who will?
For those who don't have the dish, don't feel this doesn't affect you. It affects all loyal Catholics who treasure what Mother Angelica has done in spreading the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Faith to all over her global Catholic Network. We are quite aware that there are many liberal bishops out to curtail Mother's evangelization mission and we wouldn't even put it past them that they somehow have had a hand in this decision at EchoStar. Though we have no proof, we do know some bishops have put pressure on cable companies to influence them not to carry EWTN. There is a concentrated effort to silence Mother and the closer she comes to exposing the liberals and their true agenda of disobeying Rome, the more the attacks against her. Remember, we wrote in this column about a month ago that all the threats Cardinal Roger Mahony made against Mother has come to naught. Of course, because to go through proper channels would bring to the surface Mother's true loyalty and seriously question Mahony's and the others' intent on why they want to silence a voice which is echoing the Vicar of Christ. With over 200 million Catholics in North America, two thirds of that number in the United States, one has to ask if there are any other networks out there that can boast those kind of demographics. Even the big three, ABC, CBS and NBC have never come close to that plateau in numbers on a regular basis. Not that that many Catholics watch EWTN, let alone practice their faith, but the point is Mother has built up a loyal following over the sixteen to seventeen years she has been on the air which began in 1981, the same year the Medjugorje apparitions began and the same year Cyndi and yours truly tied the knot. The point is we cannot sit idly by and let others dictate what we watch and when, we cannot sit idly by and let others influence our faith and water it down be it in the pulpit or by curtailing the hours excellent Roman Catholic programming is aired. We pointed out emphatically to Ergan that EWTN is the ONLY full-time programming available anywhere in the contiguous United States with an estimated 75 million Catholics tuning in at various times of the day. To cut this excellent and needed programming in half is not only a disservice to them, but a tremendous slap in the face of the Catholic Church. We consider it one more attack by satan to curtail God's work on earth. Please flood Ergan's office and e-mail today and often with your concerns. We can make a difference for God's sake, but, if we sit silently by, we will be satan's accomplices!
Dish Network URL: www.dishnetwork.com
The price of reconciliation is very high. It needs that all pride must be squeezed out of each heart. No reconciliation is possible when one refuses to find guilt in one’s behavior. In today’s world when there is the craze to rationalize in order to justify oneself for any and every action, reconciliation is not even sought after. Anger and hatred surface as a result. It is no wonder that we have families and nations torn apart. Prayer with the heart is a must! Without it, no one can find humility enough to apologize and ask for forgiveness either from God, from neighbor, or even from self. Special graces are needed from God for reconciliation, graces which cannot be received unless we have a heart to Heart relationship with Him. Yes, the price of reconciliation is very high, but we only get what we pay for. If we wish to live a life of peace and joy, the highest quality of life known to God and man, we must be ready to humble ourselves before God and our fellowman at any price. Reconciliation is that experience of heart which the world today needs more than ever!
Those of us of the Fold, those of us who claim to be Mary’s children, have every grace available to us, most certainly, the grace of total reconciliation. How Our Lady pleads for reconciliation’s amongst all of Her children. It is no wonder that we hear of her apparitions beginning to come to an end. There is nothing else She can do. She has most assuredly outdone Herself in our day. Let us all fulfill what She is asking and be reconciled with one another.
In my next installment, I will talk about Zero Resistance, Zero Ego Drive.
And I see them - demons - around the pillar, and around the Roman soldiers. Hundreds upon hundreds of grotesque beings who can best, I feel, be described as "hate with form." These demons move among the soldiers and constantly whisper to them. The soldiers grow agitated even though, as of yet, nothing is happening.
Suddenly many of these demons rush past me and mingle with the common people and the same agitation stirs in them. I hear them hiss as they pass by me, a sound of fire sizzling with unvented energy.
The soldiers move. There is a shout. A command. And Jesus, our Lord and God, is brought out from a small doorway into the courtyard.
I see Him and my heart weeps for already He is barely recognizable, so much has He endured. His garments are stained, His once beautiful honey-colored hair darkened by blood, sweat and the filth people have battered Him with.
He moves slowly, already fatigued and in pain, and His footsteps are unsteady. There are two burly Roman soldiers, one on each side who, by keeping a hand on each elbow, move Jesus to the pillar. There they remove the ropes around His wrists and waist as well as the heavy chain which is wrapped around His neck and which crisscrosses His chest.
The soldier in charge, a youngish man a year, maybe two younger than our Lord, orders the prisoner to strip. Jesus meekly obeys, but he has difficulty pulling the long tunic over His head for the binding of His wrists has stopped proper circulation in His arms.
Impatiently the garment is yanked over His head, and because the hundreds upon hundreds of demons still harass the soldiers, they all but rip the shorter tunic off. Jesus, the Sinless One, the Pure Lamb of God, is naked except for His undergarment which surrounds His loins.
The captain gives another command and the two soldiers attach a chain again to Jesus’ wrists and they pull Him to the pillar. There is an iron ring near the top of the pillar, and through this ring the soldiers run the length of the chain until Jesus is stretched completely. Our Lord is on tip-toe and His torso and limbs are elongated as far as possible.
He says nothing but I can hear Him praying; to His Father the prayer of His Divine Heart and Soul rises. It is a continual prayer of forgiveness and it is united with Infinite Love, and also Infinite Sadness.
Another order, and the men come from under the porch where they have waited in the shade. I understand they are professional torturers in the hire of the Roman government. They are brawny men, bare-chested with muscles that bulge as each flexes the scourge or whip he holds. The three men take up their position.
The first steps forward, eyes fixed upon his victim and the whip is tested several times for accuracy and strength as it lands only inches from our Lord'’ feet, sand the hard ground is cut to pieces as dirt flies. The Roman captain nods and now the whip flies forward. Now, it is not hard ground, but soft, tender flesh that it rips.
Over and over and over again in a rhythmic motion, the whip finds our Lord’s back and curves around to his torso, chest, ribs. The head, neck, shoulders, buttocks, legs, knees, and feet are not left unscathed, and the whip bites deeply. Large, horrid long welts are raised and appear scarlet against Jesus’ white flesh.
NEXT INSTALLMENT: Part Three of Lesson 10: THE SCOURGING AND THE CROWNING WITH THORNS
In summary, the webmaster David Pentrack stays on track by providing a cornucopia of material, gathered from excellent sources on the net, in succinct and simple one, two, three bulleted items that the browser can easily follow. There are so many wonderful surprises at this site that is totally loyal to the Magisterium and features the Monthly Medjugorje Message at the top of their home page. The site is music-optional that adds to the atmosphere of the experience at Et Cum Spiritu Tuo. There are some fascinating pages that are thought and soul-provoking in deciphering the difference between self-love and holy love as well as a diagrammed syllogism on the journey to being Spirit-filled. Speaking of the latter, this site offers an excellent traditional explanation of the Charismatic movement as it is meant to be, with examples and scriptural backup. The site loads very quickly and, while there are few graphics, the layout of each page is easy to follow and interesting with good use of color and a minimum of words as well as offering a links section that is broken down into categories. Therefore, we are pleased to award the "Golden Chalice Award" and confer SEVEN Hail Mary's to this site, where, no matter how staunch a Catholic a person may be, one can always learn more and enhance one's spirituality and practicality of the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Faith.
Among the various aspects of lay formation, building one’s spiritual life comes first, with special emphasis on one’s Eucharistic life and participation in the Liturgy. One also needs sound doctrinal formation, and training in the Church’s social teaching.
Who forms the laity? In the Church, papal teaching is a primary part of formation. Bishops, through media and diocesan programs, also forms individuals. Most formation should occur in the parish for adult laity. In addition, there are many small Church communities which freely arise. These can be powerful centers of formation. Also, the family is a basic context for formation, as are Catholic schools at various levels, from grade schools to universities.
The Apostolic Exhortation ends with a prayer to the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God and our Mother. She is the greatest lay person, the lay person who is the perfect model and intercessor for the rest of us.
1282 A.D.
Start of the notorious Sicilian Vespers in Palermo in which over 8,000 Frenchmen were slaughtered.
1492 A.D.
Jews were exiled from Spain at the order of Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand, enforced by the Court of Inquisitions because of Jewish meddling in state affairs and insurrection against the Spanish Catholics.
1533 A.D.
King Henry VIII divorces Catherine of Aragon forcing the Church's hand with excommunication by Pope Clement VII four months later.
