THEOLOGY OF THE BODY & DIGITAL MEDIA

TV SERIES: "GOD FRIENDED ME"

Watched 1 episode of #GodFriendedMe. Not perfect, but some good points.

Very contempo in a good way. Like, God is not irrelevant.

U just know that more often than not, love/mercy/the right thing to do?

It's gonna be the demythologized, horizontal thing to do.

God is PC.

BUT still worth a watch. Gonna keep 👁️ing.

My question is: WHY was this created? WHO created it? WHAT do they believe?
Is this another attempt to capture the "Christian market"? Is it a sincere exploration from within/without the believing world? Is it just an intriguing "subject"? Inquiring minds want to know!

THEOLOGY OF THE BODY YOUTH RETREAT--PETERBOROUGH--NOV. 16-18

Sr. Helena will be presenting Friday night and Saturday.

Online registration: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfJV6yqanh_H7z2CN6FYJ4AbtxT4MKbWnqoU65LW-siKNLVjw/viewform

For more information: Nicholas DuBonnet dubonnen@gmail.com

THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN CRISIS: THEOLOGY ON TAP, GUELPH, ONTARIO

CHRIST OF THE APOCALYPSE: A ONE-DAY BIBLE STUDY OF THE BOOK OF REVELATION--TORONTO

Msgr. Robert Nusca, PhD will present his new book, "The Christ of the Apocalypse."
We will explore the many faces of Jesus in the last book of the Bible
The Book of Revelation is the answer to postmodernism.

Copies of Monsignor's book will be available for sale.

THEOLOGY OF THE BODY IN CALGARY!

Calgary, AB

One-day retreat! All are welcome.

THEOLOGY OF THE BODY: THE MASCULINE GENIUS PART 1

More Theology of the Body talks at www.tinyurl.com/TOBsoundcloud!

MOVIES: "CRAZY RICH ASIANS"

The wildly popular movie "Crazy Rich Asians," from the novel by Kevin Kwan, is rated PG-13, but it's an almost G-rated, old-fashioned romance. (Some of my Asian friends are puzzled by its popularity since it's a sweet little movie, but not FANTASTIC. However, I, white friend, get it. I keep reminding them: This is a HOLLYWOOD film with an ALL-ASIAN CAST.)  Constance Wu (from TV's "Fresh Off the Boat") plays Rachel, a young, self-made professor of Economics at NYU. Her boyfriend is Nick (Henry Golding) who comes from one of the richest families in Singapore (well, actually, as developers they BUILT Singapore)--the only catch is, Rachel has no idea who he really is or who his family is. Nick invites her to a wedding in Singapore and she finds out--en route--what she's walking into.

Immediately, there's a showdown with the grand-dame and matriarch of the family, Eleanor (an aging-beautifully, beautifully-aging Michelle Yeoh), who makes no secret of her disdain for her son's choice of a girlfriend. Rachel is from the wrong class. Rachel is from the wrong part of the world. Rachel will never be one of them. Rachel will marry her son over her dead body.

As she's immersed in the opulence of, well, how crazy rich Asians live and party in The Lion City--Rachel learns who her friends and foes are. Just when it seems Nick's mother is going to accept her, Eleanor draws her close ONLY to be able to rub salt into the wound better. But Rachel is a "fighter" and gives Mom a run for her mah-jong money. Is Mom just playing a game, testing her, or is it for keeps that Rachel will never measure up?

Crazy Rich Asians is a fun, visually-appealing, moderately paced and restrained romantic comedy (the comedy is more surrounding our leading man and leading lady than the pair themselves). The fact that marriage is more than just love between two people is writ large here. The tension seems to be between the old guard, the elder generation who believe in having a big say in their adult children's life-decisions AND passionate young love that can nonetheless be worthy love. But is it?

The dialogue made me think that--despite perhaps even the writers being aware--it's also about dueling philosophies beyond the institution of marriage. That being said, Mom is concerned that "families don't just happen, one has to put family first." She is concerned about "building things that last" and not simply "seeking one's own happiness." Not bad ideas, those. But I think this outlook can be blended with a son or daughter seeking out and choosing their own suitable spouse. This spouse might have to work harder to "fit in," but it can still have the stability of an "arranged" type of marriage--but at the same time, be a marriage of the heart.

OTHER STUFF:

--The funnies are truly funny: "Eat up! There's starving children in America!"

--So, what does the Church teach about arranged marriages, parents' having a say in their adult child's vocation, etc.? Arranged marriages are fine, as long as the adult children are totally free and completely agree to it. Many cultures, even among Catholics, still do variations of arranged marriages. HOWEVER! One's vocation in life is a call from God and God must be obeyed, not parents in this matter. It's always great if parents are on board and give their blessing, but we must always follow our call/vocation from God even without that blessing--at first (and parents should be very careful about obstructing the will of God!) That being said, it's good to listen to parents' wisdom and advice, but in the end, we must follow God...even in the choice of a spouse. We may wish to get sage advice from others around us: priest, friends, other relatives. If they're all saying: "We really don't think you should marry this person! This person isn't right for you!" then maybe WE should be extra careful about making a bad choice! :)

"GOING TO GOD THROUGH OUR DESIRES" THEOLOGY OF THE BODY TALK (EXCERPT)

SR. MARIE PAUL, FSP--AUTHOR--IN TORONTO:OCTOBER 10-13, 2018

"THE MASCULINE GENIUS"--A THEOLOGY OF THE BODY TALK BY SR. HELENA BURNS, FSP

FRIDAY -- OCTOBER 19, 2018 -- 7-9:30pm
(begins with 7pm Mass in church; talk after in church hall)
St. Casimir Church   156 Roncesvalles Ave. Toronto, ON

John Paul II said a lot about "the feminine genius."

But did he ever say anything about "the masculine genius"?

What's great about being a man?

What is true masculinity?

What does it mean to be a man of God in today's world?

We will be looking at men from a THEOLOGY OF THE BODY perspective.

BOTH MEN AND WOMEN WELCOME!
(guys & dolls, ladies & gents, dudes & gals)

speaker: Sr. Helena Burns, fsp

FB event: https://www.facebook.com/CatholicWomensGroup/photos/gm.297396214410399/1526114327561023/?type=3&theater

fee: $5

No need to RSVP!

"DO NOT BE SAD THIS DAY. REJOICING IN THE LORD MUST BE YOUR STRENGTH." NEHEMIAH 8:10

A post shared by Pauline Media | Toronto 🇨🇦 (@paulinemediacanada) on Aug 20, 2018 at 7:14am PDT

THE BEST RESPONSE TO THE CLERGY SEX ABUSE SCANDAL 2018

Bishop Morlino. Diocese of Madison, Wisconsin.

This is COMPREHENSIVE.

https://madisondiocese.org/documents/2018/8/Letter%20to%20Diocese%20-%20Abuse%20Scandal%20-%20August%202018.pdf

FURTHER UPDATE from Bishop M:

https://madisondiocese.org/documents/2018/8/Statement%20-%20Bishop%20Morlino%20-%2008-27-2018.pdf

A BISHOP WITH THE HEART OF A PASTOR

Bishop Gary Gordon is now bishop of the diocese of Victoria, BC, CANADA. He is doing a lot of reaching out to First Nations people who were brutalized by residential schools. One of his priests shared this video from when he was bishop in the Yukon--as a "bright light" in the midst of this ongoing clergy sex abuse nightmare. (Bishop Gordon is also a former "Flying Father," priests who played hockey for charity and raised millions over decades.)

SR. HELENA'S DAILY BOOK FOR WOMEN: "HE SPEAKS TO YOU"

Y'all. Just in case you didn't know: I have a daily book for women, young and old. It's called "He Speaks To You."

• Jesus speaking directly to you
• A daily Scripture
• Does NOT follow the liturgical year, but progressively takes you through the basics of the interior life, starting with a grounding in God's love
• Each month has a different theme: God's will, work, Mary, heaven, suffering, etc.
• Something to do
• Something to journal
• Wisdom from the nuns (30 congregations participated!)
• A daily prayer

Here's an interview I did on Relevant Radio about the book when it first came out:

And here's where to get it: www.tinyurl.com/DailyBook (Also available on Amazon.)

UNLOCKING THE MYSTERIES OF THE BODY--MY "HUMANAE VITAE" INTERVIEW WITH DUBLIN'S "THE IRISH CATHOLIC"!

Originally published in "The Irish Catholic," July 19, 2018. Reprinted here with kind permission.

(This interview meant a lot to me. My real last name is "Byrne," and my ancestors are from Dublin.)

TORONTO: YOU ARE INVITED TO A BBQ WITH THE DAUGHTERS OF ST. PAUL! REAL SMOKE. REAL NUNS.

"THE DATING PROJECT" FREE FILM SCREENING--TORONTO--SEPTEMBER 7!

RESPONDING TO THE "TRANSGENDER MOMENT"

• • Wicked good book. Scientific, comprehensive & compassionate.
    "Can a boy be trapped in a girl's body? Can modern medicine reassign sex? Is our sex assigned in the first place? What is the most loving response to a person experiencing a conflicted sense of gender? What should our laws say on matters of gender identity? Ryan Anderson offers a nuanced view of human embodiment, a balanced approach to public policy on gender identity, and a sober assessment of the human costs of getting human nature wrong. This book exposes the contrast between the media's sunny depiction of gender fluidity and the often sad reality of living with gender dysphoria. It gives a voice to people who try to transition by changing their bodies, and found themselves no better off." Especially troubling are the stories told by adults who were encouraged to transition as children as though there were no other option (and without therapy) but later regretted it. The book is full of statistics and studies, such as the fact that people who have had transition surgery are nineteen times more likely then average to die by suicide (41% compared with 4.6% of the general population). Studies on gender dysphoria that even transgender activists cite show that around 80% of children/teens who express a discordant gender identity will come to identify with their bodily sex if natural development is allowed to proceed. "As Anderson shows, the most beneficial therapies focus on helping people accept themselves and live in harmony with their bodies. This understanding is vital for parents with children in schools where counselors may steer a child toward transitioning behind parents' backs. Everyone has something at stake in the controversies over transgender ideology, which gives rise to misguided policies that allow biological men into women's restrooms and that penalize Americans who hold to the truth about human nature. Anderson offers a strategy for pushing back with principal and prudence, compassion and grace."
  • stellaaaamarisI am very interested in this subject and will absolutely read this book. I have some experience at my school working with students who struggle with identity issues. Thanks for the recommendation. But as a professional school counselor I can promise you that we do not “steer a child to transition behind a parents’ back.” That’s unethical. We partner with parents who entrust their children to us for an education. We do not encourage our students to defy their parents or to keep secrets. We do work towards students accepting where they are and discussing these heavy issues with their parents when they feel strong enough to do so. We would never advocate for a child to do anything without a parental consent. I’m really not sure how we would do that? Exactly how would a child transition without parental consent? We don’t even change student schedules without consent in many cases. Counselors walk a fine line between keeping student confidentiality and a parent’s right to know what is going on with their child at school. These are sensitive issues with many consequences if not managed delicately and with the child’s safety in mind. It is understood that parents have a right to raise their child as they see best and school counselors would not interfere in such a manner. Please do not spread misinformation about our profession. #schoolcounselor#schoolscounselorsrock
  • srhelenaburns@stellaaaamaris I am sure there are many ethical school counselors and schools that have ethical policies. However, in Canada, we have legislation that is totally usurping parental rights and authority and is very secretive when it comes to a child speaking to their teacher or counselor. If a home is not "trans friendly" the child can be removed from the home by Child Services. And this can mean even if the child is not identifying as trans. If the government thinks a family is not teaching their children in general that transgender is normal and that children should transition, that is also cause for removal of children from their home.
  • michael_gasparroThank you for sharing!
  • incredible_sunshineBe blessed sister. Both for use of your gift of intelligence, and for compassion.
  • 4kidsandacatdogThis is going on my Amazon wish list
  • pkmikeytRyan Anderson is sooo good
  • 64kitkatI would like to read this! Thank you for sharing & God Bless!👀🙏
  • lena_barajas1@jmmagino this looks interesting
  • j6kiddsHalf way through

A FEMINIST TAKES A NEW LOOK AT THE MEN'S MOVEMENT