• About…
  • Portfolio

elizabeth westhoff

~ the pop culture catholic

elizabeth westhoff

Category Archives: Ugh…

DEATH AND DISAPPOINTMENT…

16 Monday Nov 2015

Posted by Elizabeth Westhoff in Catholic, Prayer, Ugh..., Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

death, Faith

11226052_10153738386664042_4360469763915551439_n

In the wake of the attacks on Paris, the social media sphere erupted with outrage, sadness, fear, check-ins, news reports, and first-hand posts from those who had experienced the slaughter first-hand.

No more than 24 hours later, the complaining started.

First it was the Catholics complaining that the use of the French tricolor flag to show support for France was unbecoming for use by any Catholic who was worth his salt.

Then it was reported that university students were complaining that the Paris bombings were stealing attention away from their protests.

Then it was those who complained that all the coverage of the attacks was giving Islam a bad rap.

Then it was the Russians, Lebanese, and Africans who complained that the recent attacks on their soil didn’t get any attention. Where were their Facebook check-ins and profile picture overlays? The New York Times quoted, “no one cares when it happens in those places, where it’s expected.”

#don't_pray_for_ParisThen a cartoonist from the recently attacked Charlie Hebdo complained via Instagram that people were praying for Paris.

Here’s something I’d like all of us to stop and consider for a moment; 132 people were massacred on Friday night. Are the above points worthy of consideration? Absolutely. However, what is correct isn’t always appropriate.

“…he shall be led as a sheep to the slaughter, and shall be dumb as a lamb before his shearer, and he shall not open his mouth.” (IS 53:7)

Notre Dame de Paris, pray for the people of your city! Our Lady of Grace, you who showed yourself to Saint Catherine Laboure and brought miracles, who smiled upon Saint Therese of Lisieux and created a missionary, in your holy Motherhood, please intercede for your fearful and endangered people; bring your consolations to the people of Paris and all of France. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, hear us. 

web-paris-notre-dam-eiffel-mauricio-lima-cc

Saint Therese of Lisieux, Patron of France, pray for them
Saint Joan of Arc, Patron of France, pray for them.
Saint Martin of Tours, Patron of France, pray for them
Saint Remigius, Patron of France pray for them
Saint John Vianney pray for them
Saint Jeanne Jugan pray for them
Saint St Genevieve pray for them
Saint Denis pray for them
Saint Bernard of Clairvaux pray for them
Saint Germain Cousin pray for them
Saint Peter Julian Eymard pray for them
Saint Louis pray for them
Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque pray for them
Saint Peter Fourier pray for them
Saint Madeleine Sophie Barat pray for them
Saints Louis and Zelie Martin pray for them
Saint Jane Frances de Chantal pray for them
Saint Catherine Laboure pray for them
Saint Rose Philippine Duchesne pray for them
Saint John Eudes pray for them
Saint Vincent de Paul pray for them
Saint Hilary of Poitiers pray for them
Saint Isaac Jogues pray for them
Saint Jane de Chantal pray for them
Saint Jean-Baptiste de La Salle pray for them
Saint Benedict Joseph Labre pray for them

Coptic Martyrs, victims of ISIS, pray for them

All you holy men and women, pray for France, and pray for us.

St. Michael the Archangel,
defend us in battle.
Be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the Devil.
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray,
and do thou,
O Prince of the heavenly hosts,
by the power of God,
thrust into hell Satan,
and all the evil spirits,
who prowl about the world
seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.

Litany from Elizabeth Scalia’s post at aletiea.com

IMG_1029

 

Advertisement

OH THE HUMANITY…

28 Tuesday Jul 2015

Posted by Elizabeth Westhoff in Catholic, Church Militant, pro-life, Ugh..., Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

abortion, Pop Culture, pro-life

The following is just my own version of the somewhat hackneyed phrase, “Oh the humanity!” that was uttered by American radio reporter, Herbert Morrison; overwhelmed at the sight of the Hindenburg exploding above his head. There is simply too much to try to process regarding the recent videos that have finally brought to light the enormity that is Planned Parenthood. So, please excuse this blog. Try as I might, I find that I cannot organize my thoughts about this topic enough to have them make much sense. –Elizabeth

 

In the last couple of weeks, videos have surfaced of Planned Parenthood “medical” officials casually discussing the harvesting and sale of body parts from aborted babies over casual lunches and matter-of-factly separating the wheat from the chaff of the tiny, harvested body parts.

Almost as soon as the videos started going viral on social media, so, too, did the rebuttals that the videos were fakes, that the means by which they were attained were unethical, that we should be careful in our approach to discuss these videos.

The fact of the matter is that we as human beings, and certainly we as Catholics, should be so horrified, so disgusted, so ashamed by what we heard discussed and what we have now seen in these videos, that we should be rendered speechless, both from terror and from tears.

We No Longer Fear

As a society, we no longer fear anything.

720gryla

There was a time when stories about and images like these here horrified and frightened man. Not quite in the same way that horror movies of today frighten us, but in a way that forced the viewer to look into his own heart and consider, even if just for a moment, whether or not what he saw within that organ was the same sort of evil he had just heard in the story or saw in the image before him.

Today we, who are ever so sophisticated, who have smugly intellectualized God right out of existence, look at these images and find them cartoonish and over the top.

We, all of us, have become anesthetized, to one degree or another, to the horrific, to the dreadful, perhaps even to evil itself.

03-Goya-Saturn-Devouring-His-Son

Francisco Goya: Saturn Devouring His Son

Now, more than ever, we should be afraid–very afraid. “Vengeance is Mine, and retribution, In due time their foot will slip; For the day of their calamity is near, And the impending things are hastening upon them.” –God

 

We are the sum of our whole and our whole is currently rotten to the core and the collective is too blind and too ignorant to see it.

Too Smart to Believe in Satan

I think I can safely say most of us don’t act upon homicidal ideation. What then of the homicidal functionaries of Planned Parenthood we see in the videos? Were they born evil? Are they possessed? Are they criminally insane? The answer I hear most often regarding the workers in this diabolic vineyard is, “No. They just don’t understand what they’re doing.”

Whether they do or do not, their actions are evil and they themselves are the purveyors of evil; carrying out their acts in the name of enlightenment, with the same cannibalistic ferocity of Saturn in the painting by Goya.

Charles Baudelaire is credited as saying, “My dear brothers, never forget, when you hear the progress of enlightenment vaunted, that the devil’s best trick is to persuade you that he doesn’t exist!” I think we can all agree, finally, that he does, indeed, exist and resides within the walls of Planned Parenthood and within the hearts of many who do its work.

“Be sober, be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” (1 Pet 5:8)

Watch these videos. I implore you. Yes, they are graphic. Yes, they are upsetting. Yes, they are going to haunt you…and they should. We must do everything we can to wake ourselves and those around us from the drugged stupor in which we are walking nowadays. We must be a witness to these lost lives. We must be a voice for them. We must be a voice crying out to Heaven!

The culture in which we now live is the excrement produced when pride and arrogance gorge on too much stupidity, ignorance, indifferentism, passivity, and moral relativism. We as Catholics must heed the words of St. Teresa Benedicta (Edith Stein), who was witness to another great holocaust of humanity, when she tells us, “The nation doesn’t simply need what we have. It needs what we are.” Indeed.

May God have mercy on us.

THE MOST CONTROVERSIAL BLOG I’VE EVER WRITTEN…

17 Wednesday Jun 2015

Posted by Elizabeth Westhoff in Pop Culture, Right on, Ugh..., Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

controversy, culture, Pop Culture

elizabeth_westhoff-e1434564904891-270x300Given the breathtaking turn of events we’ve seen in our culture in the last month or so regarding gender, race, marriage, what I’m about to write will be the most controversial blog I’ve ever written.

I am a white, heterosexual, Catholic woman. No, really, I actually am.

There. I’ve done it. Let the backlash begin.

Fifty Shades of I Don’t Care

12 Thursday Feb 2015

Posted by Elizabeth Westhoff in Pop Culture, sex, Ugh..., Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Catholic, culture, sex

Originally published February 12, 2015

This will be brief.

I am a Roman Catholic. I am the pop culture blogger for the Archdiocese of St. Louis. I have a Master’s Degree in English Language and Literature.

I am sick and tired of hearing about 50 Shades of Grey.

Does it portray sexual intimacy in a way that is counter to Catholic teaching? Absolutely.

Is it responsible for the ruination of marriage in our culture? It certainly falls in the category of “things that probably are.”

Is it a flash in the pan? Yes.

Is it good literature? From the excerpt I read in order to be able to make this comment…no.

Am I offended by the content of 50 Shades of Grey? Yes.

Am I, perhaps, a bit more offended by the innumerable abortions, beheadings, immolation, human trafficking, pedophilia, euthanasia, murders, rapes, robberies, et cetera taking place every day all over the planet? Yes.

What’s an alternative to 50 Shades of Grey?Nuns!

Saint Valentine, pray for us!

IT ISN’T GRAPE JUICE AND WONDER BREAD

07 Wednesday Aug 2013

Posted by Elizabeth Westhoff in Catholic, Communion, Mass, Ugh..., Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

“If angels could be jealous of men, they would be so for one reason: Holy Communion.” – St. Maximilian Kolbe

Over the weekend a photograph popped up on my Facebook feed.  The photo was of a young boy who was crying because his older brother had just made his First Holy Communion and he was upset that he, too, could not receive Holy Communion.  The fatherly, consoling embrace the little boy received was from none other than His Eminence Raymond Leo Cardinal Burke.

The photo prompted me to consider how many adults would react the same way if they were denied the opportunity to receive Holy Communion and, alas, how many people receive Holy Communion not fully understanding what it is they’re doing.

“He remains among us until the end of the world. He dwells on so many altars, though so often offended and profaned.”
– St. Maximilian Kolbe

My parish, the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis, is the mother church of the archdiocese.  It is also one of the largest collections of mosaics in the world, an absolutely breathtaking structure and is, therefore, also the “tourist parish” of our archdiocese.  As such, there are often people who have popped in to take a look and who stay for Mass—Catholics and non-Catholics alike.  My apologies to these tourists but they always get the blame when I see someone who, after receiving the Host, is stopped by an acolyte and asked to return the Host if they aren’t Catholic and aren’t going to consume it, or coming back from Communion slipping the Host into a pocket or purse, or still holding it in their hands as they walk back to their seat.  I just always assume these people are non-Catholic tourists who don’t know any better.  I have, on occasion, stopped people to request that they either consume the Eucharist if they are Catholic or give it to me so that I could consume it after I have seen them put the Host in a pocket or purse after receiving it.  It isn’t that I’ve named myself “Host Police” and am on a mission to interrupt the reception of the Blessed Sacrament; it’s that, as a Catholic, I know what they are so casually stuffing into a pocket isn’t simply a bit of pressed gluten.  It isn’t a “symbolic representation” of something.  It IS the Body of Christ and even if their intentions aren’t menacing and their actions are based on ignorance, it is my responsibility to prevent a grave error from being committed. Again, I assume these people aren’t Catholic and that they simply don’t understand the gravity of what they’ve done.

“Recognize in this bread what hung on the cross, and in this chalice what flowed from His side…”
– from the writings of St. Augustine, Sermon 3, 2; circa A.D. 410

The General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM) states, “As Catholics, we fully participate in the celebration of the Eucharist when we receive Holy Communion. We are encouraged to receive Communion devoutly [emphasis mine] and frequently. In order to be properly disposed to receive Communion, participants should not be conscious of grave sin and normally should have fasted for one hour [emphasis mine]. A person who is conscious of grave sin is not to receive the Body and Blood of the Lord without prior sacramental confession except for a grave reason where there is no opportunity for confession. In this case, the person is to be mindful of the obligation to make an act of perfect contrition, including the intention of confessing as soon as possible (canon 916). A frequent reception of the Sacrament of Penance is encouraged for all.”1

The Church, in Her instruction of how to prepare for Holy Communion conveys the importance of what we are preparing for.

As Catholics, we believe that, through transubstantiation, the bread and wine that appears on the altar becomes the body and blood of Jesus Christ.

What you are receiving each and every time you receive Holy Communion isn’t simply bread.  It isn’t simply wine.  It is the Divine.  It is God.  It is, in the truest sense of the word—awesome.

(*Side note: I am not going to get in to the discussion of “hand vs. tongue” because the Church allows for reception of Holy Communion in the hand, but states in the GIRM that, “When receiving in the hand, the communicant should be guided by the words of St. Cyril of Jerusalem: ‘When you approach, take care not to do so with your hand stretched out and your fingers open or apart, but rather place your left hand as a throne beneath your right, as befits one who is about to receive the King. Then receive him, taking care that nothing is lost’.”2

I prefer to receive Holy Communion on my tongue.  I would like to say that this habit began as an act of reverence; however, in full disclosure, I will admit to the fact that it began several years ago during cold and flu season.  The woman in front of me was obviously very, very sick with a cold and after shaking her hand at the sign of peace, I really didn’t want to then have my hand in my mouth.  It has, however, grown into a habit that I love. There are many reasons I prefer it; however, the greatest is the way it reminds me that I am not simply grabbing something that is owed me; when I receive Communion on my tongue I am, in a way, vulnerable and opening myself up to something that is a total and utter gift from God.  Marc Barnes at Patheos.com touched on this when he wrote in defense of receiving Holy Communion on the tongue, “As a baby bird lifts its head for food, or as an infant seeks its mother’s milk, so we open our mouths. There is no action between the administration of the Eucharist by the priest and my reception of the very same. In this posture of helpless receptivity we conform our bodies to the authority of God, and to the reality that we are dependent on his action — manifested in the Church — for our salvation.”)

“…you are approaching to become witnesses of the intimate union of your souls with Jesus Christ. Look at the angels of the altar, dear little girls. Look at them, they envy you. All heaven is present.” – Words of Msgr. Jara to Blessed Teresa of the Andes First Communion Class

At the end of my last blog, I threw in a brief post script regarding the fact that when you approach for Communion, it shouldn’t be something casual or taken for granted.  You shouldn’t act as though you’re simply sauntering up to be handed a piece of bubble gum you can simply pop in your mouth and chomp as you meander back to your pew or—God forbid, gentle reader—out to your car.

This isn’t how you should see Holy Communion:

 This is how you should see Holy Communion:

Because this is what it actually is:

So, before you go up to receive Holy Communion the next time, think of the little boy from the photo at the beginning of this blog, crying because he couldn’t receive the Body of Christ.  Think about Matthew 18:3, “Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.”  Think about those two things, if nothing else, and then approach to receive your Lord, your God.

JESUS ISN’T YOUR HOMEBOY. IT’S CALLED “REVERENCE.” SHOW SOME. THE PERSONAL RANT OF ELIZABETH WESTHOFF

24 Wednesday Jul 2013

Posted by Elizabeth Westhoff in Catholic, Mass, Pop Culture, Ugh..., Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Aaah, summer.

I hate it.

I hate it even more so when I’m at Mass.

Last month I spent at week at my sister’s house.  My sister and her family live in the South and when you visit in the summer, it feels as though you’re vacationing in one of the outer rings of Hell.  The stereotype of the South as slow moving is true, because if it weren’t and the inhabitants of the South didn’t move at a glacial pace, they would all spontaneously combust.

On the Saturday of my visit, my sister and I decided we would go to the Vigil Mass at her parish.  As we stood up for the entrance procession, I realized that one of the members of the family in front of us was a young woman wearing shorts that were scandalously short.  Now, call me old fashioned, but I think your shorts should be longer than your underpants…even if it’s hot and you live in the South.  Keep in mind, gentle reader; she was wearing these shorts in Mass.

Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe. (Heb. 12:28)

People don’t wear what they used to wear to certain events. Now, I am not of the opinion that hats, gloves, stockings, and heels should be the expected uniform of women today, (but didn’t they look lovely when it was?)  I do not think men should still wear jackets and ties to baseball games.  I do; however, think men should wear jackets and ties to weddings, baptisms, funerals and the like.  The fact that nowadays shorts, t-shirts, flip-flops, tank-tops and the like are all perceived as “appropriate clothing for church” bespeaks a larger problem we have in the Church today—not truly understanding what is happening each time the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is offered.  We’ll get to that in a minute.

“God doesn’t care what I’m wearing as long as I’m at church!”

Well, He might, actually.  In Exodus 3:5 we read that God said to Moses: “Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.”  Now, does that mean we should go to Mass barefoot?  No.  It means we are on holy ground when we are at Mass and should approach it with reverence.

Regardless, let’s say that God doesn’t care what you wear to church.  Others around you do.  Are these outfits okay to wear to church:

No?  Ridiculous you say? Not the same thing you say?  Why not?

Why?  Because those outfits are completely inappropriate for the occasion.

Picture this.  You’re sitting in your doctor’s office.  Your doctor comes in dressed like this:

Now he informs you that you have cancer.  It’s advanced.  The situation is dire.  He does, however, have one method of treatment which he will begin immediately.

Ridiculous, you say?  Not the same thing, you say?  Why not?  Oh yes…because it’s inappropriate for the occasion.

What’s the occasion?

Taken from the Catechism of the Catholic Church: 1385: To respond to this invitation we must prepare ourselves for so great and so holy a moment.  St. Paul urges us to examine our conscience: “Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of profaning the body and blood of the Lord.  1387: To prepare for worthy reception of this sacrament, the faithful should observe the fast required in their Church.  Bodily demeanor (gestures, clothing) ought to convey the respect, solemnity, and joy of this moment with Christ becomes our guest.  2144:  The sense of the sacred is part of the virtue of religion…

Lex orandi, lex credendi, lex vivendi.

St. John Chrysostom, among others, stated that “When Mass is being celebrated; the Sanctuary is filled with countless angels who adore the Divine Victim immolated on the altar.”

It was revealed to St. Mechtilde that three thousand angels from the choir of thrones are always present at every Tabernacle where the Blessed Sacrament is reserved.

St. Bridget recounted: “One day when I was assisting at the Holy Sacrifice, I saw an immense number of holy angels descend and gather around the altar, contemplating the priest. They sang heavenly canticles that ravished my heart, Heaven itself seemed to be contemplating the great Sacrifice. And yet we poor mortals, blind and miserable creatures, assist at Mass with so little love, relish and respect!”

St.  Jean Vianney said, “If we really understood the Mass, we would die of joy.”

St. Padre Pio, said, “If we only knew how God regards this Sacrifice, we would risk our lives to be present at a single Mass.”

“Soooo, what you’re saying is that Mass isn’t just a social gathering that we fit in between everything else we’re going to do on Saturday/Sunday and that what we wear is a reflection of our reverence, attention, and devotion?”  Yes.  That is exactly what I’m saying.  Look, there’s nothing wrong with shorts, t-shirts, or flip-flops where appropriate.  There’s nothing wrong with ultra-casual in the right setting.  The Mass isn’t the right setting.

So, please, remember, when you are assisting in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, YOU ARE IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD, Jesus Christ, the Saints, the Angels, the Holy Martyrs, and your fellow worshippers. Dress appropriately.  Act appropriately.  Don’t go up to receive Holy Communion with your keys, wallet, or sunglasses in your hands, as if the Body of Christ is just one more thing you’re going to juggle in them. (P.S., If you have gum in your mouth [which you shouldn’t] for love of God DO NOT receive Holy Communion.)  You are in the presence of and receiving your Lord, your God and your Creator—act like it.  Yes, the important thing is that you are at Mass but why shouldn’t you just go ahead and step it up a notch?  Isn’t our Lord deserving of more?

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 3,629 other subscribers

Social

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn

Categories

  • abortion
  • Advent
  • Amusing
  • Art
  • Catholic
  • Christmas
  • Church Militant
  • Churchy Opportunities
  • Communion
  • Corporal Works
  • Easter
  • Faith
  • Holidays
  • Israel
  • Lent
  • Life
  • marriage
  • Mass
  • Nuns
  • Pop Culture
  • Prayer
  • pro-life
  • RADIO
  • Religion
  • Right on
  • sex
  • Sin
  • Social Media
  • Ugh…
  • Uncategorized
  • Vatican

Create a website or blog at WordPress.com

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy
  • Follow Following
    • elizabeth westhoff
    • Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
    • elizabeth westhoff
    • Customize
    • Follow Following
    • Sign up
    • Log in
    • Report this content
    • View site in Reader
    • Manage subscriptions
    • Collapse this bar
 

Loading Comments...