The Catholic Monitor

Bishop Strickland: Lord, prepare me to be a sanctuary In a recent podcast at LifeSite, Bishop Strickland takes the lyrics, "Lord, prepare me to be a sanctuary" as the point of departure for his reflections.  The meditation he offers, however, must be measured against his own decision to glorify tyranny when he was uncanonically removed from Tyler, Texas.  While countless saints have endured mistreatment by injustice, their witness serves the Church by offering an unflinching counter-example.  These martyrs (in the literal or etymological sense of the term) may not have been able to avert an ungodly outcome, but they--like Our Lord Himself--did not submit in the sense of offering the abuse their personal stamp of approval. For all his devout words, the fact remains that Bishop Strickland has done exactly that.  While many orthodox clerics (and more by the day, it would seem) have been outrageously ousted, this one stands out for having drained his sacrifice of the pow...

Scene 1 Fernando's father King Alfonso: I'm glad I got you away from your mother with all her rules and morality. I want you to become a man like me. Fernando: I admire your kingly warrior ways my father, but I admire more our forefather the virtuous El Cid who followed God's laws. King Alfonso with wicked smile: When I was your age I had a beard as long as El Cid's while you are clean shaven like St. Michael the Archangel. Why do you ride off everyday for long rides when you could be in my castle spending times with my nobles getting to know the ladies in the court more intimately. Fernando: I wish to follow El Cid in his warrior way and his honor of his wife and all women, but even more my guide is Jesus, the King of King.  King Alfonso: I tire of this small talk. Fernando: One last thing my father before I take your leave, your friend Don Alvaro is unjustly persecuting my mother. King Alfonso: Enough! I am going, now. I'm going to see my friend Alvaro who is like...