The Effectiveness of Prayer
Last month, the Confraternity of Catholic Clergy wrote a press release urging Catholics to do nothing in order to ensure that no one ever stick a nail through baby Jesus again.
This was scheduled for Aug. 1. And since PZ seems be his usual cheerful godless self, I was going to chalk another mark in the “prayer doesn’t work” column.
But then I noticed the NB at the bottom of the announcement:
NOTA BENE: Since some parishioners and clergy may not be able to make reparations this Friday, August 1st, we are also suggesting as an alternative, Thursday, August 21st, the feast of Pope St. Pius X (the pontiff who promoted frequent Communion and lowered the age for First Holy Communion). It is not imperative that only these days are available since it is more urgent and important that at least ONE day this month every one of the faithful make a DAY of reparation by fasting (one full meal, two smaller ones, no snacks) AND making a Holy Hour before the Blessed Sacrament. While this can be done communally by a parish, it can easily be done privately by each person on a day convenient for them. We only ask that it be done sometime this month of August if not on August 1st or 21st.
(wacky capitalization and colors in the original.) So I guess we’ll have to wait until the end of the month to see whether skipping meals can repair a broken Jesus.
On the other hand, if Jesus is really lying bleeding somewhere, you couldn’t blame him for being pissed at his would-be rescuers waiting three weeks to help him, so if PZ doesn’t convert in September, that’s probably why.
On a more positive note, I’d like to point out that the “X” in Pope Street Pius’s name looks way cool. Gives it kind of a bad boy/Malcolm X vibe.