People, Places, and Things I Currently Fancy

This isn’t a lifestyle blog, since I hardly speak of my personal life or habits. If I did that would be so incredibly awkward, so I just share surface information. Anyway, I’m starting a new series of posts where every now and then I’ll post about people, places, and things I fancy at the moment. Just because I’m Catholic doesn’t mean I can’t like other stuff. Or people. So this is the first one. As a side note, I’m also going to begin a whole other string of posts on The Interior Castle by St. Teresa of Avila. In those posts I’ll go through the mansions one by one, explain them, muse through my own thoughts, and try to come to the understanding that St. Teresa left for us. I’m looking forward to it because if you know me, you know I love St. Teresa of Avila. 

Also, this blog now has a Facebook page. *Cue the confetti and children saying yaaaay* 

I’ll put a link in the sidebar, but here’s the link: The Salty Catholic 

Share it, tell your friends, like it, be cool.

In no particular order, I present to you the people, places, and things I currently fancy. 

Chris Pratt 

     
                                 

Because what’s not to like about Chris Pratt? Seriously. He’s likable without even trying. I’d watch Jurassic World again. I kept thinking of him as Andy from Parks and Recreation, but fighting dinosaurs are cool too.

St. Raphael 

St. Raphael is the best. He always helps me out with everything. When I’m lost, blind, need healing, or just praying for my intentions, he’s there. He didn’t fail Tobias, so he won’t fail us either. Plus the Book of Tobit is just all around awesome. It’s a love story with pooping birds, demon slaying, fishing, and victory. I don’t think any other story beats that.

School Supplies

Even though I’m in college I really do like shopping for school supplies. It’s almost time to go back to school, so I have to stock up on new notebooks, pens, sticky notes, and folders. Yes, I’m that student. I also changed my major to communications (future speech therapist up in huurrr) so you could say I’m excited to start the next semester. I also have to learn ASL so I’m really looking forward to that. 

AM by the Arctic Monkeys

Look away kids, I listen to secular music. But real talk this album is badass. I’ve always really liked the Arctic Monkeys older stuff, but this album is just something else. The new hip hop influence, sleek lyrics and falsetto tones spoke to me on a personal level. Especially the emotionally-cool lyrics. I’ve shed many a tear to this album. Cheesy, but you don’t get it unless you feel music on that level. I’m calling it now, Alex Turner is going to be one of the greatest lyricists of our time, bet on it. 

The beach 

Living in California makes this one pretty obvious. For me, the beach is emotionally and spiritually refreshing, like a little retreat. Every single time I go to the beach, I always think of Our Star of the Sea, too. I look out to the beautiful yet frightening mass of water and I’m always amazed by the thought that Our Lady is the Star of the Sea who brings us all home, no matter how lost out we are.

Chipotle

Source: Chipotle

Now, I’m Mexican-American and I know my Mexican food. I didn’t think I would like Chipotle because I pride myself in knowing what real Mexican food is and isn’t, but I was so wrong about this one. Humility is a valuable lesson. Especially when it comes to burrito bowls. I’m hooked. I’m basic. I’m sorry. I’m really not sorry.

____

So that’s it for now. Don’t be too scandalized. In the meantime I’ll be re-reading The Interior Castle and seeing what I come up with. Pax. 

Five Reasons Why I’ll Never be Liberal

Let’s be honest, the reason I don’t blog very often, is because my blog isn’t my personal diary. I have a spiritual journal for that. However, there has been quite a few exciting on-goings, but I suppose that’s just growing up and moving along with life. Most importantly with the Divine Will. Hooray for Momma Mary being the perfect example of absolute conformity, when I need so much help with that. Mother really does know best. 

Let’s talk about liberalism. You’re either liberal, or you’re a hateful and intolerant person who wants to watch the world burn. At least that’s how they paint it, though to be fair, I have met some nice libs.

While liberalism is a political leaning, it’s also a way of living, (barely) thinking and behaving. One day I began to think to myself, “What if I was a liberal? Wait a minute, nope.” 

I just couldn’t and can’t do it without lying to myself, here’s why: 

5) I value logic over emotions

Now, for the record, we’re talking about plain logic in general. What is logic? The principles of correct reasoning? The study of valid reasoning?  Well, yes, that and much more. It’s used in philosophy and mathematics, so it has to be important, otherwise we wouldn’t use it at all. Emotions are also important, but they have no place when it comes to logic, since emotions change. That’s natural, but not productive when it comes to logic. Just because I feel something, that doesn’t make it correct, or even true. This is because what we feel, is not what is the truth, because truth is not subjective. It’s always been objective. It doesn’t bend to our whims, and it never will. If you think it does, then it’s probably not the truth. This is a major pitfall in liberalism. If the sky is green because you feel it’s green, then by all means, it’s green. If anyone says otherwise, file a lawsuit and force everyone else to also acknowledge it’s green. However, that still doesn’t make it green. Sorry. But I’m not sorry. To explore a bit more in this ideology, if we all live however we think is correct, because we feel it’s correct, instead of living by what is correct, then we fall into being a morally relativistic society. 

But wait. 

We’re already there.

However, valuing logic over emotions doesn’t make you a robot. It makes you a truth seeker, and an eventual truth slayer, like Matt Walsh. If we are never open to being wrong, then we’ll never be open to being right.

4) I’m Open Minded 

 To have an open mind is to be willing to see the other side of things, willing to be wrong, and willing to learn. It takes humility. When we’re so close minded, we don’t allow ourselves to grow, and instead, we become grown children who are always right, even when we’re wrong. Yet the ones who swear they have the most open minds of them all, are the ones whose minds fall out, just like G.K Chesterton said. That’s exactly the case with your typical lib. It’s one thing to be solid on your opinions, but it’s a whole new field to be so close minded about it, that you can hardly fathom the idea that you just might be incorrect. 
What horror. I can’t bring myself to think that way, because it teeters on pride, and it’s unwise to assume you’re right on all matters. 

Sure, I might not agree, but I’m still willing to listen, think about it, and maybe change my mind, if it’s sound and true. If not, then at least I have your perspective and I was open to it. The end. It’s not that difficult. 

3) I value human life and dignity at all stages

From the womb to the tomb, my friends. We live in a culture that simply doesn’t respect life like it used to. It hardly respects life at all, though that tide is turning. However, liberals are notorious for failing to respect the lives of the unborn, and of the elderly. It’s ironic because they seem to forget that they were once unborn, and one day, God willing, they’ll grow to be one of the elderly. We see them clamoring for abortion on demand and without apology. 
Not far off, they’re for the right to euthanize those who need the most care. Not cool. All human life has dignity and value, no matter what the circumstance is. Circumstances are temporary, dignity is forever. 

2) I Believe in Personal Responsibility 

This one is pretty self-explanatory. We can’t run around expecting free stuff for the sake of free stuff, or blame others when we don’t get our way. Again, we become perpetual children who feel we’re entitled to everything and all things, just because we deserve it.
For what?

Who knows.

That doesn’t make for a productive society. It never has, hence why socialism doesn’t thrive. That makes a sub point, I also can’t ever be liberal because I don’t believe in socialism. My apologies, Mr. Branson. Before anyone blows a gasket, I fully realize that not all liberals are for socialism, but you can’t deny that this ideology leans towards it. As I exercise my right to free speech, I believe everyone has to be responsible for himself, because that’s how people grow up. What about the helpless, you say? By all means we should care for the truly helpless, nothing wrong with that, it’s what Christ calls us to do. However, to the people who are not helpless but just entitled; grow up, it’ll do you good. I promise. 

                                

1) I’m Catholic 

Hence, The Salty Catholic. Before I’m conservative, liberal, independent, green party or whatever, I am a Catholic faithful to the Magisterium, above all else. Complete truth lies in the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church, and what’s to be found outside of the fullness of truth? (not the fullness of truth, that’s what)
That’s exactly why I’ll always be Catholic.

It’s been said many times, that there are no conservative Catholics or liberal Catholics. Rightly so. There are faithful Catholics, and there are heretics. 

Oh, a heretic? 

For some reason, the word “heretic” has become taboo. It simply means one who believes heresy, which is what is contrary to Catholic doctrines and teachings. Which means that there’s lots of heretics running around, spreading more heresy. Not good, case in point being that the Church needs good, solidly catechized, and most of all, holy priests, religious and lay people to reverse this trend. It is happening though, Deo gratias.

Here’s the point, you can’t be both liberal and Catholic, because then you’ll end up an unfaithful Catholic. Again, not good, as it turns into a hot mess, since it’s all or nothing.
It usually goes like this, “Well I’m Catholic, but I don’t believe in a, b, and c.” 

or: “(I was raised Catholic, but) I just can’t agree with the Church on d, or e.” 

But there’s hope, because there’s always hope with God. We’re not talking about pseudo campaign “hope”. Too bad we couldn’t believe in it. 

Now, if you are a Catholic who struggles with accepting Church teachings, take some advice. Get yourself properly catechized and go to confession. I say (type) that with the utmost charity. I’m not salty all the time. It all boils down to, do (or don’t do) this out of love for God. But if you take my advice, you’ll find that out for yourself. 

’Till next time, pax. 

Our Lady, an Announcement & Salty Carmel

First off, happy solemnity of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel! May she bless, protect and save us all from everlasting death, through the means of the Brown Scapular. St. Simon Stock, pray for us. 

Now, you may or may not have noticed that something is different around here. I’ll give you a second to look around and find it.

Found it yet? 

That’s right. I’m no longer going by “The Cali Catholic Girl”. While the title was a cute creation, and I’m grateful it helped me make some sort of name for myself and my obscure little blog, it was time to move along. Not too drastically life changing or even shocking. The content won’t change at all, simply the blog title and url. 

So here we are. 

The Salty Catholic. 

Aside from inspiration of the Holy Spirit, I chose this name for a number of reasons, but I won’t bore you with the details. Let’s just make a short list instead.

• As Catholics, we are called to be the light of the world, and salt of the earth, as read in Matthew 5:13-16. Also, by renaming the blog as The Salty Catholic, it personally pays homage to a deal I made a long time ago; to be the light of the world and salt of the earth. You can find more on that in my memoirs, many decades from now. Stay tuned. 

So here’s our equation so far: Salt + Catholicism = a Salty Catholic

• In the Catholic Church, salt is viewed as a powerful sacramental when it is blessed or exorcised. I prefer exorcised, just to give it that extra oomph. Back to the drawing board: Salt + Catholicism = a Salty Catholic

• Lastly, in modern culture among our youth, the word “salty” has become an adjective to describe someone who is a bit bitter or testy. In all honesty, it perfectly reflects my personality, because I am Catholic, and I can be salty. For however long you’ve graced this little blog with your presence, you should already have an idea of that fact. I’m definitely not salty all the time, but I also won’t deny that that is how I can be. Again, Salt + Catholicism = a Salty Catholic. 

So, it makes sense. To celebrate today’s special solemnity and word play, I’ll be attempting to make salted caramel. Or should I say salted Carmel?

It only makes sense. Pax.