Stone of Bethel

God with Us

2012-01-30T00:01:00.001-05:00

Blessed be God!

Budget Talks

2011-04-07T15:38:00.001-04:00

I support no federal budget that continues to fund Planned Parenthood. The evil must stop.

Pray for Japan

2011-03-14T08:41:00.001-04:00

Please pray for those affected by the earthquake, subsequent tsunami, and especially for those near the damaged nuclear plants. I fear the death toll will continue to climb... Please, dear Lord, comfort those who have lost loved ones. Allow healing to begin and for a greater good to occur in the aftermath. Amen.

Ash Wednesday

2011-03-09T07:52:00.000-05:00

Memento homo, quia pulvis es, et in pulverem reverteris.

Mardi Gras

2011-03-07T22:38:00.001-05:00

Fat Tuesday is upon us in just a few short hours, followed closely by Ash Wednesday, beginning the season of Lent. This year, pray fervently that we may, as a Church, bring balance back to our troubled world through the intervention of almighty God. Bring us peace and bring us closer to you dear Father. And dear Father, as in years past, send us a new generation of Saints who can lead the Church back to full communion with You.

March 1

2011-03-01T00:32:00.001-05:00

Just a week until Ash Wednesday. Prepare your Lenten goals.

Android

2011-02-24T08:41:00.001-05:00

Now I have Blogger for my Android. I'll try to stay current in my posting. Please pray for the latest bill, that will defund Planned Parenthood, to pass. Once and for all we can remove Margaret Sanger's evil eugenics experiment from our nation.

Feast of St. Lucia

2010-12-13T19:50:00.001-05:00

SAINT LUCY,
Whose beautiful name
Signifies light, By the light of Faith
Which God bestowed upon you,
Increase and preserve His light in my soul,
So that I may avoid evil,
Be zealous in the performance of good works,
And abhor nothing so much as the blindness
And the darkness of evil and sin.

Obtain for me,
By your intercession with God,
Perfect vision for my bodily eyes
And the grace to use them
For God’s greater honor and glory
And the salvation of souls.
St. Lucy, Virgin and martyr,
Hear my prayers and obtain my petitions.
Amen.

All Saints Day

2010-11-01T12:08:00.001-04:00

Pray for our Catholic brethren in Iraq who were killed in the hostage stand-off. May God bless and keep you all.

Thought for the day

2010-10-25T17:41:00.001-04:00

Love your children more than you love yourself…

Prayer for a brother

2010-10-19T01:26:00.002-04:00

Recently I took part in an auction containing many lost and found items at a local casino. Since I make and distribute rosaries, I’d hoped to find some old beads or maybe even a rosary or two in need of repair. In fact as I surveyed the items, there were several rosaries, many lost crucifixes, and a host of holy medals. All of which found on the gaming floor. But as I looked the rosaries over, one in particular caught my eye. I recognized it immediately as it was very similar to the one I received. It was the rosary of a first degree from the Knights of Columbus (pictured above).

I made bids on several items, but in particular the Knight’s rosary. What had brought it to the floor of a casino? Had it been brought in the hopes of bringing good luck? Carelessly dropped while fumbling for loose change? Or perhaps cast away in exasperation due to a bad hand at the Blackjack table? Perhaps it had been given as a gift from a Knight to a family member that had been the one so careless.

Remembering the movie Shogun, I thought of how the samurai, the knights, if you will, of medieval Japan, carried their katana swords with great honor. The katana was said to be the very soul of the samurai. If he were ever to lose his weapon, he was disgraced. As Knights of Columbus, our weapon of choice is our rosary. Though we do not think of it in the same terms as the samurai, many of us willingly carry it with us to use in time of need. Certainly to find one that had been lost in such a place was concerning.

So when I saw the discarded rosary, my heart felt ill… I won the bidding for the rosary. I thought long about that Knight whom I shall never know and pondered how the rosary was lost. When I got home, I carefully removed the centerpiece and crucifix from the rosary’s plastic beads and exchanged them into a new setting. Behind the crucifix I attached a St. Anthony relic medal, which seemed appropriate. I plan to have the new rosary blessed and will carry it with me in my jacket pocket. And when I pray upon that rosary, I will pray for the Knight that lost the original in hopes that he will be upheld in the light of Christ.

Additionally, I won a St. Jude medal from the St. Jude Shrine in Baltimore. I plan to mail it back to the Pallottines that run the shrine along with an explanation and donation to pray for the person that lost it. Perhaps St. Jude is the very saint that person requires.

Jesus, Master, Way, Truth, and Light, have mercy on us!

Feast Day of St. Francis

2010-10-04T12:40:00.001-04:00

Today, October 4, is the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi. He is a superlative model of how we should think of ourselves as Catholic Christians. It is through him that we can find common ground.

Thought for the day

2010-09-14T23:44:00.001-04:00

‎"If men have nothing more to expect than what this world offers them, and if they may and must demand all this from the state, they destroy both their own selves and every human society." – Pope Benedict XVI

Blessed Jesus

2010-09-08T21:48:00.001-04:00

But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed.

Isaiah 53:5

Grace in the Jobs we are given

2010-09-08T15:18:00.001-04:00

How does one reconcile his beliefs with a job that is intrinsically evil? I’m still trying to find a way. I spent two years, unemployed, hoping to land a job outside the industry which I’ve been a part for many years. I prayed fervently that I’d be delivered, but in the end, in order to feed my family, I returned. Now, understand, I am well compensated and very good at what I do, but sadly it is the promotion of immorality and avarice. I wait upon the Lord to show me in what way I can serve him here or for him to use my talents for a better purpose. I am concerned that I have perhaps hardened my heart against his call too frequently in the past and that he no longer needs me on my time when I wouldn’t hear him when I was requested.

What I can do is to try and build up my domestic church as best I can. And hopefully another call is yet to come.

Prayer of Renunciation of Ancestral Sins

2010-08-30T14:48:00.001-04:00

Dear Heavenly Father. I come to You as Your child, purchased by the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.

I here and now reject and disown all the sins of my ancestors. As one who has been delivered from the power of darkness and translated into the Kingdom of God’s dear Son, and strengthened by the intercession of the Immaculate Virgin Mary, Mother of God, of Blessed Michael the Archangel, of the Blessed Apostles Peter and Paul, and all the Saints and Angels of Heaven, and powerful in the holy authority of His Name, cancel out, O Lord, all demonic working that has been passed on to me from my ancestors.

As one who has been crucified with Jesus Christ and raised to walk in newness of life, cancel, dear Lord, every curse that may have been put upon me and announce to Satan and all his forces that You, the Christ, became a curse for me when You hung on the cross.

As one who has been crucified and raised with Christ and now sits with Him in heavenly places, I reject any and every way in which Satan may claim ownership of me. I declare myself to be eternally and completely signed over and committed to the Lord Jesus Christ. Father, I ask You to command every familiar spirit and every enemy of the Lord Jesus Christ that is in or around me to leave me and to go where Jesus Christ tells these evil spirits to go.

I now ask You, heavenly Father, to fill me with Your Holy Spirit. I submit my body as an instrument of righteousness, a living sacrifice, that I may glorify You in my body. All this I do in the name and authority of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Amen.

(Since no one can know for sure what his ancestors may have done, every Christian should pray this prayer. Authorities in Spiritual Warfare report that ancestral issues are the number one cause of demonic harassment in the lives of people.)

Finding our way

2010-08-11T23:51:00.002-04:00

I hear from more and more of my contemporaries who feel they just go about day to day life in a cyclical, unfulfilling pattern and wish they could find some meaning or purpose in life. Perhaps that’s a big flaw with our generation. We want so much to have affirmation that what we’re doing or where we’re headed is in the right direction. I pray that we all receive guidance.

Usually in times of crisis for the Church in the past, we have seen some of our greatest Saints emerge. Where are our Saints now that we need them more than ever? The biggest question, will we know them when they DO arrive?

Early Christian icons found in Rome

2010-06-22T23:35:00.011-04:00

Recently discovered in catacombs under the streets of Rome, these are some of the earliest depictions of the Apostles.

Depicted are Paul, Andrew, John, and Peter. A special process involving a laser was able to remove years of build up to reveal the images. The depictions are consistant with images of the saints that we already have from the early Church and from Byzantine mosaics. The find is an exciting one and work continues at the site.

Chaplet of St. Paul (part 5)

2010-05-25T20:55:00.002-04:00

I bless you O Jesus, for having given to St. Paul a heart so full of love for God and for the Church, and for having saved so many souls through his zeal. And you our friend, obtain for me an ardent desire to carry out the apostalate of the media of social communication, of prayer, of example, of activity, and of Word, so that I may merit the reward promised to good apostles.

Jesus, Master, Way, Truth, and Life, have mercy on us.
Queen of the Apostles, pray for us.
St. Paul the Apostle, pray for us.

Must be a seminar

2010-05-23T22:03:00.002-04:00

There must be some conference where all the televanglists get together and decide on new buzz words to use for their telecasts. I'm so tired of hearing "anointing" used to describe everything they do. And then there's the planting of "financial seeds" which I still haven't found mentioned in the Bible. How these folks live with themselves is beyond me...

Music in the mass

2010-05-23T20:58:00.002-04:00

Unfortunately, of late my new parish has gone from playing music that was part of the mass to wanting to upstage it, including the Psalms. I go to mass for worship, not for a Broadway musical. I attended services at the other partish in town and didn't return for that very reason and now it seems to have migrated. I don't need Gregorian chants, but a show of respect for the the mass, it's not a matinee. Disappointed... plan to find out why the change has occurred and see about rectifying it

God's Revelation to Peter at the Pentecost

2010-05-23T01:10:00.003-04:00

This is what I will do in the last days, God says:

I will pour out my Spirit on everyone.
Your sons and daughters will proclaim my message;
your young men will see visions,
and your old men will have dreams.
Yes, even on my servants, both men and women,
I will pour out my Spirit in those days,
and they will proclaim my message.
I will perform miracles in the sky above
and wonders on the earth below.
There will be blood, fire, and thick smoke;
the sun will be darkened,
and the moon will turn red as blood,
before the great and glorious Day of the Lord comes.
And then, whoever calls out to the Lord for help will be saved.

Acts 2:17-21

Chaplet of St. Paul (part 4)

2010-05-02T23:41:00.002-04:00

I bless you O Jesus, for having taught me, by the deeds and by the words of St. Paul, the true spirit of poverty. And you O great saint, obtain for me the evangelical spirit of poverty, so that after having imitated you in life, I may be your companion in heavenly glory.

Jesus, Master, Way, Truth, and Life, have mercy on us.
Queen of the Apostles, pray for us.
St. Paul the Apostle, pray for us.

Cultural war... Death vs. Life

2010-05-02T23:33:00.003-04:00

It seems lately that all that matters is who's loud enough, who gets more funding, gets more tweets. Truth is truth. Those who would peddle evil in this world would have you believe that the old faiths are out of touch, antique, incongruant to today's "lifestyles". GOOD! Today's lifestyles are TERRIBLE and are leading us to ruin. Truth is truth. Good is good. Life is life. These things do not change no matter how the spin doctors want to modify their definitions. The new mantra that you hear a lot, "if it feels good, do it" would be a wonderful thing IF we were talking about true goodness... doing good works. I'd have to add transversely, if it feels wrong, it probably is.

Wisdom from Papa...

2010-04-28T23:13:00.001-04:00

"How could the idea have developed that Jesus' message is narrowly individualistic and aimed only at each person singly? How did we arrive at this interpretation of the 'salvation of the soul' as a flight from responsibility for the whole, and how did we come to conceive the Christian project as a selfish search for salvation which rejects the idea of serving others?"

- Pope Benedict XVI

Chaplet of St. Paul (part 3)

2010-04-25T11:38:00.003-04:00

I bless you O Jesus for having given through St. Paul examples and teaching of perfect obedience. And you O great saint, obtain for me a humble docility to all my superiors, for I am certain that in obedience I shall be victorious over my enemies.

Jesus, Master, Way, Truth, and Life, have mercy on us.
Queen of the Apostles, pray for us.
St. Paul the Apostle, pray for us.

Divine Mercy Sunday

2010-04-11T00:20:00.001-04:00

Eternal God, in whom mercy is endless and the treasury of compassion - inexhaustible, look kindly upon us and increase Your mercy in us, that in difficult moments we might not despair nor become despondent, but with great confidence submit ourselves to Your holy will, which is Love and Mercy itself.

Chaplet of St. Paul (part 2)

2010-04-10T00:59:00.003-04:00

I bless you, O Jesus, for having elected the Apostle Paul as a model and preacher of holy virginity. And you O St. Paul my dear father, guard my mind, my heart and my senses, in order that I may know, love and serve on Jesus, and employ all my energies for His glory!

Jesus, Master, Way, Truth, and Life, have mercy on us.
Queen of the Apostles, pray for us.
St. Paul the Apostle, pray for us.

The evil of health and wealth ministry

2010-03-05T00:18:00.003-05:00

Watching the so called religious network INSP in complete disbelief. They are encouraging folks to give a $1,000 "Seed" into their ministry and they will receive a "financial anointing" and God will act as their "supernatural finance manager". These health and wealth ministries make me ill... Using the name of the Almighty blasphemously, preying upon the faithful poor and elderly, and grossly distorting scriptures for their own twisted gain.

Just over a year ago, I posted about Joel Osteen's ministry, which is shallow and misleading. But I find this type of network even more damaging...

Holy Mary mother of God, pray for us.

Chaplet of St. Paul (part 1)

2010-03-05T00:10:00.004-05:00

I bless you O Jesus, for the great mercy granted to St. Paul in changing him from a bold persecutor to an ardent apostle of the Church. And you, O great saint, obtain for me heart docile to grace, conversion from my pricipal defect, and total configuration with Jesus Christ.

Jesus, Master, Way, Truth, and Life, have mercy on us.
Queen of the Apostles, pray for us.
St. Paul the Apostle, pray for us.

Ugh...

2010-02-22T23:54:00.003-05:00

Unfortunately, due to complications with diverticulosis, I've had to give up the dietary component of my Lenten observence. I will continue to eat less and stick to fish on Fridays, but otherwise I have to focus more intensely on other aspects of my observance.

Living alone continues to especially troublesome... I spend far too much time talking to my religious statues (especially since TV is out for Lent). Happily my bust of Columbus arrived today from the English Company (suppliers of all things KofC) so there's a new face in the crowd. Fortunately my family will be up the first weekend of March for a visit which will make me extremely happy.

Lent begins

2010-02-20T21:39:00.003-05:00

I cherish then Lenten season of the Church. It is a wonderful time for reflection and for contemplating what changes I must make in myself to more closely follow Christ. This Lent poses far more suffering for me, as work has me living apart from my family. I only get to see them perhaps once or twice a month. It has been very difficult being apart and I look forward to being reunited with them. So this Lent I have more time to myself. I hope to make the best of it, but it's difficult to focus. My thought often turn to home. I don't recommend to anyone giving up "family" for Lent. More to come.

Mardi Gras 2010

2010-02-15T23:52:00.001-05:00

A blessed Shrove Tuesday to all. One more day to Lent!

The Stone returns

2010-02-13T22:12:00.003-05:00

The Stone of Bethel returns... It is time to speak out once again. I need to collect my thoughts but will return on Ash Wednesday with thoughts and insights.

Easter 2009

2009-04-09T10:53:00.001-04:00

A blessed Easter Triduum to all!

A need for prayer.

2009-03-12T00:56:00.004-04:00

It seems each day we are faced with yet another challenge to the Church. I, for one, commend blogs like American Papist and Deacon's Bench who bravely ford through the constant torrents on both the religious and political spectrums. I find I no longer have anything clever or pithy to contribute... I am simply without words. So I have decided I need a break from posting (not that I have posted much recently) and am focusing my efforts on prayer. Please pray for the Church, at least one Hail Mary each day. Our faith is worth fighting for and I pray more people will begin to see that as well.

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.

Lent 2009

2009-02-25T00:17:00.003-05:00

This Lenten season, why not take a few moments to get to know our Lord a little better, right through your iPod? Please visit the Faith Comes By Hearing website and choose a bible translation that works for you. With a full six weeks of Lent, spending maybe half an hour to an hour a day, you should be able to get through the whole New Testament. Somehow it seems a better commitment than just giving up chocolate!

God Bless!

Pray without ceasing

2009-02-07T01:14:00.002-05:00

With a great need for the strength of our Church, we must pray to our Father to intercede in our world before we lose any more ground. Perhaps I'm the only one who feels this way, but so much ground has been given that it seems the world is eroding away beneath our feet. We've always suffered the critics who rally against us, but now it is governments who wish to mandate beliefs which we find, or should find, abhorrent. And once again the Church faces new scandal and controversy, further chipping away at the world's opinion of our beliefs. How else can we fight back? What can we do when so many of our faith become of this world? I am afraid for us and our future generations if we can no longer claim the world for its Redeemer. The lessons of Isaiah and the cries of King David in the Psalms ring in my ears as I see, as a nation, how far we've turned away from our Lord. We must pray and pray without ceasing, else we will be marched into exile as Jerusalem of old.

Holy Mary, Mother of God, prayer for us!

Today's thought

2009-02-02T00:54:00.004-05:00

I don't know which scares me more... Joel Osteen's "sermons" or the people that believe them. I don't claim that I am any great theologian, but what I do know is that Christ did not come and die so that we may "have that house you always wanted." In fact, Mr. Osteen, despite your teachings, Christ certainly preached a "poverty mentality" and was opposed to our being concerned with the wealth of this world (I could cite several passages in the gospel, but there are far too many to include)... Our treasures are the good deeds and works that we can offer one another. That will be remembered in heaven, not your BMW and bigger house.

Wealth and health ministries are nothing more than distortions of true Christian Faith. They do far more damage than they know. My greatest argument to this point is that if you should watch Mr. Osteen's program, notice what is rotating slowly behind him as he speaks... A Cross? No... A globe, the world he wants his congregation to adore more than the message of Christ... Be IN the world, not OF it!

St. Francis, pray for us.

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

2009-01-18T14:40:00.004-05:00

Today begins the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (Jan 18-25). Please pray that all denominations may join together for the glory of Christ. Please visit the Chaplet of Reunification for an additional prayer to include in your devotions this week.

Freedom of Worship

2009-01-16T16:41:00.003-05:00

Our most sacred freedom should not be our least important. Sometimes your faith will put you at odds with the personal beliefs of others. It's much better to do the Will of God than to do what popular opinion dictates. Every time we choose the world over our Savior, our "freedom" of religion means less and less.

Ricardo Montalban dead at 88

2009-01-14T19:37:00.002-05:00

One of my favorite actors has passed away. Ricardo Montalban died today at the age of 88. I am sure he is in a better place, but he will be very missed.

Requiescat in pace

2009-01-09T11:39:00.001-05:00

I was saddened to hear about the loss of Fr. Richard John Neuhaus this week. He will be greatly missed!

Happy 2009

2008-12-31T23:53:00.000-05:00

My prayers are for 2009 to be a kind year to everyone!

Merry Christmas

2008-12-25T10:39:00.000-05:00

God bless us, every one!

Merry Christmas Eve

2008-12-24T11:56:00.007-05:00

To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. For with God nothing shall be impossible. And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.
Luke 1:27-38

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us
John 1:14

And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
Luke 2:9-14

Father, Word, and Spirit, have mercy on us!
Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ!

Happy Hanukkah

2008-12-22T22:12:00.000-05:00

Peace and Joy to all our Jewish brethren!

The Feast of St. Lucy

2008-12-13T00:16:00.006-05:00

Relying on Your goodness, O God, we humbly ask you, by the intercession of your servant, Saint Lucy, to give perfect vision to our eyes, that we may serve for your greater honor and glory. And we pray for the salvation of our souls in this world, that we may come to the enjoyment of the unfailing light of the Lamb of God in heaven. St. Lucy, virgin and martyr, hear our prayers and answer our petitions. Amen.

Today marks the 37th anniversary of my birth. I've never been a fan of this day, but this year thought rather than bemoan my birthday, why not celebrate the saint who shares this day. Being bespectacled myself, I can certainly appreciate the patronage of St. Lucy. So starting this year I will pray to St. Lucy for all of us who have trouble with our eyes as way to better appreciate this day and perhaps, in time, appreciate myself.

St. Lucy, pray for us!

Our Lady of Guadalupe

2008-12-12T15:03:00.001-05:00

Hail Mary, full of Grace, the Lord is with thee! Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Prop 8

2008-12-10T13:15:00.002-05:00

I've been wanting to avoid making any comments about Proposition 8. I had hoped once it was passed it would be a dead issue, but apparently not. So here goes:

I have, or rather had, stood beside the homosexual community for as long as I can remember. I never thought them offensive, they never caused me any harm nor did they ever try to sway me into their midst as so many in the extreme right will have you believe. I was friends with many homosexuals in a time when it was dangerous to do so. I have been a devout Christian all my life and I am also someone who embraces arts, culture, and creativity. The latter has allowed me to interact and truly appreciate the dreams and fears of the homosexual community. While an art major in college I was very outspoken in my support for an end to discrimination against homosexuals... They were my class mates, my friends. I differed from many in the church by supporting their legal rights to civil unions that would afford them legal status as partners. With the growing threat of AIDS, I felt it was important for homosexual partners to be able to share much needed health care coverage, and to make end-of-life decisions for each other, rather than the family that shunned them.

But then the community began to attack my beliefs. I tried to explain that I couldn't support gay marriage because it was a religious rite, and one that shouldn't be governed by law. I could support civil unions but could go no further. Suddenly I was an enemy... After years of understanding their cause, my friends didn't even want to discuss my views. I was shocked and very hurt at the one-sided nature of their behavior, willing to take and not to give. I felt I'd simply been used and now that they had bigger agendas, I was no longer of any use.

I still love them all... It's my nature as a Christian. But in retrospect, perhaps I was too accepting. Love the sinner, hate the sin. So now I oppose the platforms of those I used to stand with and refuse to give any more ground, since they no longer accept me or take a moment to ponder MY beliefs.

And that's the last I'll speak on this issue. My ballots will speak for me from now on.

A Catholic Haiku

2008-12-08T23:03:00.000-05:00

Our Lord Jesus Christ
Lead us through our lives each day
Have mercy on us

Alexy II

2008-12-05T20:54:00.002-05:00

With great sadness, I read that the Russian Orthodox Patriarch, Alexy II, passed away this morning. May God accept him into His loving arms and may a new leader be selected who shares Alexy's vision for reunification with the Roman Catholic Church.

Queen of the Apostles, pray for us!

Advent 2008

2008-12-04T00:26:00.004-05:00

I am praying for a safe and blessed advent for all faithful and conversion for the hearts of the unfaithful.

"The LORD bless you and keep you;
the LORD make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you;
the LORD turn His face toward you and give you peace."

Macy's Rick Roll

2008-11-27T10:58:00.002-05:00

Cartoon Network pulled off the ULTIMATE Rick Roll by having Rick Astley himself perform the Rick Roll favorite "Never Gonna Give You Up" during the NBC broadcast of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade! Well done!!!

...

2008-11-16T19:18:00.002-05:00

Still praying for something to break... My anxiety is red line and I'm nearly at wit's end.

St. Joseph/St. Cajetan, pray for us... PLEASE pray for me!

It's not easy being green

2008-11-08T13:37:00.001-05:00

You Are Kermit

Hi, ho! Lovable and friendly, you get along well with everyone you know.

You're a big thinker, and sometimes you over think life's problems.

Don't worry - everyone knows it's not easy being green.

Just remember, time's fun when you're having flies!

The Muppet Personality Test

Thanks Deacon Greg for the link!

The Audacity of Pope!

2008-11-06T17:35:00.002-05:00

After the chaos of this election, I'm thinking the Papal States must have been a wonderful thing! I would love to live in a country governed as a Catholic theocracy. As someone who wishes he could live his faith more freely and live in a community that shares its love of Christ and his teachings, I worry that we will never see the like in our nation again. There are so many people who's evil intention is to take away all we hold dear, piece by piece. I pray for God to intervene in the stale hearts of His people and bring us to a unity of purpose... to take back our religious freedoms and give no more concessions to evil.

It's Over

2008-11-05T11:31:00.002-05:00

Thank our Maker the election is over. Congratulations to Barack Obama, our 44th president. Though I differ strongly on issues of life and family with the next president, AS president he has my support. I will pray that Barack may receive and accept guidance from the Most High, and that our nation may grow in faith once again.

For our Catholic Youth

2008-10-24T11:28:00.003-04:00

As Catholics, I'd like to see a program put together for our children. When I was a young Baptist, I was part of a youth group called the Royal Ambassadors; "We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God." 2 Corinthians 5:20. It was like the Southern Baptist equivalent to the Boy Scouts. Our children should be given the opportunity to be in a uniquely Catholic group that allows them to get together with others their age with fun activities/events that promote our teachings and values. I'll add more to this random thought when I've had time to mull it over some more. :)

Happy Anniversary!

2008-10-24T02:53:00.000-04:00

10 Years and counting!

...

2008-10-20T01:11:00.002-04:00

Too much chaos in the world, I don't even know what to comment about. I continue to pray that God's will be done in this year's election. As to the financial crisis, mess with the golden calf, you eventually get the horns!

"now is the time for prayer!"

2008-09-12T21:44:00.001-04:00

Please pray for those in the path of Hurricane Ike...

Ummm... WHAT?

2008-09-09T23:59:00.004-04:00

Nice to see Church of England pull out ALL the stops in remaining separate from the Catholic Church. This is one of their new vicars. She loves the Sex Pistols and wearing leather hot pants and dog collars... Oy Vey!

Their congregants were coming to us by the dozens, now it will be by the thousands.

School Daze...

2008-09-05T23:14:00.002-04:00

It's hard to believe the school year has started up. It seems that summer had just started. I've got two in school this year, so it's so quiet at home during the day. Our one year old fills in the gaps at times, but still it is lonely. Before I know it they'll be leaving for college.

I miss the summer and all the goofiness and laughter. Nine months to go.

Thanks be to God

2008-09-01T15:17:00.003-04:00

Thank you God, for allowing us to learn from our experiences and for having saved so many lives this time around.

Human Race 2008

2008-08-31T14:48:00.002-04:00

Just finished the Nike+ Human Race 10k... I am BEAT but I made it. Since I wasn't near a city holding an event, I was able to log my distance and time through my iPod/Nike+ system. It was a lot of fun. Walking by myself gave me a lot of time for contemplation and prayer. I prayed for my family and for the persecuted Church throughout the world. And also that the hearts of all Americans will find God so that through him we may all come to love one another.

St. Sebastian, pray for us!

St. John the Baptist

2008-08-29T15:26:00.002-04:00

Prayer to St. John the Baptist

"O God, You raised up St. John the Baptist to prepare a perfect people for Christ. Fill Your people with the joy of possessing His grace, and direct the minds of all the faithful in the way of peace and salvation. Grant that as St. John was martyred for truth and justice, so we may energetically profess our Faith in You, and lead others to the Way, the Truth, and Eternal Life. Amen."

I've always liked John the Baptist. Having grown up Baptist I was under the impression he was our founder when I was very young. His example was a rather harsh one in contrast to the One he was heralding. I've thought that he would have made a good career for himself, along with Thoreau and Whitman, writing poetry in the wilds. But always his example to decrease and allow Christ to increase is as important a lesson today as then. Letting Christ increase in us and decreasing all that is not Christ will help us to live better lives.

St. John the Baptist, pray for us!

And on another note, PLEASE pray for those in Gustav's path. Hopefully we will not see the same devastation we saw in 2005.

St. Christopher, pray for us!

Prayer for Today

2008-08-28T10:57:00.003-04:00

O Lord, grant us to love Thee;
Grant that we may love those that love Thee;
Grant that we may do the deeds that win Thy love.
Make the love of Thee to be dearer to us than ourselves and our families, than wealth, and even than cool water.

Mohammed

St. Monica

2008-08-27T10:38:00.003-04:00

Since today is the feast of St. Monica, we should all pray for the conversion of hearts. And not only for conversion to the Church, but also for those within it whose hearts are wrongly attuned. Especially in this election year, I think it is important to get all those who claim Catholicism as their faith to actually support the social beliefs of the Church in their voting records. Also those who were raised Catholic and who have left the Church, may they be filled with a desire to reconnect with their spiritual roots.

St. Monica, pray for us too!

Make a Difference

2008-08-25T17:21:00.001-04:00

Voice of the Martyrs

Vote No One 2008

2008-08-24T01:12:00.002-04:00

Anyone who knows me knows it pains me to look at things with a cynical eye. I struggle to maintain an optimistic outlook on life for myself and for those around me. This election has really got me down. For the first time since becoming of voting age, I will not be voting. Pulling back from the issues and truly looking at everything around them I've discovered some sad truths about our flawed two party system.

It gains the Republican party nothing to do away with Roe v. Wade... Because once dealt with, they have almost no issues of any moral ground. The Democrats believe they stand on some altruistic platform preaching the ideas of socialist reform when in fact they are merely working to maintain a dependent voter base beholden to their "social" programs.

I'm sorry, but in good conscience, I can support neither party. I have decided it is best to opt out of this year's election. I have never supported the idea of voting of the lesser of evils, because it is still a vote for evil. As Catholics, we are all enraged by the atrocities of abortion, but electing a Republican will make no difference. Electing a Democrat will do no good either. As Catholics OR Conservatives we have the Supreme Court stacked with a 5 to 4 majority. Yet Roe v. Wade stands...

All I can say my friends is may God have mercy on us and may our prayers be heard that we may receive a candidate, who truly supports our beliefs, in 2012.

St. Stephen, Pray for Us

2008-08-19T09:53:00.002-04:00

Another martyrdom in India. I don't even know how to respond...

Nearly 3 out of 5 people agree, God Saves!

2008-08-18T23:17:00.004-04:00

I just read an article at MSNBC that stated 57% of 1,000 adults surveyed said God can reverse a terminal illness through ones prayer! Also a staggering 20% of doctors and medical personnel believed this to be true as well! Sadly the article has a more pessimistic slant, but I was happy to hear that belief is still very much alive.

Yay God!!! :)

Nearing the end

2008-08-15T10:06:00.002-04:00

Garden update: The Tomatoes are coming in by the dozen and continue to produce along with the peppers and cucumbers. The Zukes have finally given out as have the bean plants, so we're starting to see the garden winding to a close for the season. It's sad watching the plants we've cared for all summer, and that have produced so much for us, dying off as their missions are at an end. It's made me kind of melancholy, realizing our mission is almost through for this year as well. There will be lots of planning for next year's garden, lots of grant research, etc. But we won't be providing anything more and that's a downer.

A blessed Holy Day of Obligation to all, marking the Feast of the Assumption. May Mary pray for us all!

The Miracle of Gardening

2008-08-07T23:43:00.003-04:00

We have received so much from the garden, I began to wonder what we are doing that is right or what divine assistance are we receiving. Our own home garden isn't nearly as bountiful even though both were planted the same day. Basically, with very little gardening experience, we managed to pick the most optimal spot we could have. The plot is nestled between the church and the parish school. The north side is just feet away from the outer wall of the gymnasium. The plot receives full sun from an open sky all day long and the light colored brick of the gym reflects back from the north and keeps the plot very warm (which I'm told is key for tomato and pepper growth). So it's nice to know that the spot was divinely inspired, because I'm sure had we given it any thought we'd have chosen a poor location.

We are making nearly daily deliveries now and are expecting the tomatoes to fully ripen in the next few weeks. We have several spaghetti squash that are nearly the size of watermelon and each will provide a wonderful meal or three for a needy family. I hope and pray that more and more parishes will begin similar garden programs. I hear news of others that just started this year in other parts of the country and smile. Such an event shows to me a movement of the Spirit in many hearts and that despite our sinfulness, God still works miracles through us.

Bless us O Lord and these Thy gifts, which we are about to receive from Thy bounty, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Thought for the day

2008-08-02T14:11:00.002-04:00

Came across a great quote at Danielle Bean's website

We are not necessarily doubting that God will do the best for us;
we are wondering how painful the best will turn out to be.
-- C.S. Lewis

Boy isn't that true!

Garden blessings continue!

2008-08-01T13:59:00.003-04:00

Bless us O Lord, and these Thy gifts, which we are about to receive, from Thy bounty, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

To date, we have donated 8 dozen cucumbers, 5 dozen zucchini, 25+ green peppers, 3 dozen green onions, 2 dozen radishes, 6 heads of cabbage, leaf lettuce, and broccoli. More peppers and cucumbers are getting ready to be picked, over 100 tomatoes are ripening, and spaghetti squash are multiplying on vines woven throughout the garden. We also have several cantaloupe and another type of melon ripening quickly! We actually have things growing that we don't remember planting! Some of the zucchini we pulled from the garden were bigger than my upper arm. We lovingly proclaim them Godzukes!

Our garden has truly been blessed by bounty. The place we donate the food to also receives vegetables from the local prison garden from their surplus. Our vegetables are first fruits and always the best quality or we don't take them. It's been wonderful to spend time doing something useful instead of being plopped in front of a television this summer. I ride my bike to the garden daily to check our progress and water when necessary. For certain it's helping me get back in shape as I've been woefully neglecting my health in the past few years.

We continue to pray for more bounty that we can give to our distributor. If you have a home garden and have more than you need, I'm sure there is an organization in your area that would be happy with your donation.

St. Fiacre, thank you for your prayers!

St. Dymphna Support and Prayer Group

2008-07-29T00:28:00.003-04:00

I am currently working on a new group for troubled, depressed, and anxiety-ridden people who can get together to discuss their problems and woes with one another. And afterward to pray for each member. Certainly this is not simply a Catholic problem, but we are aided by so much in our tradition. As someone who suffers from crushing and sometimes debilitating anxiety, sometimes the best remedy is to speak with someone who understands and suffers the same way. Panic attacks are just an everyday reality that many do not understand. Sometimes just talking about the things that trouble me helps me to come up with solutions. I’ve also found great use of rout prayer and scriptural meditation to drown out the worries and “what-ifs” that intrude in my mind. The group will offer no fixes or solutions, but might just be an oasis of just 90 minutes every two weeks to offer peace of mind among friends. Just time and space to vent with fellow parishioners who just need support of others like them.

St. Dymphna is the patron saint of depression and anxiety. She has been a tireless friend and patron to me especially and her intercession has been nothing short of miraculous. The story of how she came into my life is pretty unbelievable and perhaps I'll post it some day. I'm hoping for the program to take root and help those who are so troubled these days. Just turning on the news can send one into a downward spiral. I'll keep track of our successes and failures and report them here from time to time.

St. Dymphna, pray for us!

Another round of apologies

2008-07-21T02:33:00.004-04:00

I pray that Pope Benedict XVI will never have to apologize to the victims of abuse at the hands of the Church ever again. It is my hope that we will be able to screen our priests with more careful scrutiny, but also take steps to further understand just what went wrong in our seminaries. My thoughts are with the abused and I pray also that they can be reconciled to the same Church that failed them.

Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on us!

Garden Update

2008-07-19T17:21:00.003-04:00

Bless us O Lord, and these Thy gifts, which we are about to receive, from Thy bounty, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Now THIS is what we were hoping for when we began this project. The tomato plants are nearly five feet tall and full of tomatoes. The pepper plants have multiple peppers on each. Zucchini are plentiful and cucumbers are multiplying on a biblical scale! We're even finding stuff we don't remember planting! We will be making our next vegetable delivery the beginning of next week.

We are so pleased by positive response that the garden has received in the parish. Many are calling for next year's garden to be even bigger! And people are being fed! Praise God for our bountiful garden and for St. Fiacre's intercessions!

Blessed be God!

And...

2008-07-12T14:26:00.000-04:00

And a lot of caring volunteers helps too!

First Fruits

2008-07-12T14:13:00.002-04:00

Bless us O Lord, and these Thy gifts, which we are about to receive, from Thy bounty, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Our garden is still flourishing. We have made our first donation of vegetables to our local human services partner. FIrst up was leaf lettuce and then last week LOTS of radishes and green onions. Our squash and tomato plants continue to grow, our cabbage and broccoli are near harvest, and our peppers are finally beginning to multiply. At the beginning of the project, this being our first year, we'd have been happy if we'd had one tomato to give. We've already surpassed our expectations and now are preparing to have a wonderful harvest very soon. It's amazing how a little holy water can really help things grow!

St. Fiacre, pray for us!

Cross in the Woods

2008-07-08T17:16:00.005-04:00

I found out, with great concern, that Michigan's beloved Cross in the Woods is rotting and in dire need of repair. The Cross in the Woods is the world's largest (non-abstract) crucifix. Work began at the site in 1954 and has been maintained by a Franciscan order. The wood cross, crafted from a single redwood, is beginning to experience severe rot (northern Michigan weather can be extreme) and repairs are expected to run into the hundreds of thousands.

The Cross in the Woods is one of Michigan's (if not the nation's) greatest Catholic treasures. My family and I have been to the shrine many times and always leave with a wonderful sense of peace. It is the most idyllic spot you can imagine, so quiet and peaceful. The picture we took, shown above, is a typical day at the shrine. There is both an indoor and outdoor sanctuary for worship and many wonderful surprises throughout the property.

For more information about the site, please visit www.crossinthewoods.com. Hopefully they will soon post information on how to make donations for the restoration, but in the meantime I'm calling up all the help I can.

St. John of the Cross, pray for us!

Feed the Poor

2008-07-07T11:23:00.005-04:00

Our community garden is growing like gang-busters. We have radishes, lettuce, squash, broccoli, and tomatoes coming up in large numbers. The other plants are getting larger as well. We hope and pray that our harvest will help to feed many. I keep finding more and more articles of other gardens for the poor this year. I can only surmise that the Holy Spirit is moving in the hearts of many, which is such a great relief.

Ordinary Time

2008-07-07T01:43:00.002-04:00

It is, by my calendar, the 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time. I would be so grateful for ordinary in my life. Waiting upon the Lord is a difficult task for sure and I am trying my best to do just that.

"For they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up on wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint."
-- Isaiah 40:31

Because....

"As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."
-- Joshua 24:15

Independence Day?

2008-07-05T00:46:00.004-04:00

Sadly, today's holiday felt like a misnomer... Independence, it seems these days, is one of our nation's missing liberties. We depend on foreign oil, on inexpensive foreign labor, on the financial loans proffered by foreign countries, and many of our poor depend on the government to simply live.

Yet we seem to proudly declare our independence from our Lord. Thanks for the last 232 years God, but we'll take it from here. It's now that we need him most and yet we are turning away. And what do we turn to? We are begging the Almighty Dollar to once again bestow its good graces upon us. When the religious right supported Rudy Giuliani for the nomination because of his financial sensibility, ignoring his pro-choice record, I knew then the heart of our nation. We like to talk a good game about our Lord, but have become too enamored with worldly wants and desires.

And now, we too suffer and our golden idols refuse to help. The high priests on Wall Street can offer no miracles and the princes, kings, and queens in Washington are helpless.

Jesus, Master, Way Truth, and Life, have mercy on us!

In need of prayer...

2008-07-02T01:43:00.000-04:00

St. Cajetan - Pray for us

Happy birthday, St. Paul!

2008-06-29T18:26:00.002-04:00

We never get to read about it in the Acts of the Apostles, but I wonder what Saul of Tarsus was thinking about the day he got up and headed for Damascus. Certainly he didn't realize that his life was going to turn 180 degrees in just a few short days. He had some Christian killin' to do. But it is through Paul that we cannot deny the fact of Jesus. Please don't take this statement as short-changing the original 11 disciples, but what did it profit Saul to change his story and begin preaching the Good News?

Without Paul, the charge could always be levied against our faith that the original disciples had embellished the story. No doubt our Lord knew this too. Apart from picking a judge or priest from the Sanhedrin, he chose one of the most zealous individuals opposed to the new Jesus sect that he could find. Bold move for sure. And fortunately for us, Paul went with it! Girded with the sword of truth, he was a one-man legion marching throughout the empire. His letters, which make up the lion's share of our New Testament, provide us with the earliest glimpses of our Church. And today, many of our Cathedrals, Basilicas, and parish churches bear his name... OH! And a little town in Minnesota!

St. Paul, pray for us!

The Year of Saint Paul 2008 - 2009

2008-06-28T14:04:00.005-04:00

Tomorrow begins the Pauline Year marking the 2000th anniversary of the birth of St. Paul the Apostle. Paul holds a special place in the hearts of all converts as he is a very real example of conversion. I hope and pray that this year will bring about, not only great numbers converting to the Church, but also the conversion of the hearts of all faithful that we may all do great works.

Saul of Tarsus... St. Paul, pray for us!

Holy Tomatoes, Batman!

2008-06-18T02:11:00.006-04:00

Garden Update!
Our parish garden is growing in leaps and bounds! We've had to cage the tomatoes already and expect to see tomato growth soon. We found beans, finally, and got them planted. They've sprouted already. Tomorrow evening is going to be all about weeding as Holy Water doesn't differentiate between weeds and grass. The above picture is the blessing of the garden. It was a wonderful way to kick off Mass.

Today, my family and I got some more plants for our own home garden. The pickling cucumbers we'd planted from seed, died on us, so we replaced them with healthy plants. We also got some eggplant and broccoli plants. I can't wait for everything to start producing vegetables so we can begin making salsa and sauces!

St. Fiacre, pray for us!

Garden update!

2008-06-09T02:41:00.003-04:00

Our community garden is doing well, despite the inhospitable weather. I had to replace a couple of tomato plants but over all, things are springing up quite nicely. We are starting to get press in our area in order to get the word out about what we'd like to accomplish.

My friend, Paul Stankewitz has worked toward a similar measure at the congressional level. More on his efforts at: http://michigancatholicrurallife.org/

St. Fiacre, please continue to pray for us!

A gardening we will go!

2008-05-29T01:05:00.002-04:00

Last Sunday the parish garden plot was blessed by our priest during Mass. Tomorrow, we FINALLY get to plant. Frost/Freeze advisories have made us leery of planting, but now we're expected to warm up nicely! Donations of plants have been coming in and our dining room table looks like a greenhouse. Tomato and pepper plants, onion bulbs, broccoli, and much more! It's a very exciting project and we are hoping for the best. My wife and I will also be planting our OWN little garden tomorrow. We've never tried one at our home, so this will be a new venture.

St. Fiacre, pray for us!

I don't get it...

2008-05-26T03:22:00.005-04:00

Can anyone explain to me why this person is popular? I had the unfortunate opportunity to hear her sing once and thought she sounded terrible. She can't hit a single note, let a alone carry a tune. Yet everyone raves about what a great talent she is, award winning even. Throw in the violent behavior and rampant drug use, and I'm just left scratching my head. Regardless of whether she can sing or not, I do hope she gets her life together. (Amy Winehouse, for the uninitiated)

Phase one... DONE!

2008-05-21T02:02:00.002-04:00

Finally got the sod cleared off the plot for the parish's community vegetable garden. Back-breaking work but was so worth seeing it all finished. Next will be the tilling and then the planting begins. This weekend the priest and parish will bless the plot during our Sunday mass. We are hoping that this ministry in soil takes root (pun intended) and will prove to be a success in its mission.

Fighting the argument for atheism on its own terms.

2008-05-20T15:05:00.005-04:00

Lately I've been besieged by atheists in public discussion forums. All of whom believe me and my ilk to be the stupidest form of human life on the planet. We Christians just "don't get it." Despite their every argument, the fact of faith always remains. To prove this fact, here is an argument for Christianity versus the decree of atheism... And for this argument I'm going to take the fight on their own turf.

Let's assume for the sake of this argument that there is no God the Father... Granted a BIG assumption, but stay with me on this. Despite that, the fact is Jesus of Nazareth did exist. He was a real person. For the sake of this argument, we'll leave him as man (and also I'm starting with Christianity, but the same applies for Judaism and Islam, but I'll get to that in a moment). Jesus taught wonderful life lessons and taught us the power of belief. He asked his pupils to go and make disciples of the whole world. Disciples, people who follow his teachings and beliefs. Despite persecution, those beliefs and teachings have persevered. And the reason they survive is that the spirit of Christian faith is passed from father to son, mother to daughter, generation to generation. This spirit lives within us and is shared by 1/3 of the world's population. Now in Judaism you have Moses, David, and all the prophets, who also expressed belief, wrote laws and psalms that are followed to this day... and also the basis of much of our western legal systems. Again, real people that did exist. The spirit of their words of faith lives on generation to generation. And in Islam, which also reveres the prophet Jesus and their main prophet Mohammed, the same model holds true.

The main point is the spirit of faith lives. It is bigger than the individual and it is passed on, continuing to grow. All told, more than half the world resides under that similar belief... Add the other faiths throughout the world and even greater numbers follow a belief of some sort that is passed on. There are certainly flaws and problems with each faith, but I won't dwell on that in this argument. The point is there is a living faith that passes on and will continue for generations to come.

Atheism has nothing to believe in and therefore has nothing to pass on. It does not live... Each atheist dies with his or her own non-belief. You cannot pass "nothing" to your children. With atheism, you get, well, nothing! There is no good or bad... Those are spiritual concepts. There are no goals in life. You are simply here and then you're not. There is no human nature, we're just a higher order of animals on the planet. It's all so very pointless.

Always my argument remains, if I have to choose between believing in something and believing in nothing, I will side with the Holy Trinity every time.

St. Monica, pray for us!

Community Garden

2008-05-16T10:58:00.005-04:00

Very sore today... My wife and I and a handful of fellow parishoners have been digging up a plot for a parish garden. Given the rising prices of gasoline, the cost of produce is likely to go up as well. Poor families will be forced to make tough decisions on what food to buy and will probably have to remove fresh vegetables from their shopping lists in favor of meat, or less expensive canned foods. The purpose of our garden is to grow tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash, and other crops that we will distribute through a local human services organization. We believe it is important for all children to receive quality food, no matter what their family's financial status. Granted most kids hate vegetables altogether, but at least we want there to be a choice :). I've dubbed the program the Community PARISHables Project.

Our first step has been removing the grass and sod from the large area we plan to till up. It has been slow going, but we are making progress. My whole midsection feels pretty beat up, like I've been doing sit-ups and push-ups for hours. Helping hands are beginning to show up, but ours is an aging parish and those who are younger tend to have different priorities in life. Most folks in the parish are more apt to tell us why the garden won't work instead of concerning themselves with why we, as a faith community, MUST make it work.

I'll be posting updates from time to time outlining our successes and failures. If anyone is interested in starting a community garden in their parish, please feel free to contact me at the address in my profile!

St. Fiacre, pray for us!

Suffering

2008-05-05T23:44:00.005-04:00

Lately I've been hearing the old discussion resurfacing in greater volume about God allowing suffering... Our God doesn't cause suffering, nor does he necessarily "allow" suffering. God gave us our free will and it is our responsibility to deal with the suffering of others. We have the capacity, we have the resources to end the suffering of our fellow man, but as a group we are silent against the suffering of many. Suffering is caused by man against man through oppression, through greed, and through apathy of those who do nothing.

When suffering is caused by illness, God is there to comfort, not to cause pain. Illness is its own cause of suffering, it is not divinely manifested in anyone. (Even Job's afflictions were cause not by God but Satan.) It offers others the capacity for mercy and for the afflicted to endure. How much sweeter is the reward of Heaven when one has endured so much.

As we live upon the Earth we stand between Heaven and Hell. In Heaven we experience supreme peace and joy. In Hell we are brought to ultimate suffering. Earth provides glimpses of both of these realms and allows us to decide which we prefer at the end of time. Jesus often talked about those who suffer and how much greater their reward is in Heaven. I certainly would prefer to receive my reward in Heaven than to receive it here on Earth.

So be kind to each other, try not to make one another miserable, and help where help is needed.

Ora pro nobis.

2008-04-29T13:07:00.004-04:00

St. Mary, Mother of God - Pray for us
St. Joseph - Pray for us
St. Michael - Pray for us
St. Dymphna - Pray for us
St. Jude - Pray for us
St. Paul - Pray for us
St. Lawrence - Pray for us
St. Patrick - Pray for us
St. Anthony - Pray for us
St. Alphonsus - Pray for us
St. Gerard - Pray for us
St. Cajetan - Pray for us
St. Therese - Pray for us
St. Christopher - Pray for us
St. Matthew - Pray for us
St. Mark - Pray for us
St. Luke - Pray for us
St. John - Pray for us
St. Bernardine - Pray for us
St. Francis Xavier - Pray for us
St. Benedict - Pray for us
St. Thomas Aquinas - Pray for us

May the Lord bless and keep us all
Amen

Thought for the day

2008-04-26T11:46:00.001-04:00

Think of someone in your life who loves you very much...

Now think about giving that same love to everyone you meet.
"Love one another as I have loved you"

And now a message from our sponsors...

2008-04-23T15:10:00.003-04:00

To any (if there are any) faithful readers of this blog, I apologize for the lack of posts. I have been too busy enjoying other blog commentary on the Papal Visit and have been a bad steward of my own site. I was so overwhelmed by the Supreme Pontiff's visit, this being my first since my conversion. Pope Benedict became Pope the year I began my classes, so I've always felt a special connection with him. I've read his encyclicals and followed his pontificate with rapt interest. It was so gratifying to read in other blogs the same impressions I had of our holy father. And I was pleased that the fruits of the prayers of so many of us for a successful journey to the United States exceeded our greatest hopes and expectations. It felt so good to be a Catholic last week. I feel rather melancholy because of Pope Benedict's absence this week, but I feel so encouraged seeing that the aftershocks of his visit are still being reported.

My prayers now turn for the continued blessing of this trip to touch the hearts of many to live out loud their Catholic faith.