tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68659574536864711832024-03-27T02:37:32.815-04:00Celtic Catholic SoulCeltic Catholic Soul are my musings on Celtic Spirituality, the Roman Catholic Church, and those who have made the journey 'home to Rome', The Rule of St. Benedict, Our Blessed Mother's apparitions, especially at Fatima and Medjugorje, Favorite Saints and good Celtic, Benedictine, or Catholic books (and any Christian theology/spirituality related items I may happen across....)Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17567384106236379666noreply@blogger.comBlogger51125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6865957453686471183.post-80014901748900708602010-02-17T16:27:00.005-05:002010-02-18T08:14:51.325-05:00Journeying through LentToday marks the beginning of a tremendous journey. A journey that, as Catholics, should hold profound significance to us. Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning point, is associated with the ashes placed upon our foreheads at the end of Holy Mass, signifying that we are dust. They are also symbolic of our need for repentance from sin.<br />
<br />
As we process forward to receive our ashes, we will hear these or similar words: "Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return" (Genesis 3:19) or "Repent, and believe in the Gospel." (Mark 1:15)<br />
<br />
Ash Wednesday is a day of fasting and abstinence as mandated by the Church. We refrain from eating to draw closer to God. We offer up our fasting as a sacrifice for sins; our sins and the "sins of the whole world" as we remember during the prayer of Divine Mercy.<br />
<br />
Ashes were used to express sorrow or deep mourning in Scripture. When Jonah preached repentance to the Ninevites, Scripture tells us that the King of Ninevah, "rose from his throne, laid aside his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in the ashes." - Jonah 3:6<br />
<br />
Daniel, striving to understand the words of the Prophet Jeremiah, says, "I turned to the Lord God, pleading in earnest prayer, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes." - Daniel 9:3<br />
<br />
The Psalmist, crying out to the Lord, prayed "I eat ashes like bread, mingle my drink with tears." - Psalm 102:10<br />
<br />
Fortunately, the Church does not require us to wear sackcloth, but we are asked to fast, pray and repent.<br />
<br />
Lent is a somber time; a time of quiet reflection and amendment of purpose. We must all strive to make the most of these 40 days as 'wilderness' time: we are seeking the Promised Land. We will arrive, blessed and refreshed, at the Easter Vigil, where with the whole Church, the Communion of Saints, and in the presence of the seraphim and cherubim gathered round, we will all joyfully proclaim Christ's Resurrection. <br />
<br />
May you have a Blessed Lent. May your meditations, prayers, fasting, and amendment of purpose, be united with the prayers of our Blessed Mother, as she brings us closer and closer to her Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ.<br />
<br />
When I was first a Catholic, I found this prayer in the Book of Job which spoke deeply to my heart and does so today. May it speak also to your heart:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">Then Job answered the Lord and said:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I know that you can do all things,</div><div style="text-align: center;">and that no purpose of yours can be hindered.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I have dealt with great things that I do not understand;</div><div style="text-align: center;">things too wonderful for me, which I cannot know.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I had heard of you by word of mouth,</div><div style="text-align: center;">but now my eye has seen you.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Therefore, I disown what I have said, </div><div style="text-align: center;">and repent in dust and ashes.</div><div style="text-align: center;">- Job 42:1-6</div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">Amen.</div>Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17567384106236379666noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6865957453686471183.post-21689560392272002502010-02-04T18:52:00.001-05:002010-02-04T18:53:40.559-05:00Tuesday, February 2, 2010 Message to Mirjana from our Blessed Mother<div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><b><i>"Dear children, with motherly love, today I call you to be a lighthouse to all souls who wander in the darkness of ignorance of God’s love. That you may shine all the brighter and draw all the more souls, do not permit the untruths which come out of your mouth to silence your conscience. Be perfect. I am leading you with my motherly hand – a hand of love. Thank you."</i></b></span></div>Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17567384106236379666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6865957453686471183.post-37863286741895882432010-02-04T18:32:00.004-05:002010-02-04T18:42:30.156-05:00St. Blaise and the Blessings of the ThroatYesterday was the feast day of St. Blaise, patron saint of throats and other ailments of the head and neck. Each year in my parish, we process forward to the alter after Holy Mass to receive the "blessing of the throat" in the name of St. Blaise. I decided to check a little further into the story of this saint and discovered that, much to my delight, he is very much like St. Francis or the Celtic saint, St. Kevin. Like them, he was honored by the animals in the surrounding area near the cave where St. Blaise lived during the time of Diocletian's persecution of Christians during the 3rd century A.D. Animals and birds would come to feed from his hand and offered him protection in times of trouble. Blaise lived as a hermit for many years and then was made Bishop of the Church during the Diocletian persecution. <br />
<br />
Many legends grew up around the figure of St. Blaise, mostly pertaining to persecutions he suffered at the hands of a government prefect who chained St. Blaise in jail for not worshipping the gods of the region (Cappadocia). One story tells of St. Blaise being thrown into a pond which immediately became firm ground under his feet. He beckoned those who were jeering on the shore to come and walk on the water if they were able. All jumped in and were immediately drowned.<br />
<br />
Perhaps the best known legend of St. Blaise and the one that gives rise to the "blessings of the throat" comes from the story of a woman who son was choking on a fish bone. She summoned Bishop Blaise and asked him to heal her son. Bishop Blaise laid hands on the boy, prayed that he would be healed and he immediately was. Thereafter, his name has been invoked for throat troubles. Ironically, I suppose, St. Blaise was beheaded in or around the year 283.<br />
<br />
As a person who suffers from asthma and other respiratory issues, I guess I have a fondness for St. Blaise. I look forward to the "blessings of the throat" each February and pray that by his intercession, I will find comfort and relief from my asthma. It is so good to know that the Lord has given us saints to intercede for us in all manner of problems and difficulties; some with such specific intentions as St. Blaise. <br />
<br />
If you have a chance to receive a "blessing of the throat" this weekend at your parish, remember these stories and ask St. Blaise for a special intercession for someone you may know who needs healing and deliverance.<br />
<br />
If you want to know more about St. Blaise or any other Saint, you can find much in the two volume work of Jacobus de Voragine entitled <i>The Golden Legend,</i> published by Princeton University Press.Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17567384106236379666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6865957453686471183.post-34490661807723600292010-01-31T21:07:00.016-05:002010-02-07T09:09:37.967-05:00What I'll Be Reading for Lent<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>With Ash Wednesday just over two weeks away, I have been thinking about what I will be using as my Lenten meditation reading material. I have sent for Esther De Waal's newest addition to her corpus of work on the Rule of St. Benedict, <span style="font-style: italic;">"Seeking Life: The Baptismal Invitation of the Rule of St. Benedict"</span>. Esther De Waal has long been a favorite spiritual writer of mine and her books on the Rule of St. Benedict always bring me new insights and wisdom.<br />
<br />
In this book, she compares the on-going spiritual development that begins in each believer's life at Baptism with the Gospel truths present in the Rule's famous Prologue.<br />
<br />
Christian catechesis for neophytes coming into the Church has traditionally been a long, involved process taking much time and effort on the part of the 'candidate' seeking communion with the Church. Over the centuries, our catechesis has become somewhat simpler, less time consuming and I am left to wonder if we should not return to the older ways of catechizing in order to insure that those entering into full communion totally <span style="font-style: italic;">understand </span>what they are vowing to uphold in their spiritual lives. I'm not sure I totally understood when I renewed my baptismal vows in my own right during adult confirmation.<br />
<br />
So I am anxious to read De Waal's thoughts and I promise to post more about this new book as soon as I have finished absorbing it all...<br />
<br />
For those looking for new Lenten meditation material, I would recommend the late Fr. Richard John Neuhaus' "<span style="font-style: italic;">Death on A Friday Afternoon"</span>. I was deeply moved by this book and it strengthened my already vast respect and admiration for this great man of God. Neuhaus takes the Seven Last Words of our Lord on the Cross and brings them into focus with amazing precision and profound insight.<br />
<br />
Anne Catherine Emmerich's <span style="font-style: italic;">"The Dolorous Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ"</span> is a book that awed and inspired me to grow closer to our Lord by meditating on His Passion. These looks into Christ's Passion were given to Emmerich during ecstatic visions in which Our Lord revealed to Anne Catherine unknown details of the hours leading up to and concluding with our Lord's death on the Cross. These visions were recorded in written form by Clemens Bretano, a friend and associate of Emmerich's at the time of her visions. This book contains both a Nihil Obstat and Imprimatur for those who may be somewhat cautious in reading and believing ecstatic visions. At least you will be comforted that nothing in her words are outside of accepted doctrine or teachings of the Catholic Church. By the way, this book was the source material that Mel Gibson used in researching and writing <i>The Passion of the Christ.</i><br />
<br />
Lastly, I would recommend Edward Hay's "<span style="font-style: italic;">The Lenten Labyrinth"</span> as another great choice for Lenten meditations. Hay discusses the journeys of life and the journeys of Lent as paths much like a labyrinth, twisting this way and that before reaching the goal. Hay's writings always challenge, amuse and cause me to look at ideas and preconceived notions just a little bit differently than I may have in the past. He has a 'quirky' way of getting to his point but the end result is clear and pure. This book is divided up into daily reflections for ease of use.<br />
<br />
Whether you choose to read any of these books or pick up something of your own choosing, meditate well this Lent on our Lord's Passion and continue to grow in faith and love. Blessed reading! (and let me know what great books you might find in your own search...)Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17567384106236379666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6865957453686471183.post-37426743106151879112010-01-28T16:29:00.011-05:002010-02-18T08:24:30.492-05:00The Cause for CanonizationIn recent months I have been watching the progression of the process towards beatification and ultimately, canonization of several "saints in waiting". These are people, who for various reasons, have caught my attention over the years and to whom I have looked for wisdom and inspiration. So in no particular order, here's my list:<br />
<br />
Damien de Veuster, SSCC, Leper Priest of Moloki. I read Fr. Damien's story many, many years ago and was amazed by his faithfulness and courage. Fr. Damien's mission was to the lepers of Hawaii during the late 19th century. He died of leprosy in 1889. You can read about Fr. Damien on www.leperpriest.blogspot.com<span style="font-style: italic;">. Fr. Damien was canonized on October 11, 2009.</span><br />
<br />
Pope John Paul II. John Paul the Great is currently on the "fast track" towards beatification. In December, Pope Benedict signed a decree on the virtues of Pope John Paul II, which means that he can be beatified as soon as the Vatican certifies that a miracle attributed to his intercession has occurred.<br />
<br />
The late, great Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen. Archbishop Sheen returned home to Glory on December 9, 1979. His cause for beatification and canonization was opened in 2002 by the Diocese of Peoria, IL, where Fulton Sheen had been an altar boy at St. Mary's Cathedral. Archbishop Sheen is perhaps best known for his television program, "Life is Worth Living" which aired back in the 1950's & can still be seen on EWTN. His best known writing is perhaps, <span style="font-style: italic;">Life of Christ</span>, a book to which I often turn for study, reflection, and the joy of reading about our Lord's life. Read more about Archbishop Sheen at www.archbishopsheencause.org<br />
<br />
And this weekend, January 31, 2010, the cause for beatification and canonization of Maria Esperanza of Venezuela will be officially opened by the Diocese of Metuchen, New Jersey. Usually known as Maria Esperanza of Betania, Maria received apparitions of our Blessed Mother at Finca, Betania where Mary referred to herself as "Mary, Virgin and Mother, Reconciler of all Peoples and Nations." The apparitions were approved by Bishop Pio Bello Ricardo on November 21, 1987. You can learn more at www.mariaesperanza.com<br />
<br />
Let us pray that all may be found worthy of sainthood and may their prayers join with ours in the Communion of Saints.<br />
<br />
If you have a favorite "saint in waiting", I'd love to hear their story. Please feel free to post your comments and favorites here.<br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.mariaesperanza.com"></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.mariaesperanza.com"></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.mariaesperanza.com"></a>Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17567384106236379666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6865957453686471183.post-63465109018057126292010-01-27T13:59:00.010-05:002010-02-01T19:24:20.533-05:00Medjugorje & the OT ProphetsThis is Monday's message from Our Lady to the world:<br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><i><span style="font-size: 100%;">"</span><span style="font-size: 100%;">Dear children! May this time be a time of personal prayer for you, so that the seed of faith may grow in your hearts; and may it grow into a joyful witness to others. I am with you and I desire to inspire you all: grow and rejoice in the Lord Who has created you. Thank you for having responded to my call."</span></i></span><br />
</div>We were just talking last night in Bible study about the messages that Our Lady brings to us through the visionaries in Medjugorje. We were comparing the content of her messages with the word of the OT prophets who spoke to Israel concerning returning to God with their whole hearts and forsaking the ways of foreign gods.<br />
<br />
We discussed the idea that we are not that different from our OT forebears. We, too, turn to foreign gods in the misguided belief that life will be better, easier, more comfortable. If I only had.... a bigger house, better car, etc... We want to 'have it all' but find our lives lacking in joy and peace. We talk about peace, we pray for peace but we do not feel peaceful. I am as guilty as the next person.<br />
<br />
I continually rant and rave over drivers on the road but fail to remember that they too may be having a difficult day; that they too just want to get out of traffic and <span style="font-style: italic;">find some peace.</span><br />
<br />
Mary's messages are being given to us <span style="font-style: italic;">for a time.</span> Jesus spoke to St. Faustina about people being <span style="font-style: italic;">given extra time </span>before His justice falls because of His love for us and His Divine Mercy.<br />
<br />
Perhaps it would be good for all of us to review the OT prophets including Elijah and Elisha and hear again their words of warning and repentance. Perhaps we should listen more closely to Our Lady's messages given each month, <span style="font-style: italic;">especially</span> when they seem repetitive. She is trying to get our attention!<br />
<br />
We are being <span style="font-style: italic;">given extra time.</span> Time to pray, time to repent, time to make amends and time to turn to the Lord as our only source of true peace and joy. It is a new year. Perhaps this is the best time to make a new beginning of prayer and reconciliation. I know I have to. <i>Before time runs out.</i>Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17567384106236379666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6865957453686471183.post-55624340828874487202010-01-27T11:41:00.012-05:002010-01-28T17:30:27.206-05:00Returning...<span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"></span>Greetings to all readers and followers! I have been away for several months on a hiatus from writing due mostly to a dryness in my spirituality. We have all experienced the 'dark night of the soul' and it can sometimes be life changing. It certainly has changed mine.<br /><br />I am sure that in the weeks to come, I will be able to share some of my insights and perspectives on this 'dark night' and the resulting life changes for all those who would care to continue reading..<br /><br />Thanks to my few faithful followers who have continued to occasionally post comments to previous blog entries and to those who have checked back every once in a while to see if I had returned. I am grateful for your continued interest.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">I have also changed the name of my blog from Celtic Soul to Celtic Catholic Soul to more thoroughly express what this blog is about and where my perspectives come from..<br /><br />During this period of absence, many things have happened in my life that will probably become fodder for writing over the next few weeks. In May, I "retired" from a company where I had worked for 30 years. This was a huge decision. To walk away from the one thing that I had always seen as the 'stable' part of my life was difficult but necessary. Stagnation is soul killing and I had come to a point where the mere thought of yet another day in a cubicle was beyond anything I was willing to endure..<br /><br />On the other hand, this translated into a whole new way of 'being' in the world. I am still, 8 months later, learning how to live this new life. Everything has to be re-thought and re-adjusted to accommodate this new life. All aspects of my day, from 'what time is good to get up?' (now that I don't punch a clock) to how much time do I devote to recreation vs. working vs. family time, have to be looked at and evaluated.<br /><br />My lifestyle is certainly changing and as I struggle to find my way in this new life, I'm sure many thoughts and reflections will find their way into the writing on this blog. If they can help anyone else to maneuver through new and sometimes difficult waters, then it will be my prayer that we can find our new ways together.<br /></span></span>Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17567384106236379666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6865957453686471183.post-10600347412582380602009-04-21T10:07:00.008-04:002010-02-04T19:10:21.190-05:00Absent but not gone...Sometimes in this life, we have moments (days, weeks, ....) that we feel like we have nothing to offer. We are like Ezekiel's valley of dry bones... We are wandering in the wilderness, seeking the Promised Land, but finding that we are only circling around, wandering in circles, lost and alone.<br />
<br />
This is where I have been the past week or so... sometime around the middle of Holy Week, it happened. I was going along cheerfully, trying to not let my problems overwhelm me, but at some point, I succumbed...<br />
<br />
Easter Vigil was wonderful, as always, but I was there mostly in body; my spirit was elsewhere..<br />
Easter morning Holy Mass was a blessing, but again I was not entirely there.<br />
<br />
St. John of the Cross describes this wilderness journey as the Dark Night of the Soul. I know that, in part, I was under spiritual attack; in part, God was silent to my despairing cries.<br />
<br />
I could relate to Our Lord's words from the Cross: "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?"<br />
<br />
My problems are nothing in the grand scheme of things. To take a phrase from 12 step programs, 'This too will pass.."<br />
<br />
But when you are in the smack middle of a dark night, it does not seem like it will pass; it feels that God has abandoned you utterly.<br />
<br />
I am struggling still to walk this dark journey yet I know there is a light just ahead.<br />
<br />
My weapons accompany me: the Holy Rosary, Confession, Eucharist. I am praying the Fifteen Prayers of St. Bridget and have found consolation in all these tools of the spiritual life. I know that at some point I will find again the Promised Land and return to tell you all about my journeyings..<br />
<br />
Till then, my Celtic friends....Godspeed.Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17567384106236379666noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6865957453686471183.post-37787461326119047282009-04-06T17:34:00.010-04:002009-04-09T13:27:47.613-04:00The Holy Week of our Lord's Passion<span style="color:#3333ff;"><strong>Sunday - Passion or Palm Sunday </strong></span><br /><br /><span style="color:#993300;">"Jesus enters into Jerusalem for the feast of the Passover. He is hailed "son of David" by those who days later will cry out "Crucify Him!" <em>Would we have done the same?</em><br /></span><br /><span style="color:#3366ff;"><strong>Monday</strong> </span>- <span style="color:#cc6600;">Watching "<em>The Passion of the Christ</em>" with fellow parishioners tonight.. Every year after seeing this movie, I realize that little else in life really matters compared to this most Holy Sacrifice... </span><br /><span style="color:#cc6600;"></span><br /><span style="color:#009900;"><strong>"See I make all things new!"</strong></span> - Revelation 21:5<br /><br /><span style="color:#3366ff;"><strong>Tuesday - <span style="color:#cc66cc;">Chrism Mass<br /></span></strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#660000;"><strong>This is the Holy Mass where all the catechumens and candidates of the Diocese who are being Baptized</strong><strong> and received into full communion with the Catholic Church get to meet in one place with the Bishop presiding. </strong></span></span></span><br /><strong><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:85%;color:#660000;"></span></strong><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#660000;"><strong>The 'holy oils ' are brought back to the parish for use during the following year: the oils o</strong><strong>f baptism, confirmation, anointing of the sick.</strong></span></span></span><br /><strong><span style="color:#660000;"></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="color:#660000;"><span style="font-size:85%;">It is a chance to see most of the priests of the Diocese all together; the procession to the altar, led by the Knights of Columbus in dress regalia, is wonderful to see.</span></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-size:85%;color:#660000;"></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-size:85%;color:#660000;">I remember when I was a candidate, I was so excited to be finally 'accepted' by the Diocese and to know that within a few days, I too would be a member of the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. </span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-size:85%;color:#660000;"></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-size:85%;color:#660000;">A very exciting time right in the middle of a very holy week.</span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-size:85%;color:#660000;"></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-size:85%;color:#660000;">Let us pray for our catechumens and candidates that they will feel the grace of the Lord during this very special time in their lives. </span></strong><br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#3366ff;">Wednesday - Tenebrae</span></strong><br /><span style="color:#3366ff;"></span><br /><span style="color:#339999;"><strong>We are having a Tenebrae service in our Parish tonight.<br /><br />In a Tenebrae service, the church is lit only with candlelight, including one larger Christ candle on the altar. The word Tenebrae comes from the Latin, meaning ‘shadows’.<br /><br />The purpose of Tenebrae is to recreate the emotions of Christ’s Passion: His betrayal by Judas, the disciples’ abandonment and the beginnings of H<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtAx1yLuSIzofO6SS7MQJ3B9A89FiXFgCUi7LlooWpm_THW6TOIQrKK-nRo1xqtpp3eb5BadmrU9gaTpcvO0dMFU3bBuJ6n7jfSLV_Ifit-ktGlC9mpSQzWgnyWO-dHgdb__BkHHpYbaA/s1600-h/burning+candle"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322375530715859234" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 101px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 135px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtAx1yLuSIzofO6SS7MQJ3B9A89FiXFgCUi7LlooWpm_THW6TOIQrKK-nRo1xqtpp3eb5BadmrU9gaTpcvO0dMFU3bBuJ6n7jfSLV_Ifit-ktGlC9mpSQzWgnyWO-dHgdb__BkHHpYbaA/s320/burning+candle" border="0" /></a>is Agony.<br /><br />During the Tenebrae service, there will be Scripture readings and Gospel narratives. At the end of each reading, a candle is extinguished… so that by the end of the numerous readings, all the candles are out, leaving the nave in darkness.<br /><br />The last reading will be Psalm 22, which Christ quoted from the Cross:<br /><br /></strong></span><span style="color:#339999;"><strong><em>My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?<br /></em><br />When this Psalm reading is completed, the Christ Candle is extinguished. All is now darkness.<br /><br />We have reached our most despairing moment: Christ has asked to be spared from drinking this bitter Cup but surrenders Himself to God’s Will. God seems not to answer: Christ will endure His Passion. The darkness of our sins prevails…<br /><br />There is no benediction, no final blessing. The participants leave the Church in silence.<br /><br />We wait…. in silence, in darkness…in grief… </strong></span><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong><br /><br /></strong><br /><span style="color:#009900;"></span>Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17567384106236379666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6865957453686471183.post-60322003524745088452009-04-03T08:31:00.002-04:002009-04-03T08:41:13.280-04:00Coming Home to the Catholic Church<span style="color:#000099;">Here’s the recent statistics regarding the numbers of people being received into full communion with the Roman Catholic Church this coming Easter Vigil 2009! These numbers represent just some major Dioceses in the country; certainly not all Dioceses have reported, so this number is low but certainly representative:<br /><br />The Archdiocese of Atlanta: 2708<br />The Archdiocese of Seattle: 1242<br />The Archdiocese of San Diego: 1225<br /><br />In 2007, 49,415 adult baptisms & 87,363 people were received into full Communion with the Catholic Church.<br /><br />Amazing, isn’t it? Aren’t people leaving the Catholic Church in droves? Didn’t the sex abuse scandal of 2001-02 drive most intelligent, cosmopolitan, enlightened people away from Catholicism, never to return?? That’s what the liberal, secular media would have you believe. But, IT IS NOT TRUE!!<br /><br />It is true that the Church lost members due to the scandal, and other reasons, such as the Church’s position on contraception, stem cell research, and abortion. But even during these difficult years, people were coming into the Roman Catholic Church in much higher numbers than the mainstream media would ever want you to know.<br /><br />I came ‘home to Rome’ in 2005 in the Manchester Diocese, State of New Hampshire. That particular year, over 100,000 people either formally returned to the Church or came in through RCIA programs, in the US alone.<br /><br />So who are these people? They come from all walks of life, all backgrounds.<br /><br />Some are people who had been previously ‘unchurched’ in that they had no church affiliation whatsoever, some were ‘reverts’ who returned to the Catholic Church of their youth, and some, like myself, were ‘converts’ who left one Christian denomination (usually Protestant) to become members of the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church through the Sacraments of First Communion and Confirmation.<br /><br />Early in his pontificate, Pope Benedict XVI was questioned regarding the numbers of people leaving the Catholic Church. His response was to the effect that perhaps in the future, the Church would be ‘smaller, but purer’.<br /><br />That does not mean that we are ‘pure’ in the sense of free from sin, because all are sinners, but that those who remained in the Catholic Church would be those who, freely and of their own accord, chose to remain as faithful members of Christ’s Church.<br /><br />A Catholic friend of mine, back in 2004, after learning of my intent to join the Catholic Church, remarked, “Why would you do that now, of all times? We have too many warts…”<br /><br />I replied, “I’ll take Christ’s Holy Church, warts and all.”<br /><br />And so, I guess, I’m not alone. The numbers are evident. People want to be a part of this Church. People, at some deep level, know that the fullness of Truth is found here. The Catholic Church is the only Church that has the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist. Christ is present always in our tabernacles. </span><span style="color:#000099;"><em>Why would you want to be anywhere else?<br /></em><br />Resource: Catholic News Agency as reported on </span><a href="http://www.spiritdaily.com/"><span style="color:#009900;">www.spiritdaily.com</span></a><span style="color:#000099;"><br /></span><span style="color:#3333ff;"></span>Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17567384106236379666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6865957453686471183.post-24162829470447692062009-04-02T09:29:00.004-04:002009-04-02T22:26:50.559-04:00What Pope John Paul II means to me...<span style="color:#993399;">Today is the 4th anniversary of the passing into Eternal Glory of our beloved Pope, John Paul II.<br /><br />Pope John Paul II passed away the same year I entered into full communion with the Roman Catholic Church, so he was my Pope for only a very short time. But he had become, for me, a guiding light on my journey home to the Catholic Church.<br /><br />So it seems only right that today I write about my feelings for Pope John Paul during this first year of my own Catholic blog.<br /><br />As we all know, John Paul was bigger than life. His presence demanded that you pay attention; his words demanded that you listen.<br /><br />I began to listen a couple of years before my conversion to the Catholic faith, mostly by watching the Catholic television network, EWTN. I watched it pretty faithfully for a couple of years before I even dreamt that one day I would be a Roman Catholic. I would watch <em>Life on the Rock</em> with Jeff Cavins and I would watch Daily Mass celebrated at the Our Lady of the Angels Monastery, broadcast in the evenings.<br /><br />I remember one particular winter when I was sick as a dog with whooping cough for almost six months and would spend the evenings huddled up in a blanket in my recliner, full of cough meds and prescription anti-biotics, dozing on and off throughout the evening. I would turn Daily Mass on at 7:00 and sit there with my eyes closed, just listening. Then I would continue to listen to whatever Catholic programming was on after Mass.<br /><br />This was very comforting to me. I knew that I would not be jolted awake by scenes of violence or profanity. I could literally ‘rest in the Lord’ while I gathered my strength for the next day.<br /><br />And it was during that winter that I became acquainted with John Paul II. I heard him spoken about with deep respect and affection. I heard others talk about his teachings. I watched him celebrate Holy Mass at St. Peter’s on Holy Days. I began to look for news about him and to schedule time to watch EWTN if I knew he was going to be televised. I began to feel my own deep respect and affection for this man.<br /><br />At that time, I knew that as Pope, he was the head of the Roman Catholic Church, but that was all I really knew about the Papacy. I didn’t know that he was the Vicar of Christ, that he had received his authority from St. Peter himself, through Apostolic Succession, I didn’t know that he would become such a powerful influence in my own spiritual life.<br /><br />As we all know, Pope John Paul II was a prolific writer. It has been said that you could spend the rest of your life studying the words and thoughts of JPII and not be able to fully digest all that he had to offer. His books, his encyclicals, his poetry… so much to take in.<br /><br />One of his teachings, however, that has drawn me in and captivated my attention, is a series of Wednesday messages, given over a period of about six years, beginning in 1978 right after his election to the Chair of Peter. These teachings are known as Theology of the Body.<br /><br />I remember my pastor in 2005, Fr. Paul, talking about Theology of the Body (TOB) and stating that it would take Catholic scholars and laity a hundred years to fully ‘unpack’ these remarkable teachings. But that these teachings on human sexuality would literally ‘revolutionize’ society’s distorted ideas about the role of human sexuality and its place in our lives. Through TOB, we would learn that our sexuality is so much a part of who we are and who we are called to be, beings made in the image and likeness of God, that we would find new freedom and wholeness in our lives and use the God given gift of our sexuality as it was intended to be used – as a divine expression of the life of the Trinity.<br /><br />TOB is, in its major components, a study in anthropology, in sociology, and in theology. It is a ‘right ordering’ of our human desires and needs firmly grounded in the Person of Jesus Christ. It is a life-changing study. And I can only wish that I had found it much earlier in my own life!<br /><br />John Paul II was a man of remarkable depth, deep intellect, and an uncanny ability to convey complex theological ideas in layman's terms. This deep study of the human person is accessible to everyone.<br /><br />Our parish has over the last five years offered studies of TOB. We started out with a beginner’s class, just noting the basics of this remarkable teaching. We moved on to a deeper level with <em>Theology of the Body Explained</em>, presented by Christopher West, who has made the ‘unpacking’ of this material his life’s vocation.<br /><br />We are now in the middle of an advanced class, going deeper and deeper into the profound implications of life lived authentically, as either a married or celibate person. This advanced level class is called <em>Into the Heart </em>and is again taught by Christopher West, using the text of John Paul II's <em>Man and Woman He Created Them.<br /></em><br />But this is just the tip of the iceberg of JPII’s writings. His encyclicals alone need more time to be delved into and the gold nuggets of his rich wisdom mined.<br /><br />There is no better person to study (outside of Jesus Christ Himself), if you want to know the deep wisdom of our Christian, and Catholic, heritage.<br /><br />As this blog often deals with various apparitions of our Blessed Mother, I end with this: a few days after the passing of John Paul II into Glory, it was reported by one of the Medjugorje visionaries, that during an apparition of our Lady, John Paul II was seen standing beside our Blessed Mother, young and vibrant. Mary told the visionary, ‘Here is my son – he is with me.’<br /><br />John Paul II lives in the fullness of the Kingdom of God and enjoys the Beatific Vision.<br /><br />May Jesus Christ be praised! Amen<br /><br /></span>Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17567384106236379666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6865957453686471183.post-20289852852676251862009-04-01T16:09:00.005-04:002009-04-02T14:05:21.945-04:00Secretary of State Clinton meets our Lady of Guadalupe<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiHgPOm1M7eeGk3_xt-CJfjpRchl0JhWlu8tbW3R3NA21ff9m2wMi9f_w7RrON985A3ly10dkP187Hw6TOzWZxFy9JKsgaGMACMQ7jOOv-hWdlf_cU6xjUXpPPeRgwVJCSPXT2_CaBT74/s1600-h/OLGuadalipe_and_Clinton.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319818322226543058" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 230px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiHgPOm1M7eeGk3_xt-CJfjpRchl0JhWlu8tbW3R3NA21ff9m2wMi9f_w7RrON985A3ly10dkP187Hw6TOzWZxFy9JKsgaGMACMQ7jOOv-hWdlf_cU6xjUXpPPeRgwVJCSPXT2_CaBT74/s320/OLGuadalipe_and_Clinton.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Last week, Patrick Madrid was running a caption contest on his blog,<br /><a href="http://patrickmadrid.blogspot.com/">patrickmadrid.blogspot.com</a></div><br /><div><br />He was looking for captions for this picture</div><div></div><div>which shows Secretary of State Hillary Clinton looking at the tilma of Juan Diego in Guadalupe which, of course, shows the famous imprint of Our Lady of Guadalupe.<br /><br />I submitted my caption and, lo and behold, I came in as a First Runner Up (three way tie)!<br /><br />Here is how he announced the winners:<br /><br /><em>The winner and the runners up are those who, in my subjective judgment, best and most cleverly captured the ironic weirdness of the scene: a woman who has made a lucrative career for herself as an implacable foe of the Pro-life movement (and, more fundamentally, a foe of all the unborn children who have been, are being, and will be slaughtered through abortion, as the result of her efforts to support it) being shown the image of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the mother of Life Herself.<br /><br />There's no need for me to editorialize further on this bizarre juxtaposition of Truth and error, light and darkness, goodness and evil, which is represented by these two very different, diametrically opposed women.<br /><br />The winner of this caption contest will receive a personally inscribed copy of my book 150 Bible Verses Every Catholic Should Know.<br /></em><br /><span style="color:#ff0000;">Contest Winner:<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#3333ff;">Nick — "Behold: The ORIGINAL 'Mexico City Policy'"<br /></span></strong><br /></span>Congratulations Nick!<br /><br /><span style="color:#ff0000;">First Runners Up (3-way tie):<br /></span><br />Micaela — "That sinking, nauseous, empty feeling in your abdomen, Hillary? Well, it isn't from the burritos . . ."<br /><br />Dee — The culture of death meets the Mother of Life.<br /><br />BillyHW — "Now a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. Then being with child, she cried out in labor and in pain to give birth. And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great, <span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong>fiery red</strong></span> <span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong>dragon</strong></span>...well, I don't want to ruin the ending for you."<br /><br /><br /><span style="color:#3333ff;">I, of course, am Dee with my caption “The culture of death meets the Mother of Life.”<br /><br />Visit Patrick Madrid’s blogspot to see the rest of the wonderful caption entries and read the whole article.<br /></span></div>Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17567384106236379666noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6865957453686471183.post-54868338140997903462009-04-01T09:21:00.002-04:002009-04-02T14:07:11.045-04:00What is going on in Medjugorje?<div align="justify"><span style="color:#3333ff;">About a month ago, it was reported that Fr. Jozo Zovko, of the parish of Siroki-Brijeg, Bosnia-Hercegovina, is now on a year-long sabbatical. Allegedly, this is due to a health concern for which he has been receiving treatment.<br /><br />He has cancelled all talks to Medjugorje pilgrims.<br /><br />Next, it was reported that the local Bishop of Mostar, who has jurisdiction over the hamlet of Medjugorje, and hence St. James Parish, has stopped the visionaries from receiving their apparitions of our Blessed Mother at Cenocola. Cenocola is an alcohol/drug rehabilitation center for young men. It has had amazing success over the years in helping young men to clean up and move on with their lives.<br /><br />Yesterday, it was reported that the Bishop of Mostar, Radko Peric, has now forbidden Holy Mass and Adoration to be celebrated at the Oasis of Peace!<br /><br />Bishop Peric has long been an opponent of the visionaries and has declared the apparitions to be a fraud.</span></div><p><span style="color:#3333ff;">His ‘jurisdiction’, so to speak, over the visionaries has been removed by the Vatican which is now conducting an investigation into the alleged apparitions. A former commission, set up to review the apparitions, in which Bishop Peric was a member, was de-commissioned due to the fact that only non-believers in the apparitions were on the commission.</span></p><p><span style="color:#3333ff;">However, he is still Bishop of Mostar and therefore, still has authority over the Parish of St. James.<br /><br />Now, if just one of these incidents had been reported, I would probably not make too much of it, such as Fr. Zovko’s sabbatical. Perhaps he truly does have a health condition that would require taking that much time from his duties.<br /><br />But, with the additional incidents at Cenocola and now the Oasis of Peace, I have to wonder: </span><span style="color:#3333ff;"><em>What is going on in Medjugorje?<br /></em><br />Whoever heard of forbidding Holy Mass to be celebrated? This is a scary thought, which quite frankly, sends chills up my spine. It has long been prophesied that one day the Holy Mass would be forbidden and faithful Catholics would have to ‘go underground’ to celebrate Holy Mass. Is this a harbinger of tribulations yet to come?<br /><br />Are the apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary about to draw to a close? Are the first of the ‘secrets’ about to be revealed?<br /><br />It has even been reported, by an alleged visionary/prophet here in the US, that the first secret will be revealed soon; in fact, possibly as soon as this month!<br /><br />Prophetic ‘rumors’ come and go. But it does make me wonder when incidents like these happening in Medjugorje take place within a couple of weeks of each other. Could something really big be on the horizon? Time will tell. But for me, Medjugorje and what happens there, is a HUGE barometer of our times… Could the first secret be revealed soon? And if so, what does it mean for us and for the world?<br /><br />May the Sacred Heart of Jesus be praised and adored.<br />May the Immaculate Heart of Mary be praised and adored. <span style="color:#000000;"><br /></span></span><span style="color:#6633ff;">Amen<br /></span><span style="color:#3333ff;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></p></span>Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17567384106236379666noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6865957453686471183.post-1043159328155838782009-03-24T09:41:00.003-04:002009-03-24T09:43:58.139-04:00Mary Reilly<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS4CcnIdVscsBVCAzVUZHD-0qHQZXwd4z_ZIcZ5aKfJ6LjPovrF7U3rxZmE-P05fI_ELc5Guo-LvlwGAYEvKwTJz0UW6cfenR6jsjZM_7bQg7pmWfDpTJn-Q2QIfgUp_jxlHPmSOIAeig/s1600-h/Immaculate+Heart"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316749514828670642" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 68px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 129px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS4CcnIdVscsBVCAzVUZHD-0qHQZXwd4z_ZIcZ5aKfJ6LjPovrF7U3rxZmE-P05fI_ELc5Guo-LvlwGAYEvKwTJz0UW6cfenR6jsjZM_7bQg7pmWfDpTJn-Q2QIfgUp_jxlHPmSOIAeig/s320/Immaculate+Heart" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Have you heard of Mary Reilly, a woman living in upstate New York, who allegedly has locutions of our Blessed Lady?<br /><br />She has made numerous accurate predictions of events after having received messages from the Blessed Virgin.<br /><br />Scripture states that the sign of a true prophet of God is that the prophecies they speak <em>must come true</em> all the time; a prophecy that is proven untrue is the sign of a false prophet. Some prophecies may be delayed; that does not render them as false.<br /><br />Please visit <a href="http://www.markmallett.com/blog">www.markmallett.com/blog</a> for his entry of March 19th found under “Daily Journal” to read the incredible story of Mary Reilly. She provides some interesting insights into the future which seem to be in line with other prophecies regarding the end of this era and the Triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.<br /><br /> Blessed be the Sacred Heart of Jesus<br /> Blessed be the Immaculate Heart of Mary<br /> Amen.</div>Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17567384106236379666noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6865957453686471183.post-71214746813444451382009-03-23T18:29:00.009-04:002009-03-23T19:06:44.733-04:00St. Brigid of Kildare (Ireland)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-oniscYk7CBJxlq2naZljFEMkxeKq4IYA4bGTxdQfIoZe7tmPXEjEJNc_YdFHc8oEg4fDdBv43RUwuBdSAU78yZUx-ZMCbe9zbZcqjsaOxl21ZOAYnFXc1OQCjcXNtOwYFwWaJyRGWF0/s1600-h/St.+Brigid+of+Kildare.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316522965250706706" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 235px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-oniscYk7CBJxlq2naZljFEMkxeKq4IYA4bGTxdQfIoZe7tmPXEjEJNc_YdFHc8oEg4fDdBv43RUwuBdSAU78yZUx-ZMCbe9zbZcqjsaOxl21ZOAYnFXc1OQCjcXNtOwYFwWaJyRGWF0/s320/St.+Brigid+of+Kildare.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="justify"><span style="color:#993399;">I was having an interesting discussion yesterday regarding St. Brigid (sometimes confused with St. Bridget of Sweden), a Celtic saint. This led me to look up some more information about her from <em>Catholic Encyclopedia</em>. This is what I found:</span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="color:#993399;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#993399;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#993399;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#993399;"></span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="color:#333399;">Born in 451 or 452 of princely ancestors at Faughart, near Dundalk, County Louth; d. 1 February, 525, at </span><a href="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08636c.htm"><span style="color:#333399;">Kildare</span></a><span style="color:#333399;">. Refusing many good offers of marriage, she became a </span><a href="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11164a.htm"><span style="color:#333399;">nun</span></a><span style="color:#333399;"> and received the veil from St. Macaille. With seven other virgins she settled for a time at the foot of Croghan Hill, but removed thence to Druin Criadh, in the plains of Magh Life, where under a large oak tree she erected her subsequently famous Convent of Cill-Dara, that is, "the church of the oak" (now Kildare), in the present county of that name. It is exceedingly difficult to reconcile the statements of St. Brigid's biographers, but the Third, Fourth, and Fifth Lives of the </span><a href="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04171a.htm"><span style="color:#333399;">saint</span></a><span style="color:#333399;"> are at one in assigning her a slave mother in the court of her father Dubhthach, and </span><a href="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08098b.htm"><span style="color:#333399;">Irish</span></a><span style="color:#333399;"> chieftain of Leinster. Probably the most ancient life of St. Brigid is that by St. Broccan Cloen, who is said to have died 17 September, 650. </span></div><br /><p><span style="color:#333399;">C</span><a href="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04094a.htm"><span style="color:#333399;">ogitosus</span></a><span style="color:#333399;">, a </span><a href="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/10487b.htm"><span style="color:#333399;">monk</span></a><span style="color:#333399;"> of Kildare in the eighth century, expounded the metrical life of St. Brigid, and versified it in good Latin. This is what is known as the "Second Life", and is an excellent example of </span><a href="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08098b.htm"><span style="color:#333399;">Irish</span></a><span style="color:#333399;"> scholarship in the mid-eighth century. Perhaps the most interesting feature of </span><a href="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04094a.htm"><span style="color:#333399;">Cogitosus's</span></a><span style="color:#333399;"> work is the description of the </span><a href="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/03438a.htm"><span style="color:#333399;">Cathedral</span></a><span style="color:#333399;"> of Kildare in his day: <em>"Solo spatioso et in altum minaci proceritate porruta ac decorata pictis tabulis, tria intrinsecus habens oratoria ampla, et divisa parietibus tabulatis"</em>. (</span><span style="color:#333399;">The rood-screen was formed of wooden boards, lavishly decorated, and with beautifully decorated curtains. ) </span></p><br /><p><span style="color:#333399;">Probably the famous Round Tower of Kildare dates from the sixth century. Although St. Brigid was "veiled" or received by St. Macaille, at Croghan, yet, it is tolerably certain that she was </span><a href="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12451b.htm"><span style="color:#333399;">professed</span></a><span style="color:#333399;"> by St. Mel of </span><a href="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01699c.htm"><span style="color:#333399;">Ardagh</span></a><span style="color:#333399;">, who also conferred on her abbatial powers. From Ardagh St. Macaille and St. Brigid followed St. Mel into the country of Teffia in </span><a href="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/10097a.htm"><span style="color:#333399;">Meath</span></a><span style="color:#333399;">, including portions of Westmeath and Longford. This occurred about the year 468. St. Brigid's small oratory at Cill-Dara became the centre of religion and learning, and developed into a </span><a href="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/03438a.htm"><span style="color:#333399;">cathedral</span></a><span style="color:#333399;"> city. She founded two monastic institutions, one for men, and the other for </span><a href="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15687b.htm"><span style="color:#333399;">women</span></a><span style="color:#333399;">, and appointed St. Conleth as spiritual </span><a href="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11537b.htm"><span style="color:#333399;">pastor</span></a><span style="color:#333399;"> of them. It has been frequently stated that she gave </span><a href="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08567a.htm"><span style="color:#333399;">canonical jurisdiction</span></a><span style="color:#333399;"> to St. Conleth, </span><a href="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/02581b.htm"><span style="color:#333399;">Bishop</span></a><span style="color:#333399;"> of Kildare, but, as Archbishop Healy points out, she simply "selected the person to whom the Church gave this jurisdiction", and her biographer tells us distinctly that she chose St. Conleth "to govern the church along with herself".</span></p><br /><p><span style="color:#333399;">Thus, for centuries, Kildare was ruled by a double line of abbot-bishops and of abbesses, the </span><a href="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01007e.htm"><span style="color:#333399;">Abbess</span></a><span style="color:#333399;"> of Kildare being regarded as superioress general of the </span><a href="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04340c.htm"><span style="color:#333399;">convents</span></a><span style="color:#333399;"> in </span><a href="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08098b.htm"><span style="color:#333399;">Ireland</span></a><span style="color:#333399;">. </span></p><br /><div align="justify"><span style="color:#333399;">Not alone was St. Bridget a patroness of students, but she also founded a </span><a href="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/13554b.htm"><span style="color:#333399;">school</span></a><span style="color:#333399;"> of art, including metal work and illumination, over which St. Conleth presided. From the Kildare scriptorium came the wondrous book of the Gospels, which elicited unbounded praise from </span><a href="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/06568d.htm"><span style="color:#333399;">Giraldus Cambrensis</span></a><span style="color:#333399;">, but which has disappeared since the </span><a href="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12700b.htm"><span style="color:#333399;">Reformation</span></a><span style="color:#333399;">. </span></div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#333399;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#333399;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#333399;"></span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="color:#333399;"></span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="color:#333399;">According to this twelfth- century ecclesiastic, nothing that he had ever seen was at all comparable to the "Book of Kildare", every page of which was gorgeously illuminated, and he concludes a most laudatory notice by saying that the interlaced work and the harmony of the colours left the impression that "all this is the work of </span><a href="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01476d.htm"><span style="color:#333399;">angelic</span></a><span style="color:#333399;">, and not human skill". </span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="color:#333399;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#333399;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#333399;"></span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="color:#333399;">Small wonder that </span><a href="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/06568d.htm"><span style="color:#333399;">Gerald Barry</span></a><span style="color:#333399;"> assumed the book to have been written night after night as St. Bridget </span><a href="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12345b.htm"><span style="color:#333399;">prayed</span></a><span style="color:#333399;">, "an </span><a href="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01476d.htm"><span style="color:#333399;">angel</span></a><span style="color:#333399;"> furnishing the designs, the scribe copying". Even allowing for the exaggerated stories told of St. Brigid by her numerous biographers, it is </span><a href="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/03539b.htm"><span style="color:#333399;">certain</span></a><span style="color:#333399;"> that she ranks as one of the most remarkable Irishwomen of the fifth century and as the Patroness of </span><a href="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08098b.htm"><span style="color:#333399;">Ireland</span></a><span style="color:#333399;">. She is lovingly called the "Queen of the South: the Mary of the Gael" by a writer in the "Leabhar Breac". St. Brigid died leaving a </span><a href="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/03438a.htm"><span style="color:#333399;">cathedral</span></a><span style="color:#333399;"> city and </span><a href="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/13554b.htm"><span style="color:#333399;">school</span></a><span style="color:#333399;"> that became famous all over </span><a href="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/05607b.htm"><span style="color:#333399;">Europe</span></a><span style="color:#333399;">. In her </span><a href="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07462a.htm"><span style="color:#333399;">honour</span></a><span style="color:#333399;"> St. Ultan wrote a </span><a href="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07595a.htm"><span style="color:#333399;">hymn</span></a><span style="color:#333399;"> commencing: </span></div><br /><div align="justify"><br /><span style="color:#333399;"><em>Christus in nostra insula Que vocatur Hivernia Ostensus est hominibus Maximis mirabilibus Que perfecit per felicem Celestis vite virginem Precellentem pro merito Magno in numdi circulo.<br /></em>(In our island of Hibernia Christ was made known to man by the very great </span><a href="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/10338a.htm"><span style="color:#333399;">miracles</span></a><span style="color:#333399;"> which he performed through the </span><a href="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07131b.htm"><span style="color:#333399;">happy</span></a><span style="color:#333399;"> virgin of celestial life, famous for her </span><a href="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/10202b.htm"><span style="color:#333399;">merits</span></a><span style="color:#333399;"> through the whole world.) </span></div><br /><div align="justify"><br /><span style="color:#333399;">The sixth Life of the </span><a href="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04171a.htm"><span style="color:#333399;">saint</span></a><span style="color:#333399;"> printed by </span><a href="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04099c.htm"><span style="color:#333399;">Colgan</span></a><span style="color:#333399;"> is attributed to Coelan, an </span><a href="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08098b.htm"><span style="color:#333399;">Irish</span></a><span style="color:#333399;"> </span><a href="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/10487b.htm"><span style="color:#333399;">monk</span></a><span style="color:#333399;"> of the eighth century, and it derives a peculiar importance from the fact that it is prefaced by a foreword from the pen of St. Donatus, also an </span><a href="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08098b.htm"><span style="color:#333399;">Irish</span></a><span style="color:#333399;"> </span><a href="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/10487b.htm"><span style="color:#333399;">monk</span></a><span style="color:#333399;">, who became </span><a href="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/02581b.htm"><span style="color:#333399;">Bishop</span></a><span style="color:#333399;"> of </span><a href="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/06070a.htm"><span style="color:#333399;">Fiesole</span></a><span style="color:#333399;"> in 824. St. Donatus refers to previous lives by St. Ultan and </span><a href="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01234c.htm"><span style="color:#333399;">St. Aileran</span></a><span style="color:#333399;">. When dying, St. Brigid was attended by St. Ninnidh, who was ever afterwards known as "Ninnidh of the Clean Hand" because he had his right hand encased with a metal covering to prevent its ever being defiled, after being he medium of administering the </span><a href="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15397c.htm"><span style="color:#333399;">viaticum</span></a><span style="color:#333399;"> to </span><a href="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08098b.htm"><span style="color:#333399;">Ireland's</span></a><span style="color:#333399;"> Patroness. </span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="color:#333399;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#333399;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#333399;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#333399;"></span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="color:#333399;">She was </span><a href="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/03071a.htm"><span style="color:#333399;">interred</span></a><span style="color:#333399;"> at the right of the </span><a href="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07346b.htm"><span style="color:#333399;">high altar</span></a><span style="color:#333399;"> of Kildare Cathedral, and a costly </span><a href="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14773b.htm"><span style="color:#333399;">tomb</span></a><span style="color:#333399;"> was erected over her. In after years her shrine was an object of veneration for </span><a href="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12085a.htm"><span style="color:#333399;">pilgrims</span></a><span style="color:#333399;">, especially on her </span><a href="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/06021b.htm"><span style="color:#333399;">feast day</span></a><span style="color:#333399;">, 1 February, as </span><a href="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04094a.htm"><span style="color:#333399;">Cogitosus</span></a><span style="color:#333399;"> related. About the year 878, owing to the Scandinavian raids, the </span><a href="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12734a.htm"><span style="color:#333399;">relics</span></a><span style="color:#333399;"> of St. Brigid were taken to Downpatrick, where they were </span><a href="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/03071a.htm"><span style="color:#333399;">interred</span></a><span style="color:#333399;"> in the </span><a href="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14773b.htm"><span style="color:#333399;">tomb</span></a><span style="color:#333399;"> of </span><a href="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11554a.htm"><span style="color:#333399;">St. Patrick</span></a><span style="color:#333399;"> and </span><a href="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04136a.htm"><span style="color:#333399;">St. Columba</span></a><span style="color:#333399;">. The </span><a href="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12734a.htm"><span style="color:#333399;">relics</span></a><span style="color:#333399;"> of the three </span><a href="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04171a.htm"><span style="color:#333399;">saints</span></a><span style="color:#333399;"> were discovered in 1185, and on 9 June of the following year were </span><a href="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14133a.htm"><span style="color:#333399;">solemnly</span></a><span style="color:#333399;"> translated to a suitable resting place in Downpatrick Cathedral, in presence of Cardinal Vivian, fifteen </span><a href="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/02581b.htm"><span style="color:#333399;">bishops</span></a><span style="color:#333399;">, and numerous </span><a href="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01015c.htm"><span style="color:#333399;">abbots</span></a><span style="color:#333399;"> and </span><a href="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04049b.htm"><span style="color:#333399;">ecclesiastics</span></a><span style="color:#333399;">. Various Continental </span><a href="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/02768b.htm"><span style="color:#333399;">breviaries</span></a><span style="color:#333399;"> of the pre-Reformation period commemorate St. Brigid, and her name is included in a </span><a href="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/09286a.htm"><span style="color:#333399;">litany</span></a><span style="color:#333399;"> in the Stowe </span><a href="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/10354c.htm"><span style="color:#333399;">Missal</span></a><span style="color:#333399;">. </span></div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#333399;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#333399;"></span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="color:#333399;"></span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="color:#333399;"></span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="color:#333399;">In </span><a href="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08098b.htm"><span style="color:#333399;">Ireland</span></a><span style="color:#333399;"> today, after 1500 years, the memory of "the Mary of the Gael" is as dear as ever to the </span><a href="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08098b.htm"><span style="color:#333399;">Irish</span></a><span style="color:#333399;"> heart, and, as is well known, Brigid preponderates as a </span><a href="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15687b.htm"><span style="color:#333399;">female</span></a><span style="color:#333399;"> </span><a href="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/10673c.htm"><span style="color:#333399;">Christian name</span></a><span style="color:#333399;">. Moreover, hundreds of place-names in her </span><a href="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07462a.htm"><span style="color:#333399;">honour</span></a><span style="color:#333399;"> are to be found all over the country, e.g. Kilbride, Brideswell, Tubberbride, Templebride, etc. The hand of St. Brigid is preserved at Lumiar near </span><a href="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/09281a.htm"><span style="color:#333399;">Lisbon</span></a><span style="color:#333399;">, </span><a href="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12297a.htm"><span style="color:#333399;">Portugal</span></a><span style="color:#333399;">, since 1587, and another </span><a href="http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12734a.htm"><span style="color:#333399;">relic</span></a><span style="color:#333399;"> is at St. Martin's Cologne. </span></div><br /><div align="justify"><br /><span style="color:#333333;">Text taken from <a href="http://www.newadvent.com/">http://www.newadvent.com/</a></span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="color:#333333;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#333333;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#333333;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#333399;"></span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="color:#993399;">The interesting part of this whole essay is that it is not mentioned directly but Brigid (pronounced Breed in the ancient Gaelic) is often confused, and their stores interwoven, with another Brigid who was a pagan and honored as a goddess. The whole idea that St. Brigid's convent was underneath a large oak tree, oaks being highly venerated by the Druids and priestesses of pagan Ireland, certainly has reinforced the idea for centuries.</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#993399;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#993399;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#993399;"></span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="color:#993399;"></span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="color:#993399;">Edward C. Sellner, in his book <em>Wisdom of the Celtic Saints </em>states that 'nuns at her monastery are said to have kept an eternal flame burning there, a custom that may have originated with female druids residing at that spot long before the saint arrived. Their leader supposedly was a high priestess who bore the name of the goddess Brigit or Brighid, a deity of wisdom, poetry, fire and the hearth. Like other Celtic goddesses who sometimes appear in groups of threes, the goddess Brigit was associated with two sisters by the same name -- one who was patron of healing and the other of the smith's craft. The attributes were eventually identified with Brigit, the saint, whose fe</span><span style="color:#993399;">ast day, February 1, came to be celebrated on the same day as that of the pagan goddess.'</span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="color:#993399;"></span></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#993399;"></span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="color:#993399;">This is just one of the many Celtic saints Sellner describes in his wonderful book, <em>Wisdom of the Celtic Saints</em> and if you find this an interesting topic, this would be a great place to start learning more of the holy men and women now known to us as the Celtic Saints. Happy reading!</span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="color:#993399;"></span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="color:#993399;"></span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="color:#993399;"></span></div>Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17567384106236379666noreply@blogger.com31tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6865957453686471183.post-18798601278462010022009-03-21T21:04:00.005-04:002009-03-21T21:19:32.028-04:00Spring!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzJwSchRnkhmJRuPlpar-zYoRc8_oGDa1VSLXj3nB7_WJOQA12nf_6ZVdK3BOiGRLWDa6nq62lj2gaTCED9lICSf2akWrxQf-auD_ezsdO5YMKWlxYv7OqiPT-QkkIYZRLAozcSJSh1Bc/s1600-h/forsythia.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315815591521131730" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 120px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzJwSchRnkhmJRuPlpar-zYoRc8_oGDa1VSLXj3nB7_WJOQA12nf_6ZVdK3BOiGRLWDa6nq62lj2gaTCED9lICSf2akWrxQf-auD_ezsdO5YMKWlxYv7OqiPT-QkkIYZRLAozcSJSh1Bc/s320/forsythia.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgXK_2sMX_RBTNKM8Kqbz4GrnXV4cFdXuL1n9IQLUApkDbOIg9SpUgRTbmS4OKqGui-XPlrX8NJhRanPFlCCf5FvNTzYJaOc2gyusiFuJXk5uMb9Iz_mGuBB06w4zE4hDp-xnx5JXUQHo/s1600-h/Spring.jpg"></a><br /><br /><div><strong><span style="color:#009900;">I don't know how your life has been going lately, but as for me, this winter has been especially hard. Cold, icy weather; economy in the trashbin; car problems that cost a small fortune to repair; leaking roofs and wild drivers crashing through my living room!</span></strong><br /><strong><span style="color:#009900;"></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="color:#009900;">All in all, I've had enough.</span></strong><br /><strong><span style="color:#009900;"></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="color:#009900;">So, these are the things I am looking forward to this spring:</span></strong><br /><strong><span style="color:#009900;"></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="color:#009900;">Yellow forsythia, green grass, temps above </span></strong><strong><span style="color:#009900;">60 degrees, sipping wine on my porch, spring peepers, open windows to let in the fresh air, marshmallows over the firepit and the smell of fresh soil in my flower pots! </span></strong><br /><strong><span style="color:#009900;"></span></strong><br /><strong><span style="color:#009900;">Glorious, glorious Spring!</span></strong><br /><span style="color:#009900;"></span><br /><span style="color:#009900;"></span></div></div>Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17567384106236379666noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6865957453686471183.post-67982149696793552942009-03-18T18:28:00.012-04:002009-03-24T13:33:18.229-04:00Pope Benedict to wear cross at Western Wall - how amazing!!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6PiS5bPOIBr5lWP1eY6T_fM2u82sSolf-FUeKPHl6RE8LCnSD2aG305nsENUTtOyf3dr_fjdDnZxdOgMNzyTTUXEGwPEXg3PQMz4RFZFbCi7nyiVLzmiMt1p6GgWQa8SWeIyIhtLOLww/s1600-h/JPII+at+Western+Wall"></a><br /><div align="justify"><span style="color:#993399;">Did you see the article on line yesterday regarding the fact that a certain rabbi did not want Pope Benedict to <em>wear a cross</em> during his visit to the Western Wall in Jerusalem? Below is an article from Catholic News Agency today stating that the Pope may wear a cross while praying at the Western Wall. Of course, this is a retraction of yesterday's comment, which is now being referred to as "misleading." </span></div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#993399;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#993399;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#993399;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#993399;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#993399;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#993399;"></span></div><br /><div align="justify"><span style="color:#993399;">Ok, here's my thoughts on this particular matter: You've got to be kidding, right? Ah, he's THE POPE. THE HEAD OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH. And this rabbi is upset that he will wear a cross??? Perhaps Benedict should ask the rabbi to take his Star of David off, or perhaps remove his prayer shawl... which of course, he wouldn't do, as Pope Benedict has respect for our Jewish brethren...</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#993399;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#993399;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#993399;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#993399;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#993399;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#993399;"></span></div><br /><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><p></p><p><br />Rome, Italy, Mar 18, 2009 / 02:13 am (<a href="http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/" target="_self">CNA</a>).- Contrary to comments attributed to an Israeli rabbi, Pope Benedict XVI will not be barred from entering the holy area of Jerusalem’s Western Wall while wearing a cross.<br />On Tuesday the Jerusalem Post quoted Rabbi Shmuel Rabinovitch, who oversees worship matters at the Western Wall, as saying that the Pope should not wear a cross during his visit to the area.<br />“It is not fitting to enter the Western Wall area with religious symbols, including a cross,” the rabbi reportedly said, according to SIR.<br />Mordechay Lewy, Israel’s Ambassador to the Holy See, issued a clarifying statement saying that the Jerusalem Post’s quotation was “misleading.”<br />Ambassador Lewy said that Israel will “respect, as a matter of course, the religious symbols of the Holy Father and of his entourage, as expected in accordance with rules of hospitality and dignity,” following the same procedure applied in Pope John Paul II’s papal visit to Israel in 2000.<br />“This was confirmed to a high Official of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Jerusalem personally by Rabbi Shmuel Rabinovitch,” the ambassador’s statement continued.<br />Pope Benedict is scheduled to visit the Western Wall on May 12 as part of his journey to the Holy Land. </p>Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17567384106236379666noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6865957453686471183.post-63652197782101986902009-03-18T18:20:00.005-04:002009-03-24T13:32:51.233-04:003/18 Apparition to Mirjana<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7fxHiX1NdQ2uOqTGAgK7jB1mxiPSFEFGpmyebIpOT9NFkS6OWck0FPnj1EVIrilctDmIuEE6I0Enmc9oqNIHX3WlQqEq9DCX4_6CPJqSTQJFvnqojjDVd7bDCOmeNWTBnTZ0jW3gFO5A/s1600-h/Our+Lady+of+Medjugorje"></a><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#3333ff;"><strong>"Dear children! Today I call you to look into your hearts sincerely and for a long time. What will you see in them? Where is my Son in them and where is the desire to follow me to Him? My children, may this time of renunciation be a time when you will ask yourself: 'What does my God desire of me personally? What am I to do?' Pray, fast and have a heart full of mercy. Do not forget your shepherds. Pray that they may not get lost, that they may remain in my Son so as to be good shepherds to their flock." Our Lady then looked at all those present and added: "Again I say to you, if you knew how much I love you, you would cry with happiness. Thank you."</strong></span><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#3333ff;"></span></strong><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#333333;"><span style="color:#993399;">May we always follow our Blessed Mother's words with sincere intentions and fullness of heart.</span> </span></div>Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17567384106236379666noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6865957453686471183.post-59563107269558043182009-03-17T08:28:00.007-04:002009-03-17T08:50:03.636-04:00St. Patrick's Breastplate<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiULsnToA0AkOhTcsKMw6Dm22n9qYUB4bLeQ4Eme3HDrAaOhvJtZ34hTS8wfMNfvocUZMqLRGOT5AYY0sfXnC5x_l-s37wL-0Wxsh-AxgONRgPDm2bPgTEovVS3VcwRjElpcBZOZECHDD0/s1600-h/Happy+St.+Patricks.gif"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314138065577465810" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 218px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiULsnToA0AkOhTcsKMw6Dm22n9qYUB4bLeQ4Eme3HDrAaOhvJtZ34hTS8wfMNfvocUZMqLRGOT5AYY0sfXnC5x_l-s37wL-0Wxsh-AxgONRgPDm2bPgTEovVS3VcwRjElpcBZOZECHDD0/s320/Happy+St.+Patricks.gif" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="left"><span style="color:#009900;">Top o’ the Mornin’ to ye! Happy St. Patrick’s Day! </span></div><br /><p><span style="color:#009900;">There are very many wonderful websites offering history and legend regarding St. Patrick today so I thought I would simply offer this prayer, St. Patrick’s Breastplate.<br /><br />It has always been one of my favorites and I hope you, too, will find comfort and joy in Christ this day through the words of this beloved Saint.<br /><br />St. Patrick's Breastplate is found in the ancient Book of Armagh, from the early 9th Century. St. Patrick is said to have written this prayer to strengthen himself with God's protection as he prepared to confront and convert Loegaire, High King of Ireland.<br /><br />It is the quintessential prayer of Celtic Christian spirituality. We bind Christ to ourselves for protection, comfort, fellowship and good will towards our fellow man.<br /><br /><br /><em>St. Patrick’s Breastplate<br /></em><br />I bind to myself today<br />The strong virtue of the Invocation of the Trinity:<br />I believe the Trinity in the Unity<br />The Creator of the Universe.<br /><br />I bind to myself today<br />The virtue of the Incarnation of Christ with His Baptism,<br />The virtue of His crucifixion with His burial,<br />The virtue of His Resurrection with His Ascension,<br />The virtue of His coming on the Judgement Day.<br /><br />I bind to myself today<br />The virtue of the love of seraphim,<br />In the obedience of angels,<br />In the hope of resurrection unto reward,<br />In prayers of Patriarchs,<br />In predictions of Prophets,<br />In preaching of Apostles,<br />In faith of Confessors,<br />In purity of holy Virgins,<br />In deeds of righteous men.<br /><br />I bind to myself today<br />The power of Heaven,<br />The light of the sun,<br />The brightness of the moon,<br />The splendour of fire,<br />The flashing of lightning,<br />The swiftness of wind,<br />The depth of sea,<br />The stability of earth,<br />The compactness of rocks.<br /><br />I bind to myself today<br />God's Power to guide me,<br />God's Might to uphold me,<br />God's Wisdom to teach me,<br />God's Eye to watch over me,<br />God's Ear to hear me,<br />God's Word to give me speech,<br />God's Hand to guide me,<br />God's Way to lie before me,<br />God's Shield to shelter me,<br />God's Host to secure me,<br />Against the snares of demons,<br />Against the seductions of vices,<br />Against the lusts of nature,<br />Against everyone who meditates injury to me,<br />Whether far or near,<br />Whether few or with many.<br /><br />I invoke today all these virtues<br />Against every hostile merciless power<br />Which may assail my body and my soul,<br />Against the incantations of false prophets,<br />Against the black laws of heathenism,<br />Against the false laws of heresy,<br />Against the deceits of idolatry,<br />Against the spells of pagans, and smiths, and druids,<br />Against every knowledge that binds the soul of man.</span></p><br /><div align="left"><br /><span style="color:#009900;">Christ, protect me today<br />Against every poison,<br />Against burning,<br />Against drowning,<br />Against death-wound,<br />That I may receive abundant reward.<br /><br />Christ with me, Christ before me,<br />Christ behind me, Christ within me,<br />Christ beneath me, Christ above me,<br />Christ at my right, Christ at my left,<br />Christ in the fort,<br />Christ in the chariot seat,<br />Christ in the boat.<br /><br />Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me,<br />Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks to me,<br />Christ in every eye that sees me,<br />Christ in every ear that hears me.<br /><br />I bind to myself today<br />The strong virtue of the invocation of the Trinity,<br />I believe the Trinity in the Unity<br />The Creator of the Universe. Amen<br /><br /></span></div>Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17567384106236379666noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6865957453686471183.post-14380661232164639872009-03-13T10:07:00.003-04:002009-03-23T19:53:34.893-04:00St. Michael Prayer Campaign<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia71mnCG3BjHWw92KZyjx5JkRdjOZvoGCEM0IMWy0C6MIBiI_S99nAkAd7XkAg5wfRrHFBUB-sCaWx686xMrxlECl3byxhuNK0ZH3jyOmaB6Bj9bslIYJzwFJYnyXC7e89y6o17F4dr0U/s1600-h/St.+Michael.jpeg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 86px; height: 131px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia71mnCG3BjHWw92KZyjx5JkRdjOZvoGCEM0IMWy0C6MIBiI_S99nAkAd7XkAg5wfRrHFBUB-sCaWx686xMrxlECl3byxhuNK0ZH3jyOmaB6Bj9bslIYJzwFJYnyXC7e89y6o17F4dr0U/s320/St.+Michael.jpeg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316535603303850050" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="left"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">While reading some articles on one of my favorite Catholic daily websites, </span><a href="http://www.spiritdaily.com/"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">www.spiritdaily.com</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />I came across an interesting, and important, link.<br /><br />We are fighting a battle in this world, more today than ever before. We are living, in the words of the Great John Paul II, in a ‘culture of death’. This has only been worsened by the recent Executive Orders signed by our new President. A reversal of the Bush Administration’s law limiting the use of embryonic stem cells was signed into law this week. It will broadly expand the use of viable embryos for stem cell research, including the creation of new stem cell lines which was banned under the Bush law.<br /><br />While this new technology does indeed hold out promise for new treatments for some of the worst illnesses and disabilities we face in the modern world, it comes at much too high a price – the destruction of human life in the embryonic stage.<br /><br />Or in other words, killing one person to possibly help another.<br /><br />While President Obama couches his words in carefully constructed rhetoric, this is the bottom line. Pitting science against morality might be something he is prepared to defend, but it is indefensible in the eyes of Almighty God. The knowledge of scientific principle is a gift given to humanity from God. It is to be used to increase our knowledge of the created world. It is not to be used to destroy creation in any forms.<br /><br />Obama would have you believe this is a political issue. It is not. It is a moral issue.<br /><br />Pope Leo XIII composed a powerful prayer, which all Catholics are familiar with: The Prayer to St. Michael. At one time it was an obligatory prayer at the end of Holy Mass.<br /><br />Human Life International is campaigning to bring the St. Michael Prayer back to Holy Mass. If you are interested in helping to fight the battle against the destruction of human life, please visit Human Life International’s website, </span><a href="http://www.hli.org/"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">www.hli.org</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> . Join in the battle by supporting their St. Michael Prayer Campaign for the Conversion of Abortionists. Let’s get the beautiful and powerful St. Michael Prayer reinstated at the end of every Holy Mass.<br /><br />Prayer is our most powerful tool in the battle against the evil forces of this world. We <strong>can</strong> change the world, if we do our part.<br /><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><em>St. Michael, the Archangel, defend us in the day of battle.<br />Be our safeguard against the wickedness and snares of the devil.<br />May God rebuke him, we humbly pray,<br />and do Thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Host,<br />by the power of God,<br />cast into hell Satan and all the other evil spirits,<br />who prowl throughout the world, seeking the ruin of souls.<br />Amen.<br /></em><br /></span></div>Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17567384106236379666noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6865957453686471183.post-7585114898794645482009-03-09T11:57:00.002-04:002009-03-09T12:07:10.552-04:00Festival of Purim<div align="left"><span style="font-family:times new roman;">Tonight at sundown the Jewish festival of Purim begins. Purim is a celebration of the time when the Jewish people were saved from total extermination by a young woman named Esther. Her story and the story of Purim is found in the Biblical Book of Esther.<br /><br />Esther was the niece and adopted daughter of Mordecai, living in Persia (modern day Iran). Esther was living in the home of King Xerxes, King of Persia, as part of his harem and had been made Queen of Persia by King Xerxes because he loved Esther more than all of the other women. Esther was Jewish but King Xerxes did not realize this as neither Mordecai nor Esther ever made mention of the fact.<br /><br />Haman, a jealous, arrogant, self-serving man was advisor to King Xerxes. He despised Mordecai, because he would not bow the knee to Haman and therefore, Haman decided to exterminate the Jewish people.<br /><br />In Esther 3:8, we read Haman’s words to King Xerxes: <em>‘There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your realm. Their laws are different from those of every other people’s and they do not observe the king’s laws; therefore, it is not befitting the King to tolerate them.’</em> King Xerxes agreed and issued an edict of extermination.<br /><br />Now there was a certain law of the land that stated no one could enter the king’s presence without being first summoned by the king. For Esther to place herself in the king’s presence uninvited was a very dangerous undertaking.<br /><br />In Chapter 4 of Esther, we read that Mordecai, learning of the King’s edict that all the Jewish people be slaughtered, sends a message inside the royal court to Queen Esther, asking that she intercede for her people. Esther replies: <br /><br /><em>"All the servants of the king and the people of his provinces know that any man or woman, who goes to the king in the inner court without being summoned, suffers the automatic penalty of death, unless the king extends to him the golden scepter, thus sparing his life. Now as for me, I have not been summoned to the king for thirty days."</em> (verse 11)<br /><br />Mordecai responds to the Queen’s message in verse 13 – 14:<br /><br /><em>"Do not imagine that because you are in the king's palace, you alone of all the Jews will escape. </em></span><a name="v14"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><em> </em></span></a><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><em>Even if you now remain silent, relief and deliverance will come to the Jews from another source; but you and your father's house will perish. Who knows but that it was for a time like this that you obtained the royal dignity?"</em> - New American Bible<br /><br />Another translation puts Mordecai’s words this way:<br /><br /> <em> And who knows if you have come to the Kingdom for such a time as this? –</em> Revised Standard Version<br /><br />So Esther, together with all the Jewish people, fasted for three days in preparation and then Esther approached the King. Much to her surprise, he welcomed her. She was able to tell him about Haman’s plan to destroy not only her but all of her people. King Xerxes reverses the extermination planned by Haman and he puts Mordecai in Haman’s place in the royal court. Mordecai and Queen Esther were then able to work together for the benefit of the Jewish people and the feast of Purim celebrates this victory over destruction by God’s powerful hand. <br /><br />The reason I point all of this out today is that verse 14 has always stood out for me. All of Scripture contains many levels of understanding. On one level, we have the story of Esther and Mordecai saving the Jewish people.<br />On another level, we have the meanings of Scripture that we can try to apply to our own 21st century lives.<br /><br />We, ourselves, live in changing times. We need look no further than the evening’s news to know that we are in dangerous days. Wars, economic crisis, homelessness, lack of security accost us everywhere. We search for answers, seek deeper meanings, and wonder what will be the outcome of it all?<br /><br />Those with faith know that God is in control but we all feel the need ‘to do something’ that can help, not only ourselves, but our families, our parishes, our communities, our world. What is it that we can do?<br /><br /> <em> “And who knows if you have come to the Kingdom for such a time as this? “<br /></em><br />Perhaps, we ourselves have been put here at this time for a specific purpose? I often wonder why, of all the generations of my family, I am the only one who has converted to Catholicism? Perhaps for a reason beyond my understanding or imagining? I do believe that God has a job for me to do, as yet undisclosed, but to be revealed later. Perhaps during some up-coming crisis, I will be able to lead someone to God’s fullness of truth found only in the Catholic Church. <br /><br />Whatever that job may be, I pray that I would be worthy and ready for the task.<br /><br />Why has God brought you to the Kingdom? There is much to think about here. Let’s reflect on this Jewish festival day of Purim and start thinking about God’s purposes. Let’s ponder with Mordecai his words, <em>“And who knows if you have come to the Kingdom for such a time as this? “<br /></em></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:times new roman;">Amen.<br /><br /> </span></div>Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17567384106236379666noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6865957453686471183.post-56188387611048734622009-03-06T20:39:00.001-05:002009-03-06T20:40:56.421-05:00See you Sunday<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBDyaDQJ4FcPnUPl8_Shsdi56fMpN0t2-CM4wNNZw0zUWgT-QlptVvvxJKqAxxRHoTUNTxNjLtkeZ3efjd2qrxAdT_ig8_ACnA84zjM2SCMkZ-SuE8CfGOjJzljKrmkPX-cqQ6dyc6BUo/s1600-h/just+hangin"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310254627831427138" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 213px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBDyaDQJ4FcPnUPl8_Shsdi56fMpN0t2-CM4wNNZw0zUWgT-QlptVvvxJKqAxxRHoTUNTxNjLtkeZ3efjd2qrxAdT_ig8_ACnA84zjM2SCMkZ-SuE8CfGOjJzljKrmkPX-cqQ6dyc6BUo/s320/just+hangin%27.bmp" border="0" /></a><br /><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div>I'm just hangin' for tomorrow - back to posting on Sunday! </div>Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17567384106236379666noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6865957453686471183.post-4178909600650134362009-03-06T09:02:00.002-05:002009-03-06T09:06:57.057-05:00The power of positive wordsI<span style="font-family:times new roman;"> was reading an interesting article today on </span><a href="http://www.spiritdaily.com/"><span style="font-family:times new roman;">www.spiritdaily.com</span></a><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> regarding a Japanese scientist who has been working with water crystals. He has allegedly confirmed that when water is frozen right after being surrounded by good or bad words, the crystals change their formation.<br /><br />Bad words produce distorted, blob-like crystalline structures while good words spoken produce beautiful, symmetrical crystals, much like the beautiful intricate snowflake patterns we are all familiar with.<br /><br />Like all articles on Spirit Daily, they offer this information for the reader’s discernment.<br /><br />He goes on to say, <em>“This principle is what I think makes swearing and slang words destructive. These words are not in accordance with the laws of nature. For example, I think you would find higher rates of violent crime in areas where a lot of negative is being used. Just as the Bible says, first there was the Word, and God created all of Creation from the Word.”</em><br /><br />Actually, this seems to make some sense to me. After all, we know that God spoke the heavens into being by the power of the spoken Word. We also know that we, as God’s creatures, are called to work co-operatively with God in His on-going redemption of the world. How do we co-operate? We know that the power of prayer, spoken and silent, has restorative, healing powers. Our Blessed Mother continually urges us to “pray for the conversion of the world.”<br /><br />So obviously, our prayerful words have power to effect positive change, in our own lives, in our families, in our communities and in the larger world.<br /><br />There is mystery about life. There are millions upon millions of unknown, mysterious things in the world; some God reveals to us and some He does not. Science, used properly, is a tool God has given mankind to better know and understand the world around us.<br /><br />Might this be just one example of how unbelievably amazing this world truly is? </span><br /><p><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> </p></span>Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17567384106236379666noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6865957453686471183.post-79873643068573158292009-03-05T10:59:00.001-05:002009-03-05T21:13:43.382-05:00Something to ponder...<div align="center"><a title="Click for further information about this quotation" href="http://www.quotationspage.com/quote/33739.html"><span style="color:#993399;">Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were free.</span></a><span style="color:#993399;"><br /></span><a title="Further information about this quotation" href="http://www.quotationspage.com/quote/33739.html"></a><a title="Add to Your Quotations Page" href="http://www.quotationspage.com/myquotations.php?add=33739"></a><a title="Email this quotation" href="http://www.quotationspage.com/quote/33739.html#email"></a><span style="color:#993399;">- Ronald Reagan </span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#993399;"></span> </div><div align="left"><span style="color:#993399;">This seemed like an appropriate quotation for our day and time. Would that we had more men and women with the heart and soul of President Reagan. Today we are in dire straits and we need good, Godly men to lead us forward towards a brighter tomorrow. We are sadly lacking the very thing we need. May God spare and preserve us...</span></div>Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17567384106236379666noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6865957453686471183.post-47623903294218974832009-03-04T13:58:00.008-05:002009-03-04T18:29:54.644-05:00Why Worry?<div align="justify"><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:85%;">I was remembering a Scripture passage that I had memorized many, many years ago as a child, where Jesus was saying not to worry about tomorrow, cause things are bad enough today… Well, that’s not exactly how He said it; that’s my paraphrase or the way I have always remembered that passage.<br /><br />When I was a kid in Protestant Sunday School, the only translation of the Bible we used was the beautiful, poetic King James Version. So most of the Scriptures that I have memorized and retained over the years play back in my head in the KJV translation.<br /><br />In Matthew 6: 26 – 34, Jesus is speaking about the fact that to worry is a pointless exercise. He asks “and who by being worried can add a single hour to his life?”<br /><br />Here is the passage from the Revised Standard Version:<br /><br />“For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?”<br /><br />“Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?”<br /><br />“And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life?”<br /><br />“And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these.”<br /><br />“But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith!”<br /><br />“Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’<br /><br />“For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>“But seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”<br /><br />“So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”<br /></em><br />Or in the words of the beautiful King James:<br /><br /></span></span><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>“Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.” – Matthew 6: 34<br /><br /></em>The reason I point out all of this is because I’ve been worrying about a lot of things lately.<br /><br />I’ve been suffering from the winter blahs and when I’m in an already depressed state, it does seem that I worry more. So I have to remember to ‘offer it up’ to God, to lay my burdens on Him, and especially not to take them back upon myself, once I have given them to the Lord. I’m not particularly good at any of this.<br /><br />I struggle; I resist the whole idea that I am not capable of managing my own life; that I need God so desperately each and every minute. But the truth is: I do. I need Him to take all the worry and stress away. I need to lay my burden down and not pick it back up. I need to remember this Scripture that I have carried with me in my heart almost all of my life:<br /><br /></span></span><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>“But seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”<br /><br />“Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.” – Matthew 6: 34<br /></em><br />Perhaps you need to remember this too. Have a blessed, worry-free day!<br /><br /><br /></span></span></div>Deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17567384106236379666noreply@blogger.com3