DO NOT BE AFRAID

I love Catholic Nerdiness!

From whom does your worth depend?

Isn't it sad that in a world full of uncertainty, that the very homes children are brought up in actually create that uncertainty.  

When you are pro-Choice you are telling your child that they could have been aborted.

When you are pro-Life you are telling your child that they have always been wanted.

Which home would you rather have your child brought up in?

Wandering Thoughts...

Having been away from the church during much of Pope John Paul II pontificate I had more emotional ties to Pope Benedict.  I remember feeling how rudderless the Church felt from the time he (Pope Benedict) resigned to the point where we heard those joyful words, "Habemus Papem!" And then I felt it again...the Holy Spirit filling the Church!  Pope Francis with the blessing of God, we were no longer without a shepherd on earth!

And so it is with joy that my Lent is concluding.  Joy and a thoughtfulness of all that Christ has done for us.

I'm in a mood of wandering thoughts today.  My 13 year old daughter is watching The Passion with the rest of her 8th grade class at her Catholic School.  I did give her permission to see this film even though it is rated R for violence.  It is a violence done to Christ and that which we all continue to contribute today. It has opened up more discussions on our own responsibility to the Body of Christ.  The horror of His suffering has opened her eyes to deeper meaning in the Stations of the Cross and the Mass.

Pray for all those who are married today.  This sacrament mirrors the Trinity and the total selfless love that God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit have for each other.  While God is perfection, we are not.  But God will not abandon those who call upon Him.  So pray for your own marriage and for others today.  What we cannot do alone, God will be there to help us reach that perfection He always has had in mind for us.

May the Lord bless you and keep you.

May the Lord's Face shine upon you and be gracious to you.

May the Lord's Countenance look upon you kindly, and give you Peace!

Numbers 6 : 24-26

Today I Am Thankful

Today, I am thankful for my husband and my children.  I am thankful for my home, my job and my friends.  I am especially thankful for my priest and parish.  Thank you Jesus from whom all good things come!

Do You Have a Trouble Tree?

Fortnight for Freedom Prayer

What A Loss It Would Be...

“Go sell everything you have...” 

This is an argument against the church that I hear from time to time.  It’s from people who really have no clue about what our Church teaches and does on a daily basis.

It’s important to know, that if the HHS Mandate goes through, it will become very diffucult for the Church in America to continue giving to all of the poor regardless of their faith.

I am so very proud of the Catholic Church.  We give and give and give without regard for faith, race, creed, country, politics, age, mental capacity. 

What a loss it would be if we didn’t have the Catholic Church to help our poor and those in need.

The picture below is a little off on what the Catholic church actually gives.  I’ve added a few stats but certainly not all on what the Church gives below.

 

·         Catholic Charities gave over 3 Million in 2011 to help others.  Many of them were not Catholic.  We didn’t’ care.

·         Peters Pence is the charitable “arm” of the Vatican.  This charity helps around the globe, those in need.  Many of them are not Catholic and it doesn’t matter to us. 

                                                                                                                 

     This organization is funded by donors, people like you and I,  from all of the Catholic Parishes around the world; it raises about $80 million a year.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    On July 22,2010, the Vatican announced a $250,000 gift by Pope Benedict XVI to rebuild a school in Port-Au-Prince that had been lost in Haiti's horrific earthquake.  This is just one example.

·         The Papal Foundation began in 1988 as a response to the desire of Catholic clergy and laity in the U.S. for a unique, sustainable way to support the Holy Father and his witness in the world.  The vision of the founding members and the commitment of the Stewards has resulted in a fund that has grown to over $139 million with a total of $70 million awarded in grants and scholarships.

What is my point?  

In the U.S. if the mandate of the HHS for “free” birth control pills, sterilization etc. goes through, the Catholic Church in America will be fined millions for non-compliance.  We are being forced to provide something we find to be immoral and against our religious beliefs.  

This is anti-religion.  This is against our freedom of religion.  This is UN-constitutional.  In addition, other Catholic agencies like Catholic universities, hospitals and other Catholic organizations will be fined for our beliefs.

State mandates (California and Illinois) for compliance of practices we find immoral (forcing the placement of adopted children into same sex relationships) has already made several Catholic Charities completely shut down their adoption agencies.  Right here in America!  We’re often portrayed as forcing our morals on others.  Nothing could be farther than the truth. So who is forcing who’s morals?

Please pass this on.  The mandate must be defeated.

Mom's Empty Chair

This is a story sent to me by a dear friend.               Have a wonderful Holy week!

 

A woman's daughter had asked the local minister
to come and pray with her mother.
When the minister arrived,
he found the woman lying in bed with her head  
propped up on two pillows.

  An empty chair sat beside her bed.
The minister assumed that the woman had been informed of his visit...
'I guess you were expecting me, he said.

'No, who are you?' said the mother.
The minister told her his name and then remarked,
'I saw the empty chair and I figured you knew
I was going to show up..'

'Oh yeah, the chair,' said the bedridden woman
'Would you mind closing the door?'
Puzzled, the minister shut the door.
'I have never told anyone this,  
not even my daughter,' said the woman.

  'But all of my life I have never
known how to pray. At church I used to hear the pastor talk about prayer,
but it went right over my head...'

I abandoned any attempt at prayer,'
the old woman continued, ' until one day four years ago, my best friend said to me,
' Prayer is just a simple matter of having a conversation with Jesus.
Here is what I suggest.. 'Sit down in a chair;
place an empty chair in front of you,
and in faith see Jesus on the chair.

It's not spooky because he promised,
'I will be with you always'..
'Then just speak to him in the same way
you're doing with me right now...'

'So, I tried it and I've liked it so much
that I do it a couple of hours every day.  
I'm careful though.If my daughter saw me talking
to an empty chair, she'd either have a nervous breakdown
or send me off to the funny farm.'

The minister was deeply moved by the story and
encouraged the old woman to continue on the journey.
Then he prayed with her, anointed her with oil,
and returned to the church.

Two nights later the daughter called
to tell the minister that her mama had died that afternoon.
Did she die in peace?' he asked.

Yes, when I left the house about two o'clock,
she called me over to her bedside, told me she loved me and kissed me on the cheek.
When I got back from the store an hour later,  
I found her .

But there was something strange about her death.
Apparently, just before Mom died, she leaned over and rested her head on the chair
beside the bed. What do you make of that?'

The minister wiped a tear from his eye and said,
'I wish we could all go like that.'

 

Prayer is one of the best free gifts we receive.

I asked God for water, He gave me an ocean.*
I asked God for a flower, He gave me a garden.*
I asked God for a friend, He gave me all of YOU...
If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.

Happy moments, praise God.
Difficult moments, seek God.
Quiet moments, worship God
Painful moments, trust God.
Every moment, thank God.

Stand Up for Religious Freedom Rally

Friday, March 23rd, St. Paul, MN

Stand Up for Religious Freedom Rally

There were over 2200 people in St. Paul to protest the HHS mandate.  I was so privileged to be there. With the first of many court cases going before the Supreme Court today, let's all pray that we keep Religious Freedom in this county.  This is a freedom granted by our own Constitution and 1st Amendment.

Feast of St. Joseph

Prayer to St. Joseph (Over 1900 years old)

O St. Joseph whose protection is so great, so strong, so prompt before the Throne of God, I place in you all my interests and desires. O St. Joseph do assist me by your powerful intercession and obtain for me from your Divine Son all spiritual blessings through Jesus Christ, Our Lord; so that having engaged here below your Heavenly power I may offer my Thanksgiving and Homage to the most Loving of Fathers O St. Joseph, I never weary contemplating you and Jesus asleep in your arms. I dare not approach while He reposes near your heart. Press him in my name and kiss His fine Head for me, and ask Him to return the Kiss when I draw my dying breath. St. Joseph, Patron of departing souls, pray for us. Amen

Prayer to St. Joseph over 1900 years old

Say for nine consecutive mornings for anything you may desire. It has seldom been known to fail.

This prayer was found in the fiftieth year of Our Lord Jesus Christ. In 1500's it was sent by the Pope to Emperor Charles when he was going into battle.

Whoever reads this prayer or hears it or carries it, will never die a sudden death, nor be drowned, nor will poison take effect on them. They will not fall into the hands of the enemy nor be burned in any fire, nor will they be defeated in battle.

Make this prayer known everywhere.

Imprimatur

Most Rev. George W. Ahr

Bishop of Trenton