Friends FOR LIFE and for life, friends...

Mother Mary walking with us...Hail Mary, full of grace!

Our Blessed Lady was with us, too, carried in a beautiful "ark"







Our Lady of Guadalupe joining us, praying for all of us, born and unborn.





Nebraskans LOVE LIFE!!




AMEN!

More Walk for life...

Michael Clancy speaking and pink and blue balloons ready to be released into the sky in memory of each baby boy and girl who've been killed by abortion, and for those who survive, by the real freedom of choice given to a mother when she sees a ultrasound of her baby. It was a very prayerful gathering with some opposition, but no real problems or any obscenities heard, at least not where I was and where we were walking in procession to the Student Union building on UNL's Campus. No shouting, just a loud stereo from somewhere in attempt to drown out the speakers, but it didn't last long, and their goal was not attained. Praise God!

Walk for Life, Lincoln, NE...

We left Omaha with Baby Jesus on my lap, wrapped in my 1st class relic of Fr. Kevin's. He's not a canonized saint yet, but to me he is! We drove the 45 minute drive to our capitol, for the Right to Life Walk and went to Mass at St. Mary then walked to the capitol building, which was standing proud in the very warm sun for the last day of January. St John Bosco was with us, too, as all the Saints praying for the babies of Mary and Jesus. It was truly an inspirational day, about 4500 walkers turning out to let our voices be heard for those who have no voice. Michael Clancy, the photographer who took the stunning and amazing photo of baby Samuel's hand, reaching from the incised womb, curling around the finger of the surgeon, (back in 1999) shown all over the world, as the miracle photo. He gave a most tender and moving talk about the event and what led him to finally be there to take the photo. What a humble and caring man, who only wants now to spread God's miracle photo to show the world that indeed babies are baby humans in utero, not anything else, and not just 'blobs of cells.' It was wonderful to see so many pro life people there from our state legislature, and our Gov. Dave Heineman, all gathered to promote the Walk for Life and the dignity of each and every human being, from conception to natural death. We pray for our leaders, local, state and national to be so enlightened and so informed and so PRO LIFE as they! Amen!

Broad is the road to perdition...and many are on that road!

Today we honor our beloved Saint John [Don] Bosco. Here is an amazing account of his three visions of Hell. It seems what he saw is most applicable to our own times. Lord have mercy on us. May we be ever mindful of Your words of warning, watchful and aware of the dangerous traps, snares of the Enemy, the Evil one, set for us constantly, not looking like traps or snares at all, but dressed in lovely attire. The road is broad and easy that leads to destruction. The path many of us have traveled, especially here in America, blessed with so much abundance, we've lost sight of the true, holy path that leads to our goal of Heaven, our destination that God desires for us. May our eyes be always opened and our ears listening for the voice of our Shepherd as his faithful sheep. May we stop listening to the father of lies, leading so many, even the elect astray. There are many voices today, but only One voice is the True voice of love, that is God and in stillness, silence, and solitude is that voice heard. Go be with Him today before the tabernacle, or at an adoration chapel where He is exposed. Bask in His radiance and let His grace bathe you in peace.

Sit in His presence quietly, and offer Him your heart, your soul, your mind. We will need all our strength, which is only IN CHRIST, for the battle ahead. Yes, Christ has won the war, and in the end we know He is Victorious, but we must do some heavy lifting and fight many battles here, and the War on the Unborn is the greatest of all. When our babies, Christ's babies, Our Lady's babies are being sacrificed on the altar of "convenience" and turned into mere commodities, then be sure and know that the powerful right Arm of God cannot be held back forever. May God be praised in His sanctuary, and in our hearts and may we take up the weapon, the ROSARY, and pray for our souls! We will not last if we don't pray! We will not survive the assault if we don't pray! It's time to pray for ourselves, for the gift of final perseverence - to withstand the onslaught, and then move in and with the power of God, infused into us, transforming us before His presence, receiving Him at Mass, offering our entire selves to Him for the sins of the world because He won't tolerate the intolerance of the unborn much longer. Do whatever He tells you...and do it NOW! Time is running out for us all. The ground is going to shake literally, and who knows what else will come to America in the way of persecutions. I hear there's a volcano about to blow anytime in Alaska, and Seattle was shaken yesterday by a 4.something tremor. Listen to Him in these signs, for He is speaking to all who have ears to hear! Consecrate yourselves to Him through Mary our Mother, and all of your family and pray pray pray! God be with you and with us all. The enemy is loosed and wreaking havoc as God has allowed, and it's not wise to put off prayer, for only by prayer will we attain heaven, and become saints.

The devil hates prayer so much he do anything to keep you from praying. Every prayer to our Lord and most of all the rosary sends another of God's arrows into him, but like any wounded animal, he's now enraged and prowling about seeking the ruination of God's chosen, God's faithful, and God's elect. Don't let him deceive you and keep you from prayer, because the pit is deep, and dark and is unyielding of any who in the end fall into it. Kill off the Devil's power by prayer, fasting and praising God in the midst of your trials, and he will flee and you will be free to arrive across that last threshold to meet all of the Saints who've been cheering you on, and we will be in the glorious, resplendent presence of our Lord forever!

My big sis, St. Therese and I will be walking for the little feet who can't...

Here is the two-sided poster I'll be carrying as we walk for babies. I'm going to wear my St. Therese sweatshirt I made (transfers are great!) tomorrow for the walk for Life. St. Therese will be with us and pray with us for the "hidden little ones," who can't yet walk, so they can one day be allowed to be born to follow her "Little Way," too.

Nebraska Walk for Life...

I'm going to Lincoln tomorrow with some friend to walk for life at our Captiol. Please pray for us. I'm sure this won't be like San Francisco, with overt opposition, however, I think with the current administration in place now, with their radical Left Wing agenda in full swing, who knows what we'll encounter. I only hope and pray that my small voice and humble prayers will ascend to Heaven, and join with the Saints in praying for HOPE and CHANGE for the Unborn in our state and our entire nation. I'm working on a poster now, so I'll post the picture ASAP. It will be like the one I had to take down from my cubicle at work, minus the "McCain/Palin" at the bottom. Jesus Mary Joseph, we love you, save the souls of our legislators, lawmakers, and Catholics who do not denounce abortion. Lord have mercy!

Bespoke babies?...Step right up, folks...

Yes, you heard right, right here in San Antonio, you can get your "made-to-order" embryo implanted in your womb, for the "child of your dreams!" Read all about it here, at "INFORMATION LIBERATION" Oh yeah, there's also a "waiting list" for Aryan children.

And do we really think our Lord is going to remain silent? I was watching the Mass vigil for the March for Life last week in Washington D.C. at the Nation Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, I always am in awe, reverential fear and awe of the immense, HOLY image of our Lord. His Mighty Right Arm held up, His Right Hand waiting to sweep across this land when He comes to judge the living and the dead. He's not angry in the way we deem anger, but His Purity demands holiness. He longs for us to receive his grace and mercy to live in the fullness of LIFE that He suffered for and died to give us. He's waiting for us all to turn to Him, humble ourselves and pray. But do we? Have we? No.

We're once again asleep, and the alarms are ringing and we keep hitting "snooze." With all the technology, the stemcell research, the potential cloning of humans (it's already been done in my opinion, but where and by whom? China?) This article is sickening but it's the apex of a most prodigal narcissistic society to ever live. We've given God the boot, kicked Him to the curb, thrown Him away with every aborted child, and expect to go merrily on our way. We don't want to face what's coming down the pike, so we keep hiding behind the "noise" of our busy world, the I-Pods and tv's latest Idol, gulping down a supersized Coke and all the while, losing our very soul. Lord have mercy.

People, we all need to wake up and repent, get to confession and pray for mercy. Pray for our politicians, and our Bishops and Priests. Our country and the Church inside this country is being shaken, but it's only just begun. The magnanimity of this "earth/Church quake" is off the Richter scale completely. There will be no scale with which to measure this quake, for it will be the Right Arm of Justice Himself cleaning His house, and everyone who thinks we've got all kinds of time, had better reconsider...for we know NOT the hour, but we'd best have oil in our lamps, for it will be in a DARK cloud that He will descend, and there will be NOWHERE to run, or hide. Every sin will be exposed under the FIREY GAZE of His scrutiny. Catholics in political office, in favor of abortion and passing laws, bills, and acts to further this holocaust have been warned, as we all have...He IS coming again, because pure Love demands justice. Mercy is now, with Justice in on it's heels.

Please pray for Philip Gerard Johnson...

A holy young man, desiring to be a priest, but with a diagonosis of a brain tumor.

Here is his blog.

H/T Heather

Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name, Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Hail Mary, full of grace, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning is now and ever shall be, world without end, Amen.

We ask for your holy will to be done, Father. We do ask all the Saints in heaven to storm heaven for this young man, who desires to be one of your "priest sons." Please, if it be your will, grant to him a physical healing, so that he may bring Christ to lost souls and may give to the dying, the Bread of Angels, and last rites as one of your priests. So that he may bring Life to newborn babies through baptism...that he may join betrothed couples and bless their unions in marriages within your Church. Where he can speak boldly your Truth from the pulpit, in which all peoples need so much to hear in these days of trial ahead. Days of darkness approaching need your bright, shining, holy lights of those called and anointed to be your priests. Where he may also give absolution to those who've fallen into sin and come with repentant hearts seeking to be reconciled to You. And to give the most cherished of all gifts,

the EUCHARIST,

to the faithful, so that we may live out our days in the grace given to us

as You give us Yourself, in the Host, through the holy hands of your priests.

In the Precious Name of Jesus we pray for your humble servant, Philip Gerard.

Amen.

We honor you today, Saint Francis de Sales. Pray for us.

Doctor of authors and Catholic press.

blogs, too...?

Today is the Memorial of the marriage of St. Joseph and Mary...

Jesus, Mary, Joseph- we love you, pray for us! Happy wedding anniversary, too!

The year was 1939...

The Protestant Soldier and the Icon of Our Lady

and

another article for our Protestan brothers and sisters

I thought this was so bright and cheery. A beautiful image to gaze upon this cold, blustery Nebraksa morning. I LOVE the BABY JESUS! : )

God have mercy...

Equality...We have passed the threshold into one of the most important weeks in American history, and a convergence of three very important celebrations reminds us of it. Monday we celebrate the remembrance of Dr. Martin Luther King, who worked so heroically and tirelessly to insure that all men and women might share in the American dream equally. Tuesday we celebrate the inauguration of the first African American president, Barack Obama. That an African American can be so elected is indeed a cause to celebrate. However, thursday we pray and do penance on the anniversary of the most infamous court decision in United States history, Roe v. Wade. All three are related.

Dr. King fought long and hard and suffered many things that all men and women in the United States of America might enjoy those truths that we hold to be self evident: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. He was an American hero for so doing. This week we should rightly celebrate the fact that an African American can be and has been elected President of the United States. This is surely progress, both political and moral.

This all being said, it has to plague the conscience of any thinking person that in this country there is yet the most immoral and deadly form of prejudice and persecution imaginable against the most innocent and vulnerable class of human beings—the unwanted unborn. No matter what advances this country makes, moral, economic, social, or technological, so long as that blight on our national identity remains, all else will ultimately pale into relative insignificance.

God is not a disinterested spectator in the affairs of man. He knows every child by name from all eternity. He loves each one with His infinite love. God’s holy Catholic Church teaches that abortion in a single case is homicide. I assert that if this is the case, and it is, then the 50,000,000 homicides through abortion that have taken place in the United States since Roe v. Wade constitute genocide. God will not favor such a country, regardless of any other progress. Unless this outrage against God and humanity is stopped very soon, the United States of America, and in turn all of the Western world, will realize the death wish that it has manifest for several decades.

Every Catholic, Christian, Jew, and all people of good will and right reason must pray and do penance rigorously and daily from now on for the defeat of this heinous evil we call abortion. If we fail, then Western society as we know it will soon collide with a disaster it will not survive.

May God have mercy on us.
Fr. John Corapi

From our own, Fr. Clifford Stevens, at Boys Town...

On the Status of the Abortion Question in the United States of America

Rich and I went to Mass this morning at Boys Town. Fr. Clifford celebrated Mass and gave us a history lesson in slavery and how that was finally brought to an end, and now his work for an end to the war on the unborn. Abortion can and must be stopped. We talked to him after Mass and he told us he's going to Washington D.C. to speak on March 25, the Feast of the Annunciation, when our LORD was conceived in the sacred womb of Mary, Ever Virgin. He is fighting the "good fight," and is one of the few remaining who knew Fr. Flanagan. He is an author and a wonderful holy man, fighting for those in our world who cannot speak for themselves. He needs many good lawyers to assist him in this fight, so if you're a lawyer, please consider how you can help. Peace of Christ.

The RIGHTS OF The UNBORN His book on line.

Assumption of Mary

Fr. Clifford Stevens

One Year Book of Saints

A.L.L.

Training and Activism 2009 from American Life League on Vimeo.

God bless everyone in Washington D. C. and may their voices be heard (as he said he's listen to ALL voices) by our President Obama on this anniversary of Roe v. Wade.

O Mother of Life, Mary most Holy, Queen of Peace, Mary our Mother, pray for us.

Memorial of...

Our Lady of Altagracia

Her wrists were too small for the chains...

St Agnes, virgin and martyr

Pray for us!

"There was little or no room in that small body for a wound. Yet she shows no fear of the blood-stained hands of her executioners. She offers her whole body to be put to the sword by fierce soldiers. She is too young to know of death, yet is ready to face it. Draggedagainst her will to the altars, she stretches out her hands to the Lord int he midst of the flames, making the triumphant sign of Christ the victor on the altars of sacrilege. She puts her neck and hands in iron chains, but no chain can hold fast her tiny limbs."

"In the midst of tears, she sheds no tears herself. She stood still, she prayed, she offered her neck."

"You could see fear in the eyes of the executioner, as if he were the one condemned. His right hand trembled, his face grew pale as he saw the girl's peril, while she had no fear for herself. One victim, but a twin martyrdom, to modesty and religion; Agnes preserved her virginity and gained a martyr's crown."

~ Saint Ambrose

Rosary for our new President...

President Obama rosary
also, a letter to our new President you can sign and send...
Bioethics Defense Fund letter to Pres. Obama

We respect you, Mr. President, will you respect ALL life?...

You may not know me, but I know everything about you. Psalm 139:1
I know when you sit down and when you rise up. Psalm 139:2
I am familiar with all your ways. Psalm 139:3
Even the very hairs on your head are numbered. Matthew 10:29-31
For you were made in my image. Genesis 1:27
In me you live and move and have your being. Acts 17:28
For you are my offspring. Acts 17:28
I knew you even before you were conceived. Jeremiah 1:4-5
I chose you when I planned creation. Ephesians 1:11-12
You were not a mistake, for all your days are written in my book. Psalm 139:15-16
I determined the exact time of your birth and where you would live. Acts 17:26
You are fearfully and wonderfully made. Psalm 139:14
I knit you together in your mother's womb. Psalm 139:13
And brought you forth on the day you were born. Psalm 71:6

click

Once upon a time...

On this day, when our new President takes the oath...

Our Lady of America, pray for us!

We pray for our new President, Mr. Obama.

We pray for his conversion of heart and soul

We pray for him and those in his administration

To see the true horror that abortion is

That the "scales" will fall from their eyes

That all of our leaders will soon SEE

That the "freedom to choose" murder

Is not freedom at all,

but slavery.

Slavery to Sin is not being free.

Babies torn, limb from limb

Are not free to one day grow up and vote.

How ironic that the same ones who are

"pro-choice"

Are so intolerant of others who only want

To love those babies and give them homes

And a life with a family.

Pray for us, Holy Mary, Mother of God,

You who once carried the Creator of us all

In your womb

Who nursed the King of Kings at your breast

Who carried Him in your arms to be

Presented in the Temple

We are numbed and sickened that

You've also had to "mop the blood" of

the Holy Innocents at every abortuary in this country

And around the world.

A baby is never a punishment.

We pray for Mr. Obama to understand that.

For those who mock the Church for her stand

because the Day is coming when their eyes

Will be opened.

They will have to gaze into the eyes of every

Aborted child.

The Golden Eyes of God

Will then pierce their souls

And they will know as they've been known

We all will be known as we are known.

We pray for ourselves.

We pray for the unborn

We pray for Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of happiness

(NOT pleasure)

To be granted to ALL

We pray that the war on the unborn

Will stop.

Pray for us, Holy Mother of our

Blessed country

That has forsaken her God...

Pray for us to return

To Him with our whole heart

We will hear your pleas, Holy Mother, to

Pray and fast for this President

And for our children

And for this lost and wicked generation.

We will humble ourselves and repent

We will turn to Him, our Maker

and Redeemer and pray for this

Our great nation

For our land to be healed of its

Sin-sick and sin-stained ways

Because one Day, every knee will bow
And every tongue will confess

JESUS IS LORD!

Either with great joy and reverence

Or with horrific fear

and terrible trembling

And in the end,

We know this...

It's either heaven

or hell

that will welcome

each and every one of us

For eternity.

Eternal Joy

Eternal Pain

You, O Lord, have

Given us true 'freedom of choice'

The CHOICE is ours.

O Holy Mary, Mother of God

Our Lady of America

Pray for us sinners now

And at the hour of our death.

Amen.

Wedding Canopy...

Interesting to note: The Chuppah, a Jewish Wedding component, is basically a piece of cloth held up by four poles. Some people use a tallit prayer shawl for the Chuppah cloth. The Chuppah is open on all sides, which is reminiscient of the hospitality Abraham and Sarah showed guests in their open tent. The Chuppah is usually held outside, under the stars, just prior to sundown, as a reminder of the blessing given by God to Abraham, that his children will be as numerous "as the stars of the heavens."

So when we saw the crucifix (posted below) beneath the canopy, (which is kind of rare) my friend and I again had to pause, for we'd only just discussed this at breakfast yesterday, before going to Hebron.

A contemporary, yet conservative Jewish wedding I found on line. Jana & Daniel. If you'll notice the interesting comment, in the "Before the ceremony" paragraph. There's a reference to a "Catholic custom."

Behold, the Lamb of God...

We beheld Him...

our breath taken

in a collective gasp

a reverent silence

surrounded us

permeating our souls

awed by the vision

stilled by the reality

We beheld Him

If I'm ok and you're ok, what's He doing up there?...

Crucifix at Sacred Heart Church, Hebron, NE.

about 2.5 hours west and south of Omaha.

My friend, Paula, and I went there yesterday. It was a spontaneous desire for a mini pilgrimage. Neither of us had been to this church before, but I've been reading many books where "Hebron" has "popped up."

This is kind of curious, too, that I was in Mr. Horab in Wisconsin last April, for a Life in the Spirit Seminar evening. Rich and I then happened to wind up in Tabor S.D. last Oct. and now Hebron. I've found out in recent reading that Hebron was where St. Elizabeth lived, when Mary went to visit her. What does it all mean? I've no clue...yet. With a penchant for history, (even moreso as a Catholic) I would like to know how these little towns and small cities decided on the community's name. Curious.

Anyway, when Paula and I arrived, the entry was so dark, we held open the large outter doors to peruse what was posted on the bulletin board. Of course MANY seminarians were to be seen (Lincoln NE diocese after all) and so when we closed the outter door and opened the door to the sanctuary, this is what we saw. It took our breath away. I have never seen a crucifix like this one. We made a visit for about 45 minutes, praying for our nation, and our own private intentions. Graces have come from this little pilgrimage.

My heart is burning to BE with Jesus. But my flesh is weak. I tarry at home, or go off to do other things, when He whispers "Come, come to me, come now and visit me." But I do believe yesterday, when I heard that whisper, "come" I could have done nothing else. I'd have possibly gone by myself, but I was glad to have my friend with me. I think she needed this time with Him there, too. In preparation for this TIME...this week, this inauguration of a man we really know so little about, that will affect generations to come, and whom at this point, seems to be against choosing FOR Life. (FOCA)

Jesus calls us to carry our cross daily, to be crucified with Him, and then, one day, to rise in glorious raiment. For our sins, he suffered and died. How can we think we won't ever have to suffer? How can we think America, the "land of the free" (NOT "Freedom of Choice!") Home of the Brave, (not cowards of appeasement with the enemy of our souls) that we will endure, if we believe we don't have to suffer? They hated Jesus. They will hate us, too. Are we prepared to 'hang on the cross' with Jesus? I need DAILY conversion. I pray to grow in holiness where faith and hope and love will be victorious and the fear and anxiety will decrease and be snuffed out. I pray to be always aware of even how damaging venial sins are.

I don't know about you, but I'm "not OK." I need a Savior! I AM a sinner who longs

to become at least a "little" 's' saint.

Another reply from 'atlasdoc2' to my You Tube comment...

So, then we agree, if killing is morally wrong, then killing is morally wrong. Right? No exceptions? Did you or do you support the actions of our government and military in Iraq? If so, how can you justify the killing of innocents (estimates are more than 100,000)? There is nowhere to run from 2,000 pound armor-piercing bombs either...How about death row? Do we have the "right" to put anyone to death? If you can somehow justify killing people in the above situations, then how the hell can you seriously fault a young mother, especially a victim of rape or even worse, incest for making the toughest decision of her life?Once again, all you can see are the symptoms of the problem, not the problem itself. For instance, the economy is the direct result of the failed policies of the current administration, brought about because people who may be just like you were scared and fooled into believing they needed to be protected from a boogie man. Well where is the boogie man now?

I've answered this but if any of you would like to "chime in" please feel free. atlasdoc2

I've prayed and will continue to pray for this person's extremely sadly, horribly misguided soul.

In another reply, I sent the reading today from 1st Corinthians.
The body is not meant for immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.
14
And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power.
15
Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I therefore take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never!
17
But he who is united to the Lord becomes one spirit with him.
18
Shun immorality. Every other sin which a man commits is outside the body; but the immoral man sins against his own body.
19
Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God? You are not your own;
20
you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body

How is it, I asked of this person, that anyone can glorify God in their body if they aren't allowed one? If a babies body is ripped limb from limb while inside the mother's body, that seems to conflict this message. Also, how does that mother glorify her body by murdering the baby inside her womb? And then I asked this question: "Was Hitler right?" If he wasn't, why? For he did what was only "right" in his eyes. He had every "right" to his "freedom of choice." RIGHT? OR was it only "right" because it was just Jews and Catholics (and some Protestants) who were gassed and tortured to death?

So I would hope that some of you will take a moment and write this person. At least pray for him or her. This is the sorry state of affairs, and the dreadful mindset we've come to, by the horrific "relativism" that has been shoved down our collective throats for decades. Preached at our youth, no longer in higher education, but down to grade school for years in this culture of death. If, and "if" is sounding less "ify," If FOCA is signed by Mr. Obama on the 21st,in plain English - "We're toast."

The faithful must pray, do penance and pray pray pray! Pray the rosary! Pray for folks like this and write them while there's time. There is Divine Mercy for all NOW.............but mercy isn't mercy without JUSTICE. Don't tell me that Jesus can take seeing his babies, Mary's babies, being torn limb from limb inside the wombs of their mothers much longer. He's more patient than I would be, but then, I'm not God...thank God!. Let's LET GOD BE GOD and quit trying to be Him. Stop the insanity of believing women have the "right to choose!" Choose what???? Murder??

We are the 'creatures' and we can't make anything out of nothing. Only God can. Let us pray for Divine Mercy and hope that we remain faithful to the end of the persecution that is surely on its way. This is the SPIRITUAL WAR, going on since the beginning, and Satan is now in full gear, and his minions are duping people right and left (no political pun intended.) The blood of the innocents is crying out for Justice. The Right Arm of Justice will sweep across this land because Justice is never late. It will first sweep through the House of God and I pray to have the gift of 'final perseverence' to endure, and not "wimp out" when the persecution, of whatever kind, ensues.

St. Joseph, pray for us! St. Joseph, who guarded and protected Jesus and Mary, pray for these irresponsible fathers, boyfriends and husbands, of these women, so many just girls, who go to abort their own child by the thousands every single day. Pray for this horror to cease in our world. Mary mopped up the blood of the Most Innocent Man, her "baby Boy"... when he was scourged for our sins at the pillar. She's been mopping up the blood of Jesus at every abortion mill and from every single abortion everywhere for centuries and I do believe she is tired. She's weary. She's able to do so, being FULL of GRACE. But I don't know of too many husbands who could watch their wife mop blood day after day, seeing the tears on her face fall and mingle with that innocent blood. Mary's Spouse is the Holy Spirit. He is PURE LOVE. And LOVE covers a multitude of sins. Love never ends, but immorailty will.

Every house needs a house cleaning, and cleaning has begun. When a house is cleaned, part of the cleaning is to throw away what is no longer of use. Or what has been broken and no longer works and if it can't be repaired, it is cast into the garbage to be taken to the dump. Same goes for the House of God. Same goes for a refrigerator. Do you ever clean your refrigerator and throw away old moldy food? Or do you keep it and think it to be good? The same goes for a garden being pruned. Branches and trees, vines or other plants that do not produce are they not simply burned or made into compost?

Arrogance is not the way to God. When Americans raise a defiant fist, shake it at God and all that is Holy, and demand their RIGHTS and the EVIL "FREEDOM OF CHOICE ACT," then we best wake up and smell the sulphur! The stench of sin can only be endured for so long. I can't help but somehow feel, in my inmost heart of hearts, in my gut, that the "shoe is about to drop." The night is far spent. The DAY of Judgment is close at hand. Today, tomorrow, 10 years, 100 years...that's "close" to God who's not in "our time." However, we DON'T KNOW when that DAY will be for us. I could die today, or tomorrow, or in 10 years.

At that moment, I will have to give an account for my life, and I will NOT be able to Blame anyone for anything. The blame game will be OVER. Even BUSH can't be blamed for your bad choices or mine! That might come as a real shock to some of you, but believe it or not, God doesn't hate George Bush! He doesn't hate you and he doesn't hate me, but HE DOES HATE SIN! So, stop it. Get right with God. If you voted for Obama because he's "Pro Choice" and you're a Catholic, then please, look inside yourself, listen to God's warning now, and go to confession ASAP, because the CHURCH will be the first to be judged. God said so.

I've heard Omaha NE. is 60% Catholic. Our "Catholic community" and Douglas county went for Obama. Did we put the economy before Mary's babies? Before Jesus? That is a very scary thing to contemplate. Catholics who voted for Obama DEFIED the Church and her warning to CHOOSE LIFE. Who was just ignorant and who was actually defiant I have no idea. All I know is time is running out and for so many deliberate crimes, the Church and the earth will soon be shaken. Repent. Get to confession. God loves you. Love Him back, amend your life and CHOOSE LIFE.

Holding his Savior...

St. Joseph, the humble, obscure carpenter, from the scorned, obscure village of Nazareth, holds the One who created the dome of Heaven in his arms. How wondrous! How complete must have been his awe and amazement, the awareness of his divine mission spoken by the Angel, in a dream, to care for the Creator of all the universe! To teach his "apprentice" son how to turn the spoke of a wagon wheel, and hammer a hub, when this Very "apprentice" had spoken the heavens into existence, naming every single star!

A prayer worn and a prayer ascending...

This is a T-Shirt that some friends of mine designed. We are wearing these on the 20th, and gathering for soup/and prayer that night to pray for our country and our President-elect. I harbor no ill will toward Mr. Obama. My friends don't either. This is a PRAYER, not a quip or a racist remark, so any comments that some might want to write calling me or my friends racist will be read, but not posted. We aren't. I have black friends, and Mexican friends, and Chinese friends, and all kinds of friends. This is a prayer, "Come to your Mama" means just that. St Gerard and many Saints called our Blessed Mother, Mama, Most Holy. She is our Mama, and we ALL need her! We all need to "Come to her" every day and ask her intercession for our souls and our country. She loves us all. She loves Obama and his family. She wants us all to live in Peace and make peace with God through her Son, Jesus, who suffered and died on the cross for the salvation of all people, all races, all creeds. So, we pray,

Hail Mary, Full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Co-inventor of the Pill,slams...the Pill...

Eighty five year old Carl Djerassi the Austrian chemist who helped invent the contraceptive pill now says that his co-creation has led to a "demographic catastrophe."

Tippi Barbie...or "Bad Birds Barbie"...

I cannot for the life of me remember where I saw this and from where I lifted it. H/T to somebody out there. This just makes me laugh out loud every time. I've been cleaning out some folders and came across this in my "drafts folder" at gmail. There could be plenty of humorous captions, but this one's mine:

"I may be be pecked to death, but so help me, I'll die with flawless hair!"

A reply to a comment I made on You Tube...

atlasdoc2 has replied to your comment on Phil Keaggy:

"Maybe if you would care as much about the children AFTER they are born, there wouldn't be as many teen pregnancies, and thus fewer abortions! Abortion is NOT the cause of a problem, it is a SYMPTOM, when will you people get it? Treating the symptoms only makes the problem get worse, you must address the cause and that is what Obama is advocating."

Evidently this is what "atlasdoc2," thinks about my "not caring" about children AFTER they're born. I replied with a few thoughts and then ended with, "wake up and smell the sulfur." I wrote "sulfur" so he or she wouldn't stumble, and misprounce the word with the "ph." How very sad this is. We are so in trouble in this country. People actually think like this. Either they've bought the lie, or they're in denial or they're in actual rebellion, and don't see that aborting UNBORN babies, who have NO WHERE TO RUN, and NO DEFENSE is a mere "symptom" of our "not caring about born children" enough. How miserable and how extremely sad is our society, when INNOCENT LIFE, being ripped from limb from limb INSIDE the womb, isn't a problem, but only a symptom. The real problem is people "like me" who don't see how much Obama really cares. May the scales fall from this horribly misled person's eyes. I really pray they will fall, before it's too late.

We watched this last night...

EXCELLENT! Accolades to Ed Asner (which seemed a puzzling casting choice for me, until I saw it) for this exquisite portrayal of beloved and "Blessed Pope John XXIII!"

Highly recommend this one, folks.

We enjoyed our time and the company of friends watching and muching popcorn and sipping some wine. Kris is recovering from surgery and it was something we talked about earlier in the day when she invited us over. We thought, "what a great idea, to have a 'movie night' or "matinee" regularly with friends, of like mind and heart! We all need more time just to "hang" and not have it be for a class, mass, donut Sunday, or a Lenten mission or a retreat, etc. We have a "friendship" deficit in our culture, and even in the Church, we get too busy just to "hang out" and "waste time" together.
And if I may add, I've been blessed to the hilt "hanging out" with Jesus and "wasting time" with Him at adoration. We've a beautiful chapel, 24/7 Exposition...Jesus is waiting to "hang out" with us, for that's what he was "hanged" on the cross for, our redemption, salvation, and just for us to BE WITH HIM,...not just here, but FOREVER IN HEAVEN. Go hang out with the Lord, and then go get a movie and call some friends over. Share the Faith this way, too, with neighbors. Who knows what might develop and where it might lead them. Maybe to the doors of your parish!

It's all too spooky, creepy, and even "Stalinesque"...

H/T Overheard in the Sacristy

Amen.

But I'm praying for Obama to return to his Mama...most Holy. Holy Mary Mother of God Pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death.

As Saul was converted I pray for Obama and all in political office who seem to be riding rather "elevated, proud ponies" There but for the grace of God, go I and I, too, need deeper conversion but what it is we're up against only God knows. Our Lady warns us to pray and fast and we best heed our Mother. The Right Arm of the Lord is heavy upon her shoulder. She cannot keep the judgment of God our Father held back forever. Divine Mercy is for all RIGHT NOW..."tomorrow" will be too late for as we know, tomorrow never comes.

The mystery of mystery and as deep as the sea...

Proclaimed as beautifully as I've ever read. H/T Argent

Mass...

Scott Hahn's description of Mass as stated on Reasons to Believe (EWTN):

"There are not two churches, one up there, and one down here. There's one church, there's one kingdom, there's one liturgy and we do it on earth as it is in heaven."

"The Mass is probably the most biblically saturated hour that anybody can experience on this planet." And he continues, "From the very opening, and it's not just because they're reading from the bible, but because they're doing what the bible's describing."

The Catholic Church is not "sermon centered" but Eucharistic. The Mass is "soaked" in scripture. 28 times in 22 chapters in Revelation, Jesus is called "Lamb of God" No where else in the NT is Jesus referred to in eucharistic terms.
On the road to Emmaus, when Jesus opens the scriptures, showing them how Christ must suffer. When he takes bread, blesses it, breaks it and gives it to them, pnly then are their eyes opened. Once our faith grasps Christ's real presence IN the Holy Eucharist his physical presence, his visible body is no longer necessary. It even might pose a threat to faith growing and maturing. The gestures of scripture are all through the bible, as well as vestments, and all are part of the New Testament. The NT doesn't do away with the OT, but completes it...with Jesus as our High Priest, and Victim of the sacrifice that 'continues' from the cross in an unbloody manner for it is now his glorified body that we partake of and eat in the Mass. Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world and our Eucharistic meal, for we "eat" the Lamb as did they eat the lamb in the OT during Passover. The Eucharist is what makes us ONE BODY, we who are many are one body by sharing the eucharistic body. Hebrews and Revelation describe the "cloud of witnesses" that share in the Eucharist with us at Mass. They're more alive than we are, those Saints in heaven. The kingdom is already on earth, because the Church is already in Heaven. The Church and the Kingdom, though in some ways distinct, are inseparable and can never be divided. Lumen Gentium describes the Pilgrim Church (on earth) is in perfect sacramental union with the Church in heaven, that "great cloud" by Christ's power through the Holy Spirit, in and during the Mass, but there will come a time when the "veil" now between us is rent and we'll discover the heavenly mysteries that are sacramentally veiled in our midst every time we celebrate the Mass. Though apart we're united and ...

all I can say is, "How cool and awesome and amazing is that?!"

Now I'm OFF TO MASS to gather with ALL THE SAINTS and ANGELS!

Hill of Crosses...

I just watched "A Hill Apart" on EWTN. Unfortunately, I didn't record it, and in the search, it doesn't come up again, but found this short article. It is so timely. With the new Socialist agenda and radical Left regime building, well, more and more articles, shows, books, videos are popping up all over about persecution, and even Rush and Laura Ingraham and other talk show hosts comment on the "Stalinist" sounding ideas floating about. Words like "spooky" and "creepy" come over the air about Obama's speech today, and other speeches. I do pray for him, for his family and staff that there will be coversions of hearts. Many of my friends and I have spoken about "what could be coming down the pike" and here is a brief vignette of what we could even face here in America, for it seems since 9-11, we've been lulled back into an apathetic collective yawn, and wanting the "freebies" that Obama promises, which ARE NOT FREE! Well, we've also neglected Our Lady's many warnings, since Fatima. Now we will soon see what we're up against as a Church in this country. As Christians, we may just have to face some hard times, but if we remain in solidarity, and pray the rosary and fast, clinging to our Mother's mantle, may we find the grace to persevere, no matter what may befall. I read 3 biographies on St Maximilian Kolbe last year, and recently checked out one on Edith Stein. I pray for their intercession for us, here in "la la land" for we have been seduced by materialism and greed, pushing God further and further out of our lives. We watched First Circle, (Soltzhenitsyn) over Christmas, and I Am David recently and there have been a lot of programs on EWTN about Ukraine Catholics coming out of "underground" only in 1989 and others about Russia and her icons, etc. We need to listen to Our Lady, I think the Pilgrim Virgin Statue's recent visit in the heart of our country, right here in Omaha in October was a 'warning'... prepare. Be vigilant, sober, alert, watchful, and pray pray pray! Get the oil in your lamps, and be ready...who knows what's ahead, but we do know God is bigger than anything, any persecution. Draw close to Him, and "be not afraid."

Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us. Immaculate Heart of Mary, PRAY FOR US!

Hill of Crosses

God rest your soul, Fr. John Neuhaus...

Saint Joseph, be by his side, welcome him with Mary, his Mother. Escort him to the throne of the Lamb of God, to behold the glory of Jesus forever. Comfort his family and friends at this time. Fill their hearts with peace and blessed joy even in their greatest sorrow, as is our hope. Resurrection is our hope. Our Lady of Peace, touch all hearts with your Motherly tenderness and graces to bear the burden of loss and attain also the true joy of knowing that he will truly rest in peace and suffer no more as he's now been called to his eternal rewarc. Amen.

FIRST THINGS BLOG

Eucharistic Miracle of Tumaco, Columbia...

Miracle of receding tidal wave

Isn't our Lord God so awesome and so good?

LIFE ETERNAL...

"Unless we recover the zeal and the spirit of the first century Christians - unless we are willing to do what they did and to pay the price that they paid, the future of our country, the days of America are numbered." Life Eternal

As told on EWTN Live last night...

How hopeful and encouraging, the stories of Eucharistic Miracles. While watching the DVR of the program this morning, there was one story that grabbed my heart and makes me even more admant to pray for Obama and his communist/socialist friends. Andre Frossard, the leader of the French Communist Party, was profoundly and miraculously converted while in the presence the REAL PRESENCE, the TRUE PRESENCE of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist, where, in the Latin quarter of Paris, he'd gone to meet a friend at a church....and left that church without having met his friend, who (strangely) didn't show up, but left that church a 'friend of God!' Here's his story.

Eucharist Miracle Exhibit
Vatican Eucharistic Miracle Display
JPII's Encyclical on the Eucharist

We invoke your intercession, Andre, for our president elect. Please pray for Mr. Obama and our country. Pray for an end to the war on the unborn, and for the conversion of all in the Obama family, and for conversion of hearts in his cabinet and our political leaders. Amen.

What really matters: Fr. Corapi's Christmas greeting...

It doesn't get more "straight forward." How we need to hear this from every pulpit...but...we don't. Thank GOD for Fr. Corapi!

The blessed and joyous time of Christmas is here again. So, I’ll just take the opportunity to thank all of our viewing and listening family for allowing us into your homes. I don’t take that for granted. I am honestly grateful to you for allowing us to serve you in that way.

As I look out the windows of my home in Montana it sure is “beginning to look a lot like Christmas.” We have about a foot of snow and it’s been below zero for about ten days. Two of my dogs are under my desk with their heads resting on my feet--looking like those big fuzzy slippers that little kids sometimes wear.Christmas is, of course, the best time to recall that Jesus, the Son of God, in fact was born in a poor stable or cave on a cold night—“for us men, and for our salvation.” Amidst the escalating uncertainty and chaos of the modern world we must sit still for a moment and remember what really matters.

In recent years major corporations have been vaporized in the twinkling of an eye. It’s a sign of the times, but recall that what really matters is that it was the twinkling of a star that led shepherds and wise men to the One who is the Light of the world.

In recent years the biggest accounting firm in the world ceased to be over night. They don’t account for anything today, but it honestly doesn’t matter. What really matters is that on a cold night two millennia ago the God who loves us was born in Bethlehem and laid in a manger by the Mother who loves Him.

In recent years the unthinkable has happened--major banks and financial institutions have ceased to be. That doesn’t matter either because the truly unthinkable happened on the first Christmas Eve long ago when the God who always was and will never cease to be came to show us the depth and breadth of His love.

In recent years I have been accused of being a “prophet of doom, and a pessimist.” I can understand this criticism, but it really isn’t true. I am a realist, and as a priest and Catholic/Christian of necessity must share in the prophetic dimension of Christ. The United States, and the entire world for the most part, is in many ways precipitating its own demise. That matters, and we must do all we can to “fight the good fight,” but what truly matters is the state of your soul and mine because in the end that will determine how we live forever, and compared to that nothing else really matters.

Things may go from bad to worse. It may well go from uncomfortable to dangerous to live your Catholic/Christian faith in a world unraveling rapidly due to one bad moral choice after the other. Remember that it will not be the first time if Christians are persecuted, even imprisoned and executed. “The blood of martyrs is the seed of Christians.” The Western world is too fat and lazy, in the secular order and even in the religious. Perhaps a jolly good persecution may be what it takes for people to decide to live their faith, rather than go along with what they know to be a sick society.

In any event, don’t let it get you down. Whatever happens, stay close to Jesus and Mary. Remember that our God is not against you. He is for you, and He will be with you through all of the ups and downs of life. He will be with you in sickness and in health; in good times and in bad; and when death comes knocking at your door He will be there to comfort you and lead you safely home. Having fought the good fight and run the race to the finish line, you will surely hear those beautiful words:“WELL DONE MY GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT! NOW AT LAST ENTER INTO THE JOY OF YOUR MASTER’S HOUSE.”

A most blessed and merry Christmas and a holy, happy, and healthy New Year to each and all of you!
Fr. John Corapi

From Unborn Word Alliance...

God became an embryonic person.

Sarah and me in Aug. 07... elated after confession and Mama's Pizza

Prayer requested....

I ask and covet all of your prayers for my friend, Sarah. She is a postulant at School Sisters of St. Francis, in Panhandle, TX. She is in the upper left corner photo on their blog. She is still suffering severe headaches (she has been for 3 months now) which are slowing her formation process and are quite debilitating. She also has spina bifida, which she bears like a trooper. Nothing slows my "little Sarah" down, believe me! She is a dear friend, and "daughter" to me. The daughter I never had of my own. I love her very much and pray for either total healing, which is my heart's desire or the grace to be lavished on her to bear this suffering with joy and gratitude as did St. Faustina and St. Therese. They and so many suffered in convents but I know I only want what God wills. I'm sure Sarah wants his will, too, but how frustrating this is for her! Please pray as she may have to face another brain surgery for her shunt, which she just recently had that has not accomplished what she and the doctors had hoped. Thank you all so much on behalf of my friend, and prayer warrior in Texas. ~JMJ~ susie

"Far out!"...

The heavens declare God's glory, magnificence, majesty, brilliance,and greatest love for us, to build for us, with utmost care and precision, the universe where we puny humans can thrive. He spoke and it was. And it was good.

What about suffering?...

This excerpt by Peter Kreeft is poignant on the subject of suffering. Even if we're having the best day we've ever had, it will be waiting around the corner for us. If we're down farther than ever due to physical, emotional, spiritual suffering, then...read this and understand the "one thing." Jesus is the "tears of God." God who sees, and understands and is with you, and with me in all we suffer. He is the answer to the question, What is God's answer to human Suffering?

H/T Austin's blog for the image

Ok, I said ONE patron Saint of the month...

but doggone it if I can't find others to 'fall in love with' and want to get to know! I will "focus" on one Saint, and that's St Joseph this month, but in the book I'm reading, JPII's Book of Saints, (Matthew and Margaret Bunson - all the Saints he beatified,) here's one I just read about and how he's tugged at my heart, "Brother Silence" who died in June, 1958

QFT...

Quote for today:

The truth does not change according to our ability to stomach it. Flannery O'Connor

I just learned a new word today,...

H/T Jackie at Catholic Mom of 10 Revisited

The word? Vinculum

It sounds very interesting. Vinculum means "bond." I have such a desire for real bonding with other Christians, not just "Donut Sunday coffee chat." A longing for "true community" as we're living in such a world pushing individualistic life/religion, in such isolation. Even with the many friends we have, I find there's a longing and the need for deeper and more intimate community, as in Acts 2. We need real "Solidarity" to withstand the "shake down" that's ahead for the Church all over the world, but especially here in the U.S. of A. after voting in the most PRO ABORTION president and administration (many who call themselves Catholic, by the way). The Miles Jesus is an interesting site and reminds me of what I've heard of Opus Dei. Anyone else out there who's involved in Miles Jesus, I'd appreciate any comments to learn more about this apostolate from actual members. How apropos to find this on this the feast of the Epiphany, which I just discovered is core to the charism of Miles Jesu.