Papa is coming!...

Photo © susie melkus

Wed. Audience May 23, 2007

Benedict XVI Advance Message to the United States

by Pope Benedict XVI

Really Enjoyable, Useful Commentary. Sign up for Catholic Culture Insights today!

Dear Brothers and Sisters in the United States of America,

The grace and peace of God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ be with all of you! In just a few days from now, I shall begin my apostolic visit to your beloved country. Before setting off, I would like to offer you a heartfelt greeting and an invitation to prayer. As you know, I shall only be able to visit two cities: Washington and New York. The intention behind my visit, though, is to reach out spiritually to all Catholics in the United States. At the same time, I earnestly hope that my presence among you will be seen as a fraternal gesture towards every ecclesial community, and a sign of friendship for members of other religious traditions and all men and women of good will. The risen Lord entrusted the apostles and the Church with his Gospel of love and peace, and his intention in doing so was that the message should be passed on to all peoples.

At this point I should like to add some words of thanks, because I am conscious that many people have been working hard for a long time, both in Church circles and in the public services, to prepare for my journey. I am especially grateful to all who have been praying for the success of the visit, since prayer is the most important element of all. Dear friends, I say this because I am convinced that without the power of prayer, without that intimate union with the Lord, our human endeavors would achieve very little. Indeed this is what our faith teaches us. It is God who saves us, he saves the world, and all of history. He is the shepherd of his people. I am coming, sent by Jesus Christ, to bring you his word of life.

Together with your bishops, I have chosen as the theme of my journey three simple but essential words: "Christ our hope." Following in the footsteps of my venerable predecessors, Paul VI and John Paul II, I shall come to United States of America as Pope for the first time, to proclaim this great truth: Jesus Christ is hope for men and women of every language, race, culture, and social condition. Yes, Christ is the face of God present among us. Through him, our lives reach fullness, and together, both as individuals and peoples, we can become a family united by fraternal love, according to the eternal plan of God the Father.

I know how deeply rooted this Gospel message is in your country. I am coming to share it with you, in a series of celebrations and gatherings. I shall also bring the message of Christian hope to the great assembly of the United Nations, to the representatives of all the peoples of the world. Indeed, the world has greater need of hope than ever: hope for peace, for justice, and for freedom; but this hope can never be fulfilled without obedience to the law of God, which Christ brought to fulfillment in the commandment to love one another. Do to others as you would have them do to you, and avoid doing what you would not want them to do. This "golden rule" is given in the Bible, but it is valid for all people, including non-believers. It is the law written on the human heart; on this we can all agree, so that when we come to address other matters we can do so in a positive and constructive manner for the entire human community.

Dirijo un cordial saludo a los católicos de lengua española y les manifiesto mi cercanía espiritual, en particular a los jóvenes, a los enfermos, a los ancianos y a los que pasan por dificultades o se sienten más necesitados. Les expreso mi vivo deseo de poder estar pronto con Ustedes en esa querida Nación. Mientras tanto, les aliento a orar intensamente por los frutos pastorales de mi inminente Viaje Apostólico y a mantener en alto la llama de la esperanza en Cristo Resucitado.

Dear brothers and sisters, dear friends in the United States, I am very much looking forward to being with you. I want you to know that, even if my itinerary is short, with just a few engagements, my heart is close to all of you, especially to the sick, the weak, and the lonely. I thank you once again for your prayerful support of my mission. I reach out to every one of you with affection, and I invoke upon you the maternal protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Que la Virgen María les acompañe y proteja. Que Dios les bendiga.

© Copyright 2008 - Libreria Editrice Vaticana

This item 8120 digitally provided courtesy of CatholicCulture.org

Our Lady of Sorrows tile...

Please visit my friend, Col. David Farr's website to purchase this breathtaking 8x10 ceramic tile of Our Lady of Sorrows. Perfect Mother's Day gift, Father's Day gift for a priest, or Wedding gift. He has many new items as well for your next parish fund raiser perhaps?

Be sure to tell him "susie from Omaha" sent you. :)

~Thank you~

Reflection on Truth...

Today, April 2, is the 3rd anniversary of beloved Pope John Paul II's passing through the veil, into Heaven, to join all the Saints of God at His Throne. I miss him. I love him and I hope to see him to thank him for his prayers... someday. It is due to his prayers I'm sure, and those of so many faithful others, that we finally did return to the CC.

We found ourselves on the banks of the Tiber in Dec. 2004, and both jumped in and swam like never before, to get to the other side. I for one, was most amazed at taking the plunge, and this new-found love inside me for this Church that I thought had been too stodgy, too old-fashioned, too structured, too rigid with way too many "man-made" rules. I thought Catholics were sort of "pathetic" to be required to go to Mass on Sundays. Those "traditions of men" weren't going to ensnare me, for I was free from all of that stuff...or so I thought. I now have seen the beauty in and of authority and order. Just as God is not the Author of confusion, but Order itself, He is not chaos and contradiction for he cannont contradict Himself.

So, here was the 64,000.00 question: "Why would his Church be conflicted and offer contradicting doctrines?" A question I was forced to confront..in my own heart 3 years ago. Truth is always "confrontational." Truth will always 'hit us between the eyes. Truth confronts us every day with every choice we make, every decision, every time we open our mouths or keep them closed, we're confronting Truth and Truth aka: Jesus Christ, confronts us. He did just that one weekend in Dec. 2004. I wasn't expecting a confrontation at all, Friday, Dec. 3. Then Rich got home and told me of his desire to return to the Faith of his youth....

Well, what a sense of humor our God has! The joke was surely on me! I grin like a Cheshire cat now to remember it! Why, I swam even faster than my husband! He is still amazed by my voracious appetite for Traditions, ritual, prayers (even written ones in prayer books!!) quiet adoration, the rosary, incense, candles, shrines, you name it... let's just say "all things Catholic!" I am only full of gratitude to be back Home and today, I want to thank my Papa, JPII for answering the call of God on his life and being such a faithful Shepherd to the flock. JPII WE LOVE YOU! WE MISS YOU! and as you're no doubt still busy in Heaven praying for us, please pray us all Home...to our eternal rest! You are nearer to us now than you ever were on earth. Please pray us home to enjoy the beatific vision of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Your lost and found lamb,susie

Rest in Peace, Papa...

Pray for us, Papa!

JPII the GREAT we love you!~

Interesting photo taken last year in Poland. JPII? Maybe. I believe in 'visions' but I don't "cling" to them. They are a gift, and we must cling to the Giver of gifts. If this brings comfort to some, then it is good. I believe the Saints are indeed active here on earth, and busy in Heaven praying for us. They are able to do things as Jesus did. Jesus walked through walls, and many Saints bilocated here on earth...so why not appear as here?

In fondest memory...of a true SAINT...

Tomorrow, April 2, will be 3 years since our beloved Papa, John Paul II passed through the veil, into Heaven. I miss him. I love him. I hope to see him and thank him for his prayers... someday.

When we (my husband and I) left the Catholic Church to seek a more "hip and with it" and lively faith community, (due to my whims and wishes)we left shortly after JPII was elected pope. We were gone for almost his entire papacy, 26 years. We returned just 4 months before he passed on to his eternal rest. I KNOW without a shadow of a doubt, that during his papacy, he prayed and prayed hard for 'wandering lambs' to come HOME, to ROME, to the ONE TRUE CHURCH.

It is due to his prayers and many, many more by some people we know and knew, and so many more we never met, we finally did return Home. We found ourselves on the banks of the Tiber, we both jumped in and swam like never before, to get to the other side. I for one, was most amazed at taking the plunge, and this new-found love for this Church that I thought had been too stodgy, too "old fashioned" and too structured. So many "man-made" rules to follow. I thought Catholics were sort of "pathetic" to HAVE to go to Mass, when to me and many of my friends, God didn't care if we went to church or not, if we had our love for him and our bibles, it didn't matter if now and then we chose to stay home or go somewhere else. We weren't bound by those harsh demands of "men." Those tradtions of men were "anathema" to me!

Well, what a sense of humor our God has! The joke was surely on me! I swam even faster than my husband, and he is still amazed by my voracious appetite for Tradtitions, ritual, prayers (even written ones in books by Saints!) quiet, the rosary, incense, candles, shrines, you name it... let's just say "all things Catholic!" I am only full of gratitude to be back HOME...and I want to thank my (our) Papa, JPII. JPII WE LOVE YOU! WE MISS YOU! and WE WILL SEE YOU AGAIN, as you're busy in Heaven still praying us all Home...to our eternal rest! Thank you JPII!~ Pray for us!

May we run, and never tarry on our journey to the Tiber, and into the waiting, loving outstretched arms of HOLY MOTHER CHURCH......Mama Mary, and you, Papa. Thank you! You are nearer to us now than you ever were on earth. Pray us home to enjoy the beatific vision of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! Amen.

Come receive Mercy...

For those of you in Omaha, NE. please see my post below... My favorite day of the year ...for the Divine Mercy Sunday schedule at St. Robert Bellarmine parish. Come and be blessed today by the Divine Mercy of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. It is 5 hours of MERCY.

There is an ocean of mercy that we all can be bathed in today...and any time we need forgiveness throughout our lives. Mercy comes to us in our need...in our sin, Mercy is there...calling us to reconciliation with our God. Mary, the Mother of Mercy is calling her sons and daughters always. Listen for your Mother's call. Let her mantle drape over you as you nestle in its folds, and find mercy near her breast. She will lead you gently to her Son, Jesus...your Savior, at your last breath. Divine Mercy is for ALL~ so come, come to the Ocean of Mercy and be "drowned" in His Love for you. Let Mercy wash away all your sin, and be cleansed from within, to live and be free from sin's grip. He extends Mercy now. Today if you hear His Voice, don't let your heart be hard any longer. Soften your heart, run to His Mercy and drown in His love. The time for Mercy is NOW. There is a feast waiting for you at your local Catholic Church. RUN, don't walk!

Bless you all!

"For the sake of his sorrowful passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world."

Trish Short's Divine Mercy Chaplet...

Trish Short is going to be at St Thomas More parish today, (48th and Grover, Omaha NE) for Divine Mercy Sunday. I had the pleasure of meeting her at our Catholic Radio station, KVSS, Friday. She spoke in the afteroon for our Care-a-Thon. She will be giving her talk today at 3:00and I hope many will come to hear her powerful witness to Divine Mercy. She was Assembly of God, and after two abortions, and finding Divine Mercy...she's now Catholic and in love with Christ's Church.

Come to St Thomas More, for celebration today, beginning at 12:30 exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, confession/reconciliation, and an afternoon of MERCY!

How Beautitul...the Body of Christ...

Beautiful Divine Mercy Chant, by the late Timothy Chong...

www.markmallett.com

My favorite day of the year! ...

Divine Mercy Sunday
St. Robert Bellarmine, Sunday March 30th

Day of Grace Program

Sunday, March 30

St. Robert Bellarmine
120th and Pacific

2:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m.

Schedule
2:00 - Video welcome - Archbishop Elden Francis Curtiss
2:10 - Examination of Conscience
2:55 - Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament
3:00 - Chaplet of Divine Mercy
3:30 - Benediction with Eucharistic Procession
4:00 - Video – Mercy in Our Lives
5:15 - Family lead Rosary
6:00 - Special Divine Mercy Sunday Mass

Childcare Available. For more information call: 498-9871

The Promise
According to St. Faustina, Our Lord promises to those who go to confession and communion on this day, the remission of the guilt and the punishment of sins.
On that day the very depths of My tender mercy are open. I pour out a whole ocean of graces upon those souls who approach the fount of My mercy. The soul that will go to Confession and receive Holy Communion shall obtain complete forgiveness of sins and punishment. On that day all the divine floodgates through which grace flow are opened. Let no soul fear to draw near to Me, even though its sins be as scarlet. My mercy is so great that no mind, be it of man or of angel, will be able to fathom it throughout all eternity. (Diary of Sr. Faustina, 699)
Many take this to mean that they must go to Confession ON Mercy Sunday. This is not true. To receive the benefits of the Promise one must be in the state of grace. The Lord does not promise the absolution of grave sin on Mercy Sunday, but points us to the Sacrament of Penance. To receive the grace we should be disposed. This is done by a confession near the time of Mercy Sunday. According to the Cardinal of Krakow, the confession which a Catholic makes during Lent in preparation for Easter is sufficient. Priests do not have to provide confession on Mercy Sunday so that Catholics can satisfy this condition. Since it is a Sunday the condition of Communion can be easily satisfied (including at the Saturday Vigil Mass). Our Communion, as our Confession, should be especially devout.

Some refer to this grace as a Plenary Indulgence. While the effect is the same, complete remission of sin and the punishment due to it, it is not granted by the Church but by a promise of the Lord. Also, the conditions are fewer, only Confession and Communion. While the Lord also asks for veneration of His Image on Mercy Sunday, as well as acts of mercy, these do not appear to be essential to the Promise, though they certainly could manifest the disposition, or lack of disposition, of the person seeking it. The receipt of the grace is not magic, but necessarily involves the opening of our hearts to mercy. This is best done by deeds, words and thoughts of mercy towards others. That, too, takes God's grace, but we can surely expect the actual graces to be mercifully available to us on Mercy Sunday, if we but trust. The message clearly states the Lord's willingness for the greatest generosity on this day. We do what our circumstances permit us, and trust in God. This is true also of those whose circumstances do not permit them to get to Communion on that day, such as the infirm and the home-bound. God does not ask the impossible.

The Image
I want the image solemnly blessed on the first Sunday after Easter, and I want it to be venerated publicly so that every soul may know about it. (Diary 341)

A very brave soul...

You probably won't read this in secular newspapers or hear it on the Today Show without a huge liberal bias with the veneer of relativism..."that's nice for Magdi, but this is only "his truth"....someone else's might be different blah blah blah." Well, I received this from Catholic Culture and had to post.

Meet Magdi Cristiano Allam...

May we all live our faith courageously as you and realize that being Catholic will mean being hated as Christ was hated. God bless you, Magdi, and welcome home.

We Follow Him...

We follow Him
With faith
To the unknown
With trust
To Gethsemane
With perseverance
To the cross
With hope
To our death
With confidence
To the tomb
With grace
To resurrection
With Mary and the Saints
To our Heavenly home
With Christ
To communion
With Love
Forever


susie melkus
03.23.08

From our Archbishop, Shepherd and Teacher...

Archbishop Elden Francis Curtiss, as written in The Catholic Voice, Omaha, NE.

Celebrating Easter in faith: Rejoicing in what the Lord has done for us

Several years ago the novelist Morris West wrote and autobiographical article titled "A View from the Ridge." He said that once we reach a certain age of maturity, there should be only one phrase left in our vocabulary: "Thank you!"

For all of us who live in faith, Easter gives us the best reason in the world to say, "Thank you" to the Father of al light who has sent his Son into our world to be our light.

I am sure that the 800 adults and young people in our archdiocese who will either be baptized at the Easter Vigil or come into full communion with us (if already baptized), and will share the gifts of the Holy Spirit and feed on the body and blood of Jesus for the first time-- I am sure their hearts will be filled with gratitude when they reflect on the journey they have made because of the Lord's love for them and his guidance.

JESUS CONTINUES TO DRAW US TO THE CROSS

We have reflected this past week on the terrible price Jesus paid for us on the cross, so that we do not have to live in our sins. We are amazed that he loves us so much and that he will go to such lengths to win our love, not only by his sacrifice for us on Calvary, but by his constant effort to entice us to himself at the present time. He constantly reaches out to us, through his living Word in the Scripture and through the sacramental life of the Church, especially the Eucharist, and through the many people who touch our lives with his love and care. Jesus never ceases trying to make us aware of his presence and his desire that we should learn to respond, at least in some small degree, to his love for us.

How else can we explain all the adults and young people who are coming into the Church this Easter? Certainly none of us are capable of drawing these people by ourselves. Catholicism stands in marked contrast to the secular values of our world. The only reason so many people every year are willing to commit themselves to Jesus and to his Church is because of the force of his love that draws them. It is not just the cohesiveness of our teaching and its continuity from the first apostlesthat draws people to the Church. It is not just the fact that we are the largest Christian faith community in the world. People are drawn to the Church, drawn to the Eucharist, by a force beyond themselves. They sense the Lord drawing them to himself in the Church. They recognize that at the very heart of the Church's life is Jesus, present to us, loving us, healing us, constantly drawing us out of the darkness that always threatens to overshadow us.

CONTINUITY OF THE CHURCH THROUGH THE CENTURIES

Scott Hahn, the famous convert and Catholic apologist, remarked recently that if people in general had the opportunity to learn what the Catholic Church really teaches, and had the opportunity to explain that teaching in its development from the first century, most of them would end up embracing Catholicism. But we know there are many obstacles that prevent non-Catholics from taking a serious look at the Church and her teaching. Misinformation about the Church and distortions about her teaching and practices are everywhere in our society. Some of the opposition to the Church is well-intentioned and honest; some of it is dishonest and even diabolical. The Evil One does not want the Church to be strong and unified and influential.

At the same time, we know from experience and revelation that faith is ultimately a gift, a grace from God. It is one thing to examine all the reasons that we believe what we do, and to trace the essentials of our teaching back to the first apostles. But it is quite another thing to be able to say "I believe" when one is confronted with mystery--the Trinity, the incarnation of the Son of God, the Eucharist--all the truths of faith that cannot be understood by our minds alone. God reveals himself to us in his creation, in his prophets of old, and especially in his Son made man, in Jesus. Bu t it is only when a light goes on inside of us and we experience the reality of the truth that has been revealed to us--it is only when we experience the presence and love of the one revealing himself to us and his plan for us, only then does our fiaht come alive and we can cry out, "Yes I do believe, O Lord, help my disbelief!"

GRATITUDE SHOULD BE OUR RESPONSE TO JESUS

For those who will embrace the fullness of Catholic faith in our parishes this Easter weekend, and for the rest of us who have been on this faith journey for years, all of us should be filled with gratitude for what the Lord has done in our lives. Despite our weaknesses and our unworthiness, Jesus constantly draws us to himself by his teaching and his love. Despite the habits of sin in our lives and our own occasional lapses into tepidity and neglect, the Spirit stirs in us, especially at certain seasons of the year when we are vividly reminded of the Lord's love for us.

Our Lenten reflections this year, trying to focus on our journey home to the Father, and recalling the lengths to which Jesus was willing to go to show his love for us--this process helps us to prepare for the joy of Easter. He died for us, he is risen as he promised and he heps us on our way to the Father. This Easter, then should find us filled with gratitude to God for revealing himself to us and his plan for our salvation. And our hearts should be filled with gratitude that we have been gifted with faith so that we can experience his presence and love for us in so many ways, especially in his Eucharist.

Easter is a time for us to recall everything that God has done and is doing in our lives. Easter is a time for us to rejoice and give thanks for our Savior and for the Church he founded for us, and for the gift of faith that helps us to experience Jesus alive in our midst.

So, a very Blessed Easter to all in Northeastern Nebraska who understand what Easter really means to the family of God.

~ A VERY HAPPY AND BLESSED EASTER
TO ALL MY BLOGGER FRIENDS
AND YOUR FAMILIES ~

Jesus remember me, when you come into your Kingdom

OUR HOPE IS ALIVE!
JESUS IS RISEN!
TELL ALL THE GOOD NEWS!

susie

And "What does holiness consist of, Papa?" and he said...

Pope Benedict XVI

"The saints are not people who never made mistakes or sinned, but who repented and were reconciled. Hence, also among saints there are oppositions, discords and controversies, and this is very consoling for me, as we see that the saints have not 'fallen from heaven. They are men like us, with complicated problems. Holiness does not consist in not making mistakes or never sinning. Holiness grows with the capacity for conversion, repentance, willingness to begin again, and above all with the capacity for reconciliation and forgiveness. And we can all learn this way of holiness."

I just read about St Margaret Mary before Lent...

SAINT MARGARET MARY ALACOQUE
Virgin, Apostle of the Sacred Heart (1647-1690)

Spiritual Bouguet: Bear one another's burdens, and so you will fulfill the law of Christ (Gal. 6:2).

Saint Margaret Mary, a soul of divine predilection, was born at Terreau in Burgundy, on July 22, 1647. During her infancy she showed a wonderfully sensitive revulsion to the very idea of sin, and while still a young child always recited the entire Rosary every day. She lost her father at the age of eight years, and her mother placed her with the Poor Clares. She was often sick and for four years was bedridden, losing almost entirely the use of her members. She made a vow to Our Lady to become one of Her daughters if She cured her, and was suddenly entirely well. She was of a gay temperament and her heart became easily attached to human affections. God began her purification when the charge of her mother’s house was confided to persons who reduced the family to a sort of servitude. Margaret Mary turned to God for strength and consolation when she was accused of various crimes she had not committed. In short, the Saint of the Sacred Heart learned to suffer for Christ, with patience, what innocence can suffer in such situations. She desired to be a religious, but her mother could not bear to hear a word of that desire. Finally God came to her assistance through a Franciscan priest, who told her brother that he would answer to God for the vocation of his sister. In 1671 she entered the Order of the Visitation of Mary, at Paray-le-Monial, and was professed the following year. She followed all the practices of the monastery in perfect obedience, spending as much time as she could in the chapel with her Lord. After sanctifying her by many trials, Jesus appeared to her in numerous visions, displaying to her His Sacred Heart, sometimes burning as a furnace, and sometimes torn and bleeding on account of the coldness and sins of men. “Behold this Heart which has so loved men, and been so little loved by them in return!”In 1675, she was told by Our Lord that she, with the aid of Father Claude de la Colombiere of the Society of Jesus, was to be His instrument for instituting the feast of the Sacred Heart, and for spreading that devotion everywhere. This was not accomplished without great sufferings. The good Jesuit did all in his power to make known and loved the Heart of Jesus, but when it seemed all obstacles were about to disappear, his credit diminished, and his Superiors sent him to England. He returned to France exhausted and soon died. Saint Margaret Mary was for a time Mistress of Novices, and in this office exercised a true apostolate, working to win for the Heart of Jesus the hearts of the young girls who were aspiring to religious consecration. She was persecuted when she sent one of them home, not having seen in her the indications of a genuine vocation; the family attempted to have her deposed. She remained in the charge but was deprived of Holy Communion on the First Friday of the month. This practice was one of Our Lord’s specific requests; for souls who communicate nine First Fridays in succession, He promised the most wonderful graces. The demons also persecuted her visibly; nonetheless her entire Community was finally won over to devotion to the Divine Heart.

Saint Margaret Mary died at the age of forty-two years, on October 17, 1690, and everywhere was heard in the city: “The Saint is dead! The Saint is dead!” She was beatified in 1864 by Pope Pius IX, and canonized in 1920 by Pope Benedict XV.

Reflection: Love for the Sacred Heart especially honors the Incarnation, and makes the soul grow rapidly in humility, generosity, patience, and union with its Beloved.

Sources: Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints, a compilation based on Butler’s Lives of the Saints and other sources by John Gilmary Shea (Benziger Brothers: New York, 1894); Les Petits Bollandistes: Vies des Saints, by Msgr. Paul Guérin (Bloud et Barral: Paris, 1882), Vol. 12.

after www.magnificat.ca

The Daily Decalogue of Blessed John XXIII ...

1. Only for today, I will seek to live the livelong day positively without wishing to solve the problems of my life all at once.

2. Only for today, I will take the greatest care of my appearance; I will dress modestly; I will not raise my voice; I will be courteous in my behavior; I will not criticize anyone; I will not claim to improve or to disciple anyone except myself.

3. Only for today, I will be happy in the certainty that I was created to be happy, not only in the other world, but also in this one.

4 Only for today, I will adapt to circumstances, without requiring all circumstances to be adapted to my own wishes.

5. Only for today, I will devote ten minutes of my time to some good reading, remembering that just as food is necessary to the life of the body, so good reading in necessary to the life of the soul.

6. Only for today, I will do one good deed and not tell anyone about it.

7. Only for today, I will do at least one thing I do not like doing; and if my feeling are hurt, I will make sure that no one notices.

8. Only for today, I will make a plan for myself; i may not follow it to the letter, but I will make it. And I will be on guard against two evils: hastiness and indecision.

9. Only for today, I will firmly believe, despite appearances, that the good Providence of God cares for me as not else who exists in this world.

10. Only for today, I will have no fears. In particular, I will not be afraid to enjoy what is beautiful and to believe in goodness. Indeed, for twelve hours I can certainly do what might cause me consternation were I to believe I had to do it all my life.

Thank you for your wisdom and your love.

Pray for us, Papa.

Mary Mother of God.... pray for us!

Please pray for us, for all your children, from far and wide, near the Tiber, across the Tiber, far away from the Tiber in the farthest of places. We pray for unity, and for peace among all brethren. Thank you, Our Lady, Queen of Peace, and our dearest, MOTHER OF GOD.

WELCOME TO OUR COMMUNITY OF:

MARY MOTHER OF GOD.

As the Ecumenical Council of Ephesus declared in A.D. 431, "Mary is truly 'Mother of God' since she is the mother of the eternal Son of God made man, who is God himself" (CCC 495). "In fact, the One whom the conceived as man by the Holy spirit, who truly became her Son according to the flesh, was none other than the Father's eternal Son, the second person of the Holy Trinity. Hence the Church confesses that Mary is truly 'Motherof God' (theo-tokos)" (CCC 507)

PaulaJeane, Assistant Manager

Wedding Feast Of Cana Jn 21-11Jn 21:21; Jn 4:46-54

1 On the third day there was a wedding in Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there.
2 Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the wedding.
3 When the wine ran short, the mother of Jesus said to him, "They have no wine."
4 (And) Jesus said to her, "Woman, how does your concern affect me? My hour has not yet come."
5 His mother said to the servers, "Do whatever he tells you."
6 Now there were six stone water jars there for Jewish ceremonial washings, each holding twenty to thirty gallons.
7 Jesus told them, "Fill the jars with water." So they filled them to the brim.
8 Then he told them, "Draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter." So they took it.
9 And when the headwaiter tasted the water that had become wine, without knowing where it came from (although the servers who had drawn the water knew), the headwaiter called the bridegroom
10 and said to him, "Everyone serves good wine first, and then when people have drunk freely, an inferior one; but you have kept the good wine until now." John 2:1-10.
Now, here are the same verses with the symbolic types and word-pictures high-lited...

1 On the third day there was a wedding in Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there.
2 Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the wedding.
3 When the wine ran short, the mother of Jesus said to him, "They have no wine."
4 (And) Jesus said to her, "Woman, how does your concern affect me? My hour has not yet come."
5 His mother said to the servers, "Do whatever he tells you."
6 Now there were six stone water jars there for Jewish ceremonial washings, each holding twenty to thirty gallons.
7 Jesus told them, "Fill the jars with water." So they filled them to the brim.
8 Then he told them, "Draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter." So they took it.
9 And when the headwaiter tasted the water that had become wine, without knowing where it came from (although the servers who had drawn the water knew), the headwaiter called the bridegroom
10 and said to him, "Everyone serves good wine first, and then when people have drunk freely, an inferior one; but you have kept the good wine until now."
First, Christ's resurrection happened on the "third" day because the Three Type = "the will of God," and it was the will of God that Christ be raised. Note well that this wedding feast is occurring on a "third day" -- resurrection day!

Next, we have a "wedding." In the Old and New Testaments, the "wedding" word-picture is used to celebrate the "wedding" of Christ to His Church.

So, the events here are occurring in the course of the "wedding" of resurrected Christ to His Church.

Now, in the Bible, "wine" = "the saving blood of Christ." So, when we are told that the "wine" has "run short," we are being told typologically (or "allegorically" -- the difference is not critical, here) that, "Hey, man, help from the resurrected Savior and saving grace, purchased by His blood, is needed!"

Now, note the precise structure of events in this story...

(1) Mary goes to Jesus -- "They need some wine" -- "saving blood, and the saving grace purchased by that saving blood."

(2) Functionally, Jesus responds coldly, "Leave me alone. This is none of your business. It's not time."

(3) Mary, anyway, with confidence, tells the waiters to do what He says.

(4) Jesus, in spite of His cold rebuke of Mary, goes ahead and does what she asks, anyway!

A common answer by our Protestant brothers to Marian theology is, "God doesn't need her help!"

True! Very, very true!

However, in this story, we see a picture of Mary being allowed to "butt-in" on the salvation process, even though it is against God's timing!

Now, let's analyze the process itself in the story.

First, the "jars" here are made of "stone." This is an analog of -- a "synonym of" or "version of" -- the Rock Type meaning "church."

There are "six" in number. Six = the Six Type = "evil." So, these six stone jars symbolize evil people in the Church. This conforms to Mary's statement that they need "wine" -- these sinners in the Church need some of the salvation purchased by Jesus' saving blood.

Jesus has the waiters fill them with potable water -- an analog of the River Type for "salvation." The water is miraculously turned to wine -- a picture of salvation activated by the saving blood of Christ, generated for sinners in the Church at interceding Mary's request!

Manager, MARYMOTHEROFGOD 930611

This is such a tedious argument, isn't it?...

It seems a very angry man, with a very large and ignorant ax to grind, has left a comment on my post, What's An Evangelical to do with Mary? 3rd post of January 2008.

I am only posting this to ask that you all to pray for Gregory. He's sadly misinformed, as I was for so long in my life about the CC. I am not posting this to have an all out 'war of words' which is counter productive when done in anger, although I should probably go to reconciliation and confess the old blood pressure did take a rise when reading this vitriol, from a "Christian brother."

This is the stuff that tears the Body of Christ even more. It rips His flesh even worse than the scourging did at that marble pillar 2000 years ago. This rift in the Body with those who "think they know it all" is very heartbreaking and must grieve the Holy Spirit and Our Mother tremendously. It grieves me and I'm a fallen sinner trying to aspire to holiness and become a saint worthy of Heaven. What must it do to the most PURE ONES?

"God, please help us all to unite and bind us together in Your Love."

"Hail Mary full of grace, blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus. Holy Mary Mother of God, pray for us sinners now, and at the hour of our death. Amen. "

Anyone who might want to visit his blog:
or comment on this or my "Mary" post from Jan. 2008 is more than welcome to do so. God be praised for giving us HIS CHURCH, the ONE HOLY CATHOLIC AND APOSTOLIC CHURCH! Our Safety and our Shield and our Shelter in the storm that even rages in Christendom, most egregiously.

PEACE~ susie

THEOTOKOS:

MOTHER OF GOD

Here is Greg's most recent post in its entirety:

Friday, February 29, 2008
The Pope is a hypocrite.

Greg writes: I think I need to give some clarification on the beginning of my last post. I recently read that infamous paragraph 1540 in the Catechism of the Catholic Church again. But this time, I read it correctly, and I was even more astonished and enraged; what it really said was worse than my first interpretation:

"Instituted to proclaim the Word of God and to restore communion with God by sacrifices and prayer, the priesthood nevertheless remains powerless to bring about salvation, needing to repeat its sacrifices ceaselessly and being unable to achieve a definitive sanctification, which only the sacrifice of Christ would accomplish" (Par. 1540 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition).

In the above paragraph, the Pope, responsible for the release of the book, is putting down and trying to weaken the faith of the Jews by calling them "powerless", and though they may strive for salvation, he claims they cannot get it. According to him, it's out of their reach because they
had ceaseless sacrifices. They could never reach a point where they could say "It is finished" (John 19:30), knowing they had been fully forgiven by God, and accepted into His kingdom. But here's the hypocritical slap in the face; When you stop and think about it, how is the Pope's church with the endless sacrifice of the mass any different?
Pope Benedict XVI condemns the Jews to hell, when he leads others to do the same thing that he says keep salvation at bay. He also denies the power of the word of God, which the priesthood was given to proclaim; even though the Jews had it, they were not saved. However, that same word of God tells us " Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews." (John 4:22). Here in this one verse, Jesus tells us that the Jews have salvation, but the Pope disagrees.

"And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus." (2 Tim 3:15). Because the Jews had the scriptures, they had salvation. But the Pope disagrees with the Word of God, all the while condemning himself "powerless to bring about salvation" (par. 1540), because of his love of ceaseless sacrifice.

I was here twice.... this is so beautfiul...

God bless our priests, religious brothers and sisters who have responded to God's call in their lives, and obeyed, and are praying for us and the whole world.

enter...Da Pacem Domine

At the foot of the cross...

Angry? Leave it here
Sad? Leave it here
Frustrated? Leave it here
Confused? Leave it here
Suffering? Unite it with His
Pain? Unite it with His
Bad day? Leave it here
People getting on your nerves? Leave it here
The Economy? Leave it here
Been betrayed? Leave it here
Friends fail you? Leave it here
Ridiculed? Leave it here
Hated? Leave it here
Deserted? Leave it here
Lonely? Leave it here
Hurt? Leave it here
Misunderstood? Leave it here
Suspected? Leave it here
Mistreated? Leave it here
Judged unfairly? Leave it here
Can't forgive?...You'd better....He did

"Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do."

He prayed that for you and He prayed that for me.
I think we can do more than we think we can, if we belong to Him.
With Him and in Him we can do all things.
Apart from Him, we can do nothing.
Life? Or death?
It's we who need to choose.
He's done all He can do.

Irony... gotta love it....

I've just finished, Leonie Martin, A Difficult Life (the 'more unfamiliar' of St. Therese's sisters) by Marie Baudouin-Croix and it was excellent! I love the more obscure saints! I'm reading St Therese, Her Last Conversations, now. I've had a devotion to St Therese for a couple of years. Most do, but what a family! I hope her parents are canonized this year. What books are y'all reading during Lent? This one looks to be a great one. ~ susie

Ironies of Faith

Posted Feb. 21, 2008 9:43 AM || by Dr. Jeff Mirus || category Review

First Notice of New Content + Really Enjoyable, Useful Commentary.
Sign up for Catholic Culture Insights today!

I promised to comment on Anthony Esolen’s fine book, Ironies of Faith: The Laughter at the Heart of Christian Literature, published last year by ISI Books. Esolen is a professor of literature at Providence College specializing in the classical, medieval and Renaissance periods. He translated and edited Dante’s Divine Comedy for the Modern Library edition, and he is a senior editor at Touchstone, which is alternately described as a magazine of mere Christianity and a journal of ecumenical orthodoxy. He is a Catholic and, in fact, a very deep and learned Catholic.

The great insight which it is the purpose of Ironies of Faith to explicate is that irony frequently lies at the heart of the most important insights into human life, and it is definitely and always at the heart of the Christian vision. By irony, Esolen means not mere cleverness or satire but the dramatic reversals attending the inescapable fact that we are often most ignorant just when we think we know something or, to take the reverse, those who seem most ignorant often understand reality better than those reputed to be wise. Some of the richest moments of both life and literature occur when we realize the irony in some seemingly obvious situation: again, those who claim to know are ignorant; those who appear ignorant, know.

The great debater, wit and apologist, G. K. Chesterton made a living off this essentially paradoxical nature of irony. His trademark was to turn ideas upside down, and to make the real truth blaze out just where we thought it wasn’t. Esolen doesn’t use Chesterton to illustrate his point, but many readers will see the point more clearly by thinking of Chesterton in this context. Esolen himself mines the great classics and, in so doing, provides a penetrating introduction to more than a dozen masterpieces that we might otherwise either fear to approach or fail to fully appreciate. Through authors such as Virgil, Shakespeare, Augustine, Dante, Tolkien, Manzoni, Spenser, Dostoyevsky, Dickens, and the anonymous medieval author of Pearl, Esolen highlights the ironies of time, power, love and childhood which lie at the heart of the Christian mystery.

Consider: Our Lord teaches that whoever loses his life will save it, an irony of time. St. Paul boasts of his weakness, an irony of power. The great Latin Father, Augustine, gives us an example of love's irony in this famous saying: “So great is the difference between God’s approach and man’s approach to woman, that a man’s approach makes a wife of a virgin, but God’s makes a virgin of a wife.” And Christians can never forget that the hope of the world is not a great king in the full strength of his manhood, but a little child. God, and Christians with Him, really do revel in irony. Thus the true disciple will always find joy through suffering. Persecuted and abused, he will still be both first and last to enjoy the laughter forever bubbling up from the very core not only of Christian literature but of Christian life.

Jesus praises his Father for revealing the secrets of the Kingdom not to the wise and learned, but to the little ones—the childlike. On this ironic note, I should also mention that the first part of Esolen’s book, “Humility and Vision”, provides an outstanding introduction not only to irony but to artistic (and therefore human) criticism. Esolen insists that the critic must approach the object of his interest in humility and love, that is, like a child. Otherwise, he will interpret everything by imposing his own arrogant failings on whatever he reads, indeed on everything and everyone he encounters. Esolen sees clearly that too much contemporary criticism reveals nothing more than the passions, foibles and fallacies of the interpreters. This section alone is worth the price of admission.

A point the author does not make directly (but clearly intends the reader to understand) is that irony lies also at the center of every conversion experience, great and small: In our pride, we thought we knew; but we were blind, and now we see. For this reason, the reader can draw not only intellectual but spiritual profit from the book. If you love great literature and wish to understand both literature and life in a more deeply and essentially Christian way, you owe it to yourself to read Anthony Esolen’s Ironies of Faith.

[Anthony M. Esolen, Ironies of Faith: The Laughter at the Heart of Christian Literature, ISI Books, Wilmington DE, 2007. 412 pp. Paper $14.40; Cloth $22.40 from ISI Books; also available on Amazon.]

Can we "take one for Jesus?"...

While listening to Dr. Ray's brilliant monologue this past Wed. a line he said during the last 5 minutes of the program just stuck in my head: "He wasn't just critiqued." Sometimes a word or phrase just sticks and I know there's more below the surface. Doc made me think we really need to "suck it up," "shake it off" and . . .

Take One for Jesus

He wasn't just critiqued but He was crucified
Jesus did only good and still He had to die
I try to follow him and claim to and yet
I've such thin skin I can't forget
A harsh word spoken by my tired spouse?
Or an unkind word heard at a friend's house?
I've become so prickly, I'm all 'needles and pins'
And to be quite honest, I don't resemble Him
He stood before his accusers, silent as a lamb
Yet I lash out a retort just as quick as I can?
When I don't get my way and my needs aren't met
I'm seldom found silent because... "I need to vent!"
Mary didn't lash out at those who lashed Her dear Son
She remained silent, too, and like Him, she was dumb
Jesus told us we're going to be hated the same
I wonder when we'll believe Him and realize His Name
Is more than a slogan on a tee shirt we wear
It means going the distance because "life isn't fair"
We're going to be hated and not given respect
But I've never been spit upon for my beliefs yet
I might receive an odd glance or some crude remarks
But nothing like the sword that pierced Mary's heart
We're too slow to forgive, muttering under our breath
I say we "take one" for Jesus, 'cause it's a far cry from death


susie melkus
02-13-08

I flu the coop...

And don't I wish I looked this good being sicker than a dog.... give me a break! Does anyone else out there agree that this chick looks like Tara King of Avengers fame? I know TJ's old enough to remember that fine Brit series. I was such a Emma Peel fan, that I never liked any of the others. They say we all have a twin.... I found Linda Thorson's!

No, I'm not actually breaking my blog fast rule or, am I? Well so what if I am... I'm not seeking prayers, for I'm on the mend, but just so you know, if anyone else has started their Lent with the flu, I'm in solidarity with you, my brothers and sistas! : ) And to let you all know, my hubby's a SAINT and has taken care of me so lovingly since Sat night! I offered this last 4 days Sat and Sun and yesterday wracked with more aches and pains than I've had in years, (not relaying that info for sympathy) for my priest friend, Fr. G and for the poor souls. Especially those of Priests and Religious. Not to get sympathy, far from it, but to encourage each of you to really "offer up" that suffering, no matter how big or small and enter those 5 sacred wounds. A term I am discovering and learning about for my life. What I've learned by reading about St Margaret Mary during this time, has been enlightening, too. These dear Saints did not grumble to God incessantly about their sufferings, but seemed to long for more! Crazy! For me, that's a BIG goal and my main aspiration. To not complain. I only said "sh*t" once when trying to turn over Saturday night, so I was as amazed as my hubby's been!

If you're blessed enough to have a spouse to care for you when you're sick, hug them and thank them. If you don't have a spouse, don't bemoan that, but thank Jesus that He can be your Companion and "ALL FOR YOU" Let Jesus be your Spouse, even if you aren't a "religious" per se. He IS our Lover, our Husband, and our Brother, and Friend, and when we unite the pain in our body or our emotions with the pain of His in Gethsemane or on Golgotha, we share deep and profound intimacy. Listen to that Precious Sacred Heart, I have to trust that only "GOOD" will come of it. NO matter how we fail in our attempt to bear patiently our trials. That Sacred Heart's beating just for you and your loved ones. Don't fear, but give it all to God and let that intense flame consume you, too. You might not know what's going on for a while, and maybe won't until Kingdom come, but waiting in that Heart will ignite a brighter flame in you, and maybe be that spark for someone else you may never have noticed or discovered before. Now my little 'Lenten cheating' is done.

Back in 33.




Can I recollect a face or what? : )

Why do they cover images and crosses? And,..see y'all in 40 days!

For the answer, click here.

I pray for you all to have a Happy and Blessed Lent, all my fellow Catholic bloggers and all my visitors. No matter what faith community you are from, know you're welcome here and at all our blogs. Let's pray for unity in charity, and that as we enter into this Lenten season, that we'll grow closer to Christ, and as many Catholics know, we grow much closer to Him when we grab hold of His and our Mama's hand. She always is there to take us to her Son. "To Jesus Through Mary." I hope to read more, love more, learn more, give more, write more, listen more, speak less and pray more, adore Him more and when I return to this blog in 40 days, I'll hope to be a brighter light for Christ and HIS CHURCH, both of which I desperately need, and long to love more deeply.

PAX Christi, bloggers,

susie

P.S. I will probably be adding some poetry to my other blog during these 40 days, if anything so inspires me, so take a peek there now and then. I will be 'glancing' around the blogosphere checking in on y'all from time to time, and perhaps commenting here and there, but my "daily blogging frenzy" is taking a nice long fast! Pray for me. I'll pray for you.

JPII we love you! Pray for us Papa!

What were you doing when you were 12?...

Well, for starters, I wasn't being beheaded for Christ and His Church. I was more than likely waiting for a new BeaTle album to come out and wishing I had a horse...

Thank God for so many faithful who did give up their lives, and who NOW, even as I type, are praying for us as we live our lives in whatever state or country. I know many martyrs are still being tortured for their faith in many parts of the world. Yet, what is Faith, if it's not entirely True Truth? And where is that entire Truth found if not in His Church? We're to worship in Spirit and in Truth. Not part truth, but all truth and truth isn't relative or subjective, but TRUTH is objective and complete and never changing. For He is Truth and left us a Church where the Fullness of Truth is. We were not and are not orphans, left by Christ to "find our way" stumbling around from 'church' to 'church, ' 'fellowship to fellowship' constantly trying to find the "perfect fit." Where it's all "about us."

No, Jesus in His Infinite wisdom left us a physical as well as a spiritual entity, a Church, with authority to guide and lead us in matters of faith and morals...dare I say, perfectly? Does that mean everyone in this Church does so? Heck no. Since its inception, being in the hands of humans, with flaws, weaknesses, and a sinful 'bent' things can get pretty mixed up and need reforming. Reform yes. Divorce? No. Luther got it wrong there and how! Now some 33,000 new sects, denominations later, all disagreeing on EVERY matter of doctrine, except what's been come to be known as "the essentials, the basics." What are those, if we can't agree on baptism for Heaven's sake? As for me and my house, we will be Catholic, never to roam from Rome again!




January 21 was the Feast of St. Agnes, virgin and martyr I'm a bit late, but just a while ago I read this and had to acknowledge this remarkable and holy, heroine of our Faith. St Agnes, pray for us! ~ susie

St. Agnes (c. 304) like St. Cecelia, is to be numbered among the most famous martyrs of Rome. When the Diocletian persecution was at its height, and when priests as well as laymen were apostatizing from the faith, Agnes, a girl of twelve, freely chose to die for Christ. When she was commanded to offer incense to false gods, she raised her hand to Christ and made the Sign of the Cross. When the heathens threatened to bind her hand and foot, she herself hastened to the place of torture as a bride to her wedding feast. Pain had no terror for her—although the fetters slipped from her small hands while even the pagan bystanders were moved to tears. When the son of the Roman prefect offered to marry her, she replied: "The one to whom I am betrothed is Christ Whom the angels serve." When the executioner, who was to behead her, hesitated, she encouraged him with the words: "Strike, without fear, for the bride does her Spouse an injury if she makes Him wait". The name of "Agnes" means "lamb-life," and hence the lamb is the symbol of the modesty and innocence of the virgin-martyr.

Seen any good movies lately?

H/t again, Fr. Art. I'm lifting stuff off your "my space" like crazy! Do I need to confess this? : )

Just a few words...

h/t to Father Art

What my sins did...and yes, what my sins still do

not only to my Lord, Jesus, but to His Mother, my "Mama, Mary"...

h/t TJ for this sobering, and as I said in your com box, heart-wrenching picture.

Fr. Damien Cook of St Peter, Omaha, said this Sunday at Pro Sanctity's afternoon of honoring Our Lady of Trust feast. (my paraphrase) "When Jesus was stabbed by the spear of the soldier, he was already dead and didn't feel the pain of that stab, but who did? Mary, His Mother."

Mary felt that excruciating pain "full force" in her heart, just as Simeon prophesied at the Presentation of our Lord. Looking at this scene, with Mary lying on the ground, overcome by a pain so severe, it just 'gets me'....in my own heart. God forgive us. Mama Most Holy forgive us for killing your Son, and causing you such a deep and most severe grief and heartache.

Say "hi" to William....

Great blog and conversion story, and post on "When Family Members Convert." Chock-full o' stuff. Interesting and fun place to spend, waste or more violently "kill some time." GORF anyone?






Just for you, William. : )

"I did it my way" or "Have it your way" but what about THE WAY?

These are related to the post below.

My unsent reply to a friend's statement...

My friend wrote me this reply to an email I sent her. If anyone out there can comment or help me give a reply to her statement, I'd be grateful. I didn't write this with any 'arrogant' tone or thought. I don't know if she'd read it with that understanding, however. I'm not trying to be argumentative toward her, but she's very "proud" of her beliefs and much of those contain an adamant dislike of "authority" as most American Evangelicals seem to cherish. She, to her credit, has stood up for Catholics against Protestants, but also made it clear she stood up for Protestants against those more "ritual focused" folk. (whatever that means?)

Be it Sinatra, "I did it my way" approach to life, or the ever-popular and tasty "Burger King theology" of "Have it your way" are strong and running rampant all over the Protestand/Evangelical fray and why deep down I believe I was starving so ....but I digress. (as much as I like Sinatra and a char-broiled burger, it doesn't cut it when it comes to worshiping in Spirit and in TRUTH) but I digress again.

Any help is greatly appreciated. I'm waiting to hear back from Father Felix on this one. But I admire all of your Cathlolic insight as well. ~ susie

J. wrote: "No one denomination has all the Truth; even if one started out with it, our human-ness has made some serious un-Truth adjustments."

Me again: "Trinity" below, refers to our former fellowship/faith community, that's going through major turmoil and is splitting even as I type, into at least two more smaller 'churches.' The irony of it all....at one time, most members were in "agreement" and committed to following God's Word, as it says' in the tagline on the website. I know Pastor Les is sincere and most are dear, devout loving Christians, and good, well-meaning folks,but then, things began to 'change' as things so often do. So without the fullness of TRUTH and an apostolic Authority, we watch yet another large "mega cookie" crumble and many hurt people left wondering "where to go" now. So very sad. It really is so very sad. Many are now angry and others apathetic, and who knows where those souls will wander off to next. God forbid it's to yet another "man" or "woman" and her interpretation of the Word of God. I pray for them. Please pray for them, too. Especially Pastor Les. He's got a great heart and true passionate love for Jesus. How I'd love to see him on The Journey Home! How Mary and Jesus would love that, too! JMJ pray for us!

My as of yet, unsent thoughts:

That's right...no one "denomination" has all the Truth. But then some think they know what the Truth is. Like Trinity now, half think they're right and leave and half think they're right and stay. Who's right? What's the "truth" about that situation? Why another major split? Trinity Interdenom doesn't have the fullness of Truth, that's for sure, but neither does any other denom out there. I think 33,000 splits and factions determines that easily enough. HOWEVER, Jesus did build a Church not churches. Before there was one denominatinon there was the Catholic Church. The early Church fathers attest to that. They being first generation disciples of the FIRST disciples, that Jesus "hand-picked" (and a motley crew he chose!) flawed and sinful. Peter the leader, denied Him, Judas in his human-ness sold him for some quick cash, they all deserted him in his final hours, (all but Mary that is, but that's for another day.) The disciples of John and Peter, however, I would venture to say, must have had it right. More right than "Joe Blow" or Joel Osteen does.

Those early fathers certainly didn't go off the rails only to have someone come along 1500 years later (Luther) and 'get it right.' That's not logical and doesn't hold even a drop of water. And no one else could come along 2000 years later, Pastor Murdoch or whoever, start a 'home church' in Omaha or elsewhere and 'get it right.' Jesus said the gates of hell would not prevail against His Church. Well, that would lead me to ask, "Was he right?" If our sinful, weak, flawed human-ness could in "truth" cause HIS Church to "go off the rails" and "go wrong" and "flub up to such a degree" that would thus make Jesus a liar, which of course we know He's not.

That same Catholic Church has stood the test of time for 2000 years, not bending one iota to the whims of the age, any age, in faith and morals. So many "denoms" have crumbled and succombed to the world and secular thought, it's down right scary! That Truth, the Fullness of Truth, is found in the Catholic Church, for that is what the Catholic Church says, claims and teaches. No other denomination makes that claim. Now, reasonably and logically speaking that's either true, or it's not. Either the Church is lying or it's not. Like C.S. Lewis said about Jesus, either he was a lunatic, a liar, or the Lord. There's no "middle-ground" when it comes to the Truth. Jesus did indeed build a Church that wouldn't crumble, or collapse like a deck of cards, but would in fact REMAIN for all time and eternity, or... He screwed up and we're all nuts.

Like Rich says so brilliantly, "It's, [i.e. the Catholic Church] not denominational or "inter-denominational" but PRE-denominational." And I add, the most MEGA Church on the planet. It's so "mega" it has parishes to contain all it's members! Sweet. ONE MIND, ONE BODY, ONE CHURCH,ONE BAPTISM, ONE FAITH....ONE. with many a flawed, sinful, weak, stubborn, orthodox and unorthodox, right wing, left wing, wheat and tares. A most motley group of souls that are growing along side each other as they did from it's inception. ONE day, they'll be divided, but until then, HIS CHURCH will prevail against the gates of Hell and He'll be with Her always, like He said, unto the end of time

I notice Ray Mayhew's been reading the Early Church fathers. He wrote me a nice email about my interest in his very cool website. I gave him a couple of links to peruse and he thanked me for them, since he's always looking for more informative websites. Those are Mike's blog, and St Paul Center.

susie
--
"If you're not a thorn in somebody's side, you aren't doing Christianity right." Mother Angelica

Let's get this straight...She's our Mother, not an idol. Got it? Get it? Good!

No, we as Catholics do not worship Mary. We honor, revere, respect, venerate her. (none of which means "worship"...look 'em up if you don't believe me) Why, even the Angel of the Lord, called her "Hail! Full of Grace." Question: Was the Angel of the Lord, Gabriel, worshiping Mary?? Was he wrong to call her Full of Grace? That's her name, well, one of them, so if you want to argue with the Angel of the Lord, go ahead. But please, don't accuse us of worshiping Mary when we don't. Catholics revere her for being the Mother of God. For Jesus was/is God, incarnate...so....logic should fill the minds God gave us, and dictate that indeed, Mary IS the Mother of God. Not that she was/is before God the Father. So don't let the Protestant/Evangelical knee jerk reaction rob you of contemplating her role as the "First Disciple" of Christ. For that is what she was. And maybe, just maybe, take this time, where ever you are, and say a prayer, to Jesus...asking Him to put a love for HIS OWN MOM in your heart, and then ask Mary to be "your Mama" too. She'd love to take you closer to Jesus. For if we love the mother's of our friends, and we grow closer to our friends on earth by knowing and loving their mothers, if that expands our relationships with our dear friends on earth, how much more would knowing, loving, caring for Mary expand our relationship with Jesus? Some food for thought.

This song is so soothing and beautiful, just like our Mother, Mary. She's your Mother, too. Why don't you just rest in that, love her and let her point you and take you to Jesus, for that is what she's always done, and is still doing today.

Jesus is our brother, we all agree on that, right? Logic then should thus prevail and ask this question... Doesn't that make Mary our Mother? Yes. It does. Jesus gave Mary to us all, the entire Church, when he gave her to John at the foot of the cross, where they both stood and watched Jesus die. John is symbolic of The ONE CHURCH. I am now so grateful to be back in the ONE TRUE CHURCH, and to KNOW Mary is my Mama. What a gift from Jesus to us!! This song was my prayer this morning. Let it be yours, too, and let Mary's love take you even closer to Jesus. Closer to His Heart than you've ever been. For they were meshed, melded, ONE in their Hearts and always forever will be! That's what takes place when you get to know Mary, you'll know Jesus even more! Know Mary, Know Jesus.

So, let us all say "yes" to Christ, to Honor our Mother as Jesus did, for he knew the 4th commandment and obeyed it. Let us begin to follow her most holy example today and say "yes,Lord" "Be it done unto me according to Your Word." No matter what may befall, with His love in our hearts, we will prevail,as the Church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against us! ~PAX CHRISTI

Sobering words from the readings today...

February 3, 2008
_______________________________________________________________

Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Reading 1
Zep 2:3; 3:12-13

Seek the LORD, all you humble of the earth,
who have observed his law;
seek justice, seek humility;
perhaps you may be sheltered
on the day of the LORD’s anger.

But I will leave as a remnant in your midst
a people humble and lowly,
who shall take refuge in the name of the LORD:
the remnant of Israel.
They shall do no wrong
and speak no lies;
nor shall there be found in their mouths
a deceitful tongue;
they shall pasture and couch their flocks
with none to disturb them.

The bold above is mine.

I read that in the sanctuary before Mass this morning. It just struck me about how even the humble who've kept the law, seek justice, seek humility PERHAPS will be "sheltered" or "saved" on the day of the Lord's anger. Not something I relished reading, I have to be honest. I am FAR away from seeking humility, justice, obeying and keeping God's law...but I hope and pray to be found humble and WITH faith when the Lord does return, as KING and I meet Him as JUDGE.

If even the elect are barely saved, what does that say? What does that mean? It does cause me to tremble, to WORK OUT my salvation WITH FEAR AND TREMBLING. I too often get complacent, and settle for mediocrity in my life and my walk with the Lord. I must stay fervent in the FIRE of FAITH, in the FIRE of HIS LOVE, in the FIRE of cleansing, to CONFESS my sins to the priest God has given me, to be my Shepherd.

I didn't go yesterday to reconciliation. I wanted to, and 'felt' like it, but in the end, I didn't go. I made a choice not to go. Now, I'm not an over-scrupulous person, and don't want to beat myself up over every single thing I do or don't do, and become despairing of holiness. However, I must know this, my heart can be MOST DECEITFUL! It can take me down a wrong path so easily, in my thought life, long before I go down a literal path of destruction. So, here's my thought. If we're too presumptuous about our relationship with God, as at times, I know I have been...will I be able to escape His righteous anger? No. For God resists the proud, but lifts up the humble and gives ear to their cries/prayers.

So if I say "BUT GOD, the priest you gave me was too busy and didn't (As in the Garden of Eden) when Adam blamed God for giving him Eve, who 'did him wrong' and Eve blamed the Serpent, the Devil himself, and she didn't get off scot free, WHO AM I to think I can live as I please and do what I want, when I want, and think God won't mind, because He 'thinks just like me?!!" I could echo Adam and say, "God the husband you gave me didn't understand me." The boss you gave me never gave me a raise." "The house I live in is so small and not as nice as my friends" yada yada yada .... you know the drill. Complaining. That didn't make points with God in the desert, as those that did it found they became fodder for terra firma! Who do I think I am when I grumble and feel still so snug and safe in my "salvation" when I start making God in my image? JMJ pray for me! Pray for us to be faithful to our calling in life, no matter what it is. I am sometimes afraid of failing, but please, don't let me fall away. I know I can only fail when I truly am too blind to see my own sin, and yet see with eagle's eyes the sins of others. That will be a day too frightening to ponder, ...but I'm thinking I'd better ponder it, and I'd better examine my conscience a lot more than I do. Not to be a worry wart, but I sometimes think it might be better to some extent to be a "worry wart" about my salvation, than a proud so&so who's too confident to ponder it at all!

Please visit Mark's blog for more about the New Mother Teresa...

Send Me Daughters

PERHAPS it’s because she’s about the same height. Maybe it’s because her order is seeking the helpless. Whatever it is, when I met Mother Paul Marie, she reminded me of Mother Teresa. Indeed, her territory is the "new streets of Calcutta."

Read more… »

Blessing of throats... Saints are just so cool!

Today at Mass, we had our throats blessed, and all our priests and Mike, a deacon, were there to bless us, along with St Blaise. Fr. Shane told us about this blessing and about St. Blaise's connection to healing of throats, due to blessing a young tot who was choking on a fish bone. I had that happen to me when I was 5, when we lived in Michigan, and it was the scariest thing that I recall happening to me as a kid. I thought I was going to die. But I wonder if maybe St Blaise was there to deliver me from the fish bone stuck in my throat? I wasn't a Catholic kid and knew nothing about Saints, but one must wonder if they're all sent by God to go and perform miracles for everyone...and to be part of that long journey Home to Rome, where all roads lead. Thinking about that experience now kind of makes me really wish we'd have been Catholic all of our lives. I wonder...would I have left the Church for the "happy clappy" fellowships for 26 years? I don't know and shouldn't look back with regrets, as my journey has been a good one, well, at least it's brought me back to Holy Mother Church, but, like my friend, TJ...I do sort of feel 'cheated' to some extent.

HOWEVER, we are never "too late" if we have breath and jump that Tiber and cross that Threshold of St Peter's...never too late if we indeed respond to the grace of God poured out to us as we're searching so diligently for Truth. That's the most wonderful and glorious thing, God is there, Mary is there, our Lord Jesus is THERE, all waiting for us, never accusing or belittling us for taking so long to come Home. Just welcoming us with every ounce of LOVE they have, which is every drop of purest Blood Jesus shed on that cross, and now gives us to drink at Mass every day. I'm almost too overwhelmed to type about it anymore. I need to pause and ponder. ~ PAX

Need a rosary?

Great place to view some made by monks in England. Of course, there are many places they're made here in the States, but nothing like spreading the Love of God to our brothers all over the globe! PEACE~

Correction...

Scott informed me below that the prayer I'd posted as by Apollonia wasn't by her, but by Apollonius. I got the information all here and it's no wonder I was a bit confused, since it's all listed under Apollonia. ?? Anyway, I thank my visitor for his vigilance. I like that in a person! : )

http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/sainta13.htm

St Apollonia...

Prayer to Practice What Jesus Taught

O Lord Jesus Christ, grant us a measure of your Spirit. Help us to
obey your teaching,
soothe anger,
cultivate pity,
overcome desire,
increase love,
cast off sorrow,
sun vainglory,
renounce revenge,
and not be afraid of death.
Let us ever entrust our spirit to the everlasting God who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and rules forever and ever. Amen.

St Apollonius of Rome, Senator, Apologist and Martyr (not by St Apollonia)

I was doing a Google search to find the Patron St. of teeth/ tooth pain for a new visitor to my blog who's suffering severe pain from an abscessed tooth. I then found this prayer by St. Apollonia and thought it much too beautiful not to post.

St. Apollonia, pray for Kim and for us as we suffer various pains, trials, sorrows, sicknesses. Thank you! Amen!

And I ask you other bloggers to please pray for Kim, too. Tooth pain can be excruciating. Pray for her too, as she is honestly seeking more of the deeper Truth of her Christian faith. She's only just visited me today and I found out from her profile that we share a mutual fondness for Jeeves & Wooster, (as well as the Early Church Fathers) so thank you for your prayers for Kim. If you can, stop over and say "hello" and see her lovely, welcoming blog. I know mouth/tooth pain can be a real pain after a gum graft 8 years ago! After the nitrous wore off, it was pretty darn uncomfortable for a few days!

Be sure to check out the Early Church Fathers link above. I just found it today and it's very interesting.

Today is the Feast of the Presentation of our Lord.

A Prayer for Vocations...

Hail Mary, full of grace;
all generations call you blessed.
Hail Mother of God;
when asked by the angel to bear
the Son of the Most High,filled with faith,
you responded:"Let it be done unto me."
Holy Mother of Jesus,
at the wedding feast at Cana,
you prompted your Son
to perform his first sign.
Be with us as we discern our life's work
and guide us in the way we are called
to followin the footsteps of your Son.
Holy Mother of the Savior,
at the foot of the cross
you mourned the death of your only Son.
Bless and embrace the loving parents
of all priests,deacons, brothers and sisters.
Holy Mother of the Good Shepherd,
turn your motherly care to this nation.
Intercede for us to the Lord of the
harvestto send more laborers to the
harvest in this land dedicated to your honor.
Queen of Peace, Mirror of Justice,
Health of the Sick, inspire vocations in our time.
Let the word of your Son be made flesh anew
in the lives of persons anxious to proclaimthe
good news of everlasting life.

Amen.

For more wonderful prayers for vocations.

Every first Saturday at the Holy Family Shrine, we have mass and exposition and benediction of the Blessed Sacrament and pray for vocations in Omaha. If you don't have this, maybe talk to your priest and see if he can do this, and ask prayer warriors to attend either in spirit or physically. Fr. Sohm is dedicated and committed to this every first Sat. This was his hope and 'vision' to do this, so we are so blessed to have his faithful, prayerful and holy heart in our community!

We all need to 'storm heaven' for vocations for we need many more priests and religious~ support and pray for your priest...Our Mother loves her dear priest sons and we need to pray for them every day! Their lives do burn out before God's Holy Shrine...they spend and consume themselves for souls ...yours and mine.