This Feast of the HOLY MARTYRS...

Here is Mike Aqulina's interview with Kris and Bruce McGregor of our local and WONDERFUL KVSS. Scroll to ROMAN MARTYRS . It's great! I did send the link to my friend, G. so hopefully she'll listen to it, and learn something and perhaps have her mind illumined to the TRUTH, and mushy relativism and subjectivism will be washed away.

About that "praying to the Saints stuff"...

"When in his frailty, a man invokes the saints, he invokes Christ, and without fail he will reach Christ whenever he calls upon their names, for wherever they are, they are in Christ and Christ is in them, and their name in Christ's name and Christ's name in their name."

Guess who said that?

Find out here.

h/t TJ : )

Should we still "die for the faith?"

Will we now, Oh Christians, lie down our deaths to save our enemies?

As goes the Church, so goes the world. It is the only way we can overcome violence.

The most deceitful spirit of all the ages is the one who has tempted Christians to welcome martyrdom as a shocking method to remedy the ills of their society, a temptation to bathe their brothers in their own blood. Their offering is of course united with Christ, but I say to you there is a better way to honor Christ’s sacrifice. I would save an "enemy" and bow down to a statue claiming to be god to save the soul of my neighbor. Whose soul do I love more, my own or my brother? I will bow to an idol and not make him a murderer, and risk losing my own soul in the process. That is a selfless love. I would give to Ceaser what is Ceaser's although his image claims to be god, even though all the world belongs to God and not to Ceaser, but God shares his image and his divine power with Ceaser. We are free to bow, and free to not bow. Jesus knew this. I would give my life rather than save it. Not bowing down to an idol gives the idol as much power as bowing down. The crux is that if I give up my life knowing that Jesus will raise it, I give my life to save it after all. Did I risk losing my brother’s life in the process? That is a far greater tragedy.

The above is from a friend, a fairly recent convert to the Catholic Church. If any of you have a thought to share with her, I'd appreciate your input. I posted it on CHNI forums: "Martyrdom?" From the two replies there, I wasn't wrong in my thinking that her paradigm is that of zealous, youthful idealism, and doesn't in any way conform to reality or the Catholic Church's teachings. It's sad to consider that she's been so deluded by the "Angel of Light" the "Tempter"and her mindset is so deeply ingrained by the tyranny of relativistic thought. She's a very sweet and good person, a wife, and mother of 3. We met when we had RECON meetings once a month. She came regularly for a year. I had sent her a post by Mark Mallett, and she obviously didn't agree with his article and beliefs. I believe she's bought into the insidious lie, wrapped in pretty paper that panders to one's emotions, leaving reality and reason behind. I welcome your comments. Thanks.

The Pillar and Bulwark of the Truth..

Yeah, when did Samuel become his son? Mr. Obama? Hmm?...

The Church did not evolve FROM the bible, but the bible came FROM the CHURCH. Long before there was a New Testament to quote, there was ONE HOLY CATHOLIC AND APOSTOLIC CHURCH. Come back to the roots of your faith, come back Home and find the Fullness of Christ, TRUTH.

h/t MPS

The Hour has come...

So you saw Him, too?

And this I know...

I left what I didn't know to learn even more of what someone else didn't know, so I could help others learn more of the less that I had come to know. Follow me?

I called a dear friend when we returned to the Catholic Church and told her about our decision and this is what she said: "Well, that's okay. You know the truth now, so you'll be fine there. I could probably go back to the Methodist church, too, now that I know the truth."

So let me put this together: Now that I "knew the "truth," it was ok to go back to the "church" I'd left for 26 years? The church I'd thought was out of touch and stodgy and "WRONG" was now ok for me to return to because I'd learned the entire "truth elsewhere?" That is one huge perplexing paradigm. I suppose she didn't know what to say, and out of love for me wanted to be cordial, though she was no doubt confused, maybe shocked about my decision and maybe slightly dismayed. We used to talk about how "off the rails" the CC went and now, being in a 'non-denom' was just the "best" of all places.

The "small ideas" and the "in the box" group think I'd been exposed to for nearly 3 decades had run amok for me. I was on a downward spiral again and I didn't like it. I was aware of the pattern and I was searching...as I had always been...for True North. I had read 3 books in one weekend written by Catholics and it was like a tidal wave of grace washed over me and then washed me up on the beach, the sparkling, dazzling beach of Truth.

Now I try my best to tell others of the wonder of it all, and it's now strangely, and to be honest, frustratingly silent on their end. It's like they don't want to, or can't reply to some of what I write, because it would force them to think, and maybe have to reconcile to the Truth they've been content to live without knowing (but thinking they know) in their cozy, comfy, customized "man-made" religion, which they think is now back to the way the "early church" believed. Yet they don't know ONE early Church father! They've never gone farther back than Luther. The "Catholic Church" to them went off the rails and they "don't wanna go there."

It's bizarre and so perilous this type of "independent thinking" that isn't really thinking at all. I'm only so grateful that my eyes were opened and by grace, I "saw" what I'd been blind to for so many years. They're good people, but now that I'm Catholic, they keep me at a very comfortable distance. I only wish they could see the wonder of the Catholic faith, the vast and deep expanse of richness, the gifts, the grace, the beauty of all 7 Sacraments. I pray for them and hope we'll one day enjoy each other's presence beholding our Lord, with our Blessed Mother, all the Saints in heaven.

The above is the comment I left at Mark Shea's blog.

I don't mean what I wrote o come across arrogantly. I'm not bashing my evangelical friends. They're living good lives, and some are more holy than I'll ever be. They love their Lord. But I can't say "I'm saved" and believe it...and not yet "strive" to be holy. That's where some of my friends and I differ now. I 'know' I have to 'work out my salvation with fear and trembling' and they somehow can "skate" their salvation. It matters not if one sins, as long as their sorry when they do, they won't ever "lose" their salvation, since they know they didn't "earn it." It's a very deceptive and dangerous way to "believe" and I for one was never too comfortable with that paradigm. I've not "arrived" by any stretch, but I know this...JESUS IS to BE FOUND IN HIS FATHER'S HOUSE...like the last Joyful Mystery. IN THE TABERNACLE in Catholic parishes all over the world. Go find out for yourself. He's calling you Home. "Come, taste and see the goodness of the Lord!"

The 3 Books I read by the way, were:
"Born Fundamentalist, Born Again Catholic," by David Currie
"Rome Sweet Home" by Scott and Kimberly Hahn
"Surprised By Truth (Vol. 1)" by Patrick Madrid

Escape from Nihilism...

Dr. J. Budziszewski was on TJH last night. We're watching it now. I can relate in a way, how much more "logic" has played a part in my life since our return to the CC, which makes total sense, and is reasonable and logical and orderly. God left a Church that is in "order" not chaotic. Yes, there's dissent, as always, among the sinners in the Church, but there's complete order, TRUTH is order, not chaos. Logic and truth will prevail and when we're seeking the Truth, the Holy Spirit will lead us to Him, right there IN the tabernacle of the CC and the Church's teachings on faith and morals which are STABLE and TRUE, for the Church, the Bride and the Groom are ONE. TJ, this might be a good one for Jon. I see now how our boys, both baptized in the Catholic Church, are now coming to see the Truth for WHO (not what) truth is. That most poweful grace given at baptism DOES and WILL bring those prodigals home, just like it did us. The Holy Spirit moving in our hearts, shedding the "Love of God in our hearts, is where the grace is always working. We need to pray for the hearts of our loved ones to become softened to receive even one small drop of that grace, and then TRUST that they will find THE WAY of CHRIST, and the path to where HE is, like the 5th Joyful Mystery, "Finding Jesus in the Temple" ...I was praying those mysteries yesterday, and when I came to that one, it dawned on me that that is the one that's "exploded" and burst with radiant splendor in my heart and has illumined my mind. I HAVE FOUND JESUS....not just as "my personal Lord and Savior" but THERE, THE TRUE PRESENCE in that golden, or silver, or otherwise decorative box, the Tabernacle. The Presence of Jesus as I'd never before known!

Jesus Christ Established a Visible Church On Earth

Excerpt:

The early Church was structured in a hierarchical manner as it is today. We see in Acts, chapter 15 how the apostles and the elders came together under the leadership of St. Peter to decide the question of what was required of Gentiles. We also see how St. Peter was regarded as the head of the Church when St. Paul, "Went up to Jerusalem to confer with Kephas [Peter] and remained with him fifteen days." (Galatians 1:18) There is no Scriptural evidence of independent local churches.

More by Fritz Tuttle

Can one separate Jesus from the Church?...

Which Church is the one Jesus built? If the Holy Spirit was sent to guide us to the "Fullness of Truth" as Jesus told His disciples, how is it that there are so many 'churches' where the Holy Spirit seems to be 'guiding' the "faithful remnant" of believers? So many different bodies, communities and all teaching and preaching contradictory doctrines and beliefs? How is one to know "where" the Fullness of Truth is really located? Shouldn't "church" be more than a "ethereal" "spiritual" body? It is mystical, of course, but shouldn't the church Jesus built still be visible, and physical entity also? Just as we are made up of a body and a soul, so His Church has a "body" and a "soul." His Church has a tangible visible "head" His Vicar, the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI at present.

There is only One Church where Jesus is substantially present in the tabernacle. Not that He can't be found elsewhere, for He can and is found in other faith communities. However, no other faith communities have the Eucharist, His Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity! The Eucharist is indeed, the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Christ and not a symbol. Was His Body on the Cross real flesh and blood or merely a symbol? Did the Jews EAT THE PASCHAL LAMB at Passover, or a 'tofu symbol?' Did he not give his disciples His flesh to eat and His blood to drink? Does that occur anywhere else but in the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church? There's only one Church that claims to be the Church Jesus established, sadly still split East and West, but that rift is healing. However, the Church Jesus built upon Peter is not the little store-front "Christian Center" or 'house church" down the street that was just 'planted' a year ago or a week ago with a "man/woman and her bible. How could it be? That little store front church or house church or mega church down the street more than likely don't preach 'baptism' or even believe in baptism as a Sacrament if it holds to any 'sacramental' teaching whatsoever.

That brings up a real problem for a sincere and honest seeker of Truth, especially here in America, where ANYONE can "start" a "church." But is that how the Holy Spirit leads one into the Truth? It can be part of the journey HOME (to the CC) as it was for me, for my husband, but we'd years before LEFT His Church, in search of one more "with the times" and with "better music" and "better sermons." To me, now, that sounds more "personal"and puts the single individual person "in charge" and NOT the Holy Spirit. Not that it isn't a 'real experience' but believe me, I've been where all of that becomes based more on 'emotions' than on Christ. On how I "feel" here or there, than anything else. When it changes pastors, changes music ministries, changes anything that doesn't "sit well" with my soul, then I'm "free as a bird" to fly away to another little "cage" where I'm once again "in charge" and "feel comfortable." THAT is NOT the HOLY SPIRIT leading! That was only "susie" leading. Jesus never left me, but He was surely busy getting my attention to come back to HIM in HIS CHURCH!

It took 26 years for my ears and eyes to be opened. This isn't to cast dispersions on other fine and God fearing men and women and friends in other faith communities. But I was hungry for TRUTH and KNEW there was more, and lo and behold, it was not farther away from the Catholic Church but a bee line straight back to HER! Something 4.5 years ago happend that I NEVER thought would happen: the Holy Spirit led me (us) back to the CHURCH. The One HE ESTABLISHED. Back THERE of all places?? That 'man-made' religion full of dead rituals, the stodgy old Church out of step with the times? Yes. For GOD NEVER CHANGES. He is the same, yesterday, today and forever and so is HIS CHURCH! Customs and practices can change, but NEVER THE TRUTH AND NEVER DOGMA!

Lois Day: "All that I needed to believe as a Christian could be found in the Bible; it was my sole authority in matters of belief, and I found it to be totally reliable. I read the Bible many times during those years and became very familiar with large portions of it. I loved the Bible, because it was in the Bible that God's will could be discovered, the answer to every one of life's questions. Scripture nourished my Christian life, helped me to grow spiritually, and drew me closer to Christ. And ultimately it was Scripture that convinced me of the truth of Catholicism."

The Church Jesus built.

I've never heard of this movie, but I know I want to see it!



h/t TJ

more...how cool is this?? FOR YOU, TJ.

Oh Yeah...PHIL CAN STILL

play that GEETAR!!!!!!!!!

I'm so happy to have come across...

THIS BLOG!

To Jesus Through Mary!...

This is an e-mail I sent this morning to a few friends after reading the latest message from Our Lady of the Finger Lakes ...

Dearest friends,

Will we hear and do As She Asks?
We must obey our Blessed Mother.
We must be Mary's handmaids,
Her servants, her attentive and vigilant students
In her blessed, holy school
Or we won't survive in these perilous days.
We must draw close to her Sorrowful and Immaculate heart
Our Teacher, our Guide, our Wisdom
We must honor her Seven Sorrows and ponder them deeply
Until they become "ours" and we intimately possess them
Because too few do, and Our Lord desires most of all, that we meditate
On the seven sorrows of His dear mother...our "Momma, Most Holy"
For we most honor Him, and as I've come to learn, we even console Him,
When we contemplate the passion and meditate the seven sorrows of Mary...

Our life, our sweetness and our hope.

Our Lady has asked of me to build her a small shrine to honor and contemplate her Seven Sorrows. As most of you know, I've had a devotion to Our Lady of Sorrows since I heard/read about her, and saw that breathtaking image of her on that 8x10 tile, nearly 4 years ago. I long to draw nearer to her precious, immaculate heart and contemplate her sorrows, her passion. I've been reading over many weeks The Glories of Mary - the writings on her Seven Sorrows have greatly influenced me! St. Ligouri's words have pierced and penetrated my own sin-stained heart profoundly! Having visited the Shrine of Our Lady of Sorrows in Missouri last month, a glorious and grand Shrine you all would be blessed to see and visit, it's been 'heavy on my heart' to do "SOMETHING." Something to give her, my Mother of Sorrows, to give to and share with her children.

This isn't a "susie thing." It's a "Mary thing." and includes from the "get go" 3 of her precious daughters, my beloved friends, Sarah, Paula, and Stephanie, - who blessed me so much with her ever-abundant, beaming, youthful zeal and excitement about doing this for Mary's "pierced heart!" Matt, you play a part in this, too, and you also, Teresa. This has given me the "calling" the "task" I've needed while going through a desert, a 'dark tunnel.' I've pressed on, held on, slogged on, knowing the LIGHT at the end of the tunnel would come. It has. I also know there will be more tunnels, but this is the 'holy push' that came to me at the appointed time. The gentle "nudge" and "tender tug" of my Mother, who's no doubt been praying for me. I've continued to reach for "her hand" especially Fridays, and now I've received this most sweet consolation. I just LOVE HER and delight in my new assignment. How wonderful is our Blessed Mother, as she gathers her children and does these things, little things, done for the greater, larger good of all. She prompts us, urges us and pleads for us, for the UNITY of all her children. This is a small gift that I pray will bring to her heart, GREAT joy.

Matt gave me a beautiful statue of our Mother of Sorrows three months ago, which I've absolutely loved seeing in our living room... but now it's evident as to why she has shown up in my life and came to be here. To be given away again! What has also come to me, just a few days ago, is that I'm to share her [statue] with others. She's to find a new "house" in which to dwell. At first, my selfishness chimed in with that loud, childish voice: "No!" "She's mine!" "I don't want to take my precious statue out there." "I love her!" "I want her!" "Matt gave her to me!" But, in the core of my own heart, I heard another voice, so tenderly, yet firmly, like a "Mother" would say: "Yes. I'm "yours" but I'm to be out there, Susie, where others can come and honor my Sorrows." "Share me with all of my children, young and old, where my sorrows will be honored." "Too few honor my sorrows, as my Jesus has said."

So, obviously I can't keep her to myself. And now, it's like I can hardly wait to have Rich build her house and take her to her "new home!" I will have to find a good water-proofing for her, but I hope I can transport her within a week, if not sooner. She's too great a treasure to keep here in our home. She must be visited by more of her children. Her Sorrows need to be meditated on by more souls here in Omaha.

How it began:

This overwhelming impression came to 2 weeks ago today at St. Robert Bellarmine after 8:30 Mass, while praying the rosary of Our Lady's Dolors, and reading The Glories of Mary, so I thank St. Alphonsos Ligouri, who is surely inspiring and leading me! (Along with St. Padre Pio and Fr. Kevin, no doubt!) Sarah and I drove out that Friday when I called her and said, "I have to find a tree!!" Only Sarah would laugh and say, "Okay" like she did! Bless you Sarah, for not thinking I was nuts! : )

I then expressed my heart's desire and she instantly thought of Pro Sanctity. I'd thought of it, but was leaning toward Mt. Michael or the new location of the Poor Clares monastery. But Pro Sanctity is a little closer and will be the perfect place, where semiarians can visit Our Lady in a special way as they're in formation at IPF, being taught more about Mary now than in previous years. Talking with Teresa (who welcomed with great joy the idea) I found the perfect little spot between two evergreens and a nice area for the path near the retreat center, a very short walk from the parking lot, yet the feel of being far away from the "world's cares."

Sarah, thank you for providing your divinely inspired suggestion of Pro Sanctity and to ask Teresa. Paula, thank you for offering your skills to provide meditative stones for a "Seven Sorrows" path, where we will incorporate the 5 Holy Wounds of Jesus, (thank you Stephanie for that divinely inspired suggestion, too!) I was almost giddy with joy when we talked about it that Saturday at Bagel Bin. : )

I will do 'as she asks' and share her with my brothers and sisters, young and old. This will be a very small, humble little shrine. Rich will make a little "house" for her, hopefull this weekend, and I will 'tend her garden' every Friday. I, no "we" invite you to come pray there, too. I do believe it will be powerful for those who will come and pray her Dolors there. To make a special "pilgrimage" out from the city, asking for her help, and drawing strength from her Sorrowful heart to get through the darkness that's going to be getting only darker. As dark as the darkness will be, The Light is brighter than the darkness is dark! With our hearts beating in unison with the sorrowful and immaculate heart of Mary, WE WILL PREVAIL and enjoy the Victory that is ours IN CHRIST...through Mary!

susie

Year of the Priesthood...

I cannot agree with Father Corapi more on his letter below! I am one, who as a convert to Catholicism, finds the priesthood most precious, and most sacred and most dear! From being in various 'churches' and fellowships where the lack of any "apostolic succession and authority" did NOT exist, it's a treasured gift to me, now!

The diocesan priests in each parish all over the world work so very hard to bring the Good News to us, and most especially JESUS, in the EUCHARIST. This morning at Mass I prayed for my friend, Fr. Gerard and ALL priests, as they need so much protection, and so many graces to live out their vocation. Dear reader, please remember your priest every day in prayer. Pray a Memorare for him. And remind him of this, if he doesn't have a most deep and profound devotion to Mary, his Mother...he will NOT survive what has begun and what is coming! It's CRUCIAL. We all need our LIFE our SWEETNES and our HOPE to remain vigilant and persevere in these perilous times as Satan is allowed to prowl the earth in this, his "LAST DAY." His days are numbered, the battle and the war have been WON by OUR KING! But if we don't cling to Mary Our Queen, we will not survive what's ahead. TO JESUS THROUGH MARY...for ETERNITY! What better day to start this Year of the Priest than on the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus! ~ Oh, Sacred Heart of Jesus have mercy on us, and most especially your priest sons as they daily give us You as our Paschal Lamb and nourishment for our journey toward Heaven!

susie

Jubilee Year for Priests Announced by the Vatican

Pope Benedict XVI announced that the universal Church will celebrate a Jubilee Year of the Priest, beginning June 19th, 2009, the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and celebrating the 150th anniversary of the death of the saintly Cure D’Ars.

It is my personal experience of 25 years this month living inside of the Church in novitiates, seminaries, pontifical universities, parishes, and chancery offices that we are always in need of renewal and energizing in every vocation, more so than ever in the priesthood. The Holy Father knows this, as do a great many of us priests. So, beginning June 19, 2009 we’ll try to move toward this goal of strengthening and energizing the priesthood. This happens one priest at a time. Holiness is an individual work in process for all of us, the priest included.

The patron saint of parish priests, St. John Mary Vianney, should be used as a model in principle, remembering that every man or woman must be a person of their time. Nonetheless, there are principles and practices that transcend time and space. These we should know and exercise. The preeminence of prayer and the spiritual life must come first for the priest—or any practicing Catholic for that matter.

St. John Vianney prayed long hours before the Blessed Sacrament. That was the “secret” of his “success.” Jesus in the Eucharist must be the heart of the priest’s life, the Holy Spirit is the breath that breathes life into his ministry. A simple life, not unfamiliar with penance and sacrifice is also fundamental for apostolic fruitfulness.

Jesus, the High Priest, gave us all his own Mother to be our spiritual mother. Every priest that would bear fruit that endures must accept the gift of Mary the Mother of Priests as his own spiritual mother. This cannot be over emphasized. A failure to do it in these times results in almost certain failure for the Catholic priest.

Pray for your priests more than ever this Year of the Priest. In many cases there is poor morale, little camaraderie, isolation, and loneliness in the life of the priest. Encourage your priests and remember a little kindness and understanding goes a long way. Priests are human beings, like other human beings, with the same weaknesses and strengths. This year think about the life of priests and how you can contribute to their perseverance and holiness in a most noble vocation. Help your priest get to Heaven by your kindness and your prayers. You will never be sorry that you did.

God bless you,

Fr. John Corapi