Lady & the Lab ...

What a difference Our Lady makes in a 'dog' and in us! Since the eye is the 'window to the soul' may we always gaze on Our Lady's loveliness. May our eyes always reflect her face, her love and her presence to others. Hers is the face of our life, our sweetness and our hope. Amen.

BEHOLD YOUR MOTHER ...

let Mary's reflection fill your eyes, and though they might still look angry for a while, only your MOTHER can heal the "wounded dog" and calm his soul. Yes, Fr. Corapi, now to be known only as, "John," remember Mary, behold her, and find peace, contentment and joy IN your trials, (legal) and spiritual. May God help you. May Mary, Mother of all priests, console you as only She can. Amen.

Regarding the man *formerly known as* Father Corapi

If you will not do violence to yourself and will not be indifferent as far as your own interests are concerned, as to who is your Superior, do not flatter yourself that you will ever become a spiritual man and a faithful observer of your vows.

----St. John of the Cross

St. Francis Borgia showed the greatest veneration for all Superiors, not only while in office, but after they had retired from it. And when St. Ignatius appointed a lay-brother to take charge of his health, he yielded the same obedience to him that he would have to the Saint himself.

'One who is repentant cannot be haughty, just as one who sins deliberately cannot be humble-minded.'

St. Mark the Ascetic

'One ought to obey a superior, not on account of his wisdom, goodness, or other qualities which God has given him, but only because he is God's representative and acts by His authority, who has said: " He that heareth you heareth Me; he that despiseth you despiseth Me."'

St. Ignatius of Loyola

'Any tempest which assails us and which we did not bring on ourselves through any fault of ours, foretells a consolation soon to follow it.'

St. Ignatius of Loyola

'Unlimited self-denial. Love for and fidelity to Jesus, my Spouse, until death.'

St. Bernadette Soubirous

Had there been some trace of humility as in St. Bernadette's words above, just something close to it in your Friday night nuclear bomb you dropped via your "global announcement" to us all, then all this nasty 'fall-out' would be much less disheartening. Get SOME HELP A.S.A.P. -- but stop the blame game. It's not becoming and it's not a good example and no priest who became a Saint EVER did it, or they'd not be Saints.

I'm praying for you and all priests, seminarians and religious to DO THE RIGHT THING, stay courageous and 'suck it up' when the assaults come, don't 'jump ship' and go off on some rogue new venture ... remember you are 'alter Christus' and I'll follow NO SHEPHERD that rants against the Church or his superiors. That dog's bite my be as bad as his bark!

God bless you and PLEASE, "RUN TO YOUR MOTHER, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and don't ignore her pleas!!!

Woof! Arf! Arf!

GOD'S CHIHUAHUAS

There's Something Fishy Goin On ...

Christianity and the gospel cannot be reduced to a 'sound bite' or a 'bumper sticker' theology. Jesus is infinite. Truth is eternal. His religion is vast and deep. Jesus says to us, "go out to the deep and cast your nets." You can wade in the shallows if you want, but the *fish* Jesus wants us to catch aren't there. The fish that "feed" you and the ones you're to catch for the Kingdom are in the deep, so I'm rowing out there! Wanna come along?

What's Lent All About Anyway? ...

click to learn more about what
Lent means...

"Jesus yes. Church no." What's Wrong With That?

A slogan that was popular some years back: “Jesus yes, Church no” is totally inconceivable with the intention of Christ! This individualistically "chosen Jesus" is an *imaginary* Jesus. We cannot have Jesus without the reality He created and in which He communicates Himself! (Not 'fully' anyway.) Between the Son of God-made-flesh and His Church there is a profound, unbreakable and mysterious continuity by which Christ is present today in His people. He is always contemporary - with us, He is always contemporary with the Church, built on the foundation of the Apostles, and alive in the succession of the Apostles. And His very presence in the community, in which He Himself is always with us, is the reason for our joy.

Imagine ...

Finding Jesus IN the ... Catholic Church. ? What?

The Crucifix...

This image at Richard Serrin Art

Should Christians use (i.e. wear or have artwork of) or have a crucifix in their churches or house? Read this and perhaps gain more appreciation for Christ and His Saving Work. What does it really say about us when we no longer 'want' to see Jesus on the Cross? He commanded us, if we want to be His disciples, if we want to follow Him, we're to 'take up our cross and follow Him.' When we can't even look at Him on the Cross or prefer a 'dressed and glorified Jesus' we must remember this: No Cross, No Crown! No Cross, No Resurrection! You can say, "But we're 'Easter People'" and I would say, "Yes, we are." However, HOW did we become Easter people? Was there a 'short cut' that didn't require a 'death' on the Cross?

Lest I forget Gethsemane,
Lest I forget thine agony,
Lest I forget thy love for me,
Lead me to Calvary.

“Keep your eyes on the crucifix, for Jesus without the Cross is a man without a mission, and the Cross without Jesus is a burden without the reliever.” -- Archbiship Fulton Sheen

More religious images by this master artist.

Distractions A Problem?

Saintly Solutions

So You Want To Become Catholic?

What, where, when?

Married, Former Protestant Minister...

becomes Catholic priest

Journey Home - Open-Line First Monday - Marcus Grodi with David Anders -...

Former Calvinist/Presbyterian Now Catholic...

Calvin 2 Catholic

&

David Anders on EWTN Live

Immaculate Mary

Thank you Jesus, for creating Mary, Immaculate. Thank you, Blessed Mother for Jesus.

6th Year Anniversary ...

Immaculate Mary

Today Rich and I have been back in full communion with the Church for 6 years having been away from Her for 26 years. It is the Church Jesus established, built on Peter, our first Pope. We are JOYFUL, and PROUD to be CATHOLIC.
Please come Home if you've been away or want to be Catholic.
There's no time is like "NOW."
'Today, if you hear His voice, harden not your hearts.'
COME HOME to ROME SWEET HOME.

St. Nicholas Day...December 6

Saint Nicholas, Bishop

Everybody loves Santa Claus. He embodies holiday cheer, happiness, fun, and gifts—warm happy aspects of the Christmas season. How do Santa Claus and St. Nicholas differ?

Santa Claus belongs to childhood;
St. Nicholas models for all of life.

Santa Claus, as we know him, developed to boost Christmas sales—the commercial Christmas message;
St. Nicholas told the story of Christ and peace, goodwill toward all—the hope-filled Christmas message.

Santa Claus encourages consumption;
St. Nicholas encourages compassion.

Santa Claus appears each year to be seen and heard for a short time;
St. Nicholas is part of the communion of saints, surrounding us always with prayer and example.

Santa Claus flies through the air—from the North Pole;
St. Nicholas walked the earth—caring for those in need.

Santa Claus, for some, replaces the Babe of Bethlehem;
St. Nicholas, for all, points to the Babe of Bethlehem.

Santa Claus isn't bad;
St. Nicholas is just better.

—J. Rosenthal & C. Myers

Interesting: The REAL FACE of St. Nicholas

Saint Nicholas or Santa Claus?

Saint Nicholas Center
St. Nicholas had a difficult time during the 16th century Protestant Reformation which took a dim view of saints. Even though both reformers and counter-reformers tried to stamp out St. Nicholas-related customs, they had very little long-term success except in England where the religious folk traditions were permanently altered. (It is ironic that fervent Puritan Christians began what turned into a trend to a more secular Christmas observance.) Because the common people so loved St. Nicholas, he survived on the European continent as people continued to place nuts, apples, and sweets in shoes left beside beds, on windowsills, or before the hearth.

Just What Is Advent?

Find out here.