“God wishes to test you like gold in the furnace. The dross is consumed by the fire, but the pure gold remains and its value increases. It is in this manner that God acts with his good servant, who puts his hope in him and remains unshaken in times of distress. God raises him up and, in return for the things he has left because of love for God, he repays him a hundredfold in this life and with eternal life hereafter.” – Saint Jerome Emiliani (1481-1537)
FOCA
Posted on: Friday, 13 February 2009
Ok, here’s what I see on this “Freedom of Choice of Act” or “FOCA.”
1. The bill would create a right to abortions the government could not limit.
2. Bring about a national policy far worse that the US Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade.
3. For the first time abortions would become an entitlement the government must fund and promote.
FOCA strives to:
Eliminate all regulations from clinics in terms of safety and such.
To force all American taxpayers to fund baby killing.
Force every state to allow partial- birth baby killing.
Oppress the rights – conscience rights – of doctors, nurses and hospitals that are opposed to baby killing.
Strip parental rights regarding minor femaile child abortion decision.
FOCA is without a doubt the most radical abortion legislation ever considered in the United States. Baby Killing Supporters have been trying to pass this FOCA BS since 1989 and now we have a congress more disposed than any in recent years to pass the bill
Notes
Posted on: Saturday, 7 February 2009
My notes on Father Mark Lawlor’s “Pastor’s Reflection” from 18 Jan 2009:
The English word “Catholic” is originally from the Greek word Katholikos, which means universal or whole. The word “church” is from the Latin word Ecclesia, which in scripture refers to the gathered assembly of God.
The Catholic Church, therefore, refers to the Universal People of God. Consider the following three states of the church:
* Church Triumphant – the Saints in Heaven
* Church Suffering – – the souls in purgatory
* Church Militant – the faithful on earth
A Paulist Message
Posted on: Wednesday, 4 February 2009
Endure in faith while God refines your character.
Not only that, but we even boast of our afflictions,
knowing that affliction produces endurance,
and endurance, proven character,
and proven character, hope.
~ St. Paul, Romans 5:3-4
~ Endure in faith while God refines your character ~
Know that afflictions produce the following fruits:
-
endurance
-
proven character
-
hope
Excerpt from the Pope
Posted on: Wednesday, 4 February 2009
The divine and universal law of creation is divine love, incarnate in Christ. However, this should not be understood in a poetic but in a real sense. Moreover, this is what Dante himself meant when, in the sublime verse that concludes the Paradiso and the entire Divina Commedia, he describes God as “the Love which moves the sun and the other stars”. This means that the stars, planets and the whole universe are not governed by a blind force, they do not obey the dynamics of matter alone. Therefore, it is not the cosmic elements that should be divinized. Indeed, on the contrary, within everything and at the same time above everything there is a personal will, the Spirit of God, who in Christ has revealed himself as Love.
Today we remember that Christ is the Supreme Lord over all. Even before the powers of evil and the vastness of the cosmos, we have nothing to fear, for Love is truly Lord over heaven and earth.
Dear God
Posted on: Wednesday, 4 February 2009
Thank you for the gift of life and for this brand new day. Help me to make the most of it by doing Your will for me. Amen.
With the knowledge of the Old Testament, Jude and the other apostles preached with much committed to memory. They memorized it and so can I – with the help, grace and direction of the Lord our God.
Show me Thy ways Oh Lord, Teach me Thy paths, I beg of thee.
We can imitate the great Saints by believing in their power to intercede for us at the throne of God. These friends, these Apostles, these Saints are heroes – men and women to follow and to believe in.
A Good Exercise
Posted on: Wednesday, 4 February 2009
“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says.” – Rev 3:6
When you enter the church, open your eyes – give yourself time to look around. What you want to do is to look. to see – with the eyes of faith.
Saints, Statues and Icons – look beyond the wood, paint and metal; look deeply to see the belief that each represents.
Just as He helped St. Paul, Jesus will help me. He will guide me to see with new eyes that which the Lord our God wishes for me to see.
I Need
Posted on: Tuesday, 3 February 2009
Somebody to save me, rescue me …
Daily Ignatian Reflection
Posted on: Monday, 2 February 2009
Father you created me and put me on earth for a purpose. Jesus you died for me and call me to complete your work. Holy Spirit, you help me to carry out the work for which I was created and called. In your presence and name — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit —
I begin my reflection.
May all my thoughts and inspirations have their origin in you and be directed to your glory.
Doubtless, we all go through times where we feel we are in the midst of a great storm and that our boat is about to sink. The violent squall the disciples experienced on the lake, described in today’s Gospel, just about sank them, with waves even breaking into the boat. The disciples, however, had an ace in the hole; they had Jesus with them. Upon their request, He comes to their rescue, God Almighty, and saves them from their calamity.
Their fear is normal and natural. Yet, like them, we Christians Catholics are called to live more than a normal, natural life; we are called to put our trust in the supernatural, as Abraham did, even when we don’t understand what is happening on the natural level.
Christ tells us that, with faith, we will be able to keep our eye on the prize and make it through all the storms and challenges that come our way.
But always with His help! We can’t go it alone. “Without me, you can do nothing,” Our Lord reminds us.
Not only will Christ help us make it through the roughest of times, but we can help each other through an offering of prayer, a compassionate ear, and other ways that present themselves. To be an ambassador for Christ is our Christian vocation. Let us go now and live this vocation as best we can.
“As the soul is the life of the body, so Christ is the life of the Church. That is why St. Paul’s calls the church “the Body of Christ.” This is the reason why he who has not the Church for his mother cannot have the Son of God for his brother and he who is not the brother of Christ cannot have God for his father.” ~ Father Isaac Hecker, Servant of God, founder of the Missionary Society of St. Paul the Apostle
“Jesus does not look so much at the greatness of our actions, or even at their difficulty, as at the love with which we do them.” – St. Therese of Lisieux
My soul waits in silence for God only; From Him is my salvation. 2 He only is my rock and my salvation, My stronghold; I shall not be greatly shaken. 5 My soul, wait in silence for God only, For my hope is from Him. 6 He only is my rock and my salvation, My stronghold; I shall not be shaken. 7 On God my salvation and my glory rest; The rock of my strength, my refuge is in God. 8 Trust in Him at all times, O people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. 9 Men of low degree are only vanity and men of rank are a lie; In the balances they go up; They are together lighter than breath. 10 Do not trust in oppression And do not vainly hope in robbery; If riches increase, do not set your heart upon them. 11 Once God has spoken; Twice I have heard this: That power belongs to God; 12 And loving kindness is Yours, O Lord, For You recompense a man according to his work.
From: Psalm 62
An Irish Blessing
Posted on: Wednesday, 21 January 2009
May the road rise to meet you, may the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face, the rains fall soft upon your fields and, until we meet again may God hold you in the palm of His Hand.
Amen.
In Loving Memory
of
Robert John McHugh
Born: 28 Febuary 1905
At Rest: 21 December 1993
Internment: Oak Ridge Cemetery
Prayer
May the Angels lead you into Paradise, may the Martyrs receive you at your coming, and take you to Jerusalem, the holy city. May the choirs of the Angels receive you, and may you with the once poor Lazarus, have rest everlasting. Amen.
May the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
Amen
Act of Contrition
Posted on: Wednesday, 21 January 2009
O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, and I detest all my sins, because I dread the loss of Heaven and the pains of Hell, but most of all because they offend Thee, my God, Who art all-good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace, to confess my sins, do penance and to amend my life. Amen.
Miss Jennifer 