Pilgrims evacuated after bomb threat at Lourdes
Thousands of people, many disabled or ailing, were at French shrine.
PARIS — Thousands of people, many disabled or ailing, were evacuated Sunday from the shrine at Lourdes in southern France after a bomb threat on the Catholic holy day of Assumption.
Some 30,000 pilgrims were at the site in the foothills of the Pyrenees late morning when Lourdes police received a threat saying a bomb would hit the site Sunday afternoon, said shrine spokesman Pierre Adias.
Police ordered everyone evacuated, and explosives experts were sent to scour the area. The pilgrims were told to leave just as the midday Mass was meant to begin. "The shrine is currently empty," Adias told The Associated Press by telephone.
No other information was immediately available about the source or nature of the threat.
Live coverage of Sunday's services on the website of TV Lourdes was not available, for reasons "independent of our will," according to a message on its home page.
The Aug. 15 holiday sees a particularly large influx of pilgrims at Lourdes, reputed for its healing powers. Some pilgrims came to this year's ceremonies in wheelchairs, others supported by loved ones, in images shown on French television.
Assumption marks the heavenly assumption of the Virgin Mary, and is a public holiday in France and several other countries.
The Roman Catholic shrine at Lourdes has a special meaning for the suffering, many of whom believe that its spring water has the power to heal and even work miracles.
The sick bathe in pools of the cool water and take it home in plastic jugs and vials in the shape of the Virgin Mary. Thousands of people have claimed to be cured there, and the Roman Catholic church has officially recognized 67 incidents of miraculous healing linked to Lourdes.
Pope Benedict XVI came to Lourdes in 2008, marking the 150th anniversary of visions of the Virgin Mary to a Lourdes peasant girl, 14-year-old Bernadette Soubirous, who was later made a saint.
Bishop Jacques Perrier sought to soothe believers. "We will not be afraid," he said in opening the service, attended by only six priests and shrine personnel and broadcast on the website of TV Lourdes. Dozens of pilgrims remained waiting outside the gates, watching from afar.
After about five hours, the shrine reopened and Assumption ceremonies resumed. "Inspection of the site allowed us to determine that it was an unfounded threat," Adias said.
The mayor said the evacuation was peaceful but acknowledged "the atmosphere is not one of the greatest calm."
Sunday, August 15, 2010
The Assumption or our Lady into Heaven .. Body and Soul
The idea of the assumption of Mary into heaven after her death is first expressed in narratives of the fifth and sixth centuries. Even though these were never official, they bear witness to the very early belief in a teaching of the Catholic Church which was not formally defined as a dogma (a teaching essential to the Catholic faith) until 50 years ago.
Though it was almost universally believed for more than a thousand years, the Bible contains no mention of the assumption of Mary into heaven. The first Church writer to speak of Mary’s being taken up into heaven by God is Saint Gregory of Tours (594). Other early sermons on the Feast of Mary’s entry into heaven are those of Ps.-Modestus of Jerusalem (ca. 700).
On May 1, 1946, Pope Pius XII, asked all bishops in the world whether they thought this belief in the assumption of Mary into heaven should be defined as a proposition of faith, and whether they with their clergy and people desired the definition. Almost all the bishops replied in the affirmative.
On November 1, 1950, the Feast of All Saints, Pope Pius XII declared as a dogma revealed by God that “Mary, the immaculate perpetually Virgin Mother of God, after the completion of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into the glory of Heaven”.
We have no real knowledge of the day, year, and manner of Our Lady’s death. The dates which have been assigned to her death vary between three and fifteen years after Christ’s Ascension. Both Jerusalem and Ephesus claim to be the place where she died. (By tradition, Mary lived at Ephesus after the death of Jesus.) Mary’s tomb was presumably found in Jerusalem. It is believed that Mary died in the presence of all the Apostles, but that after her burial, her tomb, when opened, was found empty. Therefore, they concluded that her body had been taken up (assumed) into heaven.
Saint Gregory of Tour provided a rationale for the tradition, which is related to her having been preserved from original sin. He said that it is inconceivable to think Mary’s sinless body, likened to the Ark of the Covenant which was made of incorruptible wood, should decay in the grave. The text, ‘Rise thou and the ark of thy strength’ (Ps 132/1:8) was understood to mean that it was God’s will that, as Christ had ascended, so too Mary would be received into heaven.
There is an important difference, of course, between the ascension of Jesus into Heaven after His Resurrection, and the assumption of Mary. To ascend is to rise up under one’s own power; while to be assumed means something that is done to one. Jesus, being the Second Person of the Trinity, had no need of assistance; whereas Mary did not have this power. (A pastor once demonstrated this difference in an unusual way. He asked two children to come to the front of the church. He told one child to walk from one side of the sanctuary to the other; and the other child he carried across.)
According to one tradition, Mary was warned of her approaching end by Saint Michael the Archangel, who conducts souls to Heaven, and was surrounded on her death-bed by the apostles, who were miraculously transported to her bedside from their various mission-fields. It was said that Jesus appeared, bore away her soul, and returned three days after her burial, when angels carried her body to Paradise where it was reunited with her soul under the Tree of Life.
VOTE IN NOVEMBER! Don't Leave it Up to the OTHER GUY! YOU ARE THE OTHER GUY!
Posted by Creative Minority Report: Matthew Archbald ~many thanks for a wonderful presentation that should be posted somewhere every hour on the hour from now till election time and even beyond!
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Obama Turned Local Issue Into National One
9/11 Families ‘Stunned’ The President Backs Mosque
Proposed Mosque Site Near Ground Zero (Photo by Chris Hondros/Getty Images)
NEW YORK (CBS 2/1010 WINS) — On the same day Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Gov. David Paterson squared off on the development of an Islamic cultural center just blocks from Ground Zero, the president took a clear side, turning the controversy from a local one, as CBS 2′s Kathryn Brown reports, to a national one.
President Obama left no room for interpretation, forcefully endorsing the plan to build a mosque near Ground Zero and telling a group of Muslims the issue goes to the heart of America’s core values.
“Let me be clear: as a citizen and as a president I believe Muslims have a right to practice their religion as everyone else in this country, and that includes the right to build a house of worship and community center on private property in Lower Manhattan,” he said.
“This is America and our commitment to religious freedom must be unshakable,” he said.
At the annual White House dinner celebrating the Islamic Holy month of Ramadan, the president weighed in for the first time on the politically and emotionally charged issue, but his stance runs counter to the majority of Americans who oppose the plan to build a mosque steps from where the twin towers fell.
Debra Burlingame, co-founder of the group “9/11 Families For A Safe & Strong America,” argued “Muslims have worshipped in New York without incident both before and after the attacks of 9/11. This controversy is not about religious freedom.”
Burlingame excoriated the president, saying he “has abandoned America at the place where America’s heart was broken nine years ago, and where her true values were on display for all to see. Since that dark day, Americans have been asked to bear the burden of defending those values, again and again and again. Now this president declares that the victims of 9/11 and their families must bear another burden. We must stand silent at the last place in America where 9/11 is still remembered with reverence or risk being called religious bigots.”
Opponents also wasted no time firing back at the president’s remarks. Long Island Congressman Peter King voiced his anger on CBS radio.
“For the President of the United States to stand by those who want to build this mosque, to me just shows that the president is giving in to political correctness. He’s not doing the right. He’s not doing the moral thing. What he’s doing is absolutely wrong,” he said.
Earlier in the week, Gov. Paterson tried to diffuse an increasingly heated argument by suggesting the state could help developers find a new location for the mosque. “The reality is that I hope that the type of cultural understanding that they’re trying to promote when they build this center could be practiced right now.”
Mayor Bloomberg who has been a fierce advocate for the mosque swiped back.
“The governor really does try to make our lives better but probably not the number one expertise that he has is in site selection and that’s a nice way to put it.”
And with Friday night’s developments, the controversy went from a local one to a topic being debated across the country.
“And let us also remember who we’re fighting against and what we’re fighting for. Our enemies respect no religious freedom,” Mr. Obama said.
“We are stunned by the president’s willingness to disregard what Americans should be proud of: our enduring generosity to others on 9/11–a day when human decency triumphed over human depravity. On that day, when 3,000 of our fellow human beings were killed in barbaric act of raw religious intolerance unlike this country had ever seen, Americans did not turn outward with hatred or violence, we turned to each other, armed with nothing more than American flags and countless acts of kindness,” Burlingame said.
“In a breathtakingly inappropriate setting, the president has chosen to declare our memories of 9/11 obsolete and the sanctity of Ground Zero finished. No one who has lived this history and felt the sting of our country’s loss that day can truly believe that putting our families through more wrenching heartache can be an act of peace,” she added.
WHY do they want to build it at GROUND ZERO???? WATCH THIS!!! AND OBAMA SAYS IT'S OK!!! President Obama left no room for interpretation, forcefully endorsing the plan to build a mosque near Ground Zero and telling a group of Muslims the issue goes to the heart of America’s core values.
“Let me be clear: as a citizen and as a president I believe Muslims have a right to practice their religion as everyone else in this country, and that includes the right to build a house of worship and community center on private property in Lower Manhattan,” he said.
“This is America and our commitment to religious freedom must be unshakable,” he said.
At the annual White House dinner celebrating the Islamic Holy month of Ramadan, the president weighed in for the first time on the politically and emotionally charged issue, but his stance runs counter to the majority of Americans who oppose the plan to build a mosque steps from where the twin towers fell.
Debra Burlingame, co-founder of the group “9/11 Families For A Safe & Strong America,” argued “Muslims have worshipped in New York without incident both before and after the attacks of 9/11. This controversy is not about religious freedom.”
Burlingame excoriated the president, saying he “has abandoned America at the place where America’s heart was broken nine years ago, and where her true values were on display for all to see. Since that dark day, Americans have been asked to bear the burden of defending those values, again and again and again. Now this president declares that the victims of 9/11 and their families must bear another burden. We must stand silent at the last place in America where 9/11 is still remembered with reverence or risk being called religious bigots.”
Opponents also wasted no time firing back at the president’s remarks. Long Island Congressman Peter King voiced his anger on CBS radio.
“For the President of the United States to stand by those who want to build this mosque, to me just shows that the president is giving in to political correctness. He’s not doing the right. He’s not doing the moral thing. What he’s doing is absolutely wrong,” he said.
Earlier in the week, Gov. Paterson tried to diffuse an increasingly heated argument by suggesting the state could help developers find a new location for the mosque. “The reality is that I hope that the type of cultural understanding that they’re trying to promote when they build this center could be practiced right now.”
Mayor Bloomberg who has been a fierce advocate for the mosque swiped back.
“The governor really does try to make our lives better but probably not the number one expertise that he has is in site selection and that’s a nice way to put it.”
And with Friday night’s developments, the controversy went from a local one to a topic being debated across the country.
“And let us also remember who we’re fighting against and what we’re fighting for. Our enemies respect no religious freedom,” Mr. Obama said.
“We are stunned by the president’s willingness to disregard what Americans should be proud of: our enduring generosity to others on 9/11–a day when human decency triumphed over human depravity. On that day, when 3,000 of our fellow human beings were killed in barbaric act of raw religious intolerance unlike this country had ever seen, Americans did not turn outward with hatred or violence, we turned to each other, armed with nothing more than American flags and countless acts of kindness,” Burlingame said.
“In a breathtakingly inappropriate setting, the president has chosen to declare our memories of 9/11 obsolete and the sanctity of Ground Zero finished. No one who has lived this history and felt the sting of our country’s loss that day can truly believe that putting our families through more wrenching heartache can be an act of peace,” she added.
Friday, August 13, 2010
St. Maximilian Mary Kolbe (1894-1941)
He was born Rajmund Kolbe in Poland in 1894 to a large family. His father and mother worked hard to care for their children. His father, part of the resistance, was captured and executed by the Russians who occupied partitioned Poland. As a child, he had prayed and asked Our Lady for guidance. In a vision, she offered two crowns, one for purity and one for martyrdom, he accepted both. He entered the Conventional Franciscan Monastery at 16 and was ordained at 24. He dedicated his daily life to Mary and founded the Knights of the Immaculata, a magazine to preach the "Good News" and the City of the Immaculata which would house up to 700 Franciscans. He also established a monastery outside of Nagasaki, Japan. He was arrested by the Nazis in 1941 and sent to Auschwitz. After a prisoner escaped, 10 men were order executed.. The prisoners were being lead to the death house and St Maximilian Mary Kolbe asked the commandant if he could take the place of one of the men who was a husband and father. The commandant asked, "who are you?" He answered, "A priest." He was canonized in 1982 by Pope John Paul II as a martyr of charity. Franciszek Gajowniczek, the man he replaced in Auschwitz was in attendance.
This week pray a Rosary in his honor, his feast day is August 14th.
Heavenly Father, Your loving servant Maximilian Kolbe spent his life in service to others, using technology to spread the good news of Jesus Christ. You crowned his life with the grace to give his life for another, in imitation of Jesus who said, “There is no greater love than to lay down your life for a friend.” Through the intercession of St. Maximilian Kolbe, may we always use technology for Your glory and to draw others close to You and to your Blessed Mother, Mary.
St. Maximilian Kolbe, please pray for us!
This week pray a Rosary in his honor, his feast day is August 14th.
Heavenly Father, Your loving servant Maximilian Kolbe spent his life in service to others, using technology to spread the good news of Jesus Christ. You crowned his life with the grace to give his life for another, in imitation of Jesus who said, “There is no greater love than to lay down your life for a friend.” Through the intercession of St. Maximilian Kolbe, may we always use technology for Your glory and to draw others close to You and to your Blessed Mother, Mary.
St. Maximilian Kolbe, please pray for us!
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Please Join Me in these Petitions
My health is not good. And with what I see transpiring in this Country today, I sometimes wonder if God in His goodness and mercy might not spare me from seeing the ruin of the land and our freedoms destroyed. Blessed be God what ever His Will; but I must admit, I have felt for a long time now that something was imminent. Considering nothing else but abortion, the land cries out for the blood of the innocent! And there is now SO much more to consider besides that heinous evil.
Our Lady, with her loving compassion, can only hold back His Divine Hand of Justice for so long. He IS Justice … Mercy and Truth too, yes, but JUSTICE as well! I have asked folks I know to pray 3 things along with me daily:
1. To unite heartbeats, breaths, actions, etc. to all living beings in the world and unite it to the Perfect Passion of Jesus and His Precious Body and Blood truly present on all the altars of the world and in all the Tabernacles in reparation for the sins, offenses and blasphemies committed against the Holy Trinity and our Lady.
2. That purgatory is emptied into heaven daily during the 3pm Divine Mercy Hour by combining the pain and suffering of the souls in purgatory with the Perfect Passion of Jesus and His Precious Body and Blood truly present on all the altars of the world and in all the Tabernacles.
3. That souls on earth are strengthened, renewed, restored and converted by a miracle, sign, or the Illumination and not have to suffer heartache, disaster and destruction to return to the Lord.
These are just some of my daily petitions which cut at my heart.
Please join me in this and of course also, please pray the USA Chaplet!
God bless and strengthen us all!
Our Lady, with her loving compassion, can only hold back His Divine Hand of Justice for so long. He IS Justice … Mercy and Truth too, yes, but JUSTICE as well! I have asked folks I know to pray 3 things along with me daily:
1. To unite heartbeats, breaths, actions, etc. to all living beings in the world and unite it to the Perfect Passion of Jesus and His Precious Body and Blood truly present on all the altars of the world and in all the Tabernacles in reparation for the sins, offenses and blasphemies committed against the Holy Trinity and our Lady.
2. That purgatory is emptied into heaven daily during the 3pm Divine Mercy Hour by combining the pain and suffering of the souls in purgatory with the Perfect Passion of Jesus and His Precious Body and Blood truly present on all the altars of the world and in all the Tabernacles.
3. That souls on earth are strengthened, renewed, restored and converted by a miracle, sign, or the Illumination and not have to suffer heartache, disaster and destruction to return to the Lord.
These are just some of my daily petitions which cut at my heart.
Please join me in this and of course also, please pray the USA Chaplet!
God bless and strengthen us all!
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Grace: The Air Our Soul Breathes
Grace. What's the first thought that comes to mind when you hear the word 'grace'? Perhaps it's a childhood memory of giving thanks at the dinner table. Perhaps it's something you were told you'd get the day you made your first Confession. But sadly for many ... it invokes no more than the thought perhaps of an obscure acquaintance in grade school who had pigtails, freckles and shared our classroom.
We of course received grace when we were Baptized. Confession, Holy Communion, Confirmation, Matrimony, Holy Orders and the Sacrament of the Sick (Last Rites/Extreme Unction) all give Sanctifying Grace. We recall that the Sacraments are an outward sign instituted by Jesus to give us grace.
But what IS Grace exactly? Well, simply put, I think grace is God's infinite love which gives us a share in His Divine Life and permits the Holy Spirit to dwell in our souls. The supernatural LIFE that grace bestows also gives us supernatural power and strength to overcome temptation, love God more fully and keep His commandments.
When we call to mind GRACE, how can we not automatically see before us, in our minds eye, the one that was FULL OF GRACE? Mary ... a fully human being was "FULL OF GRACE". Our first impression of this phrase might be that she had a LOT of grace .... more than most for sure. But I believe the literal translation meant that 'her cup runneth over". It meant that she was so full of grace that no more would fit. Literally FULL of grace!
Now we can feel the difference a good Confession makes in lifting our spirit and filling our souls with joy. Many have experienced outpourings when lost in praise and adoration or deep prayer. Just consider for a brief moment what supernatural power and love filled her soul by having no capacity left for more grace! Our Glorious Triune God made sure that she had what she needed (as He does for all His children) to sustain her through the horrific Passion of her dear Son.
If not for abundant grace, being fully human, how COULD she EVER have endured it? It was written that she at the foot of the Cross never fainted. We know she shed tears and the swords piercing her Immaculate Heart were foretold, but without being FULL of GRACE, how could she have watched such a torturous ordeal? I'm not just talking about watching someone you love unjustly beaten, humiliated and put to death in the most vile manner possible. I'm talking about KNOWING He was the WORD made FLESH .. yes, her flesh ... and God, DIVINITY ITSELF! HOW, without grace, could she ever have kept her wits about her and not fly into an open rage?
Seriously, consider our Sorrowful Mother's thoughts and feelings when she initially found out Jesus was arrested. Was she watching as Pilot brought Him out bloody and beaten while the crowd screamed for His death? We know she met Him on the road to Calvary ... what strength could have kept her on her feet, let alone follow Him to Golgotha and stand for 3 hours as He shed every last drop of His Most Precious Blood for sinners that would mock and ridicule Him even thousands of years later?
If Mary was not FULL of GRACE, I do not believe she would have been able to even give her initial FIAT, let alone suffer all her sorrows. This gives us a better understanding of the supernatural power grace bestows on us. But the AMOUNT of grace is dependent on our RECEPTIVITY ... how we are pre disposed and open to receive.
Do the Sacraments always impart grace? Yes. Do they always impart the same amount of grace to every individual? Um, not so much.
The grace we receive (whether Sanctifying or sacramental) is directly proportional to our immediate state of grace and attitude. In other words ....
Two people receive Holy Communion.
One person just went to Confession and is in the state of grace and exuberant about receiving the Precious Body and Blood of Jesus.
Another person has no mortal sin, but perhaps some un-confessed venial sin and isn't so sure about the True Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, but attends Mass and receives more out of obligation than pure love.
It's very obvious which of the two will receive an abundance of grace .. .certainly it's the one in the state of grace lovingly anticipating Jesus coming into their soul. But they both receive grace.
Shouldn't we strive in this day and age to avail ourselves of God's good gifts as much as humanly possible? We need all the supernatural help we can get and as things progress, we will only need more and more. Unfortunately, there is no clear cut 'formula' to acquire such a precious gift. It IS a gift, just as is FAITH. But if we have love we will want to be as close to God as possible. We will be open to the leanings of the Holy Spirit and our guardian angels. We will want to be in the state of grace always and joyfully anticipate the Eucharist with unbridled awe and love. We will recognize the Sacrament of Penance as a most merciful joy and utter delight and not with trembling, fear and shame.
We as Catholics have the fullness of Faith. Jesus instituted SEVEN SACRAMENTS. He didn't do it because He wanted to be NICE. He did it to leave us a means that by which we may be strengthened during our sojourn here on earth. "For he that has much, much will be expected." So many of us have, for so long, taken the Sacraments for granted, or perhaps not even believing they confer strength and grace as we were taught. What will be worse: The non Catholic that has 2 Sacraments (Baptism & Marriage) and avails himself freely, or the Catholic that having access to not only the 7 Sacraments but a myriad of Sacramentals and devotions finds that he has better things to do with his time?
Time IS getting MUCH shorter now .... choose wisely!
So consider our Most Sorrowful Mother often, asking her to hold us in the mantle of her love recommending our poor hearts to her Divine Son who loves us from everlasting to everlasting. She helps us to realize the true value of grace and the Sacraments which bring us nearer to our Precious Lord while giving our poor souls all the strength and health it needs to fight the good fight while we still trod this valley of tears. We nourish our bodies which are no more than a speck of dust after a short time here, let us also nourish our souls which will enjoy the glory of God for all eternity.
We of course received grace when we were Baptized. Confession, Holy Communion, Confirmation, Matrimony, Holy Orders and the Sacrament of the Sick (Last Rites/Extreme Unction) all give Sanctifying Grace. We recall that the Sacraments are an outward sign instituted by Jesus to give us grace.
But what IS Grace exactly? Well, simply put, I think grace is God's infinite love which gives us a share in His Divine Life and permits the Holy Spirit to dwell in our souls. The supernatural LIFE that grace bestows also gives us supernatural power and strength to overcome temptation, love God more fully and keep His commandments.
When we call to mind GRACE, how can we not automatically see before us, in our minds eye, the one that was FULL OF GRACE? Mary ... a fully human being was "FULL OF GRACE". Our first impression of this phrase might be that she had a LOT of grace .... more than most for sure. But I believe the literal translation meant that 'her cup runneth over". It meant that she was so full of grace that no more would fit. Literally FULL of grace!
Now we can feel the difference a good Confession makes in lifting our spirit and filling our souls with joy. Many have experienced outpourings when lost in praise and adoration or deep prayer. Just consider for a brief moment what supernatural power and love filled her soul by having no capacity left for more grace! Our Glorious Triune God made sure that she had what she needed (as He does for all His children) to sustain her through the horrific Passion of her dear Son.
If not for abundant grace, being fully human, how COULD she EVER have endured it? It was written that she at the foot of the Cross never fainted. We know she shed tears and the swords piercing her Immaculate Heart were foretold, but without being FULL of GRACE, how could she have watched such a torturous ordeal? I'm not just talking about watching someone you love unjustly beaten, humiliated and put to death in the most vile manner possible. I'm talking about KNOWING He was the WORD made FLESH .. yes, her flesh ... and God, DIVINITY ITSELF! HOW, without grace, could she ever have kept her wits about her and not fly into an open rage?
Seriously, consider our Sorrowful Mother's thoughts and feelings when she initially found out Jesus was arrested. Was she watching as Pilot brought Him out bloody and beaten while the crowd screamed for His death? We know she met Him on the road to Calvary ... what strength could have kept her on her feet, let alone follow Him to Golgotha and stand for 3 hours as He shed every last drop of His Most Precious Blood for sinners that would mock and ridicule Him even thousands of years later?
If Mary was not FULL of GRACE, I do not believe she would have been able to even give her initial FIAT, let alone suffer all her sorrows. This gives us a better understanding of the supernatural power grace bestows on us. But the AMOUNT of grace is dependent on our RECEPTIVITY ... how we are pre disposed and open to receive.
Do the Sacraments always impart grace? Yes. Do they always impart the same amount of grace to every individual? Um, not so much.
The grace we receive (whether Sanctifying or sacramental) is directly proportional to our immediate state of grace and attitude. In other words ....
Two people receive Holy Communion.
One person just went to Confession and is in the state of grace and exuberant about receiving the Precious Body and Blood of Jesus.
Another person has no mortal sin, but perhaps some un-confessed venial sin and isn't so sure about the True Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, but attends Mass and receives more out of obligation than pure love.
It's very obvious which of the two will receive an abundance of grace .. .certainly it's the one in the state of grace lovingly anticipating Jesus coming into their soul. But they both receive grace.
Shouldn't we strive in this day and age to avail ourselves of God's good gifts as much as humanly possible? We need all the supernatural help we can get and as things progress, we will only need more and more. Unfortunately, there is no clear cut 'formula' to acquire such a precious gift. It IS a gift, just as is FAITH. But if we have love we will want to be as close to God as possible. We will be open to the leanings of the Holy Spirit and our guardian angels. We will want to be in the state of grace always and joyfully anticipate the Eucharist with unbridled awe and love. We will recognize the Sacrament of Penance as a most merciful joy and utter delight and not with trembling, fear and shame.
We as Catholics have the fullness of Faith. Jesus instituted SEVEN SACRAMENTS. He didn't do it because He wanted to be NICE. He did it to leave us a means that by which we may be strengthened during our sojourn here on earth. "For he that has much, much will be expected." So many of us have, for so long, taken the Sacraments for granted, or perhaps not even believing they confer strength and grace as we were taught. What will be worse: The non Catholic that has 2 Sacraments (Baptism & Marriage) and avails himself freely, or the Catholic that having access to not only the 7 Sacraments but a myriad of Sacramentals and devotions finds that he has better things to do with his time?
Time IS getting MUCH shorter now .... choose wisely!
So consider our Most Sorrowful Mother often, asking her to hold us in the mantle of her love recommending our poor hearts to her Divine Son who loves us from everlasting to everlasting. She helps us to realize the true value of grace and the Sacraments which bring us nearer to our Precious Lord while giving our poor souls all the strength and health it needs to fight the good fight while we still trod this valley of tears. We nourish our bodies which are no more than a speck of dust after a short time here, let us also nourish our souls which will enjoy the glory of God for all eternity.
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Have Hope? - Know what it REALLY IS?
Many of us ole timers sometimes forget our Baltimore Catechism lessons :)
Many of us can name the 3 Theological Virtues and perhaps even those that can't name the three, DO know that the greatest of these is LOVE :)
You would do well to dust off your copy of the Catechism of the Catholic Church and look up the exact definitions of all three. Michael will give you the one on HOPE at the end of the 1st video :)
Here is the document of which Michael speaks:
ON BEING CHARIABLE
Many of us can name the 3 Theological Virtues and perhaps even those that can't name the three, DO know that the greatest of these is LOVE :)
You would do well to dust off your copy of the Catechism of the Catholic Church and look up the exact definitions of all three. Michael will give you the one on HOPE at the end of the 1st video :)
Here is the document of which Michael speaks:
ON BEING CHARIABLE
Hour of Anxiety Soon Approaches!
by: Mark Mallett
The Hour of Anxiety coming is first and foremost the hour of midnight—of open rebellion against God and His Church (see Revolution!). One could also think of it as an Eclipse of the Son.
The Hour of Anxiety coming is first and foremost the hour of midnight—of open rebellion against God and His Church (see Revolution!). One could also think of it as an Eclipse of the Son.
In seeking the deepest roots of the struggle between the "culture of life" and the "culture of death"… We have to go to the heart of the tragedy being experienced by modern man: the eclipse of the sense of God and of man. —POPE JOHN PAUL II, Evangelium Vitae, n.21
It is essentially an eclipse of Truth. Fewer and fewer are those today who are speaking the truth, the whole truth, the entire Gospel as revealed to us through Jesus and entrusted to the Catholic Church. The sheep have been abandoned to political correctness, betrayed by apostasy within her ranks, and have themselves been swept away by the spirit of the world. It is critical, then, that you learn how to recognize the voice of the Good Shepherd. For the days will come when His voice may not be heard from the pulpits or pontifical seat (in so far as persecution silences our priests or Holy Father in many if not most regions in the world—perhaps one of the "destructive effects" of a world "losing its bearings"). At that time, His voice may only be heard in those whose hearts were filled with the oil of faith expressed in love so that the Light of Christ will continue to burn even in the greatest darkness. How will you know the voice of the Shepherd unless you actually believe you will hear His voice? And how will you hear His voice unless you take time to listen to Him? If like me, dear friends, you have begun to doubt that God speaks to you, then you have to renounce this lie. For Jesus said of the Good Shepherd:
To read the rest of Mark's most recent writings, please visit his blog and don't forget about Embracing Hope; his video presentations which are also wonderful!…the sheep follow him, for they know his voice… My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me; and I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish, and no one shall snatch them out of my hand. (John 10:4, 27-28)
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