Found this link for Google maps on the Catholic Answers forum showing the odd mass animal deaths throughout the world ... interesting to say the least. Most of the dates are from 12/06/09 to present and most of them are in the USA.
Yet another Update on MORE dead fish ..
2 million fish found dead in Maryland By the CNN Wire Staff - January 6, 2011 9:37 a.m. EST
"Cold water stress" appears to be a factor in the deaths of about 2 million fish in
Chesapeake Bay, a Maryland agency says.
(CNN) -- Authorities in Maryland are investigating the deaths of about 2 million fish in Chesapeake Bay.
"Natural causes appear to be the reason," the Maryland Department of the Environment said in a news release. "Cold water stress exacerbated by a large population of the affected species (juvenile spot fish) appears to be the cause of the kill."
The investigation comes days after the deaths of an estimated 100,000 fish in northwest Arkansas. Authorities suspect disease was to blame there, a state spokesman said.
In Maryland, preliminary tests showed water quality to be acceptable, officials said.
"The affected fish are almost exclusively juvenile spot fish, 3 to 6 inches in length," the Maryland department said. A recent survey "showed a very strong population of spot in the bay this year. An increased juvenile population and limited deep water habitat would likely compound the effects of cold water stress."
Large winter kills of spot fish have occurred at least twice before in the state, in 1976 and 1980, the department said.
Today more than ever, we must believe the promise of our dear Lord when He said that the gates of hell will NOT PREVAIL against His Church. Let us all pray to increase our Faith as we look around at our world, countries, states, cities and parishes! What was unthinkable 40-50 years ago has become common place today and if you don't don't hold hands with it or crawl into bed with it, well then ... YOU ARE SOWING DISCORDANT SEEDS BROTHER!!!
God help us to hold on to the TRUE DEPOSIT of Faith that was handed down from the Apostles .. that which St. Paul spoke of when he admonished all to hold fast to what was taught by him and the other apostles in Scripture and Tradition. He reminds us not to deviate from that which was taught even if an angel from heaven were to tell us differently ... LET HIM BE ANATHAMA!
All the professed KNOW this stuff .... HOW can they cast it aside and sleep? They have forgotten their true IDENTITY ... CHILDREN OF THE MOST HIGH GOD, grafted into the Vine by the perfect sacrifice of Jesus Himself by the Will of the Father and the Power of the Holy Spirit! The old boy is sure doing the happy dance of joy these days when he sees how he's transformed the Church and many of the Bishops and Church hierarchy. This is not to say there are not some faithful clergy left ... praise God there most surely are, but they need our prayers and support desperately.
Right from the fall, PRIDE has been there rearing its ugly head with its beguiling grin and insidious agenda. It's job is fairly easy though because it targets one of the basest areas of human nature. So many of the clergy have been caught up in the turmoil of pride and all the 'perks' a *WIN* brings along with it. They are more concerned of being LIKED BY MAN than LOVED BY GOD. Perhaps they have long forgotten the joy that makes you want to burst when you give praise in deep prayer to Him Who has given His ALL to His creatures.
Of course, when humans feel that THEIR way is BETTER, the next thing to follow is naturally disOBEDIENCE, hence not following Rome, changing liturgical text and procedure, permitting animals, clowns and other things around the altar during Mass, hiding sin in all its forms, supporting sin in all its forms, et al. Pointing fingers does no good, anyone with half a brain can see the problem is there. What is needed is prayer and penance for these servants of God that they return to their vows, renew their Faith and make a good Confession INCLUDING their sins of OMISSION along with all the rest.
We as faithful lay need to take up the cause to pray for our priests and all clergy. Pray too that those in seminary will be formed RIGHTLY by holy men in the way of the apostles and martyrs, not in the way of the world and satan's relative, I'm OK/you're OK religion.
Our Lady has told us that there's NOTHING that the ROSARY can't FIX! WHY are there ANY that isn't doing this? Are our days SO busy that we can't give 20 minutes to our most compassionate Mother as she asks?
We spend more time with our hobbies, on foolishness and sinfulness than we do with GOD *WHOM WE SAY WE LOVE*. He HAS to be merciful and loving because He sure has PATIENCE to put up with the likes of the human race after all He's done for us. Especially in the USA.
Is it any wonder why it's going to hell in a handbasket now? We kill babies and our old folks, support sacrilege, accept anything that comes down the pike so we don't offend anyone, etc., etc., etc.!
PICK UP YOUR ROSARIES AND START PRAYING ... LOOK AT THE WORLD, what more do you need to wake you up? Take it seriously folks, cuz FOREVER IS A LONG, LONG TIME!
Don't have a rosary??
USE YOUR FINGERS .. WHY DO YOU THINK YOU HAVE TEN?!
Imitation of Christ: Book 1, Chapter 18
Outwardly they suffered want, but within they were refreshed with grace and Divine consolation. They were aliens to the world; they seemed as nothing and the world despised them; but they were precious and beloved in the sight of God. They persevered in true humility, they lived in simple obedience, they walked in charity and patience, and so every day they advanced in spirit and gained great favor with God. They were given for example to all religious, and ought more to excite us to advance in good, than the number of lukewarm to induce us to grow remiss. Oh! how great was the fervor of all religious in the beginning of their holy institute! Oh, how great was their devotion in prayer, how great was their zeal for virtue! How vigorous the discipline that was kept up, what reverence and obedience, under the rule of the superior, flourished in all! Their traces that remain still bear witness, that they were truly holy and perfect men who did battle so stoutly, and trampled the world under their feet. Now, he is thought great who is not a transgressor; and who can, with patience, endure what he has undertaken. Ah, the lukewarmness and negligence of our state! that we soon fall away from our first fervor, and are even now tired with life, from slothfulness and tepidity. Oh that advancement in virtue be not quite asleep in thee, who has so often seen the manifold examples of the devout!
1John 5:4 ~ "For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that overcomes the world, OUR FAITH."
The late Pope John Paul II could take a big step toward sainthood as early as this year, a longtime Vatican journalist reports. He could be beatified in a service led by Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican by the end of 2011 - an event that would be certain to draw hundreds of thousands of faithful. Medical and theological experts have credited John Paul II with the healing of a nun whose order prayed to him after he died in 2005. Sister Marie-Simon-Pierre says she was cured of Parkinson's disease.
Photo from October 21, 2003 shows Pope John Paul II waving to
the crowd as he arrives for an ordination ceremony.
A team of cardinals and bishops will examine the reputed miracle this month and pass their verdict to the pope. If Benedict XVI confirms that it was a miracle, John Paul will be eligible to be beatified, the last step before sainthood. Journalist Andrea Tornielli, who has covered the Vatican for many years, first reported the news Tuesday. The Vatican spokesman, the Rev. Federico Lombardi, and the Vatican office studying the case for John Paul's sainthood both refused to comment on the matter when questioned by CNN Wednesday. But if the miracle is confirmed by the Catholic Church, John Paul II could be beatified as soon as April 2, the sixth anniversary of his death, Tornielli said. That would be very fast in Vatican terms. Other possible dates are May 18, John Paul's birthday, or October 16, the anniversary of the date he was elected pope in 1978, Tornielli said, suggesting the last date is most likely, to give the church time to prepare what will be an enormous event, even by the Vatican's standards. By Richard Allen Greene and Hada Messia, CNN
Those of us that have been around for 50 plus years can reach back to the recesses of our somewhat now feeble minds and recall when the Roman Catholic Church in America was, without question, THE leading authority in Faith and Morals because she didn't waiver and stood strong as she steadfastly taught and disseminated the Faith to the faithful.
Today ... um, not so much.
We unfortunately have many fully professed individuals (I'm being charitable in identifying those people who have taken vows which include OBEDIENCE, formerly known as priests and nuns.) in the Church today that are not only more concerned with their popularity, position and pockets than their predecessors, but now blatantly not only oppose, but also thrust their OWN OPINIONS on the vulnerable and unsuspecting under the guise of CCD programs, bible studies, formation programs and a myriad of other equally specious endeavors including Catholic counseling.
The Bishops REALLY NEED to get with the program and we need to ask those that aren't WHY they aren't and we need to applaud and support those that are because they're in for a very rough ride and need all the prayers and support they can get. HOW can the Bishops and priests and yes, even the nuns sleep at night when they are fully aware they are out of compliance with ROME? Do they forget the Scripture that talks about those that have received much, much will be expected? Do they think the Bible speaks of FIGS HERE OR WHAT??
I find it really irritating that satan has such a strong foothold these days, even though we know WHO wins in the end.
We NEED to ask our priests and Bishops their views on current social issues that are being shoved down our throats by the liberal left ... and there's MANY of those in the Church today that need to be called to account for their actions or GET THE HECK OUT OF DODGE and do their own thing apart from THE CHURCH THAT JESUS FOUNDED.
There's too many folks today that really believe they are "good Catholics" and they can't tell you the first thing about the Faith, so why WOULDN'T they believe someone with a collar or a veil? It's up to those of us that have taken the time to LEARN and try to KNOW OUR GOD BETTER to (in CHARITY) set the others straight. If we permit others to stay in their sins, then we too are guilty of sin!
I have to shake my head today when I hear so many profess their LOVE FOR GOD when they can't even make it to Church once a week and on holy days. That's the BARE MINIMUM folks! If we LOVE someone, we want to learn all we can about them, we talk about them to anyone that will listen .. we want to be WITH them ... we DESIRE a close intimacy with them.
WHY IS IT THAT WE SPEND MORE TIME PLANNING OUR VACATIONS THAN WE DO PLANNING OUR ETERNITY????
There are CATHOLIC SCHOOLS that are handing out condoms! There are Catholic agencies and hospitals that tell women it's OK to have an ABORTION! Do you talk with your children about what they are taught either in a parochial school or CCD classes? If you're in adult formation, are you certain that that which is being taught IS in fact in communion with the Magisterium? If you're not sure ... you better GET SURE. One way you can do this is to get a copy of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. If you just can't get yourself to read through it, you can at least look up the items you aren't sure of and have a better idea of what REALLY is TRUE.
If you are not a reader, go to Father Corapi's website and have a look through his CD or DVD specials ... some are very reasonable. There's MANY good resources online if you take a few moments and expend some small effort to ENHANCE YOUR FAITH. After all, it's going to be with you FOREVER, unlike your body and all the THINGS of this earth ... very sad that our Faith is always last on the list IF it makes the list at all!
Anyway ... please talk to all you know about what they know and what you SHOULD all know and what your priests, et al are telling you. Be certain that it IS according to the one TRUE Faith that was passed down from Jesus to the apostles to us here today. Your life DOES depend on it.
Do we KNOW, really KNOW the treasure that was given to us?
If we did, we would sell all we have and buy the field with the pearl of great price and guard it with our very lives.
And yanno what folks?
In the days ahead, we just MAY be called to DO JUST THAT!
I had to to blink when I read a report that said 1,000 birds fell from the sky just before midnight New Years Eve in Arkansas. I wasn't even going to write about this until more info and OTHER happenings were reported!
First thought that came to mind was that I didn't think birds flew at night ... they nested. And ONE THOUSAND, all the SAME KIND ... odd, very odd. Folks have had much speculation but the one possibility that keeps coming up is chemical testing. I know this is done because my paternal grandfather died from what was done in the NYC subways in the 1930's .. and they all said he was crazy ... loaded with cancer all of a sudden, but crazy. Low and behold, decades later, I think on the History channel, I caught the tail end of a show that documented that they actually were testing some chemical weapons in the NYC subway system ... and we thought it couldn't happen in America!
Well it seems there's a lot of goings on today that we thought "COULDN'T HAPPEN IN AMERICA" ... nope, not in a million years! ... Um, right.
THEN, I had to do a real DOUBLE TAKE when I read just last night ... again in Arkansas, that there's a 20 mile stretch of shore on the Arkansas river where over 100,000 drum fish washed up dead. Now this morning, the birds have been increased to 5,000. The birds fell within a 1 mile radius and were more than 100 miles away from the fish incident. Gotta wonder about fault lines in Arkansas, huh?
What's REALLY going on here?!? Going to keep an ear to the ground on this one folks! ... and pray even harder.
The Epiphany of Our Lord celebrates the Divine and human nature of Jesus Christ, the King. Even in the stable, Our Lord was beginning His reign here on Earth. Saving one soul at a time through His Cross and Resurrection, begins in the Manger. No wonder the Angels were singing, “Glory to God in the Highest”. They were given a knowing of the glorious end of the mission of Jesus, even as an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes.
This Christ Child will place all powers and principalities under His feet at some future time. We see in the Gospel today, the Three Kings placing gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh before Our Lord. These treasures represent the three gifts given to all of us at our Baptism. We were all anointed to be priest, prophet and king. These are our Baptismal roles. All baptized Christians are called to assist Our Lord in spreading the Kingdom of God. Whether we are single, married, or serving as a priest or religious, we are to minister to the Word. All nations need to hear God’s Word preached to them. That is one mission given to us at the Baptism font. Like the Shepherds filled with joy, may we give glory to the Lord in our words and deeds.
Entrusting you to the care of Our Lady,
Fr. Mark Bozada
May we always protect the Word of God given in our hearts at Baptism.
“Peter You Are Rock, And Upon This Rock I Will Build My Church!”
By: Father John Corapi Reflecting the thought of the church through the ages, the Catechism (#760) reminds us that Christians of the first centuries said, “The world was created for the sake of the Church.” God created the world for the sake of communion with his divine life, a communion brought about by the “convocation” of men in Christ, and this “convocation” is the Church. Many people have problems with the Church quite simply because they do not understand its origins, its mission, or its end. The Catholic Church is not a mere human invention, like a political or social entity. The Church is of divine institution; Jesus Christ Himself instituted the Church, not mere men after His Ascension. (#763-766)
We recall a striking scene from the Gospel of Matthew: Jesus and His disciples are passing through the region of Caesarea Philippi – a region known for its pagan religions. The Master asks his disciples who they say that the Son of Man is. It was perhaps one of the first public opinion polls regarding Christianity. The results of such polls of mere personal opinions, then as now, are less than satisfying: “Some say John the Baptizer, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” These were conflicting and contradictory guesses and opinions that have none of the ring of authority and authenticity the human spirit needs in order to walk confidently in the dark night of faith. Then, one voice rang out, the voice of Simon: “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God!” The response of the Lord is the definitive answer when it comes to answering the question, “Who founded the Church?”: “Blest are you, Simon son of John! No mere man has revealed this to you, but My heavenly Father. I for My part declare to you, you are ‘Rock,’ and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Note who the “I” is: the “I” is a divine person, the subject of action is divine; God Himself institutes the Church. The Church is not a mere human institution. Christ, the eternal Word, the Father’s Son, institutes and builds His Church on the “Rock.” All through the Old Testament, “Rock” with an uppercase”R” refers to God Himself. Then in the Gospel of Matthew referred to above, we see Jesus, the “Rock,” because He is a divine subject of action, renaming Simon “Rock.” Jesus, the real “Rock,” is also referred to as the “Bridegroom” or “Groom” as well in Scripture. The Church is his “bride” (#796). We know, also from the Word, that in marriage, whether natural or supernatural, the “two become one flesh.” Jesus and his church are one; Bridegroom and bride are one. Hence, Christ is naming Peter “Rock”, one with Himself. There is no other “Rock” other than Christ absolutely speaking. However, the Rock, in a mystical marriage, unites His beloved bride, the Church, to Himself. Simon is named “Rock”, and whoever hears the Rock Peter is hearing the Rock who is Christ; whoever rejects the Rock who is Peter, rejects the Rock Christ and the One Who sent Him, the Father. You cannot separate the Lord Jesus from His beloved body and bride, the Church. To reject the teaching of Peter and his successors the Roman pontiffs, together with the bishops who are united with the Holy Father in teaching the one faith which has been handed down faithfully from the apostles, is to reject the teaching of Jesus Christ, and the One who sent Him, the Father (cf. Luke 10:16). The Catholic Church can never fail ultimately, although her members can and do.The Church is far more than the sum of her human members, for if that were the case the Church would surely have fallen long ago. The most important member of the Church is her head, Christ the Lord (#792-795). The soul of the Church, the life-giving power, the Animator and Sanctifier of the Church, is the Holy Spirit. The head and soul of the Church is God; the Church will never fail. The storms of time and the tempests stirred up by earthly kings and rulers come and go; their crowns rise and fall, and roll in the dust but the Church goes on. Mere personal opinions come and go. Some say this, some say that, but mere personal opinion cannot move the Rock.
Head and body are one;Bridegroom and bride are one. Those who attack the Church attack Christ. When Saul of Tarsus was persecuting the newborn church on his way to Damascus, he was knocked off his horse by the light who is Christ. “He fell to the ground and at the same time heard a voice saying, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?’ ‘Who are you, sir?’ he asked. The voice answered, ‘I am Jesus, the One you are persecuting.’” Saul was “breathing murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples,” against the Church. Christ told him clearly that he was persecuting him, Jesus, the Lord. Christ and his church are one.To love Jesus truly, we must love his church.
In an age of violence and violent change, it is comforting to know that we are so intimately one with Christ, residing in His body and His bride, the Church. Transcending time and space, the Church is relevant to all people at all times and in all places. Indeed, to be rooted in the Rock, to be one with the Rock, keeps us from being swept away by the strife and storms of any time and any place.
By the CNN Wire Staff J
anuary 1, 2011 11:06 a.m. EST
Pope Benedict XVI celebrates the New Year solemn Mass at
Saint Peter's Basilica at the Vatican on Saturday.
(CNN) -- Pope Benedict XVI spoke out Saturday against a recent wave of religious attacks against Christians and rallied worshippers not to "cave into depression and resignation," hours after a bomb explosion outside a church in Egypt killed 21 people.
During his New Year's Day homily titled, "Religious Freedom, the road to peace," Benedict asked followers and governments to join efforts in combating religious persecution.
"Mankind cannot resign himself to the negative forces of egoism and violence," the pontiff said, adding that governments must show a willingness to combat violence.
"For this difficult task, words are not enough, there must be a concrete and constant effort from leaders of nations," he said.
"Above all, it is necessary that each person is driven by the authentic spirit of peace, always imploring over and again in prayer," he said.
Saturday's bombing targeted Coptic Christians in the city of Alexandria. FULL STORY
The attack follows other recent attacks in Iraq and Nigeria.
"In front of the current threatening tensions, in front of specially the discrimination tyranny and religious intolerance, that today hit in particular the Christians, once again I deliver the pressing invite to not cave into the depression and resignation," Benedict said.
In November, a group with ties to al Qaeda in Iraq announced that all Christians in the Middle East would be "legitimate targets."
Some Christians in Iraq's capital say they are considering leaving their homes following a wave of bombings in December that targeted members of their religion. Two people were killed and 16 others wounded in the blasts.
The bloodiest attack on Christians in Iraq took place in Baghdad in October, when militants stormed the Our Lady of Salvation Church, killing 70 people and injuring 75 others.
The violence has prompted a "slow but steady exodus" of thousands of Christians from Baghdad and Mosul, the U.N. refugee agency said recently.
And in Nigeria, at least 31 people were killed -- many of them Christian -- during a series of seven blasts on Christmas Eve in the city of Jos.
VATICAN CITY — Pope Benedict XVI urged Christians to remain strong in the face of intolerance and violence in a New Year's appeal Saturday that came hours after a bomb blast outside an Egyptian church killed 21 people as worshippers left Mass.
The pope condemned a widening campaign against Christians in the Middle East in his homily at St. Peter's Basilica, echoing comments last month in which he called a lack of religious freedom a threat to world security.
"In the face of the threatening tensions of the moment, especially in the face of discrimination, of abuse of power and religious intolerance that today particularly strikes Christians, I again direct a pressing invitation not to yield to discouragement and resignation," he said.
Benedict has repeatedly denounced a campaign against Christians in Iraq blamed on al-Qaida militants, including an October attack on a Baghdad Catholic church that claimed 68 lives, two of them priests.
The Vatican is very worried that a steady exodus of minority Christians from Iraq will permanently reduce their numbers and discourage the wider community of Christians in the Middle East.
Benedict cited what he called two negative extremes at work in the world: secularism, "pushing religion to the margins to confine it to the private sphere," and "fundamentalism, which instead would like to impose (religion) with force on all."
The Vatican celebrates New Year's as World Peace Day, and Benedict urged world leaders to make a "concrete and constant commitment" to help bring peace.
On Saturday, a bomb exploded in front of a Coptic Christian church in the Egyptian city of Alexandria, killing at least 21 people in an attack that raised suspicions of an al-Qaida role.
Benedict recalled his speech last month in which "I stressed that religious freedom is the essential element of a state of law — you cannot deny it without, at the same time, undermining all rights and fundamental freedoms."
After leaving the basilica, the pope removed his gold-colored robes, donned an ermine-trimmed crimson cape to guard against the chill, and greeted from his apartment window pilgrims and tourists in a packed St. Peter's Square.
The new year, he said, is an opportunity to reflect "on the great challenges that our epoch poses to humanity," calling the threats to religious freedom urgent.
"Wherever religious freedom is effectively recognized, the dignity of the human person is respected to its root, and through a sincere search for truth and good, moral consciences are shored up and institutions and civil coexistence are reinforced," the pope said. "That's why religious freedom is the privileged way to build peace."
Benedict also announced that in October he will make a pilgrimage to Assisi and invited non-Catholic Christians as well as world religious leaders to join him in the Umbrian hill town of St. Francis.
He said he wanted to mark the 25th anniversary of a similar pilgrimage made by Pope John Paul II and highlight his conviction that "the great religions of the world can constitute an important factor of unity and peace for the human family."
