A Catholic Mom in Hawaii

Happy Thanksgiving

2009-11-26T00:00:00.001-10:00

I want to wish you all a very happy and blessed Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving Day Address by President Abraham Lincoln

By the President of the United States of America.

A Proclamation.

The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God. In the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict; while that theatre has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union. Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defence, have not arrested the plough, the shuttle or the ship; the axe has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the consiousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom. No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American People. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity and Union.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the United States to be affixed.

Done at the City of Washington, this Third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the Independence of the Unites States the Eighty-eighth.

By the President: Abraham Lincoln

William H. Seward,
Secretary of State

Source

Thank you Father Gordy for this at the Thanksgiving Vigil Mass.

My Hero!

2009-11-25T11:23:00.003-10:00

Picture Source

Remember those Who Grieve this Thanksgiving

2009-11-25T10:55:00.003-10:00

This is the first Thanksgiving without my father. My mother is sad. My entire family will really miss my dad's presence tomorrow. I am very grateful for my friend Alexandra for sharing Father Austin Fleming's post about praying for those who grieve and to Father Fleming for the prayer and post:

Dear God,

There is an empty chair at our table,
an ache in our hearts
and tears on our faces.

We may try to shield one another
from the grief we bear
but we cannot hide it from you.

The absence of (name/names)
shadows this day
and clouds our homecoming.

Open our eyes and our hearts
to the healing rays
of the light of your presence.

Assure us, Lord, that those we miss
have a place at your table
and a home in your heart.

Open our hearts to joy
in the memories of the love
we shared with (name/names).

Help us to remember and tell the stories
that make present the past
and those we have lost.

Teach us to lean on one another
and on you, Lord,
for the strength we need at this time.

Give us quiet moments
with you, with our thoughts,
with our memories and prayers.

Be with us, Lord,
and hold us in your arms
as you hold those we miss.

This is the day you have made, Lord:
help us to rejoice in it
and in the promise of your peace.

Let us pray in the words Jesus gave us,
Our Father...

Desecration of the Holy Eucharist

2009-11-24T16:47:00.004-10:00

This morning at Mass our priest seemed troubled. During his homily he shared with us that someone had found pieces of the Consecrated Host(s) in the Church the day before. Father mentioned that an incident like this occurring in his church frightened him, He proceeded to explain that Consecrated Hosts are used at black masses where Satan is worshiped.

He cautioned us to be vigilant and to report back if we caught anyone defiling the Holy Eucharist.

The incident has stayed on my mind all day. It has troubled me more than I thought it would even considering the gravity of the sacrilege. It troubles me because almost all the same people attend the same morning Mass. Did one of them receive Holy Communion for nefarious purposes? I started to wonder who could have done such an apparently evil act? I tried to think of a more innocent reason the Consecrated Host could have been on the ground...maybe a child did it accidentally?

No matter the circumstances, there is no logical reason that the Consecrated Host should be on the floor of the Church. Those pieces of Consecrated Host (and I assume by what Father told us that they were in fact consecrated), is the living flesh of our Lord Jesus Christ! Do we all really believe in the Real Presence?

- Think of the baby John the Baptist, while still in his mother's womb, recognized the living Son of God, and leaped in his mother womb, as Mary approached Elizabeth;

- Think of twelve year old Saint Tarcisius who on his way to bring Holy Communion to imprisoned Christians, was surrounded by a mob of boys curious to see what the Christian "Mysteries" were that he was carrying, brutally attacked him and left him for dead. Yet, he was able to protect the Holy Eucharist from any defilement or desecration.

- Think of the little Chinese girl who returned to the desecrated Church night after night to consume the Consecrated Hosts that had been savagely thrown on the ground by the Communists. She continued to do so until she was caught and killed.

If these young children understand and believe in the Real Presence, why don't we all?

Or, did in fact the individual who committed this vile act, believe in the Real Presence yet took it for an evil agenda? That is the thought that is most troubling.

Let this be a lesson to for all of us who take the Sacrifice of the Mass for granted; who receive Holy Communion like it was just another ordinary thing.

I am not sharing this incident here because I want to start a debate about receiving Holy Communion on the tongue versus the hand. If we truly understood what the real presence was, no matter how we received Holy Communion, we would receive it in the most reverent way we possibly could.

Please join me in praying the following Act of Reparation for similar incidents that must be occurring in other parts.

Act of Reparation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus

O Jesus, divine Savior, deign to cast a look of mercy upon Your children, who assemble in the same spirit of faith, reparation, and love, and come to deplore their own infidelities, and those of all poor sinners, their brethren.

May we touch Your divine Heart by the unanimous and solemn promises we are about to make and obtain mercy for ourselves, for the world, and for all who are so unhappy as not to love You. We all promise that for the future:

For the forgetfulness and ingratitude of men, *(We will console you O Lord)
For the way You are deserted in Your holy tabernacle,
For the crimes of sinners,
For the hatred of the impious,
For the blasphemies uttered against You,
For the sacrileges that profane Your Sacrament of Love,
For the outrages against Your divinity,
For the injuries of which You are the adorable Victim,
For the coldness of the greater part of your children,
For the contempt of your loving invitation,
For the infidelity of those who called themselves Your friends,
For the abuse of Your grace,
For our own unfaithfulness,
For the incomprehensible hardness of our hearts,
For our long delay in loving You,
For our tepidity in Your holy service,
For Your bitter sadness at the loss of souls,
For Your long waiting at the door of our hearts,
For the heartless scorn that grieves You,
For Your loving sighs,
For Your loving tears,
For Your loving imprisonment,
For Your loving death,

* We will console you, 0 Lord

Let us pray

0 Jesus! divine Savior, from whose Heart comes forth this bitter complaint, "I looked for one that would comfort me, and I found none," graciously accept the feeble consolation we offer You, and aid us so powerfully by your grace, that we may, for the time to come, shun more and more all that can displease You, and prove ourselves in everything, and everywhere, and forever Your most faithful and devoted servants. We ask it through Your Sacred Heart, O Lord, who live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit one God, world without end. Amen.

Prayer Source

Recommended Places to Do Your Christmas Shopping

2009-11-23T15:07:00.003-10:00

Since it will soon be the start of the mad Christmas shopping rush, I thought I would share some places where you can shop at your leisure and from your own home. I also recommend these sites for the excellent products they offer and wonderful customer service. I have also chosen them based on value pricing. They all received the Catholic Mom in Hawaii Stamp of Approval :-)

Dominican Nuns of Summit, NJ Gift Shoppe Some of the nicest soaps, air fresheners, gifts, you can get...they are made with much care by the Nuns!

Mystic Monks Wonderfully tasting and aromatic coffees.

St. Hubert's Rosary Bracelets -Shana Beautiful and practical Rosary bracelets for daily use.

Prayerful Beads - Barbara Beautiful handmade Rosaries.

Leaflet Missal A great collection of Catholic books, religious medals, DVDs, Fontanini collectibles, T-shirts, etc.

Pauline Books and Media One of my favorite places to shop because we are blessed to have a store near us. Check to see if there is a store near you or you can shop online.

EWTN Religious Catalog Beautiful artwork, books, DVDs can be found here.

Sophia Institute Press I like to associate this book shop with more intellectual Catholic books. Maybe because they care books by Drs. Alice von Hildebrand and Dietrich von Hildebrand.

Saint Damien of Molokai Artwork by Linda Johnston Linda is a local artist on Molokai. Check out her beautiful and original artwork featuring Saint Damien prints, luggage tags, note cards and recently added prayer cards.

Seelos Center Gift Shop I recently bought Cheerful Mystic by Father Michael J. Curley. It is a biography of Blessed Father Francis Xavier Seelos, C.Ss.R. Check out the statues and prayers cards there. The nicest people work there!

Donna Cooper O'Boyle. Donna has written many books that invaluable to Catholic wives and mothers. Be sure to check out her latest on her longtime friendship with Mother Teresa of Calcutta.

and last but not least Joy of Christ Press- Easter Consider ordering Easter's new book to give as a gift.

This list may get updated because I have a feeling I forgot someone.

The Manhattan Declaration - National Religious Leaders Release Historic Declaration on Christian Conscience

2009-11-23T08:51:00.003-10:00

I just learned about this today thanks to Betty and Bob who emailed me regarding Father Miguel's speaking about it on EWTN!

Friday a group of prominent Christian clergy, ministry leaders and scholars released the Manhattan Declaration, which addresses the sanctity of life, traditional marriage and religious liberty. The 4,700-word declaration issues a clarion call to Christians to adhere to their convictions and informs civil authorities that the signers will not - under any circumstance - abandon their Christian consciences. Drafted by Dr. Robert George, Dr. Timothy George and Chuck Colson and signed by more than 125 Orthodox, Catholic and evangelical Christian leaders, the Manhattan Declaration is available at DeMossNews.com/ManhattanDeclaration. Read the rest here

The following is from the website:

Christians, when they have lived up to the highest ideals of their faith, have defended the weak and vulnerable and worked tirelessly to protect and strengthen vital institutions of civil society, beginning with the family.

We are Orthodox, Catholic, and evangelical Christians who have united at this hour to reaffirm fundamental truths about justice and the common good, and to call upon our fellow citizens, believers and non-believers alike, to join us in defending them. These truths are:

1. the sanctity of human life
2. the dignity of marriage as the conjugal union of husband and wife
3. the rights of conscience and religious liberty.

Inasmuch as these truths are foundational to human dignity and the well-being of society, they are inviolable and non-negotiable. Because they are increasingly under assault from powerful forces in our culture, we are compelled today to speak out forcefully in their defense, and to commit ourselves to honoring them fully no matter what pressures are brought upon us and our institutions to abandon or compromise them. We make this commitment not as partisans of any political group but as followers of Jesus Christ, the crucified and risen Lord, who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

Please be sure to sign the declaration HERE

Feast of Blessed Miguel Agustin Pro

2009-11-23T08:43:00.003-10:00

Viva Cristo Rey!- Bl. Miguel Agustin Pro, S.J.
You can read one of my previous posts here.

"Long live Christ the King"

Christ the King

2009-11-22T00:00:00.000-10:00

"When we command that Christ our king be venerated by Catholics throughout the word, we are providing for the specials needs of our own day...There will never arise a sure hope of lasting peace between the peoples of the world as long as individuals and nations continue to deny or refuse to acknowledge the rule of Christ, our Savior. It is necessary for all men to seek 'the peace of Christ in the kingdom o Christ.'"
- Pope Pius XI

Dedication of the Human Race

Most sweet Jesus, Redeemer of the human race, look down us humbly prostrate before Thine Altar (outside a church or oratory says: in Thy Presence). We are Thine, and Thine we wish to be; but to be more surely united to Thee, behold, each one of us this day freely dedicates himself to Thy Most Sacred Heart. Many, indeed, have never known Thee; many, too, despising Thy precepts have rejected Thee.

Have mercy on them all, most merciful Jesus, and draw them to Thy Sacred Heart. Be Thou King, O Lord not only of the faithful who have never forsaken Thee, but also of the prodigal sons who have abandoned Thee; grant that they may quickly return to Their Father's house, lest they perish of wretchedness and hunger. Be Thou King of those whom heresy holds in error or discord keeps aloof; call them back to the harbor of truth and the unity of faith, so that soon there may be but one fold and one Shepherd. Be Thou King of all those who even now sit in the shadow of idolatry or Islam, and refuse not Thou to bring them into the light of Thy kingdom. Look, finally, with eyes of pity upon the children of that race, which was for so long a time Thy chosen people; and let Thy Blood, which was once invoked upon them in vengeance, now descent upon them also in a cleansing flood of redemption and eternal life.

Grant O Lord, to Thy Church assurance of freedom and immunity from harm; unto all nations give an ordered tranquility; bring it to pass that from pole to pole the earth my resound with one cry: Praise to the divine Heart that wrought our salvation; to It be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Indulgence of 5 years; plenary indulgence once a month for a daily recitation and under the usual conditions.

To Christ The King

O Christ Jesus, I acknowledge Thee to be the king of the universe; all that hath been made is created for Thee. Exercise over me all Thy sovereign rights. I hereby renew the promises of my baptism , renouncing Satan and all his works and pomps, and I engage myself to lead henceforth a truly Christian life.

And in an especial manner do I undertake to bring about the triumph of the rights of God and Thy Church, so far as in me lies.

Divine Heart of Jesus, I offer Thee my poor actions to obtain the acknowledgment by every heart of Thy sacred kindly power. In such wise may the kingdom of Thy peace be firmly established throughout all the earth. Amen.

Plenary indulgence on the usual conditions once daily.

The Prayer Book, The Catholic Press, Inc.

Viva Cristo Rey! - Blessed Miguel Pro

Feast of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

2009-11-21T08:36:00.002-10:00

A Meditation on the Feast of the Presentation of Mary

More on the CCHD: "It's Worse Than We Thought"

2009-11-20T14:13:00.001-10:00

Listen to the George Soros connection.

Holiday (Christmas) Mail for Heroes

2009-11-20T13:30:00.001-10:00

In this season of hope and giving the American Red Cross and Pitney Bowes, Inc. have joined forces to invite Americans to “send a touch of home” to United States service members and veterans across the country and abroad. In its third year, the Holiday Mail for Heroes program is an opportunity to share joy and thanks with our service members throughout the holiday season by way of a greeting card.

Today over 1.4 million men and women serve in the U.S. armed forces and over 24 million veterans have served in the past. The holiday season is the perfect time to honor and extend a warm holiday greeting to those who’ve served and continue to do so.

...Read the rest here

So won't you please send Christmas cards to our military heroes this Christmas.

ACN - Building a firm foundation in the Holy Land

2009-11-20T10:57:00.000-10:00

ACN-USA News

11/16/2009
Building a firm foundation in the Holy Land

A senior bishop in the Holy Land has outlined a key initiative aimed at healing the wounds of religious division and stemming the Christian exodus from the region.

The four-storey Good Shepherd Maronite Diocesan Pastoral Center under construction at Mount Carmel in northern Israel is intended for use as a place for residential retreats, conferences, counseling services and gatherings for young people of different religions.

Due to open by the end of 2011 and in receipt of major funding from organizations including Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), the initiative will provide the first diocesan-wide center for the Holy Land’s Maronite-rite Catholics, who number 12,000 in total.

In an interview with ACN, Maronite Archbishop Paul Sayah of Haifa and the Holy Land said the main aim of the project was to help renew the confidence of Maronites and other Christians and dissuade them from emigrating.

Describing the pastoral centre as “the backbone of our pastoral infrastructure,” Archbishop Sayah said, “We have experienced over the years many Christians wanting to emigrate. They feel they are not valued. We have to make sure that they feel they have a role to play as well as opportunities for educational and spiritual formation. The Good Shepherd Centre aims to do just that.”

The archbishop went on to say that the complex had received the strong backing of the Druze, a religious group derived from Islam, who are the majority population in Isfya, the village where the center is being built. Archbishop Sayah said, “The Mayor of Isfya – a Druze – is very keen on having the center. A number of Druze leaders in the area have signed a document in support of the project. We have told them that the center will be available for them to use.”

The initiative aims to promote Christian-Druze relations, which hit a new low in February, 2005, in Mughar, also in northern Israel. A dispute in the town in the Galilee region led the Druze to go on the rampage, causing half the Christian population to run for their lives. Many have since returned, but some problems remain.

Archbishop Sayah stressed the importance of encouraging the Christians’ sense of self-worth. He said, “It is no use our just preaching at our Christian community. We have to educate and develop them so that they can have good relationships with people of other religions. Otherwise our community will not survive.”

The plan, which has already received $22,400 from Aid to the Church in Need with the expectation of more to come, includes two dormitories, supervisors’ rooms, a refectory, a chapel, a conference room, a room for the bishop and rooms for counseling.

The archbishop said much of the funding is now in place for the initiative, which will cost nearly $2 million, but he added that more support is urgently needed. He said, “We are keeping costs down as much as possible. In getting the work done, we are involving our own communities, which has the advantage of being cheaper than getting outside help as well as providing local employment and generating support from the very people the center is there to help.”

Maronites are one of the smaller Catholic communities in a region whose Christian population has been decimated by emigration, especially in the West Bank. According to figures released in May by Archbishop Fouad Twal, the Latin-rite Patriarch of Jerusalem, Christians in Palestine today number barely 50,000, whereas in 1948 they were 20 percent of the total population.

Pope Benedict XVI has called on Aid to the Church in Need to prioritize support for Christians in the Middle East, noting that in some regions the “local Churches are… threatened in their very existence.”

Editor’s Notes:

Directly under the Holy Father, Aid to the Church in Need supports the faithful wherever they are persecuted, oppressed or in pastoral need. ACN is a Catholic charity - helping to bring Christ to the world through prayer, information and action.

Founded in 1947 by Father Werenfried van Straaten, whom Pope John Paul II named “An Outstanding Apostle of Charity,” the organization is now at work in over 145 countries throughout the world.

The charity undertakes thousands of projects every year including providing transport for clergy and lay Church workers, construction of church buildings, funding for priests and nuns and help to train seminarians. Since the initiative’s launch in 1979, 43 million Aid to the Church in Need Child’s Bibles have been distributed worldwide.

For more information contact Michael Varenne at michael@churchinneed.org or call 718-609-0939 or fax718-609-0938. Aid to the Church in Need, 725 Leonard Street, PO Box 220384, Brooklyn, NY 11222-0384. Aid to the Church in Need

Motion Picture About 'One Of Those Quiet Heroes' - "Tears in the Desert"

2009-11-20T09:56:00.003-10:00

P R E S S R E L E A S E

Motion Picture About 'One Of Those Quiet Heroes'

Navy Chaplain Father Ron Moses Camarda's book / diary TEAR IN THE DESERT, about his journey into the harsh reality of the Iraq War in 2004, soon to be a motion picture.

November 2009, Grafton, WI / Atlantic Beach , FL

Film & TV Producer Christian Peschken recently obtained the exclusive film rights of Fr. Ron Moses Camarda's book / diary "TEAR IN THE DESERT"

Father Ron Camarda, a Roman Catholic Priest, was recalled to Active Duty to serve with the Marines during the Battle for Fallujah, Iraq (2004). At Bravo Surgical (Marine equivalent to a M.A.S.H. unit) he received over 1500 casualties and 81 deaths. When he returned home he found his work was not done. Walking with the widows and families left behind has been filled with great love and compassion. This is a walk with God into the war in the desert, only to find that the real war is within the human heart.

In his book "TEAR IN THE DESERT" Fr. Ron documents the touching and horrific events that he encountered on a daily basis.

"This story needs to be told. Now is the right time. Not only did Fr. Ron make a difference in the soldier's life, but also in the life of their relatives. Fr. Ron is a typical anti hero, a quiet hero. His story is perfect for a movie with a strong message, namely, and I quote Pope John Paul II, "War is a defeat for Humanity", says producer Christian Peschken. "I see this film along the lines of "Midnight Express", and hope to have a similar success. We have interest from domestic and international distributors already. I chose to shoot the film in South Africa.

Not only because of the incentives that will cover almost 30% of the budget , but also because of the great variety of locations that match Iraq", says Peschken.
At this time the producer seeks private investors to fund the film, to be shot in 2010 in South Africa, Florida, and Las Vegas, NV.

Christian Peschken is a seasoned Film & TV producer Christian Peschken . Since
2009 he is involved mostly with Catholic Faith related productions, that air on EWTN, Catholic TV and other Catholic media systems.
For interviews or more about the project please contact Mr. Christian Peschken at
peschken@aol.com

Why a HOLY HOUR before Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament?

2009-11-20T00:01:00.000-10:00

Photo by Esther G.

PERHAPS MANY still ask that question. To it there is basically only one answer: Jesus Christ, the God-Man, is present....

He is present in that special Eucharistic manner of transubstantiation in which the very substance of the bread and wine are changed into the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ.

St. Thomas taught that the Eucharist is the greatest of miracles ever worked by Christ, to perpetuate his Passion and Sacrifice with us and to be specially present to each individual.

Christ is present there for us, to manifest his great love for us. St. Thomas says, "He cares for us and is there." If we care for him, we would also be there for a Holy Hour or some other form of Eucharistic adoration. Christ had asked this of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque as he had asked the apostles in the Garden of Olives: "Can you not watch one hour with me?"

Read the rest here

Could the French Revolution Have Been Avoided?

2009-11-20T00:00:00.000-10:00

According to Edna McGrew in the book Herald of the Fatima Apparitions: John M. Haffert, that is what John Haffert, co-founder of the World Apostolate of Fatima, believed. In December 1673, Jesus appeared to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque and shared with her the devotion to His Sacred Heart. Jesus asked for a Communion of Reparation to His Sacred Heart be made on nine consecutive First Fridays. This was "...a final effort of His Love to favor human beings in the last centuries of the world, and to withdraw them from the empire of Satan, which He intends to destroy and to replace with the reign of His Love."

"Then in 1689 Jesus told St. Margaret Mary: 'The eternal Father, wishing to repair the bitterness and agony which the Heart of Jesus endured in the palaces of earthly princes, wishes to make use of the reigning monarch of France [Louis XIV] to proclaim public devotion of reparation to that Sacred Heart.' It was a comparatively simple request. The King was to consecrate France to the Sacred Heart and to erect a shrine in which the picture of Jesus' Divine Heart would be honored. In addition, the King was to ask the Holy See to establish a Mass honoring the Sacred Heart.

Throughout his life King Louis XIV ignored this request from God. In the meantime, impoverished by the continuous wars during the King's reign, France faced an economic crisis which ultimately resulted in the French revolution. As John [Haffert] points out: 'exactly 100 years after the Sacred Heart made His ignored request, in 1789 came the French revolution which destroyed the monarchy and set the stage for worldwide disaster.'"

Father Gordon MacRae: The Day the Earth Stood Still

2009-11-19T18:52:00.003-10:00

...There were rumblings of change in the world before JFK’s death. On March 18 in that same year, the U.S. Supreme Court banned prayer from public schools. In the second grade, Mrs. Walsh had begun each day by reading Psalm 23. We were better off for hearing it. In the third grade, Mrs. Eisenberg recited a Hebrew Berakah. We were better off for hearing that as well. We had no sense that the age of the individual had dawned, and our collective welfare – the very soul of our nation – was to be set aside to accommodate it.

Nancy Reagan once said, “The ’60’s was the worst time in history to bring up children.” In the six years from 1963 to 1969, the storm of my adolescence raged upon a chaotic sea. Each successive wave of change, fueled by crisis, smashed away at the remnants of consistency and order. If you were an adolescent in the 60’s, then you remember how the chaos inside seemed to mirror the chaos outside. And what was going on outside was brutal. It’s all a jumble of memory...

Read the rest of Father Gordon's excellent post here

Memorial Masses Scheduled Worldwide - December 9th - Archbishop Sheen

2009-11-19T14:05:00.003-10:00

According to the Diocese of Paterson, memorial masses are scheduled to be celebrated worldwide on December 9th.

A worldwide celebration of Masses Dec. 9 will commemorate the 30th anniversary of the death of famed author, lecturer and television evangelizer Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, as well as promote his cause for canonization.

Two women from the Paterson Diocese launched the program: Lo Anne Mayer, a parishioner of Christ the King Church in New Vernon, and La Verne Washburne, a parishioner of Corpus Christi Church in Chatham Township.

Mayer, who is a board member of the Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen Foundation in Peoria, Ill., and president of its advisory council, credits her friend Washburne with conceiving the worldwide Mass idea.

You can read the rest here

YEAR FOR PRIESTS - St. John Vianney

2009-11-19T12:36:00.002-10:00

Nice post over at Idle Speculations complete with pictures.

This Weekend CCHD Collection: What You Should Know

2009-11-19T09:01:00.004-10:00

As you may already know, the Catholic Campaign for Human Development will be collecting this weekend at your local parishes. I have been posting links and videos to make my readers aware that the monies may still be going to support groups whose agendas are blatantly contrary to Catholic teachings.

If you caught EWTN's the World Over last Friday, you heard the two guests (the founder of Bellarmine Veritas Ministry (BVM) and Michael Hichborn of The American Life League give information they obtained through diligent research, revealing that the CCHD may still be contributing monies collected by you and me, to pro-abortion, pro-homosexual groups.

If you want to learn more about this, please visit: Reform the Catholic Campaign for Human Development

Here in Hawaii, the Diocese has recently posted the following on the website: Catholic Campaign for Human Development Sets the Record Straight. The following are excerpts:

Across our nation, CCHD is helping thousands of low- income families improve their lives and communities, to seek justice and to defend their dignity. As we approach the annual CCHD collection, we urge your generous support of the help and hope that CCHD has offered for decades. CCHD is needed now more than ever in these tough economic times when so many families are suffering and poverty is growing. As the Bishops responsible for the oversight of the Catholic Campaign for Human Development, we pledge our ongoing efforts to ensure that all CCHD funds are used faithfully, effectively, and in accord with Catholic social and moral teaching.

All CCHD grants are carefully reviewed at both the national and diocesan levels and are approved by the local diocesan bishop. No group that opposes Catholic social or moral teaching is eligible for CCHD funding. If any CCHD funded group violates the conditions of a grant and acts in conflict with Catholic teaching, CCHD funding is immediately terminated...

A response to the above Bishops' statement by BVM can be found here.

When my family and I found out last year that our hard earned monies we contributed went to fund ACORN, we, decided that we could not in good conscience contribute to the CCHD. We chose instead to sent our monies to a worthwhile and organization who was loyal to church teaching.

We plan on doing the same thing this year.

YEAR FOR PRIESTS - New Site Added to Sidebar

2009-11-18T15:37:00.001-10:00

Please be sure to visit this wonderful site Pray4apriest and while you are there, be sure to request your prayer kit.

H/T Priests in Crisis

MOre on the CCHD

2009-11-18T12:19:00.002-10:00

The Three Priests - How Great Thou Art

2009-11-18T12:13:00.001-10:00

For my mom because she loves this hymn:

H/T Jean

St. Joseph and the Holy Souls in Purgatory

2009-11-18T10:35:00.002-10:00

Why should we be dedicated to St. Joseph?

St. Joseph is the Foster Father of our Judge and Savior. His power is dreaded by the devil. His death is the most singularly privileged and happiest death ever recorded as he died in the Presence and care of Jesus and Mary.

St. Joseph will obtain for us that same privilege at our passage from this life to eternity.

We are called to pray for a happy death and for the dying. Blessed Louis Guanella said, “There is a need of living well, but there is even more need of dying well. A good death is everything.”...

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H/T Sue Cifelli

The Vatican Alma Mater

2009-11-17T11:55:00.000-10:00

Press Release -
London, Wednesday 30 September 2009:
Released by Geffen/Universal with Multimedia San Paolo:

COMPOSERS ANNOUNCED FOR “ALMA MATER”, THE ALBUM FEATURING THE VOICE OF POPE BENEDICT XVI

"I am convinced that music really is the universal language of beauty which can bring together all people of good will on earth” Pope Benedict XVI"

London, 30 September 2009: It was announced today that Simon Boswell, Stefano Mainetti and Nour Eddine are the three contemporary composers who have contributed eight specially commissioned pieces of music for ‘Alma Mater’, the album which features the voice of Pope Benedict XVI, the Choir of the Philharmonic Academy of Rome conducted by Monsignor Pablo Colino and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. In keeping with the very special nature of 'Alma Mater', the album is released on Sunday 29 November by Geffen/Universal.

Vincent Messina, producer of Alma Mater, said:
"These three composers are world class and my first choices for the album. A happy co-incidence is that Stefano is Catholic, Simon is 'undeclared' and Nour is Muslim, thus perfectly representing our aim to produce an album that has universal appeal to all of those who love beautiful music. Their wonderful compositions for 'Alma Mater' have exceeded our expectations and we have all been very moved at how successfully these modern scores blend with the choir, the orchestra and the Pope’s voice. We feel sure that the music and the spoken word will both surprise and delight."

Rome-born Stefano Mainetti and Brit Simon Boswell are both celebrated and award-winning film composers. Mainetti has scored countless feature films, TV series, documentaries and stage productions, including the US Audio Bible, 'The Word of Promise'. Mainetti was also one of two composers who composed 'Abba Pater'. Boswell, who began his career in Italy, has composed for over 90 feature films, including several directed by Oscar-winning Danny Boyle. As well as writing for Alma Mater, Mainetti and Boswell have also been involved with the album’s music arrangements and production.

In writing for Alma Mater, the process was unusual, in that the starting point for the composers was not writing the music, but using the Gregorian Chants as the launch pad.

Stefano Mainetti:
"Here, instead of composing to a film script, which I’m used to, the ‘script’ was the Gregorian chants sang by the Choir and the words of the Pope, and it was fantastically inspiring."

Simon Boswell:
"Being in the historic space of St Peter's Basilica and listening to the air resonate with Gregorian chant was mesmerizing and a great responsibility - as it was when using the Holy Father’s voice. When composing, I was very sensitive to the rhythms of his speech. To me, the album has an uplifting, emotional core that, as with Renaissance art, you don’t have to be Catholic, Anglican or Muslim, to appreciate."

Nour Eddine is an Italy-based Moroccan musician and composer famed for world music, and to many, a highly imaginative choice for this ambitious project.

Nour Eddine: "It was a big surprise when I was asked by Vincent Messina to contribute to this album, because I'm from a traditional Arabic music background not a Classical one, but I then discovered that Gregorian chants and Arabic melody has deep historical roots in the Muslim world as well as the Christian world. It was a magical moment for me when the tradition of the Gregorian and my Arabic melody came together so harmoniously."

All three composers will be conducting their music from ‘Alma Mater’ at a series of concerts to launch the album in the winter – details to be announced.

Pope Benedict XV1 is expected to visit the UK in late 2010, the first papal visit to this country for more than 28 years.

The album was made possible by Multimedia San Paolo and Vatican Radio.

Advocata Nostra

http://del.interoute.com/?id=bfa0fe5e-e127-40c0-b356-2a1a0914a8e8&delivery=stream

Magistra Nostra

http://del.interoute.com/?id=d81e09b7-31d4-4a91-886e-5d6c3f554be2&delivery=stream

Jesus: Spiritual Warfare

2009-11-17T11:37:00.003-10:00

1. My daughter, I want to teach you about spiritual warfare. Never trust in yourself, but abandon yourself totally to My will. In desolation, darkness and various doubts, have recourse to Me.

2. Do not bargain with any temptation; lock yourself immediately in My Heart.

3. Put your self-love in the last place, so that it does not taint your deeds.

4. Bear with yourself with great patience.

5. Do not neglect interior mortifications.

6. Shun murmurers like a plague.

7. Let all act as they like; you are to act as I want you to.

8. If someone causes you trouble, think what good you can do for the person who caused you to suffer. Do not pour out your feelings.

9. Be silent when you are rebuked.

10. Do not ask everyone’s opinion, but only the opinion of your confessor; be as frank and simple as a child with him.

11. Do not become discouraged by ingratitude.

12. Do not examine with curiosity the roads down which I lead you.

13. When boredom and discouragement beat against your heart, run away from yourself and hide in My heart.

14. Do not fear struggle; courage itself often intimidates temptations, and they dare not attack us.

15. Always fight with the deep conviction that I am with you.

16. Do not be guided by feeling, because it is not always under your control; but all merit lies in the will.

17. I will not delude you with prospects of peace and consolations; on the contrary, prepare for great battles.

18. Know that you are now on a great stage where all Heaven and Earth are watching you.

19. Fight like a knight, so that I can reward you.

20. Do not be unduly fearful, because you are not alone.

The Lord Jesus to St. Maria Faustina Kowalska, Divine Mercy in My Soul, n. 1760

Source

H/T Sue Cifelli