Well, I Know It's Not My Fault

I buy lots of books :-)

Originally from Ironic Catholic and H/T to Ma Beck where I saw it.

BTW, I don't remember seeing the disclaimer that No Actual Books Were Harmed in the Making of this Video" :-(

Advent Wreath - 3rd Week

<img src="http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b129/joeymyson/3rdweek.gif" width="160" height="120" />

Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament

O Virgin Mary,
our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament,
you are the glory of the Christian people,
the joy of the universal Church,
and the salvation of the whole world.
Pray for us,
and awaken in all believers a vibrant devotion
for the most Holy Eucharist,
so that they may be worthy to partake daily
of this holy Sacrament of the Altar.

- New Saint Joseph People's Prayer Book, Catholic Book Publishing

A Poem For Friday

The Early Morning

The moon on the one hand, the dawn on the other:
The moon is my sister, the dawn is my brother.
The moon on my left and the dawn on my right.
My brother, good morning: my sister, good night.

- Hilaire Belloc

From The Home Book of Verse for Young Foks, Holt, Rinehart, and Winston

Three Ways to Fight the Devil

According to Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, one can fight the Devil with the following three ways. It is because the Devil hates them!

1. The Holy Name of Jesus -
Picture source: Moniales - Dominican Nuns


2. The Precious Blood of Jesus -

and the


3. Through our Blessed Mother of God -

Feast of San Juan de la Cruz

The following is the reflection from this morning's Magnificat's Meditation of the day.

"Love effects a likeness between the lover and the object loved...He who loves a creature, then, is as low as that creature, and in some way even lower, because love not only equates, but even subjects the lover to the loved object. By he mere fact, then, that a man loves something, his soul becomes incapable of pure union and transformation in God...Until a man is purged of his attachments he will not be equipped to possess God, neither here below through the pure transformation of love, nor in heaven through the beatific vision...Love causes equality and likeness and even brings the lover lower than the object of his love...All of the world's wisdom and human ability contrasted with the infinite wisdom of God is pure and utter ignorance...Anyone, there, who values his knowledge and ability as a means of reaching union with the wisdom of God is highly ignorant in God's sight and will be left behind, far away from this wisdom. Ignorance does not grasp what wisdom is; and in God's sight those who think they have some wisdom are very ignorant...Only those who set aside their own knowledge and walk in God's service like unlearned children receive wisdom from God...Accordingly, a man must advance to union with God's wisdom by unknowing rather than by knowing.

St. John of the Cross

Update - on the Franciscan Sisters Minor

Prayer Request for Franciscan Sisters Minor

This update comes from my friend Shana:

Esther,

I spoke to Diane, the daughter of Sr Mary Clare of the Franciscan
Sisters Minor and was updated on the new convent for the sisters.

The Diocese of Worcester has finally located a suitable house and is
now working out arrangements with the sisters. A good amount of money was raised, but not enough for the house to be purchased outright. Mother
Clement is working with the diocese to form an agreement that will
comply with their Rule and still allow the sisters to move in --maybe
'rent-to-own' -- but since the sisters have vows of absolute poverty,
there are some pretty big obstacles that have to be worked out first.

It is not too late to send donations to the Diocese for the new
convent! Donations, marked "St Paul Cathedral/convent", with "Franciscan Sisters Minor" in the memo line, can still be sent to:

Roman Catholic Diocese of Worcester
49 Elm Street
Worcester, MA 01609

The Sisters are all very grateful to all who have given generously to
the cause of their new house! They were astonished to see how many people from all over the country (and I think a few from out of the country)
sent donations and could not imagine how so many found out about their
need so quickly. Diane can only speak with her mother by phone once a
month or so, and had no time to write to her, so none of the sisters
knew about my asking on their behalf through the blogs! If you have prayed for them or sent money, consider yourself thanked into Eternity by the Sisters!

In the Sacred & Immaculate Hearts - shana

Feast of St. Lucy

Prayer While Shopping During Advent

Thanks Sue!

Dear God, as I look through my gift shopping list, I hold up to you
each person listed on it. Slowly, one by one, I ask that the fire of
your abundant love burn within each of them. I pray that the gift I
find for each person will bring joy into that life.

But, help me to keep a balance this season, Lord. Let me keep my
buying in perspective, not to spend more than I need to or can
afford. Let me not give in to the pressures of this world and not
equate love with money spent. Let me always remember the many, many
people who have so much less in material things. Help me to buy
wisely, so that my choices will not burden those in other countries
who are so deeply affected by this country's economy.

And finally, loving God, help me to find time in the frantic moments
of each day to become centered on you. Walking through a store,
riding on the bus, hurrying down a street: let each of these times be
moments when I can remember your incredible love for me and rejoice in it.

<*}}}><Half the Kingdom!

The Burden of Addiction

UPDATE: For those of you requesting prayers for loved ones or friends, I have posted a prayer request at The One Came Back Prayer Request Blog.

Please feel free to continue leaving prayers requests either here or there.

God bless,

Esther

Shared by Sue Cifelli

Article at Divine Mercy at Stockbridge

As a Marian priest, I hear a lot of amazing stories about how people who are hurting discover the mercy of God and then see their lives turned around for the better. The Lord promises as much. "When you seek Me with all your heart you will find Me … and I will change your lot" (Jer 29:13-14).

The mercy of God is not just some pie-in-the-sky cure for a select few. It's for everyone!

With this in mind, I'd like to talk about addiction. Why? Because addicts — whether they are addicted to drugs, drink, sex, whatever — all have a way out of their misery through our Merciful Lord...