Picture source: Joyce Images and used with permission.
Saturday, March 01, 2008
Friday, February 29, 2008
Fine Art Friday
Featuring the artwork of Filippo Lippi.
Italian painter, b. at Florence about 1406; d. at Spoleto, 9 October, 1469. Left an orphan at the age of two he was cared for by an aunt who being too poor to rear him placed him at the age of eight in the neighbouring Carmelite convent, where he was educated. At the age of fifteen he received the habit, and at sixteen pronounced his vows (1421). At this time Masolino and Masaccio undertook in the Carmelite church those frescoes of the Brancacci chapel (1423-28), which brought about a revolution in the Florentine school. This event decided Lippi's vocation. Perhaps he even worked in the Brancacci chapel under the direction of the two masters but nothing remains of the cameo frescoes which he executed in the cloister.Source: New Advent Catholic Encyclopedia
Thursday, February 28, 2008
The Virtual St. Joseph's Altar - 2008
Thanks to my friend Becca, I see that Thank Evann has continued the tradition of the virtual St. Joseph's Altar through her website below:
The Virtual St. Joseph's Altar 2008
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Election Prayer to Mary
My dear Mom strongly suggested I post a prayer to have God and His blessed Mother guide our elections. I found the right on on SR's Blog
O Most Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Mercy, at this most critical time, we entrust the United States of America to your loving care.Original source: EWTN
Most Holy Mother, we beg you to reclaim this land for the glory of your Son. Overwhelmed with the burden of the sins of our nation, we cry to you from the depths of our hearts and seek refuge in your motherly protection.
Look down with mercy upon us and touch the hearts of our people. Open our minds to the great worth of human life and to the responsibilities that accompany human freedom.
Free us from the falsehoods that lead to the evil of abortion and threaten the sanctity of family life. Grant our country the wisdom to proclaim that God’s law is the foundation on which this nation was founded, and that He alone is the True Source of our cherished rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
O Merciful Mother, give us the courage to reject the culture of death and the strength to build a new Culture of Life.
Sculpture of the Crucifixion in Amarillo
The above is one of the work of art in a series of sculptures. You can check out the rest HERE
The monument is located on the south side of Interstate 40 near the community of Groom, Texas. In addition to what you see in these photos there are a gift shop, a display of a replica of the Shroud of Turin, an empty tomb with an angel, a devine mercy fountain, a memorial to the innocent victims of abortion, and a visitor center under construction. Future plans are to complete the visitor center and add a chapel and gardens with other Biblical scenes in life size bronze.Thanks to June for sharing.
"Before You Go"....Thank You!
Tissue Alert for some of you.
I am posting this to honor my dear father in law Isidore and his generation. Thanks Dad!
Thanks to Faye for sharing.
Video
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Priestly Vocations in America: Recent Trends
Picture source: Joyce Images and used with permission.H/T to Ignatius Insight Scoop
A survey of dioceses rich in seminarians and dioceses poor in them.ARTICLE
DIOCESES AT THE BOTTOM
The 20 dioceses with the lowest ratio of diocesan seminarians to Catholics in 2006—starting with the bottom-ranked diocese—were San Diego, Honolulu, Metuchen, Las Vegas, Laredo, Los Angeles, New York, Hartford, El Paso, Rochester, Santa Rosa, San Antonio, Galveston-Houston, Rockville Centre, Boston, Syracuse, Detroit, San Bernardino, Reno, and Monterey.Although, Honolulu is one of the Diocese in the bottom 20, there is hope under our bishop and our vocations director, that more men will answer the call to the priesthood.
Bishop Silva says, "Since 2006, we have gone from one seminarian to three current seminarians. In addition, I recently ordained to the priesthood three men who came to the diocese from an institute of apostolic life. Our challenge is to create a culture in which priests, religious, parents, catechists, and parishioners promote vocations to the priesthood and religious life. This has been one of my highest priorities since I became bishop of Honolulu." Bishop Silva appointed a new full-time director of vocations in July.Prayer by the laity is also of crucial importance for our men to answer the call to the priesthood. This is one reason why Easter and I are felt the need to respond to the call of the Vatican to provide our priests and seminarians with spiritual moms.
So When Do We Celebrate the Feast of St. Patrick?
We all know by now the Feast of St. Joseph has been moved from March 19th to March 15th. Now, it seems St. Patrick's Day also has been moved in churches that observe his optional memorial. Here's the thing, as I understand it, St. Patrick falls on March 17th, the Monday of Holy Week. If your parish is like our parish here St. Patrick's and you celebrate his optional memorial, it will have to be observed on Friday, March 14th. Got it?
However, since March 14th falls on a Friday DURING Lent, you will have to abstain from the corned beef and cabbage until the following Monday, which is St. Patrick's original feast day, March 17th.
If you think I'm making this up, read about it in the Hawaii Catholic Herald's article Begorrah! Saint Paddy’s Day is when?
A Rosary Reflection on the Agony of the Cross
by Fr. Patrick Peyton in Rosary Prayer Book.
No one who knew Jesus, or heard Him speak, or watched miracles radiate from His compassionate power, could remain indifferent to Him. If one did not love Jesus ardently, one hated Him. Even as a Baby, He was hated by Herod who tried to murder Him; yet the Christ Child was loved by wiser men from the East. Pharisees hated Him with the cancerous malice bred of envy; the Apostles loved Him like little children. Even Judas had loved Him. And, infinitely, Jesus had loved Judas. The traitor's kiss in the Garden was more than a sign for the soldiers- it was the memorial of a dead love.
Jesus would rather be scourged by His frank enemies than be kissed by a treacherous friend. That is why my sins hurt Him more than the crimes of men who hate Him openly.
Saintly Quote
Picture source Joyce Images and used with permission.Shared by Sue:
In times of dryness and desolation we must be patient, and wait with resignation the return of consolation, putting our trust in the goodness of God. We must animate ourselves by the thought that God is always with us, that He only allows this trial for our greater good, and that we have not necessarily lost His grace because we have lost the taste and feeling of it.
Saint Ignatius of Loyola
A Daily Prayer for Lent
Shared by Sue
A Daily Prayer for Lent
Today Lord I choose life,
I choose your love and the challenge to live it and share it,
I choose hope, even in moments of darkness,
I choose faith, accepting you as Lord and God,
I choose to let go of some part of my burdens, day by day handing them over to you,
I choose to take hold of Your strength and power ever more deeply in my life.
May this truly be for me a time of new life, of change, challenge and growth.
May I come to Easter with a heart open to dying with You and rising to Your new life, day by day.
Amen.
Monday, February 25, 2008
The Dominicans - Vocation Film
Easter of A Tribute to Our Priests has posted the most wonderful old vocations video by the Orders of Preachers. It is a film from 1964 and narrated by the late actor Dana Elcar.Watch it here
Picture source: here
St. Joan of Arc - Maid in Heaven
Picture source: This siteA reader left the following video link in a comment. Mahalo em2hisbluff33!
The trailer is to promote the book Maid of Heaven. The link also appears on my sidebar.
