WOULD YOU PLEDGE SOME PRAYERS FOR AN INCREASE OF VOCATIONS TO THE PRIESTHOOD, DIACONATE, AND CONSECRATED LIFE?

Vocations Director Father Peter Dumag running the Honolulu Marathon 2008
Photo Courtesy of the Hawaii Catholic Herald

From the desk of Bishop Larry Silva:

Father Peter Dumag, the Director of Vocations of the Diocese of Honolulu, has put out a call to all Catholics to a special way of promoting vocations. On Presidents’ Day, February 16, 2009, I will participate in the Great Aloha Run, a course of 8+ miles from the Aloha Tower to the Aloha Stadium. (Since my bad knees would loudly protest the high impact of running, I will be walking the course.)

More information can be found here

The Stranger

Shared by Lloyd.

A few years after I was born, my Dad met a stranger who was new to our
small Michigan town. From the beginning, Dad was fascinated with this enchanting newcomer and soon invited him to live with our family. The stranger was quickly accepted and was around from then on.

As I grew up, I never questioned his place in my family. In my young mind, he had a special niche. My parents were complementary instructors: Mom taught me good from evil, and Dad taught me to obey. But the stranger...he was our storyteller. He would keep us spellbound for hours on end with Adventures, mysteries and comedies.

If I wanted to know anything about politics, history or science, he always knew the answers about the past, understood the present and even seemed able to predict the future! He took my family to the first major league ball game. He made me laugh, and he made me cry. The stranger never stopped Talking, but Dad didn't seem to mind.

Sometimes, Mom would get up quietly while the rest of us were shushing each other to listen to what he had to say, and she would go to the kitchen for peace and quiet. (I wonder now if she ever prayed for the stranger to leave.)

Dad ruled our household with certain moral convictions, but the stranger never felt obligated to honor them. Profanity, for example, was not allowed in our home... Not from us, our friends or any visitors. Our longtime visitor, however, got away with four-letter words that burned my ears and made my dad squirm and my mother blush. My Dad didn't permit the liberal use of alcohol. But the stranger encouraged us to try it on a regular Basis. He made cigarettes look cool, cigars manly and pipes distinguished.

He talked freely (much too freely!) about sex. His comments were sometimes blatant, sometimes suggestive, and generally embarrassing.

I now know that my early concepts about relationships were influenced strongly by the stranger. Time after time, he opposed the values of my parents, yet he was seldom rebuked... And NEVER asked to leave.

More than fifty years have passed since the stranger moved in with our family. He has blended right in and is not nearly as fascinating as he was at first. Still, if you could walk into my parents' den today, you would still find him sitting over in his corner, waiting for someone to listen to him talk and watch him draw his pictures.

His name?.... .. .



We just call him 'TV.'

He has a wife now...We call her 'Computer.'

A Christian

Several years ago, a priest was transferred to a distant village church in his diocese. Some weeks after he arrived, he had an occasion to ride the bus from his church to the nearest town. When he sat down, he discovered that the driver had accidentally given him a quarter too much change.

As he considered what to do, he told himself, 'You'd better give the quarter back. It would be wrong to keep it.'

Then he thought, 'Oh, forget it, it's only a quarter. Who would worry about this little amount? Anyway, the bus company makes huge profits; they will never miss it. Accept it as a 'gift from God' and keep quiet.'

When his stop came, he paused momentarily at the door, and then he handed the quarter to the driver and said, 'Here, you gave me too much change. '

The driver, with a smile, replied, 'You are the new priest in the village, right?'

'Yes' he replied.

'Well, I have lately been thinking a lot about going somewhere to pray. I just wanted to see what you would do if I gave you extra change. You'll see me at church on Sunday.'

When the priest stepped off of the bus, he literally grabbed the nearest light pole, held on, and said, 'Oh God, I almost sold You for a quarter!'

Thanks to Madalena for sharing.

Saintly Quote - Souls for Heaven

Let us encourage one another to suffer willingly out of love of
Jesus, who, with such great love shed his blood for us. Let us work
hard to win souls for heaven.

St. Maria De Mattias (1805-1866)

Shared by Sue

BREAKING NEWS: EWTN Picks Up Ball NBC Dropped in Refusing to Air Pro-Life Commercial During Super Bowl

BREAKING NEWS:

EWTN Picks Up the Ball NBC Dropped in Refusing to

Air Pro-life Commercial During Super Bowl



Irondale, AL (EWTN) – See the pro-life commercial NBC refused to air during the Super Bowl on EWTN Global Catholic Network this Sunday Feb. 1, beginning at 5:30 p.m. ET and continuing through midnight ET.

The commercial, sponsored by Fidelis and catholicvote.com, centers around the theme: “Life: Imagine the Potential.” It will begin airing during “Faith Bowl II,” an annual Family Theatre made-for-television special, which analyzes the role that the Catholic/Christian Faith plays in professional and collegiate sports. This year, Major League Baseball’s Mark Loretta of the Los Angeles Dodgers will guest along with former professional soccer player Antonio Soave.

The commercials will continue throughout EWTN’s Sunday evening lineup, including the shows with popular series Hosts Father Benedict Groeschel and Father John Corapi, and will conclude at midnight ET.

EWTN also aired this powerful commercial several times during its extensive coverage of the March for Life; an event which has been boycotted by virtually every mainstream media outlet in the country, despite the fact that every year it is Washington, D.C.’s largest march.

The commercial can also be viewed on EWTN’s pro-life webpage, www.ewtn.com/prolife, after 6 p.m. Friday, Jan. 30, and, of course, on www.catholicvote.com.

What follows are the words that flash across the screen over a picture of an ultrasound during the must-see pro-life commercial: “This child’s future is a broken home, he will be abandoned by his father, his single mother will struggle to raise him, despite the hardships he will endure, this child will become the 1st African-American president. Life, imagine the potential.”

EWTN Global Catholic Network, in its 28th year, is available in over 148 million television households in more than 140 countries and territories. With its direct broadcast satellite television and radio services, AM & FM radio networks, worldwide short-wave radio station, Internet website www.ewtn.com and publishing arm, EWTN, is the largest religious media network in the world.

-end-

Michelle Johnson

Director of Communications

EWTN Global Catholic Network

5817 Old Leeds Road
Irondale , Alabama 35210-2198 USA

(205) 795-5769 – Office

(205) 441-6248 ­– Cell

(205) 795-5781 – Fax

mjohnson@ewtn.com

Fine Art Friday - Vincent Van Gogh

Self-Portrait
Pieta
The Raising of Lazarus 1890
Van Gogh Museum Amsterdam
Starry Night 1889

Oleanders 1888
Bedroom at Arles 1888-1810
Van Gogh Museum Amsterdam
Sunflowers 1888
Irises 1890
Amsterdam's Van Gogh Museum
Today we are featuring the art Vincent Van Gogh. For more paintings and the hauntingly beautiful musical tribute, please watch Starry, Starry Night:



You can also watch the trailer for Lust for Life starring Kirk Douglas as Vincent Van Gogh and Anthony Quinn as Paul Gauguin:

Saintly Advice - Do Not Listen to Those Who Oppose God's Voice

The strength of temptation usually lies in the fact that its object is something flattering to our pride, soothing to our sloth, or in some way attractive to the baser passions.

St. Isidore teaches us to listen neither to the promptings of nature nor the plausible advice of friends, when they contradict the voice of God.

Shared by Sue

St. Michael Prayer Campaign for the Conversion of Abortionists

Dear Friends,

Catholic pro-lifers naturally turn to Saint Michael, the prince of the heavenly host, in our struggle against the principalities and powers of the culture of death. Pope Leo XIII composed a magnificent prayer to Saint Michael and ordered it to be recited after the celebration of the Mass. Pope Pius XI asked the faithful to pray it for the restoration of religious freedom in Russia, and it was popularly tied to the Fatima prayer intention of the conversion of Russia whose "errors" were spreading throughout the world. Since the Soviet Union was the first country to legalize abortion, we can rightly see in the modern abortion industry an extension of the "errors" of atheistic communism.

Although no longer obligatory, since 1965, an increasing number of parishes and individuals are going back to praying to Saint Michael after Mass. Pope John Paul II himself urged the faithful in 1994 "...to recite it to obtain help in the battle against the forces of darkness and against the spirit of this world."

Human Life International is convinced that invoking Saint Michael's protection is necessary in the Church's victory over the satanic attacks against innocent human life that characterize our modern world. Please join us in reciting the Saint Michael Prayer with the intention of respect for human life from conception to natural death and the conversion of abortionists. We are distributing free prayer cards which can be ordered in English, Spanish, French, Italian or Portuguese. ( Click here)

We also ask you to sign our petition to re-establish the universal practice of saying the Saint Michael Prayer after Mass. ( Click here) It would be most appropriate for the Holy Father to ask Catholics everywhere to unite in a powerful prayer to cast out the greatest evil of our times, the slaughter of almost two billion innocent children whose blood cries out to heaven.

Saint Michael, guardian and defender of the Church of Jesus Christ, Pray for us!

Yours in Christ,

Rev. Thomas J. Euteneuer
President, Human Life International

<*}}}>< <*}}}> Original Version of the Prayer to St. Michael the Archangel written by Pope Leo XIII in 1886 Prayer to St. Michael the Archangel

Glorious Prince of the Celestial Host, St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in the conflict which we have to sustain against principalities and powers, against the rulers of the world of darkness, against the spirits of wickedness in the high places (Eph 6:12). Come to the rescue of men whom God has redeemed at a great price from the tyranny of the devil. It is thou whom Holy Church venerates as her guardian and her protector; thou whom the Lord has charged to conduct redeemed souls into heaven. Pray therefore, the God of peace, to subdue Satan beneath our feet, that he may no longer retain men captive nor do injury to the Church. Present our prayers to the Most High, that without delay they may draw His mercy down upon us. Seize "the dragon, the ancient serpent, which is the devil and Satan," bind him and cast him into the bottomless pit..."that he may no longer seduce the nations" (Rev 20:2-3).

Sanctus Míchael Archángelus Prínceps gloriosíssime caeléstis milítiae, sancte Míchael Archángele, defénde nos in prœlio advérsus príncipes et potestátes, advérsus mundi rectóres tenebrárum harum, contra spirituália nequítiae in caeléstibus. Veni in auxílium hóminum, quos Deus ad imáginem similitúdinis suae fecit, et a tyránnide diáboli emit prétio magno. Te custódem et patrónum sancta venerátur Ecclésia; tibi trádidit Dóminus ánimas redemptórum in supérna felicitáte locándas. Deprecáre Deum pacis, ut cónterat Sátanam sub pédibus nostris, ne ultra váleat captívos tenére hómines et Ecclésiae nocére. Offer nostras preces in conspéctu Altíssimi, ut cito antícipent nos misericórdiae Dómini, et apprehéndas dracónem, serpéntem antíquum, qui est diábolus et sátanas et ligátum mittas in abýssum, ut non sedúcat ámplius gentes. Amen.

Shared by Sue

“CALL UPON MARY”

St. Bernard (1090-1153), Abbot of Clairvaux in Burgundy, France, Doctor of the Church, and great devotee of Mary, reminds us to have recourse always to Mary.


In danger, anguish, or doubt,
think of Mary and call upon her.
Let the name of Mary
never be far from your lips or heart.
And to obtain the fruit of her prayers,
do not forget the example of her life.
Following Mary,
you will never lose your way.
Praying to her,
you will never sink into despair.
Contemplating Mary,
you will never go wrong.
With Mary’s support,
you will never fall.
Beneath her protection,
you will never fear.
Under her guidance,
you will never grow weary.
And with her help,
you will reach your heavenly goal.

Shared by Brother John M. Samaha, S.M.
Marianist Center

Hawaii Right to Life

Hawaii Right to Life should be congratulated for their tireless work in defending life in Hawaii, the first state to legalize abortion.

Please keep HRTL in your prayers.

Also, please help them get better known in the pro-life blogosphere by visiting the HRTL blog, subscribing to their feed and/or by following them.

Mahalo.

Novena to End Abortion

Eternal Father, we, Your unworthy servants approach You.

We ask You to protect the lives of the Holy Innocents of this day and age,the pre-born.

Please bless them and keep them from the moment of conception to natural death.

We ask the guardian angels of the pre-born to watch over and protect these children.

Enkindle the flame of maternal and paternal love in current and future parents,
so they may be open to life and accept children lovingly and willingly according to Your Will.

Enlighten every mind to the horror of abortion
and the evil of artificial contraception,
and give us the courage and strength to fight for the Culture of Life
with truth and love.

We humbly ask You in the Holy Name of Jesus this favor
and through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary,
her spouse St. Joseph, St. Michael the Archangel,
and Your good and faithful servants, Pope John Paul the Great and Pope Paul VI,
please hear and answer our prayers.

For You are our God, The God of salvation and compassion,
And we glorify You, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
Now and forever, And unto ages of ages.
Amen.

(Say one Our Father, 3 Hail Mary's,
1 Guardian Angel Prayer, and 1 Glory Be)

Holy Jesus, Infant of Prague - HEAR OUR PRAYER
Immaculate Heart of Mary - PRAY FOR US
St. Joseph - PRAY FOR US
St. Michael the Archangel - PRAY FOR US
Pope John Paul the Great - PRAY FOR US
Pope Paul VI - PRAY FOR US

Jesus, meek and humble of heart,
make my heart like unto to yours.
Amen.


This novena was a collaborative project between
Chuck Abraham and Joan Hasselman
Chuck Abraham, privateervideo@yahoo.com

Shared by Sue

Nun Serves God and Country

She's an Army captain, a Catholic sister and a doctor.

Deirdre Byrne wears many hats — quite literally: a scrub hat when she's doing surgery and a habit as part of her everyday attire.

Article

Thanks to Lois for sharing this with me.

Pope receives robe and stole belonging to Archbishop Rahho and Fr. Ragheed, martyrs of Iraq

Archbishop Paul Faraj Rahho


Picture source

The Iraqi Chaldean bishops have given Benedict XVI the liturgical robe of Archbishop Paul Faraj Rahho (see photo) and the stole belonging to Fr. Ragheed Ganni. Both men were killed in Mosul, Archbishop Rahho in 2008, Fr. Ragheed in 2007. The gifts were given during the concluding audience for the ad limina visit made recently by the Eastern bishops. The pope received the relics "with emotion," and recalled the "victims of violence in Iraq during these years" - and in particular the two martrys and the many other priests and faithful - saying that "their sacrifice is a sign of their love for the Church and their country."

Article

Thanks to Sue for sharing.

Act of Contrition

Forgive me my sins, O Lord, forgive me my sins;
the sins of my youth, the sins of my age, the sins of my soul,
the sins of my body; my idle sins, my serious voluntary sins;
the sins I know, the sins I do not know; the sins I have concealed
for so long, and which are now hidden from my memory.

I am truly sorry for every sin, mortal and venial,
for all the sins of my childhood up to the present hour.

I know my sins have wounded Thy Tender Heart,
O My Savior, let me be freed from the bonds of evil through
the most bitter Passion of My Redeemer. Amen.

O My Jesus, forget and forgive what I have been. Amen.


Source

Shared by Sue

Ceremony purges White House of evil spirits

The following was sent to me by Lois. I did not know what to make of this because at first I thought this was a joke. Apparently, it is not.

...On Monday, January 19th at 6:00 pm, hundreds gathered at Dupont Circle for this frivolous, yet remarkable, ceremony. A shaman was there to perform the ceremony. Rabbi Sharon Klein delivered the invocation. Together with organizer, Kate Clinton, they took on the gargantuan task of cleansing the White House of evil spirits...

Of course, there needs to be some Catholic-bashing...

Our purpose here tonight is to celebrate the end of the Bush regime with the saging of the White House”, bellowed Kate Clinton, kicking off the event before a crowd of about 2000 people.

...Just before the ceremony Clinton fired up the crowd by introducing a mock chant like Catholics do during mass. She would chant/sing distasteful parts of the Bush legacy and the crowd would sing back, “Na na naa na, na na naa na, hey hey hey. Goooobyyyye!”...

...No one is certain whether the event occurred in close enough proximity to the White House to have any effect...

Ironically, it wasn't the White House under President Bush that was possessed...

The Battle for Life

Quote from Father Benedict Groeschel:

"We did not declare war on Obama; Obama declared war on us."

Father Groeschel was referring to pro-lifers vs. the culture of death on his program today.

How the House Stimulus Bill Undercuts Parental Authority

Buried in the economic stimulus legislation is a provision further undercutting parental authority and expanding control of taxpayer dollars by family planning clinics. No doubt these provisions are embodied in the economic stimulus package because their congressional sponsors believe that they would not be enacted if considered separately on their own merits...

Read the rest at the Heritage Foundation website
H/T Sue F.

Blessings of things designated for ordinary use

Many blessings can be found at the following link, such as the blessing of bread and pastries, blessing of any kind of medicine, blessing of beer, blessing of cheese and butter, blessing of salt or oats for animal, blessing of fire, blessing of linen for the sick, blessing of stretcher, ambulance or wheelchair, blessing of an automobile, blessing or airplane, ship and boat, etc.

Sancta Missa's Blessings

Shared by Sue

Daily Resolution - The Conversion of St. Paul

Conversion of St. Paul by Murillo

Today I will share a thought from the Gospel or from the Holy Father’s teaching with at least two people whom I encounter.

Regnum Christi Daily Meditation

Offering of Masses for the Holy Souls in Purgatory

My God, I offer this action of mine, and every action of my whole life, in union with the Precious Blood in all the Masses this hour being offered all over the world, or that will be offered for all time--to Thine infinite rejoicing and delight.

To the glory of the Sacred Heart and in thanksgiving for all the graces bestowed on the Sacred Humanity of Our Lord Jesus Christ:
I offer Thee the Precious Blood, O my God!

To the honour of Our Blessed Lady, and in thanksgiving for all graces bestowed on her, especially in her Immaculate Conception, Divine Maternity, and Glorious Assumption:
I offer Thee the Precious Blood, O my God!

In honour of St. Joseph, my Angel Guardian, my Patron Saint, St. Michael and the nine choirs of angels:
I offer Thee the Precious Blood, O my God!

For all the interests of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament:
I offer Thee the Precious Blood O my God!

For the conversion of sinners, the prevention of sin, help for those in their last agony or to die this day:
I offer Thee the Precious Blood, O my God!

For special graces for all whom I love, for friends and relatives, for all who have asked my prayers or whom I have promised to pray for, or who have any claim on my prayers:
I offer Thee the Precious Blood, O my God!

For all whom I have injured or disedified:
I offer Thee the Precious Blood, O my God!

For all the souls in Purgatory, especially for my own relatives and friends, all whom I have promised to pray for, or who want my prayers:
I offer Thee the Precious Blood, O my God!

For my enemies--for all who have unkind hearts for me:
I offer Thee the Precious Blood, O my God!

For all my intentions and wants, spiritual and temporal:
I offer Thee the Precious Blood, O my God!

In atonement for my sins, for the sins of the whole world, for all the wants of Holy Church:
I offer Thee the Precious Blood, O my God!

IMPRIMI POTEST:
D. MANNIX

Source
Shared by Sue