Grace Before Meals

The following is from Brother John Samaha, S.M.

A BLESSING BEFORE MEALS

(Sing to the melody of Edelweiss)



Bless our friends, bless our food,
Come, O Lord, and be with us.
May our talk glow with peace,
Bring your love to surround us.

Friendship and peace,
May they bloom and grow,
Bloom and grow forever.
Bless our friends, bless our food,
Bless your people forever.

Three Year Old Adam is a Martyr

This angelic little boy was killed because he told the terrorists to stop the killing.

Cry for Peace from 3 Year old and then He is Shot Dead

H/T to my twitter friend @Christomicro.

On Forgiveness and the Holy Mass

Picture source

When we are overwhelmed by the remembrance of our sins, and seek wherewith to repair our offenses and satisfy divine justice more fully, so that the penalty of sin may be remitted, we cannot find a more efficacious and reassuring means than the Mass.

- Blessed Columba Marmion

From the November 2010 Magnificat

On Loyalty to the Pope

Picture source

They, therefore, walk in the path of dangerous error who believe that they can accept Christ as the Head of the Church, while not adhering loyally to his Vicar on Earth.

- Venerable Pope Pius XII

from the November 2010 Magnificat

Prayer to the Real Presence

Picture source

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus,

Truly present

in the Holy Eucharist,

I place my trust in You.

Christ the King

This is being posted early since I am not on the computer on Sundays.

Picture source

I received the following email:

In honor of this weekend’s upcoming Feast of Christ the King, the Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity (who serve at St. Theresa in Kekaha) offer two free song downloads. Bob Filaromo’s “Jesus Christ Is Lord” and Innocence Mission’s “Christ Is My Hope”. Visit Franciscan Alert: Bob Filoramo and The Innocence Mission Offer Free Downloads For Feast of Christ the King

The first one is beautiful.

The Dominican Sisters of Mary - on Oprah - New Show

The following is from an email I received today from the sisters:

Dear Friend:

The Dominican Sisters of Mary will be featured on the Oprah Winfrey Show on Tuesday, November 23rd.

This is a new show that includes interviews with Mother Assumpta, Sr. Joseph Andrew, Sr. Mary Samuel, Sr. John Dominic and other Sisters; as well as on-site filming of the First and Final Profession Masses and this year’s Entrance Day, during which we welcomed 22 Aspirants.

The show will feature the experience of a Sister entering religious life and the meaning of religious profession as being ‘married’ to Christ.

You may recall that Oprah first reached out to our community on February 9th of this year due to an interest in the hidden aspects of religious life. Click here to watch an excerpt from that program.

The response from the first show was so positive that the Sisters were asked if we would be open to another opportunity to share our life. We have accepted this invitation in the hopes of reaching an audience we might not otherwise reach with the witness of our life and the Gospel. Please join us in praying that the show will be for the good of souls and the honor of God.

As we approach the Thanksgiving holiday, let us give thanks to God for His bountiful goodness. May God bless you and your families during this holiday season.

In Jesus and Mary,

The Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist
p.s. To learn more about supporting the Sisters’ ongoing formation and education, click here.

The Courage to Combat Violence Done in the Name of Islam

"...That the world has been turning a deaf ear to the cries of Iraqi Christians was emphasized by Syrian Catholic Patriarch Ignace Joseph III Younan of Antioch in Lebanon. “Christians are slaughtered in Iraq, in their homes and churches, and the so-called ‘free’ world is watching in complete indifference, interested only in responding in a way that is politically correct and economically opportune, but in reality is hypocritical,” said the Patriarch, who from 1995-2009 was the Bishop of Our Lady of Deliverance of Newark, NJ. “There are a few churches and Christian institutions left in Baghdad, not so great a number that it is not unreasonable for them to be protected, security-wise,” he continued, saying that the protection provided by the Iraqi government is “far less than what we have hoped for and requested.”..."

Read the entire article The Courage to Combat Violence Done in the Name of Islam here

H/T to Sue Cifelli

The True Story of Thanksgiving: Squanto, the Pilgrims, and the Pope

First Thanksgiving by Jennie Brownscombe

Picture source

We and the Mayflower Pilgrims owe thanks to the Pope and some Catholic priests for the Thanksgiving of 1621 with Squanto and the Plymouth Colony.

Read Father Gordon MacRae's The True Story of Thanksgiving, Squanto, the Pilgrims and the Pope

I am posting it today so you can read it before Thanksgiving Day next Thursday.

Prayer for Those Grieving the Death of a Loved One

The Death of St. Joseph

Picture source

God of life and death, You have taken a beloved one from me. My heart is very heavy. I recall that Your Son, Jesus Christ, became man in all things except sin and that He groaned in sorrow at the death of His friend, Lazarus. I unite my grief with Yours dear Jesus, as You stood at the tomb of Lazarus.

O Virgin Mother, you know what it was like losing your husband Joseph, and then your child. dying suspended between earth and heaven, with a sword piercing your sweet soul. To you do I come in sorrow, begging strength from your intercession, from you who fully understand what it is like to lose one so dear and close.

Share with me, dear Mother of God, the courage, the strong faith that you had in the future resurrection. Even after Jesus came back to life and ascended into heaven, you knew you were to be left alone for many years before your own assumption into heaven. You comforted the Apostles as their Queen and Mother during those years. Grant comfort to me now as I sorrow in pain at the loss by the separation that has come as a result of the sin of our first parents and my own sins. Wipe away my tears with the merciful love of your Immaculate Heart as you unite me with my loved one through the grace of the Sacred Heart of your Son Jesus Christ. Amen.

Prayerbook for Catholics, Father Robert J. Fox

What is the process towards sainthood? Key points of Canonization

Our Holy Father Benedict XVI Urges the Whole World to Unite in a Prayer Vigil for All Nascent Human Life

In the evening of November 27, 2010 at the liturgical beginning of Advent - a time of joyful anticipation for the birth of Christ - His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI will celebrate a prayer vigil in St Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican for the intention of all nascent human life. At the request of the Holy Father, a letter was sent to all the episcopal conferences of the Catholic Church this past June asking them to take part in this prayer and to organize prayer vigils at the beginning of Advent in all local churches. This letter was jointly sent by Cardinal Antonio Cañizares Llovera, Prefect of the Pontifical Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, and by Cardinal Ennio Antonelli, President of the Pontifical Council for the Family.

Let’s do everything possible so that our parishes, communities, prayer groups and families join in this universal prayer for life, in communion with the Holy Father. Personal prayer in union with the Church for the intention of defending preborn human life is our duty and raises great hope that with God’s help the civilization of life and love will triumph.

For details on how to join Pope Benedict in prayer during the Vigil for All Nascent Human Life, click here.