Friday, February 22, 2013

Teenage Venerable Proposed as Model for Lent


Picture source

Shared by Brother John Samaha


Blog Offers Daily Quote From Faustino Pérez-Manglano
ROME, February 19, 2013 (Zenit.org) - In this Lent just now beginning, the Society of Mary (Marianists) are presenting the figure of the Venerable Faustino Pérez-Manglano Magro, a young Spaniard who died in 1963. He was a student at the Colegio Nuestra Señora del Pilar in Valencia and can be presented as a model of holiness for youth.
The principal means for this project will be a new blog dedicated to Faustino (in four languages), opened for this occasion and remaining active even beyond the celebrations. Each day of Lent a passage from the Gospel of the day, a quotation from Faustino and a meditation by Father José María Salaverri are offered, along with an image adapted to a teenage public.
The participants will be able to publish their reactions on the blog or on the Facebook social network and dialog among themselves. They can also follow with Twitter.
The Society of Mary hopes that this initiative will contribute to the evangelization of today’s young people and to making better known this gift that God has made to the Marianist Family and to the Church in the person of Venerable Faustino.
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On the Net:
To participate:
http://faustino.marianistas.org/en/
https://www.facebook.com/FaustinoPerezMaglano
https://twitter.com/faustinopm

Thursday, February 21, 2013

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Recommended Pro-Life Movie

Also posted at the Aloha Life Advocates blog.


Meant to Be is a fairly new movie with a strong pro-life message. It was produced by Christian PureFlix Production Company.  This movie is currently available via streaming on Netflix.


We're proud to announce the release of our new pro-life movie Meant to Be starring Dean Cain, Della Reese, Erika Eleniak, and Bradley Dorsey. We're particularly excited about this release with the immense opportunity and platform to speak Christ's love into the lives of thousands of women making important decisions about their pregnancies and the value of their own life. The movie deals with a dramatic story of writer Nathan Burr (Bradley Dorsey) who is in search of his birth mother after being raised in a foster home. It also intertwines with the story of a young pregnant girl named Tori (Erin Sossoman) who is dealing with the thoughts of abortion as she struggles to find any value in herself and her unborn babies life.
"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose." -Romans 8:28

Urgent Prayer Request for Our Holy Father


Please read the latest article with regard to our Holy Father's declining health.  Article can be found here.

In fact, please join in the novena for the pope which begins today.  The first day is shared below.  Please share with others.  See below for easy sharing instructions.


Day 1 - Novena Prayers for Pope Benedict
 
Heavenly father, Your Providence guides the Church and the successor to St. Peter, Pope Benedict XVI. May he be protected at all times from spiritual attacks so that he may lead Your Church to greater holiness and unity through your Holy Spirit.
 
[Insert your intentions and personal petitions for the Pope here]
 
Prayer for the Pope:
 
Let us pray for Benedict, the pope.
May the Lord preserve him,
give him a long life,
make him blessed upon the earth,
and not hand him over
to the power of his enemies.
May your hand be upon your holy servant.
And upon your son, whom you have anointed.
 
Closing: The Prayer of St. Benedict
 
Gracious and holy Father,
please give to our Pope and 
to we the faithful:
intellect to understand you;
reason to discern you;
diligence to seek you;
wisdom to find you;
a spirit to know you;
a heart to meditate upon you;
ears to hear you;
eyes to see you;
a tongue to proclaim you;
a way of life pleasing to you;
patience to wait for you;
and perseverance to look for you.
 
Grant your servant the 
Pope and we the faithful:
a perfect end,
your holy presence.
A blessed resurrection,
And life everlasting.
 
Our Father...
Hail Mary...
Glory Be...
 
Amen.
 
SHARE THIS NOVENA
 
 
---------------------------------
 
Thank you so much for joining me and 42,000 others in prayer! 
 
I still think we can get to 50,000!
 
It's not too late to invite more people, just send them an email and invite them to sign up here:
 
 
Annie and I are praying for you!
 
God bless you!
   John-Paul - PrayMoreNovenas.com
 
P.S. You can also share the novena below:
 

Feast of Blesseds Francisco and Jacinta


Picture source

Prayer for the Canonization of Blessed Francisco and Jacinta can be found at the World Apostolate of Fatima's Children of the Eucharist site.

Meatless Recipe for Friday - Vegetarian Gyozas

Just about every country has a savory little pocket of "deliciousness":  Poland:  Pierogies, South American countries:  Empanadas, India:  Samosas, China:  Pot stickers (not the official Chinese name), Korea:  Mandoo and Japan:  Gyoza.  Although meat is usually a main ingredient, we can successful make Gyozas without using meat.  I used prepared round Gyoza skins readily available in most stores carrying Asian food products and Chinatown.   Make enough for your family, serve with a bowl of cooked rice and a bowl of Miso soup and you have a hearty meal fit for Lenten Fridays.

Pan fried Gyozas


Gyozas Recipe

1 package of round Gyoza skins (approximately 30 in package)

1 cup finely shredded cabbage
3 garlic cloves, finely minced
1/4 cup finely sliced Shittake mushrooms (if using dried, soak in hot water until soft and then squeeze most of the water)
1/2 cup extra firm tofu, diced very small (make sure to place on a strainer a few hours prior to let the extra water run out)
1/4 cup cooked rice (optional:  I happened to have leftover which I used)
1/4 cup shredded carrots and celery (optional)
1/4 tsp. Chinese chili pasta or Siracha Chili (optional)
1/2 cup green onions, finely sliced
1 egg
1 tsp Soy Sauce
Dash white pepper (or black)
1 tbsp. oil for filling
2 tbsp. for frying
1/4 cup water for frying

1 small bowl of water

Filling and a filled gyoza ready for pan frying

Preparing filling.

Heat a skillet. Add the oil and fry the garlic.  Add the cabbage, carrots and celery (optional), green onions and rice (optional).  Fry until the cabbage wilts.  Add this point, add the mushrooms, chili paste (optional), soy sauce, white pepper and tofu.  Fry for another minute or so.  Remove from heat and place in a bowl.  Let the mixture cool and then add the egg to bind the mixture.

Preparing the Gyozas.

Prepare a cookie or baking sheet by place either a sheet of parchment paper over it or paper towels.  For each Gyoza dumpling, place approximately one teaspoon of filling in the center of the skin.  Lightly wet the border of the skin around the filling.  Fold over.  Starting from the center working down, press into pleats to the end and then do the other side.  Place the Gyoza down on a flat surface and flatten the bottom slightly as in the photo above.  Continue until you fill all the dumplings.  Extra filling can be frozen or made into patties and fried.

Pan-frying the Gyozas.

NOTE:  It is important that a non-stick skillet is used.  I use an electric skillet once belonging to my grandma.  Place the heat on medium and add oil and water in skillet.  Place the Gyozas bottom side down.  Cover skillet and cook for approximately 5-10 minutes or until the water evaporates.  You will hear sizzling which means the oil is now frying the bottom of the Gyozas.  Be careful at this point, not to burn the bottoms.  Once the bottoms are golden brown as in the photo above.  Remove from the skillet and serve immediately.

Dipping Sauce:

1/4 cup soy sauce
1/4 tsp. vinegar (rice or white)
1/4 tsp. Chili paste (or Tabasco or Siracha)
1/2 tsp. finely minced green onions.

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

The Sorrowful Mysteries

THE FIRST SORROWFUL MYSTERY

The Agony in the Garden by Carlo Dolci
Picture source

THE SECOND SORROWFUL MYSTERY

The Scourging at the Pillar by Antonio M. Ruiz



 THE THIRD SORROWFUL MYSTERY

The Crowning with Thorns by Caravaggio



Picture source

THE FOURTH SORROWFUL MYSTERY

The Carrying of the Cross by Charles le Brun

Picture source

THE FIFTH SORROWFUL MYSTERY

The Crucifixion and Death of Our Lord by Matthias Grünewald