Vid: Devil is not a personification of an absence of good.

Micaela, my 13 year old niece, wrote in Facebook, “"God did not create evil, evil is the result of what happens when man does not have God's love present in his heart."

There is some truth and a lot of insight in there. However, one might push the idea to conclude that the devil does not really exist because, he simply a concrete representation of this negative concept – a personification of this absence.  However, there is the experience of demonic possession that contradicts this - in addition to the Church's teachings.

St . John Bosco wrote about his personal experiences with the devil e.g. that he would lift his bed then drop it.  (The Pope ordered him to write his autobiography.)

I know a priest who asked the seniors during a retreat to go and call Satan 3 times.  The boys were sent to a room one by one to do this. And one by one they came back petrified.  (This is forbidden by canon law and the priest was reckless.  He might have been desperate because the boys were not taking the retreat seriously.)

Also, did you know that the movie “The Exorcist” was based on an actual exorcism in Maryland? And "The Exorcism of Emily Rose" is generally accepted to be based on the story of Anneliese Michel.   The attached video claims to be a recording of that exorcism.



Description:
Video released by Phil R.XP of REQUIEM ETERNAM about the real exorcism of Annelise Michel who inspired the movie Exorcism of Emily Rose. For more information about what is happened exactly all in my blog on MySpace site http://www.myspace.com/requiemeternam7

Source click here or type: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4n9vK0_mdk

Spanish commentary and video presentation click here or type  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVd6u-LqoNc
En verano de 1973, los padres acudieron a la parroquia local solicitando a los religiosos que su hija fuera sometida a un exorcismo. En principio, todos ellos lo rechazaron, ya que la doctrina de la Iglesia Católica con respecto a estas prácticas es muy estricta. Entre otras cosas, los poseídos, según la Iglesia, deben ser capaces de hablar lenguas que nunca han estudiado, tener poderes sobrenaturales, y mostrar una gran aversión hacia los símbolos religiosos.

Poco después, el párroco Ernst Alt, considerado un reputado experto en la materia, creyó probar que Anneliese reunía las condiciones suficientes para considerarse endemoniada y consiguió el permiso de las autoridades eclesiásticas para realizar un exorcismo siguiendo los pasos del Rituale Romanum.

Durante las sesiones (muchas de ellas documentadas de forma audiovisual), Anneliese manifestó estar poseída por hasta seis demonios diferentes, incluidos Lucifer, Belial, Caín, Judas Iscariote y Nerón. También afirmó estar bajo el poder de los espíritus de Hitler y de un párroco caído en desgracia. El exorcismo se prolongó durante un año y finalmente Anneliese murió a los 23 años. Está registrado que las últimas palabras que la joven dijo a su madre fueron "Madre, tengo miedo" y que la última frase que dirigido a los exorcistas fue "Por favor, pidan la absolución". La autopsia de Anneliese atribuyó el fallecimiento a la desnutrición y deshidratación. Antes de eso, se había destrozado las rodillas en ataques de genuflexión (Acción de doblar una rodilla en señal de adoración a Dios. www.iglesia.cl/especiales/canonizacionpr ensa/docs/glosario.doc)compulsiva.

Este hecho, inspiró los filmes: El Exorcismo de Emily Rose y Requiem (El exorcismo de Micaela).

Vid: Christian Externalities & the Heart

Source click at Theology of Heart from Mothlight Creative on Vimeo.

Video: Making things right with God and others. (Free therapy that goes to the root of the problem.)

Cute babe talks all about it - the why, what, how, myths, benefits, ways, arguments and fears about making things right with God and others.

It's entertaining, informative and hopefully helpful to you. God bless.


(Video subtitulado en español)

Source click here or type http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GN62MKWd4Ko.

Vid: Presentation about love of God and the counterfeits of the world

Direct link type http://www.tangle.com/view_video?viewkey=ee73e63418003b47d7d5

This can be used for youth presentations. It is awesome just to watch.

Vatican corrects US bishops

Archbishop Raymond L. Burke

Prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura

Last week, the Vatican in the person of Archbishop Raymond L. Burke, Prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura had to correct erring bishops in matters of pastoral discipline as it pertains to politicians who support abortion legislation and policies.  "Neither Holy Communion nor funeral rites should be administered to such politicians," said Archbishop Burke. "To deny these is not a judgment of the soul, but a recognition of the scandal and its effects."  

In an interview, Abp. Wuerl (click here), stated that he won't deny communion to pro-abortion politicians because he is not their bishop even if they are in Washington, D.C. However, he would honor the decision of the bishops of the politicians' home diocese.

Archbishop Donal Wuerl

Bishop of the Archdiocese of Washington D.C.

For Abp. Wuerl, giving communion to pro-abortion politicians is up to the bishops' discretion - contrary to the instruction of canon 915 by Abp. Burke. Based on that, Abp. Wuerl cannot cop out using the quasi-jurisdictional limitation over the politicians who work in DC; because, it is not discretionary.  It is not up to the bishop.  So even if the home bishop allows the pol, that is no excuse.  I think he's just afraid to cross these  politicians because, they might pull some strings and end his Washington career just like what happened to Bishop Martino. But that's just me. And I hope my bishop remembers Whom to fear really because, the unborn are being murdered daily by the thousands making Herod at Bethlehem look like a pajama party.
Source: http://www.politicsdaily.com/2009/05/06/archbishop-wuerl-why-i-won-t-deny-pelosi-communion/

Archbishop Sean O'Malley

Archbishop of Boston

Consider the funeral Mass and burial services of the late Senator Ted Kennedy, who is by far the staunchest supporter of abortion rights. Despite a prohibition in Church law, Cardinal Seán P. O'Malley allowed and attended the funeral Mass at the Basilica of Our Lady of Perpetual Help where the late senator was practically canonized in the eulogies and prayers. He should not have been given a Catholic funeral at all according to Abp. Burke. Click here for a text of his damage control explanation.  But the cardinal knew that.  It must have been nice to hob-nob with the aristocrats of New England.  But it would have been nicer to serve the Lord and His people faithfully.

Hopefully the correction from the Vatican will not fall on arrogant ears and we won't hear, "I am the bishop and this is my turf!"  The people still belongs to God and are united to the Church in Rome.  "The Church's unity is founded on speaking the truth in love.  This does not destroy unity but helps to repair a breach in the life of the Church",  emphasized Abp. Burke.

So the bishops do not own the community;  the community owns them.  Gone are the days when lay people have to be taught using stained glass pictures.  In this information age, the laity can go directly to the Pope and Curia.  So, if erring bishops persist in defying the law of Church then the community can report them or practically fire them by no longer supporting them financially or otherwise.

Vid: Live on. Hang in there. You have a purpose.

Click here for source or type http://www.tangle.com/view_video?viewkey=312868f9fd6e7c9bfa39

Dear senior citizens, live on for as long you can. Don't let anyone pull your plug or deprive you of health care in your old age or times of sickness. So many depend on you. Jesus needs you - your vote, your phone call to your congress person, your blog entry, your advice to young people. A perverse generation is trying to remove God from peoples consciousness and you can help even by your prayers. Hang in there and live for Jesus.

Video: Miraculous Image of Guadalupe (church approved)

Description by Brigadier Cristero:

The ayate fibers used by the Aztecs at that time deteriorated after 20 years. Richard Kuhn (1900--1967), a Nobel Prize winner in chemistry, stated in his report of the tilma that it had not been painted with natural, animal, or mineral colorings.

THE MYSTERY OF HER EYES.
In January 2001, Dr. Jose Aste Tonsmann, now with the Mexican Center of Guadalupan Studies, revealed at a conference at the Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum in Rome that advances in digital photography now revealed that the images in the Virgin's eyes were those assembled with Bishop Juan de Zumarraga, when Juan Diego first unfurled his tilma and displayed the miraculous image.

By magnifying the iris of the Virgin's eyes 2,500 times and, through mathematical and optical procedures, Aste Tonsmann feels that he is able to identify all the people imprinted in the eyes. In other words, the Virgin's eyes bear a kind of instant photograph of what occurred the moment the image was unveiled before the bishop.

On March 27, 1956, Dr. Javier Torroella Bueno, a prestigious ophthalmologist, certified the presence of the triple reflection (Samson-Purkinje effect) characteristic of all live human eyes and stated that the resulting images of the bearded man were located precisely where they should be according to such an effect.

Bueno also pointed out that the distortion of the images agreed with the normal curvature of the cornea.

In that same year, another experienced ophthalmologist, Dr. Rafael Torrija Lavoignet, using an ophthalmoscope, studied the apparent human figure in the corneas of both eyes, with the location and distortion of a normal human eye, and found that the Virgin's eyes appeared "strangely alive" when he examined them.

While working at IBM in 1979, Dr. Jose Aste Tonsmann, a graduate of environmental systems engineering of Cornell University, scanned a photograph of the Virgin's face on the tilma and was astonished to discover what he believed to be other human figures reflected in the eyes.

Aste Tonsmann has since theorized that Our Lady of Guadalupe not only left a miraculous image as proof of her apparition to Juan Diego, but may also have left some important messages hidden in her eyes that could not be revealed until new technologies would permit them to be discovered.

In 1979 Philip Serna Callahan studied the icon with infrared light and stated that portions of the face, hands, robe, and mantle had been painted in one step, with no sketches or corrections and no paintbrush strokes.

HER FOOT RESTED ON THE CRESCENT MOON
She had clearly crushed Quetzalcoatl, the feathered serpent god.

THE STARS STREWN ACROSS THE MANTLE.
She was greater than the stars of heaven which they worshipped. She was a virgin and the Queen of the heavens for Virgo rests over her womb and the northern crown upon her head. She appeared on December 12, 1531 and the stars that she wears on her mantle are the constellations of the stars that appeared in the sky that day.

THE BLACK CROSS ON THE BROOCH AT HER NECK
Her God was that of the Spanish Missionaries, Jesus Christ her son who died on the cross.

THE BLACK LACE
she wears the Aztec black Maternity lace around her belly.

THE FOUR PETAL FLOWER OVER THE WOMB
She was the Mother of God because the flower was a special symbol of life, movement and deity. The center of the universe.

HER HANDS ARE JOINED IN PRAYER
She is not God, but clearly there is one greater than Her.
She points her finger to the cross on her brooch.

Click here for the source or type http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Cha-cE8lBI

Save the date for Life Chain on Sunday Oct. 4th, 2009

• Stand with thousands of pro-lifers throughout the USA and Canada!
  You'll be a light in a darkened world as you help put an end to abortion through prayer!

• Bring your whole family!

• Water, lawn chairs, umbrellas and strollers are welcome and encouraged!

• Rain or shine!

• Signs proclaim "Abortion Kills Children," "Adoption - the Loving Option," "Jesus Forgives & Heals," "Lord, Forgive Us and Our Nation," "Abortion Hurts Women," "El Aborto Mata Ninos," "Life - the first Inalienable Right" and "Pray to End Abortion."

Click here for video or type http://www.lifechain.net/PLML_video.html
For details go to Life Chain's website, click here or type http://www.lifechain.net/
For locations click here or type http://lifechain.net/NatList1_V2.html

Video: Men of God Commissioned and Empowered for Battle

Find more videos like this on Catholic Mountain

Click here for source or type
http://www.catholicmountain.com/video/thunder-and-lightning

Vatican position on Kennedy's Demise

Those who wanted to make the late senator Ted Kennedy the poster child for Catholics who support choice or abortion rights have been waiving a letter from the Pope that referenced well wishes and a blessing.  They seem to suggest that the Pope's words indicated that Kennedy was going to "sail into a happy place" as stated by President Obama.  My opinion is that it is a typical form letter sent as a polite response.  

To remove any doubt of where the Church officially stood or what the Pope meant, the prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura, Archbishop Raymond L. Burke, came to Washington, D.C. last Friday and referenced this matter.  "Neither Holy Communion nor funeral rites should be administered to such politicians," said Archbishop Burke. "To deny these is not a judgment of the soul, but a recognition of the scandal and its effects."  

He firmly held that when a politician is associated "with greatly sinful acts about fundamental questions like abortion and marriage, his repentance must also be public." He added, "Anyone who grasps the gravity of what he has done will understand the need to make it public."

So, it is more likely that Kennedy is condemned to an eternity in hell. 

Contrary to the suggestion of Cardinal O'Malley, it's not uncharitable to point out the scandal caused by these Catholic politicians.  "The Church's unity is founded on speaking the truth in love. This does not destroy unity but helps to repair a breach in the life of the Church."

For more details click here or type http://insidecatholic.com/Joomla/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=6902&Itemid=48 Deal W. Hudson's Charity, Civility, and Speaking the Truth  (HT to Jay Anderson from proecclesia.blogspot.com )

Ed McGlasson shares how he helped his daughter transition from childhood to womanhood during adolescence.

Former NFL lineman Ed McGlasson shares how he helped his daughter become a woman and taught her the virtue of chastity and preserving herself for marriage.



Click here to go to source or type http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYUFWonnhz4

Thoughts about common ground on abortion

On common ground about abortion

Short version, there is none.  Expanded version, the pro-abortionists want to have the license to kill unborn children.  Some of them from Chicago even allow the murder of fully born infants.  Pro-lifers hold that a human person is formed at conception.  Hence between life and death, there is really no middle or common ground.  Pro-aborts will then go for the split the difference argument i.e. to be able to abort in the first trimester but not afterwards.  They just don't get that a person, no matter how young, is still a person with the inalienable right to live.

Thoughts about bishops, health care proposal, criminalize abortion

If it is not in writing, then it does not exist.

In my few courses in law, this is one lesson that stuck with me. People can say anything you want to hear, but if it is not in the contract or the bill, then all those promises are not enforceable. Obama can vow or pledge that there will not be any federal funding of abortions in the health care plan, but unless and until it is explicitly proscribed and precluded in some amendment, that those words have no binding effect. Our Lord taught us to be cunning and shrewd like serpents while we keep our innocence like doves. He did not ask us to be gullible, credolous and naive.  Hopefully, the USCCB has some short term memory to consider the recent actions of the president as it relates to abortion.  His fancy rhetoric has not been substantiated by deeds.

Around the world...

In the Philippines, abortion is illegal.  In Poland, the bishops will excommunicate any politician who will support abortion laws.  In the US, bishops and a cardinal solemnized the funeral of the most pro-abortion politician in the past 40 years.  (An associate priest could have presided over a private Mass and burial - considering Kennedy's pro-abortion legislative decisions.)

A right to life constitutional amendment?

Is it possible to have an amendment in the constitution that will protect the right to life of unborn children?  If it cannot go through the normal channels, can it be done via a referendum?

Video: Life in Christ or death by Religion

This is just so perfect that I will replay it until I can transcribe the entrie talk.  I'll post it now for your benefit.  It is the difference between religion and a living relationship of Jesus, between a drab and lifeless body of laws and an exciting and fulfilling life of love.  Enjoy.

Find more videos like this on Catholic Mountain

For video source click here or type
http://www.catholicmountain.com/video/death-by-religion

Video: Just One Judge (Roe Vs Wade)

The video has a clever and surprising twist at the end - very insightful and hopefully provocative.
For everyone out there - specially those in the field of law and justice, there must be a way to fight this. Perhaps, you have the answer or something that will eventually lead to it.


Find more videos like this on Catholic Mountain

Video source click here or type http://www.catholicmountain.com/video/2308223:Video:2362

Video: The Miracle of Damascus (church approved)

Video links: for part one click  here or type http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOx_xBSn1Rk

Video links: for part two click here or type http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UpUpgf8Ui1E

Video links: for part 3 click here or type http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOyNVfPjo7E



From video description by Mary Ann Button
May we all be one on Earth as Christ is One with the Father in Heaven. This begins with forgiving and loving one another.

Catholic Digital Studio has been given permission from Rick Salbato of Unity Publishing to re-produce and re-cut this 5 1/2 hour documentary series, The Miracle of Damascus, about a church-approved Marian apparition and a Syrian mystic named Myrna Nazzour. She has stigmata, experiences visions of both the Blessed Mother and Jesus, and exudes Olive Oil with healing properties, from her face, hands and eyes.

The Icon of Soufanieh also exudes the same oil, which has healed and blessed a vast multitude.

Myrna is from the Byzantine Rite of the Catholic Church, specifically Melkite. A Rite represents a church tradition about how the sacraments are to be celebrated. The Catholic Church has four major Rites: Roman, Antiochean, Alexandrian and Byzantine.

Byzantine.net defines the Byzantine Catholic Church and its history, "... As the disciples brought the Gospel to different parts of the world, they adapted ceremonies of the Liturgy to the customs and music of that people. In the end, four great centers of Christianity emerged with distinctive Christian customs, but the same faith. These centers were located in the great cities of Jerusalem, Antioch, Rome and Alexandria. A couple of centuries later when the capital of the Roman empire was moved to the Eastern city of Byzantium and renamed Constantinople, an adaptation of the Antioch way of celebrating Liturgy was made. Thus a new center of Christianity arose in Constantinople and her ritual became known as the Byzantine Rite. From Constantinople the Slavic peoples of Eastern Europe were converted by Sts. Cyril and Methodius and naturally followed the Byzantine Rite. Today the Byzantine Rite is subdivided into ecclesiastical jurisdictions based on ethnic groupings, such as Greek, Ukrainian, Ruthenian, Russian, etc."

The film has an Imprimatur and the messages have a Nihil Obstat (no error).

This story is very touching and is pertinent to the unity of all Christians. God wants Christians united under one flock, one visible shepherd, most especially Catholicism and Orthodoxy. The video teaches about love, prayer and forgiveness, living out the Gospel Message through a love-willed and love-centered life.

To learn more about Myrna Nazzour see
http://www.soufanieh.com/
http://www.unitypublishing.com
http://www.catholicdigitalstudio.com

The last site, Catholic Digital Studio, has a free Online Catholic Library, Myrna's videos and other Catholic Videos, apologetics resources, catechisms and Online Bible Catholic studies. Come and check us out.

Video: Death is not Dying by Rachel Barkey

Click on link Death is not Dying from Rachel Barkey on Vimeo.

After four and a half years of vigilantly fighting breast cancer, the 37 year old wife and mother of two was diagnosed with terminal cancer.

But for Rachel the essence of life is found in her relationship with God through Jesus. And that's why Rachel is convinced that death is not dying.

On March 4, 2009, what started out as a small talk to a women's group at her church grew into an event attended by 600 women from around Vancouver, giving Rachel an opportunity to share about her hope in the midst of terminal cancer.

Rachel’s honest and thought-provoking talk touched women of all ages and left a hunger for discovering more about Rachel’s journey and the faith that has so deeply affected her life.

Music video: Love

The eternal truth that has been proclaimed by the incarnate Son of God to make our lives so much better if we but listen and follow his way.


For source click here or type http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73kZ6wBoqTk

Video: Hope or hopelessness (This can change your life.)

Source click here or type http://www.thedoorpost.com/hope/The%20Butterfly%20Circus/

My comments: Hope or hopelessness - your choice and what each option brings.

Video: Run from fake or diluted or twisted Christian teachings

Political parties have misused Christian teachings in the US to get themselves elected. They continue to do so to further their agendas. Watch these videos and see if you recognize these false or twisted reproductions of Jesus' teachings.



Source click here or use this address: http://www.tangle.com/view_video?viewkey=9fb9e41674e0b7874f12

Video: Team Hoyt ( Pro-LIFE metaphor & reality )

Source click here or use address http://www.tangle.com/view_video?viewkey=8cf08faca5dd9ea45513

Video: Schindler's List Final Scene "I could have saved more."

Life is short. Let's not squander our treasure, talent & time on ourselves or on things that do not count. Hopefully, we won't have any regret at the end.



Video source direct link here: http://www.tangle.com/view_video?viewkey=5dc4dc4df9c214732603

Polish bishops warn Catholic politicians that abortion support risks excommunication (US bishops need to eat more polska kielbasa.)

Report:  http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=17036

Warsaw, Poland, Sep 6, 2009 / 06:10 pm (CNA).- The Catholic bishops of Poland have issued a document on the value of healthy families and pro-family policies. At one point, they clearly warn Catholic politicians that they risk excommunication if they voice support for or acceptance of abortion.

Discussing the duties of Catholic politicians specifically, the document said it is “absolutely not true” that a politician or government member “has to, or can, act against his conscience.”

“When it comes to God's law, everybody is equal, politicians included,” the Polish bishops said.

The bishops said that anyone who publicly contradicts fundamental moral values, such as the commandment “Thou Shall Not Kill,” by voicing support or acceptance of abortion should be immediately excommunicated, Polskie Radio says.

My commentary: 
Can someone comment on why the US bishops do differently?  Perhaps they need to eat more polska kielbasa.

Unique images for timeless message of Jesus (The Journeys Project)

Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62zVVsSkvFA

Description:
The Journeys Project Introduction & Background. photographer to the creator of 'Journeys with the Messiah', a unique series of exhibits of limited edition, exquisite fine art images depicting Jesus' messages and parables.

Click here for more : http://www.thejourneysproject.com/

Message :Jesus, “the ultimate tour guide,” makes life worth the journey.

Video: Tribute to US Martyr for Unborn - Jim Pouillon

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yx5UDALTYyg

Description:
Jim Pouillon murdered for holding proi-life sign. From Missionaries to the Preborn Law enforcement authorities have now made it public that Jim Pouillon was in fact murdered specifically because of...
Jim Pouillon murdered for holding proi-life sign.
From Missionaries to the Preborn
Law enforcement authorities have now made it public that Jim Pouillon was in fact murdered specifically because of his displaying pro-life signs on the streets. The Detroit News reported this morning, "Harlan James Drake, 33, confessed to shooting 63-year-old activist James Pouillon because of the larger-than-life photographs of mutilated fetuses Pouillon was setting up to display Friday morning in front of Owosso High School, authorities said."

The Detroit Free Press reported Shiawassee County Prosecutor Randy Colbry said the killing of Mr. Pouillon was related to the latter's anti-abortion protest. He said, "The defendant was offended by the manner of Mr. Puillon's message."


The Associated Press (AP) is reporting, "A man carrying grudges against several people set off on a shooting spree Friday morning, authorities said, killing an abortion protester outside a high school because he didn't like the activist holding a sign with graphic images of a fetus in front of students."

CNN is reporting, "Authorities say the suspect, Harlan James Drake, was offended by anti-abortion material that the activist had displayed across from the school all week."
SAY THIS PRAYER: Dear Jesus, I am a sinner and am headed to eternal hell because of my sins. I believe you died on the cross to take away my sins and to take me to heaven. Jesus, I ask you now to come into my heart and take away my sins and give me eternal life. http://www.armyofgod.com

US Revolution against the new order of Obama

(H/T Man with a Black Hat)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3HJjEERXXgk

Video: ~ 2 million march to US Capitol to protest against Obama's actions on 9/12

H/T to Catholic Fire.

Whenever Obama reminds us that he won, I feel scared because he's saying that he can do what he wants since the people put him there.

News Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1213056/Up-million-march-US-Capitol-protest-Obamas-spending-tea-party-demonstration.html

Video Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gIcgNXMPtqM

Video: (How some Catholic vote went pro-abort)

If the Catholic vote put Obama in power despite his anti-life platform, it is because certain Catholics were alienated from their parishes and were welcomed by groups sponsored by the Democrats - imho.

Video source:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJUWUdTOxco



Video description:
When a young, irreverent priest arrives at Saint Patrick Parish in Lawrence, Massachusetts, he discovers the unexpected—boiling ethnic tensions in a changing working-class community. Filmed over four years, Scenes from a Parish tells the wildly diverse personal stories of Father Paul O'Brien and his unruly flock, as they struggle to hold onto faith in the face of desperate circumstances.Ty Burr of the Boston Globe declares, "Steer the faithful, and everyone else, to "Scenes from a Parish," a surpassingly lucid little documentary. It raises more questions about the church's place in a changing world--and touches more emotions doing so--than any big- budget studio folderol."

Resurgence in Religious Life

A new generation is embracing religious life. Young women bear witness to transcendent realities that is immanent in their lives where they profess Jesus as their significant Other and give up self determination and worldly treasures in exchange with a close following of the Lord.

Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2s7YP3tWU_Y
"The Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist (in Ann Arbor, MI), were on the Today Show, February 5, 2007."

Pro-Life Advocate Murdered While Protesting Abortion

As Tertullian observed, “the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church.” So, the pro-life effort will have one more prayer warrior to sustain its activities.

From  http://www.lifenews.com/state4409.html
Click here to go the the source for the complete report.

Excerpt: Owosso, MI (LifeNews.com) -- Local officials and state police are confirming that a pro-life advocate was shot and killed outside a high school in this Michigan town. The person, who is described as well-known but whose identity has not been released, was shot multiple times while protesting abortion outside Owosso High School.

LifeNews.com has learned that the pro-life advocate is James Pouillon and the local Argus Press newspaper in Owosso has confirmed that to be the case. He was reportedly shot multiple times.

In the spot where the Pouillon stood, a portable oxygen tank lay next to a sign with a picture of an unborn child and the word "Life."

Video: Blessed Teresa of Calcutta

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSrbwmEw2VU



From CNA:

Last September 5, the Church celebrated the feast day of Mother Teresa, a universal symbol of God's merciful and preferential love for the poor and forgotten.

Mother Teresa was born Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu on August 26, 1910, in Skopje, Macedonia, the youngest of three children. She attended a youth group called Sodality, run by a Jesuit priest at her parish, and her involvement opened her to the call of service as a missionary nun.

She joined the Sisters of Loretto at age 17 and was sent to Calcutta where she taught at a high school. She contracted Tuberculosis and was sent to rest in Darjeeling. It was on the train to Darjeeling that she received her calling - what she called "an order" from God to leave the convent and work and live among the poor. At this point she did not know that she was to found an order of nuns, or even exactly where she was to serve. "I knew where I belonged, but I did not know how to get there," she said once, recalling the moment on the train.

Confirmation of the calling came when the Vatican granted her permission to leave the Sisters of Loretto and fulfill her calling under the Archbshop of Calcutta. She started working in the slums, teaching poor children, and treating the sick in their homes. She was joined a year later by some of her former students and together they took in men, women, and children who were dying in the gutters along the streets and cared for them.

In 1950 the Missionaries of Charity were born as a congregation of the Diocese of Calcutta and in 1952 the government granted them a house from which to continue their service among Calcutta's forgotten.

The congregation very quickly grew from a single house for the dying and unwanted to nearly 500 around the world. Mother Teresa set up homes for AIDS sufferers, for prostitutes, for battered women, and orphanages for poor children.

She often said that the poorest of the poor were those who had no one to care for them and no one who knew them. And she often remarked with sadness and desolation of milliions of souls in the developed world whose spiritual poverty and loneliness was such an immense cause of suffering.

She was a fierce defender of the unborn saying: "If you hear of some woman who does not want to keep her child and wants to have an abortion, try to persuade her to bring him to me. I will love that child, seeing in him the sign of God's love."

Mother Teresa died on September 5, 1997 and was beatified only six years later, on October 19, 2003.

Mother Teresa once said, "A sacrifice to be real must cost, must hurt, must empty ourselves. The fruit of silence is prayer, the fruit of prayer is faith, the fruit of faith is love, the fruit of love is service, the fruit of service is peace." She also said, "give yourself fully to God. He will use you to accomplish great things on the condition that you believe much more in His love than in your own weakness."

Video: Rediscovering the masculine role

Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDZ_tKct3Ic

Rediscovering masculinity in the light of God's plan and commissioning the warrior to fight and storm the gates of hell with the Biblical assurance of victory (Mt 16).

( H/T Catholic Fire )

Our Lady wore blue jeans?

My grandma’s first wages was in US silver dollars. She had them forged into a Rosary then gave them to my mom. I don’t recall seeing my mom use it much but she prayed when in crisis. Once she was visited by a dead aunt who asked about me, she prayed the Hail Mary. But the aunt did not vanish; she prayed back with the Holy Mary. I was an infant then but that exchange might have affected me.

Fast forward to 2nd grade. I volunteered to bring our statue of Mary for the shrine building contest. And this happened every year until 6th grade. Also, I visited the Blessed Sacrament during recess and stopped to talk to a life sized statue of Mary Help of Christians. Although she didn’t answer (interlocution), I felt relieved after the talk.

Around 30 years after, I heard about the events at Conyers, GA. I thought if our Lady took the trouble to come over, then the least that I can do is to be there. So, I flew over, slept at a hotel, rented a car and drove to the site at the scheduled date. When I got there, I walked and looked around hoping for something awesome – like a dancing sun. But there was nothing except for the realization that God is most offended by abortion, a heinous sin that has blinded many. Upon my return, I called on a few friends to join me in stopping abortions. Weekends after that, we stood at the gates of the clinics holding pictures of a fetus to show the mother that she’s not popping a zit but killing a person - with a head, torso, arms and legs. That was a harrowing experience but we came out unscathed; because, we prayed the Rosary every time.

Now for the pièce de résistance. In was during that campaign when I woke up one Friday morning with the assurance that I will meet the Blessed Mother that day. There was no nervousness, anxiety or distress. It felt serene and peaceful with subdued anticipation. I was off that day so, I visited to the basilica of the Immaculate Conception as I did those days. I went to shop below and got a statue of Our Lady of the Americas. I don’t know about that apparition, but our Lady is our Lady no matter where she shows up; besides, it was on sale.

Then I went up and strolled into the side chapels – partly praying, partly admiring the art work. As I left the chapel of Our Lady of Poland, a woman stepped out of the chapel of Our Lady of Guadalupe and greeted me.

She said, “What’s in the bag?” “It’s a statue of our Lady”, I replied. She asked to see it and I showed her. “She’s beautiful” she said. “What’s your name?” I asked. “Sophia” she answered. By this time, I smelled the stench of urine from her unwashed jeans. I also noticed her bare feet with chipping red nail polish. She wore a white T-shirt, was medium built, around 5’ 6” with fair complexion. Her hair was flat and long and her face was average for want of a better term. It was neither ugly nor beautiful. Besides, I did not really check her out because at the back of my head, she could be the Blessed Mother. Long story short, we parted casually although I asked her for prayers after handing her a couple of bucks. I didn’t know what I was thinking.

Later, I told a priest about it.  He said there are a lot of homeless women in the area. Then I thought that Mother Mary didn’t have much, if any, after St. Joseph died and the Lord left home to preach. Was she also homeless when she started to follow her son? And, “Sophia” is Greek for wisdom; one of her titles is “Seat of Wisdom”. Finally, she came out of the Guadalupe chapel. Our Lady of Guadalupe is the Patroness of the Pro-life movement.

But it can all be a coincidence but not for me. Ever since, our Lady is no longer a person whom I read or heard about. She's Sophia who had no place to lay her head yet had time to pray at her Father's house.  She's my friend and I am her servant.

Right photo:  Chapel of Our Lady of Guadalupe

Video: The 13th Day (Marian Apparition at Fatima movie)

A visit from the queen of apostles with a message to her son's followers:


Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvwcgsNA89g

Official trailer for the new independently produced feature film on Fatima, The 13th Day. Check out the website for more details. www.the13thday.com

The cardinal, the senator and the babies

What about the babies!  

Health, Exonerated Priest, 17 the Movie - recapturing the beginnings

Just a log of today's events.

I took an extra day off and it became timely because two kids came down with fever and cough.  I used 5 ampules for nebulizers until the 7 yr old's respiratory discomfort settled down to the point that he was able to sleep.  The 5 yr old had cough drops and fever meds.  The wife was keeping tract of what was given and when.  With 3 kids going to school and bringing back viral samples from 90 kids, my home has become a petri dish with cultures of bacteriae.  That is why we thank God for our health.

By noon, a friend from the religious order phoned and we caught up.  I found out that a priest friend, Xavier, was acquitted and exonerated of the nasty accusations against him.  Xavier used to be my big brother in the Future Aspirants Club back in 7th grade.  He entered the junior seminary the year after.  Decades later we'd meet again at a ministry workshop in VA.  I am so relieved that he can minister as a priest again. However, I am upset at those who leveled false accusations against him.  Those happened to be priests too; so when good people turn bad, they really take the cake.

Later, my wife finished early so she brought home DVDs.  We saw "17" - a romantic comedy about a relationship at the brink of divorce and how the man recaptured the original passion of their love by being transformed into a 17 year old.  He also learned a lot about his teenagers by going to the same school with them.  My spiritual director called this  "the vitality of the beginning" - the time when a charism is given to a founder.  That is why novices study the lives of the founder(s) and the history of the order.  For married couples, well for my wife and I, we reminisce those days as they come up in conversation.

Video: Can I Live?

Pro-life rap / music video.


Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4AqPRcF7ZC0
(H/T Thoughts of a Regular Guy)

Description:  Hermosa cancion sobre la vida, el aborto y el amor. Basado en una historia real (la del propio cantante). (Anthony Hamilton)

Lyrics:
Talking Ma
I know the Situation is Personal
But it something that has to be told
As I was making this beat
You was all I could think about you heard my voice

Yeah Just think Just Think
What if you could Just
Just blink your self away..
Just Just wait just pause for a second
Let me plead my case
It's the late 70's Huh
You Seventeen huh
And having me that will ruin everything huh
It's alot of angels waiting on their wings
You see me in your sleep so you cant kill your dreams
300 Dollars thats the price of living what?
Mommy I dont like this clinic
Hopefully you'll make the right decision
And dont go through with the Knife incision
But it's hard to make the right move
When you in high school
How you have to work all day and take night school
Hopping off da bus when the rain is pouring
What you want morning sickness or the sickness of mourning

[Chorus]
I'll Always Be a part of you
Trust Your Soul Know it's always true
If I Could Talk I'd Say To You
CAN I LIVE
CAN I LIVE
I'll Always Be a part of you
Trust Your Soul Know it's always true
If I Could Talk I'd Say To You
CAN I LIVE
CAN I LIVE

I am a child of the king
Ain't no need to go fear me
And I see the flowing tears so know that you hear me
When I move in your womb that's me being scary
Cause who knows what my future holds
Yo the truth be told you ain't told a soul
Yo you ain't even showing I'm just 2 months old
Through your clothes try to hide me deny me
Went up 3 sizes
Your pride got you lying saying ain't nothing but a migraine
It ain't surprising you not trying to be in Wic food lines
Your friends will look at you funny but look at you mommy
That's a life inside you look at your tummy
What is becoming ma I am Oprah bound
You can tell he's a star from the Ultrasound
Our Sprits Connected Doors Open Now
Nothing But Love And Respect Thanks For Holding Me Down She Let Me Live...

[Chorus]

It's uplifting foreal yall
I ain't passing no judgement
Ain't making no decisions
I am just telling ya'll my story
I love life
I love my mother for giving me life
We all need to appreciate life
A strong woman that had to make a sacrifice
Thanks for listening
Thanks for listening
Mama thanks for listening

Women deserve better than abortion.

Exposing Coercion - Pregnant Women Stand Up - Ann Lowrey Forster - Feminists For Life of America (H/T View from the choir)

Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eG44MpxCmJY

Feminists for Life home page
http://www.feministsforlife.org

Pro-Woman Answers to Pro-Choice Questions(SM)
http://www.feministsforlife.org/Q&A/

First feminists opposed abortion
http://www.feministsforlife.org/history

Downloadable ads
http://www.feministsforlife.org/ads/

Transform your campus.
http://www.feministsforlife.org/cop

Thoughts on theologians, bishops & politicians who support abortion rights

On the representatives who ignore their constituents' positions at town hall meetings: "The death of democracy."

On Doug Kmiec's appointment to become U.S. Ambassador to Malta: "It profits a man nothing to give his soul for the whole world, but for Wales?" (St. Thomas Moore)

On theologians who justify the support for abortion: "Hired guns."

On the politicians who rely on rogue theologians: "Liberals."

On bishops working with pro-aborts: "Riding the tiger."

On finding the Catholic stance on abortion: "Cf. Magisterium not theologians."

On prayers for Ted Kennedy: "Why not pray for Hitler?"

On bishops at Ted Kennedy's funeral:  "Meaningless and scandalous just like the bishops who reassigned pedophiles and covered up their crimes."

On forgiveness for Ted Kennedy: "Ask it from those who were vacuumed, burned or sliced because of laws that allowed abortion (all 50+ million of them)."

On judgment of pro-aborts: "When I was at my mother's womb, you let me get aborted,  ..." (Mt 25)

On the Pope's silence:  "Deafening."

Reported Eucharistic Miracle at Mumbai, India

A Eucharistic Miracle was reported at Tabor Ashram (Mumbai, India): Drops of Water and Blood during the Holy Eucharist
(Monday, 27th August, 2007)

On 27th August 2007 in the presence of around 60 retreatants (of a special English Growth Retreat) when Fr. Joby was con-celebrating Mass along with Fr. Anto (who himself was a retreatant), during the Epiclesis [that part of the prayer of consecration of the Eucharistic elements (bread and wine) by which the priest invokes the Holy Spirit] when Fr Joby invoked the the Holy Spirit, he noticed many drops of water and blood on the altar cloth. He immediately announced to the congregation that Jesus was pouring out His Blood and Water and continued with the Holy Mass.

Read more here

http://glorify-god.com/specials/miracle-at-tabor-divine-retreat-ashram/

Another account with more pictures here

http://taborashram.org/sections/view/0/21

Video: Brian Doerksen leading worship.

Brian Doerksen leading a worship song. Watch how the men the ones praying unabashedly with outstretced arms.

Video source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idA6fCAHVzs

Purify my heart

Let me be as gold and precious silver
Purify my heart
Let me be as gold, pure gold
Refiner's fire
My heart's one desire
Is to be holy
Set apart for You, Lord
I choose to be holy
Set apart for You, my Master
Ready to do Your will
Purify my heart
Cleanse me from within
And make me holy
Purify my heart
Cleanse me from my sin
Deep within

Amniocentesis unneeded. Video: Glory of life

Amniocentesis is a medical procedure used in prenatal diagnosis of chromosomal abnormalities and fetal infections. It is done to inform the parents if the child will have defects so they can decide to continue or terminate the pregnancy. My wife & I are unnanimous on waiving the test because, we've decided to have the baby regardless. It is not up to us to decide on the gift of life based on any prognostication or forecast on the quality thereof.

A divine person is eternal, having no beginning or end. A human person is aeveternal - having a beginning but living on for eternity. The earthly pilgrimage may be brief or lengthly, but life remains to be a work of the Creator.

Here is a video of a life that may not be deemed as valuable because certain medical conditions. But tell that to the parents and to God.

Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=th6Njr-qkq0

Video Description:

Eliot was born with an undeveloped lung, a heart with a hole in it and DNA that placed faulty information into each and every cell of his body. However, that could not stop the living God from proclaiming Himself through this boy who never uttered a word.