"Be Strong"

As a homeschooling Mom, it is sometimes difficult to keep the kids focused on their coursework. And sometimes I forgive their distractions...



(written and produced by Paul and Edward Westin)

Day 40 - 40 Days For Life

Every '40 Days For Life ' campaign, I try to post their meditations here each of the 40 days. Today is the final day of another successful, life affirming campaign. Babies lives were saved through the prayerful presence of people who care.

I am asking those who have been following this blog, or are here by chance today, to do what you can to help this spiritual and practical battle against abortion.

Today , on Palm Sunday, I ask you to take up the Cross and put yourself out for the poor struggling women in Jamaica. International forces (the EU,US and UN) have been relentlessly pressuring Jamaica to legalize abortion. The temptation, is the money offered to ease the economic woes in Jamaica. In other words, the west is asking Jamaica to sell its soul for a small purse. Sound familiar?

Fr. Ho Lung and the Missionaries of the Poor are neck deep in the battle to protect Jamaica's mothers and babies. His brothers, who already operate numerous centres for the poor in Jamaica and around the world, are opening 'Holy Innocents' - a centre that will protect and serve 200 women and 200 babies. The MOP offer all their services for free, and are dependent upon the generosity of folks like us...those who wish to share in the carrying of Christ's Cross .

Fr. Ho Lung has a musical gift, and though he doesn't read music, has been able to find talent around him to perform his music for audiences .His shows give the audience the opportunity to meet Fr. Ho Lung, hear his Gospel message in the musical productions, and to become aware of the work the MOP does around the world. This week Fr. Ho Lung was in Cayman with his 'Five Tenors'. Our family was privileged to attend Friday night's show, and we plan on returning this afternoon for his last show. Fr. Ho Lung also celebrated at every Mass today. Hopefully many will take up the Cross, and help the MOP in whichever way they can. Check out the MOP website, and see what you are able to do.

I can also recommend the retreats that Fr. Ho Lung offers several times a year. They are Ignatian in method (though shorter, of course) and silent. Before and after there are opportunities to visit and work at the various MOP centres in Kingston. The humility and simplicity of the brothers at work and prayer is very moving.

God Bless the Missionaries of the Poor and their friends and good works everywhere.



40 Days For Life

"Letter To The Catholics Of Ireland"

PASTORAL LETTER OF THE HOLY FATHER POPE BENEDICT XVI
TO THE CATHOLICS OF IRELAND

Dear Brothers and Sisters of the Church in Ireland, it is with great concern that I write to you as Pastor of the universal Church. Like yourselves, I have been deeply disturbed by the information which has come to light regarding the abuse of children and vulnerable young people by members of the Church in Ireland, particularly by priests and religious. I can only share in the dismay and the sense of betrayal that so many of you have experienced on learning of these sinful and criminal acts and the way Church authorities in Ireland dealt with them.

As you know, I recently invited the Irish bishops to a meeting here in Rome to give an account of their handling of these matters in the past and to outline the steps they have taken to respond to this grave situation. Together with senior officials of the Roman Curia, I listened to what they had to say, both individually and as a group, as they offered an analysis of mistakes made and lessons learned, and a description of the programmes and protocols now in place. Our discussions were frank and constructive. I am confident that, as a result, the bishops will now be in a stronger position to carry forward the work of repairing past injustices and confronting the broader issues associated with the abuse of minors in a way consonant with the demands of justice and the teachings of the Gospel...

read more

Commentary:

George Weigel "The End Of Euphemism"

Contrast the above with the misleading article by a churlish 'Sister'Turlish at the National 'Catholic' Reporter (Someone explain to me why we still find these at the back of some churches? The by-lines read like a list of 'most bitterly unhappy dissidents' with few exceptions! I mean, really, McBrien!?)

In "Media Attacks Mounting", LifeSite News shows how some outlets had their reactions written BEFORE the Pope's letter was even released! (ESP?)

As expected, and as with everything Catholic, the reactions run the gamut from optimism to disgust. Read the Pope's letter for yourself (link above) and use the reason God gave you. Ask yourself if the purpose of the letter was to 'assuage anger', and if that would have been appropriate as a first public response.

I don't believe it would have been appropriate or possible. The Pope's letter is a public apology, an admission of guilt , and a call for reform. Its a preliminary step along a long and arduous path to renewal in the Catholic church in Ireland and hopefully, eventually, forgiveness. Eventually. Pope Benedict in his letter acknowledges how difficult forgiveness will be.

I find it curious that some of the criticism of his letter, sounds like defensiveness. 'He's blaming the Irish!'
Who is to blame for abuse in Ireland, if not those there? In America, the Americans, in Germany the Germans, in Newfoundland, the Newfoundlanders. Acceptance of responsibility must be one of the very first things for reconciliaton. The Church for her part, the clergy and religious in Ireland for theirs (a number of them Irish, yes?),the Irish seminaries and religious orders and those who knew, for their part.

I would have thought this to be rather obvious.

Let us see what the Pope's investigations produce. I am interested to see what reforms, resignations, and re-structuring may come of the process. That is now the Church's part. To pray and to wait and to support the process of reform and reconciliation, in the hope that the Church in Ireland may regain some of its former acclaim - for the glory of God.

The Four Evangelists in the Book of Kells

"Escape From Theological Minimalism"

An interesting article by Dr. Jeff Mirus :

In the United States and elsewhere in the Western world, we have been immensely weakened in our understanding of both the Church and our role in the Church by the problem of theological minimalism. Originally thought to be the stock-in-trade of Modernists, this intellectual disease is now affecting most of us. The result is a loss of ecclesial communion, a weakening of apostolic mission, and a growing unconsciousness of the links between the Church here on earth and the Church in her heavenly reality. Much of this arises from the loss of “corporate thinking” in Western civilization, but it has been greatly exacerbated by the failure of large portions of the Western episcopacy in the twentieth century, and by all the succeeding chaos...

Read more..

BIG BLUE WAVE: The Pro-Abortion Scandal in the Canadian Catholic Church Continues

Through some investigation, Suzanne proves the connection between the 'feminist ministries' in Quebec dioceses and support for scandalous investment by Development and Peace. As she says, 'the foxes are in the hen house'!

The head of the Diocese, whose Women's ministry works with a hard-core pro-abort group, Msgr Martin Veillette, is President of the Quebec Assembly of Catholic Bishops.

(And the Quebec Assembly of Bishops has its own network of women involved in "la condition feminine. How entrenched is pro-abortionism in the Quebec Church?)

Now if he's letting a pro-abort work under him, do you suppose he is going to be thorough in making sure that no money serves the interests of any pro-abort group?

I have reason to believe this is not the case.

How are we supposed to have an authentically pro-life agenda in this Church when the foxes are in the hen house?

Is it any wonder that Development and Peace, a group rooted in Quebec, has trouble understanding what the fuss is all about?

And of course, the Americans have their own problems with the CCHD...

Please , someone, rout them once and for all! (Anyone in Rome listening?)


For a perspective truly 'pro' women, listen to Andrea Mrozek's talk to the Ottawa Students For Life here.

Our priests and bishops need to start meeting REAL women, instead of the re-cycled plastic replicas from the 70's.

Especially For Fr. Rosica

I really like this 'badge' from Jay Anderson's "Pro Ecclesia".

Maybe we should all use this badge to make it easier for Fr. Rosica and the CCCB to identify those who are paying attention....

Fr. Corapi On Leadership and Corruption

Does anyone yet doubt the catastrophic results the Winnipeg Statement has had on the life of the Church in Canada, and the life of Canadians in general? Or even on the number of lives ? Fr. Corapi of S.O.L.T. speaks bluntly :





Our little parish in Grand Cayman has three young parishioners with S.O.L.T. and one with the diocese of Detroit. Vocations come from Truth revealed, not corrupted. We've been very fortunate here, only fifty years into our mission in Cayman, to have good solid priests and a core of faithful, prayerful families. We depend heavily on the graces provided through the daily offering of Mass, and our Adoration Chapel.

God is Good.

Father McBrien, Notre Dame and Eucharistic Adoration

My daughter's birthday shares Our Lady's feast on September 8. In dismay I read Fr. Richard McBrien's gift to Our Lady in the form of an article in the National Catholic Reporter. In dismay I read that not all the commentors are dismayed by his article! Such is the state of the Catholic church in America today. Dissident, incorrect and heretical priests are given forum in a magazine put forward as Catholic.

Lukewarm Catholic? American Catholic? Not quite Catholic?

(Anyone looking for a more reliable source of faithful Catholic articles might try National Catholic Register.)

Ah well. Someone else to add to my prayer list, to offer up to the mercy of God during Mass and before the Blessed Sacrament.

I am grateful for those faithful Catholic universities that never compromise Truth for expediency or popularity. Places like Ave Maria University in Florida, Franciscan University in Ohio, and Our Lady Seat of Wisdom in Ontario. They are welcome respite from confusing and confused institutions with questionable leadership and mixed loyalties. (Yes, I mean Notre Dame)

I am grateful for the opportunity that I have to worship, pray, think, find peace in the Real Presence of God. Many Americans share this wonderful opportunity.

I am thankful for all the faithful priests and bishops, their many hours of prayer and devotion on our behalf, their inspired instruction and their faithful service to Christ in the Eucharist.

God help those who work against Him.


More at Te Deum

"Can Humanity Survive Without Religion?"

Kind of an interesting discussion at The Corner. Mark Krikorian asks what the future of society can be without at least SOMETHING to believe in. Can hmanity even survive, long term, without religion? John Derbyshire responds with "Plenty of civilizations — China and Japan, to name two — have got along for millennia without it.".

Seems to me that this is a question only a non-believer would waste any time on at all.

Surely the 'survival' of humanity depends on God?

"Bare Minimum Catholics"

NCRegister:

...This “Get Religion” writer calls a recent Gallup Poll further confirmation that there are four Catholic voter blocs. He identifies them this way:

—“Ex-Catholics. Solid for the Democrats.”

—“Cultural Catholics who may go to church a few times a year. This may be an undecided voter, but this vote leans to Democrats.”

—“Sunday-morning American Catholics. This voter is a regular in the pew and may even play some leadership role in the parish. This is the true Catholic swing vote.”

—“The ‘sweats the details’ Roman Catholic who goes to confession, is active in the full sacramental life of the parish and almost always backs the Vatican on doctrinal matters. This group is a small slice of the American Catholic pie.”

Let’s rename and redefine that last category. Instead of “sweats the details” Catholics, let’s call them:

Bare minimum Catholics. Catholics who at least follow the ‘indispensable minimum’: the precepts of the Church....

"Passion of Christ" in LEGO !

Faith and Family posts a great example of youthful faith in action!

Hope For Change

Here is a Lenten project worth considering. Convert Obama.

Faith people, faith!

(h/t american catholic)
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"Were Nancy Pelosi And Benedict XVI At The Same Meeting?"

George Weigel wonders about the contrast in press releases between the pontiff and the senator.

From the office of Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi:

"It is with great joy that my husband, Paul, and I met with His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI, today. In our conversation, I had the opportunity to praise the Church’s leadership in fighting poverty, hunger, and global warming, as well as the Holy Father’s dedication to religious freedom and his upcoming trip and message to Israel. I was proud to show His Holiness a photograph of my family’s papal visit in the 1950s, as well as a recent picture of our children and grandchildren."

From the Press Office of the Holy See:

"Following the General Audience, the Holy Father briefly greeted Mrs. Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, together with her entourage. His Holiness took the opportunity to speak of the requirements of the natural moral law and the Church’s consistent teaching on the dignity of human life from conception until natural death, which enjoin all Catholics, and especially legislators, jurists, and those responsible for the common good of society, to work in cooperation with all men and women of good will in creating a just system of laws capable of protecting human life at all stages of development"...

...her office’s statement on today’s meeting makes it clear something else was afoot: that Pelosi....was trying to recruit Benedict XVI (“Joseph Ratzinger, D., Bavaria”?) to Team Nancy....

...His Holiness wasn’t buying it.

He told Pelosi, politely but unmistakably, that her relentlessly pro-abortion politics put her in serious difficulties as a Catholic, which was his obligation as a pastor. He also underscored — for Pelosi, Joe Biden, Ted Kennedy, John Kerry, Barbara Mikulski, Rose DeLauro, Kathleen Sebelius, and everyone else — that the Church’s opposition to the taking of innocent human life, at any stage of the human journey, is not some weird Catholic hocus-pocus; it’s a first principle of justice than can be known by reason. It is a “requirement of the natural moral law” — that is, the moral truths we can know by thinking about what is right and what is wrong — to defend the inviolability of innocent human life. You don’t have to believe in papal primacy to know that; you don’t have do believe in seven sacraments, or the episcopal structure of the Church, or the divinity of Christ, to know that. You don’t even have to believe in God to know that. You only have to be a morally serious human being, willing to work through a moral argument — which, of course, means being the kind of person who understands that moral truth cannot be reduced to questions of feminist political correctness or partisan political advantage...

A think a 'rogue's gallery' of prominent dissident 'Catholics' who push anti-Catholic dogma is in order. The above names would an obvious beginning...

Catholics Compelled To Act

California Catholic:

...Pewsitter.com, a Catholic news portal, is launching the nationwide “Withholding Communion” petition. The goal of the petition drive is to gather a least 1 million petitions for presentation to the U.S. Bishops and the Vatican, Pewsitter.com said in a news release....

....While the Catholic faithful understand and support the behind-the-scenes dialogue and diplomacy that goes on with prominent Catholics by the bishops to reconcile them with the Church, when such dissent continues for years and in some cases decades in spite of the actions and activities that have been undertaken by past and present bishops, then it becomes necessary for a bishop to take a formal public stand to prevent further scandal, said Pewsitter.

“Unfortunately what has happened is that dissenting Catholics have continued to receive Holy Communion with impunity -- and this has led to the false impression that the Church condones or at least tolerates such dissenting opinions on serious moral issues such as abortion, euthanasia, and embryonic stem cell research, to name a few,” said the Pewsitter statement. “Not only do these prominent Catholics disregard the Church’s teachings, but in many cases they actively and publicly promote policies and legislation that undermines, opposes and contradicts the Church’s teachings. An example of two such Catholics would be Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Vice President Joseph Biden.

Primer on Canon 915

Obligations of all Christian Faithful

I'm pretty sure these Canons apply universally, which would include Canada. Canada has been plagued with 'nominally' catholic politicians in (high) gov't positions implementing the antithesis of justice . Off the top of my head, I can think of about 15 who are primarily responsible for the moral decay and the decline of Canadian society.

Oh Canada!!
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Does Religion Influence Morality?

A Pew survey has some interesting results. When asked what most influenced their morality, 57% of Catholics answered 'practical experience and common sense'. The poster at 'Gene Expression' concluded that 'right and wrong is not about religion'. I beg to differ.

Firstly, someone's ignorance of right and wrong doesn't influence WHAT IS right and wrong.

Secondly, taking Catholics as an example, I would conclude that a person's ignorance of right and wrong is greatly influenced by their environment. Isn't that where we gain our 'practical experience and common sense'?

Badly formed Catholics have different ideas of what 'morality' even means, whether 'truth' even exists. and what it even means to be human. Those brought up in faithful, Christ centered homes have a totally different 'practical experience' from those brought up in dissident parishes with failing or non-existent Catholic schools. Its not surprising that a percentage of nominally Catholic people are secular humanists in reality, and base most of their choices, moral or not, on self-centered 'reasoning'.

Another factor which likely made an impact on the survey results, is the social attitude towards religion today, where 'common knowledge' tells us that religion is unreasonable. Asked whether religion or common sense guides our morality, some religious people may have opted for seeming reasonable, since the survey itself put religion in opposition to reason.

Also, if a Catholic person's 'practical experience' is a truly Catholic experience, and their 'common sense' is informed by their faithful Catholic upbringing, then religion IS influencing their morality!

What is the purpose of a survey? To make individual interpretation of 'not really facts' seem somewhat legitimate?

GOD KNOWS WHO YOU ARE

Proverbs 24:11-12:
"Rescue those who are being taken away to death.
Hold back those staggering toward slaughter.
And if you say, "But we knew nothing of this,"
Does not He who weighs the heart perceive it,
Does not He who guards your life know it?
Will He not repay each person according to what he has done?"


He knows you, whether or not you know Him.

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Black Leaders Are Disappointed

CNW:

..."The President removed the Mexico City Policy on Jan. 23, to allow U.S. taxpayer dollars to fund radically pro-abortion organizations around the world. It is further proof that he plans to expand and increase death by abortion which means millions more children will die," said Day Gardner, president of the National Black Pro-Life Union.

While Mr. Obama lauded the community of faith for its community organization strength, he also signaled that he would view his policy initiatives through the lenses of separation of church and state, the Jeffersonian doctrine that most have elevated to a constitutionally protected level. "When a person of faith goes to work, he does not check his moral values at the door. The president of the United States of America should not keep moral values out of the oval office. Since he knows that God is displeased with those who intentionally kill the innocent, he should not use taxpayers to pay those whose who kill the innocent. When you view public policy, a moral compass needs to be heeded to take the country in the right direction, lest we lose our way." Said Dr. Johnny Hunter, Fayetteville, NC

"The black community is awakening to the genocidal impact of abortion in the black community" said Dean Nelson, Director, Network of Politically Active Christians, "We are very disappointed in the President's refusal to provide an avenue of redress in his faith based programming...."

Florida Has Problems...

LifeSiteNews:

Just days after the Vatican announced that Pope Benedict XVI has ordered an apostolic visitation of all non-contemplative women’s religious orders in the United States, LifeSiteNews has learned that a notorious Catholic dissenter, known for her promotion of goddess-worship and “eco-spirituality,” is scheduled to speak at the Miami Archdiocese’s Saint Thomas University...

Announced in the diocesan bulletin no less! Miami is in trouble, and its not the only diocese in Florida to have a Bishop that at the very least is seen to be supportive of dissenters to the faith. We have travelled through Florida twice a year for several years, and I have yet to find a parish I'd like to return to! Each visit to a Catholic church has been at least saddening, sometimes shocking in its liturgical abuses and warping of Catholic theology. Dissent.

Although we(G.Cayman) are closer geographically to Miami, I am ever so grateful that our 'missio' parish is 'attached' to Detroit!

*disclaimer* I know that there are many faithful Catholics and Catholic clergy in Florida. I pray for their perseverance. If anyone wants to send me some suggestions of faithful parishes in Tampa, Orlando, and north on the I95, I'd be grateful!

Providence

I had been planning to join EWTN in the singing of the Chaplet of Divine Mercy this afternoon , dedicated to my Uncle PJ who died yesterday. All the kids were gathered with their rosaries, only to find that a live show had pre-empted the regular schedule - the installation of our new Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron!

Providence had us in front of the television to participate in the Mass (from a long long distance) and to become familiar with our new Shepherd.(You might not guess that Detroit is our 'diocese', but strangely enough- it is!)

Providence has also provided us with an exceptionally worthy and holy Shepherd. I can not express my gratitude to the Lord for helping us in this particular way.

After the Mass we prayed our Chaplet of Divine Mercy for Uncle PJ and were refreshed in Spirit by the couple of hours immersed in Christian Hope and Charity.

Somedays I really really love being a Catholic mother .

Wifely Obedience

Quite an interesting article at Red Cardigan

:...Perhaps it's a spending issue--we want to buy something for the home, but our husbands think that the current item is perfectly good and doesn't need replacing. Perhaps it's a division of labor issue--we might believe that some particular task ought to be his responsibility, but he expects us to take care of it. Perhaps it's an educational issue--we want to switch to a different math textbook, but our husbands believe that the program already in use is superior and that we just need to work harder to make it appeal to the child. Or perhaps it has to do with dozens of other things, such as housework, family relationships, leisure time, involvement in parish groups or ministries, involvement in clubs or organizations, even the way we pray as a family; all of those are areas where a wife and husband may disagree, and a wife may eventually be called to obedience....

...How do we know when to obey our husbands, when to humor them out of love, and when to make a stand? Again, we look to the good of the family: if what they are asking is an important thing that is ordered toward the family's good, we ought to do it; if it's a less important thing or if it isn't really ordered toward the good of the family we may need to humor them, depending on the situation. But if what our husbands want is something disordered, or ordered against the good of the family, we must insist that this not be done, and not only owe no obedience, but could even be more in danger of sinning if we give it....

(h/t Creative Minority)

I agree in principle. In practice I sometimes lack the humility to put the good of my husband and my family before my emotional reaction to the situation at hand,(I believe the 'code' for that is LOVE!) but I keep improving. By the time we reach our 50th, I'll be a very good wife!