Most Americans Prefer 'Merry Christmas' To 'Happy Holidays'

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 72% of adults prefer "Merry Christmas," while 22% like "Happy Holidays" instead
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3RD CHRISTMAS VIEWING...A DOG NAMED CHRISTMAS
In this heartwarming novel, author Greg Kincaid tells the tender story of how one very special dog changed the lives of his adoptive family—and an entire town—forever.


When Todd McCray, a developmentally challenged young man still living on his parents’ Kansas farm, hears that a local animal shelter is seeking temporary homes for its dogs during the days leading to Christmas, he knows exactly what he wants for the holidays. His father objects, but Todd’s persistence quickly wins out. Soon the McCrays are the short-term foster family for a lovable pooch the young man names Christmas.

But what about all the other dogs who will be forced to spend the Yuletide season in cages? In the days that follow, Todd uses his special gifts of persuasion to encourage his hometown to participate in the “Adopt a Dog for Christmas Program.” What follows from his small act of kindness will teach his family, and his community, about peace on earth and good will toward men—and animals.


AND

"Surviving Christmas" (2004)

Facing another Christmas alone, Drew decides to go back to his idyllic childhood home to spend the holidays with family. There is, however, one problem: the people living there now are not Drew’s family. Nevertheless, Drew has his mind set on an old-fashioned family Christmas, and the fact that the "family" in question, the Valcos, are complete strangers, isn’t about to put a crimp in his plans.

Does anyone else like the smell of church incense?
According to the Bible, there are only two odors in the hereafter.
Burning incense in heaven and burning sulphur in hell.
Which one do you want to get used to?

2ND CHRISTMAS VIEWING...Eve's Christmas (2004) (TV)

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas everywhere you go... That is except in the eyes of 33-year-old Eve Stevens. She's spending Christmas Eve in a bar pounding back the cocktails. Outside, scenes of happy families and couples walking by arm in arm only deepen Eve's inner depression. A single, successful professional, Eve wonders what material success has brought her. The bar closes early forcing Eve to meander her way through the crowded cheerful streets back to her apartment. Rounding the final corner, Eve bumps into a homeless man, Brother James. As usual, Brother is ranting and raving, this time he's on about the lost holiday spirit. Brother pauses to look the tipsy Eve in the eye. He whispers to her, "wish upon the Christmas Star." Eve hands the man some coins and makes her way home. Alone, with no one and nowhere to go, Eve pulls out a photo album she hasn't touched in years. It's filled with pictures of her rural hometown. One photo in particular brings tears to Eve's eyes. It's her at 21 posing with her then-fiancée, Scott. Eve walked out on Christmas Eve, twelve years ago... the night before their planned Christmas Day wedding. Feeling lonely and upset, Eve seeks solace in the darkness of the winter night. She ventures out on her balcony, where she spies the lone Christmas Star hanging high in the sky. Remembering Brother James, she makes a wish and goes to bed... Will Eve get a second chance? Written by anonymous


Prayer of Thanksgiving
Walter Rauschenbusch

O God, we thank you for this earth, our home;
For the wide sky and the blessed sun,
For the salt sea and the running water,
For the everlasting hills
And the never-resting winds,
For trees and the common grass underfoot.
We thank you for our senses
By which we hear the songs of birds,
And see the splendor of the summer fields,
And taste of the autumn fruits,
And rejoice in the feel of the snow,
And smell the breath of the spring.
Grant us a heart wide open to all this beauty;
And save our souls from being so blind
That we pass unseeing
When even the common thornbush
Is aflame with your glory,
O God our creator,
Who lives and reigns for ever and ever.

1ST CHRISTMAS VIEWING...A Colbert Christmas

The Colbert Report	Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
A Colbert Christmas: Preview - John Legend
www.colbertnation.com
Colbert Report Full Episodes Political Humor U.S. Speedskating

As Chesterton said, "He who does not believe in God will believe in anything."

In Flanders Fields
By: Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918)
Canadian Army
In Flanders Fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

FALL RIDING WITH D'LYN,MATTMAN AND SABETH...

FETUS AT 8 WEEKS

As we emerge from Halloween weekend, EWTNwill feature the “real deal” as Fr. Thomas Euteneuer discusses the devil and exorcism with “Life on the Rock” Hosts Fr. Mark and Doug Barry. Fr. Euteneuer, president of Human Life International and author of “Exorcism and the Church Militant,” will appear at 8 p.m. ET, Thursday. You do not want to miss this one!

Astronomy :: Move Over Hunter's Moon ... :: Farmers' Almanac

Astronomy :: Move Over Hunter's Moon ... :: Farmers' Almanac
It’s official; November’s full moon will now be named the “Thankful Moon!”

"Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ." - St. Jerome

Da Mihi Animas: All Souls Day: Going Home#links#links

Da Mihi Animas: All Souls Day: Going Home#links#links

Prayers for November

EACH DAY THIS MONTH,I PRAY THE ALL SOULS ROSARY...ALSO CALLED THE ALL SOULS CHAPLET...This chaplet,may be recited by using a standard Rosary.

By tradition, the Catholic Church dedicates each month of the year to a certain devotion. In November, it is the Holy Souls in Purgatory, those faithful Christians who have died and gone before us but who still must atone for their sins. The time they spend in Purgatory cleanses them so that they may enter Heaven free from all effects of sin.
Praying for the dead, especially for those we have known, is a requirement of Christian charity. Our own prayers and sacrifices can be offered up to relieve their suffering. Some or all of the following prayers can be incorporated into our daily prayers during this month.


On the Crucifix recite the psalm "de Profundis":

Psalm 130
Out of the depths I have cried to Thee, O Lord; Lord, hear my voice.
Let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplication.
If Thou, O Lord, shalt observe iniquities; Lord, who shall endure it?
For with Thee there is merciful forgiveness:
and by reason of Thy law, I have waited for Thee, O Lord.
My soul hath relied on His word; my soul hath hoped in the Lord.
From the morning watch even until night, let Israel hope in the Lord.
Because with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him plentiful redemption.
And He shall redeem Israel from all her iniquities.

[In conclusion]
Eternal rest give unto them, O Lord,
and let perpetual light shine upon them.
Let us pray.
O God, the Creator and Redeemer of all the faithful,
grant to the souls of Thy servants departed the remission of all their sins, that through our pious supplication they may obtain that pardon which they have always desired; who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.



On the large beads of the Rosary say the Lord's prayer (Our Father).

On the small beads of the Rosary recite the following Invocation:
O good Jesus, have mercy on the souls in purgatory or (mention name) and grant to them eternal rest.

The following prayers may be used with each decade as well as a particular intention for each decade.

First decade : I offer You, my Savior, this first decade for the souls of all of my relatives, through the Precious Blood which You shed for them in Your Agony in the Garden of Gethsemane . O good Jesus, have mercy on them!

Say the Our Father. Repeat the Invocation ten times.

Second decade : I offer You, my Savior, this second decade for the souls of all those who have shown me kindness, through the Precious Blood which You shed for them in Your Scourging, O good Jesus, have mercy on them!

Say the Our Father. Repeat the Invocation ten times.

Third decade : I offer You, my Savior, this third decade for the souls of those whom I have at any time offended, through the Precious Blood which You shed for them in carrying Your Cross to Calvary. O good Jesus, have mercy on them!

Say the Our Father. Repeat the Invocation ten times.

Fourth decade : I offer You, my Savior, this fourth decade for the souls of my friends and companions, through the Precious Blood which You poured forth upon the Cross, and through the sorrows which Mary, our tender Mother, endured at the foot of the Cross. O good Jesus, have mercy on them!

Say the Our Father. Repeat the Invocation ten times.

Fifth decade: I offer You, my Savior, this fifth decade for the soul of my father and/or Mother and/or relative. I offer You, for this soul so dear to me, the Precious Blood and the sacred water from Your Heart, pierced by the lance. O good Jesus, open to this soul the gate of heaven, and grant me the grace to be reunited with it forever in the bosom of Your goodness.

Say the Our Father. Repeat the Invocation ten times.

O good Jesus, have mercy on the souls in purgatory or the soul or souls (mention name) and grant to them eternal rest.

Da Mihi Animas: Te Deum Feast of All Saints#links#links

Da Mihi Animas: Te Deum Feast of All Saints#links#links