Building Mr. Snowman

Head ball, Belly ball, Bottom ball-Done!
Building Mr. Snowman is always lots of fun!



MATTY AND SABETH DOWN TO THE CAPE FOR THE WEEK.ENCOUNTERED OUR SEASON'S 1ST SNOWFALL.OF COURSE,A SNOWMAN WAS IN ORDER.


SO YOU WILL NOTICE THAT FROSTY HAS A MINI CUKE AS A NOSE INSTEAD OF A CARROT.COZ WE WELCOMED 2 NEW HORSES TO KNIGHTSWOOD THIS WEEK AND PROCEEDED TO SPOIL THEM WITH LOTS OF CARROTS AND APPLES...PICS TO FOLLOW.

The Christmas Novena (ST. ANDREW CHRISTMAS NOVENA)
It is time once again for the Christmas Novena. It begins on Tuesday, November 30th and goes through Christmas Eve. It is time to prayerfully consider what we want most for Christmas this year and bring those desires to God. I've seen different versions of how to say this novena - some say to say it 15 times a day while others have it as just once a day. However you do it, humbly request God for the blessings that you desire most this Christmas.


The Christmas Novena

Hail and blessed be the hour and moment
At which the Son of God was born
Of a most pure Virgin
At a stable in Bethlehem
In the piercing cold.
At that hour vouchsafe, I beseech thee,
To hear my prayers and grant my desires.
(Mention your request here.)
Through Jesus Christ and his most Blessed Mother. Amen.

WELL IT'S THE FIRST DAY OF THE CATHOLIC NEW YEAR...ADVENT...THE COMING...FROM THE LATIN WORD - ADVENTUS.

Advent blends together a penitential spirit, very similar to Lent, a liturgical theme of preparation for the Second and Final Coming of the Lord, called the Parousia, and a joyful theme of getting ready for the birth of Christ.

Here are twelve tips that will help you and your family keep this season holy:

1. Use an Advent calendar and/or a wreath to mark this time of preparation. Pray Advent prayers with the family and the rosary when you light up the candle on the wreath. Sing 'O Come, O Come, Emmanuel' throughout Advent.
2. Keep outdoor lights and decorations simple, using religious CHRISTmas scenes like the Nativity or a star.
3. Use a Jesse tree or an Advent tree.
4. Have your Christmas tree blessed. Remind your children that the tree is a Christian symbol and relates to many aspects of our faith.
5. Let your children know that "Santa Claus" is another name for the real St. Nicholas and tell them his story. Celebrate the day. Encourage your children to leave their shoes outside their bedroom doors on Dec. 5. When they awaken, they will find small gifts like candy or fruit if they’ve been good.
6. Participate in the Giving Tree at church. Have your children buy a gift to donate to children in need or perform some service for the poor or elderly.
7. Put a Nativity set in a prominent place in your home, but only put out some of the animals. You can put the other statues out, but in another place in your home. Each week, read a little from the Christmas story in Luke's Gospel, and move the statues a little closer.
8. Have the children place a piece of straw in the manger for each good deed they do during Advent as a gift to the baby Jesus.
9. Take the entire family, when possible, to daily Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, and to the sacrament of Reconciliation.
10. Light a candle before the Blessed Mother when visiting the Blessed Sacrament.
11. The Mary candle: Some families have the custom of decorating the Christ candle with a blue veil on December 8th, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. On this great feast, others place a candle with a blue ribbon before a statue or picture of the Blessed Virgin, whose “yes” to God enabled our Lord’s coming at Christmas. The candle is lit during meal times to serve as a delightful reminder of Mary’s eager expectation of the “Light of the World.”
12. St. Lucy cakes: The feast of St. Lucy, virgin and martyr, is on December 13th. This marks the opening of the Christmas season in Sweden. Her life story can be found in most saints books, as can the recipe for the traditional cakes. The symbolism is rich and her life story worthwhile reading.

Wishing someone "Merry Christmas" is not an insult just because they don't celebrate it. Get over yourselves.





In a PC world, I am MANDATED to accept others religious, political ,and lifestyles beliefs while I am still a villian for saying Merry Christmas or Jesus.



ONE FOR THE GOOD GUYS...THAT BE US...

NEW YORK — The War on Christmas may be in its final days.


This season, Merry Christmas — not happy holidays or season's greetings — will dominate retailer's marketing messages. There will be Christmas sales and Christmas trees and Christmas carols galore.

That has the American Family Association, arguably one of the loudest voices advocating the use of Christmas in retailer's marketing messages over the past few years, predicting that its crusade could conclude in the next year or two.

.Randy Sharp, director-special projects at the AFA, said that in the past five years the group has seen the percentage of retailers recognizing Christmas in their advertising rise from 20 percent to 80 percent. Just eight retailers are left on the group's list of "Companies Against Christmas."



It's also become more challenging to find a large, national retailer to single out for the group's annual boycott. This year, Dick's Sporting Goods, which boasts an online "Holiday Shop," will be the target of the boycott. The AFA is expected to send an Action Alert to its 2.3 million supporters on Friday morning. That alert will urge shoppers to boycott Dick's between now and Dec. 25. It also calls for consumers to e-mail President-Chief Operating Officer Joseph Schmidt and then call Chief Marketing Officer Jeff Hennion. The retailer declined to comment. In the past, Target, Sears, Gap and Walmart have been targets.

"We've had a complete flip," Mr. Sharp says. "The politically correct holiday verbiage is going away. Companies are getting the message."
Indeed, retailers that have found themselves the target of boycotts or media and consumer scrutiny have responded swiftly in recent years. Lowe's "Family Trees" were renamed "Christmas Trees," while Walmart's "Holiday Shop" is now a "Christmas Shop." Midway through the 2005 holiday season, Target, facing a boycott, announced its advertising messages would become more specific and include references to Christmas. And last year, Gap responded to a boycott by issuing a press release highlighting the use of the phrase "Merry Christmas" in its upcoming Old Navy ads.

Mr. Sharp stopped short of saying that he was surprised by how quickly and readily most retailers have changed their marketing. But he did point out that, especially in this type of economic environment, retailers are being careful not to alienate customers.

"Shoppers vote with their wallets every day," said Ellen Davis, a VP at the National Retail Federation. "[When it comes to boycotts,] retailers realize, 'It could just as easily have been us.' "
The NRF does not formally advise retailers on whether they should use the word Christmas, but Ms. Davis said it does provide statistics. This year's NRF/BigResearch survey found that 91 percent of consumers plan to celebrate Christmas, compared with 5% for Hanukkah and 2% for Kwanzaa.

"Retailers dipped their toe into the Christmas waters again last year, and there wasn't much push back. There wasn't a huge outcry from groups offended that retailers were saying Merry Christmas," said Ms. Davis. "We see the word Christmas being used much more this year than three or four years ago. The pendulum seems to have swung back."

The "extreme backlash" to generic holiday messaging likely caught retailers off guard in years past, Ms. Davis added. Now, phrasing around the holidays is much more strategic. "At this point, it's a conscious decision. It's not just whimsical phrases being tossed around in the marketing department," she said. "These are conversations that are now probably taking place in the C-Suite."



Retailers certainly tread carefully when it comes to the subject of Christmas. Major retailers such as JCPenney and Target said they don't have formal policies on in-store greetings. And retailers ranging from Gap to Macy's and RadioShack to Sears emphasized their inclusion and respect for shoppers of different beliefs, while noting that at least some of their marketing messages include the word Christmas. RadioShack, however, still appears on the AFA's list of "Companies Against Christmas." A RadioShack spokesman declined to comment on that distinction.


Plenty view the tactics of the AFA and other groups as bullying, but Mr. Sharp rejects that. "It's not bullying, it's consumer advocacy," he said. The AFA's stance is that retailers should not profit from Christmas, if they refuse to clearly acknowledge it. "When your advertising has trees and ornaments and gift wrapping, you're advertising Christmas, so don't call it holiday," Mr. Sharp said, adding that the group is not at all offended by Happy Hanukkah messages.




:

Please, all Christians join together and wish everyone you meet


MERRY CHRISTMAS


T'was the Month before Christmas
When all through our land,
Not a Christian was praying
Nor taking a stand.

See the PC Police had taken away
The reason for Christmas - no one could say.
The children were told by their schools not to sing
About Shepherds and Wise Men and Angels and things.

It might hurt people's feelings, the teachers would say
December 25th is just a ' Holiday '.
Yet the shoppers were ready with cash, checks and credit
Pushing folks down to the floor just to get it!

CDs from Madonna, an X BOX, an I-Pod
Something was changing, something quite odd!
Retailers promoted Ramadan and Kwanzaa
In hopes to sell books by Franken & Fonda.

As Targets were hanging their trees upside down
At Lowe's the word Christmas - was no where to be found.
At K-Mart and Staples and Penny's and Sears
You won't hear the word Christmas; it won't touch your ears.

Inclusive, sensitive, Di-ver-si-ty
Are words that were used to intimidate me.
Now Daschle, Now Darden, Now Sharpton, Wolf Blitzen
On Boxer, on Rather, on Kerry, on Clinton!

At the top of the Senate, there arose such a clatter
To eliminate Jesus, in all public matter.
And we spoke not a word, as they took away our faith
Forbidden to speak of salvation and grace

The true Gift of Christmas was exchanged and discarded
The reason for the season, stopped before it started.

So as you celebrate 'Winter Break' under your 'Dream Tree'
Sipping your Starbucks, listen to me.
Choose your words carefully, choose what you say
Shout MERRY CHRISTMAS ,
not Happy Holiday!

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Christ is The Reason for the Christ-mas Season!

"Hail, and blessed be the hour and moment
At which the Son of God was born of a most pure Virgin at a stable at midnight in Bethlehem in the piercing cold. At that hour vouchsafe, I beseech Thee, to hear my prayers and grant my desires. Through Jesus Christ and His most Blessed Mother."
—Christmas Novena

Join the Conspiracy

The story of Christ's birth is a story of promise, hope, and a revolutionary love.



So, what happened? What was once a time to celebrate the birth of a savior has somehow turned into a season of stress, traffic jams, and shopping lists.



And when it's all over, many of us are left with presents to return, looming debt that will take months to pay off, and this empty feeling of missed purpose. Is this what we really want out of Christmas?



What if Christmas became a world-changing event again?



Welcome to Advent Conspiracy.

Take the challenge and enter the story with us this season.

HAPPY,HAPPY...YES I AM THRILLED THAT TIMOTHY DOLAN WAS ELECTED PRESIDENT...I HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING HIM FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW...HE IS A DELIGHT AND A CONSERVATIVE.

New York Archbishop Timothy Dolan addresses members of the media Nov. 16 at the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' annual fall meeting in Baltimore.

New York Archbishop Timothy Dolan was elected the new president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Tuesday, Nov. 16. The election of Archbishop Dolan broke from precedent that held that the vice president of the bishops’ conference, in this case Tucson Bishop Gerald Kicanas, would succeed the outgoing president, in this case Cardinal Francis George of Chicago, in a vote that would be more of a formality.

FOR A MAJOR SHOT OF INSPIRATION,WATCH THIS.


PRAISING GOD AT MACY'S


'Flash opera' at Macy's


A flash mob hit Macy's in Center City on Saturday - 650 vocalists who, unknown to shoppers, had arranged to burst into song at noon.

80 million (legal) Bibles printed in China

The 80 millionth copy of the Bible authorized by the government goes to print today, but importing religious books without central authorities permission is still illegal. Christian groups say that the demand exceed the supply.The only company authorized to print Bibles in China is marking a milestone: the release today of copy number "80 million" from their printing presses, announced by the official government press agency. Amity Printing Co.  claims to have printed one million copies a month. Since its founding in 1988, the company has grown to become one of the largest printers of Bibles in the world. "The production of 80 million copies of the Bible can be attributed to the world of Chinese Christians, and even more to the country's reform and its policy of increased openness," says the president of Amity.
Religious freedom groups say there are more than 100 million Christian believers in China, including those of "private churches". Christians who belong to unofficial churches and those living in rural areas are struggling to get a bible. Moreover, despite the rapid pace of production, many Christians still do not have a copy because of the shortage in supply, or restrictions on distribution.

FOR MY AMERICAN BUDS.WATCH THIS ,THEN POST TO YOUR SITE...IT IS THE 4TH VERSE OF THE STAR-SPANGLED BANNER.IT IS RIVETING.HELP PUT IT THROUGHOUT AMERICA.SO MUCH FOR A SECULAR NATION.

LEST WE FORGET

CELESTIAL DELIGHT FOR A SATURDAY NIGHT


TONIGHT THE CLOCKS GO BACK...BUT NO EXTRA SLEEP FOR ME COZ EWTN IS CARRYING A SPECIAL ON BLESSED ELIZABETH OF THE TRINITY(SABETH) AT 4:00 THIS A.M. ONE OF MY FAVOURITE BLESSEDS...SO I'LL BE UP.

TROOPER AND DENISE CAME FOR A VISIT

THE WONDERS OF CHILDHOOD

BUDDING SCIENTISTS,MATTMAN AND SABETH EXAMINING A CATERPILLAR


REMINDS ME OF THE DAYS OF MY OWN KIDDIEHOOD-----COLLECTING TADPOLES IN A BOTTLE FROM THE LOCAL POND.

SUDDENLY SOMEONE LOOKS VERRRY OLDE AND VERRRY GREY.

All Saints Day is when the Church commemorates all saints, known and unknown. The eve of All Saints is known as All Hallows Eve, or Halloween. All Saints Day is November 1.

DO YOU HAVE ANY DEVOTION TO LITTLE KNOWN SAINTS?I HAVE MANY,INCLUDING ST. GEMMA GALGANI AND BLESSED ELIZABETH OF THE TRINITY.

DO YOU HAVE ANY DEVOTION TO ANY UNKNOWN SAINTS?I HAVE ONE...A COUSIN,MICHELLE HAWRYLAK WHO SUCCUMBED TO LEUKEMIA AT AGE 20.

SAD NEWS...MY BELOVED HIGH SCHOOL...HOLY ANGELS HIGH...A CATHOLIC ALL-GIRLS' SCHOOL IS CLOSING.IT INITIALLY OPENED IN 1885,AND IS RUN BY THE TEACHING SISTERS FROM THE CONGREGATION DE NOTRE-DAME...2 OF MY AUNTS ARE IN THIS ORDER.

(The Congrégation de Notre-Dame is a Catholic community of women religious of apostolic faith.Apostolic faith is the adherence of the whole person to Jesus and to the teachings He gave to his apostles. This faith is oriented towards continuing the mission of Jesus: to reveal to the world God’s great love of humanity and to call humanity to live in love of God and of one’s neighbour for a better world and happier people. founded in the 17th century by Marguerite Bourgeoys, first educator of Montreal and a pioneer of New France.)



THE CURRENT ENROLLMENT OF 300 GIRLS ARE EXTREMELY UPSET.MARCHING IN THE STREETS.

Let Christians reclaim Halloween for God so that it is transformed from a night of darkness into a great Christian festival once again. In this way, in years to come, when people are asked what immediately springs to mind when they think of Halloween, they will think of Jesus Christ and the glory of God in His saints.

The Night of Light, is an initiative to reclaim Hallowe'en for the church. The inspiration for it was received by Damian Stayne the founder of the Catholic community, Cor et Lumen Christi.
What immediately comes to mind when you think of Hallowe'en? Probably, like most people, it is the images of witches and ghosts and so on, which belong to the dark world of the occult and magic - images of darkness and death.
In fact Halloween ('All Hallows Eve'), the evening of the 31st October, is the vigil (beginning) of the feast of All Saints - the feast in which we celebrate the glory of God in His saints. The victory of light over darkness in the lives of God's holy ones in heaven. Jesus is the 'Light of the World'. The saints lived by that light, and became a beacon in their own generation. We too are called by Jesus to live out this vocation - to be the 'Light of the world' today.


CONSIDER THE KEY ELEMENTS OF THE NIGHT OF LIGHT...


A vigil mass for the feast of All Saints (including a collection in the mass for a charity serving the poor such as CAFOD as abortion and poverty are such a darkness in our world today).


All night Adoration of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament - to join the saints in heaven in the worship of Jesus Christ the True Light.
Treats and fun for the children in celebration of All Saints and the Light of Christ. Perhaps the lighting of a candle at supper and sweets and fun events in families or schools, e.g. a bonfire or dressing up as saints.
Placing a light in your window (safely!) as a sign to passers-by that yours is a Christian household and Christ is your light.
In addition, some may like to wear a white item of clothing as a symbol of their allegiance to Christ our light.


Many will participate in all elements ,but any involvement is greatly encouraged.

"Halloween is the time to rejoice in God's glory displayed in His saints but we have allowed it to become focused upon witches and devils. I welcome this initiative to recapture it for Christ."



- THE RIGHT REV. DOM AMBROSE GRIFFITHS OSB, BISHOP OF HEXHAM & NEWCASTLE


"I firmly endorse this very important initiative, which I am sure will improve the spiritual health of the nation and advance the Kingdom of Jesus Christ."


- AN OFFICIAL EXORCIST OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH IN BRITAIN

FULL MOON

Check out this great MSN video: Spooky Newborn Puppies

Check out this great MSN video: Spooky Newborn Puppies

Montreal's Brother André now a saint.

I VISITED ST. JOSEPH'S ORATORY  ( FOUNDED BY BROTHER ANDRE) IN MONTREAL AS A CHILD.THE 1ST PAIR OF ROSARY BEADS THAT I BOUGHT WERE FROM THE ORATORY,AND I STILL HAVE THEM TO THIS DAY.

 In an elaborate ceremony under a beautiful autumn sky in Italy, a humble Quebec man ,Brother André Bessette,Canadian monk,credited with healing thousands of sick was recognized as a saint.The Roman Catholic Church canonized Brother Andre on Sunday in St. Peter's Square in Vatican City, the first Canadian to be named a saint in 20 years.The Montrealer and five others — including a nun is who now Australia's first saint — were canonized by Pope Benedict XVI on Sunday.

Pope Benedict noted that Brother André was poorly educated but understood what was essential to his faith.
"Doorman at the Notre Dame College in Montreal, he showed boundless charity and did everything possible to soothe the despair of those who confided in him," Benedict said.

Brother André founded St. Joseph's Oratory in 1904 — although it was a modest chapel and far from the grand landmark that looms over Montreal today on the northern slope of Mount Royal.

He was born Alfred Bessette on Aug. 9, 1845, in St-Gregoire-d'Iberville, Que. — a small town southeast of Montreal — and was orphaned when he was 12 years old.

Before joining the Congregation of Holy Cross in 1870, he worked in the textile mills of the northeastern United States. Once he took his vows, he gave comfort to people who came to him at College Notre-Dame for solace, and many credited him with curing their illnesses.

He was declared "venerable" by Pope Paul VI in 1978 and beatified — declared "blessed" — by Pope John Paul II in 1982 after a case of healing in 1958 was recognized officially by the Vatican as a miracle.

Two miracles attributed to Brother André

The canonization campaign for the man many faithful call the "Miracle Man of Montreal" began soon after his death in 1937 at age 91. Over the years, millions of people have signed petitions asking for his sainthood.

Before such recognition, the Vatican must accept that someone is responsible posthumously for two miracles. The first miracle attributed to the Canadian came to the Vatican's attention in 1958, when New York businessman Joseph Audino said he had recovered from terminal cancer after asking for André's spiritual guidance.

The second case involved a young Quebec boy who in 1999 recovered from severe head injuries suffered when he was riding his bike and was struck by a car. Relatives said they prayed to Brother André.

Benedict announced Brother André's canonization in February after recognizing the second miracle attributed to him.

The monk is the first saint born in modern-day Canada.

The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops says Canada now has 11 saints.

Marguerite d'Youville was the first saint born on Canadian territory, in 1701.

Canada's other saints include Marguerite Bourgeoys, who was born in France in 1620 and is considered the co-founder of Montreal, and eight French-born Jesuit martyrs who were killed during wars in the 1640s.

The other new saints canonized Sunday include Mother Mary MacKillop, the founder of the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph in Australia's outback, Stanislaw Soltys, a 15th-century Polish priest, Italian nuns Giulia Salzano and Battista Varano and Spanish nun Candida Maria de Jesus Cipitria y Barriola.

The 19th-century Australian nun who was canonized had been briefly excommunicated in part because her religious order exposed a pedophile priest.

I THROW OUT THE CHALLENGE TO ANY BLOG BUDS TO MAKE A DONATION...EVEN IF  IT'S ONLY 2.00 TO FATHER BARRON'S CATHOLICISM PROJECT.IT'S EASY TO DONATE VIA PAYPAL...IF YOU'RE NOT A PAYPAL MEMBER,THEN JOIN UP.

I JUST MADE A 5.OO DONATION.BUT I'M GOING TO BE UPPING THAT AS TIME GOES ON COZ I THINK HIS CAUSE IT SUPER IMPORTANT.


WATCH THIS POWERFUL 2 MINUTE TRAILER.



I AM NOT FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO LIVE IN THE CATCHMENT AREA FOR FATHER ROBERT BARRON PROGRAM...BUT I HOPE SOME OF YOU ARE.HE IS BEING TOUTED AS A MODERN DAY ARCHBISHOP FULTON J. SHEEN.

Dear Friends of Word On Fire,


Please remember to watch "Word on Fire with Father Barron" this Sunday at 8:30AM Central on WGN America (In Chicago - 9:30AM Central on WGN)!
This week on Word On Fire: Fr. Barron gives the big picture on Creation and The Fall. Plus, hear from Mexican movie star Eduardo Verastegui.
Next week: A sneak preview of Episode One of the CATHOLICISM series.


About The Project

CATHOLICISM is a global effort to produce and distribute a groundbreaking documentary series presenting the true story of Christianity and the Catholic faith. In just 2 short years we have raised over $2.5 million and filmed in over 50 locations in more than 15 countries, telling the Catholic story. We are urgently trying to raise $500,000 to fund global marketing and distribution.

ST. TERESA OF AVILA...IT'S HER FEAST DAY.
ONE OF MY FAVOURITES....HECK THEY ARE ALL MY FAVOURITES.

IF YOU'VE NEVER READ HER BOOK...THE INTERIOR CASTLE...THEN DO SO.

ALSO EWTN HAS AN 8 PART MINI-SERIES SEVERAL TIMES A YEAR ON HER ON SATURDAY NIGHTS...IT REALLY CHRONICLES HOW MANY ILLNESSES SHE SUFFERED WITH,BUT YET HER LOVE FOR GOD NEVER WAVERED.


If you’re bogged down and dog tired by the chaos of a busy life, take heart from the example of St. Teresa of Avila. Maybe her prayer will give you the words you need the next time you turn to our loving God:



PRAYER FOR A BUSY LIFE

 How is it God, that you have given me this hectic busy life when I have so little time to enjoy your presence? Throughout the day people are waiting to speak with me, and even at meals I have to continue talking to people about their needs and problems. During sleep itself I am still thinking and dreaming about the multitude of concerns that surround me. I do all this not for my own sake, but for yours.


To me my present pattern of life is a torment; I only hope that for you it is truly a sacrifice of love. I know that you are constantly beside me, yet I am usually so busy that I ignore you. If you want me to remain so busy, please force me to think about and love you even in the midst of such hectic activity. If you do not want me so busy, please release me from it, showing others how they can take over my responsibilities.

A sick man turned to his doctor, who was leaving the room after paying a visit, and said: "Doctor, I am afraid to die. Tell me what lies on the other side." Very quietly the doctor said, "I don't know." "You don't know? You, a Christian man, do not know what is on the other side?!"
The doctor was holding the handle of t...he door, on the other side of which came sounds of scratching and whining, and as he opened the door a dog sprang into the room and leaped on him with eager show of gladness. Turning to his patient, the doctor said, "Did you ever notice that dog? He has never been in this room before. He did not know what was inside. He knew nothing except that his master was here, and when the door opened he sprang in without fear. I know little of what is on the other side of death, but I do know one thing: I know my Master is there, and that is enough. And when the door opens, I shall pass through with no fear, but with gladness."

An interesting fact about OCTOBER 2010...


This October has 5 Fridays, 5 Saturdays and 5 Sundays, all in one month.

It happens once in 823 years.

FALL RIDING ON THIS THANKSGIVING WEEKEND

Father Corapi: Pray the Rosary Everyday… And You Will Be Blessed!

"The month of October is one of my two favorite months. May is the other one. As you know the Church dedicates the month of October to Our Blessed Mother and the Rosary. The Church celebrates October 7th as the Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary. This feast day has a long history, one worth knowing about. A very productive undertaking would be for you to look this up on the internet to learn about the history of this important celebration in Church history.


It is my personal opinion, one which is in accord with the mind of the Church, that you will profit very much by praying the holy Rosary every day. The prayer of the Rosary is the prayer of the holy Gospel, the Good News Who is Jesus. My best piece of spiritual advice to you, no matter who you are, president or plumber, priest or king…PRAY THE ROSARY ."

DOG SAYING GRACE...SO CUTE.

"Sanctify yourself and you will sanctify society" --Saint Francis

WHETHER VEGETABLES, WATER, OR LEMONS, GOD WANTS US TO PREVENT ILLS THROUGH HOLY SPIRIT


Purify your thoughts and you will purify your body because the body manifests what is in the spirit. Let your "first thought" (about someone) be positive or at least loving and in this way purity will begin to surround you as a force that cleanses and prepares you for health and it is the topic for today: cleansing our bodies, which are the temples of the Holy Spirit .

In the Book of Sirach (or Ecclesiasticus) is the advice: "Before sickness, prepare the cure" (18:8). We prepare the cure by engulfing our bodies in the positive.
Any spot in the spirit may manifest as a spot on our bodies, and if it grows in the spirit, it can grow in the physical as well (and turn malignant).

This is not to blame every illness on spiritual darkness (we all grow old, and there is sickness that is "redemptive"; even St. Francis was ill at a young age) -- but we can prevent many ills with what we think, how we pray, and what we put into our bodies.

How do we "prepare" a cure? How do we halt an illness before it is an illness? How do we protect ourselves and loved ones against the many potential scourges of this life? Invoke the Holy Spirit.

When we pray for the Holy Spirit to suffuse us (and our loved ones) with the Spirit of Health, He guides us as to what we should eat. Otherwise, we would be lost in all the conflicting and complex information on latest scientific food studies! So start there.

When we pray our intuitions come up with ideas and if we may share a recent intuition it involves the use of water and fruit to cleanse the body.

As we have urged before, drink plenty of pure water. Try to drink the purest water you can find. See it as a physical representation of the living waters. Pray over each glass!

Did you ever wonder why so many ancients believed in healing springs (or "fountains of youth")? Start here: water. Drink as much as your body tolerates. Flush out your system. There are the living waters of Heaven and the living waters in our bodies -- which should be purified (like our spirits).

Regularly, fast. Francis of Assisi called the body "brother donkey." He kept this "brother" under perfect control -- sometimes without food and water or denying it something special that "it" liked very much. This also purifies.

Meanwhile, it is crucial to health and fascinating that human blood has such a remarkable similarity (in mineral composition) to ocean water.

So perhaps that's another step: make sure you eat foods with the minerals found in ocean water. Genuine sea salt is an excellent source for readily soluble sodium with trace iodine and other minerals found in the sea, and it causes less water retention than regular salt (which puts on weight). To purge excess salt and purify organs like the liver, drink water with a couple tablespoons of lemon or grapefruit juice, sweetened with real maple syrup (not high-fructose sugars) and spiced with cayenne (if your body can tolerate it).

The Holy Spirit may lead you to eat peaches, or apples, or papayas, or avocadoes, or red grapes, or specific fish, or nuts. Of course, one could extol many other nutrients. Let's take the scourge of macular degeneration (which causes loss of eyesight): many say it can be prevented or lessened by consuming foods that contain lutein, an antioxidant, belonging to the carotenoid family that can be found in dark green leafy vegetables such as kale, spinach, collards, broccoli, garden peas, zucchini, Brussels sprouts, pistachio nuts, various fruits, carrots, mustard greens, purple, red, or blue fruits, romaine lettuce, dill, parsley, corn, and tomatoes. Egg yolks are also sources of lutein. Perhaps most powerful for the antioxidants: Goji berries. We mention this because so many are having vision problems!

It is God -- His angels -- Who will direct us. He made endless healthy fruits and vegetables and only He knows the combination that best fits our unique bodies. Otherwise, our heads will spin with all the nutritional advice! Your body is unique and has unique needs that only God can see in their entirety.
How else do we "prepare the cure"? By asking our angels to scan our bodies and heal any illnesses that may be in an incipient (barely detectable) state (especially tumors). Ask God to permeate and surround you and your loved ones with the purity of immunity from the countless maladies that can afflict us. Cast away the spirit of tumors (if such may be around). Cast away the spirit of arthritis (in case that's there). Cast off the spirit of diabetes, or arterial disease, or heart ailments, and every sort of cancer. Cast away the spirit of infirmity and ask God through His angels to constantly minister to you. Purify your thought process. Besides your mouth, watch what enters your eyes and ears. Cleanse the innermost chambers of your spirit. Watch the "eyegates"!

Now comes cleanliness, which is next to Godliness.

True health!

Lemons. Apples. Lutein.

The Lord can cure anything -- and use everything we have on this earth.

[resources: Catholic Workout and Foods Jesus Ate]

[see also: The health benefits of water, lemon water, grapefruit; and lemon balm tea]

THIS IS THE FEAST OF ST. THERESE...MY CLOSEST CONFIDANTE GROWING UP.I WAS A MEMBER OF ST. THERESA'S PARISH IN ASHBY FROM THE AGE OF 7 UNTIL 18.
IF YOU HAVE NEVER READ HER BOOK ...THE STORY  OF A SOUL,THEN I ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO SO.

IT'S THE FEAST DAY OF ONE OF MY FAVOURITE EARLY CHURCH FATHERS...JEROME.

HE TRANSLATED THE BIBLE INTO THE LATIN VULGATE...THE ONE THAT I STUDY...THE DOUAY-RHEIMS BIBLE...WAS TRANSLATED FROM THE LATIN THEN TO ENGLISH.

SINCE HE IS THE PATRON OF SCHOOLCHILHREN...I IMPLORE HIM TO PRAY FOR MY GRANDSON...MATTY...WHO STARTED GRADE PRIMARY THIS MONTH.

AMUSING...

MIKE AQUILA...A CONTEMPORARY STUDENT OF THE STUDY OF CHURCH FATHERS...dubbed Jerome “Doctor Cantankerous".  Jerome quarreled with or complained about (or at least growled at) an amazing array of his fellow Fathers: Ambrose, Augustine, Chrysostom, Rufinus, and, of course, Origen (to name just a few).

POEM/SONG ABOUT JEROME
The Thunderer


If you read this out loud you will get the most benefit from it ... or do as I did and hear Mike Aquilina recite aloud in his speech The Church Fathers for Church Teachers. (Mike's speeches are pure gold by the way; highly recommended.)GO HERE TO LISTEN TO MIKE.


OR DOWNLOAD DION'S VERSION HERE FOR 99 CENTS.

The Thunderer by Dion
Format: MP3 Download , From the Album Son Of Skip James



THE THUNDERER

God’s angry man, His crotchety scholar

Was Saint Jerome,

The great name-caller

Who cared not a dime

For the laws of Libel

And in his spare time

Translated the Bible.

Quick to disparage

All joys but learning

Jerome thought marriage

Better than burning;

But didn’t like woman’s

Painted cheeks;

Didn’t like Romans,

Didn’t like Greeks,

Hated Pagans

For their Pagan ways,

Yet doted on Cicero all of his days.



A born reformer, cross and gifted,

He scolded mankind

Sterner than Swift did;

Worked to save

The world from the heathen;

Fled to a cave

For peace to breathe in,

Promptly wherewith

For miles around

He filled the air with

Fury and sound.

In a mighty prose

For Almighty ends,

He thrust at his foes,

Quarreled with his friends,

And served his Master,

Though with complaint.

He wasn’t a plaster sort of a saint.



But he swelled men’s minds

With a Christian leaven.

It takes all kinds

To make a heaven.
*****************************************************

CAPE BRETONESE CHATTER

DO YOU KNOW ANYONE WITH THE NAME JEROME...I RECALL SOMEONE IN MY CHILDHOOD NEIGHBOURHOOD OF ASHBY...BY THAT NAME...A FATHER WITH 10 KIDLETS AND A HUSBAND WITH A MOST SAINTLY WIFE.IN FACT ONE OF HIS DAUGHTERS MARRIED MY UNCLE.THE JEROME I KNEW WAS A THUNDERER TOO.

ON THIS FEAST DAY OF THE ARCHANGELS SUPPORT THE ST. MICHAEL PRAYER CAMPAIGN TO BRING MICHAEL'S PRAYER BACK TO THE MASS.DOES YOUR PARISH RECITE THE PRAYER AFTER THE MASS...IF NOT,PERHAPS YOU COULD ENCOURAGE IT.

FEAST DAY OF SAINT WENCESLAS

Good King Wenceslas
One of the best loved Christmas Carols is the 157-year-old carol: Good King Wenceslas. In 1853, John Mason Neale chose Wenceslas as the subject for a children’s song to exemplify generosity. It quickly became a Christmas favorite, even though its words clearly indicate that Wenceslas ‘looked out’ on St. Stephen’s Day, the day after Christmas. So Good King Wenceslas is actually a Boxing Day carol! For a tune, Neale picked up a spring carol, originally sung with the Latin text ‘Tempus adest floridum’ or ‘Spring has unwrapped her flowers’. This original spring tune was first published in 1582 in a collection of Swedish church and school songs.

Jolly Old St. Wenceslas

Who was King Wenceslas anyway? Wenceslas was the Duke of Bohemia who was murdered in 929 AD by his wicked younger brother, Boleslav. As the song indicates, he was a good, honest, and strongly principled man. The song expresses his high moral character in describing King Wenceslas braving a fierce storm in order to help feed a poor neighbour. Wenceslas believed that his Christian faith needed to be put into action in practical ways. Wenceslas was brought up with a strong Christian faith by his grandmother St. Ludmila. Wenceslas’ own mother Drahomira, however, joined forces with an anti-Christian group that murdered Wenceslas’ grandmother, and seized power in Bohemia. Two years later in 922 AD, the evil Drahomira was deposed, and Good King Wenceslas became the ruler. He became Bohemia’s most famous martyr and patron saint. His picture appeared on Bohemian coins, and the Crown of Wenceslas became the symbol of Czech independence.

Intergenerational Appeal

Even as a young child, I remember feeling moved as I sung this unusual carol. Why does Good King Wenceslas have such a deep and lasting impact on its hearers? Perhaps it is because there are so many levels of meaning to this carol. A child may hear one thing, an adult may hear another. I find that I can sing it again and again, and new meaning continues to pour forth from the carol. Recently the phrase ‘Fails my heart, I know not how, I can go no longer’ really spoke to me. It reminded me that sometimes there are times in our lives when life and its stresses seem to overwhelm us, and we feel that ‘we can go no longer.’ The response of Good King Wenceslas was most interesting. He said: ‘Mark my footsteps, my good page, Tread thou in them boldly: Thou shalt find the winter’s rage freeze thy blood less coldly.’ Wenceslas reminds us that when we are all alone, life can feel very bleak. It is at such times that solidarity with another human being can help ‘our blood freeze less coldly’. Wenceslas affirms that we are not alone, and subtly points to the basic Christmas message that Jesus our Master will never leave us in the cold.



In His Master’s Steps

In the last verse are the memorable words: ‘In his master’s steps he trod, where the snow lay dinted.’ The author John Neale, an Anglican priest, shows us here that the essence of true living is learning to walk in our Master’s steps. All of us need a Higher Power to help guide us along our journey. Jesus said: "If anyone would come after me (and tread in my steps), he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." Our challenge each Christmas is to look beyond the toys and tinsel, to see ‘the Master’s steps.’

Fr. Thomas Dubay

It was devastating to learn of his death...I have watched many of his presentations...his series on St. John of the Cross helped me to understand St. John more than any book could.He had a funny down home way of presenting himself.

EWTN has received word this weekend that one of our favorite show host Fr. Thomas Dubay had died. Popular series includes • Teresa of Avila: Personality and Prayer • Prayer Quests • Contemplation: Union With God .

Please pray for the repose of his soul.
 

Father Robert Barron To Have Weekly Television Show.


First Priest Since Archbishop Sheen to Have a Regular TV Show.

CNA – Fr. Robert Barron of the Archdiocese of Chicago will begin broadcasting a weekly national television show on WGN America to reach Catholics and others searching for Christ. He will be the first priest since Archbishop Fulton Sheen to have a regular, national program on a commercial television network.



Fr. Barron, a professor at University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary, runs the global media ministry called “Word on Fire.”



His WGN America show will be titled “Word on Fire with Father Barron.” It will premier at 8:30 a.m. Central Time on Sunday, Oct. 3. It will also run on WGN Chicago at 9:30 a.m.



“Now is the time to reach out to Catholics and others who are searching for meaning in their lives or who have left the Church because they are disillusioned,” Fr. Barron said. “In each episode, our mission will be to encourage believers and bring the transformative power of the Gospel to the culture.”



The priest, who was ordained in 1986, has also been producing a ten-part documentary titled “Catholicism,” telling the story of the Church through travels to 16 countries. He will preview highlights of the series in his weekly broadcasts.



“The faith of the Church is our strength,” Fr. Barron continued. “Our program will strive to show viewers the richness of the Catholic faith and how it is a treasure to be shared now and with future generations

Archbishop urges Catholics to make faith more visible

The Archbishop of Westminster told Catholics the Pope's visit was "marvellous and unforgettable" Catholics in England and Wales are being urged to build on the visit of Pope Benedict by being more confident in expressing their faith.
The Archbishop of Westminster says Catholics should be more ready to make the sign of the cross and say "God bless you" to people.
Vincent Nichols said believers had been given "new heart" by the Pope's four-day visit to Scotland and England.
His pastoral letter will be read out in Westminster archdiocese this weekend
The Archbishop called on Catholics to respond to the Pope's hope that they would become "ever more conscious of their dignity as a priestly people".

'Beauty of holiness'

Writing a week after the papal visit, Rev Nichols said: "With the blessings of this visit we can be more confident in our faith and more ready to speak about it and let it be seen each day.
"A small step we can all take is to be quicker to say to others that we will pray for them, especially to those in distress.
"Even the simple step of more regularly using the greeting 'God bless you', gently and naturally, would make a difference to the tone we set in our daily lives, as would the more frequent use of the sign of the cross.
"Making faith visible is so much a part of the invitation the Holy Father has extended to us all."
There have been a number of disputes between Christians and employers over public displays of faith, but Archbishop Nichols tells Catholics that after the Pope's visit, they should be more confident in their faith and more ready to let it been seen.
He said that during the four "marvellous and unforgettable" days of the Pope's visit, Catholics had "glimpsed the beauty of holiness".
He added: "I will never forget the richness of the silence of 80,000 people at prayer before the blessed sacrament in Hyde Park."

CHIARA LUCE BADANO WAS BEATIFIED IN ROME TODAY...MOVING CEREMONY FOR THIS 18 YEAR OLD WHO DIED OF BONE CANCER IN 1990.
********************************************************************

I NOTICE THAT TOXIC CHANNEL THAT IS CNN HAS A DOCUMENTARY ON TONIGHT AND TOMORROW NIGHT...REPEATED 6 TIMES IN TOTAL...ABOUT THE ABUSE SCANDEL IN THE CHURCH,ENTITLED ...WHAT THE POPE KNEW.NO WONDER THEIR RATINGS ARE GOING THROUGH THE FLOOR.
TRYING TO DREDGE THIS UP AGAIN...PROBABLY IN AN EFFORT TO DEFLATE THE CONSIDERABLE SUCCESS OF THE POPE'S VISIT TO THE UK.
I ENCOURAGE ANY BLOG BUDS TO AVOID THIS CHANNEL.

Chiara Luce Badano
WILL BE BEATIFIED ON SEPTEMBER 25TH!!

Chiara Luce Badano, an 18-year-old-girl, will be beatified in Rome, Italy, on Saturday, Sept. 25th, 2010 at the Shrine of Our Lady of Divine Love.

The beatification will be broadcast live on EWTN . She is called "a saint of our times" by the local bishop in Italy who knew her personally. He sees this 18-year-old, who died after a three-year struggle with bone cancer, as a guiding light ("Luce") especially for young people. Asked if she talked about spirituality with her high school friends, she said, "Talking about God doesn't count for much. I have to give Him."


Chiara Luce's recognized miracle was the healing of a little boy dying from meningitis last year. You can read her story in the book "Chiara Luce: A Life Lived to the Full," by Michele Zanzucchi

Most Britons Still Identify as Christian

– New figures from the Office for National Statistics has found that most British people still consider themselves to be Christian. The number of homosexuals, meanwhile, is far lower than previously estimated.


According to the office, 71 percent of the population is Christian. The statistic was welcomed by the Evangelical Alliance, which claims to have bolstered the cause for believers to become more open in expressing their faith.

"Christians have increasingly felt bewildered about what they can and cannot say or do," Stephen Cave, advocacy director at the alliance, commented. "Of course faith is personal to each individual but that doesn’t mean to say it’s entirely private – far from it."

"In fact we welcome dialogue with people of all beliefs, including atheists. Where possible we should engage in conversation not confrontation," he added.

"Our challenge now is to demonstrate that being a Christian is much more than belonging to a certain group. Quite simply it’s about making a commitment to Christ and enjoying the freedom of conscience to do that in public life.”

The survey found that the number of people describing themselves as Christian still far outweighs those who say they have no religion, who account for 20.5 percent of the population.

The figures will be good news to those who believe Christianity should still have a prominent role in public life and indicate that affiliation to the faith remains strong in spite of declining church attendance.

Their release comes just one week after the Pope spoke out against the marginalization of Christianity and attempts to push faith into the private sphere.

Still, the percentage of people saying they have no religion has risen from 2001, when 15.1 percent of the population said they had no religious affiliation.

Meanwhile, Muslims make up 4.2 percent of the population, followed by Hindus at 1.4 percent, Sikhs at 0.6 percent, Jewish at 0.5 percent and Buddhists at 0.4 percent.

The Office for National Statistics also revealed that just 1.5 percent said they were gay or bisexual, amounting to only around 750,000 people in the overall population.

The number is far below figures suggested by the government in 2005, which estimated homosexuals in Britain to number around 3.6 million, and gay rights group Stonewall, which previously estimated that between five and seven percent of the adult population in Britain was gay.

Of those who said they were homosexual, 1.3 percent were men and 0.6 percent were women.

Gay rights group Stonewall said it believed the real number of homosexuals could be higher as many of the surveys were conducted over the phone or on doorsteps, possibly discouraging people from giving their real answer.

Mike Judge of the Christian Institute suggested that the government should lower its spending on same-sex issues to reflect the figures.

He told the Daily Mail, “A large amount of public money has been spent on the basis of higher figures, which have turned out to be a lie.”

NOW WEREN'T YOU ALWAYS TOLD THIS...

QUESTION AT CATHOLIC ANSWERS...
Do angels finish the rosary if you fall asleep?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Is it true that if you are praying the rosary and you fall asleep the angels finish it for you?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Such an idea is the kind of folk piety that might be passed down from a Catholic grandmother, but we have no indication in Church teaching that angels do this. Certainly they do not need to do so. If you inadvertently fall asleep during the rosary, don't worry about it. What matters is your intention to pray the rosary.

FULL MOON TONIGHT.
Full Harvest Moon – This is the full Moon that occurs closest to the autumn equinox. In two years out of three, the Harvest Moon comes in September, but in some years it occurs in October. At the peak of harvest, farmers can work late into the night by the light of this Moon. Usually the full Moon rises an average of 50 minutes later each night, but for the few nights around the Harvest Moon, the Moon seems to rise at nearly the same time each night: just 25 to 30 minutes later across the U.S., and only 10 to 20 minutes later for much of Canada and Europe. Corn, pumpkins, squash, beans, and wild rice the chief Indian staples are now ready for gathering.

We Told You So: Britain Gobsmacked by Pope Benedict
“People’s Pope leaves Britain with a smile on its face.”

While anti-Catholic, secularist and homosexualist activists, with generous help from the media, have spent most of the last year attempting to derail the papal visit, the smart money was always on Benedict XVI taking every fight without breaking a sweat. And when the bell rang, and the eyes of the world were trained on the little island ring, it became clear from the first moment that Benedict’s opponents were hopelessly outclassed.

The pope held Britain spellbound, with the anti-papal rallies and demonstrations as nothing more than “a sideshow to the visit,” with a brief assassination plot scare to show the British “what real religious extremism looks like.”

Journalists tweeting from the plane on the way back to Rome on Sunday reported that there was an “air of celebration among the papal entourage.” They said, “This time they won with the Pope.” After months of hearing the increasingly shrill attacks (as one journalist put it, the devil himself could hardly have had worse press), the British people were ready to hear the other side.

Before the visit was even over, Keith O’Brien, the cardinal archbishop of Edinburgh, had already spoken of the “Benedict bounce,” in which the very harshness of the attacks contributed to the turn-around in public opinion in the pope’s favour.


But it was Benedict’s personal warmth, gentleness, and the sheer rationality and sense of his message, that hit the cynical British media and political establishment right between the eyes. All the talk in Rome today is of how well the BBC handled the commentary, with positive guests and few fumbles, even on fairly obscure Catholic terminology.

And Britain’s tabloid press, not usually known for backing the side of the angels, are left in awe. The News of the World, England’s largest circulation Sunday paper, and one that often acts as a bellwether for genuine public opinion, ran the headline, “Bene’s from heaven” with the subhead, “People’s Pope leaves Britain with a smile on its face.”

The secular atheist liberals and their friends in the media are going to take a long time to get over this visit. Because they thought they were on a winner. They thought they were going to, if not arrest the pope, at least seriously embarrass him.“And this little guy in white just flattened them. His gentle, calm, soft-spoken approach just won everybody over. And the demonstrations faded away.

”And now that Benedict is home, even the hostile media are having difficulty trying to pursue their campaign because “they’ve discovered that the vast majority of people don’t hate the pope, actually, they quite like him. And some of them really love him. Because he’s a lovable guy, and it’s very hard to hate somebody’s lovable grandfather.”

The completeness of Benedict’s triumph in Britain was astonishing to watch. The spell lasted up to the last possible moment, with Prime Minister David Cameron and a large government and ecclesiastical entourage assembled at Birmingham airport to see Benedict off. Among the last shots from the BBC’s live broadcast was of the group of dignitaries and bishops waving to the departing plane, as if seeing off an old friend.

Message from above? The dove shaped cloud formed over Bristol ahead of the Pope's State visit - and the wind even allowed it to fly across the sky.

They say that every cloud has a silver lining.But this particular cloud seemed to be something even more special, a message from God.Captured by former RAF photographer John Gray, 69, from the back garden of his home in Westbury-on-Trym, near Bristol, this cloud appears to be a symbol of peace - a dove.

CELESTIAL DELIGHT FOR A SATURDAY NIGHT

-WATCHED EWTN PROGRAMME ON THE POPE'S RIDE THRU LONDON VIA POPEMOBILE EN ROUTE TO THE EVENING VIGIL AT HYDE PARK.THE CROWDS LINING THE STREETS WERE MASSIVE AND HIGHLY ENTHUSIASTIC.EVEN THE SECULAR PLAGUED BBC CARRIED THE COVERAGE.
THE BEATIFICATION CEREMONIES OF CARDINAL NEWMAN TAKE PLACE TOMORROW.

-SPEAKING OF NEWMAN...HIS POEM/HYMN THAT I LOVE AND HAVE COMMITTED TO MEMORY...

LEAD, KINDLY LIGHT
"Lead, Kindly Light," by John Henry Newman (1801-90), was written when Cardinal Newman was in the stress and strain of perplexity and mental distress and bodily pain. The poem has been a star in the darkness to thousands. It was the favourite poem of President McKinley.

Lead, kindly Light, amid th' encircling gloom,

Lead Thou me on,

The night is dark, and I am far from home,

Lead Thou me on.

Keep Thou my feet; I do not ask to see

The distant scene; one step enough for me.



I was not ever thus, nor prayed that Thou

Shouldst lead me on;

I loved to choose and see my path; but now

Lead Thou me on.

I loved the garish day; and, spite of fears,

Pride ruled my will: remember not past years.



So long Thy power hath blest me, sure it still

Will lead me on

O'er moor and fen, o'er crag and torrent, till

The night is gone,

[225]

And with the morn those angel faces smile,

Which I have loved long since, and lost a while.


**************************************************************

-TO MAKE YOU LAUGH...

SHOULD I GET A DOG???













OR SHOULD I HAVE CHILDREN???

FRIDAY FUNNIES...

Have a great day and remember to give thanks....

I HAVE BEEN PRAYING THE ROSARY DAILY FOR THE POPE...ESPECIALLY HIS SAFETY ON THIS UK TRIP.SOMEONE'S LISTENING.

Want to see the best live coverage of the Pope’s trip to the U.K.? Tune into EWTN, beginning Thurs., Sept. 16! EWTN will be the only Network to air this historic trip live and with expert commentary by Anchor Raymond Arroyo, who has covered more papal events than anyone in the industry and who obtained the only English language tv interview in existence today with the former Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger!

SOMETHING TO MAKE YOU FEEL BETTER ABOUT WHEELCHAIRS ABBEY...

DON'T FORGET THE PAPAL VISIT TO THE UK IN A FEW DAYS.TUNE IN TO EWTN FOR COVERAGE.

The pope's next trip to the United Kingdom will be unique. Not only is it Benedict’s first visit as pontiff, but it will be the first to be accompanied by a rap soundtrack.



The song, called "Heart's Cry", by Catholic group Ooberfüse, includes samples of the Holy Father’s voice.

The organizing committee for the Pope's visit decided on a selection of contemporary music for the prayer vigil, which will take place on Saturday 18 in Hyde Park. Finalists from Britain's Got Talent, including Liam McNally, will also perform.


The contemporary feel will also mark some of the proceedings in Glasgow, with Susan Boyle scheduled to perform a Bellahouston Park.

'MEET ME IN THE STAIRWELL'

You say you will never forget where you were when
you heard the news On September 11, 2001.
Neither will I.

I was on the 110th floor in a smoke filled room
with a man who called his wife to say 'Good-Bye.' I
held his fingers steady as he dialed. I gave him the
peace to say, 'Honey, I am not going to make it, but it
is OK..I am ready to go.'

I was with his wife when he called as she fed
breakfast to their children. I held her up as she
tried to understand his words and as she realized
he wasn't coming home that night.

I was in the stairwell of the 23rd floor when a
woman cried out to Me for help. 'I have been
knocking on the door of your heart for 50 years!' I said.
'Of course I will show you the way home - only
believe in Me now.'

I was at the base of the building with the Priest
ministering to the injured and devastated souls.
I took him home to tend to his Flock in Heaven. He
heard my voice and answered.

I was on all four of those planes, in every seat,
with every prayer. I was with the crew as they
were overtaken. I was in the very hearts of the
believers there, comforting and assuring them that their
faith has saved them.

I was in Texas , Virginia , California , Michigan , Afghanistan .
I was standing next to you when you heard the terrible news.
Did you sense Me?

I want you to know that I saw every face. I knew
every name - though not all know Me. Some met Me
for the first time on the 86th floor.

Some sought Me with their last breath.
Some couldn't hear Me calling to them through the
smoke and flames; 'Come to Me... this way... take
my hand.' Some chose, for the final time, to ignore Me.
But, I was there.

I did not place you in the Tower that day. You
may not know why, but I do.. However, if you were
there in that explosive moment in time, would you have
reached for Me?

Sept. 11, 2001, was not the end of the journey
for you . But someday your journey will end. And I
will be there for you as well. Seek Me now while I may
be found. Then, at any moment, you know you are
'ready to go.'

I will be in the stairwell of your final moments.
God

I SEE THAT HAWKING IS ON LARRY KING TONIGHT.

Sabeth...she found her boots in the closet.It was about 30 degrees celsius ( 90 degrees fahrenheit ) in the house but she NEEDED them. Or so she said!!!

Forgive me Father, for I have sinned...

THIS IS THE FEAST DAY OF ST. GREGORY...OF GREGORIAN CHANT FAME...ONE OF MY FAVS.FOR AN EXCELLENT ARTICLE ON HIM,CHECK OUT MIKE AQUILINA'S SITE.

Miners trapped in Chile receive 33 rosaries blessed by Pope

CHECK OUT THE PAPAL UK COUNTDOWN WIDGET...AND PICK ONE UP.

WE'VE HAD 35 DEGREE CELSIUS (100 DEGREE FAHRENHEIT)WEATHER DURING THESE DOG DAYS OF SUMMER...WILL HIMMICANE EARL PUT AN END TO IT ON THE MORROW???



FRIDAY FUNNIES...

' Who Knew? '

After having dug to a depth of 10 meters last year, New York scientists found traces of copper wire dating back 100 years and came to the conclusion that their ancestors already had a telephone network more than 100 years ago.

Not to be outdone by the New Yorkers, in the weeks that followed, California scientists dug to a depth of 20 meters, and shortly after, headlines in the LA Times newspaper read:
"California archaeologists have found traces of 150 year old copper wire and have concluded that their ancestors already had an advanced high-tech communications network fifty years earlier than the New Yorkers."

One week later, "The Cape Breton Post", a local newspaper in Nova Scotia, reported the following:
"After digging as deep as 30 meters in a brush field near Sydney,Angus Sampson, a self-taught archaeologist, reported that he found absolutely nothing. Angus has therefore concluded that 200 years ago, Cape Breton had already gone wireless."


JUST SHOWS YOU HOW INTELLIGENT WE PEOPLE FROM CAPE BRETON ARE

A "Q AND A" THAT I FOUND AT CATHOLIC ANSWERS TODAY...NEVER HEARD OF IT BEFORE...

QUESTION:Why do some catholics kiss their fist after they do the sign of the cross?

ANSWER:Hi.Even though they seem to be just kissing their fist, they are actually kissing a cross they make by placing their thumb perpendicularly across their index finger.
Fr. Vincent Serpa, O.P.

HERE WE BE...AT THE PARK...NEAR THE NEWFOUNDLAND FERRY...

FRIDAY FUNNIES...DON'T ARGUE WITH AN IBEX...

The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.....For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength. (1Cor 1:18, 25)

Full communion between the Orthodox and Catholic Churches is being prompted by the Holy Spirit. It is the most important development of the Third Christian Millennium and has implications for the whole world at this critical time in history. This coming communion between the Orthodox and Catholic Church will mark the beginning of the re- Christianizing of the West and a new missionary age.