Bishop Grob Named Archbishop of Milwaukee
1 week ago
Friday, December 21, 2012
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Causes of the Problem and some good news
YEP! This is definitely my experience.
Also, this - His Eminence in Oklahoma.......and Fr. O'Hara in the background - great to see him!
H/T - THE B.C.
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Monday, October 1, 2012
St. Michael story heard at Mass........
Went to St. Michael's Parish in Pine Island, MN for Mass this weekend - feast day and all. This was what was preached on during the homily by Fr. Kasel. Awwww Yeaaaa
Source -
The Story of Michael
Catholic Family News
Posted on Wednesday, March 12, 2003 6:45:32 PM by Land of the Irish
Background
What follows is a copy of a letter that was written by a young Marine to his mother while he was hospitalized after being wounded on a Korean battlefield in 1950. It came into the hands of a Navy Chaplain, who read the letter before 5,000 Marines at a San Diego Naval Base in 1951.
The Navy Chaplain had talked to the boy, to the boy's mother and to the Sergeant in charge of the patrol. This Navy Chaplain, Father Walter Muldy, would always assure anyone who asked that this is a true story.
This letter had been read once a year in the 1960s at a Midwestern radio station at Christmas time. Since thousands of U.S. troops now head to the Persian Gulf for the planned war against Iraq, we publish this remarkable story once more, in the hope that many servicemen and their families will invoke the intercession and protection of Saint Michael. We present the letter and let it stand on its own merits. (J. V.)
Dear Mom,
I wouldn't dare write this letter to anyone but you because no one else would believe it. Maybe even you will find it hard but I have got to tell somebody.
First off, I am in a hospital. Now don't worry, ya hear me, don't worry. I was wounded but I am okay you understand. Okay. The doctor says that I will be up and around in a month.
But that is not what I want to tell you.
Remember when I joined the Marines last year; remember when I left, how you told me to say a prayer to St. Michael every day. You really didn't have to tell me that. Ever since I can remember you always told me to pray to St. Michael the Archangel. You even named me after him. Well I always have.
When I got to Korea, I prayed-----even harder. Remember the prayer that you taught me? "Michael, Michael of the morning fresh corps of Heaven adorning," you know the rest of it. Well I said it every day. Sometimes when I was marching or sometimes resting. But always before I went to sleep. I even got some of the other fellas to say it.
Well, one day I was with an advance detail way up over the front lines. We were scouting for the Commies. I was plodding along in the bitter cold, my breath was like cigar smoke.
I thought I knew every guy in the patrol, when along side of me comes another Marine I never met before. He was bigger than any other Marine I'd ever seen. He must have been 6'4" and built in proportion. It gave me a feeling of security to have such a body near.
Anyway, there we were trudging along. The rest of the patrol spread out. Just to start a conversation I said, "Cold ain't it." And then I laughed. Here I was with a good chance of getting killed any minute and I am talking about the weather.
My companion seemed to understand. I heard him laugh softly; I looked at him, "I have never seen you before, I thought I knew every man in the outfit."
"I just joined at the last minute", he replied. "The name is Michael."
"Is that so," I said surprised. "That is my name too."
"I know," he said and then went on, "Michael, Michael of the morning . . ."
I was too amazed to say anything for a minute. How did he know my name, and a prayer that you had taught me? Then I smiled to myself, every guy in the outfit knew about me. Hadn't I taught the prayer to anybody who would listen? Why now and then, they even referred to me as St. Michael.
Neither of us spoke for a time and then he broke the silence. "We are going to have some trouble up ahead."
He must have been in fine physical shape for he was breathing so lightly I couldn't see his breath. Mine poured out in great clouds. There was no smile on his face now. Trouble ahead, I thought to myself, well with the Commies all around us, that is no great revelation.
Snow began to fall in great thick globs. In a brief moment the whole countryside was blotted out. And I was marching in a white fog of wet sticky particles. My companion disappeared.
"Michael," I shouted in sudden alarm.
I felt his hand on my arm, his voice was rich and strong, "This will stop shortly."
His prophecy proved to be correct. In a few minutes the snow stopped as abruptly as it had begun. The sun was a hard shining disc. I looked back for the rest of the patrol, there was no one in sight. We lost them in that heavy fall of snow. I looked ahead as we came over a little rise.
Mom, my heart stopped. There were seven of them. Seven Commies in their padded pants and jackets and their funny hats. Only there wasn't anything funny about them now. Seven rifles were aimed at us.
"Down Michael," I screamed and hit the frozen earth.
I heard those rifles fire almost as one. I heard the bullets. There was Michael still standing.
Mom, those guys couldn't have missed, not at that range. I expected to see him literally blown to bits.
But there he stood, making no effort to fire himself. He was paralyzed with fear. It happens sometimes, Mom, even to the bravest. He was like a bird fascinated by a snake.
At least, that was what I thought then. I jumped up to pull him down and that was when I got mine. I felt a sudden flame in my chest. I often wondered what it felt like to be hit, now I know. I remember feeling strong arms about me, arms that laid me ever so gently on a pillow of snow. I opened my eyes, for one last look. I was dying. Maybe I was even dead, I remember thinking, well this is not so bad.
Maybe I was looking into the sun. Maybe I was in shock. But it seemed I saw Michael standing erect again only this time his face was shining with a terrible splendor.
As I say, maybe it was the sun in my eyes, but he seemed to change as I watched him. He grew bigger; his arms stretched out wide, maybe it was the snow falling again, but there was a brightness around him like the wings of an Angel. In his hand was a sword. A sword that flashed with a million lights.
Well, that is the last thing I remember until the rest of the fellas came up and found me. I do not know how much time had passed. Now and then I had but a moment's rest from the pain and fever. I remember telling them of the enemy just ahead.
"Where is Michael," I asked.
I saw them look at one another. "Where's who?" asked one.
"Michael, Michael that big Marine I was walking with just before the snow squall hit us."
"Kid," said the sergeant, "You weren't walking with anyone. I had my eyes on you the whole time. You were getting too far out. I was just going to call you in when you disappeared in the snow."
He looked at me, curiously. "How did you do it kid?"
"How'd I do what?" I asked half angry despite my wound. "This marine named Michael and I were just . . ."
"Son," said the sergeant kindly, "I picked this outfit myself and there just ain't another Michael in it. You are the only Mike in it."
He paused for a minute, "Just how did you do it kid? We heard shots. There hasn't been a shot fired from your rifle. And there isn't a bit of lead in them seven bodies over the hill there."
I didn't say anything, what could I say? I could only look open-mouthed with amazement.
It was then the sergeant spoke again, "Kid," he said gently, "everyone of those seven Commies was killed by a sword stroke."
That is all I can tell you Mom. As I say, it may have been the sun in my eyes, it may have been the cold or the pain. But that is what happened.
Love, Michael
Editor's P.S.: This is the second time CFN ran this story. After its first run, many subscribers wrote and called to ask if we had a copy of the "Michael, Michael of the Morning" prayer. We regret that we do not, nor have we been able to find it. We suggest that Catholics instead recite often the "Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in Battle" prayer that was said after every Low Mass by order of Pope Leo XIII.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Michael, Michael of the morning,
Fresh chord of Heaven adorning,
Keep me safe today,
And in time of temptation
Drive the devil away.
Amen.
Source -
The Story of Michael
Catholic Family News
Posted on Wednesday, March 12, 2003 6:45:32 PM by Land of the Irish
Background
What follows is a copy of a letter that was written by a young Marine to his mother while he was hospitalized after being wounded on a Korean battlefield in 1950. It came into the hands of a Navy Chaplain, who read the letter before 5,000 Marines at a San Diego Naval Base in 1951.
The Navy Chaplain had talked to the boy, to the boy's mother and to the Sergeant in charge of the patrol. This Navy Chaplain, Father Walter Muldy, would always assure anyone who asked that this is a true story.
This letter had been read once a year in the 1960s at a Midwestern radio station at Christmas time. Since thousands of U.S. troops now head to the Persian Gulf for the planned war against Iraq, we publish this remarkable story once more, in the hope that many servicemen and their families will invoke the intercession and protection of Saint Michael. We present the letter and let it stand on its own merits. (J. V.)
Dear Mom,
I wouldn't dare write this letter to anyone but you because no one else would believe it. Maybe even you will find it hard but I have got to tell somebody.
First off, I am in a hospital. Now don't worry, ya hear me, don't worry. I was wounded but I am okay you understand. Okay. The doctor says that I will be up and around in a month.
But that is not what I want to tell you.
Remember when I joined the Marines last year; remember when I left, how you told me to say a prayer to St. Michael every day. You really didn't have to tell me that. Ever since I can remember you always told me to pray to St. Michael the Archangel. You even named me after him. Well I always have.
When I got to Korea, I prayed-----even harder. Remember the prayer that you taught me? "Michael, Michael of the morning fresh corps of Heaven adorning," you know the rest of it. Well I said it every day. Sometimes when I was marching or sometimes resting. But always before I went to sleep. I even got some of the other fellas to say it.
Well, one day I was with an advance detail way up over the front lines. We were scouting for the Commies. I was plodding along in the bitter cold, my breath was like cigar smoke.
I thought I knew every guy in the patrol, when along side of me comes another Marine I never met before. He was bigger than any other Marine I'd ever seen. He must have been 6'4" and built in proportion. It gave me a feeling of security to have such a body near.
Anyway, there we were trudging along. The rest of the patrol spread out. Just to start a conversation I said, "Cold ain't it." And then I laughed. Here I was with a good chance of getting killed any minute and I am talking about the weather.
My companion seemed to understand. I heard him laugh softly; I looked at him, "I have never seen you before, I thought I knew every man in the outfit."
"I just joined at the last minute", he replied. "The name is Michael."
"Is that so," I said surprised. "That is my name too."
"I know," he said and then went on, "Michael, Michael of the morning . . ."
I was too amazed to say anything for a minute. How did he know my name, and a prayer that you had taught me? Then I smiled to myself, every guy in the outfit knew about me. Hadn't I taught the prayer to anybody who would listen? Why now and then, they even referred to me as St. Michael.
Neither of us spoke for a time and then he broke the silence. "We are going to have some trouble up ahead."
He must have been in fine physical shape for he was breathing so lightly I couldn't see his breath. Mine poured out in great clouds. There was no smile on his face now. Trouble ahead, I thought to myself, well with the Commies all around us, that is no great revelation.
Snow began to fall in great thick globs. In a brief moment the whole countryside was blotted out. And I was marching in a white fog of wet sticky particles. My companion disappeared.
"Michael," I shouted in sudden alarm.
I felt his hand on my arm, his voice was rich and strong, "This will stop shortly."
His prophecy proved to be correct. In a few minutes the snow stopped as abruptly as it had begun. The sun was a hard shining disc. I looked back for the rest of the patrol, there was no one in sight. We lost them in that heavy fall of snow. I looked ahead as we came over a little rise.
Mom, my heart stopped. There were seven of them. Seven Commies in their padded pants and jackets and their funny hats. Only there wasn't anything funny about them now. Seven rifles were aimed at us.
"Down Michael," I screamed and hit the frozen earth.
I heard those rifles fire almost as one. I heard the bullets. There was Michael still standing.
Mom, those guys couldn't have missed, not at that range. I expected to see him literally blown to bits.
But there he stood, making no effort to fire himself. He was paralyzed with fear. It happens sometimes, Mom, even to the bravest. He was like a bird fascinated by a snake.
At least, that was what I thought then. I jumped up to pull him down and that was when I got mine. I felt a sudden flame in my chest. I often wondered what it felt like to be hit, now I know. I remember feeling strong arms about me, arms that laid me ever so gently on a pillow of snow. I opened my eyes, for one last look. I was dying. Maybe I was even dead, I remember thinking, well this is not so bad.
Maybe I was looking into the sun. Maybe I was in shock. But it seemed I saw Michael standing erect again only this time his face was shining with a terrible splendor.
As I say, maybe it was the sun in my eyes, but he seemed to change as I watched him. He grew bigger; his arms stretched out wide, maybe it was the snow falling again, but there was a brightness around him like the wings of an Angel. In his hand was a sword. A sword that flashed with a million lights.
Well, that is the last thing I remember until the rest of the fellas came up and found me. I do not know how much time had passed. Now and then I had but a moment's rest from the pain and fever. I remember telling them of the enemy just ahead.
"Where is Michael," I asked.
I saw them look at one another. "Where's who?" asked one.
"Michael, Michael that big Marine I was walking with just before the snow squall hit us."
"Kid," said the sergeant, "You weren't walking with anyone. I had my eyes on you the whole time. You were getting too far out. I was just going to call you in when you disappeared in the snow."
He looked at me, curiously. "How did you do it kid?"
"How'd I do what?" I asked half angry despite my wound. "This marine named Michael and I were just . . ."
"Son," said the sergeant kindly, "I picked this outfit myself and there just ain't another Michael in it. You are the only Mike in it."
He paused for a minute, "Just how did you do it kid? We heard shots. There hasn't been a shot fired from your rifle. And there isn't a bit of lead in them seven bodies over the hill there."
I didn't say anything, what could I say? I could only look open-mouthed with amazement.
It was then the sergeant spoke again, "Kid," he said gently, "everyone of those seven Commies was killed by a sword stroke."
That is all I can tell you Mom. As I say, it may have been the sun in my eyes, it may have been the cold or the pain. But that is what happened.
Love, Michael
Editor's P.S.: This is the second time CFN ran this story. After its first run, many subscribers wrote and called to ask if we had a copy of the "Michael, Michael of the Morning" prayer. We regret that we do not, nor have we been able to find it. We suggest that Catholics instead recite often the "Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in Battle" prayer that was said after every Low Mass by order of Pope Leo XIII.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Michael, Michael of the morning,
Fresh chord of Heaven adorning,
Keep me safe today,
And in time of temptation
Drive the devil away.
Amen.
Saturday, September 1, 2012
Thursday, July 26, 2012
Can't Agree with this MORE
Yes, it is getting better - but like Mr. Voris - when it is compared to what it WAS, well we have a ways to go.
It reminds me of the parental thought process of...."Well, yeah my kid does such and such, but atleast he's not in jail".............nothing like comparing ourselves to the worst case scenario. Ummm - what happened to striving for the best?
It is better to shoot for the stars and miss than aim at the gutter and hit it.
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Catholic Coffee House Opens in Rochester
Congratulations to St. James Coffee!!!!!!!!!!
Grand Opening TODAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bishop Quinn celebrated Mass at the coffee house last week in preparation for the grand opening today. What a blessing it will be to have an unapologetic Catholic presence in Rochester now. Awesome. To paraphrase Fr. Fasnacht - "We'll bring them in with the coffee, talk, and friendship, and Jesus in the Chapel will seal the deal." Yeah. BTW - It was truly an inspiration to see Bishop Quinn so devoted to this coffee houses' success that he took a whole evening out of his schedule to drive an hour to Rochester to support this cause. Thank you, Bishop.
Hours:
6:00AM-6PM Mon-Sat
4156 18TH AVE NW
Rochester, MN 55901
*just East of Pax Christi
Grand Opening TODAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bishop Quinn celebrated Mass at the coffee house last week in preparation for the grand opening today. What a blessing it will be to have an unapologetic Catholic presence in Rochester now. Awesome. To paraphrase Fr. Fasnacht - "We'll bring them in with the coffee, talk, and friendship, and Jesus in the Chapel will seal the deal." Yeah. BTW - It was truly an inspiration to see Bishop Quinn so devoted to this coffee houses' success that he took a whole evening out of his schedule to drive an hour to Rochester to support this cause. Thank you, Bishop.
Hours:
6:00AM-6PM Mon-Sat
4156 18TH AVE NW
Rochester, MN 55901
*just East of Pax Christi
Monday, June 25, 2012
Friday, June 1, 2012
Male Happiness: What Men Really Want
Male Happiness: What Men Really Want
As a therapist, people often ask me, “What makes men happy?” Some believe it’s a happy marriage, a successful career, or a strong relationship with God. I say it’s all of these! However, they must be kept in the right order. I believe the secret for a happy life for men is having one’s priorities in order.
While there are countless priorities we men must attend to in life, I divide them into seven categories:
God
Marriage
Children
Career
Friends & Family
Healthy Pursuits
Everything else
Marriage
Children
Career
Friends & Family
Healthy Pursuits
Everything else
To be happy in life, I believe one must make God his number one priority. He is the one who has given us life and all its blessings. He is also the one who helps us weather life’s storms and endure suffering. God is also the one who gives us purpose. By understanding who we are in God’s eyes, we can live with purpose, vision and passion. This creates an excitement for life and a heart filled with joy.
Be careful though of a vague faith that lacks commitment. The Catholicism should connect us with our local parish, where we go to Sunday Mass; to our community, where we volunteer to help others, and to witness, whereby others will know we are Christians by our works of charity and lives of love.
Our wives and our marriage rank next. They are the ones to whom we have committed ourselves to love, honor and cherish until the end of our lives. As Scripture says, we must love our wives as Christ loves the Church. Every day, we must thank God for the blessings of a good wife. We must also show our wives our appreciation for who they are and all they do. We must be willing to serve them with all our hearts, helping them run the household and bring up the children. It is in serving them that men will find true joy.
Children are the third priority. As fathers, God has charged us with the responsibility of raising our children to be virtuous adults. We are their leaders, providers and protectors. This means taking an active role in their lives, showing interest in everything they do. We must make the effort to spend time with our children within a group and individually. This is where special memories are made and wonderful teaching opportunities arise. We also have the awesome opportunity and responsibility to instill in them our Catholic faith! There is such a joy in watching our children grow into healthy adults and being able to take some credit for it.
Career plays a significant role in determining a man’s satisfaction in life.While many women have the option of working in the home or outside the home, we men are raised to focus on career and be the primary breadwinner of the family. Because of this, we often derive our identity from our career. This makes it crucial to have a fulfilling career.
Unfortunately, studies have shown that 80% of men are unsatisfied in their careers. They often feel stuck in a dead-end job. In order to have a fulfilling career, a man must identify where his passion lies. He must then find a way to turn that passion into a career. This, however, must be done within reason and prudence. Don’t quit your day job without a pretty good plan for what’s next.
For example, the odds of a man who is passionate about sports becoming an ESPN sportscaster are pretty slim. However, he can probably find some other career related to sports that he will find fulfilling and serve his passion. If you are doing what you are passionate about, you will never suffer from burnout. Many men worry that if they do what they really love, they won’t make any money at it. However, if you are doing what you love, chances are you will be really good at it. People will then want your product or service and the money will follow.
Close family and friends are also important to a man’s happiness.Studies have shown that people who have a broad network of healthy relationships live longer, happier lives. When a man gets married and has children, his immediate family becomes his primary focus in life. However, this is not to the exclusion of extended family and friends. He still needs his parents and siblings to help and support him as a husband and father. Grandparents, especially, offer a wealth of knowledge and wisdom for marriage and family life. Close friends can provide a welcome break from the stresses of daily life.
Unfortunately, this is an area of life where many men are weak. Most men don’t have close friends and are very lonely. Thus, it is important to cultivate these friendships. The Knights of Columbus is an excellent venue for this. Playing golf or fishing with one’s buddies can actually help a man be a better husband and father. He can return to his wife and family well rested and renewed. Scripture tells us that a brother strengthens a brother as iron sharpens iron. We need close male friendships.
Healthy pursuits are the sixth priority in life. We men need to have interests and hobbies as an escape from the stresses of daily life. So many men are hyper focused on marriage, family and career that they don’t take time to relax and renew. Hobbies, such as golf, reading, camping, bowling, gardening or even a monthly poker night can help a man relax. Many wives actually encourage their husbands to develop more friendships and do more “guy things.” They recognize how having healthy pursuits can make their men better husbands and fathers.
Then there’s “everything else.” These are all the other responsibilities, interests and issues in a man’s life. Men must be careful with these because they can interfere with their primary responsibilities. An example of these would be a man taking on extra hours at work or helping a neighbor when it is unnecessary. Men must understand what their primary duties are and focus on them. Anything that interferes with these priorities should be avoided.
Built into all of these priorities is the need to care for one’s physical health. A man honors God by being a good steward of his body. To meet his responsibilities as a husband, father, worker and friend, a man must be physically healthy. Thus men must care for their health, eating right, watching their weight, exercising, getting enough rest.
By understanding the important priorities in life, and keeping them in their proper order, a man can achieve a life that is happy, fulfilling, and lived with purpose.
Peter C. Kleponis, Ph.D. is a licensed Clinical Therapist and Assistant Director of Comprehensive Counseling Services in West Conshohocken, Pa. His website is maritalhealing.com.
Source
Having troubles in marriage? Make sure your order is as above. It amazes me to see how many times the order is out of alignment. Both sexes put things in disorder - just in different ways. If you have an inkling that there is a disorder - ask for some help - good priest, trusted friend, and don't be shocked if maybe you have some rearranging to do.
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Confessions of a hateful, close-minded, homophobic bigot.
......................
This week, President Barack Obama made history by being pretty much the last adult in the nation to recognize that President Barack Obama supports same-sex marriage. North Carolina voted not to recognize same-sex marriage, as has every state which has taken up the question democratically. So it's in the news. And it's all over my newsfeed.
Americans oppose same-sex marriage by a narrow but collapsing majority. Looking at the state of the question among younger people, it seems heavily probable that thirty years from now same-sex marriage will be the law of all 50 states. Less clear is how much tolerance will be extended to those who obstinately hold an older idea about marriage.
I'm writing this primarily for anyone who supports same-sex marriage and believes that we who disagree with you are hateful, prejudiced, homophobic bullies ('bully' seems to be the epithet du jour). I wouldn't have thought that audience existed in significant numbers, but my newsfeed this week convinces me otherwise. I'm making an extremely modest effort to elevate this discussion. The human psyche can only withstand so many stupid memes; this is me breaking under the strain. So for all 3 people who are bored enough to read this:
1) Let's begin by all acknowledging the possibility that those who disagree with us may not therefore be stupid or evil. The world is not divided between 'people who agree with me' and 'ignorant bigots,' no matter how many Facebook posts assume this distinction. So: if you support same-sex marriage, I solemnly declare my respect for your premises, the soundness of your mind, and whatever intellectual process has led you to your conclusion. If you grant me the privilege of engaging in dialogue on this or any other topic, I hope we can both learn from each other.
2) There are people who find it acceptable to look down on anyone who is attracted to his/her own sex, who feel justified in discriminating against them in any way, who feel justified in using the most hurtful language against them, and who in extreme cases even endorse physical violence. I know these people exist. I am not personally acquainted with any of them. I'm sorry if you are. Positions such as I've described can be accurately called bigoted and hateful.
3) To oppose same-sex marriage is not to endorse everything about the current state of marriage. Many same-sex marriage supporters (can I just start using "SSM?") have observed that the so-called "sanctity" of marriage is threatened more by 72-hour celebrity marriages and serial divorce than it is by two men who might stay committed for life. I agree. So do most of the people who oppose SSM. If that surprises you, consider that you may have failed spectacularly to understand the position of your opponents. I readily admit that marriage in the status quo is a total wreck. Legal marriage in our nation is nearly meaningless. So when I say that two men can not be married to each other, it does not follow that I am totally on board with the status quo. So you think Rush Limbaugh's four marriages are more socially destructive than Elton John's one? I tend to agree. This is a red herring.
4) As a Catholic Christian, I believe it is God's divine will for every human person to be happy and fulfilled. I believe that homoerotic relationships are contrary to this goal. I accept that many people find this position wrongheaded, but I object to it being misrepresented. I'm not saying that "gay people can't be happy." We have a legitimate disagreement about where and how happiness is to be found. Call my position stupid, and we can have a great discussion and remain friends. Call it hateful, though, and you are being disingenuous to the point where further discussion is hardly possible.
5) If we can dispense with name-calling and straw-man bashing, our point of disagreement is more fundamental than the question of legally recognizing SSM. We will never agree about SSM as long as we disagree about this more fundamental question. Our real point of divergence is about the very nature and purpose of human sexuality. Our secondary divergence is about the purpose of marriage. Only tertiary is our divergence about the role of the State, its laws, and the res publica generally in acknowledging and regulating this institution.
I guess I won't get into that discussion here in my Facebook echo chamber unless someone shows up here wanting to have it. I would like that very much, because I like understanding people, and because this is an important question.
It deserves better than a parade of mindless memes and supercilious self-congratulatory grandstanding by those who think everyone who doesn't agree with them is obviously either stupid or evil.
...........if you can't tell, I am smiling as I read this..............
HT - Catholic Parents Online
Monday, May 7, 2012
Upcoming Raymond de Souza talks......
St. Felix Catholic Church Wabasha, MN
Tuesday, May 15 2012 at 7:00PM - The de-Christianization of Western Culture
Tuesday, May 22 2012 at 7:00PM - The Natural Law: What is good and evil
Tuesday, May 29 2012 at 7:00PM - Why be a Christian: The Divinity of Jesus Christ
Wednesday, May 30 2012 at 7:00PM - The Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist
Mr. de Souza is an excellent speaker and presenter of the faith. The parish is blessed to have him come explain the faith.
Tuesday, May 15 2012 at 7:00PM - The de-Christianization of Western Culture
Tuesday, May 22 2012 at 7:00PM - The Natural Law: What is good and evil
Tuesday, May 29 2012 at 7:00PM - Why be a Christian: The Divinity of Jesus Christ
Wednesday, May 30 2012 at 7:00PM - The Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist
Mr. de Souza is an excellent speaker and presenter of the faith. The parish is blessed to have him come explain the faith.
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Good clean fun...
I enjoy my career.....a lot. As in all jobs, some days are better than others.......this was such a day.
Training photos
Training photos
New Feminism? A partial response......
So, I read an article recently about a so-called new feminism that is being promoted, or lived, or taught. Time permitting I will be going through this article and speaking to its points. While not having the time currently to discuss it ad nauseam, I do have a strong desire to address femininity since reading said article. If I understand the author correctly, I find serious flaws and misunderstandings in it. I am not equipped presently to address the feminine from a feminine perspective. However, I know who can. Here is an article I re-read recently.......take some time and enjoy. More to come.
ALICE VON HILDEBRAND ON FEMINISM AND FEMININITY from ZENIT.
Says Women Can Escape a Trap by Imitating Mary's Strength and Humility
NEW ROCHELLE, New York, NOV. 26, 2003 (Zenit.org).- Women in the secularized world need to be reminded that fulfilling their maternal role is infinitely valuable in God's sight, says the wife of philosopher Dietrich Von Hildebrand.
Alice Von Hildebrand, author of "The Privilege of Being a Woman" (Sapientia) and a philosopher in her own right, shared with ZENIT how every woman can find supernatural strength in what feminism perceives as her weakness and look to Mary as a model of perfect femininity.
Von Hildebrand earned her doctorate in philosophy at Fordham University and is professor emeritus of Hunter College of the City University of New York.
Q: What inspired you to write this book?
Von Hildebrand: The poison of secularism has penetrated deeply into our society. It did so by stages. Men were its first victims: They became more and more convinced that in order to be someone they had to succeed in the world. Success means money, power, fame, recognition, creativity, inventiveness, etc.
Many of them sacrificed their family life in order to achieve this goal: They came home just to relax or have fun. Work was the serious part of their life.
Innumerable marriages have been ruined by this attitude. Wives rightly felt that they were mere appendixes -- a necessary relaxation. Husbands had little time for loving exchanges, as they were too busy. The children saw very little of their fathers. That wives suffered was not only understandable, but also legitimate.
Q: Why do women need to be convinced that it is good to be a woman?
Von Hildebrand: The amazing thing is that feminism, instead of making women more profoundly aware of the beauty and dignity of their role as wives as mothers, and of the spiritual power that they can exercise over their husbands, convinced them that they, too, had to adopt a secularist mentality: They, too, should enter the work force; they, too, should prove to themselves that they were someone by getting diplomas, competing with men in the work market, showing that they were their equals and -- when given opportunities -- could outsmart them.
They let themselves become convinced that femininity meant weakness. They started to look down upon virtues -- such as patience, selflessness, self-giving, tenderness -- and aimed at becoming like men in all things. Some of them even convinced themselves that they had to use coarse language in order to show the "strong" sex that they were not the fragile, delicate, insignificant dolls that men believed them to be.
The war of the sexes was on. Those who fell into the traps of feminism wanted to become like men in all things and sold their birthright for a mess of pottage. They became blind to the fact that men and women, though equal in ontological dignity, were made different by God's choice: Male and female he made them. Different and complementary.
Each sex has its strengths; each sex has its weaknesses. According to God's admirable plan, the husband is to help his wife overcome these weaknesses so that all the treasures of her femininity will come to full bloom, and vice versa.
How many men truly become "themselves" thanks to the love of their wives. How may wives are transformed by their husband's strength and courage.
The tragedy of the world in which we live is that we have become apostates. Many have abandoned the treasures given to us by revelation -- the supernatural.
Original sin was essentially an attack on the hierarchy of values: Man wanted to become like God, without God. The punishment was terrible: Man's body revolted against his soul. Today, this reversal of the hierarchy of values goes so far that Peter Singer denies man's superiority over animals, and that baby whales are saved while human babies are murdered.
The whole is topsy-turvy: Marriages break down; many do not even consider getting married; partnership lasts only as long as it satisfies one. Unnatural relationships so severely condemned by Plato are fashionable and claim their rights to be put on the same level as those that God has ordered.
Q: How can women's purported weakness be seen as a source strength?
Von Hildebrand: Granted that from a naturalistic point of view, men are stronger: not only because they are physically stronger, but also because they are more creative, more inventive and more productive -- most great works in theology, philosophy and fine arts have been made by men. They are the great engineers, the great architects.
But the Christian message is that, valuable as all these inventions are, they are dust and ashes compared to every act of virtue. Because a woman by her very nature is maternal -- for every woman, whether married or unmarried, is called upon to be a biological, psychological or spiritual mother -- she knows intuitively that to give, to nurture, to care for others, to suffer with and for them -- for maternity implies suffering -- is infinitely more valuable in God's sight than to conquer nations and fly to the moon.
When one reads the life of St. Teresa of Avila or St. Thérèse of Lisieux, one is struck by the fact that they constantly refer to their "weakness." The lives of these heroic women -- and there are many -- teach us that an awareness and acceptance of one's weakness, coupled with a boundless confidence in God's love and power, grant these privileged souls a strength that is so great because it is supernatural.
Natural strength cannot compete with supernatural strength. This is why Mary, the blessed one, is "strong as an army ready for battle." And yet, she is called "clemens, pia, dulcis Virgo Maria."
This supernatural strength explains -- as mentioned by Dom Prosper Gueranger in "The Liturgical Year" -- that the devil fears this humble virgin more than God because her supernatural strength that crushes his head is more humiliating for him than God's strength.
This is why the Evil One is today launching the worst attack on femininity that has ever taken place in the history of the world. For coming closer to the end of time, and knowing that his final defeat is coming, he redoubles his efforts to attack his one great enemy: the woman. It says in Genesis 3:15: "I will put enmity between you and the woman." The final victory is hers, as seen in the woman crowned with the sun.
Q: Why do you think women have moral power?
Von Hildebrand: The mission of women today is of crucial importance. In some way, they have the key to sanity -- the first step toward a conversion. For supernature is based on nature, and unless we go back to a natural soundness, the sublimity of the supernatural message will be lost to most of us.
Why do they have the key? Because their influence on men is enormous when they truly understand their role and mission. Again and again I hear priests say that they owe their vocation to their grandmother or mother.
St. Monica, in collaboration with God, brought back her wayward son to God. St. Bernard's mother, St. Francis de Sales' mother -- who was only 15 years older than he -- and St. John Bosco's mother were key factors in their spiritual way to holiness.
Q: How is Mary a model of femininity?
Von Hildebrand: Women have the key because they are the guardians of purity. This is already clearly indicated by the structure of their bodies, which chastely hides their intimate organs. Because their organs are "veiled," indicating their mystery and sacredness, women have the immense privilege of sharing the sex of the blessed one: Mary, the most holy of all creatures.
Feminism began in Protestant countries, for the plain reason that they had turned their backs on Christ's mother, as if the Savior of the world would feel deprived of the honor given to his beloved Mother.
Mary -- so gloriously referred to in the Apocalypse -- is the model of women. It is by turning to her, praying to her and contemplating her virtues that women will find their way back to the beauty and dignity of their mission.
Q: How did writing this book help you grow in appreciation of being a woman?
Von Hildebrand: Writing this book has been a privilege. It gave me a unique opportunity to meditate on the greatness of the woman's mission, following in the steps of the Holy Virgin.
Mary taught us two rules leading to holiness. One is: "I am the handmaid of the Lord. Be it done to me according to thy word." This indicates that the woman's mission is to let herself be fecundated by grace -- holy receptivity. The second is: "Do whatever he tells you."
This is the holy program that the Church offers us. No doubt, if women understood this message, marriage, the family and the Church would overcome the terrible crisis affecting us. As the liturgy says, "God has put salvation in the hands of a woman."
ALICE VON HILDEBRAND ON FEMINISM AND FEMININITY from ZENIT.
Says Women Can Escape a Trap by Imitating Mary's Strength and Humility
NEW ROCHELLE, New York, NOV. 26, 2003 (Zenit.org).- Women in the secularized world need to be reminded that fulfilling their maternal role is infinitely valuable in God's sight, says the wife of philosopher Dietrich Von Hildebrand.
Alice Von Hildebrand, author of "The Privilege of Being a Woman" (Sapientia) and a philosopher in her own right, shared with ZENIT how every woman can find supernatural strength in what feminism perceives as her weakness and look to Mary as a model of perfect femininity.
Von Hildebrand earned her doctorate in philosophy at Fordham University and is professor emeritus of Hunter College of the City University of New York.
Q: What inspired you to write this book?
Von Hildebrand: The poison of secularism has penetrated deeply into our society. It did so by stages. Men were its first victims: They became more and more convinced that in order to be someone they had to succeed in the world. Success means money, power, fame, recognition, creativity, inventiveness, etc.
Many of them sacrificed their family life in order to achieve this goal: They came home just to relax or have fun. Work was the serious part of their life.
Innumerable marriages have been ruined by this attitude. Wives rightly felt that they were mere appendixes -- a necessary relaxation. Husbands had little time for loving exchanges, as they were too busy. The children saw very little of their fathers. That wives suffered was not only understandable, but also legitimate.
Q: Why do women need to be convinced that it is good to be a woman?
Von Hildebrand: The amazing thing is that feminism, instead of making women more profoundly aware of the beauty and dignity of their role as wives as mothers, and of the spiritual power that they can exercise over their husbands, convinced them that they, too, had to adopt a secularist mentality: They, too, should enter the work force; they, too, should prove to themselves that they were someone by getting diplomas, competing with men in the work market, showing that they were their equals and -- when given opportunities -- could outsmart them.
They let themselves become convinced that femininity meant weakness. They started to look down upon virtues -- such as patience, selflessness, self-giving, tenderness -- and aimed at becoming like men in all things. Some of them even convinced themselves that they had to use coarse language in order to show the "strong" sex that they were not the fragile, delicate, insignificant dolls that men believed them to be.
The war of the sexes was on. Those who fell into the traps of feminism wanted to become like men in all things and sold their birthright for a mess of pottage. They became blind to the fact that men and women, though equal in ontological dignity, were made different by God's choice: Male and female he made them. Different and complementary.
Each sex has its strengths; each sex has its weaknesses. According to God's admirable plan, the husband is to help his wife overcome these weaknesses so that all the treasures of her femininity will come to full bloom, and vice versa.
How many men truly become "themselves" thanks to the love of their wives. How may wives are transformed by their husband's strength and courage.
The tragedy of the world in which we live is that we have become apostates. Many have abandoned the treasures given to us by revelation -- the supernatural.
Original sin was essentially an attack on the hierarchy of values: Man wanted to become like God, without God. The punishment was terrible: Man's body revolted against his soul. Today, this reversal of the hierarchy of values goes so far that Peter Singer denies man's superiority over animals, and that baby whales are saved while human babies are murdered.
The whole is topsy-turvy: Marriages break down; many do not even consider getting married; partnership lasts only as long as it satisfies one. Unnatural relationships so severely condemned by Plato are fashionable and claim their rights to be put on the same level as those that God has ordered.
Q: How can women's purported weakness be seen as a source strength?
Von Hildebrand: Granted that from a naturalistic point of view, men are stronger: not only because they are physically stronger, but also because they are more creative, more inventive and more productive -- most great works in theology, philosophy and fine arts have been made by men. They are the great engineers, the great architects.
But the Christian message is that, valuable as all these inventions are, they are dust and ashes compared to every act of virtue. Because a woman by her very nature is maternal -- for every woman, whether married or unmarried, is called upon to be a biological, psychological or spiritual mother -- she knows intuitively that to give, to nurture, to care for others, to suffer with and for them -- for maternity implies suffering -- is infinitely more valuable in God's sight than to conquer nations and fly to the moon.
When one reads the life of St. Teresa of Avila or St. Thérèse of Lisieux, one is struck by the fact that they constantly refer to their "weakness." The lives of these heroic women -- and there are many -- teach us that an awareness and acceptance of one's weakness, coupled with a boundless confidence in God's love and power, grant these privileged souls a strength that is so great because it is supernatural.
Natural strength cannot compete with supernatural strength. This is why Mary, the blessed one, is "strong as an army ready for battle." And yet, she is called "clemens, pia, dulcis Virgo Maria."
This supernatural strength explains -- as mentioned by Dom Prosper Gueranger in "The Liturgical Year" -- that the devil fears this humble virgin more than God because her supernatural strength that crushes his head is more humiliating for him than God's strength.
This is why the Evil One is today launching the worst attack on femininity that has ever taken place in the history of the world. For coming closer to the end of time, and knowing that his final defeat is coming, he redoubles his efforts to attack his one great enemy: the woman. It says in Genesis 3:15: "I will put enmity between you and the woman." The final victory is hers, as seen in the woman crowned with the sun.
Q: Why do you think women have moral power?
Von Hildebrand: The mission of women today is of crucial importance. In some way, they have the key to sanity -- the first step toward a conversion. For supernature is based on nature, and unless we go back to a natural soundness, the sublimity of the supernatural message will be lost to most of us.
Why do they have the key? Because their influence on men is enormous when they truly understand their role and mission. Again and again I hear priests say that they owe their vocation to their grandmother or mother.
St. Monica, in collaboration with God, brought back her wayward son to God. St. Bernard's mother, St. Francis de Sales' mother -- who was only 15 years older than he -- and St. John Bosco's mother were key factors in their spiritual way to holiness.
Q: How is Mary a model of femininity?
Von Hildebrand: Women have the key because they are the guardians of purity. This is already clearly indicated by the structure of their bodies, which chastely hides their intimate organs. Because their organs are "veiled," indicating their mystery and sacredness, women have the immense privilege of sharing the sex of the blessed one: Mary, the most holy of all creatures.
Feminism began in Protestant countries, for the plain reason that they had turned their backs on Christ's mother, as if the Savior of the world would feel deprived of the honor given to his beloved Mother.
Mary -- so gloriously referred to in the Apocalypse -- is the model of women. It is by turning to her, praying to her and contemplating her virtues that women will find their way back to the beauty and dignity of their mission.
Q: How did writing this book help you grow in appreciation of being a woman?
Von Hildebrand: Writing this book has been a privilege. It gave me a unique opportunity to meditate on the greatness of the woman's mission, following in the steps of the Holy Virgin.
Mary taught us two rules leading to holiness. One is: "I am the handmaid of the Lord. Be it done to me according to thy word." This indicates that the woman's mission is to let herself be fecundated by grace -- holy receptivity. The second is: "Do whatever he tells you."
This is the holy program that the Church offers us. No doubt, if women understood this message, marriage, the family and the Church would overcome the terrible crisis affecting us. As the liturgy says, "God has put salvation in the hands of a woman."
Monday, April 16, 2012
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
The Prophecy of Saint Nilus
The Prophecy of Saint Nilus
The Plight of the World and the Church during the 20th Century
By SAINT NILUS (d. circa AD 430)
After the year 1900, toward the middle of the 20th century, the people of that time will become unrecognizable. When the time for the Advent of the Antichrist approaches, people's minds will grow cloudy from carnal passions, and dishonor and lawlessness will grow stronger. Then the world will become unrecognizable.
People's appearances will change, and it will be impossible to distinguish men from women due to their shamelessness in dress and style of hair. These people will be cruel and will be like wild animals because of the temptations of the Antichrist. There will be no respect for parents and elders, love will disappear, and Christian pastors, bishops, and priests will become vain men, completely failing to distinguish the right-hand way from the left.
At that time the morals and traditions of Christians and of the Church will change. People will abandon modesty, and dissipation will reign. Falsehood and greed will attain great proportions, and woe to those who pile up treasures. Lust, adultery, homosexuality, secret deeds and murder will rule in society.
At that future time, due to the power of such great crimes and licentiousness, people will be deprived of the grace of the Holy Spirit, which they received in Holy Baptism and equally of remorse. The Churches of God will be deprived of God-fearing and pious pastors, and woe to the Christians remaining in the world at that time; they will completely lose their faith because they will lack the opportunity of seeing the light of knowledge from anyone at all. Then they will separate themselves out of the world in holy refuges in search of lightening their spiritual sufferings, but everywhere they will meet obstacles and constraints.
And all this will result from the fact that the Antichrist wants to be Lord over everything and become the ruler of the whole universe, and he will produce miracles and fantastic signs. He will also give depraved wisdom to an unhappy man so that he will discover a way by which one man can carry on a conversation with another from one end of the earth to the other.
At that time men will also fly through the air like birds and descend to the bottom of the sea like fish. And when they have achieved all this, these unhappy people will spend their lives in comfort without knowing, poor souls, that it is deceit of the Antichrist.
And, the impious one!—he will so complete science with vanity that it will go off the right path and lead people to lose faith in the existence of God in three hypostases. Then the All-good God will see the downfall of the human race and will shorten the days for the sake of those few who are being saved, because the enemy wants to lead even the chosen into temptation, if that is possible... then the sword of chastisement will suddenly appear and kill the perverter and his servants.
HT - RT
The Plight of the World and the Church during the 20th Century
By SAINT NILUS (d. circa AD 430)
After the year 1900, toward the middle of the 20th century, the people of that time will become unrecognizable. When the time for the Advent of the Antichrist approaches, people's minds will grow cloudy from carnal passions, and dishonor and lawlessness will grow stronger. Then the world will become unrecognizable.
People's appearances will change, and it will be impossible to distinguish men from women due to their shamelessness in dress and style of hair. These people will be cruel and will be like wild animals because of the temptations of the Antichrist. There will be no respect for parents and elders, love will disappear, and Christian pastors, bishops, and priests will become vain men, completely failing to distinguish the right-hand way from the left.
At that time the morals and traditions of Christians and of the Church will change. People will abandon modesty, and dissipation will reign. Falsehood and greed will attain great proportions, and woe to those who pile up treasures. Lust, adultery, homosexuality, secret deeds and murder will rule in society.
At that future time, due to the power of such great crimes and licentiousness, people will be deprived of the grace of the Holy Spirit, which they received in Holy Baptism and equally of remorse. The Churches of God will be deprived of God-fearing and pious pastors, and woe to the Christians remaining in the world at that time; they will completely lose their faith because they will lack the opportunity of seeing the light of knowledge from anyone at all. Then they will separate themselves out of the world in holy refuges in search of lightening their spiritual sufferings, but everywhere they will meet obstacles and constraints.
And all this will result from the fact that the Antichrist wants to be Lord over everything and become the ruler of the whole universe, and he will produce miracles and fantastic signs. He will also give depraved wisdom to an unhappy man so that he will discover a way by which one man can carry on a conversation with another from one end of the earth to the other.
At that time men will also fly through the air like birds and descend to the bottom of the sea like fish. And when they have achieved all this, these unhappy people will spend their lives in comfort without knowing, poor souls, that it is deceit of the Antichrist.
And, the impious one!—he will so complete science with vanity that it will go off the right path and lead people to lose faith in the existence of God in three hypostases. Then the All-good God will see the downfall of the human race and will shorten the days for the sake of those few who are being saved, because the enemy wants to lead even the chosen into temptation, if that is possible... then the sword of chastisement will suddenly appear and kill the perverter and his servants.
HT - RT
multiple personality disorder is..........
"...is the presence of two or more distinct identities or personality states...that recurrently take control of behavior."
or, more simply,
Barack Obama on Marriage
CPO
or, more simply,
Barack Obama on Marriage
CPO
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Dog Scouts of America
OK................so if you take your dog to this..............you need help. A dog is NOT on the same level as humans - i.e. Boy Scouts. Yes, animals can be helpful..........but to put them on the same level as humans by giving them "merit badges" should be considered a psychological disorder that needs intensive therapy. Animals ARE NOT PEOPLE. They are not CHILDREN, and they cannot replace CHILDREN.
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
2012 Father-Daughter Purity Ball
You won't want to miss this delightful evening!
2012 Father-Daughter Purity Ball
When: May 5, 2012
Where: Church of St. Peter, North St.Paul, MN
What Time: 4-10PM The evening begins with Mass at 4PM in the Church. After Mass we’ll move into O’Reilley Hall for an elegant dinner catered by Yarusso Brothers and dancing led with music and dance lessons provided by Minnesota’s premier dj, Midwest Sound. Dale Ahlquist, experienced dad of 6, President of the Chesterton Society, author, creator and host of the EWTN series GK Chesterton: The Apostle of Common Sense, will challenge and encourage both dads and daughters with his no-nonsense, humorous style. Brad Dixon Photography will be on hand to capture the special moments in photographs. Individual pictures will be available for purchase.
Who Can Attend: Girls aged 13 and older with their father or father-figure
What is a Purity Ball? The Purity Ball is an elegant dinner and dance designed to give fathers and daughters a unique opportunity to build and strengthen their relationship. Fathers will pledge to be models of integrity and protectors over their daughters. If necessary, other male role models in a position of influence in a young woman’s life are encouraged to attend as a father figure.
For more information and to register click on: http://www.stpetersmensapostolate.org/father-daughter-purity-ball/
HT - CPO
Monday, March 12, 2012
Frassati Pilgrimage - La Crosse, WI March 2012
I will write when I can, for now just pics.
https://picasaweb.google.com/110456644418676401573/FrassatiPilgrimageLaCrosseWIMarch2012
https://picasaweb.google.com/110456644418676401573/FrassatiPilgrimageLaCrosseWIMarch2012
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Traditional Latin Mass - Pine Creek, WI
Fr. O'Hara sent me an email today - he is celebrating an Extraordinary Form Mass this Saturday at Sacred Heart Parish in Pine Creek.
N20555 County RD G, Dodge, WI 54625 (From Great River Road/35/54 head north on "G" - you'll run into it.)
Praise be Jesus Christ!
On Saturday, Feb 18 (this week), I will offer Mass in the Extraordinary Form at 10:30am, Sacred Heart Church.
We have servers for the Low Mass.
All are welcome! Please spread the word.
God Bless You,
Fr. Joseph O'Hara
Hope to see you there!
N20555 County RD G, Dodge, WI 54625 (From Great River Road/35/54 head north on "G" - you'll run into it.)
Praise be Jesus Christ!
On Saturday, Feb 18 (this week), I will offer Mass in the Extraordinary Form at 10:30am, Sacred Heart Church.
We have servers for the Low Mass.
All are welcome! Please spread the word.
God Bless You,
Fr. Joseph O'Hara
Hope to see you there!
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Archdiocese of Minneapolis - Saint Paul MN Men's Conference 2012
Archdiocesan Men's Conference: The Archbishop Calls His Men
- Date(s):
- Saturday, March 31, 2012
- Time(s):
- 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
- Location:
- Cathedral of Saint Paul, St. Paul
- Cost:
- $15
- More Info:
- Click here to register online now!
Come, join the Archbishop as he calls: "Rise up, Oh Men of God"
Archdiocesan Men's Conference
Archbishop Nienstedt has invited Matthew Kelly to give the keynote presentation at the 2012 Archdiocesan Men’s Conference. Matthew has committed his entire adult life to help all people and organizations to become the-best-version-of-themselves. He has a special place in his heart for the Catholic Church that nurtured him, educated him, ignited his spirituality, and taught him the importance of making a difference with his life. With this in mind, he is always seeking ways to serve the Church. America's Rediscovering Catholicism is his latest effort. All men high school age and up are welcome to join Archbishop Nienstedt, Matthew Kelly and a thousand other men at the 2012 Archdiocesan Men’s Conference.
Event includes:
- Opportunity for confession
- Adoration
- Mass
- 2 Keynotes presentations
- Address by Archbishop Nienstedt
Date: Saturday, March 31, 2012
Time: 8:00 a.m. to Noon
Schedule:
- 7:00 to 8:00 a.m. - Registration at the Cathedral; Eucharistic Adoration, Confessions, Rosary
- 8:00 a.m. - Mass at the Cathedral with Most Reverend John C. Nienstedt presiding
- 9:00 a.m. - Breakfast sandwiches
- 9:30 a.m. - Presenters including Rev. Bill Baier, Matthew Kelly, and Archbishop Nienstedt
- 11:45 a.m. - Closing Announcements and Final Blessing
Cost: $15 / $20 after March 1; $10 for high school students
For more information, please contact the Office of Marriage, Family, and Life at 651.291.4488 or send an email.
Sponsored by the Archdiocesan Men's Apostolate - Office of Marriage, Family, and Life.
Thursday, January 26, 2012
My silent soul for Santorum
January 25, 2012
By Jeanette O'Toole
(Article by Jeanette O'Toole, Tom's wife)
By way of introduction, my name is Jeanette O'Toole, and I am the wife (and proofreader!) of Catholic journalist, Tom O'Toole, and mother of our four children. While even my what-were-pretty-good proofreading skills have dampened in recent years, I've always been much less of a writer, so please pass (on this, the feast day of St. Francis de Sales, patron saint of the deaf — of which I am — and of writers — of which I'm not) on commenting that this is poorly written; prepare yourself for that possibility.
The purpose of my post is to promote the one Truly conservative (and pro-life) candidate running for the GOP nominee for President of the United States, Rick Santorum. After dropping South Carolina rather significantly to two men, who in my opinion, are less qualified in general, and less moral on their social stances, I felt the need to give a shout out to the women (and men) that have been the most damaged by our "progressive" way of life in America, certainly for the last 39 years. The anniversary of Roe v. Wade just came and went (Jan. 22) and we're now trudging into our 40th year of legalized killing of very tiny (and some not-so-tiny) human beings.
In 1977, I was living in the beautiful state of Colorado (running away from life in Illinois; just wanting to live somewhere pretty and be free), and met (in Boulder) an interesting "and fun" wine connoisseur. Several months into our relationship (and after we had, in fact, just broken off), I found out I was carrying my boyfriend's child, but (in an effort to make a long story short) a child I so dearly wanted to birth, was given up to the gods of abortion on 3-16-78. Only knowing Jesus very weakly at that time, I didn't have the strength or moral character to hang on to her life (or unbeknownst to me, my sanity) when I most needed to. I have since named my child Mary Elizabeth, as praying by the statue of the Visitation (in addition to the frequent reception of the Eucharist and the praying of numerous rosaries) has done more for my healing than I can explain. Now, after attending Mass daily for close to three decades (by the way, I have read that Rick Santorum started attending daily Mass in 1990), I realize well the importance of guiding anxious women to other alternatives when they most need to see the Light; that abortion is the killing of God's creatures, and the result is lost children that you never get back (until you greet them in heaven). This is why we need Rick Santorum at the helm, and not a flip-flopper, or bed-hopper, or cop-out-on-life to the states.
I hope mothers and fathers who have been through (or are processing) the painful (and ever-so-silent unwinding/healing) from an abortion will look into the candidates with keen observation. And I hope those that have not come to terms with their abortions will at some point in time look into their souls and start to heal this grave pain. We have the opportunity (however, he needs the votes to secure the nomination!!) to elect a pro-life president; one who will do everything possible to protect the lives of all babies born and unborn, disabled and not "perfect," and just as importantly, as a byproduct of same, protect their selfish parents from a lifetime of needless remorse and regret...
As aforementioned, we are in the 40th year of legalized abortion. Could this signify a "preparation for some special action of the Lord"?
Pick Rick ! For Life ! Vote Rick !
P.S. Being enthused with the fight for Rick and for life, we started a Facebook page called Silent Souls for Santorum, its purpose listed as such: "Silent Souls for Santorum is for anyone who wants to join the uphill, but righteous journey of the former senator and father of seven to the White House, but is especially dedicated to the post-abortive women and men who see Santorum's pro-life fight as our country's salvation."
Jeanette O'Toole is the wife of Catholic journalist, Tom O'Toole, and the mother of their four beautiful children. Being deeply regretful about her own lost child (prior to meeting Tom), she works for the pro-life cause, and prays for the end of this 'legal' and savage mis-treatment of both woman and child. Jeanette can be reached at jeanetteotoole@gmail.com.
© Jeanette O'Toole
My silent soul for Santorum
By Jeanette O'Toole
(Article by Jeanette O'Toole, Tom's wife)
- Let me repeat in the clearest words in my disposal. There is no stopping abortion without an ocean of grace from Jesus Christ. No way will human means stop abortion. The principal source of this grace is the Holy Eucharist. -Fr. John A. Hardon
Our suspicions are aroused especially with a number that recurs so frequently as 40. On one level, it represents a longer period of time, but there is more...content...It is a time of need, of struggle, of testing...[I]n the Bible, a third level of meaning appears. Forty denotes a period of preparation for some special action of the Lord... -AmericanCatholic.org
The greatest threat to world peace is abortion! -Mother Teresa of Calcutta
By way of introduction, my name is Jeanette O'Toole, and I am the wife (and proofreader!) of Catholic journalist, Tom O'Toole, and mother of our four children. While even my what-were-pretty-good proofreading skills have dampened in recent years, I've always been much less of a writer, so please pass (on this, the feast day of St. Francis de Sales, patron saint of the deaf — of which I am — and of writers — of which I'm not) on commenting that this is poorly written; prepare yourself for that possibility.
The purpose of my post is to promote the one Truly conservative (and pro-life) candidate running for the GOP nominee for President of the United States, Rick Santorum. After dropping South Carolina rather significantly to two men, who in my opinion, are less qualified in general, and less moral on their social stances, I felt the need to give a shout out to the women (and men) that have been the most damaged by our "progressive" way of life in America, certainly for the last 39 years. The anniversary of Roe v. Wade just came and went (Jan. 22) and we're now trudging into our 40th year of legalized killing of very tiny (and some not-so-tiny) human beings.
In 1977, I was living in the beautiful state of Colorado (running away from life in Illinois; just wanting to live somewhere pretty and be free), and met (in Boulder) an interesting "and fun" wine connoisseur. Several months into our relationship (and after we had, in fact, just broken off), I found out I was carrying my boyfriend's child, but (in an effort to make a long story short) a child I so dearly wanted to birth, was given up to the gods of abortion on 3-16-78. Only knowing Jesus very weakly at that time, I didn't have the strength or moral character to hang on to her life (or unbeknownst to me, my sanity) when I most needed to. I have since named my child Mary Elizabeth, as praying by the statue of the Visitation (in addition to the frequent reception of the Eucharist and the praying of numerous rosaries) has done more for my healing than I can explain. Now, after attending Mass daily for close to three decades (by the way, I have read that Rick Santorum started attending daily Mass in 1990), I realize well the importance of guiding anxious women to other alternatives when they most need to see the Light; that abortion is the killing of God's creatures, and the result is lost children that you never get back (until you greet them in heaven). This is why we need Rick Santorum at the helm, and not a flip-flopper, or bed-hopper, or cop-out-on-life to the states.
I hope mothers and fathers who have been through (or are processing) the painful (and ever-so-silent unwinding/healing) from an abortion will look into the candidates with keen observation. And I hope those that have not come to terms with their abortions will at some point in time look into their souls and start to heal this grave pain. We have the opportunity (however, he needs the votes to secure the nomination!!) to elect a pro-life president; one who will do everything possible to protect the lives of all babies born and unborn, disabled and not "perfect," and just as importantly, as a byproduct of same, protect their selfish parents from a lifetime of needless remorse and regret...
As aforementioned, we are in the 40th year of legalized abortion. Could this signify a "preparation for some special action of the Lord"?
Pick Rick ! For Life ! Vote Rick !
P.S. Being enthused with the fight for Rick and for life, we started a Facebook page called Silent Souls for Santorum, its purpose listed as such: "Silent Souls for Santorum is for anyone who wants to join the uphill, but righteous journey of the former senator and father of seven to the White House, but is especially dedicated to the post-abortive women and men who see Santorum's pro-life fight as our country's salvation."
Jeanette O'Toole is the wife of Catholic journalist, Tom O'Toole, and the mother of their four beautiful children. Being deeply regretful about her own lost child (prior to meeting Tom), she works for the pro-life cause, and prays for the end of this 'legal' and savage mis-treatment of both woman and child. Jeanette can be reached at jeanetteotoole@gmail.com.
© Jeanette O'Toole
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