If you enjoy a creative protest…

…you’ll really appreciate this one.  I’d like to see more of these — and bigger!

Of course Georgia’s clueless legislative wonder, Tyrone Brooks, doesn’t agree (see his quote in the article).  Some Civil Rights proponent he is!!!

Mary Meets Dolly

Mary Meets Dolly looks like a great reference site for the Catholic perspective on issues involving the manipulation of human life.  It’s written by a clinical molecular biologist in collaboration with her father who is a [Catholic] theologian.

I first learned about this site via our local Catholic radio station, WQOR (JMJ750) which brodcasts on 750AM.  Last Friday, Brian Patrick was interviewing Rebecca, the website’s author, on his “Son Rise Morning Show.” (7am to 8am)

Local Catholic radio:  You better listen!  I strongly encourage you to listen!

Prayer request

Prayers are requested for Christian’s father-in-law.  He’s in the ICU with renal failure and complications.  Please pray for God’s healing and mercy for him, and peace for his family.

For fathers

Over at the Ignatian Spirituality blog, Tim shares some lessons he’s learning as he spends more time than usual with his girls.

Entrusting oneself to God

Last week Pope Benedict XVI presided at the commissioning of a new fountain dedicated to St Joseph in the Vatican Gardens.  His speech included the following:

…Entrusting oneself to God does not mean seeing everything clearly according to our own criteria, it does not mean doing what we have planned; entrusting oneself to God means emptying oneself of oneself, renouncing oneself, for only those who accept to lose themselves for God can be called “just”, like St Joseph, that is, can conform their will to God’s and so fulfill themselves. 

Novena Prayer to St Benedict

Novena Prayer to St Benedict

O glorious St. Benedict, sublime model of all virtues, pure vessel of God’s grace! Behold me, humbly kneeling at your feet. I implore your loving heart to pray for me before the throne of God. To you I have recourse in all the dangers which daily surround me. Shield me against my enemies, inspire me to imitate you in all things. May your blessing be with me always, so that I may shun whatever God forbids and avoid the occasions of sin.

Graciously obtain for me from God those favors and graces of which I stand so much in need, in the trials, miseries and afflictions of life. Your heart was always so full of love, compassion, and mercy towards those who were afflicted or troubled in any way. You never dismissed without consolation and assistance any one who had recourse to you. I therefore invoke your powerful intercession, in the confident hope that you will hear my prayers and obtain the special grace and favor currently requested by our holy and faithful priest, Fr Leo McKernan.

Help me, O great St. Benedict, to live and die as a faithful child of God, to be ever submissive to His holy will, and to attain the eternal happiness of heaven. Amen.

Litany of St Benedict

Litany of St Benedict

Lord, have mercy on us.  Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us; Christ, hear us.  Christ, graciously hear us.

God the Father of Heaven, have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the World, have mercy on us.
God the Holy Spirit, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, One God, have mercy on us.

Holy Mary, pray for us.
Holy Mother of God, pray for us.
Holy Virgin of Virgins, pray for us.

Holy Father St Benedict, pray for us.
Father most renowned, pray for us.
Father most affectionate, pray for us.
Father most patient, pray for us.
Father most merciful, pray for us.
Man of great fortitude, pray for us.
Man of venerable life, pray for us.
Disciplined man of prayer, pray for us.
Flower of piety, pray for us.
Flower of sanctity, pray for us.
Flower of chastity, pray for us.
Bright light of the world, pray for us.
Star of religion, pray for us.
Mirror of perfection, pray for us.
Teacher of silence, pray for us.
Example of poverty, pray for us.
Master of obedience, pray for us.
Paradigm of humility, pray for us.
Model of abstinence, pray for us.
Kind instructor of monks, pray for us.
Firm in faith, pray for us.
Strong in hope, pray for us.
Fervent in charity, pray for us.
Pure in mind, pray for us.
Chaste in body, pray for us.
Free from passions, pray for us.
Instrument of the miraculous, pray for us.
Revealer of the secrets of the heart, pray for us.
Foreknowing the future, pray for us.
Pattern of trust in the presence of evil, pray for us.
Confident in the Lord’s providence, pray for us.
Adorned with the grace of God, pray for us.
Filled with the Holy Spirit, pray for us.
Raised to the height of angelic glory, pray for us.
Rapt in the ardor of contemplation, pray for us.
Joined to the choirs of angels, pray for us.
Exalted among the Patriarchs, pray for us.
Made companion among the Prophets, pray for us.
Associated to the college of Apostles, pray for us.
Adorned with the roses of Martyrs, pray for us.
Decorated with the labors of Confessors, pray for us.
Honored among Abbots, pray for us.
Placed over the choir of Monks, pray for us.
Crowned with the lilies of Virgins, pray for us.
Patriarch of Western Monasticism, pray for us.
Patron of a happy death, pray for us.
Patron of many pontiffs, pray for us.
Patron of Europe, pray for us.
United to the company of all the Saints, pray for us.

Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world, spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.

V.  Intercede for us, O holy Father, St Benedict
R.  That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray:
O most holy Abbot Benedict, father and guide of monks, and intrepid warrior against evil, intercede for our salvation and the salvation of all mankind.  Raise up, O Lord, in your Church the Spirit which animated St Benedict, and being filled with the same Spirit, may we seek to love what he loved and to practice what he taught.  Grant us, we ask you O Lord, perseverance in doing your will, that in our days, the people serving you may increase both in dedication to prayer and in zeal for the Gospel.  We ask this through Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Authentic evangelization

After reading articles like this and this, I think we better start studying articles like this and this.

Shhh Don’t Tell The ACLU

 

WHY THE AMERICAN FLAG IS FOLDED 13 TIMES

Have you ever noticed on TV or at military funerals that the honor guard pays meticulous attention to correctly folding the American flag 13 times? I’ve known how the 21 gun salute was determined (adding the individual digits of 1776), but only recently learned why the flag was folded 13 times when it is lowered or when it is folded and handed to the widow at the burial of a veteran.

HERE IT IS:

The first fold of our flag is a symbol of life.

The second fold is a symbol of our belief in eternal life. 

The third fold is made in honor and remembrance of the veterans departing our ranks who gave a portion of their lives for the defense of our country to attain peace throughout the world.

The fourth fold represents our weaker nature, for as American citizens trusting in God, it is to Him we turn in times of peace as well as in time of war for His divine guidance.

The fifth fold is a tribute to our country, for in the words of Stephen Decatur, “Our Country, in dealing with other countries, may she always be right; but it is still our country, right or wrong.”

The sixth fold is for where our hearts lie. It is with our heart that we pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States Of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for all.

The seventh fold is a tribute to our Armed Forces, for it is through the Armed Forces that we protect our country and our flag against all her enemies, whether they be found within or without the boundaries of our republic.

The eighth fold is a tribute to the one who entered into the valley of the shadow of death, that we might see the light of day, and to honor mother, for whom it flies on Mother’s Day.

The ninth fold is a tribute to womanhood; for it has been through their faith, their love, loyalty and devotion that the character of the men and women who have made this country great has been molded.

The tenth fold is a tribute to the father, for he, too, has given his sons and daughters for the defense of our country since they were first born.

The eleventh fold, in the eyes of a Hebrew citizen represents the lower portion of the seal of King David and King Solomon, and glorifies in their eyes, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

The twelfth fold, in the eyes of a Christian citizen, represents an emblem of eternity and glorifies, in their eyes, God the Father, the Son, and Holy Spirit.

When the flag is completely folded, the stars are uppermost reminding us of our nation’s motto, “In God We Trust”. After the flag is completely folded and tucked in, it takes on the appearance of a cocked hat, ever reminding us of the soldiers who served under General George Washington, and the sailors and marines who served under Captain John Paul Jones, who were followed by their comrades and shipmates in the Armed Forces of the United States, preserving for us the rights, privileges, and freedoms we enjoy today. There are some traditions and ways of doing things which have deep meaning. You will see many flags folded in the coming weeks, and now you will know why.

“TAKE COURAGE AND BE A MAN” 1 Kings 2:2

URGENT:  Tomorrow – July 5th – is the last day to register

for the

Guardian of the Redeemer Catholic Men’s Fellowship

Father & Son “Be a Man” Day

DATE:              Saturday, July 10th

LOCATION:   Camp St Andrew, Tunkhannock

TIME:              9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

ITINERARY: 

9:00   a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
       Registration, Orientation, Confession, Coffee & Donuts

10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
       Saturday Mass
       Homily:  Masculine Spirituality (Fr. Brian Van Fossen)

11:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon
       Lunch

12:00 noon -12:30 p.m.
       Talk on Masculine Spirituality (Fr. Brian Van Fossen)      

12:30 p.m.  –  3:00 p.m.
       Activities:
              Volleyball, Bocci ball, Fishing (License Required),
                 Swimming, Orienteering, etc.

3:00 p.m. –  3:30 p.m.
       Chaplet of Divine Mercy
       Closing and Dismissal

BRING:
       casual, comfortable clothing; swim gear; towel;
              sneakers; hiking boots; compass.

For Directions go to Google Maps and type in “camp st andrew”

For more information on Camp St Andrew go to 
http://www.dioceseofscranton.org/ and click on Camp St. Andrew

Pre-Register by July 5^th by calling:  570-288-9998

Cost:  $25 per person (over 18 yrs. old)
             $10 (12 – 18 yrs old) Must be accompanied by adult
             Maximum $50 per family

Freedom of religion: for how much longer?

On this holiday weekend, as we remember with gratitude to God the vision and courage of our nation’s founding fathers, know that the forces of evil continue to work through the darkened minds of many of today’s political leaders, as described in this brief foreboding exposé by Chuck Colson:

Chilling, eh?  But it should not cause us to lose our zeal or our focus, as St Paul exhorts us in 2 Corinthians 4:1-6:

Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart. We have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways; we refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled only to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the likeness of God. For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For it is the God who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

It’s a matter of perspective

Here’s a great line found in this post on Fr Stephen’s blog:

…Christ did not come to make bad men good, but to make dead men live.

I want that quote on a T-shirt.

The nature of things is that people die – and not only do they die – but death, already at work in them from the moment of their birth, is the primary issue. The failure of humanity is not to be found or understood in a purely moral context. We are not creatures of choice and decision. How and why we choose is a very complex process that we ourselves do not understand. We can make a “decision” for Jesus only to discover that little has changed.

[snip]

our Baptism unites us to the death and resurrection of Christ, making possible a proper existence. Living that proper existence will not be done by merely trying to control our decisions and choices, but by consciously and unconsciously working to maintain our union with God.

[snip]

And so if we will live in such communion we will struggle to pray, not as a moral duty, but as the very means of our existence. We pray, we fast, we give alms, we confess, we commune, not in order to be better people, but because if we neglect these things we will die. And the death will be slow and marked by the increasing dissolution of who and what we are.