tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-40118562078080218922024-03-12T19:57:21.208-07:00What's In My HeartONE CATHOLIC MOM'S MISSION ~
Protestant turned Catholic, wife and mother. Standing up for, and revealing truths about Catholicism and living the Catholic faith.A.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00072938778222309228noreply@blogger.comBlogger48125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011856207808021892.post-90174513338793975612014-02-15T12:54:00.001-08:002014-02-15T12:54:06.778-08:00"I Am Poor"<span style="color: black;">One of my very favorite priests, Fr. John Hollowell, recently shared a <a href="http://on-this-rock.blogspot.com/2014/02/you-have-not-resolved-to-know-christ.html?spref=fb" target="_blank"><strong>homily</strong></a> about serving the poor. One of his parishioners sent him a poem she wrote in response to his homily. It's terrific! I'd like to share it here:</span><br />
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<span style="color: black;">By Sharon Sauer
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<br /> </div>
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<span style="color: black;">I am poor.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black;">I have food to eat but hunger
does not come.<span> </span></span></div>
<span style="color: black;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;">There is no pleasure in
food.<span> </span></span></div>
<span style="color: black;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;">I waste away though a full plate
lies before me.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="color: black;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;">I have clothes to wear and
jewelry for adornment </span></div>
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</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;">But no place to go.<span>
</span>Nakedness and cold surround me.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;">I am not behind bars yet freedom
I lack.<span> </span></span></div>
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</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;">I am chained by past sins and
guilt.</span></div>
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</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;">Darkness looms.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;">Hospitals and doctors have no
cure for my disease.<span> </span></span></div>
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</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;">Sickness of mind destroys my
soul and body, </span></div>
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</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;">Slowly I am dying from the
inside out.</span></div>
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</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;">I am poor, a wretched
soul.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">Please I beg you, Be Jesus to
me.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="color: black;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;">Day by day I walk by you yet you
see me not.</span></div>
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</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;">The pain that destroys me is so
well hidden no one knows.</span></div>
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</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;">It appears to all that I have no
needs.</span></div>
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</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;">Yet I have the greatest need of
all.<span> </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="color: black;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;">Without love why should I
breathe?<span> </span></span></div>
<span style="color: black;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;">Please I beg you, Be Jesus to
me.</span></div>
<span style="color: black;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: black;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;">Neither food nor clothes do I
need.</span></div>
<span style="color: black;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;">Yet I am destitute, gravely in
need.</span></div>
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</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: black;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;">A kind word, a smile, a caring
look</span></div>
<span style="color: black;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;">A genuine “how are you” without
hurrying away</span></div>
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</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: black;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;">A listening ear, a compassionate
heart</span></div>
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</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;">Your time, your friendship, the
Love of Christ</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="color: black;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;">Please I beg you, Be Jesus to
me.</span></div>
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A.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00072938778222309228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011856207808021892.post-13148832113593821732014-02-02T16:35:00.000-08:002014-02-02T16:35:31.622-08:00A Super Bowl Ad to Remember<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/xqReTDJSdhE?feature=player_detailpage" width="640"></iframe>
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<span style="color: black;">February 2, 2014. It's Super Bowl Sunday. The Broncos vs. the Seahawks. I enjoy NFL football and usually always watch the Super Bowl. I enjoy the intensity of such a "high-stakes" game, and all the other fun things that go along with the Super Bowl... the half-time show, and the creative and entertaining commercials.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black;">There's one commercial I'll always remember from the 2010 Super Bowl. I remember hearing a lot of buzz in the media about this commercial in the weeks leading up to the big game. This commercial was being promoted as a "Pro-Life" commercial. This was a HUGE deal for Pro-Life supporters because a Super Bowl commercial is usually seen by over 100 million people. Pro-Choice supporters were up-in-arms about this ad and fiercely objected the ad being aired.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black;">The commercial features Tim Tebow (2007 Heisman Trophy winner) and his mom, Pam Tebow. Mrs. Tebow was advised by doctors to abort Tim because of a difficult pregnancy and potential medical concerns for her and her baby. Mrs. Tebow chose LIFE, and the commercial is a celebration of Life and Family, sponsored by the organization </span><a href="http://www.focusonthefamily.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: black;">Focus on the Family</span></a><span style="color: black;">.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black;">Kuddos to CBS for allowing the commercial to air! A 30 second commercial isn't much time to tell an entire story. Mrs. Tebow and her husband tell more of their family's here: </span><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/j7T_gjwrK3c?feature=player_detailpage" width="640"></iframe><br />A.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00072938778222309228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011856207808021892.post-80537384806622474612013-06-17T15:44:00.001-07:002013-06-17T15:49:25.906-07:00The Real Presence of Christ<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/vN1GV-UzbH0?feature=player_detailpage" width="640"></iframe>
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<span style="color: black;">The Real Presence of Christ... "Transubstantiation", beautifully and simply explained in 1 minute.</span> <br />
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<br />A.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00072938778222309228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011856207808021892.post-12600082104028160382013-04-13T11:36:00.000-07:002013-04-13T11:37:12.344-07:00"Who Started Your Church?"<span style="color: black;">This is something very important that I want my children to know...</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XxDqKe8XPEQ/UWmki_Eh2II/AAAAAAAAAJo/p0L1fKMBSXw/s1600/matt+kelly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XxDqKe8XPEQ/UWmki_Eh2II/AAAAAAAAAJo/p0L1fKMBSXw/s1600/matt+kelly.jpg" /></a></div>
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A.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00072938778222309228noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011856207808021892.post-90194071983489449482013-04-13T00:04:00.000-07:002013-04-13T00:04:22.117-07:00The Essence of Catholicism<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/y8maMm0yagQ?feature=player_detailpage" width="640"></iframe><br />A.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00072938778222309228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011856207808021892.post-38557008642207068052013-03-26T19:42:00.000-07:002013-03-26T19:59:29.254-07:00"The Church on Homosexuality"<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VJDd0O6hVU8?feature=player_embedded" width="640"></iframe><br />
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<span class="userContent"><span style="color: black;">If you don't know what the Catholic Church REALLY teaches on homosexuality, </span><a data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/user.php?id=1602132600&extragetparams=%7B%22group_id%22%3A0%7D" href="https://www.facebook.com/sacerdos.hollowell?group_id=0"><span style="color: black;"><strong><em>FrJohn Hollowell</em></strong></span></a><span style="color: black;"> sums it up in warp speed.</span></span><br />
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<span class="userContent" style="color: black;">Mother Mary, pray for us.</span><br />
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<span class="userContent"></span><br />A.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00072938778222309228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011856207808021892.post-14205946669112058962013-03-12T09:49:00.001-07:002013-03-12T09:49:16.081-07:00Papal Infallibility by Fr. Barron<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/qij6Y873Dl8?feature=player_detailpage" width="640"></iframe>
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<span style="color: black;">My personal favorite is this beautiful, eloquent, yet easy to understand explanation of Papal Infallibility by Fr. Barron.</span><br />
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A.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00072938778222309228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011856207808021892.post-33586036806313062682013-03-12T09:41:00.000-07:002013-03-12T09:50:04.669-07:00Papal Infallibility by Dr. Scott Hahn<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/5crScs1uWtg?feature=player_detailpage" width="640"></iframe>
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<span style="color: black;">Biblical scholar Dr. Scott Hahn, a once anti-Catholic protestant theologian and minister - now Catholic, explains Papal Infallibility to a protestant caller. Done in a way many biblical protestants will understand.</span><br />
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<br />A.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00072938778222309228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011856207808021892.post-33410810910668739472013-03-12T09:23:00.001-07:002013-03-12T09:23:57.687-07:00"Why do I have to listen to the Pope?"<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/6rQfC8YCP7I?feature=player_detailpage" width="640"></iframe>
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<span style="color: black;">This
short video is a bit juvenile, but it's easy to understand and a good one to share with our youth.</span>
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A.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00072938778222309228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011856207808021892.post-917094307640234182013-03-12T09:18:00.002-07:002013-03-12T09:18:53.363-07:00"Why do we have a Pope?"<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/8vB46oZalkE?feature=player_detailpage" width="640"></iframe>
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<span style="color: black;">The papacy, simply explained by Fr. Agustino.</span>
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A.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00072938778222309228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011856207808021892.post-53132429705737006962013-03-10T16:30:00.001-07:002013-03-10T16:40:23.497-07:00Examination of Conscience<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-g957VTMBqug/UT0WrWgueKI/AAAAAAAAAJY/voDfarexvyE/s1600/rec.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-g957VTMBqug/UT0WrWgueKI/AAAAAAAAAJY/voDfarexvyE/s1600/rec.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="color: black;">I love lists that help us examine our conscience, especially in preparation for the Sacrament of Reconciliation. I personally find it very helpful. The first time I saw a list like that, I was surprised to learn of things I never really thought were sins before. A good examination of conscience helps me to be a better Christian.</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"></span><br />
<span style="color: black;">Two of our sons will be participating in the Sacrament of Reconciliation tomorrow at school. I wanted them to have some time tonight to reflect on their conscience and on God, but at their ages, I knew they'd need some help. I found this examination of conscience for kids online, and thought I'd share it here. In these easy to follow and easy to understand questions, I find it's a good source for anyone of any age. It's from Catholic Parents Online website and written by Fr. Edward Filardi. You can find it at this link:</span> <a href="http://catholicparents.org/oxcart/examinationchild.html"><span style="color: #990000;">http://catholicparents.org/oxcart/examinationchild.html</span></a><span style="color: #990000;"> .</span><br />
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<span style="color: black;">God bless, and may we all receive His mercy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">
</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>An Examination of Conscience for
Children</i></span>
</span><span style="color: #351c75;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><b>by Fr. Edward Filardi, Gaithersburg,
Maryland</b></i></span>
</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;">
</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><b><i>I. I am the Lord your God. You shall not have strange gods before
me.</i></b><br />Do I give time every day to God in prayer?<br />Do I put my trust
in superstitions, good luck charms, rather than God alone?<br />Have I rejected
any Church teaching or denied that I was a Catholic?
</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"></span> <span style="color: #351c75;"><i><b>II. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in
vain.</b></i><br />Have I used the words "God" or "Jesus" in anger or
irreverently?<br />Have I used foul or ugly language? Have I wished evil on
another?
</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"></span> <span style="color: #351c75;"><i><b>III. Remember to keep holy the Lord's day.</b></i><br />Have I missed
Mass on Sunday or any holy day of obligation?<br />Do I arrive at church late or
leave early? <br />Do I try to be reverent and pay attention during Mass?<br />Do I
avoid unnecessary work on Sunday?<br />Do I make Sunday a day of prayer or rest?
</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"></span> <span style="color: #351c75;"><i><b>IV. Honor your father and your mother.</b></i><br />Do I respect and obey
my parents?<br />Have I dishonored or mistreated them by word or deed?<br />Am I
willing to help around the house or must I be nagged a hundred times?<br />Do I
try to get along with my brothers and sisters?<br />Am I a tattletale or
bully?<br />Do I give a good example, especially to younger siblings?<br />Do I
respect others in authority: priests, nuns, police, old people, baby-sitters?
</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"></span> <span style="color: #351c75;"><i><b>V. You shall not kill.</b></i><br />Do I beat up others or hurt their
bodies?<br />Do I say cruel things, or make fun of others to hurt their
feelings?<br />Do I say mean things about others behind their backs?<br />Have I
stopped speaking to anyone?<br />Do I encourage others to do bad things?<br />Do I
try to love all people, born and unborn?
</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"></span> <span style="color: #351c75;"><i><b>VI. You shall not commit adultery.</b></i><br />Do I treat my body and
other people's bodies with purity and respect?<br />Do I look at television shows,
movies, or pictures that are bad?<br />Am I modest in my speech and the clothes I
wear?
</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"></span> <span style="color: #351c75;"><b><i>VII. You shall not steal.</i></b><br />Have I taken things that were not
mine from a store or another person?<br />Have I destroyed or misused another
person's property for fun?<br />Do I return things that I borrow? In good
condition?
</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"></span> <span style="color: #351c75;"><i><b>VIII. You shall not commit false witness against your
neighbor.</b></i><br />Am I honest in my school work?<br />Do I tell lies to make
myself look good?<br />Do I tell lies to protect myself from punishment?<br />Do I
tell lies that make another person look bad or get them in trouble?
</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"></span> <span style="color: #351c75;"><i><b>IX. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife.</b></i><br />Do I allow my
parents to spend time with one another, or do I get jealous and want them to pay
attention only to me?<br />Do I get mad when I have to share my friends?<br />Are
there kids I will not play with or be mean to because they look different?
</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"></span> <span style="color: #351c75;"><i><b>X. You shall not covet your neighbor's goods.</b></i><br />Am I jealous
or envious of the things or abilities that others have?<br />Am I thankful to God
and my parents for what they have given me?<br />Do I share the things I have with
my family, friends and poor people?
</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"></span> <span style="color: #351c75;"><i><b>The Act of Contrition</b></i><br />Oh my God, I am heartily sorry for
having offended you and I detest all my sins because I dread the loss of heaven
and the pains of hell, but most of all because they offend you, my God, who are
all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve with the help of your
grace to sin no more, to amend my life, and to avoid whatever leads me to sin.
Amen.</span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"></span><br />
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<!-- end content --><br />A.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00072938778222309228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011856207808021892.post-54876086669097311382013-01-07T16:58:00.001-08:002013-01-07T16:59:58.093-08:00Pope Benedict XVI Christmas Eve Homily 2012<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Bi8kpL92b7E" width="640"></iframe>
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<span style="color: #663300;"><a href="http://www.vatican.va/news_services/liturgy/libretti/2012/20121224.pdf">MIDNIGHT
MASS</a> </span></div>
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<span style="color: #663300;"></span> </div>
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<span style="color: #663300;">from <a href="http://www.vatican.va/">www.vatican.va</a> </span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #663300;">SOLEMNITY OF THE NATIVITY OF THE
LORD</span></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #663300; font-size: medium;">HOMILY OF HIS HOLINESS BENEDICT
XVI </span></i></b></div>
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<span style="color: #663300;"><i>Saint Peter's Basilica<br />Monday, 24
December 2012</i></span></div>
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<em><span style="color: #663300;"></span></em> </div>
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<i>Dear Brothers and Sisters!</i></div>
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Again and again the beauty of this Gospel touches our hearts: a
beauty that is the splendour of truth. Again and again it astonishes us that God
makes himself a child so that we may love him, so that we may dare to love him,
and as a child trustingly lets himself be taken into our arms. It is as if God
were saying: I know that my glory frightens you, and that you are trying to
assert yourself in the face of my grandeur. So now I am coming to you as a
child, so that you can accept me and love me.</div>
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I am also repeatedly struck by the Gospel writer’s almost casual
remark that there was no room for them at the inn. Inevitably the question
arises, what would happen if Mary and Joseph were to knock at my door. Would
there be room for them? And then it occurs to us that Saint John takes up this
seemingly chance comment about the lack of room at the inn, which drove the Holy
Family into the stable; he explores it more deeply and arrives at the heart of
the matter when he writes: “he came to his own home, and his own people received
him not” (<i>Jn</i> 1:11). The great moral question of our attitude towards the
homeless, towards refugees and migrants, takes on a deeper dimension: do we
really have room for God when he seeks to enter under our roof? Do we have time
and space for him? Do we not actually turn away God himself? We begin to do so
when we have no time for God. The faster we can move, the more efficient our
time-saving appliances become, the less time we have. And God? The question of
God never seems urgent. Our time is already completely full. But matters go
deeper still. Does God actually have a place in our thinking? Our process of
thinking is structured in such a way that he simply ought not to exist. Even if
he seems to knock at the door of our thinking, he has to be explained away. If
thinking is to be taken seriously, it must be structured in such a way that the
“God hypothesis” becomes superfluous. There is no room for him. Not even in our
feelings and desires is there any room for him. We want ourselves. We want what
we can seize hold of, we want happiness that is within our reach, we want our
plans and purposes to succeed. We are so “full” of ourselves that there is no
room left for God. And that means there is no room for others either, for
children, for the poor, for the stranger. By reflecting on that one simple
saying about the lack of room at the inn, we have come to see how much we need
to listen to Saint Paul’s exhortation: “Be transformed by the renewal of your
mind” (<i>Rom</i> 12:2). Paul speaks of renewal, the opening up of our intellect
(<i>nous</i>), of the whole way we view the world and ourselves. The conversion
that we need must truly reach into the depths of our relationship with reality.
Let us ask the Lord that we may become vigilant for his presence, that we may
hear how softly yet insistently he knocks at the door of our being and willing.
Let us ask that we may make room for him within ourselves, that we may recognize
him also in those through whom he speaks to us: children, the suffering, the
abandoned, those who are excluded and the poor of this world.</div>
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There is another verse from the Christmas story on which I should
like to reflect with you – the angels’ hymn of praise, which they sing out
following the announcement of the new-born Saviour: “Glory to God in the highest
and on earth peace among men with whom he is pleased.” God is glorious. God is
pure light, the radiance of truth and love. He is good. He is true goodness,
goodness <i>par excellence</i>. The angels surrounding him begin by simply
proclaiming the joy of seeing God’s glory. Their song radiates the joy that
fills them. In their words, it is as if we were hearing the sounds of heaven.
There is no question of attempting to understand the meaning of it all, but
simply the overflowing happiness of seeing the pure splendour of God’s truth and
love. We want to let this joy reach out and touch us: truth exists, pure
goodness exists, pure light exists. God is good, and he is the supreme power
above all powers. All this should simply make us joyful tonight, together with
the angels and the shepherds.</div>
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Linked to God’s glory on high is peace on earth among men. Where
God is not glorified, where he is forgotten or even denied, there is no peace
either. Nowadays, though, widespread currents of thought assert the exact
opposite: they say that religions, especially monotheism, are the cause of the
violence and the wars in the world. If there is to be peace, humanity must first
be liberated from them. Monotheism, belief in one God, is said to be arrogance,
a cause of intolerance, because by its nature, with its claim to possess the
sole truth, it seeks to impose itself on everyone. Now it is true that in the
course of history, monotheism has served as a pretext for intolerance and
violence. It is true that religion can become corrupted and hence opposed to its
deepest essence, when people think they have to take God’s cause into their own
hands, making God into their private property. We must be on the lookout for
these distortions of the sacred. While there is no denying a certain misuse of
religion in history, yet it is not true that denial of God would lead to peace.
If God’s light is extinguished, man’s divine dignity is also extinguished. Then
the human creature would cease to be God’s image, to which we must pay honour in
every person, in the weak, in the stranger, in the poor. Then we would no longer
all be brothers and sisters, children of the one Father, who belong to one
another on account of that one Father. The kind of arrogant violence that then
arises, the way man then despises and tramples upon man: we saw this in all its
cruelty in the last century. Only if God’s light shines over man and within him,
only if every single person is desired, known and loved by God is his dignity
inviolable, however wretched his situation may be. On this Holy Night, God
himself became man; as Isaiah prophesied, the child born here is “Emmanuel”, God
with us (<i>Is</i> 7:14). And down the centuries, while there has been misuse of
religion, it is also true that forces of reconciliation and goodness have
constantly sprung up from faith in the God who became man. Into the darkness of
sin and violence, this faith has shone a bright ray of peace and goodness, which
continues to shine.</div>
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So Christ is our peace, and he proclaimed peace to those far away
and to those near at hand (cf. <i>Eph</i> 2:14, 17). How could we now do other
than pray to him: Yes, Lord, proclaim peace today to us too, whether we are far
away or near at hand. Grant also to us today that swords may be turned into
ploughshares (<i>Is</i> 2:4), that instead of weapons for warfare, practical aid
may be given to the suffering. Enlighten those who think they have to practise
violence in your name, so that they may see the senselessness of violence and
learn to recognize your true face. Help us to become people “with whom you are
pleased” – people according to your image and thus people of peace.</div>
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Once the angels departed, the shepherds said to one another: Let
us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened for us (cf.
<i>Lk</i> 2:15). The shepherds went with haste to Bethlehem, the Evangelist
tells us (cf. 2:16). A holy curiosity impelled them to see this child in a
manger, who the angel had said was the Saviour, Christ the Lord. The great joy
of which the angel spoke had touched their hearts and given them wings. </div>
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Let us go over to Bethlehem, says the Church’s liturgy to us
today. <i>Trans-eamus</i> is what the Latin Bible says: let us go “across”,
daring to step beyond, to make the “transition” by which we step outside our
habits of thought and habits of life, across the purely material world into the
real one, across to the God who in his turn has come across to us. Let us ask
the Lord to grant that we may overcome our limits, our world, to help us to
encounter him, especially at the moment when he places himself into our hands
and into our heart in the Holy Eucharist.</div>
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Let us go over to Bethlehem: as we say these words to one another,
along with the shepherds, we should not only think of the great “crossing over”
to the living God, but also of the actual town of Bethlehem and all those places
where the Lord lived, ministered and suffered. Let us pray at this time for the
people who live and suffer there today. Let us pray that there may be peace in
that land. Let us pray that Israelis and Palestinians may be able to live their
lives in the peace of the one God and in freedom. Let us also pray for the
countries of the region, for Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and their neighbours: that
there may be peace there, that Christians in those lands where our faith was
born may be able to continue living there, that Christians and Muslims may build
up their countries side by side in God’s peace.</div>
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The shepherds made haste. Holy curiosity and holy joy impelled
them. In our case, it is probably not very often that we make haste for the
things of God. God does not feature among the things that require haste. The
things of God can wait, we think and we say. And yet he is the most important
thing, ultimately the one truly important thing. Why should we not also be moved
by curiosity to see more closely and to know what God has said to us? At this
hour, let us ask him to touch our hearts with the holy curiosity and the holy
joy of the shepherds, and thus let us go over joyfully to Bethlehem, to the Lord
who today once more comes to meet us. Amen.</div>
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<span style="color: #663300;"><i></i></span><br />A.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00072938778222309228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011856207808021892.post-47369127875673353462012-11-05T18:24:00.001-08:002012-11-05T18:24:43.694-08:00Children "Vote" for Obama at Catholic School<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/D9vQt6IXXaM?feature=player_embedded" width="640"></iframe>
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<span style="color: black;">On the eve of the presidential election, I'm not going to change any minds at this point, but I'd be mad at myself if I didn't say something.</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"></span><br />
<span style="color: black;">Our kids attend a Catholic grade school and recently the school held a mock presidential election. Sitting down for dinner with our kids last night, I found out that Obama won the third grade vote. Our twins are in third grade but they voted for Romney because they know my husband and I are voting for Romney. So does this mean the majority of third graders voted for Obama because they know their parents are voting for Obama? If so, do they not know or care that the Catholic church and our Religious Liberty are at stake?</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"></span><br />
<span style="color: black;">If this is the case, I'm really worried. Not so much worried about the outcome of the real election, but for the outcome of future Catholic generations. I'm worried that as my children grow up around these other kids and their families, that our jobs are going to be even harder to instill Catholic social teachings if the majority of the families they grow up around aren't on the same page as we are... standing WITH the Catholic Church on all things.</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"></span><br />
<span style="color: black;">I know kids will generally follow what they're first taught at home, but there will come a time when they'll hear and wonder about other values and views, and question theirs (or rather, "ours"). It takes a village to raise a family, so it's important for us to have our children surrounded by like-minded Catholic families and individuals because they will be influence by EVERYTHING around them. I'm sorry, but it's very disheartening to me to think that many Catholic children my children know may not be taught and shown the truth of our Faith from their own families, which could then be a tragic epidemic of ignorance or apathy towards Church teachings for generations to come.</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"></span><br />
<span style="color: black;">This is a very touchy subject, and not one you can force upon people to change their minds or views. I feel all I can do at this point is to continue to pray for all the families of our parish and school, and I want to add this eve, my continued prayers for our country and future leaders of America.</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"></span><br />
<span style="color: black;">May God bless our country, and Holy Mother, please pray for us.</span><br />
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A.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00072938778222309228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011856207808021892.post-18023868006209643192012-10-19T16:51:00.002-07:002012-10-19T17:39:04.651-07:00My Prayer for America<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/ZrzGKNYA_Fs?feature=player_embedded" width="640"></iframe>
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<span style="color: black;">Agena Hurrle, Indianapolis, Indiana. This is my prayer for America.</span><br />
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<br />A.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00072938778222309228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011856207808021892.post-50858690227563842832012-10-07T05:37:00.002-07:002012-10-07T05:37:23.313-07:00Beyond "Grinding" at School Dances<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dkMcO0QzHl4/UHFw0-dfv3I/AAAAAAAAAI8/ptchgRmnMf4/s1600/grinding+2%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dkMcO0QzHl4/UHFw0-dfv3I/AAAAAAAAAI8/ptchgRmnMf4/s1600/grinding+2%5B1%5D.jpg" /></a><span style="color: black;">It's Homecoming season, and the perfect time to re-post about "grinding" at school dances. A friend of mine just posted this on Facebook: "<span class="userContent">Had some football players over tonight for a bonfire. They chose not to be a part of the homecoming dance that is now called "the grindfest". Makes me so sad that school dances are no longer a place I want my child to be." </span></span><span style="color: black;"> </span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> </span><br />
<span style="color: black;">This blog post (titled "<a href="http://www.blogger.com/It's%20Homecoming%20season,%20and%20the%20perfect%20time%20to%20re-post%20about%20%22grinding%22%20at%20school%20dances.%20A%20friend%20of%20mine%20just%20posted%20this%20on%20Facebook:%20%22Had%20some%20football%20players%20over%20tonight%20for%20a%20bonfire.%20They%20chose%20not%20to%20be%20a%20part%20of%20the%20homecoming%20dance%20that%20is%20now%20called%20%22the%20grindfest%22.%20Makes%20me%20so%20sad%20that%20school%20dances%20are%20no%20longer%20a%20place%20I%20want%20my%20child%20to%20be.%22" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0b5394;">How Do We Help Our Young People Get Beyond 'Grinding'?</span></a>") from my favorite priest, Fr. John Hollowell, is a must-read for parents and educators! Until his recent re-assignment, Fr. Hollowell was the Chaplin and a teacher at Cardinal Ritter High School. Read his post </span><a href="http://on-this-rock.blogspot.com/2012/04/how-do-we-help-our-young-people-get.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0b5394;">HERE</span></a><span style="color: black;">. </span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> </span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> </span><br />
<span style="color: black;">Parents, I'd like to encourage you to talk to your teens about this, and like my friend did, offer a better alternative for your kids and their friends on Homecoming night if "grinding" is an issue at their school dances. And if it is an issue at their school, parents and teachers MUST go to the school administrators and speak-out against it. EVERY school dance, regardless of whether it's a public school or private school, should have policies against "grinding" at school dances and enforce them. Don't be naive in thinking that this kind of dancing is harmless.</span><br />
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A.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00072938778222309228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011856207808021892.post-56320828743696660882012-10-05T18:26:00.001-07:002012-10-05T18:33:22.139-07:00"Does It Really Matter If I Vote?"<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/2PIojaiDVjY?feature=player_detailpage" width="640"></iframe><br />
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<span style="color: black;">This 30 second video is so cute and has a VERY powerful message!</span><br />
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<span style="color: black;">When I was in my 20's, before marriage and before children, I didn't really care about politics. I had my own opinions about some things, and so I claimed to agree with a particular party, but I didn't exercise my right to vote. I didn't think my one, little vote would matter.</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> </span><br />
<span style="color: black;">And then I had my own family, and that changed everything. I became passionate about certain issues and protecting this country's future for my kids' sake. It's so important to vote! EVERY vote DOES matter!</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> </span><br />
<span style="color: black;">I 'd like to talk to people reading this who may have never voted before. I use to be afraid of going to the polls and not knowing what to do, and looking like an idiot. That was ridiculous of me, because it's SO EASY! The volunteer workers will show you exactly where to go and exactly what to do, and they aren't going to wave a big, red flag and blow a bull-horn to announce that you've never voted before, and then laugh at you. They're very helpful and HAPPY that you're there!</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> </span><br />
<span style="color: black;">You might think, "My vote is just one, measly vote", but you can't think that way. When you vote, and people hear, or know that you voted, that starts a movement. I guarantee that will encourage someone else to vote (if not now, at a future election), for example a co-worker or two, a friend, a younger sibling, or even your own kids one day.</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"> </span><br />
<span style="color: black;">You might think, "I don't know anything about the candidates, or understand anything about politics, the government, or the issues." While it's good to know as much as you can, that's NOT a requirement to vote. Pick at least one topic, ask around, or Google it, and learn what each candidate proposes. For example, if you feel strongly about being pro-life or pro-choice, learn what each candidate endorses about it and what their plans are for running the government regarding that issue. That is enough to vote.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black;">For those of us who plan on voting this election, ask others if they're going to vote (coworkers, friends, your family). ENCOURAGE them to vote. Encourage everyone you know to vote. It doesn't mean you're trying to have a conversation with them about politics, just leave it as a question of whether they're going to vote or not. You never know what an inspiration you might be!</span> <br />
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<span style="color: black;">Now, my warning... if you do feeling even the slightest bit of interest about something that's a political issue this election, and you DON'T vote, you're just breathing air. Why then does anything matter to you? You're a child of God and your opinions and rights matter! And don't you at least owe it to future generations, or your legacy (your children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, etc.) to take a stand and take action for something important? Please. Please get out and vote, and encourage other to vote too. Millions of lives are depending on it - not just right now, but your vote this election affects the future too!</span><br />
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<span style="color: black;">Register to vote right now! Click on graphic below.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">God, please bless American, and Holy Mother please pray for us.</span><br />
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<br />A.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00072938778222309228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011856207808021892.post-77129416521276718622012-10-02T19:40:00.001-07:002012-10-02T19:43:02.302-07:00Guardian Angels<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mgEDGYjZNFo/UGuXgoQc5_I/AAAAAAAAAIc/M-iqEcQcFTU/s1600/guardian.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mgEDGYjZNFo/UGuXgoQc5_I/AAAAAAAAAIc/M-iqEcQcFTU/s1600/guardian.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="color: black;">Blessed feast day of Guardian Angels. </span><br />
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;">From <a href="http://americancatholic.org/">AmericanCatholic.org</a>: </span><br />
<span style="color: black;"></span> <br />
<span class="LabelColumnText" id="ctl00_ContentPlaceHolder1_lblDescription"><span style="color: black;">"Perhaps no aspect of Catholic piety is as comforting to parents as the belief that an angel protects their little ones from dangers real and imagined. Yet guardian angels are not just for children. Their role is to represent individuals before God, to watch over them always, to aid their prayer and to present their souls to God at death.</span></span><br />
<span class="LabelColumnText"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="color: black;">The concept of an angel assigned to guide and nurture each human being is a development of Catholic doctrine and piety based on Scripture but not directly drawn from it. Jesus' words in Matthew 18:10 best support the belief: "See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven always look upon the face of my heavenly Father." </span><br />
<span style="color: black;"></span><br />
<span style="color: black;">Devotion to the angels began to develop with the birth of the monastic tradition. St. Benedict gave it impetus and Bernard of Clairvaux the great 12th-century reformer, was such an eloquent spokesman for the guardian angels that angelic devotion assumed its current form in his day. </span><br />
<span style="color: black;"></span><br />
<span style="color: black;">A feast in honor of the guardian angels was first observed in the 16th century. In 1615, Pope Paul V added it to the Roman calendar."</span><br />
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From infancy to death human life is surrounded by their (the angels) watchful care and intercession. Beside each believer stands an angel as protector and shepherd leading him to life. Already here on earth the Christian life shares by faith in the blessed company of angels and men united to God." <span style="font-size: x-small;">- from the Catechism of the Catholic Church; 336</span>. <br />
</span><span style="color: black;">God bless my guardian angel - he/she has been given a big job! I can recall numerous times throughout my life as I look back, where my guardian angel was working overtime! Thank you dear guardian angel. I hope I can live up to whatever reasons God has for me to still be hear, and doing well. </span><span style="color: black;">And for my childrens' guardian angels, please protect them as well as mine has protected me.</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"></span><br />
<span style="color: black;">I love this dear, little prayer. It's the first prayer my kiddos had memorized...</span><br />
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<strong><span style="color: black;">Guardian Angel Prayer</span></strong></div>
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<span style="color: black;">Angel of God, My Guardian Dear</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">to whom God's love entrusts me here.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">Ever this day be at my side</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">to light, to guard, to rule, to guide.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">Amen.</span><strong></strong></div>
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<span style="color: black;">...and this one is a beautiful one too:</span><br />
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<span style="color: black;"><strong>Prayer to One's Guardian Angel</strong> </span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">Dear Angel, in his goodness God gave you to me to guide, protect, and enlighten me, and to bring me back to the right way when I go astray. Encourage me when I am disheartened, and instruct me when I err in my judgment. Help me to become more Christlike, and so some day to be accepted into the company of Angels and Saints in heaven. </span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">Amen.</span></div>
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<span class="LabelColumnText" id="ctl00_ContentPlaceHolder1_lblDescription"> </span>A.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00072938778222309228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011856207808021892.post-18540230573919779752012-09-15T13:12:00.001-07:002012-09-15T13:17:36.074-07:00"The Chalice and the Pepsi Can - The Call to Holiness"<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8xNfHnl_aeU?feature=player_embedded" width="640"></iframe><br />
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<span style="color: black;">The perspective from which I'm sharing here on my blog, is of what I want my own children to know and understand. What my prayers are for them, and for all souls. This video by Father
Joseph Hirsch is excellent in helping anyone to understand God's will for us... holiness. </span><br />
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<span style="color: black;">
Fr. Hirsch gives his insights into what it means to listen to God's call to holiness for our lives. As a member of the office of Vocations for the Diocese of La Crosse, Fr. Hirsch encourages you to ground your life in prayer and discern where God is leading you, not only for your vocation, but also how we should view ourselves and others. His message here is outstanding!</span><br />
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<span style="color: black;">God's peace and love be with you.</span><br />
<br />A.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00072938778222309228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011856207808021892.post-26809298735740135042012-09-08T17:23:00.002-07:002013-03-26T19:51:40.922-07:00Why Are There 7 Sacraments?<span style="color: black;">This is a terrific educational video (just 2 minutes long) about the Sacraments, <a href="http://vimeo.com/20285898">http://vimeo.com/20285898</a>. A super-easy to understand, brief video explaining why there are 7 Sacraments and how they relate to the 7 conditions of physical life. The explanation in this video is from the great Archbishop Fulton Sheen. </span><br />
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<span style="color: black;">The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines a sacrament as "an outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace given unto us, ordained by Christ himself, as a means whereby we receive the same, and a pledge to assure us thereof." In short, a Sacrament is a sacred rite recognized as being of particular importance and significance to our faith.</span><br />
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<u><span style="color: black;">Video credits</span></u><br />
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<span style="color: black;">Producer/Director: Derek Natzke<br />Animation: Derek Natzke<br />Graphics: Derek Natzke<br />Music: mobygratis</span><br />
<br />A.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00072938778222309228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011856207808021892.post-85440067115948064032012-08-26T07:46:00.001-07:002012-08-28T05:11:42.920-07:00Leaving the Faith<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Ca3kv3Zic48?feature=player_embedded" width="640"></iframe>
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<span style="color: black;">This homily, from a favorite priest of mine, brings tears to my eyes. Because of my immense love for Christ and His church, I feel deep sadness in my heart for people who have left the Church; for all who really don't know the faith and the beauty of its Truth; for all who don't "agree" with Church teachings because they don't really know what it teaches or why, or because they've succumbed to secular worldviews (what the world and our culture says is right for us); for those who don't know or believe in the true presence of Christ in the Eucharist; for those who haven't been taught the faith (or not taught correctly), or who don't have good role models showing them how to LIVE the faith; and for all whom are Catholic by culture or birth only and they just "go through the motions". </span><br />
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<span style="color: black;">If one's heart isn't truly in the faith, whether or not you attend Mass regularly, and you proclaim to be a Catholic Christian but yet don't truly live the faith and/or just go through the motions, then you've already left the Church. I'm not judging anyone. I'm purely stating the unfortunate reality of where so many people are in their lives right now. My heart aches for them, and I pray for them. </span><br />
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<span style="color: black;">God bless this priest for speaking what God needs the world to hear. God's peace and love be with you, today and always.</span><br />
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<br />A.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00072938778222309228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011856207808021892.post-62390385099100737422012-08-07T20:29:00.002-07:002012-08-07T20:45:49.312-07:00Don't Let Satan Steal Your Wind<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bpEJTBoeYig/UCHBZwobX8I/AAAAAAAAAIM/YnKPqfZN6gA/s1600/wind.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="198" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bpEJTBoeYig/UCHBZwobX8I/AAAAAAAAAIM/YnKPqfZN6gA/s200/wind.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="color: black;">The evil one will try to steal your wind. Don't let him! </span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">When you're trying to do good - especially in God's name, or you're changing your life for God, or trying to live a Holy life, Satan will work in sneaky ways to steal your motivation, steal your energy, steal your hope. He'll even use people in your life that he knows mean the world to you, to mess with your head and make you doubt what God's word is, His love, and His plans.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black;">I've experienced this many times, as I know most people have. As I mature in life and my faith formation, I can see things more clearly now, and I can recognize when this is happening. </span><br />
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<span style="color: black;">It's so easy to let people we love who don't have faith in God, influence us because we love them so much and they're very dear to us. You can even know that those people love you very much, but if they don't speak and live God's word, then be careful of their influence over you. This is hard and can be painful. With prayer, strong faith and trust in God, much reflection of His word and teachings, know that it's truly God who has your VERY BEST interests at hand. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart" Proverbs 3:5</span><br />
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<span style="color: black;">At the same time, don't let it destroy a loving, important relationship in your life either. The devil will try to put anger, pain, doubt, spite and pride between you and people you love who may not have the same faith in God... don't let that happen either! Satan works from all angles. Keep your prayer life consistent, surround yourself in God's word, and with Holy people - that includes going to church weekly - so you stay strong in your faith and can recognize attacks on your faith.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black;">The evil one will try to distract you, and deceive you, and he knows what buttons work with you, and even knows what people to use to make that happen. Don't let the wind from your sail be taken from you. Sail on for the Lord, and keep praying for love in our hearts always, and for those who don't know Him. </span><br />
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<span style="color: black;">May God protect us all.</span><br />
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A.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00072938778222309228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011856207808021892.post-86305537907453823392012-07-16T06:52:00.003-07:002012-07-21T19:02:16.609-07:00May You Hear "Well Done" My Friends<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/n-p8T7InfHw?feature=player_detailpage" width="640"></iframe><br />
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<span style="color: black;">This song makes me want to sing and dance! :) It exudes what's in my heart and soul, and is why I feel I have to use this medium to share what's in my heart. I hope you enjoy it too... turn up the volume and let your spirit dance! I pray for everyone who visits this blog. May you hear "Well done" my friends! :)</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">Song by Moriah Peters</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">from the album, <em>I Choose Jesus</em></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">Lyrics:</span></div>
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<em><span class="clearBoth" id="ctl00_ctl00_cphMain_cphMiddleColumn_DropZone1_columnDisplay_ctl00_controlcolumn_ctl00_WidgetHost_WidgetHost_widget_lblLyrics" style="display: inline-block; width: 100%;"><span style="color: black;">I'm headed down this narrow road<br />Chosen by the few<br />And all that I know is<br />You told me to follow You<br /><br />I'm taking a risk and leaving it all<br />Not knowing what I'll go through<br />But I'm not alone<br />As long as I follow You<br /><br />So when my life's a leap of faith<br />I can hear You say<br /><br />Well done, well done<br />I'm gonna chase You, Lord<br />I'm gonna show the world Your love, woah<br />I'll run, I'll run<br />I'm gonna run this race<br />To hear You say well done<br /><br />If people walk with me, talk with me, looking for truth<br />They're gonna find out soon<br />If they're following me then<br />They're gonna follow You<br /><br />So let my life speak loud and clear<br />Lord, I wanna hear<br /><br />I'm so glad that I get to serve You, Lord<br />You're the only One I am living for, woah<br />I'm gonna run straight into Your open arms<br />I'm gonna follow You with all my heart, woah, woah</span></span></em></div>A.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00072938778222309228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011856207808021892.post-80215475005681398952012-07-07T20:12:00.001-07:002012-07-07T20:42:58.055-07:00"Fifty Shades" of Concern<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: black;">I'm probably going to lose more friends over writing this. I mean, who wants a friend who is a "prude" and "no fun", right? And as one friend's husband quoted to me once, "I'd rather laugh with the sinners than cry with the saints, sinners are much more fun..." (-Billy Joel) </span><br />
<span style="color: black;">Well, I'd like to quote what I read on a bumper sticker once, "Sin Kills. Friends Don't Let Friends Sin."</span><br />
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<span style="color: black;">One thing I'm passionate about is trying to educate people about the deterioration of our culture's views of sex and "love". I use to be so blind to it myself, until I started having my own children which opened my eyes to viewing things very differently. I'm sad that I, myself, fell under pop-culture's spell as a young teen, and throughout my young adulthood, and I'm trying to help others, especially my own children, to not fall under the same spell.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black;">This is how it began... </span><br />
<span style="color: black;">In their defense, unbeknownst to them, my parents where clueless about how society and pop-culture (what I was reading, watching, listening to) was molding my values, my views, and my character. My parents didn't talk to me about what's appropriate and not-appropriate regarding so many topics, I think they just assumed I knew. Parents: Don't assume your kids know how you feel about things, you MUST TALK about it... they NEED to HEAR YOU. Instead, I was bought countless fashion & women's magazines, joined in with my parents watching shows like Dallas and Knots Landing, cable television, secular music, and daytime soap-operas. I was molded into thinking what a person wore was very important in attracting a boyfriend or spouse, I learned it was ok to have sex before marriage as long as I "loved that person", I learned that one should live with the person you think you want to marry BEFORE marriage to "see if it will work", and basically that our time on earth is for pure enjoyment of anything we want (within the law) as long as we're not hurting anyone. </span><br />
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<span style="color: black;">The molding began in my pre-teens, and then I acted upon those ideals starting in college, and lasting nearly a decade until I married my husband. I do take responsibility for my actions as well, because I probably should've known better from my early years of Sunday School (at about the age of 13-14, our mom stopped taking us to church because we didn't "like" it and we pleaded with her to stop taking us). It upsets me now that I wasn't guided better, but I don't blame my parents because I don't think they knew any better -they were pretty clueless- and a lot of it was because of their own subconscious pursuits of self-satisfaction and "happiness" (I believe because they both lacked some forms of good parenting and love in their own childhoods, combined with the lack of faith in God, and coming-of-age during the sexual revolution). This can go on and be passed down from generation to generation with people really being clueless to it... but the buck stops HERE with me! I can only attribute it to the grace of God that I came to figure these things out for myself, for it's definitely not from any authority figures, role models, or loved-ones in my life who are generally the ones we learn from and mold our lives from, and who have the most impact on us. Without a good foundation and good role models, children WILL search and learn from other sources all around them.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black;">In college, the guy I fell for (<u><em>to the outside world</em></u>) was a wonderfully sweet, very clean-cut, young-man; a boy-next-door, from a good family kind-of-guy. (He told me once that although we hung out with the same friends, he didn't actually notice me until I showed up at a party wearing a skin-tight, red sweater. Well, isn't that nice?! He didn't even notice me until then! And hearing him say that didn't even bother me! Pathetic! It's no wonder where our relationship sadly headed.)</span><br />
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<span style="color: black;">I allowed him to seduce me into a sex life that didn't represent what God intended for intercourse. (I'm so sorry to my husband and his family for all this. Although God is graciously merciful, the repercussions of my behaviors and choices will haunt me forever because there is no guarantee, until we meet our maker, what is in store for our souls.) One thing we participated in was fantasy brought about by a couple of very provocative books introduced to my boyfriend by some friends of ours who also "enjoyed" the books. Being introduced to the things I was participating in did nothing but skew my perception of love and intercourse, which lead to years of immoral and destructive choices regarding relationships and behaviors (and all while naively thinking I was "a good person", because heck, "I wasn't hurting anyone", and I loved and believed in God -so I thought!). I'm revealing all of this because it's leading up to me expressing my concern for those "enjoying" the <em>Fifty Shades of Grey</em> book series on the NY Times Best-Seller List. I'm revealing all this because I feel my experiences give me valid concern for my friends, Christian sisters, and any woman who reads these book.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black;">Now, I'm not one who believes we shouldn't read any fiction, just not this sexually-elicit type of fiction that is being coined as "mommy porn". My warning and concern is for how these fantasies can affect one's desires, one's views about sex and our spouses or the opposite sex, our body's (which I believe are temples for God), our relationships, our views on love, and actually, many other underlying psycho-social issues that are often subconscious in people (and as parents, can then unknowingly be passed on as views our children accept and live by also. And not to mention how anti-feminist I think these types of books and movies are - but that's a whole other topic!). These things can damage a person's soul... something that, as a Christian, I believe can live on for eternity in <u>true</u> happiness with our Creator if we live according to <u>His</u> plan for us as humans. And most importantly, for my Christian friends, this type of literature, and movies like the recently released "Magic Mike", fall under breaking the Commandment of "Thou Shall Not Commit Adultery". In the Catholic faith, it's taught that if any spouse looks or thinks lustfully of any other person other than their own spouse, then that is a form of adultery. Matthew 5:28, "But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed
adultery with her in his heart." The same is true for women with their husbands. Oh, and by the way, masturbation is a sin too. I'm not going to win any "Friend of the Year" award here because I'm talking about all this, but I really don't care because it's about saving souls.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black;">I found this terrific article (and I'll be posting more as I find them) that I feel needs shared about the topic of the <em>Fifty Shades </em>books. I posted the text here as oppose to just giving a link. I don't want to link directly to the site it's from because of some of the garbage on the site. It's from buzzfeed.com.</span> <br />
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<span style="color: blue;"><strong>The Christian Backlash Against "50 Shades Of Grey"</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><strong>by Anna North, <span class="author_title"> BuzzFeed Staff</span></strong></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;">"I wouldn’t drive my Envoy into the front of an oncoming semi-truck any more than I would open the pages of <i>Fifty Shades of Grey</i>," writes Christian author Dannah Gresh. She's urging her readers to avoid E.L. James's bestselling erotic novel, and she's not alone. While secular critics have focused on the book's questionable literary merit (or what it says about women's fantasies), in recent weeks there's been something of a movement among female Christian bloggers who say the book is sinful, twisted, and even dangerous.</span><br />
<span style="color: blue;">Gresh says reading the novel is a form of adultery: "anything other than my husband creating arousal in me would be missing the mark of God’s intention." She also argues that over time, reading <i>50 Shades</i> and books like it will render women unable to enjoy sex with their husbands, because "erotica robs you of real sex." </span><br />
<span style="color: blue;">This is much the same argument many have used against Internet pornography — and indeed, Crystal Renaud, who founded Dirty Girls Ministries and has made something of a name for herself advocating that Christian women stay away from porn, has also spoken out against <i>50 Shades</i>. She told BuzzFeed Shift she believes Christian and non-Christian women seek out the book for the same reason: they want "the passion that exudes from the pages to happen in their real lives, especially if their emotional needs and even sexual needs are not being met in their real life relationships." But she says women should turn to God instead: "without a genuine relationship with Christ, it's our belief that women will continue to seek satisfaction for their emotional needs in places that just won't ever fully satisfy."</span><br />
<span style="color: blue;">But its similarities to more conventional porn aren't the only complaint against the book — there's also the BDSM element. Christian blogger and professor Mary Kassian writes that "the relationship between a man and wife is to mirror Christ’s relationship to His Bride" and "Christ is not into domination, control, abuse, and humiliation." She also objects to heroine Anastasia Steele's submissive role: "the Lord doesn’t want His daughters to be wilting, weak-willed, wimpy women who welcome and enjoy abuse."</span><br />
<span style="color: blue;">Julia Stronks, a professor of political science at Whitworth University who has written about <i>Fifty Shades of Grey</i>, says the backlash is no surprise: writers who have criticized the book tend to come from "denominations that believe that faith impacts all of life," and when anything becomes as popular as <i>Fifty Shades</i>, members of these denominations tend to examine what it might have to do with their religion. She likens the book not just to porn but to romance novels, which she says normalize relationships in which "women resist and men overcome" and thus can contribute to sexual violence.</span><br />
<span style="color: blue;">Not everyone agrees that Christian women must avoid <i>Fifty Shades</i>. Christian blogger Jonalyn Fincher says what really matters is <i>why</i> they read it — if they're doing so to escape their marriages, that may be "unhealthy." But she also believes the book can help women think about important issues, like sexual abuse. She adds that she read the book as a "cultural exploration" into something that's extremely popular, which she says is also a valid reason: "it's like walking in the shoes of your neighbor."</span><br />
<span style="color: blue;">Kassian might take a dim view of such exploration — she writes, "'curiosity' has led to the downfall of multitudes who have been trapped in the destructive, downward vortex of sexual sin." Numerous commenters on her post agree and pledge to spread her anti-<i>Shades</i> message. Says one, "my heart breaks that young women can get so engrossed in such horrible entertainment. I will certainly forward this on to many many others."</span><br />
<span style="color: blue;">Some Christian women, though, don't need special prodding to avoid <i>Fifty Shades</i>. Writes one of Gresh's readers, "A few years ago, God asked me to give up all fiction reading. To this day I have had no regrets."</span><br />
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<span style="color: black;">Lord, fill us with what we're missing in our hearts, minds, and souls. Rid us of the voids which lead us to temptations that provoke things other than your will for us. Amen.</span><br />
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<br />A.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00072938778222309228noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011856207808021892.post-64268309832779851862012-06-10T19:49:00.002-07:002012-06-10T19:57:25.027-07:00Feast Day of Corpus Christi<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: black;">Today is the Feast Day of Corpus Christi. Many reading this may not know what a "Feast Day" is as celebrated and recognized by the Catholic Church, so I'll share with you here from New Advent's Catholic Encyclopedia.</span> </div>
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<em><span style="color: black;">Feast Days, or Holy Days, are days which are celebrated in commemoration of the sacred mysteries and events recorded in the history of our redemption, in memory of the Virgin Mother of Christ, or of His apostles, martyrs, and saints, by special services and rest from work. A feast not only commemorates an event or person, but also serves to excite the spiritual life by reminding us of the event it commemorates. At certain hours Jesus Christ invites us to His vineyard (Matthew 20:1-15); He is born in our hearts at Christmas; on Good Friday we nail ourselves to the cross with Him; at Easter we rise from the tomb of sin; and at Pentecost we receive the gifts of the Holy Ghost. Every religion has its feasts, but none has such a rich and judiciously constructed system of festive seasons as the Catholic Church. The succession of these seasons form the ecclesiastical year.</span></em></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><em>The <b>Feast of Corpus Christi</b> (Latin for</em> Body of Christ</span><em><span style="color: black;">) is a Latin Rite liturgical</span> </em><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solemnity" title="Solemnity"><em><span style="color: purple;">solemnity</span></em></a><em> <span style="color: black;">celebrating the tradition and belief in the body and blood of Jesus Christ and His</span> </em><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Real_presence_of_Christ_in_the_Eucharist" title="Real presence of Christ in the Eucharist"><em><span style="color: purple;">Real Presence</span></em></a><em> <span style="color: black;">in the </span></em><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eucharist" title="Eucharist"><em><span style="color: purple;">Eucharist</span></em></a><em><span style="color: black;">. It emphasizes the joy of the institution of the Eucharist, which was observed on Holy Thursday in the somber atmosphere of the nearness of Good Friday. -Wikipedia</span></em></div>
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<span style="color: black;">Catholicism teaches that the Eucharist (in other Christian denominations it's known as "Communion"), is not merely a symbol of Christ and the promise of salvation to do "in remembrance" of Him, but all that and MORE! We believe from scripture that it's TRULY Christ's flesh and blood.</span> </div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span class="crossverse">Matthew 26:26</span>
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<em><span style="color: black;">While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it
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<span style="color: black;">John 6: 49-58 </span></div>
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<em><span style="color: black;">I am the bread of life. <sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-26306BB" title="See cross-reference BB">BB</a>)"></sup> <span class="text John-6-49" id="en-NIV-26307"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">49 </sup>Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, yet they died. <sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-26307BC" title="See cross-reference BC">BC</a>)"></sup> </span></span> <span class="text John-6-50" id="en-NIV-26308"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">50 </sup>But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, <sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-26308BD" title="See cross-reference BD">BD</a>)"></sup> which anyone may eat and not die.</span></span> <span class="text John-6-51" id="en-NIV-26309"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">51 </sup>I am the living bread <sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-26309BE" title="See cross-reference BE">BE</a>)"></sup> that came down from heaven. <sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-26309BF" title="See cross-reference BF">BF</a>)"></sup> Whoever eats this bread will live forever. <strong>This bread is my flesh</strong>, which I will give for the life of the world.” <sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-26309BG" title="See cross-reference BG">BG</a>)"></sup> </span></span> </span></em></div>
<span class="text John-6-52" id="en-NIV-26310"><em><span style="color: black;"><sup class="versenum">52 </sup>Then the Jews <sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-26310BH" title="See cross-reference BH">BH</a>)"></sup> began to argue sharply among themselves, <sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-26310BI" title="See cross-reference BI">BI</a>)"></sup>“How can this man give us his flesh to eat?”</span></em></span><br />
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<em><span style="color: black;"><span class="text John-6-53" id="en-NIV-26311"><sup class="versenum">53 </sup>Jesus said to them, <span class="woj">“Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh <sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-26311BJ" title="See cross-reference BJ">BJ</a>)"></sup> of the Son of Man <sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-26311BK" title="See cross-reference BK">BK</a>)"></sup> and drink his blood, <sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-26311BL" title="See cross-reference BL">BL</a>)"></sup> you have no life in you.</span></span> <span class="text John-6-54" id="en-NIV-26312"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">54 </sup>Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day. <sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-26312BM" title="See cross-reference BM">BM</a>)"></sup> </span></span> <span class="text John-6-55" id="en-NIV-26313"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">55 </sup>For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink.</span></span> <span class="text John-6-56" id="en-NIV-26314"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">56 </sup>Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them. <sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-26314BN" title="See cross-reference BN">BN</a>)"></sup> </span></span> <span class="text John-6-57" id="en-NIV-26315"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">57 </sup>Just as the living Father sent me <sup class="crossreference" value="(<a href="#cen-NIV-26315BO" title="See cross-reference BO">BO</a>)"></sup> and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me.</span></span> <span class="text John-6-58" id="en-NIV-26316"><span class="woj"><sup class="versenum">58 </sup>This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your ancestors ate manna and died, but whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.” </span></span></span></em><br />
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<span class="text John-6-58"><span class="woj"><span style="color: black;">The Eucharist, a.k.a Communion, is THE MOST sacred, central and important aspect and principle of the Catholic faith because it joins us with Christ here on earth, and helps us to eternal life.</span></span></span><br />
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<span class="text John-6-58"><span class="woj"><span style="color: black;">Now, I know this can be complicated because the bread and wine we eat and drink at Mass is not physically flesh and blood. In its molecular form it's unleavened bread and wine, but a priest has been given the power by God to change the substance of the bread and wine. The change of the substance of the bread and wine into the body and
blood of Christ is called </span><a href="http://carm.org/transubstantiation" target="_blank"><span style="color: purple;">Transubstantiation</span></a>. </span></span><br />
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<span class="text John-6-58"><span class="woj"><span style="color: black;">The following is from The Baltimore Catechism.</span></span></span><br />
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<em><span style="color: black;">This change of bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ continues to
be made in the Church by Jesus Christ, through the ministry of His priests. </span></em><br />
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<em><span style="color: black;">(a) Only ordained priests have the power of changing bread and wine into the
body and blood of Christ. When they consecrate, they act in the person of
Christ, through the power received in the sacrament of Holy Orders.</span></em><br />
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</span></em><br />
<b><em><span style="color: black;">354. When did Christ give His priests the power to change bread and wine
into His body and blood? </span></em></b><br />
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</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: black;">Christ gave His priests the power to change bread and wine into His body and
blood when He made the apostles priests at the Last Supper by saying to them:
"Do this in remembrance of Me." </span></em><br />
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</span></em><br />
<b><em><span style="color: black;">355. How do priests exercise their power to change bread and wine into the
body and blood of Christ? </span></em></b><br />
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</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: black;">Priests exercise their power to change bread and wine into the body and blood
of Christ by repeating at the Consecration of the Mass the words of Christ:
"This is My body . . . this is the Cup of My blood." </span></em><br />
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</span></em><br />
<b><em><span style="color: black;">356. Why does Christ give us His own body and blood in the Holy Eucharist?
</span></em></b><br />
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</span></em><br />
<em><span style="color: black;">Christ gives us His own body and blood in the Holy Eucharist: first, to be
offered as a sacrifice commemorating and renewing for all time the sacrifice of
the cross; second, to be received by the faithful in Holy Communion; third, to
remain ever on our altars as the proof of His love for us, and to be worshipped
by us.</span> </em><br />
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<span style="color: black;">Taken from The Baltimore Catechism, Lesson 26<br />Full text available, </span><a href="http://www.ewtn.com/library/CATECHSM/BALTEUCH.HTM"><span style="color: black;"><strong>click here</strong>.</span></a><span style="color: black;"> </span><br />
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<span style="color: black;">I plan to write more about the Eucharist, as it's hard to explain it all in one brief post. I'd like to now share part of a conversation I had recently with a dear lady who has left the Catholic Church for Protestantism. She was telling me all about her wonderful bible study programs through her current church and how much she's learned and grown in her faith and relationship with Christ because of them. She mentioned that she didn't get any of that when she was Catholic. I agreed that with the shortage of priests it's hard to find organized, authentic bible studies at every parish, but we're still asked to seek on our own and try to study and learn God's Word (which can be challenging, I know, but it is possible.). Matthew 7:7 <em>"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door
will be opened to you." </em></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">I went on to explain that we can't expect to grow if we're only spoon-fed. In fact, I've found new incite and TRUTHS by delving deep and seeking on my own (along with going to Mass) and truly trying to learn the faith, than just by listening to someone talk about their supposed interpretations of things. I'm closer to God now than I've ever been and it's so invigorating! I shared with her that I've had peaks and valleys in my Catholic faith journey (just as any seeking Christian has) but that the ONE THING that <u>always</u> keeps me coming back for more, and sticking with it, is the Eucharist. There's NO OTHER way to get closer to Christ here on earth than through the Eucharist. She contemplated it for a brief moment and then agreed. </span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">I'm happy that this dear lady has found a way to grow closer to Christ and I pray she'll continue to learn and grow. I pray that perhaps in her studies she'll find her way back to the Church and the Sacraments... for the Catholic Church IS present in the scriptures, and is the Church that Jesus himself began (a topic for a future post). </span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">Blessing to you this Feast of Corpus Christi. May you find total fulfillment in Him!</span></div>
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</div>A.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00072938778222309228noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4011856207808021892.post-28934625154335747942012-06-10T16:35:00.000-07:002012-06-10T16:37:12.349-07:00Tantum Ergo Sacramentum<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/ADtCymPUlv4" width="560"></iframe>
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<span style="color: black;">This is so beautiful! Just a minute long, I hope you'll listen and recite along with it... an indulgence is granted.</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">Blessed Feast of Corpus Christi!</span><br />
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<span style="color: black;"><em>Tantum Ergo is the last two stanzas from the Eucharistic Hymn (Pange Lingua) composed by St. Thomas Aquinas and is used at Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. The response and the prayer at the end is a later addition used at Benediction. A partial indulgence is granted to the faithful who recite it and a plenary indulgence is granted to those who recite it on Holy Thursday or Corpus Christi.</em> </span><span style="color: #444444;"><em>-by uCatholic.com</em></span><br />
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<strong><span style="color: black;">TANTUM ERGO SACRAMENTUM</span></strong></div>
<span style="color: black;">TANTUM ergo Sacramentum</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">Veneremur cernui:</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">Et antiquum documentum</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">Novo cedat ritui:</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">Praestet fides supplementum</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">Sensuum defectui.</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">Genitori, Genitoque</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">Laus et iubilatio,</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">Salus, honor, virtus quoque</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">Sit et benedictio:</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">Procedenti ab utroque</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">Compar sit laudatio.</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">Amen.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black;">DOWN IN ADORATION FALLING</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">DOWN in adoration falling,</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">Lo! the sacred Host we hail,</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">Lo! oe’r ancient forms departing</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">Newer rites of grace prevail;</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">Faith for all defects supplying,</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">Where the feeble senses fail.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">To the everlasting Father,</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">And the Son Who reigns on high</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">With the Holy Spirit proceeding</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">Forth from each eternally,</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">Be salvation, honor blessing,</span><br />
<span style="color: black;">Might and endless majesty.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">Amen.</span></div>A.http://www.blogger.com/profile/00072938778222309228noreply@blogger.com0