Brave Talk From A Brave Priest

"Three Wise Men" Regarding “Bishops Struggle as Flock Balks at Voting Guidance” (Nov. 16):

Did Catholic voters ignore their bishops this election season? Clearly, most did. But that’s only part of the picture.Although the Roman Catholic vote went for the anti-life presidential candidate nationally (54% to 45%), two battleground states bucked the national trend: MO (45 - 55%) and PA (48 - 52% ) The difference? These states boasted the most outspoken pro-life bishops in the country: Bishops Robert Hermann and Robert Finn in MO and Joseph F. Martino in Pa. These 3 men were among the few bishops nationally who clearly, unwaveringly and repeatedly instructed Catholics to not vote for anti-life candidates. Their words clearly had an effect. If all the Catholic bishops in the US had shown the courage of Bishops Hermann, Finn and Martino, the Catholic vote would have swung pro-life and with it, perhaps the nation.

Rev. Noah Waldmann | St. Charles, MO

40 Days for Life - St. Louis

With 40 Days for Life - You can make a difference!

My friends in St. Louis sent me this urgent message in order to make a difference with our fight for life.

My dear friends:

I am excited to let you know of an incredible pro-life movement that I have become involved with called "40 Days for Life". This amazing effort involves prayer, fasting and peaceful vigils outside Planned Parenthood’s Forest Park location.

This campaign is scheduled to start February 25th, 2009, Ash Wednesday, and run through April 5th. Even though the spring campaign isn't scheduled to start until February there is much work to be done.

At this time community awareness is our greatest need, we simply must get the word out to as many people as possible and as quickly as possible. Please pass this on to all who may be interested of hearing of this very important effort.

For further information, a website has been set up at http://40daysforlifestlouis.blogspot.com/ To be kept informed of our progress simply enter your email address at the site and you will receive weekly updates.

This is a nation wide campaign that has delivered remarkable success across the country. You can visit the national website at www.40daysforlife.com where you will see the tremendous and powerful impact felt during the fall campaign, which just ended on November 2nd.



If after prayerful consideration, you feel God has placed a special calling on your heart for this effort and you wish to be part of the planning process, campaign participation or as a financial contributor, please contact me at momadam@swbell.net or Dianne.40daysforlifestl@live.com.

More than ever we need to stand united and declare an end to abortion.

God’s peace,
Dianne Adam

You formed my inmost being; you knit me in my mother's womb. Psalm 139: 13

What Makes Us His Sheep?

My Dear People,

Feast Of Christ The King

The Feast of Christ the King concludes our liturgical season every year. "When the son of Man comes in all of His Glory, and the Angels with Him, He will sit upon His glorious throne with all the nations before Him." What a great and awesome day we look forward to when Jesus reigns over all the Earth. To the faithful ones He will say, "Come, you who are blessed by my Father!" Who would not want to hear these words from the mouth of Our Good Shepherd? But what makes us His Sheep? Doing the works of the Father is what makes us His own little ones. Feed the hungry. Clothe the naked. Comfort the sick. Correct the lost. Pray for the dead. Both the spiritual and corporal works of Mercy are what marks us as the Father's children.

St. James tells us what good is our faith without good works. At the beginning of Advent, make a resolution to perform works of Mercy, so that the Father may be glorified through you. At Thanksgiving, bring canned goods for the hungry. At Christmas, take a St. Vincent de Paul ornament and reach out to the needy in our area. Use your SVDP envelopes often throughout the year. Bring socks for the homeless. Pray for the lost in our nation. Be gentle with your neighbor. These activities mark us as God's little ones. Let your faith shine...

May we see Christ in one another and in all those who need our love and care.

Entrusting you to the care of Our Lady,

Fr. Mark

Going the Distance for Life!

Well worth the two minutes.

JMJ

Then Comes the Time of Great Peace

My Dear People,

Great Peace Before The Coming of Our Lord?

What are the "end of days" in Sacred Scripture? Many of the readings on the final few Sundays of the year address the issue of the end of time. this is not the same as the end of the world. Jesus says that in "those days" many will abandon the practice of their faith. Great divisions will arise in the Church. Public figures will announce that "they" are the Messiah. There will be wars and rumors of wars, but it is not the end. Like a woman in labor, ready to give birth, the world will undergo great stress. Sudden and swift disaster will overtake them. They will not escape.

But the time will be cut short for the sake of the "remnant faithful". St. John says that satan will be bound in chains, and placed in the lowest part of Hell. Then comes the time of Great Peace. All of this must take place first before the very end, according to Our Lord. Only the Father in Heaven knows the day and hour. So be "sober and alert". May the Master find you ready when He returns. We are not of night or the darkness, but we are children of the light. Pray to be ready and prepared for the coming of that day. May we use our talents wisely, always striving hear Our Lord whisper to us "Well done, My Good and Faithful Servant. Come, Share your Master's Joy."

Entrusting you to the care of Our Lady,

Fr. Mark

A Brown Scapular Miracle

Why Wear The Brown Scapular?

Because our Lady keeps her promises. Take a minute to read this story and share with a friend. If you do not wear the scapular, please prayerfully consider it.

A Brown Scapular Miracle

Monsieur de Cuge, cornet of a company
of horse, was wounded at Tefin, in the
year 1636, by a cannon ball, which, passing
through his left side, had torn his heart to
pieces, so that naturally he could not live
a moment. Nevertheless, Almighty God, by
the intercession of the glorious Virgin, gave
him time to repent, for he was in mortal sin
(as he afterwards declared), and prolonged
his life for three or four hours, during which
time he made his confession, and with his
own hands wrote his last will and testament;
which being done, the surgeon came to search
his wounds, and found that the bullet had
driven the Scapular into his heart. On its
being drawn out, he presently expired, making
many acts of profound gratitude towards the
blessed Virgin, who prolonged his life in a
miraculous manner, and preserved him from
eternal death in hell.

Promises/Benefits to those who wear the Brown Scapular
1. Conversion of those who do not have the faith
2. Reconciliation to the Church for those who have lost/strayed from the faith
3. Assurance of a happy death
4. Strengthening of the faith for those already in the Church
5. Protection from Satan for those who wear or promote the scapular

For I Was Once Foolish?

Below is a good daily reading, especially for Catholics. I would say it is a good theme for this blog, since I still battle with the second paragraph. "For I Were Once Foolish." I would have to change the were to am.

Fr. Z follows Ti 3:1 very well. He especially does a charitable job with his fraternal correction of Fr. McBrien, a theology priest for Notre Dame.



Ti 3:1-7

Beloved:
Remind them to be under the control of magistrates and authorities,
to be obedient, to be open to every good enterprise.
They are to slander no one, to be peaceable, considerate,
exercising all graciousness toward everyone.

For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, deluded,
slaves to various desires and pleasures,
living in malice and envy,
hateful ourselves and hating one another.
(Blogger Note: Still working on these issues.)

But when the kindness and generous love
of God our savior appeared,
not because of any righteous deeds we had done
but because of his mercy,
he saved us through the bath of rebirth
and renewal by the Holy Spirit,
whom he richly poured out on us
through Jesus Christ our savior,
so that we might be justified by his grace
and become heirs in hope of eternal life.


Related Post:
Here is a really good article on the "The Gift of Obedience, A Gift Or A Curse" in the bible.

Justice Begins Where Mercy Ends

November 9, 2008

My Dear People,

When a Nation Murders Innocent Children

"Zeal for your House consumes Me." This is Jesus's statement after overturning the money changer's tables in the Temple. We all believe God to be a God of Divine Mercy. It is true. We don't want to believe that He is also a God of Divine Justice. Mercy and Justice go hand in hand. Justice begins where Mercy ends. In the Old Testament, God was often Merciful and Compassionate with His people. However, after allowing for a period of conversion, when not seized, He allowed the consequences of sin to reign. What Mercy did not consume, Justice did.

We are all responsible for our actions; both individually and corporately. When a nation murders innocent children in the womb, as a matter of national policy; when every form of the deadly sins runs rampant, and when God's Law is ignored and forgotten; it is then that Mercy turns to Justice. Read the Sacred Scriptures. Come to know the Lord as He is revealed to us in the Holy Bible. Pray for the conversion of all sinners. Know that the Just hand of God is near. Continue to convert your hearts and minds to Him. Repent and believe in the Good News. Jesus has taken all of our sins upon His Holy Cross. By His holy wounds we have been healed.

May we come to know the Lord of the Scriptures, in our minds and hearts.

Entrusting you to the care of Our Lady,

Fr. Mark

Overcoming The Capital Sins - Humble Prayers

As a follow-up to his Overcoming the Capital Sins; Joe Fromm, Good Jesuit, Bad Jesuit & A Catholic Man, came up with these efficacious prayers. Excellent work! It so good I wonder if his first prayer is "borrowed" from some writing of the saints?

Contemplating the joys of virtue and the evils of the capital sins are a most for those serious about going deeper into the spiritual life. Take a fewminutes to prayerfully read both post.

Colloquy on the Seven Deadly Sins and Their Contrary Virtues

Dear Lord,

how many inequities are mine? Dear Lord, how will I know my offences? Unless, you give me the grace to see.

Dear Lord,

my pride has never been acceptable to you, neither has my strength or my desire for multitudes. But my prayers of humility and meekness are your oil, in the lamp of my soul, which you Lord, light, so that I may not live in darkness. God of heaven, God of the sea and Lord of all creation, I presume your mercy, as you presume my contrition, meekness and humility.

Dear Lord,

my greed propped up with my vanity only produces riches that bear no fruit. Lord, teach me your ways and lead me to your orchard’s path. So that the fruits I pick are of Your harvest and what I do not need, let me cheerfully give to another.

Dear Lord,

you created me in your perfect image and likeness, but by the envy of darkness, death came into the world. If I choose to follow that darkness I shall truly perish. Lord, send forth Your light and Your truth will lead me to the holy hill and there I await the light in your tabernacle. Lord You so loved the world that you sent Your only begotten Light. If I believe and follow your Light, I shall truly have everlasting life.

Dear Lord,

my anger is a sign of the bitterness, indignation, clamor and blasphemy. Lord let not the sun go down upon my malice, consider and hear me O Lord. Let the sun rise and enlighten my eyes, so that I will never sleep in death. At the birth of your Son was the moment of forgiveness of me. With your gift of true liberty, my mercifulness, forgiveness and kindness are the birth of emboldened liberty for my enemies.

Dear Lord,

you created love, for your sake alone, not for lewdness or to sicken my flesh. Lord make your will known to me, for my soul seeks a path to you. Lord strengthen my heart with courage, resolve and with a brave nobility, that in purity I find your strength and blessing.

Dear Lord,

because I have and will hate your gifts, I will reach out my hand first, fill my mouth the fastest, and take another’s seat. Lord as You stand before me and ask me what I find truly nourishing. Give me the grace to respond, “That I see thee.” Lord your gifts I shall find in the open meadows with green herbs in abundance and the harvest I shall gather in your mountains. I shall reap only what I need for my house and show others direction to your bounty.

Dear Lord,

my fields and vineyards are filled with prickly nettles and my fence has fallen. Lord, have mercy on me and show me the light of your salvation, so that I may tend your fields and vineyards and when my energy has been spent, give me a place to rest where I can fold my hands. When I arise I shall with a strengthened heart, repair your fallen fence.

Dear Lord,

with your gift of my true liberty, I shall desire by your grace to conquer vice with overwhelming virtue. May your hand touch all things I touch. Dear Lord with your gift of my will, I shall desire by grace the perseverance to conquer my desire to do evil and my repugnance for good, with your grace to conquer vice with overwhelming desire to love as you love and as I love your more, I may be loved less. Dear Lord with your gift of remembrance, I shall desire life long lessons that shall strengthen my resolve to seek virtue with overwhelming humility and meekness. By your grace You allow me to forget my transgressions so that I will retain my nobility to serve you bravely.

Amen

JMJ

Joe Fromm, Good Jesuit, Bad Jesuit & A Catholic Man

Premio Dardos Award

Thank you Easter A. & Marie for nominating me for this reward for faithful blogging. I also need to thank Therese for nominating me for a friendship reward. I am much humbled by their generosity. Baby time restraints keep me from finding 15 other bloggers, but I still nominated all the blogs I follow.


JMJ

Prophetic Pro-life Message Giving Us Hope & A Warning

Today's First Reading Gives Pro-lifers a Prophetic Message of Hope and Advice on How To Handle the Election Results.

Phil 2:12-18
My beloved, obedient as you have always been,
not only when I am present but all the more now when I am absent,
work out your salvation with fear and trembling.
For God is the one who, for his good purpose,
works in you both to desire and to work.
Do everything without grumbling or questioning,
that you may be blameless and innocent,
children of God without blemish
in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation,
among whom you shine like lights in the world,
as you hold on to the word of life,
so that my boast for the day of Christ may be
that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.
But, even if I am poured out as a libation
upon the sacrificial service of your faith,
I rejoice and share my joy with all of you.
In the same way you also should rejoice and share your joy with me.

Here is what you can take from today's reading:

Without grumbling or questioning, continue working out your salvation with fear and trembling. While holding on to the Word of Life, remain blameless and innocent shining His light to the world remembering to rejoice and share your joy with your fellow man.

Scripture Gives Obama Prophetic Prediction and Warning

Luke 14: 27 - 30
Whoever does not carry his own cross and
come after me cannot be my disciple.
Which of you wishing to construct a tower
does not first sit down and calculate the cost
to see if there is enough for its completion?
Otherwise, after laying the foundation
and finding himself unable to finish the work
the onlookers should laugh at him and say,
‘This one began to build but did not have the
resources to finish.’

November 5th Readings

Perfect Election Prayer Warriors

Our Heavenly Father is asking us to call upon the fifty million plus babies that have been aborted since Roe vs. Wade. He wants us to ask them to intercede to Jesus for us for a Pro-Life President and President. What better "prayer warriors" could we on our side? Please spread this e-mail far and wide to family and friends throughout the United States and the entire world....for us to ask these children of God to help us in this election. We need to storm heaven.

In Jesus and His Mother's love,
Sharon and Al

Pray For Holy Confusion For Those Voting

Praying For Holy Confusion In The Voting Booth

So what does it mean?

It really simple, pray that the people who are voting for abortion candidates will get CONFUSED while voting and vote for the pro-life candidate instead.

It is Biblical!

In the Bible, God allowed people to be confused so that good could triumph. Examples of that can be found in Genesis 11, Exodus 23, Deuteronomy 7 and Judges 7 (confusion of the enemy).



Pass it on.

Benefits of Praying For Poor Souls In Purgatory

My Dear People,

Souls In Purgatory Return Favors

Why do we pray for those who have died? Ever since the beginning of the Church, it was believed that the dead needed prayers for their purification. Any unrepented sin on a soul at the moment of death, prevents a soul from entering into God's Eternal Light. There are no SHADOWS in Heaven. All darkness must be purged before coming into eternity with Our Lord. Souls in the state of being "purified", cannot pray for themselves. That is left up to the Church "militant" or in other words, all of us.

Each year on All Souls Day, we remember all who have died during the past year. The greatest prayer of the Church is Holy Mass. So please have masses said for your family members who have died. Offer your daily purification. When you and I arrive in Purgatory after we die, we will be most happy for all those we have prayed for while we were still alive. Then, they begin to pray for us. Poor souls never forget those who have prayed for them. In return they pray for all of us. Pray, Pray, Pray for poor souls.

May we always remember those who have died in our Masses and Prayers.

Entrusting you to the care of Our Lady,

Father Mark