One Truth, One Church

The Abused Commandment

2010-07-31T17:57:00.001-05:00

This program is from RealCatholicTV.com

Be A Proud Catholic!

2010-05-18T13:52:00.003-05:00

God's blessing's to all of you. Are you proud to call yourself Catholic? Do you step up with pride when asked what faith tradition you belong too? If not, you should. Being a Catholic means you have been given and have accepted all of what God has revealed through His Son, Jesus Christ. This certainly doesn't make any of us in the Church "better" than anyone else. What it does make you is more well armed with more weapons to use for God's glory against the evil one. Stand up for your faith! Stand up for the Catholic Church, the Body of Christ. When you stand up for mother Church, you stand for her bridegroom, Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Porn Is More Addictive Than Cocaine or Heroine!

2010-02-02T20:59:00.003-06:00

As I'm sure most of you know, one of the most destructive things in our new "enlightened" society is the widespread promulgation of pornography. I wanted to share this post from our friends at the Aggie Catholics Blog. Please check it out here and pray for all of those who are under the bondage of this horrible and often overlooked addiction. St. Augustine, Pray For Us!

Out of love, God made us. Out of justice, He corrects us. Out of mercy, He saves us.

2010-01-28T00:13:00.001-06:00

What sacrifices have you made to advance the Gospel?

2010-01-27T23:53:00.001-06:00

Time Machine

2009-08-11T08:44:00.000-05:00

Christ's sacrifice of Himself was presented in time on Calvary 2000 years ago. God makes that sacrifice of Christ present on every altar in every Catholic Church through time and space. We are made to be really and truly present at the foot of the cross as real and true as Christ is present in the Eucharist, Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity. Christ's death is not recreated at the Mass, it is re-presented (Made Present). We do not re-sacrifice Jesus, we enter into that sacrifice. We killed Him with our sins, so we must be sanctified and redeemed by His sacrifice of Himself for us. Nowhere in the world is this truly present but in the Catholic Mass! Period! You want a time machine? Go to Mass. It will take you back 2000 years to be present at your redemption. Christ calls you, but will you come?

Papa and the "President"

2009-07-12T08:48:00.005-05:00

Before reading my posting below check out this incredibly offensive "Newsweek" article at this link. Please read what I wrote below. If you had no problem with what was said in the article above then definitely read what I wrote below. Comments please!

America will get what it "wants" but more importantly we will get what WE DESERVE. That scares me! God the Father is merciful but He is a father. An infinitely loving father at that. When you see your children behaving badly you don't let them run amok and destroy themselves. (Sadly many parents do today). A loving father corrects the behavior and doles out the prudent punishment for said misdeeds. He does this out of love! Abortion, Embryonic Stem Cell Destructive "research", Gay "marriage". These are just the tip of the iceberg and yet these three things in and of themselves call for our destruction! Sodom and Gomorrah anyone? The bible is not a book of pretty words. It is the recipe for your NON-DESTRUCTION! I quote the great and holy Father John Corapi, "Wake Up America!" The blood of the slaughtered and innocent babies cries out to heaven for justice. God will give it to them and He will give it to us, OUT OF LOVE! One day soon God will reach down with His divine hand and shake the fence of indifference that so many of us are really comfortable sitting on. Not taking a stand on Abortion, Embryonic Stem Cell Research, Gay Marriage, or any other LIFE ISSUES! Yes, these are ALL LIFE ISSUES................ETERNAL-LIFE Issues! Don't get caught sitting on the fence! I'm not saying everyone is called to hit the streets in protest! Not yet anyway! As Christians you are called to pray! So do it! Pray the Rosary! Spend time before the Blessed Sacrament! Ask God For Mercy! Our punishment is coming. Nothing short of a miracle can change the hardened hearts of most Americans to the love of Christ. I know God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. I Believe in Miracles, but they won't come without hard work from us! Will you do it!

In Christ Jesus

Charity in Truth

2009-07-07T22:07:00.003-05:00

Pope Benedict XVI has released the third encyclical of his pontificate. The Apostolic Letter entitled "Charity in Truth" focuses on the current economic woes of the world. The Holy Father's letter can be read at this link.

As Catholics we are truly blessed to have the fullness of Christian faith. We are also blessed to have the papacy and the holy men who have been entrusted with the Holy See. Please take some time to read Pope Benedict's latest encyclical letter. These works from the Chair of Peter are truly gifts of the Holy Spirit as is Christ's beloved spouse, the Church.

You can also read Pope Benedict's other two encyclicals by following the links below.

God is Love (Deus Caritas Est)

Saved by Hope (Spe Salvi)

AMDG

(Photo courtesy of Getty Images)

Happy Father's Day Father!

2009-06-21T10:52:00.006-05:00

Happy Father's Day Father!

We send out our most heartfelt and faith-filled wishes of gratitude to our spiritual Fathers, Our Catholic Priests!

You offer us daily your spiritual Fatherhood and ask for nothing in return. You selflessly drop everything to bring us the Sacraments. You are there in our happiest moments and in our darkest times bringing the comfort of God to our hearts and souls. You bring us the mercy of God in Reconciliation, And most importantly you bring us Our Eucharistic Lord in the Sacrifice of the Mass!

Thank you for all you do, In Persona Christi!

Happy Father's Day. If you want to send this message to your Priests please follow the email link here or just copy and paste this link in an email.

God Bless and Happy Father's Day to everyone out there.

Deliver Us From Evil!

2009-06-19T23:48:00.002-05:00

“And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by men. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
“And in praying do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. Pray then like this:

Our Father who art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
And forgive us our debts,
As we also have forgiven our debtors;
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.”

Matthew 6: 5-13

Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil? God leading us into temptation? Bad translation? I used to say “Yes” but not so fast. We look back in St. Matthew’s Gospel and the events directly following Christ’s baptism in the Jordan.

“Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.”

Matthew 4:1

Who led Christ into the desert? The Holy Spirit led Him there. Led Him into Temptation. Jesus was put to the test to strengthen Him for His divine office that would require the sacrifice of His flesh. This was the salvation of sinners. To save the sheep who would hear their shepherd’s voice in the wilderness. As we walk the path of holiness on this earth we must prepare to walk in the footsteps of Christ. They may lead us to the sick, the needy, to death, and if God wills it, into temptation. God’s will may certainly lead us to the test of our fidelity and faith. This is done out of love. Our finite, fallen minds have a hard time understanding this. As Fr. Mitch Pacwa once noted, ‘God leads us to temptation like a General leading his troops into battle. Not to get them killed but to bring about victory.’ We are at war and are called to take up arms against the evil one. Christ knew this when He taught us how to pray. We may be allowed to undergo the test and it will be hard. We are weak and we must rely on the Grace of God the Father to overcome the tempter. This is the reason he also taught us to ask the Father to “deliver us from evil”. Embrace all the gifts of God’s love in whatever form they may take on. Be humble and call on the Lord to help us in our time of need. As we draw closer to God more will be asked of us, and more will be given to us in return. Pray that you may avoid temptation. Pray harder that at the hour the Father asks you to be like His only Son, that He will deliver you from the evil one and into His loving arms.

Carhart Likens Tiller to MLK!

2009-06-09T22:05:00.006-05:00

Let me start off with this statement before I go any further. The murder of Dr. Tiller in Kansas was just that, murder! It was a crime as reprehensible as the murders of the unborn that Dr. Tiller himself had performed for years! Period! For all his reprehensible acts over the years Dr. Tiller was a child of God. I pray for his soul and I ask that any of you, if you call yourselves Christians, to do the same.

That being said, here is the purpose of this post. Omaha area abortion "doctor" LeRoy Carhart has said something utterly offensive and reprehensible! He said the following about George Tiller following his murder, "This is the equivalent of Martin Luther King being assassinated," Dr. Carhart said of the May 31 slaying of one of America's best-known late-term abortion providers. "This is the equivalent of Pearl Harbor, the sinking of the Lusitania and any other major historic event where we've tolerated the intolerable for too long."

Wow! I am speechless! Click here to read the entire Washington Times article.

Ladies and Gentlemen of the Pro-Life movement, we are now "domestic terrorists" in the eyes of our foes and the Federal Government. Welcome to your martyrdom.

(Photo Courtesy of the Washington Times)

Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity

2009-06-06T20:51:00.004-05:00

As the Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity on June 7th I would like to share the following Litany to the Holy Trinity with you. Pray it. Meditate on it. We need the mercy of God, now more than ever. May the blessings of Almighty God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, be upon all of you and your families. This Litany is brought to us by our true friends at EWTN.com.

Litany to the Most Holy Trinity

V. Blessed be the holy Trinity and undivided Unity;
R. We will give glory to Him, because He hath shown His mercy to us.

V. O Lord our Lord, how wonderful is Thy Name in all the earth!
R. O the depth of the riches of the wisdom and of the knowledge of God!

Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy. Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy
Blessed Trinity, hear us. Adorable Unity, graciously hear us.

God the Father of Heaven, Have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, Have mercy on us.
God the Holy Ghost, Have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, One God, Have mercy on us.
Father from Whom are all things, Have mercy on us.
Son through Whom are all things, Have mercy on us.
Holy Ghost in Whom are all things, Have mercy on us.
Holy and undivided Trinity, Have mercy on us.
Father everlasting, Have mercy on us.
Only-begotten Son of the Father,
Spirit Who preceedeth from the Father and the Son, Have mercy on us.
Co-eternal Majesty of Three Divine Persons, Have mercy on us.
Father, the Creator, Have mercy on us.
Son, the Redeemer, Have mercy on us.
Holy Ghost, the Comforter, Have mercy on us.
Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of hosts, Have mercy on us.
Who art, Who was, and Who art to come, Have mercy on us.
God Most High, Who inhabits eternity, Have mercy on us.
To Whom alone are due all honor and glory, Have mercy on us.
Who alone doest great wonders, Have mercy on us.
Power infinite, Have mercy on us.
Wisdom, incomprehensible, Have mercy on us.
Love unspeakable, Have mercy on us.

Be merciful, Spare us, O Holy Trinity.
Be merciful, Graciously hear us, O Holy Trinity.

From all evil, Deliver us, O Holy Trinity.
From all sin, Deliver us, O Holy Trinity.
From all pride, Deliver us, O Holy Trinity.
From all love of riches, Deliver us, O Holy Trinity.
From all uncleanness, Deliver us, O Holy Trinity.
From all sloth, Deliver us, O Holy Trinity.
From all inordinate affection, Deliver us, O Holy Trinity.
From all envy and malice, Deliver us, O Holy Trinity.
From all anger and impatience, Deliver us, O Holy Trinity.
From every thought, word, and deed contrary to Thy holy law, Deliver us, O Holy Trinity.
From Thine everlasting malediction, Deliver us, O Holy Trinity.
Through Thy plenteous loving kindness, Deliver us, O Holy Trinity.
Through the exceeding treasure of Thy goodness and love, Deliver us, O Holy Trinity.
Through the depths of Thy wisdom and knowledge, Deliver us, O Holy Trinity.
Through all Thy unspeakable perfections, Deliver us, O Holy Trinity.

We sinners,
Beseech Thee, hear us.

That we may ever serve Thee alone, We beseech Thee, hear us.
That we may worship Thee in spirit and in truth, We beseech Thee, hear us.
That we may love Thee with all our heart, with all our soul, and with all our strength, We beseech Thee, hear us.
That, for Thy sake, we may love our neighbor as ourselves, We beseech Thee, hear us.
That we may faithfully keep Thy holy commandments, We beseech Thee, hear us.
That we may never defile our bodies and souls with sin, We beseech Thee, hear us.
That we may go from grace to grace, and from virtue to virtue, We beseech Thee, hear us.
That we may finally enjoy the sight of Thee in glory, We beseech Thee, hear us.
That Thou wouldst vouchsafe to hear us, We beseech Thee, hear us.

O Blessed Trinity, We beseech Thee, deliver us.
O Blessed Trinity, We beseech Thee, save us.
O Blessed Trinity, Have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy, Christ, have mercy,
Lord, have mercy.

Our Father (silently);
Hail Mary (silently).

V. Blessed art Thou, O Lord, in the firmament of Heaven,
R. And worthy to be praised, and glorious, and highly exalted forever.

Let Us Pray:
Almighty and everlasting God, Who hast granted Thy servants in the confession of the True Faith, to acknowledge the glory of an Eternal Trinity, and in the power of Thy majesty to adore a Unity: we beseech Thee that by the strength of this faith we may be defended from all adversity. Through Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen.

Welcome to Omaha Archbishop Lucas!!!

2009-06-05T16:30:00.002-05:00

I would like to publically welcome our new Apostle of Omaha, Archbishop George Lucas. May God shine upon you in your new position as our faithful leader in Omaha. I would also like to wish our outgoing Archbishop Eldon Curtis all the blessings of Almighty God in your retirement. Thank you for your faithful service to Omaha all these years.

Our friends at Whispers in Loggia have a wonderful article about Archbishop Lucas' appointment that I would like to share below.

Text below courtesy of Whispers in the Loggia

In the "Paris of the Pigbelt," "The Force" has arrived.

This morning, the Pope named Bishop George Lucas of Springfield as the fifth archbishop of Omaha. In the Nebraska church of 220,000, the archbishop-elect succeeds Elden Curtiss, the senior active Stateside prelate by age; a bishop since 1976 who's served in the Heartland since 1993, Curtiss turns 77 later this month.

Described all around as "sweet" and "a delight," the appointee -- 60 next week -- signals a B16 shot for the archdiocese's priestly recruitment efforts.

For the first time in its recent history, the 125 year-old Omaha church will ordain no new priests both this year and next after a series of large classes in the 1990s. Before his appointment to Illinois' capital in 1999, Lucas oversaw St Louis' Kenrick-Glennon Seminary, where his boss was then-Archbishop Justin Rigali, now "The Force" in his own right thanks to his membership on the Vatican's all-powerful Congregation for Bishops.

One of the handful of the bench to delve into podcasting, Lucas' installation date has been set for 22 July in Omaha's St Cecelia Cathedral, where the traditional Appointment Day press conference gets underway at 10am Central time.

Before that, though, he'll receive the archbishop's pallium at month's end from Pope Benedict in Rome alongside (as of this writing) three other Americans, including his hometown confrere, now Archbishop Tim Dolan of New York, and St Louis' incoming Archbishop Robert Carlson, who formally takes the reins in the "Rome of the West" a week from today.

With this morning's move, nine US dioceses are now led by an ordinary serving past 75; newly atop the pile is Fort Wayne-South Bend, where Bishop John D'Arcy sent his letter in August 2007. The newly-created Springfield vacancy leaves six Latin-rite sees without a head -- it's been 11 months since the longest-waiting among that group, Cheyenne, lost Bishop David Ricken to Green Bay.

(Photo Courtesy of the Archdiocese of Omaha)

Fr. Pavone to Lead Alternate ND Commencement

2009-05-11T22:19:00.004-05:00

While the news that Notre Dame will not yield on its disgraceful invitation of President Obama remains heartbreaking, some good news on the Pro-Life front was recently announced.

Fr. Frank Pavone, founder and head of Priests for Life, will be leading an alternate commencement ceremony at Notre Dame this weekend. Fr. Pavone will lead a group of seniors and their families in prayer at the grotto to Our Lady of Lourdes on campus. Fr. Pavone's service will be held at 2 p.m, the same time as President Obama will be speaking at the official University commencement. Check out this LifeSiteNews article.

I would like to ask all of you to once again pray. Pray for Father Jenkins, President of Notre Dame. Pray for President Obama. Pray for the Church. Pray for those catholics who have lost their way. Pray for this nation and for a change of heart on life issues. We can make abortion illegal but what this nation needs more than anything is for people to not want abortion because they see it for the lie that it is.

Come Holy Spirit and fill the hearts of the faithful!

Fr. Corapi speaks out on Notre Dame Scandal

2009-05-08T19:12:00.001-05:00

Pope Benedict Visits the Holy Land

2009-05-08T08:34:00.003-05:00

Pope Benedict XVI begins his historic visit to the Holy Land today. Please pray for his success and that Almighty God may keep him safe on his journey.

May the hearts and minds of our brothers and sisters of the Holy Land be opened by the Holy Spirit to the Truth of Jesus Christ.

Catholic League Response to Obama/Georgetown Scandal

2009-04-17T09:52:00.004-05:00

Catholic League President Bill Donahue has weighed in with his reaction to the Obama/Georgetown University scandal. Mr. Donahue's response is below.

When President Barack Obama spoke at Georgetown University on April 14, the White House requested that all religious symbols and signage that might appear as a backdrop to where the president was to speak be covered up. Georgetown acceded to the request and made sure that the symbol “IHS,” a monogram of the name Jesus Christ, was not in sight.

“The cowardice of Georgetown to stand fast on principle tells us more than we need to know about what is going on there, but the bigger story is the audacity of the Obama administration to ask a religious school to neuter itself before the president speaks there. No bishop who might speak at the White House would ever request that a crucifix be displayed behind him. Moreover, the same church and state fanatics who go nuts every time a polling place is set up in the basement of a Catholic school have been noticeably silent over this incident.

“Obama will be speaking at Notre Dame, and receiving an honorary award, on May 17. Will his advance team ask Notre Dame to scrub the campus clean of religious symbols? Or just the ones that might appear behind the podium? Obama is in enough trouble with Catholics—over his pro-abortion executive orders and appointees, his position on embryonic stem cell research and his war on the conscience rights of healthcare workers—that it seems almost suicidal for his administration to push the envelope one more time. This is getting old fast.”

-Bill Donahue
President, Catholic League

The official Catholic League response can be read HERE.

Georgetown Removes Jesus for Obama!

2009-04-16T16:43:00.005-05:00

Take a look at the picture above. This is our President speaking at Georgetown University this week. Let's just forget about the fact that Georgetown claims to be a Catholic University and give them a pass on why they are allowing Obama to speak there for a second. When the White House staff was setting up the details of the speech with Georgetown a request was made to remove the initials of Our Lord Jesus Christ from above the stage where Obama would be speaking. Now the great "Catholic" Georgetown University was outraged and rescinded the President's invitation to speak, right? WRONG! Take another look at the picture. The blacked-out area above Obama's head is where Jesus' initials "IHS" were located. I can expect letters of thanks to be sent from Notre Dame to Georgetown for taking the heat off of them for a short time.

Let's lay out the facts here. In a very short period of time President Obama has waged nothing short of war against the unborn in this country and abroad. He is threatening to make Medical professionals and Hospitals opposed to abortion perform murder against their beliefs. For some reason "Catholic" Universities like Georgetown and Notre Dame seem to be worshipping at the altar of Obama. Think I'm being over-the-top? Maybe, but why is Notre Dame honoring him. Why is Georgetown removing God for him? I'll take answers to these questions if anyone has them. Leave a comment. Please explain it to me.

To Read an Article about this abomination click Here.

We are at a crossroads here. Catholics need to be Catholic! Catholic Universities need to be CATHOLIC! Pray for guidance from the Holy Spirit. Please join me this weekend on Divine Mercy Sunday in praying for this nation, the Church, and the World. We need God's mercy now, more than ever! AMDG

(Photo Courtesy Getty Images)

"Restore Pride in Being Catholic"

2009-04-13T19:34:00.004-05:00

The Archbishop designate of New York has plans to "restore pride in being Catholic". These words are music to the ears of faithful Catholics all around the world. Archbishop Timothy Dolan is wasting no time in letting his Archdiocese and the whole world know that being Catholic is nothing to apologize for. We are called on to stand up for the truth, especially when the world wants us to cower and deny what is right.

NEW YORK (AP) -- New York Archbishop-designate Timothy Dolan said Monday, on the eve of his installation, that he will challenge the idea that the Roman Catholic Church is unenlightened because it opposes gay marriage and abortion.

In an exclusive interview with The Associated Press, Dolan said he wants to restore pride in being Catholic, especially given the damage the church endured in the clergy sex abuse scandal, which he called a continuing source of shame.

"One would hope that through education and through the joy that we give by our lives that people will begin to see that these fears and this skepticism we have about the church are unwarranted," Dolan said.

He said Catholics also must defend themselves against bias, which he said was still deeply ingrained in American culture.

"Periodically, we Catholics have to stand up and say, `Enough,'" he said. "The church as a whole still calls out to what is noble in us."

Dolan, 59, will be installed as leader of the Archdiocese of New York before thousands of well-wishers in services Tuesday night and Wednesday in St. Patrick's Cathedral. The former archbishop of Milwaukee, Dolan succeeds New York Cardinal Edward Egan, who is retiring at age 77.

In his sermons this week, Dolan says he will ask Catholics not to be so consumed by their problems in these difficult times that they turn inward and away from the community.

Click here to continue this AP news story.

(Photo courtesy of AP/Mary Altaffer)

The Lord Is Risen! Happy Easter!

2009-04-11T22:27:00.003-05:00

The Lord Is Risen! Death has been defeated by the saviour of the world. May heaven and earth rejoice in the victory won by Christ Jesus! I hope and pray that all of you have had a blessed and holy lenten season. May this Easter season strengthen your faith and draw all of you closer to Our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. AMDG

Good Friday

2009-04-10T10:01:00.006-05:00

As we enter into the celebration of Our Lord's Passion and Death please take a moment or two in prayer to contemplate the profound sacrifice that He made for all of our sins. In Humility God entered the world in the form of His creation, man. He lived among us with the intent, from the moment of His incarnation, to die for our sins. As the great Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen once said, "Christ's death on the cross cast a shadow backward through time on His whole life." He came to die for us all, not because He had to, because He wanted to. To redeem those who believe in Him. He died the death of a criminal. A death of humiliation and condemnation. He died the death that we earned from our sins.

Christ paid a debt He did NOT owe, because we owed and debt we could NOT pay!

God's blessings on all of you! AMDG

Who Do You Live For?

2009-04-07T16:02:00.006-05:00

As we enter this Holy Week and prepare for the celebrations of Our Lord's Passion and Resurrection I would challenge you to ask yourself this question. Who Do You Live For?

Because of our sins we are all guilty of a crime that should be paid with our very lives. But Christ, innocent of all sin, took our place. He has ransomed us from the death that we deserve. So I ask, who else in our lives should we live for other than Him? He who took our place and died the death that we deserve so that we might share eternal life with Him.

Christ paid a debt He did not owe, because we owed a debt we could not pay!

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life."
John 3:16

Trust In God

2009-03-30T22:50:00.004-05:00

God is Love. No truer words could be spoken. This was so true that Pope Benedict XVI made this the title and theme of his first encyclical. God the Father so loved the world that He gave His only Son as a pure and perfect sacrifice for our sins. The New Adam, sent to wash away the sins of the world in His own blood. With love like this it is easy to see why we should trust Him in everything, right? Well, short answer yes, but we are finite creatures weighed down by the effects of original sin. So many will say, “Why is this happening to me? I’m a good person. I love God. I’m faithful.” Truly heartfelt words that I can assure you do not fall on deaf ears when they are cried out in prayer to God. Remember, Christ was True God AND True Man. He suffered every insult, anguish, torment, and sadness that we do in this life. He suffered them in a much more profound way than we ever could. He was rejected by so many while He was right in front of them Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity. This continues to happen today as so many, Catholics and non-Catholics alike, reject His real and substantial presence in the Blessed Sacrament, but I digress.

Trust in God is essential. It is easy to say but without humility and a surrendering of the will to God it is impossible. We as Christians are called to be Christ-like. He called us all to take up our crosses daily and follow Him. Each person has a specific cross to bear that has been given by God. These crosses can crush us if we try to carry them ourselves. Know this, God will always give you what you need. Notice I didn’t say He will give you what you want. We so often see things we want, materially, emotionally, or even spiritually. We can ask God for them and then become frustrated when He doesn’t hand them over. This is where we must turn ourselves over to God and trust in His wisdom and love completely. Like a good father, God will never give us something we don’t need. What we need is to draw ourselves closer to God. This involves following the example of Christ. When Christ became man He completely humbled Himself to take on the lowly form of one of His creation. Humility again! Christ emptied Himself totally and came as a servant. The truest translation actually says, “He came as a slave”. No object or possession in this world can bring us happiness. God is the only true happiness. Trust in Him with your whole heart, mind, and soul. He will lead you to Him. The road may be rocky. As a matter of fact, I can guarantee you that it will be. Nothing worth having is easy to attain. Salvation and faith are gifts from God, never earned, but bestowed out of love and mercy. We are citizens of Heaven just passing through this world on our way home. Empty yourself so that God can fill you with His love and happiness. Trust that God will give you what you need, not necessarily what you want. Pray for Humility and Faith. God is Love.

And Jesus Wept

2009-03-26T12:30:00.003-05:00

Here is a great cartoon courtesy of Jack Higgins and the Chicago Sun-Times.

ND Student Groups Join the Fight!

2009-03-26T09:19:00.004-05:00

After days of hearing from so-called experts stating that Notre Dame students are overwhelmingly in favor of President Obama being honored at graduation, numerous ND student organizations have banded together to show their outrage. Notre Dame Response is a new website sponsored by angry student led groups on campus who think Notre Dame is still a Catholic University and would like to show that to the world. Please visit their website and show support to those brave men and women who are standing up for truth!
(Photo Courtesy of Notre Dame Response)

Brave Voice in a Cowardly World!

2009-03-24T14:46:00.009-05:00

Fort Wayne/South Bend Bishop John M. D'Arcy has issued a statement about the sad controversy that has erupted at the University of Notre Dame. Bishop D'Arcy's statement can be read in it's entirety here.

In a sad contrast, the University of Notre Dame has issued a statement of their own. The University is standing firm in their determination to flush Church teaching away and scandalize millions of Catholics around the world. Here is a story on Notre Dame's statement. If you have not yet done so, please visit Notredamescandal.com to sign the petition against the honoring of President Obama. Stand up for truth NOW! The time for sitting on the sidelines is over. Stand up for TRUTH! Be Catholic!

Our True Savior!

2009-03-24T09:41:00.004-05:00

(Photo Courtesy of Orthodoxphotos.com)

How Some People View the President!?

2009-03-24T09:32:00.007-05:00

I came across this photo today. It struck me immediately for its almost "halo-like" appearance around the head of Obama. It hit me that this is how many people in this country, and indeed around the world, view our Commander-In-Chief. He is seen as a savior to far too many people. In reality one person seeing any one man as their "savior" is scary, unless that Man is Jesus Christ. I can't say if the person who snapped this photo had that in mind but the imagery that it conveys to the world is stark in its contrast to where we should really be putting our trust. Here!

(Photo Courtesy of AP)

Shame of Notre Dame!

2009-03-23T15:17:00.011-05:00

(Courtesy of Notre Dame Scandal.com)

Today is a dark day for the University of Notre Dame. It was just announced that the commencement speaker at this year's graduation will be none other than President Barack Obama. The call of the Holy Father for Catholic Institutions and Universities to speak the message of Christ to the world has fallen on deaf ears at this "once great" Catholic Institution of Higher Learning. This President has shown nothing short of utter disdain for the dignity of human beings. He has gone out of his way to promote the destruction of human life at every possible opportunity. Notre Dame is now condoning this despicable behavior by celebrating this man. He will be given an Honorary Law Degree at the commencement. Apparently it is not a doctorate of moral law! He could use a few lessons in that! My main beef here is with the leaders of Notre Dame University. You make my skin crawl! As a Catholic Institution you are called on to be a light of Christ to the world. If you think you are being this light then I suggest you take a few minutes and grab a copy of the Cathechism of the Catholic Church!

Another point in all this is that Notre Dame is being used by the President to subvert Catholic Teachings in this country. I do not think I am out of bounds when I say that I see a personal agenda against the Catholic Church in the policies of this administration. President Obama receives invitations from hundreds of universities each spring. Why did he choose to accept Notre Dame's invitation? While I can't read Obama's mind I can't help but see a pattern of false "catechising" of Catholics in this country. He seems to go out of his way to pick pro-abortion "catholics" for key places in his government. He institutes diabolical policies that will assure the deaths of millions more innocent children in this country. He has removed bans on U.S. tax dollars funding abortion around the world. Perhaps his goal is to make abortion our nation's number one export. Notre Dame is being used to promote this agenda! Think I'm being paranoid? You better wake up America! Societies throughout history that have practiced human sacrifice have been wiped off the face of the earth! Embryonic stem cell research is the modern era's human sacrifice! America's days are numbered and we have done it to ourselves. Don't sit on your hands and let this evil go unchallenged. Speak up! Let the University of Notre Dame know that enough is enough! Please check out this link to sign a petition to let the President of
Notre Dame know how you feel! http://www.notredamescandal.com

For some great commentary on this check out The Catholic Thing and National Review.

God's Answer to Prayer

2009-03-16T21:06:00.005-05:00

We ask God for many things. We come to Him in our times of great distress and need. We ask for anything. Keep these things in mind, especially in light of recent events. In our Humility we should ultimately ask that God's will be done in our lives. He knows what is best for us, we don't. God can give gifts in strange ways and in strange places. In ways that those of no faith can't even comprehend. Christ suffered for US. He did that out of love. When trials come they can really bring us closer to God if we humbly accept them. It's perfectly o.k. to ask God for healing and miracles. We just have to say in humility to God, "Please God, your will be done in my life. I pray that your will be that I be freed from this hardship, but if it's not your will then grant me the strength and humility to accept your will as my own. Grant me the strength to accept and carry this cross you have given to me and help me to see how I can give glory to God with it." It is hard to do, I of all people know this all too well. I have been crushed by my cross on far too many occasions. I just have to remember that Christ fell under the weight of His cross as well.......but He got up again. Another thing He did was allow Simon to help Him carry that cross. Humility again. This is so important I can't mention it enough. One last thing to remember;

GOD ANSWERS EVERY PRAYER. THE THING TO REMEMBER IS THAT THE ANSWER WILL BE ONE OF THREE THINGS..........

YES, NO, NOT YET.

Obama defunds Ethical Research!

2009-03-11T09:28:00.005-05:00

It was learned yesterday that not only has President Obama now opened the door for federal funding of Destructive Embryonic Stem Cell Research, he has also defunded non-destructive ethical forms of research. I can't help but to point out what seems to be a more and more diabolical agenda of this administration to attack the unborn. War is being waged on the most innocent in our world and their only crime appears to have been their conception. Barbaric! I've said it before and I'll say it again and again. Pray for this country and our President. God Have Mercy On US ALL! AMDG See the related article below.

WASHINGTON, D.C., March 10, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Besides removing all restrictions on using taxpayer funds for embryo-destructive research yesterday, President Obama also formally rescinded a Bush-era executive order pushing for more research into the most promising and ethical forms of stem cell research.

The executive order signed yesterday by Obama specifically rescinded Executive Order 13435 of June 20, 2007.

Executive Order 13435 pushed the Secretary of Health and Human Services to "conduct and support research" on stem cells that "may result in improved understanding of or treatments for diseases and other adverse health conditions, but are derived without creating a human embryo for research purposes or destroying, discarding, or subjecting to harm a human embryo or fetus." Click Here for the rest of the article.

Obama to reverse limits on stem cell research

2009-03-06T20:54:00.005-06:00

Well here we are again! On Monday President Barack Obama will publically unveil his newest executive order aimed at the unborn. This newest order will lift a ban on federal funding of embryonic stem cell research that has been in place for nearly eight years. The ban was originally put in place by President Bush in August of 2001 during his first term in office siting the procedures destruction of human life. Millions of dollars were instead placed behind research involving adult stem cell research. This approach has produced countless advances in medical research but has gone relatively unheralded by politicians, scientists, and news agencies around the country. An unnamed Obama official has been quoted as saying that the new Obama policy toward embryonic stem cell research will "restore scientific integrity to the process".

Integrity indeed! These are dangerous times we are living in. God is merciful and patient and He loves us all. Like any good Father God will not let His children continue to revel in sin and disobedience with being set straight. I call on all of you to make a stand for our innocent brothers and sisters who have been robbed of the dignity of being conceived naturally to loving married parents. They have been treated as a right or as a science experiment. Now they are being treated as something less than human. Something to be discarded for society's selfish needs. I agree that we should do anything to help find cures for disease, but not at the expense of human life. Don't sit on the fence and watch this public abomination rule the day. Don't sit on the fence of indifference and passively watch the world go by. God will one day reach down with His divine hand and shake the fence. Don't get caught sitting on it. Speak up! Pray, Pray, Pray! The innocent blood of millions cries out to heaven for justice. Pray that God will touch the hearts of all those who condone this horrible crime. Pray also that the Holy Spirit will inspire the hearts of us all to speak the truth and take a stand for good, not evil. All that evil needs to exist is for good men and women to do nothing. AMDG

Welcome Home Mr. Speaker

2009-03-06T19:37:00.005-06:00

I would like to publically welcome former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich home. As reported on EWTN's news program "The World Over", Mr. Gingrich is set to enter the Catholic Church this Easter. Let us all pray for the former Speaker's spiritual growth and that he will be open to the will of God in his personal and public life. May the grace and blessings of Almighty God shine down upon Mr. Gingrich and all of our brothers and sisters in Christ who will come home to the Catholic Church during this Easter season. AMDG

Immaculate Heart of Mary

2009-03-03T22:25:00.005-06:00

And when the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord (as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”) and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.” Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. And inspired by the Spirit he came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law, he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said, “Lord, now you can let your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.” And His father and His mother marveled at what was said about Him; and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary His mother,

“Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is spoken against (and a sword will pierce through your own (Mary’s) soul also), that thoughts out of many hearts may be revealed.”

Luke 2: 22-35

Mary, the Mother of God, suffered with her only Son, Jesus Christ. She was bound to her beloved Son from the moment of her Immaculate Conception. The Holy Spirit moved Simeon to prophecy to Mary about the horrible death her Son would face and how this death would “pierce through her own soul.” Christ suffered for the sins and transgressions of all mankind and His Mother Mary would suffer these pains as well. The sword which pierced the soul of Mary was forged by the sins of mankind, from the fall of our first parents until the end of days. Her Immaculate heart is often portrayed pierced with this very sword or strangled by a crown of thorns. Our Mother bleeds and suffers with every sin or blasphemy against the Holy name of God. All who reject her reject her Son, Jesus Christ.

St. John Damascene explained that the Immaculate Heart of Mary "lives solely on the contemplation and the love of God." Her whole being is consumed with loving and serving the will of God. Being immaculately conceived, her will is in complete conformity with the will of God. We must remember that Mary is the Mother of God. Her love and relationship with God is like no other. She is in complete union with the Holy Trinity. Beloved daughter of God the Father, loving mother of God the Son, and faithful spouse of God the Holy Spirit. This is an inseparable union that binds Mary to Christ in a way that could not have affected her in a more profound way. She suffered with Him during His Passion and Crucifixion. St. Bernard wrote in the middle ages that at Calvary, “as Jesus died in Body, so Mary died in Heart.” This statement is profound in its utter simplicity while at the same time in its shear weighty truth. She suffered the pain and sorrowful wounds of a mother whose only son was being murdered. Her soul, bound eternally with that of her Divine Son, suffered the wounds of all our sins. These are the very same sins that Christ took upon Himself as He willingly gave Himself to the executioners.

She also suffered with her Son in another profound way. She suffered the realization that her Son came to die for us all but that many of us would selfishly reject His salvation by rejecting it through our sinful ways. All those who accepted the gift of mercy and sanctification offered by Christ on the cross would be saved from the death and damnation of sin. Freeing us from the bonds that shackled humanity to the original sin of Eden; Christ, the new Adam, in complete union with Mary, the new Eve, would offer mankind salvation from the death that betrayal of God rendered at creation. This salvation would come from God alone but we see Mary's complete cooperation in God's plan through her pure humility and total acceptance of His plan. Mary's suffering would come in the form of all who would hear the Gospel of her Son and reject its message of mercy and love. How she must weep for the poor souls who turn their backs on the Christ. His mercy is for all and for all time and yet so many will reject it because of pride. They are unwilling to listen to God and to conform their will to that of God. Truth is God’s only spoken Word, and His name is Jesus Christ.

Abortion Rules to Be Overturned!

2009-02-27T12:30:00.006-06:00

In another clear assault on the unborn the Obama administration is paving the way to abolish rules put in place by the Bush administration at the end of their term. The rules stated that Health Care Providers (i.e. Doctors, Nurses, Pharmacists, etc.) who morally objected to abortion and contraceptives did not have to suspend their beliefs in their jobs. In what is really not a surprise to anyone on the Pro-Life side, the Obama White House says that such restrictions could lead to services such as Abortions and artificial contraceptives becoming less accessible to those who seek them. Basically if you object to these disordered things you need to suck it up and accept that the Culture of Death outweighs your rights not to commit sin and take part in the diabolical agenda that is now commonplace in this country. Lord Jesus Have Mercy on this Nation. Now is the time, more than ever before, for the faithful to stand up for Truth. If you don't know what Truth is then I suggest a little trip to your nearest Catholic Church to spend some time with Our Lord in the Eucharist. Don't be like Pontius Pilate who looked THE TRUTH in the eyes and asked, "What is Truth?" To quote Father John Corapi, "Pontius Pilate should be the patron saint of modern politicians." PRAY THE ROSARY DAILY AND ASK FOR MERCY!!! AMDG

2009-02-25T07:44:00.003-06:00

May all of you have a blessed Lenten Season. As we die unto ourselves this lent I pray that the Lord Jesus Christ may strengthen you and enlighten you. Draw near to our Crucified Lord who spread His divine arms out to show you how much He loves you. Do not run from the crosses that we share with Our Lord. There is power there, THE POWER OF GOD! - AMDG

Thirty Pieces of Silver

2009-02-24T00:08:00.012-06:00

“Then one of the Twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, ‘What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?’ They paid him thirty pieces of silver, and from that time on he looked for an opportunity to hand him over.” Matthew 26: 14-16

Judas betrayed our Lord. Many have speculated why. Perhaps he did not believe. Perhaps he wanted to test our Lord and thought that he would reveal His glory when seized. The only thing we know for sure is that the greatest evil committed by men ensued, followed instantaneously by the greatest good in history. The evil of deicide (man killing God) followed by the unshackling of mankind from the sin and death of original sin……The salvation of Christ crucified. The question we need to ask is why do we betray our Lord?

In the time of Christ, paganism was rampant in the world. People worshiped false gods. The Church was given to the world to shine the light of truth; The Truth of Jesus Christ. The early Church bore witness through evangelization and martyrdom to this truth. They were persecuted, spit upon, and executed for their witness. The world today is better, right? More holy? More devout? Right? Wrong!

We live in a pagan society today that is even more godless and non-Christian than that of the early Church. It is more rampant and insidious than ever before. Woven into the very fabric of society and hidden from those who are blind or just choose not to see it. Abortion, pornography, artificial contraception, greed, power. These are all gods to many in this world and the list only starts with these. We spend so much time and effort striving for these things. We push the One True God out of our lives to replace Him with these false gods and they bring us nothing but suffering and death. How many pieces of silver will we sell Christ for? St. Augustine once said that our souls have a God shaped void in them. We can try to fill the void with worldly things but no matter how much we try to stuff in there we will feel empty until we fill that void with God.

This country was founded on Christian principles and beliefs. We have a society now that scoffs at religious beliefs. People of faith are called ignorant and medieval. A vast majority of Americans claim to be Christians. Look at the country we live in and ask if you truly believe that. Paganism is the religion of the Untied States of America today. Those “enlightened” members of our society call it progress and Satan laughs at the children of God as they “progress” and “enlighten” themselves straight into hell.

I call Catholics to task even more than our denominational brothers and sisters. We have been given the fullness of divine revelation. To those who have been given much, much will be required. The Church is in disarray. The true and real presence of Christ in the Eucharist is often doubted and even mocked in the Church today. People openly disobey the Magisterium and undermine the moral teachings of the Church. Catholic politicians stand in open solidarity with evils like abortion and fetal stem cell research then present themselves to receive the Eucharist. We must pray for our brothers and sisters and ask the Holy Spirit to break through the walls of their hearts.

We are all called to be saints. Called to holiness and sacrifice. Christ promised to preserve the Church from the “Gates of Hell” but He didn’t promise we wouldn’t have to fight. Turn to God and be humble before the Lord. I’m not saying this is easy. It is very difficult. Christianity is no wimpy religion. It requires sacrifice. If we rely on ourselves we will surely fail. If we humbly present ourselves before the Lord in the Eucharist and ask Him to give us strength He will surely answer our prayers. Give of yourself in unity with Christ crucified for the salvation of our wayward brothers and sisters. God’s name is Mercy and His mercy endures forever.

Dr. Alan Keyes Warns of "Obama's America"

2009-02-22T12:43:00.005-06:00

This video comes courtesy of (http://causa-nostrae-laetitiae.blogspot.com/) by way of Patrick Madrid's Blog. Dr. Keyes is a brave man of faith. Listen to his words in the video above. Scary things are happening in our country. Pay attention to them and pray fervently that the Will of God be done in this country. Don't lose hope! Remember, Obama may be President BUT GOD IS IN CHARGE.

12-Year-Old Speaks Out On Abortion!

2009-02-19T21:09:00.012-06:00

This was too good not to post. When adults fail to do what is right and stand up for the unborn the children have to do it. This just proves that everyone is born pro-life. You have to be taught to be pro-abortion.

Despite facing threats of disqualification, a 12-year-old girl took first place in a speech contest when she eloquently argued for the rights of unborn children – after an offended judge quit.

"What if I told you that right now, someone was choosing if you were going to live or die?" the seventh-grader begins in a video recording of her speech on YouTube. "What if I told you that this choice wasn't based on what you could or couldn't do, what you'd done in the past or what you would do in the future? And what if I told you, you could do nothing about it?"

The girl, a student at a Toronto school identified only as "Lia," continued:

"Fellow students and teachers, thousands of children are right now in that very situation. Someone is choosing without even knowing them whether they are going to live or die.

"That someone is their mother. And that choice is abortion."

But what made the 12-year-old choose to speak about abortion?

"It was really a family thing," her mother explained on the blog Moral Outcry. "I saw Lou [Engle] speak at a conference several years ago. I came back to my family with the Life Bands, and we all wore them, made our covenant, and prayed the prayer for abortion to end. … We were invited to participate in a 'Life Tape Siege.' Once my kids heard of this invitation, they all agreed: 'We have to do that!' Since then, Lia's passion for seeing abortion end has continued."

Despite Lia's enthusiasm for her topic, her teacher "strongly encouraged" her to select a different one for her class presentation or she would be considered ineligible for an upcoming speech contest.

"[S]everal teachers discouraged her from picking the topic of abortion; she was told it was 'too big,' 'too mature' and 'too controversial,'" her mother wrote. "She was also told that if she went ahead with that topic, she would not be allowed to continue on in the speech competition."

Lia's mother continued, "Initially, I tried helping her find other topics to speak on, but, in the end, she was adamant. She just felt she wanted to continue with the topic of abortion. So she forfeited her chance to compete in order to speak on something she was passionate about."

Lia's teacher was so impressed by the speech that she allowed her student to advance as the winner. Lia presented her speech to judges in front of her entire school on Feb. 10.

The school principal and teachers called Lia's presentation the "obvious winner" – but the judges suddenly disqualified her the following day "because of the topic and her position on abortion," her mother said.

Lia's father later revealed that the judges had a "big disagreement." One was offended by the speech and voluntarily stepped down while the others reversed their earlier decision – declaring her the winner.

Now Lia plans to take her message of life to a regional speech competition, and more than 100,000 visitors have viewed her presentation online.

"Why do we think that just because a fetus can't talk or do what we do, it isn't a human being yet?" She asks in the video. "Some babies are born after only five months. Is this baby not human?

"We would never say that. Yet abortions are performed on 5-month-old fetuses all the time. Or do we only call them humans if they're wanted?"

She continues, "No, fetuses are definitely humans – knit together in their mother's womb by their wonderful Creator who knows them all by name."

Abortion Ban Passes!

2009-02-18T10:00:00.005-06:00

The North Dakota House has just passed a bill that would essentially outlaw abortion in the State. The bill establishes that a fertilized egg has all the rights of any person. The bill passed the House by a 51-41 majority. The bills author, Dan Ruby (R), has attempted similar measures in the past but this is his first successful attempt at an outright ban. The bill has been crafted with language that should stand up to challenges to Roe V. Wade. The bill now moves to the North Dakota Senate. Please pray for these men and women in the Senate! Ask God to touch their hearts when voting on this all important measure. Imagine what a powerful message it would send the world if the hand of God struck down the horrible scourge of abortion during the Presidency of Barack Obama. Please Pray like you have never prayed before! AMDG

Thank You Papa!

2009-02-18T09:45:00.003-06:00

All praise and Glory to God for His faithful servant, Pope Benedict XVI! In a closed door meeting at the Vatican with Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi the Holy Father stressed the importance of Catholics to be Pro-Life and to foster the culture of life in the world. This of course would require a complete 180 degree turn in Speaker Pelosi's public life but remember, With God all things are possible. Pray for her. If we pray hard enough and God touches the heart of this woman imagine the graces that would come from having a faithful Catholic is a position of such power in the U.S. government. Pray, Pray, Pray!!! AMDG

I AM JUDAS!

2009-02-16T23:56:00.001-06:00

I am Judas.

I have walked with Christ. I have lived in Christ. I know of the profound sacrifice of Christ, and yet I wound him so. I sin when I recognize my faults yet turn from him when he offers his mercy and forgiveness.

I am Judas.

I turn him over to his enemies when I deny him daily, in my words, in my actions, and in my cowardice. My cross is laid out before me and I run from it like a frightened child. But that is not true. A child is innocent. I have long since removed the truth of that excuse from my life. I know exactly what I am running from, my salvation, and yet I run.

I am Judas.

I hide in the crowds and watch Him being led from unjust judge to unjust judge. I stand silent as evil men come and testify falsely against him. I know I should cry out, “Foul evil men, don’t you see you persecute your GOD?!” But I don’t. I am a coward in the shadows.

I am Judas.

I run through the streets trying to escape the guilt that floods my very soul with sorrow. I have become evil. The weight of my betrayal becomes too much to bear. God could never forgive me for this transgression. I will surely perish in the fires of hell. There is no hope for me. I am damned.

I am Judas.

I have come to the end. I know my life is forfeit. I can go on no longer. I find a strong and sturdy tree and fasten my noose to its powerful branches. As I slip the rope around my neck the voice of my LORD enters my heart from afar. “Why do you do this thing? Don’t you know that I love you? My mercy endures forever. My heart and My blood are poured out for you. Come and see how much I Love You!” From my tree of death I flee. As I run down the hill I am stopped in my tracks by the site of a familiar face swinging from a tree.

He is Judas.

Oh Judas, Ye of so little faith. Why have you come to this dreadful end? What pain in your heart has led you to this deception? You spent so much time in the loving presence of the Lord. He taught you and loved you. He chose you! Did you not know your sins could be forgiven? You hardened your heart while you were with Him. He knew you would betray him. With this knowledge before Him did he send you away as you all shared the Passover feast? No, He washed your feet. Our Lord confronted your crime and you could have repented. Instead you took your leave like a thief in the night. When you realized that He was to be put to death did you come to Him for mercy? Why did you not call on him or seek out his Holy Mother? She would have taken you to her Son. He loved you Judas, as much as the rest. Why did you compound the sin of betrayal with an even greater one? Oh Judas, your sin was utter despair. When Satan was finished with you he filled your heart with the true knowledge of what you had done to the Son of Man. You showed no remorse to God for your actions, only selfish pride at the shame you would face when others saw you after what you had done. Oh Judas, God had mercy for your soul if only you had accepted it.

I am not Judas.

I hear the words again in my heart from my Lord, “Come quickly, see how much I Love You!” I enter the city but I can find no trace of my Lord. I see a woman weeping bitterly by the roadside. As I approach her I see her veil laid open on her lap. A vision of a man’s face stares up at her from the veil. Bloody and dirty. This man is barely recognizable as a man, and yet my heart recognizes his Divine Face. I kneel down beside her and ask, “Dear sister, where have they taken Our LORD?” She can not muster the strength to lift her head to answer me. With the veil still clutched in her shaking right hand she points to the road leaving Jerusalem. As I look up the street I see what my eyes were too blind to see before, a trail of blood leaving the city, toward the place of the skull. “Come quickly, see how much I Love You!”

I am not Judas!

As I run up the high hill of Golgotha, my legs burn and ache. I feel I can not go on but I could not stop if I wanted to. As I reach the top I see HIM. My Lord lifted up on a cross. The imprint of His love on my heart is the only thing that allows me to recognize Him, so badly beaten. What love do you have for us that you found the strength to get this far. As I stand near the cross I can not bare to look upon you for I know that my sins did this. I fall to my knees, weeping like never before, and bury my face in the ground. In my pain and anguish I hear Your voice, “See how much I LOVE YOU!” I look up to see Your eyes meeting mine. “My name is MERCY, and MY Mercy endures forever” A smile comes over my face and in HIS pain I am sure I see my Lord smile on me. Then He lifts his head to the Father and cries out in a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commend My Spirit.” Before me, my Lord gives His life willingly for all of us. In His death I expect an emptiness and sorrow to fill my heart. I am shocked to find it replaced with a profound surge of joy, for I know now that death can no longer conquer me, for my Lord has set us all free.

I am a sinner, but I have been washed clean by the Blood of the Lamb! His name is MERCY, and His mercy endures forever, and for ALL who hear His voice and answer, "Yes Lord!"

One Truth

2009-02-14T22:11:00.000-06:00

Truth is what it is, the Truth. Christ Himself spoke of the Truth when He said, "I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life; No one comes to the Father but by Me." This is a statement of Fact whether you believe it or not. This truth is objective not subjective. Truth is a Real Person and His name is Jesus Christ. You don't have to believe it but your lack of faith won't make it any less true. Abortion is intrinsically evil. The world will tell you otherwise but that doesn't make it any less true. Christ is Really, Truly, and Substantially Present in the Holy Eucharist. This is an undeniable Truth that is rejected daily by most, including some Catholics.

The point I'm trying to make is that God in His very essence is Truth, Love, Mercy, and Justice. Sin is real and we all commit it. God Loves Each and Every One of US! When we sin we show Him that we don't love Him. He never shows us this in return. His love never wanes and never fails. We must always REMEMBER THIS..........We are all Beloved Sons and Daughters of God the Father. We are Temple's of the Holy Spirit. Sin does not become us. We become sin of our own free will. Christ in His Mercy as Just judge and Redeemer longs to drive sin from our hearts as He drove the merchants and moneychangers from the Temple. He did this when He spread out His arms and died the most horrible death known to man. When we sin we cast that aside for our own selfish wants. Christ never casts us aside. He longs to save us from our own sin, to destroy our death and restore our life. We just have to let Him do it!

Christ's sacrifice of Himself was presented in time on Calvary 2000 years ago. God makes that sacrifice of Christ present on every altar in every Catholic Church through time and space. We are made to be really and truly present at the foot of the cross as real and true as Christ is present in the Eucharist, Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity. Christ's death is not recreated at the Mass, it is re-presented (Made Present). Catholics do not re-sacrifice Jesus. We enter into the sacrifice of Calvary during every Mass. We killed Him with our sins, so we must be sanctified and redeemed by His loving sacrifice. Nowhere in the world is this truly present but in the Catholic Mass! Period! You want a time machine? Go to Mass. It will take you back 2000 years to be present at your redemption. Christ calls you, but will you come?

2009-02-13T21:49:00.000-06:00

I think this sums it up pretty clearly.

Think about it. Take it to prayer.

Off to Rome

2009-02-13T11:00:00.001-06:00

Well, full time Senator and part time "catholic theologian" Nancy Pelosi is trying to pass the stimulus bill through Congress so she doesn't miss her scheduled trip to Europe. She plans to meet with Pope Benedict during her trip. Hopefully the Holy Father will pass her a copy of the Catechism. This has been a source of acid reflux for me for quite some time now. So called "cafeteria catholics" like Senator Pelosi must be reigned in. I completely understand the Bishops' hesitancy to take the drastic step of refusing Holy Communion at the altar rail, to a point. It seems that we are now being inundated with so called "pro-choice" catholics in the Obama administration. It must stop! These straying "catholics" need two things from us all, prayer and guidance. The Bishops of these particular politicians need to have one on one sessions with them reiterating the teachings of the Church. As far as I know this has happened and for some of them, it has happened several times. By their very own obstinate actions these people have placed themselves outside of communion with the Church. In my humble opinion the next step is obvious and sad. Unity in the Church is not to be achieved by ignoring the problem. By failing to confront this problem the Bishops are allowing scandal in the Church. Pray! Pray! Pray!

Eat My Flesh

2009-02-12T23:45:00.000-06:00

Jesus said to the crowds: “I am the bread of life that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my Flesh for the life of the world.”

The Jews quarreled among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his Flesh to eat?” Jesus said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the Flesh of the Son of Man and drink his Blood, you do not have life within you. He who eats my Flesh and drinks my Blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. For my Flesh is true food, and my Blood is true drink. Whoever eats my Flesh and drinks my Blood remains in me and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also whoever feeds on me will have life because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats this bread will live forever.”

John 6: 51-58

Who among us has ever known hunger? We live a life of comfort that many in this world do not share. Most people of Christ’s day knew hunger all to well. Bread truly was and is life to those whose next meal is in question. Food sustains us, gives us energy, GIVES US LIFE! Is it a coincidence that Christ would refer to Himself as Bread? There are no coincidences with Christ. How important is Bread? After the Christ’s baptism, He fasted in the desert for forty days.

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And he fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterward he was hungry. And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” But he answered, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’”

Matthew 4: 1-4

The first thing the devil tempts Christ with is bread. Christ was True God, and True Man. He was hungry. Satan says, “If you are really God, save yourself, eat!” Christ in His infinite love doesn’t miss an opportunity to teach us. Bread feeds our body, but it is not all we need. It is not even the most important thing we need. We must live by “every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.”

What is this bread that Christ asks us to partake in? He tells us we must “Eat His Body and Drink His Blood.” Many in this world will tell you that He did not mean His true Body and Blood but merely a sign of them. If Christ meant only a sign of them, why were the Jews listening to Jesus so confused and disturbed by His statement? They knew exactly what He meant, that’s why! No English translation of the Bible is perfect, even the best of them and filled with flaws. Many of you have heard the saying, “The translator is a traitor.” No translation can be perfect. So we must look at the original Greek texts to see what was truly said. Christ leaves no doubt among the gathered crowds by shocking them with His careful choice of words. Christ’s choice of noun is not soma (body) but sarx (meat) and he does not say phago (eat), but trogo (chew). Christ literally tells them they must Chew His Meat. This was shocking to all those gathered. This was so shocking a statement that it even drove some of Christ’s followers away. The Word of God IS shocking! It should be shocking to all of us. It should shock us out of our sinful ways. The Word of God tears us apart so it can rebuild us in the image of Christ. This is why so many in this world reject the Word of God. Those who say they except Christ but deny His presence in the Eucharist DENY HIM! He is there, Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity. For Catholics, this is not a suggestion or a teaching to be accepted or rejected at your leisure. This is the Doctrine of the Faith! This you must believe! For it is Truth indeed. All truth subsists in He who has revealed it! Christ is the Truth. The Word of God is not something but somebody! His name is Jesus Christ! Christ no longer walks the earth but He is physically and spiritually present in every tabernacle, in every Catholic Church and on the altar at every Mass celebrated in the world. EVERY SINGLE DAY! Have Faith! Be Fed! Christ is calling to you. Do you have ears to hear Him?

Why did Christ give us this gift of Himself? Why must we eat His Flesh and drink His Blood? What happens when we do? We must first ask, “What happens when I eat a steak”? Does the steak become part of me or do I become part of the steak? Obviously, the steak becomes part of me? What happens when we eat the Eucharist and drink from the chalice? Do we become Christ? Does Christ become us? Both! Christ enters into us and dwells in us, physically as well as spiritually. The same thing happens to us. We become one with Our Lord, spiritually and physically. We become ONE! If we are one with God, we will begin to live for Him and with Him. We can save ourselves and others. If we are living only spiritually with Christ, He cannot come into us completely. We are called to do all things to perfection. What is perfection? It is completion! If we do not Eat His Body and Drink His Blood, we can never be complete. God has an infinite supply of Grace for all of us, but we have to ask for it. We must put ourselves in a position and a state in life to receive Him as completely as possible. Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity, IN THE EUCHARIST!

“This is MY Body, Which will be given up for YOU!!! Do THIS in memory of ME!”

Hoc Est Corpus Meum

2009-02-12T23:41:00.000-06:00

I have always loved this since the moment I saw it. For those of you not fluid in Latin I will translate. Hoc Est Corpus Meum means "This Is My Body". This is a great message for the whole world. You want a miracle? Go to Mass!

Sacrifice of Body and Mind

2009-02-12T22:25:00.000-06:00

“I urge you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, your spiritual worship. Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect.”

Romans 12:1-2

Our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit. Through the graces of our baptism, God the Holy Spirit takes up residence in us. We are given to Him as instruments of His will. Set aside by the Sacrament of Baptism as witnesses of the love God has for us all through the profound sacrifice of God’s only Son, Jesus Christ. Called to be witnesses to the world as followers of Christ Jesus. Called as the martyrs to give unconditionally of ourselves for the Glory of God. The word martyr means witness. Those who died for the faith showed profound witness by giving their bodies, like Christ did before them, as sacrifices for the Word of God.

We are called to be martyrs as well. We may never be called to give of ourselves to death but we are called to martyrdom just the same. We are called to die unto ourselves on a daily basis, to offer sacrifices in our daily lives for the Glory of God. We are called to be open to the urgings of the Holy Spirit. We must listen with our hearts and trust that God will show us the way to His will.

“If the world hates you, realize that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, the world would love its own; but because you do not belong to the world, and I have chosen you out of the world, the world hates you. Remember the word I spoke to you, ‘No slave is greater that his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.

John 15: 18-20

It is easy to conform to this age. Persons who place God above themselves are ridiculed and called names like “Jesus freak” or “Bible thumper”. I say all Glory to God for this wonderful gift for you are being persecuted by the world for the sake of Christ Jesus. Christ tells us that you are either with Him or against Him. He also tells us that the spirit of this world will reject Him and will hate all those who follow Him just as they hated the one sent by God the Father. Christ challenged the authority of the world when He preached to those around Him. He challenges us today. You cannot serve two masters. The master of this world is Satan. He rules with a loveless iron fist of tyranny and sin. He makes us slaves of sin and death abounds. Christ came as a slave, not a master. He came to set captives free from the shackles of Sin and Death wrought by the original sin of Adam and Eve.

Be not conformed to this age for a culture of death abounds in this world. Abortion, artificial contraception, euthanasia, cloning, fetal stem cell research are the norm in this world and are called enlightenment and progress. Call them what they are which is a trampling of God’s will and His mandate to us to be like Christ. Sex and procreation are not privileges or rights as the culture of this world will tell you. These are gifts of God. Sex is a holy act of two souls perfectly united with God to bring forth life into the world. How many Catholics in this world would think to use the Eucharist as an appetizer at a dinner party? Most I hope, would shudder at the thought of defiling Christ’s real and substantial presence in the Eucharist in such a belittling fashion. We must therefore ask, why do we do this with sex? This is a holy act. Sex is the act of two persons giving of themselves wholly to each other in union with the will of God to bring forth the most precious gift of all which is human life. In this day and age this Holy act is belittled to a self-serving action to bring about pleasure to one person. When this act is performed without consenting to a union with God, it is an abomination.

The world as a whole will undoubtedly scoff at this and call it medieval thinking or the ranting of a dimwitted church going dupe. I myself, like these people, were once blind to this profound truth. We must pray that the Holy Spirit will touch the hearts and open the eyes of all who are blind. Many people are blinded and no position in this world makes you immune. Some Priests, Nuns, and, Bishops in the Church will tell you these things are acceptable. If your conscience has no problem with them then go ahead. We must pray for those who lead the flock astray.

All of these words sound easy when I write them but I can tell you that they are not unless you die to yourself and put your complete trust in God. Even the most holy person who ever lived would fall flat on their faces at the thought that their holiness would make them immune from temptation or deception. The saints were humble before God. They understood that left to their own devices or strengths that they would fail every time. It was only in their humility that they died unto themselves and said, “God, without you I can do nothing, but with you guiding my way all things are possible.” Pride is the root of all sin. Satan’s fall was the first sin of pride. Adam and Eve were proud and scoffed at God’s word. Sin and death entered the universe as a result. Be humble before God and ask Him for the strength to do His will and not our own. We are residents of Heaven passing through this world on the way home.

The Blessed Mother of God, the new Eve, is the perfect example of Humility for us to follow. This is why Christ Jesus gave her to us at the foot of the Cross. “Behold your Mother”, he said to St. John who stood in proxy for all mankind that Good Friday. Humility was God’s gift to her and her gift to us. Her will was perfectly united with that of God. We are called to be perfect like this, to give of ourselves perfectly. To die unto ourselves, and say as Christ did in the garden of Gethsemane, “Father not my will but yours be done”. Trust in Mary and she will lead you to her beloved son, Christ Jesus. She who holds great favor with God will bring you to Him and intercede on your behalf. We are all called to be Saints so pray for a humble spirit and pray that your foot may pass unscathed over the traps set before your path by the evil one. Trust in God. He is our refuge and our only Salvation. Be Christ’s disciple, not the world’s.