Papa and the "President"

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

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)

Welcome to Omaha Archbishop Lucas!!!

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)

Pope Benedict Visits the Holy Land

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.

Trust In God

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.