S.R.D.

Yes, I've been too busy to post this week, and this is why. I was going to work, rushing to daily Mass (It's Lent, after all.), rush to exercise class, then going to French class, trying to meet two deadlines, pack and get ready for SRD, plan the next T.O.P.S. meeting. Whew! Now, SRD, is over. I met the two deadlines. And I can breathe easily.

What's SRD? State Recognition Days is a weekend of honoring the best losers in T.O.P.S. Six from my Chapter went. Here's the picture. It was a wonderful time. I'm inspired to get back to losing. I met the most wonderful lady sitting next to me at dinner. She has been a K.O.P.S. for twenty-three years! A K.O.P.S. is someone who has Kept Off Pounds. Twenty-three years!!!! That means she never went over three pounds of her goal weight, nor dropped down more than seven.

Do you think I'll ever be a K.O.P.S.?

World Youth Day Rio

The World Youth Day team in Rio de Janeiro have released a video to promote the official launch of the WYD2013 logo. Take a look at the video right here on Xt3 - and share it with your friends as we countdown to World Youth Day in July 2013.

A Child's Immagination

Love this!! I happen to be reading My Brother, the Pope by Georg Ratzinger, who says that he and his brother use to play Mass. I was surprised to read that stores in his town sold small priest vestments and Mass kits as toys.

We use to wear ponchos and use Necco wafers.

Religion's Role in Politics

...there are certain “Catholic” voter guides that put an exclusive emphasis on issues like abortion and traditional marriage, as if there are no other aspects to Catholic Social Teaching. They all but direct the reader to vote Republican. On the other side, there are factions within the Church who put such an emphasis on social justice, as to ignore life issues. They give the impression that they the Church is “the Democratic party at prayer.” The Gospel is bigger than any political camp. It challenges everyone. We should never let a party or politician be our messiah or magisterium.

Interested in reading more?

Then read the entire article by Father Francis Belanger, OP. on the Dominican Province of St. Joseph's site.

Street Preaching

Here's a video of a man who's giving back to the community. Who says people can't change? Not me. And George is proof.

God forgives the past. What's important is now.

Open Your Hearts

My Soul Breathed in God's Rhythm

This morning, my French tutor, Joan Weber, and I, read Pere Lataste Sermon for Lent. I was deeply moved. He writes so beautifully. And he wrote over a century ago!!

I can't get over it. All day, and it was a busy one, I thought about Father Lataste's words. And tonight, during Stations of the Cross, I think I got it:

la prier est la respiration de l'ame.

I was there--really there.

Circle the Supreme Court in Prayer

Sunday, March 25 from 2 to 4 p.m., people of faith will hold a vigil to Encircle the Court in Prayer, surrounding the Supreme Court building in prayer that justice may be done in these proceedings. You are invited to be a part of this historic event.

Specifically, prayers will be offered that whatever conclusions the Supreme Court reaches on the Affordable Care Act, that the religious freedom and freedom of conscience will be respected, that there will be no taxpayer subsidizing of abortion, and that the US Constitution will be honored.

At the end of the vigil, 3,300 flowers will be left around the building to remind the justices of the 3,300 Americans who lose their lives every day to the horror of abortion. Participants are asked to bring their own flowers.

Please take part in this vigil if you’re in the DC area and if you can’t make it, please join in prayer in solidarity wherever you are.

I Feel Very Blessed

If you read my post from yesterday, My Prayer for Family, you'll understand why I feel very blessed. After I wrote that prayer, I thought I'd check Face Book to see what was happening. I was given the message that my friend Father Aniello Salicone, sx, posted on my time line. I looked to see what his message was. He thanked me (for his birthday messages) and said "May your prayers be answered."

!!!!!!!!!!!

I read that he posted this four minutes ago. Four minutes ago, I was praying for my family!

I was very moved, and answered, "How can I ever thank God for so blessing me?"

This morning Father Aniello answered me, " Let him love you without any limit....and love Him back as much as you can."

Thank You, Jesus, for loving me.

Prayer for my Family

Beloved,
You are always near, and can do the impossible. Dear Lord, this is my family, which I love very much. And this is my prayer for them.
Help them live lives pleasing to You. Bless them with so much of Your Love, that they light up even the darkest places that they may go. Protect them at all times. Give them hope when needed, and show them that You are walking beside them.
Lastly, my Love, for myself, secure my own faith in the knowledge that one day we will be united with You.
As always, I humbly request this through the merits of Your Son, Jesus, my Savior, my Lord, my Redeemer, and my most Beloved. ~Amen

Women Speak Up!

There's no doubt about it. Our culture has gone crazy. What has been valued since the beginning of time, is now mocked, fodder for joking. Enough. It is time to set our country back on the track of reason that has been proven since the beginning of history. And we women want to start by sending a petition to the government of our country.

The current HHS mandate is where we start. The Health and Human Services Mandate is forcing many to go against their conscience. For what? Women's Health? Don't be fooled. We women don't want to support a mandate that offends our religious liberties. Please go to this site, and sign the petition.

Feast Day of Father Lataste

Today is the day of Père Marie Jean-Joseph Lataste, OP death. This is when we usually celebrate a death--their entry into eternal life. And so it is, today, March 10th, that we honor Père Lataste. Père Lataste is known for his respect, mercy, love, and forgiveness for prisoners. Hence,he is known as the Apostle of Prisons.

He also founded the Dominican Sisters of Bethany, and many other fraternities that minister to prisoners and ex-prisoners, and other groups, who follow his spirituality.

Speaking of the Bethany communities, if there are any former Brothers of Bethany out there, please contact me, or Luigi: profesorluigi@gmail.com
We're looking to reunite.

For more information on Père Marie Jean-Joseph Lataste, please visit this site. This is another site that was just set up.

Former Bethany Brothers, look here.

Where the Jobs Are

Unemployed? Go to North Dakota

The oil industry has opened up the job market in North Dakota. The area known as Williston Basin in North Dakota, is the biggest oil find in North America. These high-paying oil jobs cause local economy to boom, too. Housing has to be built, so construction workers are in demand. Stores, restaurants, hotels, schools and their personnel, hospital workers--are all in demand. AND, Senior Citizens are wanted. Men and women age 50+ account for over a quarter of workers in the Williston area.

I'm reading this information in AARP. They list these places to look for employment:

williston.k12.nd.us--Check job openings listed under "district" button.

willistonherald.com--Find news and classified ads for the Williston area.

jobsnd.com (701-328-2825)--Job Service North Dakota site has instructions for searching by industry or qualifications.

willistondevelopment.com--Follow the "resources" link to a detailed Relocation Guide to Williston area.

mercy-williston.org--Follow "employment" link for Mercy Medical Center jobs.

First Confession

My parish today held First Confessions for the children preparing to make their First Communion. Father Peter was telling us all the jokes about cute things kids think and say. Most of them, I've heard before, but not this one.

For a penance a little girl was given two Hail Marys to pray. Immediately the girl whimpered and then burst into tears. "What's the matter, honey?" The Confessor asked. "But..." The little girl sobbed. "But, I only know one Hail Mary."

At the Hour of Death

Father Nick had a question and answer session after Mass. One of his explanations really hit home with me. He was talking about death, and how Satan waits to attack you then--when you are at your physical weakest. "Wait that happened to me!" See my poem on Cronkhite Canada Syndrome.

Fr. Nic continued: "That's why it's so important for the Salve Squad to come in. The Salve Squad consists of my Dominican brothers and sisters being with you, when you are close to death. They pray with you and sing the Salve Regina."

Immediately I thought of the Hail Mary. At the end, don't we pray "...and at the hour of our death?"

There's also the Divine Mercy Chaplet that should be prayed when one is dying. Sister Faustina's diary says, "At the hour of their death, I defend every soul that will say this chaplet as I do My own glory (...). When this chaplet is said by the bedside of a dying person, God's anger is placated and his unfathomable mercy envelops the soul" (Diary, 811).

Even in wikipoedia I learned: In Roman Catholic teachings, Saint Michael is one of the angels who are assumed present at the hour of a person's death. In his role as the patron of holy souls, Michael reaches to souls near death and saves them, hence frustrating Satan. Traditionally, he is charged to assist the dying and accompany their souls to their private judgment, bring them to purgatory and afterwards, present them to God at their entrance to heaven.

Even when I was wasting away, I had enough sense to ask for Saint Michael's help. I didn't have the strength of any sort of mental acuity to pray the Rosary or remember anything else. But I remembered Michael the Archangel, in my "valley of tears."

When my death comes around, I pray that I have my family around, and that we are all praying a Rosary, so Mary will guide me home. Just imagine, our souls being united in prayer. As St. Catherine of Siena said, "the way to heaven is heaven..."

Mercy Not Sacrifice--Lenten Spin

I can't get serious today. I'm in a wonderful mood. Since I couldn't settle down this morning, the psalm I was trying to write does indeed incorporate citations to emphasize, and questions to engage you. But it's not what you expect.

For Lent I drink my coffee black.
"Yuck!" but it's the least I can do.
I explain to You, with each forced gulp,
"This is a real sacrifice, don't scorn my love.

It does not compare to Your Calvary.
I'm thinking of the offer of common wine,
as You hung on the cross and thirsted.
Does my intent have meaning?

But You say, 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.'
So My Love, forgive my joy on Sunday.
Everyone has an opinion on Lenten Sundays.
Some say 'Sundays in Lent don't count.'

Lord, you know me all too well.
Monday-Friday I'll drink my coffee black.
Sundays, I'll use cream and sugar.
Then I'll sing Glory and Praise to Our God."

Death with Dignity is a Lie

Doctor-Prescribed Suicide, Cardinal Seán O'Malley OFM Cap from Archdiocese of Boston on Vimeo.

It's called "death with dignity," but that's a lie. Where's the dignity in killing someone? Where's the dignity in not helping someone live? Where's the dignity in not living life to its fullness?

Look at the petition closely when you see it in the ballot box. Physician assisted suicide is effectively authorizing the killing of human beings prior to their natural death. Why would someone chose to do this? Mainly because they're sick and not thinking correctly, or those around them are pushing them to do this. Nowadays especially, there is no need to do this. Pain can be controlled. Margaret Murphy, executive director of the Hospice and Pallative Care Federation of Massachusetts, has stated, "We have so many effective therapies and treatments in our arsenal now that can really relieve patients of the distress and suffering people experience at the end of life."

So if it's not pain, then why would someone want to die?

Because they think their life, isn't worth living? That's depression. Ask their loved ones what they think?

Of course, maybe it is someone close to the ill person that is urging him to die? That's gist for mystery fiction, but it does happen---reason enough to oppose this initiative.

"Death with Dignity" is a sound bite to make killing someone sound like it's the honorable thing to do. Don't be fooled. It's a lie.

Less is NOT More

Less is more, may be the mantra of the minimalists, but when it comes to God--it's the opposite. Less is nothing compared to what God will give.

Luke 11:13 Therefore, if you, evil as you are, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Good Spirit to those who ask Him.

Never be afraid to ask God. He always answers.