The Island in the Valley of the Shadow of Death

 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil, for You are with me...  Psalm 23: 4

God will be with the people of Haiti; I hope they know it and take comfort in it.  They haven't recovered from the earthquake in 2010 and now this one is worse!  Their president, Jovenel Moise, was recently assassinated.    The Haitian government hasn't started vaccinating the people.  They are one of the poorest nations in the world.  And now, a tropical storm is threatening the island.

Our Lady of Prompt Succor help the people of Haiti.  On this day of your Assumption into heaven celebrate by delivering the little island of Haiti into the safety and comfort of Our Father in heaven.  Cast out all the evil in Haiti and have mercy on the people.  Intercede for the Haitians and may they accept God's graces and be faithful to Him. We ask this through the merits of Jesus Christ, Our Savior, Our Redeemer, and Lord. Amen.   

Our Lady of Czestochowa and/or Twa Mak

 

It looks like the Haitians copied Our Lady of Czestochowa.  Rather she was baptized as Haiti's National Protector, Twa Mak.  How did that happen?  According to US Catholic, there was a slave revolt in 1791 resulting in the slaves taking over the plantations.  The Europeans couldn't accept this so Napoleon sent troops over to the island to take over.  With the French were 5000 Polish legionnaires and their devotion to Our Lady of Czestochowa. Some of the Poles stayed and Our Lady of Czestochowa made a new home. The Haitians took to her because she looks like she has suffered like themselves.  Her scars make her beautiful.  

Music from the Inside

You wouldn't believe it. Nobody will believe it. But I had the most wonderful experience at a concert, today. And it was inside a prison. Think Johnny Cash inside Folsom Prison. Only think of no celebrities, only prisoners. And they were great!

It was a concert to raise money for the victims of the earthquake in Haiti. How could the inmates raise money? Some of them have jobs. You know like, laundry and cooking. The pay starts at $ .50 an hour and is maxed out at $ 2.00. The inmates use the money to buy personal products mostly: their own shampoo (not prison issue), things like that. So the concert was to raise funds from the inmates, not we outsiders.

I expected the result to be $ 50, at the most.

$ 3000.

WOWZA!

The auditorium was packed. They had 12 bands scheduled to perform two songs each, in two hours. They didn't make it. We only had time for ten bands. That's too bad because every single band was excellent.

We had a couple of Latino bands, rock & roll, hip hop, jazz, an Asian band, Gospel, rhythm & blues, and rap. I could actually understand some of the rap. By the end of the time, I could see why the kids like rap. It's all about the beat. I got into it too.

I can't tell you how great it was. It definitely was one of the best concerts I've ever been to. I know you won't believe me; nobody would.

The Best Homily

This weekend, because of different demands, I attended three Masses. I listened to the Gospel story of Jesus turning the water into wine, 3x.

I am amazed at the vast difference in homilies.

The first was the 4:00 PM, Saturday night. I had to participate in a little talk about the Arise Together in Christ Program. Father talked about how important a wedding was in the culture of that time. He also said the most beautiful metaphor. Actually, he was quoting something that Richard Crashaw wrote, "The conscious water saw its God and blushed."

Wow! The water in divine presence blushed.

I also had to Lector at the noon Mass. The Mass celebrant was the Pastor, whom we haven't seen for over a month. His sister was dying and he was her main caregiver and stayed with her until she died. His homily consisted of family ties and responsibilities. The Blessed Mother and her Son's relationship.

Lastly, I went to a Bilingual Hispanic Mass because it was a "Good-Bye Celebration" for Sister Marybeth, the Chaplain to the Spanish Community. This Mass was inside a prison. The priest is a Jesuit. His homily was about Haiti. The people there must be crying out to Jesus. Cries of help must be asking for a miracle. The people ask for a miracle just like the Blessed Mother asked for a miracle from Jesus. Jesus turned the water into wine. Jesus is performing miracles in Haiti. Look at all the people he sent to help.

How's that for a segue! Asking Jesus to do something in Haiti--the Blessed Mother asking Jesus to do something.

The homilist in prison was the best.

Psalm 79

Haiti is still very much on my mind. Everyone's mind. In class tonight, we used Haiti as our conversation topic.

Some question the existence of God when disaster strikes. I always think thank God we have Him when disaster strikes. We live on earth, not heaven. Here in our world bad things happen. Why? It's the nature of our world. That's why we need God. Remember God gave the world to man to take care of. Hence, we must take care of the victims of Haiti. There's many organizations taking donations. I'm giving just a few places:

Aid to the Church in need.

To Haiti Health Centers

Catholic Relief Services

Tonight's prayers in the Liturgy of the Hours were poignant when applied to Haiti.

Psalm 79

.2 God is for us a refuge and strength,
a helper close at hand, in time of distress,
.3 so we shall not fear though the earth should rock,
though the mountains fall into the depths of the sea;
.4 even though its waters rage and foam,
even though the mountains be shaken by its waves.

Oh Lord, hear our prayers.

Expect a Second Collection.

Haiti
Human beings are at their best in situations where we can help each other. There are many organizations that can help. This earthquake devastation is of Biblical proportions. I noticed the earthquake in San Jose last week. It was about 4.0. Then a few days later, I noticed San Francisco was hit with a bigger shake. I was waiting for California to be rocked with the big one.

Poor Haiti. They had nothing to begin with and now they have less.

There are many ways to give. I'm not advocating one over the other. Don't be surprised if you're asked for cash. It is worth more, and used directly in Haiti will help stimulate their economy.

So expect a second collection in Church, this weekend.