Jerusalem's Patriarch Begs for Prayers

 

Dear friends, please join in prayer for a ceasefire and for an end to war in the Holy Land. The attached image is hard to read, but it’s a special request from the Patriarch in Jerusalem, who is pleading for our prayers. "Lord, come to our aid! Grant us peace, teach us peace; guide our steps in the way of peace. Open our eyes and our hearts and give us the courage to say: "Never again war!" Amen

Robert Frost's Last Words

 Recently, I came across the poet Robert Frost's epithath on his grave stone: 

                "I HAD A LOVER'S QUARREL WITH THE WORLD."

Why would he say that?  A little googling will tell you that Frost wrote a poem entitled, "The Lesson for Today".  He recited it at an event celebrating a Harvard University's Phi Beta Kappa Society's Anniversary.  It isn't a popular poem.  It is full of obscure references, that maybe the brothers in Phi Beta Kappa knew, but not we uninitiated.  However, the poem's last stanza reads:

“I hold your doctrine of Memento Mori
And were an epitaph to be my story,
I’d have a short one ready for my own.
I would have written of me on my stone:
I had a lover’s quarrel with the world.”

One of the last interviews Frost did, before he died, was a documentary by Shirley Clarke, where the program was called, "I had a lover's quarrel with the world."  Perhaps, this is why it is on his gravestone.

 What do you want on your headstone?

 

Saint Salsa

 My grandchildren and I were playing a card game.  The cards had saints' names and their deeds.  We were to match the saint to the Beatitude that matched the saints' deeds.  One of the saint's name was Salsa.  That's right, Salsa.  Immediately, the grands liked her name because they like salsa with chips and there is also a dance called salsa.  When we read her story, these girls embraced her name even more so, and want to have it for their confirmation name.

Who is Saint Salsa?

She lived in the 4th century in Algeria.  Her parents were pagan, but she fell in love with Jesus.  Being only 13-14, her parents made her go with them to worship at the pagan temple of a dragon.  Salsa was appalled at the drunken, drugged behavior of the revelers surrounding the dragon. She speaks out to her parents and others around them how she felt.

I believe in ONE God, the Father Almight, the maker of heaven and earth.  I believe in Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, born of the Virgin Mary.  For our sake He was crucified, died and was buried, and rose again where he ascended into heave.  He will come again in glory.

The people thought she was crazy.  Salsa was angry and plotted how to pull down that statue of the dragon.  She thinks of Judith, Daniel, and Rachel, and decides to copy their courage. 

At night, she sneaks into the temple and hacks off the dragon's head and throws it into the sea.  Nobody sees her.  The pagans are struck with grief over the destruction of their dragon.

Salsa returns and pulls down the rest of the statue and drags it to the sea and dumps it there.  However, this caused a lot of ruckus and people caught her.  They were incensed and beat her to death and threw her body into the sea.

Salsa's body floated up but the dragon was never found or restored.

A sailor, named Saturninus retrieved Salsa's body and gave it to the Catholics in the town and they gave her a beautiful funeral Mass to honor her martyrdom. Eventually, a church was built there to honor Salsa. Unfortunately, wars, earthquakes and floods have destroyed the entire area.

The martyrdom of Salsa is remembered when we praise all saints.  They are to be praised through our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom is the honor, power, and glory with God the Father and the Holy Spirit for ever and ever.  Amen.

The Case is Closed

 The case is closed, as far as I am concerned.  Josh Mcdowell's book, The Resurrection Factor, proves beyond any doubt that Jesus rose from the dead.

Mcdowell logically runs through all the objections that people hold up against the Resurrection really happening, e.i., the witnesses there--the hostile ones, too, and
what history reports.  I think he knocks the proof out of the park.

It is also very readable.  The chapters are short--just like I like it.  Everyone can read and enjoy it.

Tales of Faith

 This little book of short stories is charming.  There are twelve stories that are amusing and thought provoking.  I can picture myself telling others these stories around a campfire, or at the end of a class when there's extra time.  

There's nothing scary, or violent, or a hint of ugliness.  I have nothing but nice things to say.  I love short stories and the Cobbler and the Cricket by George Reynolds, OP, did not disappoint.

My Patrons

Because my mother was Lithuanian, I made a point to ask for the intercession of Our Lady of Siluva.  St. Casmir, besides being a Polish patron, is also Lithuanian.  So, I prayed for the intentions of Roman and Helena, Betty and Monique--my Polish friends.  My pockets were full of intentions, so many.  I prayed for everyone and everything.  

                                                        Częstochowa 

                                                       St. Casimir

Awesome Experience

 This is a picture of the crowd at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, BC, for the Rosary Pilgrimage on Saturday.  The Basilica was full, about 4000 people.

Everyone was so helpful and feeling good.  The atmosphere was like heaven, or what I think it will be.  

The entire weekend was a blessing.  I'll post a few more thoughts when I can.