Wednesday, January 03, 2007
Fr. Shaughnessy's Homily 1-03-07
Update on Baptist & Catholic Conversations
I think this is more informative as it provides a better list of those that attended and a list of topics that were discussed. I'm disappointed that it does not provide enough information about their actual discussions-the outcome of the conversations. Maybe they solved the world's problems?!
The Name of JESUS
They carried with them on their missions in the turbulent cities of Italy a copy of the monogram of the Holy Name, surrounded by rays, painted on a wooden tablet, wherewith they blessed the sick and wrought great miracles. At the close of their sermons they exhibited this emblem to the faithful and asked them to prostrate themselves, to adore the Redeemer of mankind. They recommended their hearers to have the monogram of Jesus placed over the gates of their cities and above the doors of their dwelling (cf. Seeberger, "Key to the Spiritual Treasures", 1897, 102). Because the manner in which St. Bernardine preached this devotion was new, he was accused by his enemies, and brought before the tribunal of Pope Martin V. But St. John Capistran defended his master so successfully that the pope not only permitted the worship of the Holy Name, but also assisted at a procession in which the holy monogram was carried. The tablet used by St. Bernardine is venerated at Santa Maria in Ara Coeli at Rome.
The emblem or monogram representing the Holy Name of Jesus consists of the three letters: IHS. In the Middle Ages the Name of Jesus was written: IHESUS; the monogram contains the first and last letter of the Holy Name. It is first found on a gold coin of the eight century: DN IHS CHS REX REGNANTIUM (The Lord Jesus Christ, King of Kings). Some erroneously say that the three letters are the initials of: "Jesus Hominum Salvator" (Jesus Saviour of Men). The Jesuits made this monogram the emblem of their Society, adding a cross over the H and three nails under it. Consequently a new explanation of the emblem was invented, pretending that the nails originally were a "V", and that the monogram stands for "In Hoc Signo Vinces" (In This Sign you shall Conquer), the words which, according to a legendary account, Constantine saw in the heavens under the Sign of the Cross before the battle at the Milvian bridge (312).
Mexico, GPS, & Illegals
Mexico is handing out GPS systems to illegals to make sure they arrive in the U.S. safely and correctly to their "destinations".
"Alerting frontier police"? Why hand them out if there's a chance that they'll have to be located then detained, arrested, or deported? And they have to register their intentions before they leave? Yea right!
Those who get lost or fall sick during the dangerous four-day crossing will be able to activate the device, to alert frontier police on both sides of the border.
The satellite tracking service will require would-be illegals to register their intentions before setting off — a paradoxical move, given that secrecy is necessary for success — but Mexican authorities are predicting that about 200,000 devices will be handed out when the project is launched formally in the coming year.
"Totalization Agreement" - Social Security for Illegal Immigrants
A word of thanks to TREA Senior Citizens League -one of the nation's largest nonpartisan seniors groups!
If you haven't heard about this agreement today here's some info for review:
Social Security Agreement With Mexico Released After 3 1/2 Year Freedom of Information Act Battle
Totalization Agreement - Social Security (actual doc. pdf. file)-The Totalization Agreement could allow millions of illegal Mexican workers to draw billions of dollars from the U.S. Social Security Trust Fund.The agreement between the U.S. and Mexico was signed in June 2004, and is awaiting President Bush's signature. Once President Bush approves the agreement, which would be done without Congressional vote, either House of Congress would have 60 days to disapprove the agreement by voting to reject it.
"The Social Security Administration itself warns that Social Security is within decades of bankruptcy -- yet, they seem to have no problem making agreements that hasten its demise," said Ralph McCutchen, Chairman of the TREA Senior Citizens League.
From the Internal Revenue Service
U.S. International Social Security Agreements
News Items & Commentary:
- WND-Social Security billions could go to Mexicans
- U.S. - Mexico Social Security Totalization Agreement
- The U.S.-Mexico Totalization Agreement
- Totalization Agreement with Mexico - U.S. Congressman David Dreier -CA
- More Information on the Totalization Agreement with Mexico - U.S. Congressman John Culberson - TX
- Other Countries that went into agreement with the US.
- U.S. Social Security For Mexicans? (2003) -Eagle Forum - Phyllis Schlafly
- Numbers USA - helpful info (free fax)
Tuesday, January 02, 2007
More on the North American Union
And while I'm at it...Did you know about this proposal that Rev. Moon is pushing?
"The Bering Strait Peace Tunnel"
Moon: 'Time to Beat Swords Into Plowshares'; Proposes Bering Strait 'Peace Tunnel,' Addresses Divisions in America, UN Reform
The Bering Strait Tunnel & Railroad Group
Now, you are aware of what's happening in the world! Tho, I think it's nothing more than a "pipe dream"...no pun intended...= ) you can't count these guys out. They have a following...more then likely a following of a lot of $ too. And now, let's not forget Archbishop Milingo who has received support from Rev. Moon too. Trouble, deep trouble.
Monday, January 01, 2007
Construction of Chapel at Sacred Heart Univ. in Fairfield,Connecticut
Les Femmes - Mary Ann Kreitzer
Diocese rejects non-orthodox spirituality classes
Former priest William Tobin had been given green light by Arlington VA diocese to each his Continuing Christian Development Institute despite being banned at seminaries and religious institutes.
Sunday, December 31, 2006
Fr. John Hardon
And this entry too...St. John Hardon?
An Update on the Future Cause for Beatification of Father John A. Hardon, S.J.
Can you assist in his Beatification? (Please pass the word!)
Questionnaire for Life and Virtues Cause of Servant of God Father John A. Hardon, S.J.
If you're not familiar with Fr. John Hardon, S.J. read Eucharistic Adoration (an opportunity tonight to make a resolution to visit HIM in Eucharistic Adoration at least once a week-whatever your vocation will allow) and his many other listed sites that are mentioned in this link (scroll down to see all his teachings...etc. WHAT BLESSINGS!)
Why and how do these items appear on eBay?
A "veil tip" to Whispers in the Loggia for this entry Desperately Seeking... Pallium as it led me to check out eBay just in case the thief decided to sell Archbishop of Mobile Oscar Lipscomb's pallium. I have an idea why someone would steal this, but I don't want to go there.
GOD HELP US!
First National Pro-Life Organization - American Citizens Concerned for Life,Inc.
I was rather young and unaware of what was taking place so this info. is pretty interesting, tho unfortunate that an organization such as this had to be formed in order to battle the culture of death.
Saturday, December 30, 2006
Actor - Peter Boyle--Did you know?
Actor's Death Mourned By Many--Including Planned Parenthood
Makes me wonder if actress Patricia Heaton spoke to him? Feminists for Life.
LORD HAVE MERCY ON HIS SOUL!
THIS IS NEW AGE!
As we get ready to begin a new year - the Year of OUR LORD 2007, let us remember that there are many among us who still need the light of HIS TRUTH to shine through their darkness. A darkness that has befallen many through many means of communication. The Internet, conferences, meetings, groups, and media have allowed this darkness to permeate the minds and hearts of many of God's children and thereby allowing it to propagate and do harm to ALL HIS children. It has been allowed to fester and WE ALL have the responsibility to teach HIS truth to all we come in contact. ALL of us have to honor our baptismal vows! What joy we should all have in honoring this vow. What blessings have been bestowed upon each of in proclaiming HIS truth to all. We don't even have to leave our warm homes. We don't have to wear sandals and cross barren deserts to proclaim that truth! Oh, how blessed we are in these most troubling times. It is so very exciting knowing this in my heart.
I pray that all will receive, accept, internalize, and utilize all gifts bestowed upon them by OUR LORD to do HIS will in all things making this coming new year a most HOLY YEAR - A Year of OUR LORD 2007!
Christianity in Bethlehem Possible Extinction
Lord help us!It is a reality that the Christian community is leaving the West Bank and the Gaza Strip at a rapid pace - and it seems that nothing can be done to stop this reality," said Rev. Alex Awad, dean of students at Bethlehem Bible College. "Within 15 years Christians in the Holy Land will be a totally insignificant minority, with just people running the churches and the institutions and no viable Christian community in the Holy Land."
Friday, December 29, 2006
Pope Benedict XVI's Year in Review
He certainly was busy! And was as always bringing HIS truth to many!
Fr. Euteneuer's Weekly Spirit & Life E-Mail Newsletter
Yesterday was the Feast of the Holy Innocents in the liturgical calendar of the Roman Catholic Church. This feast celebrates the deaths of innocent children who literally died for (in place of) Christ and whom the Church has venerated as martyrs officially since about the sixth century. Their feast day has always been located in the Octave of Christmas to emphasize their intimate connection with the baby Jesus. We are reminded on this day of both the fragility of new life and our obligation to protect it and so it is fitting that as we enter this new year I challenge each of you to renew your commitment to the defense of innocent life.
First, contemplate. The Holy Innocents' feast day serves both as a reminder of a tragic historical event and as a grim reality check for those of us who live in this society where abortion is practiced as casually as shopping! A short moment of reflection on this scriptural passage will help us to discern the parallels to the abortion industry in our society: the irrational command of a powerful person to kill, the executioners with blood on their hands, the suffering of the innocent victims and the secondary victims who were scarred forever by the deaths of their children. We also contemplate the truth that "where sin abounds, grace abounds all the more," (Rom 5:20) in order to see how God brings good out of so much evil.
Second, pray. Pray for those who are blinded to this reality and ask God to grant them the grace of conversion. Remember that we are all tainted by this massacre of innocents because our lives are intertwined with the culture of death, so we must pray with humility for the gift of perseverance to bring it to an end. Prayer will bring the power of Christ to bear on this sinful institution of death. He alone can transform the world.
Third, act. God does not work through prayers only. We are His hands and feet in this world so our pro-life resolutions for 2007 have to be very direct and specific; if you are not sure what to do, I have given some suggestions below on how to meet the challenges set before us:
I'm sure there's much more we can all do, but these things are good for starters! I will be praying for you and your families as we finish this year of pro-life election losses and enter into a year full of hope and promise. May the Holy Innocents guide our commitment to be more active in saving their innocent brothers and sisters!
Fr.'s third directive is quite important. Most of us sit on the sidelines watching and allowing others to do the work. (btw...under Fr.'s #3-3 "Speak up in some forum and defend life, be it on the internet, in a letter to the editor, or in conversations with friends, family and co-workers." It's quite easy to blog. Once you set up your blog, you can email/inform family & friends a pro-life spot/bulletin board of information for them to share with others too!)
"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing."
~Edmund Burke
Hacker Con Submits to Spychips
Hackers are paying 10 euros each for the privilege of hanging special homebrew RFID tags around their necks or slapping them on their laptop bags. Every few seconds, each of these "CCC Sputnik" badges reports its owner's position to an array of 35 monitoring stations, and spits out the guinea-pigs' every move over a public XML feed.
Why is the CCC, a venue more commonly associated with RFID cracks and spychip destruction devices, supporting such an invasion of its members' privacy? One of the project's leaders, Milosch Meriac, explains the motivation to create the system was to make obvious what is normally hidden in how our technology tracks us.
"The idea was that most of this surveillance technology slowly faded into our lives, and we accepted them," Meriac says. "(We want to) make it possible to bring it into people's heads."
More on FDA Approved Cloned Food
What's the point if it's not cost-effective? Maybe to continue to desensitize the public to the whole concept? I think that's what it's about. We're asking for trouble if we continue down this slippery slope. Scratch that. We're down it and about to hit rock bottom!It costs about $15,000 to clone a cow, compared to $2,000 for natural breeding. Meanwhile, recent polls show more than half of Americans say they wouldn't buy cloned meat even if they could.
In an International Food Information Council poll (.pdf) in 2006, 58 percent of Americans surveyed said they would be unlikely to buy meat or milk from animal clones even if the FDA deemed the products safe. And earlier this month, a Pew Initiative on Food and Biotechnology poll found that "animal cloning causes great discomfort among American consumers."
The FDA says meat and milk from clones should be subject to the same safety regulations as any other food product, but it sees no need for any special labeling -- a recommendation that's already stirring controversy.
"This is a lose-lose decision by the FDA," said Andrew Kimbrell, executive director at the Center for Food Safety. "People lose, the animals lose, the meat and dairy industry loses because they will lose confidence in their products."
Without special labeling for cloned food, the meat and dairy industry stands to lose up to 15 percent in sales, Kimbrell said,because some people will avoid all meat and dairy if there's a chance some of it could come from clones. "You know Europe and the organic market will refuse (cloned products)," Kimbrell said.
This is good information to pass along to others.
While we continue to celebrate the holidays...
The priests had gathered together to study. The reason for their arrest is unknown. For some time now, the Patriotic Association has been conducting a harsh campaign to clamp down on unofficial communities.
Do you take it for granted that you can get up on Sunday morning or weekday mornings and attend your local parish Mass, with your local parish priest - a U.S. citizen - as celebrant? without any fear?
Prayers for these priests. Oh, Dear Blessed Mother please I beg your intercession for the protection of your sons-priests around the world, most especially these. Oh, St. Maxmilian Kobe please intercede as well on their behalf. Ask our Almighty Father that they please be protected from all harm and to please provide the courage and strength they need to endure their imprisonment.