The Truth Will Set You Free

Children too are a gift from the LORD, the fruit of the womb, a reward. Psam 127:3

2009-09-06T23:27:00.005-04:00

Human nature never ceases to amaze me. Only in an anti-life society, are we repulsed by a family that happily welcomes another baby into their fold. Only in a society that see's children as a burden instead of a blessing do we criticize instead of congratulate the gift of life that proceeds from the love between a husband and wife.

I'm speaking of the Duggar family here who recently announced that they are expecting their 19th child in March 2010. When I hear or read their name, there is usually an ugliness attached to it that rocks me to the core. We hear all this preaching about "choice", but when a married couple who takes responsiblity for their family chooses to add another child to their family, the "choice" is suddenly preposterous. God bless the Duggars for being open to life and sharing it with the world - even when the world stares at them in disgust.

Day 9 of the St. Philomena Novena

2009-08-10T22:30:00.004-04:00

Happy Feast Day of St. Philomena!

Prayer for Each Day during the Novena.

O Glorious Virgin and Martyr, beloved of God, Saint Philomena! I rejoice with thee in the power which God gave thee for the glory of His Name, for the edification His Church, and to reward the merits of thy life and death. I rejoice to see thee so great, so pure, so generous, so faithful to Jesus Christ, and to His Gospel, and so splendidly rewarded in Heaven, and on earth. Attracted by thy example to the practice of solid virtue full of hope at the sight of thy recompense granted to thy merits. I resolve to follow thee in avoiding all evil and in fully obeying what God commands. Help me, O great Saint by thy powerful intercession. Obtain for me particularly, a purity inviolable forever, a strength of soul always invincible in every kind of assault, a generosity which denies no sacrifice to God, and a love as strong as death for the Faith of Jesus Christ, for the Holy Roman Church and for Our Holy Father, the Father of all the Faithful, the Shepherd of shepherds and of their flocks, the Vicar of Jesus Christ over all the world.

With all the fervor of my soul, I implore these graces from thee, and, in addition, I ask these other benefits from thee with equal confidence in obtaining them through thy powerful intercession. (Here tell the Saint what you need, with simplicity, confidence and humility).

Surely that God so good for Whom thou didst give thy blood and thy life that God so good Who is so generous to thee and through thy mediation, so generous with gifts and favors to us, that God so good Who has loved me even unto dying for me, even unto giving me Himself under the Eucharistic appearances, surely He will never be deaf to thy prayers, nor to my appeals, unless it be that He Himself is in some different way seeking to do me good. Full of confidence, I place all my trust in Him and in thee. Amen

NINTH DAY

1. Consider that St. Philomena, having sacrificed everything in this miserable world for Jesus Christ, received back from Himself in this world more than the hundredfold of what He had given! What renown! What power! What glory! What greatness humbled at Her feet! What throngs of pilgrims to Her different Shrines! What festivities in Her honor. What tributes of reverence have been paid to Her! What an ardent longing to get possession of Her relics! Thus precisely does God fulfill His promises. Ah! If only we maintained our promises to Him with the same fidelity! But when we deprive Him of His

glory, do we not perhaps deprive ourselves of great merit and favor both in this world and in the next?... Courage, therefore… Be faithful in order that God may be faithful with you.

2. Today do some little work of mercy in honor of the Saint. Prepare yourself! By a good Confession to receive Our Lord Jesus Christ in a fitting manner in Holy Communion

3. As on the first day.

Let us Pray

O God, who in thy great might didst raise up martyrs even from among the weaker sex, grant, we beseech thee, that we who celebrate the feast of thy blessed Virgin and Martyr, Philomena, may be led by Her example and brought by Her to thee: Through Our Lord Jesus Christ Who, with the Father and the Holy Ghost, liveth and reigneth one God, in perfect Trinity, for ever and ever. Amen.

Day 8 of the St. Philomena Novena

2009-08-10T22:28:00.001-04:00

Prayer for Each Day during the Novena.

EIGHTH DAY

1. Consider that when Saint Philomena died, for love of Jesus Christ, to all the things of this wretched world, she entered into the joy of eternal life… Yes I am certain, she said in Her heart: “the supreme Judge will give me the crown of justice which He has promised me in return for all the fleeting goods which I sacrifice to His Love.” She dies… and behold Her in the tabernacle of God, with the Saints who follow the Lamb… Are these the thought which I try to have when I find myself confronted with some sacrifice?... What impression do thy make on my spirit?... To what side do thy make the balance fall?... Ah! in order to gain all, the Saints used to say: “Let us lose it all”... and what shall I say?

2. Today let us decide on some voluntary sacrifice… Let us do it readily and with a good heart everything in connection with our duties.

3. As on the first day.

Day 7 of the St Philomena Novena

2009-08-09T19:54:00.001-04:00

Prayer for Each Day during the Novena.

SEVENTH DAY

1. Consider that St. Philomena, in dying for Jesus Christ, had to endure the jeers, the sarcasms, the outrages of Her persecutors, of Her executioners and of the majority of the witnesses to Her torture… She was none the less generous, none the less constant, none the less joyous in the public confession of Her faith… If the world gave you a similar chalice to drink would you have enough courage to drain the bitterness of it with the same kind of sentiments? Oh! What do the jokes, the scorn, or the most unjust or bloodiest persecution of the world matter?... Can anything ever dishonor a soul that is honored by God? Fear nothing… Follow out your road… It is leading straight to the possession of eternal glory.

2. Do not allow your heart to be changed if abrupt words are spoken to you, or rough, biting and offensive words, are hurled at you.

3. As on the first day.

Day 6 of the St. Philomena Novena

2009-08-09T19:50:00.002-04:00

Prayer for Each Day during the Novena.

SIXTH DAY

1. Consider that St. Philomena, is dying for Jesus Christ, had to put into practice the maxim of the Savior. “He who does not despise his Father, his mother and even his own life for the love of Me, cannot be called disciple.” She did not hesitate… She sacrificed

everything, no matter how Her blood and Her nature raised their voices in protest. In far less difficult circumstances do we show ourselves to be worthy of Jesus Christ. If at some juncture we were called upon to choose between God and creatures, between grace and nature, between the love of God and the affection of creatures, to whom would we give our preference?... Oh! in the future let us no longer fall away from our dignity as sons of God and disciples of Jesus Christ.

2. Let us endeavor during this day to please only God, or to please creatures solely for God’s sake. Let us remove far from us all disordered affection.

3. As on the first day.

Day 5 of the St. Philomena Novena

2009-08-07T11:28:00.002-04:00

Prayer for Each Day during the Novena.

FIFTH DAY

1. Consider that St. Philomena suffered martyrdom for Jesus Christ… thy wanted to wrest Her Faith from Her… thy wanted to make Her violate Her Baptismal vows, to persuade Her to follow the example of idolaters and apostates. And what does the devil, the world; the flesh and your own heart want from you on so many occasions but the same sort of unfaithfulness? All forms of it are an offence against God. Are these not vain fears, indeed, which make you lacking something in your duties, or which cause you to betray your faith?... O my God, what a shameful slackness!...Take courage at last…

2. To overcome human respect, say to yourself from time to time: It is better to please God than men.

3. As on the first day.

Day 4 of the St. Philomena Novena

2009-08-06T16:19:00.002-04:00

Prayer for Each Day during the Novena.

FOURTH DAY

1. Consider that St. Philomena was a Martyr… that she had to suffer… to suffer much… to suffer even unto death, and that she showed an invincible patience in these torments…Are suffering and patience invariably found together in you? You have to suffer rarely… to suffer a little… never to suffer to the extent of dying from it. Now whence is the reason for so much weakness on your part? Do you not want to remedy that weakness? What sort of remedy will you choose?

2. Suffer patiently those few sorrows oppositions and pains which the Lord may be pleased to send you this day.

3. As on the first day.

Day 3 of the St. Philomena Novena

2009-08-05T14:12:00.002-04:00

Prayer for Each Day during the Novena.

THIRD DAY

1. Consider that St. Philomena preserved and increased the love which she had for chastity by means of prayer which is the abundant source of spiritual life… by means of the Sacraments, wherein the soul is washed in the Blood of Jesus Christ, and is nourished with His Sacred Body, divine gem of Christian chastity… by remembering that Her members were the members of the Body of Jesus Christ, and that Her body was the temple of the Holy Ghost… It is not true that you have these same means at your disposal? What use do you ask of them?

2. Redouble the fervor of all your prayers… Say to yourself from time to time. My members are those of Jesus Christ… the temple of the Holy Ghost.

The Seventeen Evidences of a Lack of Humility

2009-08-04T16:46:00.003-04:00

The Seventeen Evidences of a Lack of Humility

The Servant of God, Blessed Josemaria Escriva once compiled an inventory of pride so exhaustive that it is like something written on the shield of a soldier who has learned it all in true combat. Saint John Vianney (Cure of Ars) wrote the same thing in shorthand when he signed his name to a clerical petition. His fellow priests circulated a petition accusing St. Vianney of sensationalism, ignorance, and ostentatious poverty and austerities. As it was addressed to all clergy, St. Vianney got a hold of it, read it, and promptly signed it. By 1834 the local priests themselves were going to St. Vianney for confession.

The seventeen evidences of a lack of humility are:

1. To think that what one says or does is better than what others say or do

2. To always want to get your own way

3. To argue with stubbornness and bad manners whether you are right or wrong

4. To give your opinion when it has not been requested or when charity does not demand it

5. To look down on another's point of view

6. Not to look on your gifts and abilities as lent

7. Not to recognize that you are unworthy of all honors and esteem, not even of the earth you walk on and things you possess

8. To use yourself as an example in conversations

9. To speak badly of yourself so that others will think well of you or contradict you

10. To excuse yourself when you are corrected

11. To hide humiliating faults from your spiritual director, so that he will not change the impression he has of you

12. To take pleasure in praise and compliments

13. To be saddened because others are held in higher esteem

14. To refuse to perform inferior tasks

15. To seek to stand out

16. To refer in conversation to your honesty, genius, dexterity, or professional prestige

17. To be ashamed because you lack certain goods

Day 2 of the St. Philomena Novena

2009-08-04T16:41:00.002-04:00

Prayer for Each Day during the Novena.

SECOND DAY

1. Consider that St. Philomena was and did not cease to be a virgin… Because she knew how to control the corrupt desires of the flesh… How to preserve, in the use of Her

senses, the modesty of Jesus Christ, holding aloof from a deceitful world and from dangerous occasions. Do you imagine Her in all that? What are the sources of your temptations… of your weaknesses… of your anxieties… of your falls? Try to eliminate these sources.

2. Fly from everything that has injured you. Practice what you have had the misfortune to neglect with regard to purity.

3. Assist at Holy Mass in Her honor and visit one of Her statues or pictures, if you can do so conveniently.

Happy Feast Day of St. John Vianney the Cure d’ Ars

2009-08-04T16:28:00.003-04:00

On this Feast Day of St. John Vianney, please remember to pray for priests. Try to think of all the priests whom you have encountered in your life. The priest who baptised you, the priest who married you and your parish priest - to name a few. Don't forget, you can receive an Indulgence today during this Year for Priests, go to the USCCB for details.

Dear Saint John Vianney,

Your childhood dream was to be a Priest,

to win souls for God.

You endured years of toil and humiliation

to attain the Priesthood.

You became a priest truly after God's own heart,

outstanding in humulity and poverty;

prayer and mortification.

Totally devoted to the service of God's people.

The Church has exalted you as model

and patron saint of all Parish priests,

trusting that your example and prayers

will help them to live up

to the high dignity of their vocation

to be faithful servants of God's people,

to be perfect imitators of Christ the Saviour

Who came not to be served but to serve,

to give His Life in ransom for many.

Pray that God may give to His Church today

many more priests after His own Heart.

Pray for all the priests under your patronage,

that they may be worthy representatives

of Christ the Good Shepherd.

May they wholeheartedly devote themselves

to prayer and penance;

be examples of humility and poverty;

shining modelss of holiness;

tireless and powerful preachers of the Word of God;

zealous dispensers of God's Grace in the Sacraments.

May their loving devotion to Jesus in the Eucharist

and to Mary His Mother

be the Twin Fountains of fruitfulness for their ministry.

Amen.

St Philomena Novena Begins Today!

2009-08-03T10:13:00.005-04:00

Tomorrow, August 4th, St. John Vianney's Feast day marks the end of our nine day Novena to him.

Today, August 3rd, is when we begin a nine day Novena composed by St. John Vianney to St. Philomena, as her feast day is August 11th. Please join me in this powerful Novena and let us pray especially for world peace and the conversion of sinners.

Prayer for Each Day during the Novena.

FIRST DAY

1. Consider that St. Philomena was a virgin… A virgin in such a world and in such an age… A virgin in spite of persecution… A virgin until death… What an example! Can I meditate upon it without blushing? What is the cause of my confusion? What is the remedy for it?

2. Humiliate yourself many times for the reason that has made you blush, remembering Her virginal purity.

3. Assist at Holy Mass in Her honor and visit one of Her statues or pictures, if you can do so conveniently.

Day Book

2009-07-14T08:08:00.008-04:00

The Simple Woman's Day Book

Outside my window...

Lot's of sun - looks hot and humid

I am thinking...

I am never going to finish these lesson plans in time for school to begin

I am thankful for...

My faith in God

From the learning rooms...

Preparing to teach Gavin how to read

From the kitchen...

Simplicity for the next couple of days while Dh is out of town

I am wearing...

A t-shirt and capri's

I am creating...

Lesson plans

I am going...

Maybe just outside (with a big cold glass of sweet tea) to watch the kids run around the yard.

I am reading...

Mothers of the Saints

I am hoping...

Summer will move just a little slower

I am hearing...

"The Magic School Bus" on the television behind me

Around the house...

I'm playing with the idea of turning the sitting room in our bedroom into the school room. We are seriously running out of space in the dining room. I am realizing I can't have the best of both worlds...

One of my favorite things...

Sweet tea in the afternoon heat

A few plans for the rest of the week:

Laundry and packing for our trip back "home"

Here is picture thought I am sharing...

Suzi Homemaker's Market Tote Giveaway at Buy By Moms!

2009-07-04T13:06:00.003-04:00

Check out this fabulous Market Tote created by Suzie Homemaker. She is giving it away to a Buy By Mom subscriber. If you are a bag addict like me, you'll love the Market Tote and other items she has for sale at very reasonably prices. Support a mom owned business!

Wedding Anniversary

2009-04-17T08:46:00.006-04:00

Today, I feel so honored to be able to be celebrating sixteen years of Wedded Bliss with my husband. God has truly blessed our marriage and we are thrilled to be expecting our 7th child next month. He has taken two immature, self-centered children and grown us into the Christ-centered couple we are today. Thank you, God.
Here is a prayer a friend of mine sent me yesterday. It is so beautiful and worth sharing with the world. We all need to remember to keep our husband in our daily prayers.

Lord, bless and preserve my cherished husband, whom You have given me: Let his life be long and blessed, comfortable and holy; let me ever be a blessing and a comfort to him, a sharer in all his sorrows, a consolation in all the accidents and trials of life; make me forever lovable in his eyes and forever dear to him; unite his heart to mine in fondest love and holiness, and mine to him in all sweetness, charity, and submission. Keep me from all ungentleness; make me humble and obedient, that we may delight in each other according to Your blessed word. May both of us rejoice in You, having our portion in the love and service of God forever.
Amen.

Imagine

2009-01-23T10:01:00.001-05:00

2008-10-17T08:26:00.002-04:00

From America Needs Fatima:

An individual put 40 videos on YouTube showing Consecrated Hosts being stepped on, burned, stapled, smoked and nailed to a stick. He even fed the Holy Eucharist to ducks and flushed It down the toilet. Horrific!On his site, the blasphemer says:

“From now on, one Eucharist desecration a day, and each day a different method. If they want blasphem[y], we'll give 'em blasphem[y].”

Since I know you would like to stop these desecrations, I urge you to send your Stop Host Desecration e-petition to YouTube. GO HERE NOW to send your email petition.To make this petition effective, I need to mobilize over 100,000 Catholics immediately. So please send your best gift to help me spread this petition to 100,000 Catholics over the Internet today. If thousands of Catholics speak up, I think YouTube will pull the 40 desecration videos, because YouTube policy says:We encourage free speech and defend everyone's right to express unpopular points of view. But we don't permit hate speech … And desecrating the Holy Eucharist is “hate speech,” in my book.

Please send YouTube your STOP HOST DESECRATION petition today. GO HERE NOW to send your email petition.

God bless you!
Robert E. Ritchie
Executive Director

Fr. Corapi Speaks!

2008-10-09T11:02:00.002-04:00

More election talk. Fantastic videos, please view both!

Death Wish Part I

Death Wish Part II

For Us Catholic Homeschool Moms

2008-10-08T10:58:00.004-04:00

This is an excellent website for moms like me who are always searching for a Saint feast-day coloring page. This very talented woman makes her own. Fabulous resource!!

Bubble Tea

2008-10-01T10:15:00.003-04:00

So I thought this looked interesting. I'm going to make it tonight. I'll let you know!

I've been quiet lately...

2008-09-30T17:36:00.006-04:00

I am ~~patiently,~~ ~~lovingly~~... okay, grumpily trying to get through the dog days of early pregnancy nausea. It's good to try and keep focus on what I'm doing and why I feel like this. Sometimes pictures like this one will help ...

The Catholic Vote

2008-09-12T09:40:00.009-04:00

I've heard recently that the Catholic vote could make or break this election. If Catholics voted true to their faith, they would not be voting for Obama. Nothing comes before innocent human life. I'm speaking of the pre-born babies here. I'll get back to this later.

I also want to point something out that I keep hearing arguments on. I hear arguments for the innocent lives being lost in the war and that we need to end this war and that's what's important. I understand that there is a war going on and those soldier's lives are very important too - I'm not saying they are not. BUT, there is a difference between a soldier and a pre-born baby. Those soldiers have a choice. They chose to place their lives in harms way to protect their country. This is such an honorable thing to do. Praise God we have true American heroes who are willing to sacrifice their lives for this country and all it stands for. I'll be the first to thank them. But, that is not in the same league as a baby who has "0" choice in the matter of life or death. Unfortunately, these babies lives are sacrificed for their own parents' selfish reasons. Nothing they had a had a choice in.

Back to Catholics who need to be true to their faith. Morally, a Cathlic can not vote for someone who thinks that murdering an innocent baby is a choice. Are you kidding me? It is incredibly obsurd. Let me see... what was that commandment from God again? Oh yeah... it is number five (or number six for the Protestants), "you shall not kill". Mark my words, if we continue on this route, it will soon be a choice as to whether or not we should keep our aged parents alive due to "quality of life". It's coming. If we have no respect for the life of a little child, how can we have respect for the life of an old, very dependant human? It all boils down to sanctity of human life. The sanctity of human life is the root of all things. Once we have that respect, everything else will naturally fall into place. The domino effect. Voting for life is a Catholic's moral obligation. Peace be with you.

Investigate Before You Vaccinate

2008-09-10T20:19:00.007-04:00

Did You Know?

In a natural dose of childhood illness germs make initial contact with the immune system in the mucous membranes of the nose and throat. When the vaccine is injected directly into the body the immune response is different to that of a natural infection and results at best in waning artificial immunity.

Breast milk is the best immune stimulator for your baby during the first year of life, and helps protect against infections, diabetes and some cancers.

A high level of antibodies in the blood indicates exposure has occurred but does not signify immunity. A clinical episode of a childhood illness can create lifelong immunity without creating antibodies.

Vaccines contain preservatives, other viruses, mercury, aluminium, formaldehyde and detectable particles from animal cells and serum.

The polio vaccine is cultured on the kidneys of monkeys and the cells of aborted foetuses. The rubella, chickenpox and hepatitis A vaccines are cultured on the cells of aborted foetuses.

The tuberculosis, whooping cough and diphtheria vaccines were introduced after these diseases had declined up to 90%. Scarlet fever declined with no vaccine being introduced.

In the 1990/91 outbreak of whooping cough, 63% of the children with whooping cough in the Wellington area who were old enough to be, were "fully" vaccinated.

The BCG vaccine is given mainly to Maori and Polynesian infants within a few days of birth, even though studies, including one undertaken by the World Health Organisation, show that people who are vaccinated with the BCG are more likely to get TB than those that are not.

In the 1991 USA measles outbreak, over half the deaths were vaccinated, and most deaths were in "immunocompromised" people.

In the 1994 Australian measles outbreak, three of the four deaths were vaccinated.

There are over 35 organisations worldwide similar to The Immunisation Awareness Society.

I can not stress how important it is to research the facts about vaccines before you choose to vaccinate your child(ren). The truth is out there...you just have to really look at the facts. Keep your mind open to both sides and make an edcated decision. Don't just vaccinate because your doctor says you have to.

The flu vaccine for instance, still contains a Mercury based preservative called Thimerosal as well as Aluminum. Both Aluminum and Mercury are extremely toxic. Just do research on those particular substances and you'll learn a lot! Instead of getting a flu shot, you would be better off eating healthy (real) foods and taking your vitamins to boost your immune system. Aoid sugar and high carbohydrate pre-packed foods. These will lower your immune system and make it harder for your body to fight off the germs you are exposed to.

Happy healthy eating!

My Lord and My God!

2008-07-03T17:12:00.001-04:00

Today is the Feast of St. Thomas the Apostle. As I contemplated St Thomas (or "Doubting Thomas") and his famous words this morning at Mass, it hit me at what grace I have received - unlike Doubting Thomas, I have not seen God, but I have such enormous faith and trust in Him and His Church. No need for an explanation. A gift that can only be given by God Himself. I then thanked God with all my heart for the gift of His Church and the gift of the Eucharist. It always boggles my mind at how we can actually receive Jesus - Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity - into our own bodies. Jesus is actually present in us physically. It is at this time that I am always in awe of God. There have been so many times that I can really feel Him. It is such a calming peace that comes over me - even with the kids tugging on me and whispering "Are we done yet?", I am able to savor those few minutes of paradise on earth. I found a beautiful quote from one of our Early Church Fathers, John Chrysostom, that is a wonderful meditation on faith and the Eucharist: "Let us then in everything believe God, and gainsay Him in nothing, though what is said seem to be contrary to our thoughts and senses, but let His word be of higher authority than both reasonings and sight. Thus let us do in the mysteries also, not looking at the things set before us, but keeping in mind His sayings. For His word cannot deceive, but our senses are easily beguiled. That hath never failed, but this in most things goeth wrong. Since then the word saith, 'This is my body,' let us both be persuaded and believe, and look at it with the eyes of the mind. For Christ hath given nothing sensible, but though in things sensible yet all to be perceived by the mind. So also in baptism, the gift is bestowed by a sensible thing, that is, by water; but that which is done is perceived by the mind, the birth, I mean, and the renewal. For if thou hadst been incorporeal, He would have delivered thee the incorporeal gifts bare; but because the soul hath been locked up in a body, He delivers thee the things that the mind perceives, in things sensible. How many now say, I would wish to see His form, the mark, His clothes, His shoes. Lo! Thou seest Him, Thou touchest Him, thou eatest Him. And thou indeed desirest to see His clothes, but He giveth Himself to thee not to see only, but also to touch and eat and receive within thee." John Chrysostom, Gospel of Matthew, Homily 82 (A.D. 370).

I also love the quote from Justin Martyr where we first here of the Early Fathers speak of Transubstantiation by using the word "tansmutation": "For not as common bread and common drink do we receive these; but in like manner as Jesus Christ our Saviour, having been made flesh and blood for our salvation, so likewise have we been taught that the food which is blessed by the prayer of His word, and from which our blood and flesh by transmutation are nourished, is the flesh and blood of that Jesus who was made flesh." Justin Martyr, First Apology, 66 (A.D. 110-165).

Meditating on the Eucharist is such an enlightening experience. If you haven't read it yet, I highly suggest the book titled "Lamb's Supper" by Scott Hahn. Dr. Hahn always makes the scriptures come alive and with this particular book, you'll grow in a deeper appreciation for the Mass and Eucharist.

Attachment Parenting at it's Finest

2008-07-03T16:29:00.000-04:00

I got this photo in a recent email that contained of a ton of animal pictures. I had to snatch it because it reminded me of - well, ME. I've always considered myself to be a marsupial mom - you know, a baby is always attached to me in some way, shape or form. I've had to try out every type of sling, wrap, or baby carrier invented by man and moms. This picture also brought to mind a picture of Jesus carrying me in a sling. It's cool visual isn't it? Some days I think His back will break with as much as I count on Him to carry me through a day. But, like a patient parent, he doesn't care. He loves to do it- that's what He's here for. To teach us, comfort us and love us in our humanity. It is so reassuring to know we can always count on Him - He really is an attached parent.