Asking for donations.

I'm getting a lot of Lenten requests for donations.

I bet everyone is getting tons of fund raising requests from charities and religious groups who depend on the good will of donors to support their apostolates and help them to continue their good works.

Many individuals do the same thing.

I would suggest to individuals and communities who accept donations that they send some form of acknowledgement that they received the gift or monetary donation(s), not to mention a thank you note.  An email seems acceptable, especially since mailing several thank you notes could get expensive these days - although, if the benefactor has no email, then a thank you note seems a necessity.  At the very least, offer some form of acknowledgement to your benefactors.   

"Gratitude is the most exquisite form of courtesy." - Jacques Maritain

Now I'm really worried about the Pope...

Pope Benedict XVI at Fatima***

He once spoke about the wolves...

Asking Catholics, "Pray for me, that I may not flee for fear of the wolves."

Now, perhaps even his resignation isn't enough for them.

Some don't want him to remain in the Vatican at all.  Others are saying he must reside there, for privacy, security, and immunity.  Story here.

Continuing to pray with and for the Holy Father and his intentions.

***We would be mistaken to think that Fatima’s prophetic mission is complete.

Here there takes on new life the plan of God which asks humanity from the beginning: “Where is your brother Abel […] Your brother’s blood is crying out to me from the ground!” (Gen 4:9). Mankind has succeeded in unleashing a cycle of death and terror, but failed in bringing it to an end… In sacred Scripture we often find that God seeks righteous men and women in order to save the city of man and he does the same here, in Fatima, when Our Lady asks: “Do you want to offer yourselves to God, to endure all the sufferings which he will send you, in an act of reparation for the sins by which he is offended and of supplication for the conversion of sinners?” (Memoirs of Sister Lúcia, I, 162).

 

At a time when the human family was ready to sacrifice all that was most sacred on the altar of the petty and selfish interests of nations, races, ideologies, groups and individuals, our Blessed Mother came from heaven, offering to implant in the hearts of all those who trust in her the Love of God burning in her own heart. At that time it was only to three children, yet the example of their lives spread and multiplied, especially as a result of the travels of the Pilgrim Virgin, in countless groups throughout the world dedicated to the cause of fraternal solidarity. May the seven years which separate us from the centenary of the apparitions hasten the fulfilment of the prophecy of the triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, to the glory of the Most Holy Trinity. - BXVI Homily at Fatima, May 13, 2010

 

Our Hero! Mary Jo Copeland

Congratulations Mary Jo!

WASHINGTON — Mary Jo Copeland, the 70-year-old founder of Sharing and Caring Hands, spends most mornings in prayer, then at her shelter helping Minneapolis’ poor and homeless get food, or beds, or glasses or bus passes, or whatever else they might need that they wouldn’t otherwise have the means to afford.

 

Fridays are normally Copeland’s day off. She spent this one at the White House, receiving the Citizens Medal, one of the highest civilian honors in the United States from President Barack Obama.

 

Obama honored Copeland and her fellow medal winners in an East Room ceremony Friday morning, inviting each on stage for a handshake, a hug and a photo. When it was Copeland’s turn, Obama draped his arm over her shoulder while a soldier read her citation.

 

“Driven by her faith and a fierce commitment to her community, Mary Jo Copeland has spent more than a quarter-century lifting up the undeserved,” he said. “Alongside her husband, she grew Sharing and Caring Hands from a small storefront operation in downtown Minneapolis into a charity that provides thousands of men, women and children the chance to live in health and dignity.”

That’s when Copeland, thinking of the poor and “what God’s accomplished in me,” began to cry. Obama looked down at her and briefly rested his chin on the top of her head.  

“It was an emotional moment for me to realize that the President of the United States has acknowledged the work,” Copeland said in an interview. “It’s just very humbling to me, very touching to me, and I just thought of all the poor and all the people that I‘m always with, and it just was a very beautiful thing.” - Source

Mary Jo Copeland is the real deal.

 

Now this is a proper Lenten Cruise...

Carnival Cruise Ship Triumph.

Passengers with makeshift tents on the deck of the Carnival cruise ship.  

 

 

Passengers insist a Lenten cruise can indeed be a penitential and rewarding experience.  Story here. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All those cruise detractors

can just shut up now!

 

 

 

 

We prepare ourselves spectacularly for a short trip, but how are we organizing our timeless final voyage? - St. Augustine: H/T to Fr. Z

We made it! We're not dead!

 

The Pope on ecumenism...

"And, finally, ecumenism. I don't want to go into these problems now, but it was obvious that―especially after the 'passion' of Christians during the age of Nazism―that Christians could find unity, or could at least look for it, but it was also clear that only God can give unity. And we are still continuing along this path." - The Joy of the Council

I'm reminded of the film, The Hiding Place.  The Christians seemed to be one in the camps, suffering, together with the Jews - the film demonstrates that deep sense of unity - even communion - so it seemed to me.  The film helped me understand better what the Holy Father states here.  True, perhaps some of the Baptists, the Witnesses and other sects remained aloof, yet they were united in suffering.  
 

Wow! A meteor strike in Russia!

More photos here

Seriously, a meteor struck in Russia today!  They believe it is unrelated to the asteroid however. 

A terrifying meteorite shower left 1,000 people injured, buildings devastated and the mobile network wiped out when it hit Russia this morning.
Brightly burning rocks could be seen for miles as they crashed at around 9.20am local time and one bystander described it 'like a scene from the Armageddon movie.'
The meteorite landed in a lake near Chebarkul, a town in the neighbouring Chelyabinsk region.
The city of Chelyabinsk, 900 miles east of Moscow and close to the Kazakhstan border, took the brunt of the super sonic impact.
Many of the injured had bloodied faces and one child's back was seen covered in blood.
Tim O'Brien, associate director of the University of Manchester's Jodrell Bank Observatory, said the injuries were caused when the meteor created a sonic boom.
'This reasonably large chunk of rock was moving faster than the speed of sound, maybe 20,000 miles per hour. It made a sonic boom in the atmosphere, and that hit buildings and shattered windows. That is what seems to have caused the injuries,' he explained.
However, there were no reports of fatalities and it was not immediately clear if any people were struck by fragments. - Finish reading here.
 

Did I predict this? Or what?

First the pope, then the lightning strike at St. Peter's, and then the Ball of Redemption!  I'm the new Veronica Leuken!

What?

We'd like to start organizing

pilgrimages to his house,

but can't guarantee he'll answer the door.

Editor's note:  Just last night I was reading about the meteor that struck in Siberia in 1908 and thought of posting about it on my Ball of Redemption post, just for fun, but since the dates didn't match up, I decided not to... and then a meteor strikes again today in Russia!   The metal fence around my yard just turned gold!  I know!

The Ball of Redemption Flies By Today...

ACTION ALERT!

Today, February 15, 2013 marks the passage of asteroid 2012 DA14 through the Earth-moon system.

IMPORTANT!  Close all of your windows, pull the shades, light the candles.  Don't go near the windows or answer the door.
 

For more details go here and here.

 

 

 

 

"You're supposed to stay indoors

for 3 days, so I figure just

until Sunday.". 

 

 

The locutionist speaks... A Marian Pope: "The Cardinals will meet to elect a pope ..."

These locutions are from January of 2012

A Pope Son

So, I will stand at the side of another son, a human son, whom I will lift up to the papacy. No one will doubt who it is. I will not let him stay in the shadows (even though at present he is covered with the greatest of shadows and is hidden in my heart). I will bring him forth for all to see. He will acknowledge completely that I alone have lifted him up to the papacy. I will put my seal upon him. He will act only in my name. He will have a Marian papacy, rooted totally in my promises, especially in the words that I spoke at Fatima. With this pope, the Age of Mary will come to its total height and will forever be upon the lampstand until the end of time.

Hidden But Promised

When this is accomplished, all the light and power which I have placed in the hearts of many come to fulfillment. When I fulfill this promise, those who have pushed aside my devotions will see their foolishness. I say to all, “Pray for this pope son of mine. He is hidden deeply in my heart because I want nothing to harm him. Pray that all the startling events take place so that he is raised aloft. In him the nations will rejoice”. - Messages from Locutionist shared by Spiritual Advisor Monsignor Essef

I know!

It doesn't exactly coincide with my shower prediction... BUT!

But seriously, I truly was thinking the next pope would have some connection to Fatima.  Which is why I thought of Bertone.  Quite seriously, the locutions cited are interesting, don't you agree?  So is the German calendar cartoon.

I've given up trying to figure it out. 

H/T Fr. Longenecker - his com-box.

Art: Oddly enough, a comic illustration published in a German calendar back in 2011 seems to have predicted Benedict XVI's abdication.  The illustration, made available to you above, states that the Pope would resign/quit his job after winning the lottery, exclaiming: “Holy straw sack! Tomorrow I quit!” Source.  [Needless to say, Vatican spokes-models were quick to deny that is why he resigned.]

* * *

One more serious locution from Monsignor Essef's spiritual directee:

Now I will come to the central point so there will be no mistake. The Cardinals will meet to elect a pope but an extraordinary intervention of God will occur that will alert the whole world to the special nature of this office. They will seek to discern this intervention, to grasp what is the will of God, but everything will not be clear at first. Some, however, will speak in divine wisdom and the search will begin to find the one whom God wants to raise up. He will not come forward at first, even though he knows that he is chosen by God. He will wait until the discussion is concluded and the Cardinals are settled. Then new manifestations will occur which will signal clearly the one whom the heavenly Father wants as his Pope. This will be a complete surprise to the world and to the Church but not to the one upon whom the mantle falls. This is my chosen son, the one whom I have picked. I want all of this to happen in a startling manner so the world and the Church know that this one was chosen by heaven, by God and not by men. He will be prepared because I will have prepared him. He will be the pope of Fatima and bring to fruition all of the gifts of Fatima, just in time to prepare the Church and the world for the Satanic onslaught. - Source

"He will not come forward at first..."

What could that mean?  Someone outside the College of Cardinals?  Someone not available until after the Lenten Retreat at Sea Cruise?

I'm speechless!

 

 

 

Why will this Papal conclave need to follow the letter of the law? As regards the 15 day waiting period, that is?

Human precepts...

The Pope has set the date for his resignation - it isn't as if he died unexpectedly, and Cardinals around the world have to scramble to get to Rome within 15 days to convene the conclave to elect a new Pope.  Why leave the Holy See sede vacante any longer than it needs to be?  Why not begin the conclave a day or two after Pope Benedict leaves office?

That way my non-mystical prophecy might work out.

What?

THURSDAY MORNING UPDATE!

This just in from a source close to the Cathedral of St. Paul:

"The fifteen day waiting period is apparently necessary to get administrative business in order - it is more about vacancy than death or resignation..."

Whatever. 

I concluded that if the Cardinals convened the conclave earlier, schismatics could claim the new pope was elected in an illegal conclave, which would lead to an anti-conclave and, and, and an anti-pope.

NB: All is not lost however, my shower prediction might have meant that the conclave will convene on 3/13/13... and after Cardinal Bertone is elected, he will assume the title of Pius XIII.  Oh, and the 3 days darkness could be mitigated if everyone behaves.


It could happen.

Yeah!  Me, Voris and Zuhlsdorf

are gonna be there to make sure

it's done right!

 

Benedict XVI... the last days of his pontificate: Hanging on his every word

"It is a time of particular commitment in our spiritual journey..."

I think it is a wonderful opportunity to be instructed, directed, and guided by a most holy Pope.  The last allocutions of his papacy, speaking as always, from his heart.  I think his words today at the General Audience are especially moving... for me at least.

Reflecting on Jesus' temptations in the desert, is "an invitation to each of us to respond to a fundamental question: What is truly important in our lives? … The core of the three temptations that Jesus faced is the proposal to instrumentalize God, to use Him for personal interests, for self-glory and success. In essence, it is putting oneself in God's place, eliminating Him from our existence and making Him seem superfluous. … Giving God the first place is a path that each Christian has to undertake. 'Conversion' … means following Jesus, so that His Gospel becomes the practical guide of our lives. … It means recognizing that we are creatures who depend on God, on His love ...This requires us to make our decisions in light of the Word of God. Today it is no longer possible to be a Christian as a simple consequence of living in a society that has Christian roots. Even those who come from a Christian family … must renew daily their decision to be Christian, to give God the first place in the face of the temptations continuously suggested by a secularized culture, in the face of the criticism of many of their contemporaries."
[...]
"In our age, there are more than a few conversions that are seen as the return of those who, after a Christian education, perhaps a superficial one, have turned away from the faith for years, then later rediscover Christ and His Gospel. … In this time of Lent, in the Year of Faith, we renew our commitment to the path of conversion, overcoming the tendency to be wrapped up in ourselves and to make room for God, seeing our everyday reality with His eyes. Conversion means not being wrapped up in ourselves in the search for success, prestige, or social position, but rather of making each day, in the small things, truth, faith in God, and love, become what is most important," the Pope concluded. - VIS
 

When someone we know and love dies, we wish we had him near, that we might listen more attentively to his every word.  We are fortunate to be able to savor this time with Benedict while he is still our Holy Father, to take to heart his every word as Vicar of Christ.  I think it is a special grace for us.  More important than discussions of legal procedures and candidates to replace him.  Truth be told, with Benedict XVI still alive, I cannot imagine a suitable successor - I can't even desire one.

+

Etty Hillesum

*The Pope also cited the case of the intellectual Etty Hillesum (1914-1943), "a young Dutch woman of Jewish origin, who died in Auschwitz. Initially far from God, she discovered Him by looking deep within herself, writing: 'There is a well deep within me. And God is that well.' … In her scattered and restless life, she rediscovered God in the midst of the great tragedy of the twentieth century, the Shoah."

   *  Read more about Etty Hillesum here.

Ash Wednesday... At Downton Abbey

"Well, seeing we have a 'Left-footer' in the house,

I thought the least I could do is accessorise appropriately!"

New! Papal election prophecy!

Seriously: This Just In:

The new pope will be elected on 3/13/2013 after 3 days of darkness and he will take the name Pius XIII!

I was in the shower and it just came to me.



It could happen.

There's no way to verify that!

 

 

This just in! Mystery quote of the day.

Who is the man in black?

"I am going to have to go to Rome, sooner or later. This papal resignation and the impending conclave may change my life around a bit. I will put here, again, the waving flag button for donations I will earmark for travel, though I will probably issue a plea soon."

I'd maybe avoid the cruise and fly over.

 

Why Pope Benedict XVI resigned... the real story?

My Italian friends have been asking.

Linda's cousin Sam thinks there's 'more to it!'  I told them to call Lino if they didn't believe me.

I think it is what it is.  The Holy Father is resigning, retiring.  He explained why and I believe him and admire his courage in doing so.

I love conspiracy theories though.

Remember when there was talk of Monsignor Ganswein no longer acting as the Pope's secretary?  That he would be leaving?  Here's what I think about that:  The Holy Father was probably looking for a good position/new job for Ganswein - to sort of set him up in a decent position after the retirement.  And some little Z-cleric working in the office overheard something and speculated that Georg was leaving - never considering that it was the Pope who would be leaving! 

The standard conspiracy theory seems to me to be that the Holy Father is seriously ill and doesn't want anyone to know.  That seems logical.  He wants to spare the Church having to watch another pope's agony.  I still think it is what it is - if there was more drama, Benedict would have said so.

The Warning!

This isn't exactly a conspiracy theory, but the abrupt resignation certainly seems to put the damper on the Garabandal messages - and I expect there are other prophecies that get flushed out with this pope's resignation. Just imagine however, if the coming asteroid would trigger The Warning which would correspond with an 'event in the Church' ... the 'event' being the resignation of the pope?!!!

I know!

The two pillars.

I always thought Benedict was probably the pope of the prophecy of John Bosco as well as the pope of the Fatima Third Secret.  I think I read too much into those - our own devotion and expectations always color our interpretations of such things.  The Church has already interpreted the Third Secret, proving our private embellishments have little to no bearing on what may have been predicted.  Then there are the prophecies of Malachy...  "Predictions are subject to change" should probably be printed on all private revelation dust jackets.

Likewise, titles and legacy may be better left to history to determine.  "The Pope of Christian Unity" - is one example which may have been slightly premature.  Not that Pope Benedict's efforts haven't been heroic - and he certainly has accomplished much more than any other pope in that regard.

The pope won't be fleeing Rome.

I forgot which prophecy predicted that the Pope will flee Rome during the tribulation, but I propose this is why Benedict will remain at the Vatican, albeit residing in a monastery there:  To squash any interpretation that he had to leave Rome ...  I see it as a possible 'one-up' on that conspiracy theory.  Although I seriously doubt anyone at the Vatican takes these crackpot theories into consideration.

Great expectations.

Human nature seeks stability.  The resignation of a pope shakes us up.  We cling to human traditions, as today's Gospel demonstrates - in this case, most of us cling to the tradition a pope is not supposed to resign.  Some may even mistake it for dogma.  Christ teaches us otherwise, surprising us and renewing us - even though we do not want to have our routine and preconceptions on how things should be upset or challenged.  I think we like conspiracy theories because they allow us to try and make sense of the twists and turns in our belief system and institutions which we find otherwise incomprehensible.

God is good.  The Holy Spirit always reminds us that our stability here on earth is in Christ and His Church.


Song choice for this post here.

What?

H/T to Mons. GG
 

Benedict XVI

Our Holy Father knows what is wrong and loves the Church more than himself.  He knows what is necessary for Holy Church. 

I love him so much.

The Church, we, are fortunate and blessed to have known him.

I'm still very sad.

I never thought I could feel so sad...

Of all the popes in my life, I loved him the most.

Look at Ganswein...

I call it devastated.

Today's Top Stories: February 11, 2013

In reality, Tommy would be lucky to get out of there with his shirt.

Caption:

"Time to get up for footman school, Poodle."

Downton Abbey is historically inaccurate ...and impossible.

Really!

So they overlook Thomas' homosexuality - a crime in those days as well as something considered so vile as to be never spoken of in polite company - and yet they railroad out of town Ethel, a former prostitute, illegitimate mother, now reformed and rehabilitated, working as a housekeeper/cook for one of the relatives.  Oh the scandal.  The Lord of the manor even jokes with his valet how he had to fight off kisses from amorous fellow students during his college days.  He then defends Thomas as born that way and unable to help himself and goes so far as to promote him to 2nd Butler.

Really!

What does Janet Smith have to say about that?

I did not know...

Dear friend...


One of my favorite bloggers and dear friend of this blog, Rosalind, died last September.  We all knew her as Shadowlands.

I just found out.

I'm so sorry.

Please pray for her.

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

Now that Pope Benedict XVI has resigned...

What about all those mugs and the other gift items?



What?

THIS JUST IN:  NEW PRODUCTS JUST ADDED!

I know!
 

All of these Popes - yet Mother Angelica is still with us.

Isn't that special.

Mother was born during the reign of Pius XI.  The next pope will be the 8th pope in her lifetime.

Quelle surprise! Papal resignation.

Abdication.

I just came online and, and, and, 

Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI is resigning.

What a surprise. 

A shock really.

See, I told you I don't read newspapers or watch TV or listen to the radio - I only found out about this as I came online late this morning.

Wow!  Popes don't do that very often.

I'm stunned.

I wonder what he will wear? 

Seriously.

I'm sad now. 

I love him.

Get out all your prophecy books.
 
Attention all mystics! 

What are your voices saying?

The blogosphere has to be boiling over.


I bet he'll get a cat now.


I feel bereft...

all my prayers for the Holy Father.
 

First song that popped into my head...

Carry On 

Our Lady of Lourdes

 

This feast always fills me with joy.  I have many fond memories of Lourdes.

Making reparation.

Opus Bono Sacerdotii

Opus Bono Sacerdotii Prayer for Priests

O Lord Jesus Christ, Eternal High Priest and exemplar of priestly holiness and dignity, we are grateful to You for having chosen certain men for the ministerial priesthood by which You continue to instruct, admonish, forgive, nourish and strengthen Your Church.

 

We are sorely awware of the great need of priests in our time to be confirmed in their sacred calling so that they may continue confidently in their ministry of mediating Your graces to men and of representing them before Your august majesty.

 

Relying on the intercession of Holy Mary, Mother of priests, and of Saint Joseph, Her beloved spouse, we beg Your help for the priests who are the most troubled, tempted, discouraged and suffering.

 

May the noble and sacred office of the priesthood, which has too often been reviled and scorned, regain its admirable stature in the sight of all men for Your greater honor and glory, and for the sanctification and salvation of Your people.

Amen

 

“The parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15) shows God’s love for us and models how we are to love one another. In spite of his younger son’s reckless life and squandering of his inheritance, the father celebrates his return home, recognizing that his son has shown contrition and has changed his life. The lost who have been found are to be welcomed and celebrated, not resented and rejected.”

Priests, like others, should be given due process of law. Even when it is clear that an offense has been committed, the church should not by her policies send the message that she does not care about the clerical sex offender or that she believes him to be beyond redemption. After correction offenders should be welcomed back into their order “as full participating members, to the extent feasible.” - Avery Dulles, S.J.
 

I think that is what Archbishop Myers of Newark has done. 

Trouble believing?

Set out into the deep.

When you have trouble understanding something, it can be a call to faith.

I had a friend once tell me that it finally got to a point in his life where he decided to just believe what the Church teaches on sexuality and gave in - he set out into the deep.  In that moment, he made an act faith... and grace poured in to his soul.  He finally 'got it" - he grew in wisdom and grace and understanding.

That happens a lot I think.  I've heard of contracepting couples acting similarly - just accepting what the Church teaches and dispensing with the artificial means, the control.  I've heard of alcoholics and smokers who, relying on grace, simply decide to quit, and they go on from strength to strength.  Others have said similar things about their vocation - after agonizing over the question, or trying to ignore it, they finally said, okay, I'll do it.

It takes an act of faith... similar to Peter's:  "... but at your command I will lower the nets."

O my God, I firmly believe that you are one God in three divine persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. I believe that your divine Son became man and died for our sins, and that he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe these and all the truths which the holy Catholic Church teaches, because in revealing them you can neither deceive nor be deceived.
 

As the psalmist says:

I will run in the way of your commands, 

you give freedom to my heart! 

"We are with the crucified Christ; we are strangers. We do not live like everyone; we live according to his word, in great diversity. 'Everybody does it this way; why not me? I do not because I want to live according to God'." - Benedict XVI on the feast of OL of Confidence, Saturday before Lent, 2013





 

What?