Learning about the Electoral Process....It Ain't Over Til It's Over!

It's not time to give up. It's time to keep praying and to add a little fasting to those prayers!  It's not over until CONGRESS confirms the electoral college results in January.

Check out these articles which explain how the electoral process works.

Trump has more paths to victory than Joe Biden. 

Explainer: Dueling Electors and the Upcoming Joint Session of Congress

A Good News Story from Wheeling, but not about Clergy

Mercy Cuts to the Bone 

by Dr. Steven Miller, orthopedic surgeon

Tired, worried, and with dark circles around her eyes, Kelly Amato arrived at the Orthopedic Clinic at Wheeling Hospital without an appointment and with X-rays in hand. She asked me for my help. I immediately responded, "Yes, of course!" What happened afterwards was incredible — not just due to the outcome, but also for how it transpired and how it continues to inspire me spiritually.

The Devil's Rule Book for Corrupting Children

Hide your children in the folds of
Our Lady's mantle.

Here is a list of some of Lucifer's favorite strategies for the corruption of children. Every tyrant in history, servants of Lucifer, have used similar strategies to ensnare the minds of the young. If you own the young, you own the future! Fight back, parents! Vaccinate your children against this evil by teaching your children to love Truth, who is Jesus Himself.

Then, you will give them the tools to fight these tactics of the devil:

1) Have children raised by lesbian or gay couples who will distort their view of the world and confuse their intellects with untruths like a woman can be daddy and a man can be mommy. Where people are confused and rocked by emotional instability, Satan can enter in more easily. 

2) Make the schools institutions for evil through graphic, anything-goes sex ed programs that stimulate their curiosity and experimentation in sexual deviance. 

3) Introduce after-school Satan clubs to arouse curiosity in occult practices and teach children how to consort with demons. 

Prayer vs. Profanity: This is Why We Will Win!

Please pray for these poor deluded women, Magdalenes before conversion. They have abandoned the dignity of their sex and transformed themselves into foul-mouthed beasts. The video reminded me of Don Bosco's dream about the snake and the rosary. Watch the video and then read Don Bosco's dream. Mary can lead these women to embrace their true nature. Keep praying for them.

The Power of Prayer: Please Join in this Hail Mary Crusade

A friend sent the email below asking for ONE Hail Mary and since prayer is a great antidote against evil I'm joining in this prayer effort and invite you to be a part of it as well. Jesus said that some devils are only cast out through prayer and fasting. Will you multiply your prayer exponentially with an added fast: from food, from TV, from coffee, from alcohol. Or can you add a holy hour in front of Our Blessed Lord in the tabernacle? Our world needs believers who adore the Creator and Giver of all blessings. Remember what Jesus said to the one out of ten lepers who came back to say thank you praising God all along the way? "'Were not all ten made whole? Where are the other nine? Was there no one to return and give thanks to God except this foreigner?' He said to the man, 'Stand up and go your way; your faith has been your salvation.'"

We don't know what happened to the other nine. Maybe after showing themselves to the priests some did come back -- better late than never.

Update on Ken Fisher...

...And it's a testimony to the power of prayer. They are obviously being answered. Here's the latest update on Ken Fisher, pro-life hero:

Ken is SINGING the Salve Regina! Also, Ken is now joining us in praying/reciting ALL the prayers of the Rosary!Pass the word... keep the prayers coming... Ken is STEADILY GETTING BETTER... MRI showed no need for neurosurgery and the little blood wisp in his brain will be gone of its own in a few days... and Ken can move all his limbs on command... shook hands with doctor... good right hand lift, extension, grasp and shake. And, Ken sat up in bed this afternoon with the therapists...

If you would like to send Ken a get well card or Mass card his home address is

1415 West Cerritos Ave., #57
Anaheim, CA 92802-2269

Want to be Happy in Your Marriage?

Have children and go to Church together.

The happiest wives in America

Gosh did I need a study from UVA to tell me that? Larry and I enjoy each other's company and our cross-country trip last fall illustrated that we could be together constantly 24/7 and still enjoy each other's company after seven solid weeks. I think after 42 years our relationship has stood the test of time and we would fit solidly in the ranks of this study that showed that families who had four or more children and went to Church together weekly were among the happiest.

Fr. Patrick Peyton, the rosary priest, who is up for canonization could have explained it without a study. "The family that prays together, stays together."

Importance of Prayer

I was talking to my spiritual director yesterday about prayer. Since I'm praying for a miracle of healing for my brother John through the intercession of Blessed Vincenza Maria Poloni (I blogged about it here.), I've been thinking a lot about the prayer of petition. Father said something interesting. God responds to our needs and our prayers in one of three ways.

• First, there are some things He will NOT give us no matter how hard we pray for them.
• Second, some things He will give us whether we pray for them or not.
• And, third, some things He will only give us IF we pray for them.

That sounds pretty simple on its face, but I think it offers serious material for reflection. During this coming third week of Advent, when my husband and I will end our novena to Blessed Vincenza (And probably begin another of thanksgiving.), I plan to reflect on what Father said about prayer. I know how much I want John's healing, but I have also seen the powerful impact of John's situation on the lives of those around Him. What if God's will is not John's physical healing, but his spiritual? How will I respond? How will John respond? I call him every night to pray the novena prayer with him and I know God will use those prayers powerfully. I hope it is to give John a miraculous healing and provide the miraculous cure that Blessed Vincenza needs for her canonization. But God is not a vending machine who must answer the prayers in the way I want. So these last two weeks of Advent invite me to watch and wait in prayer with eyes wide open to see how the Savior will come to bring the good news to our family.

Sunday Meditation: Don't Forget the Angels; They Never Forget You

October 2nd is the feast of the guardian angels. Today, being Sunday, superceded the feast, but the angels would appreciate being noticed all the same I'm sure. We attended Mass today in Paguitch, UT about 25 miles from Bryce Canyon. It was a tiny mission church with about 80 people in the congregation. What a grace and blessing that even in this tiny community out in the middle of nowhere, Sunday Mass is still available. The priest was hispanic and has only been in the U.S. for ten months, but his English was amazingly good. Isn't it interesting that a country that has sent missionaries abroad is now receiving missionaries because of a dearth of vocations.

What does all that have to do with the angels? Absolutely nothing, or everything depending on your perspective. Because that little church was filled with angels accompanying all the worshipers and bowing before the throne of God and before the altar as we knelt in prayer and received Jesus in the Eucharist. If we had spiritual eyes and ears I'm sure we could see them and hear their angelic voices.

After Mass Larry and I went to lunch at the Flying M and when I looked at the restaurant logo, two large wings with an M in the center, I immediately associated it with that angelic warrior St. Michael the Archangel. Of course, his feast day was a few days ago, but since he is always a good friend to have in moments of danger, today is a good day to remember him as well as your guardian angel. I'm sure if you ask him to be a special friend, he will provide backup with his big sword. Who among us doesn't need that.

 When Larry and I say our morning prayers we always recite the St. Michael prayer immediately after the prayer to our guardian angels. After all, if St. Michael was the instrument God used to thrust Satan into hell, he can sure aid us in every moment of combat with the evil one. So don't forget to thank your angel. They deserve to be appreciated for their faithful friendship.

Prayers Against Storms

As Hurricane Irene bears down on the east coast, let us pray for those in her path.

Prayer for Hurricane Season

O God, Master of this passing world, hear the humble voices of your children. The Sea of Galilee obeyed your order and returned to its former quietude; you are still the Master of land and sea. We live in the shadow of a danger over which we have no control. The Gulf, like a provoked and angry giant, can awake from its seeming lethargy, overstep its conventional boundaries, invade our land and spread chaos and disaster. During this hurricane season, we turn to You, O loving Father. Spare us from past tragedies whose memories are still so vivid and whose wounds seem to refuse to heal with the passing of time. O Virgin, Star of the Sea, Our Beloved Mother, we ask you to plead with your Son in our behalf, so that spared from the calamities common to this area and animated with a true spirit of gratitude, we will walk in the footsteps of your Divine Son to reach the heavenly Jerusalem where a storm-less eternity awaits us. Amen.
Originally dedicated to the victims of Hurricane Audrey in 1957. - Fr. Al Volpe, Cameron Parish, LA


Prayer for Protection against Storms and Hurricanes
Our Father in Heaven through the intercession of Our Lady of Prompt Succor, spare us during this Hurricane season from all harm. Protect us and our homes from all disasters of nature. Our Lady of Prompt Succor, hasten to help us. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Prayer to Avert Storms and Hurricanes

Father, all the elements of nature obey your command. Calm the storms and hurricanes that threaten us and turn our fear of your power into praise of your goodness. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

The Sweeter Side of Scott Brown

Scott Brown’s Candy-Making Nuns

Well, where there's life, there's hope. Scott Brown needs a lot of prayer considering his immoral positions on abortion and homosexual marriage. But having a group of cloistered nuns praying for you is a game changer. Keep this man on your rosary list for his own sake and the sake of the country.

Any excuse for a riot!

I remember a number of years ago when students at the University of Maryland celebrated a basketball championship by rioting in College Park. The New Year's festivities in French cities these days include torching cars. Despite 45,000 extra cops on the beat, hundreds went up in flames. Happy New Year!

During the 60s, rioting was almost a sport. The 1968 Democratic convention in Chicago was the occasion for so many and the police used so much tear gas, it was reported that Hubert Humphrey at the Hilton Hotel was disturbed in his shower.

Barbarians don't have much imagination. Angry about (fill in the blank)? Have a riot! Burn your own neighborhoods, in fact! Happy about your team's championship or celebrating the new year? Have a riot! Burn up your neighbor's car!

These are the barbarians within our gates.

Now my question is: How many of these barbarians attended a local or national tea party?

My guess: nada, zip, zero, zilch.

A conservative principle is to preserve the good. Conservative hope is in God and laws based on the fundamental rights of man made in God's image. The barbarians, on the other hand, believe in no rule but their own. If it feels good do it. If you can get away with it, try it. And blame, blame, blame - especially anyone in authority: your parents, the cops, etc.

What will the barbarians bring us in 2010? Probably more of the same. They have no imagination and even less character. You'll find them flaunting obscenity laws at gay pride parades, looting shops during natural disasters, vandalizing the property of others just for the fun of it, moaning and groaning at the Vagina Monologues, etc. You'll find many on college campuses where they fill their heads, not with knowledge and critical thinking skills, but with contempt for values like patriotism, courage, honesty, and service.

How do you fight a barbarian? I'm not sure. The old barbarians could be swayed by the goodness of a saint or pope. The neo-barbarians hold relion in contempt and are so cynical and nihilistic that they are almost unreachable. But two weapons are sure-fire: the Eucharist and the rosary. St. John Bosco had a dream that evil would be defeated through those means. Pray for the barbarians and raise your children to be gentlemen and gentle women who love God and serve their neighbors. And make 2010 a year of prayer. We need it!

Join Mama's Hail Mary Club

I belong to a Catholic Mothers Board that discusses anything and everything about the faith. One of the members posted a suggestion that we all join the "Hail Mary Club." Everyone agrees to pray one Hail Mary a day for the "spiritual, physical and mental welfare of its members." I think it's a great idea. As a member of the Legion of Mary auxiliary, I do the same thing, but it's a much greater commitment involving not only the daily rosary, but reciting the Tessera, a series of Legion prayers.

One could think of the Hail Mary club as the humble cousin of the Legion. Not only that, but it reminded me of one of my favorite pictures of the Blessed Mother, Mama with a club, using a literal heavy club to beat off the devil threatening her child. Mary is no wimp. She stood at the foot of the cross participating in the suffering and salvation of her Son. And she's no pacifist when it comes to fighting the evil one to protect her children. Remember, she's in opposition to the dragon. With that club she can knock him into the middle of next week.

So join the Hail Mary club and ask the Blessed Mother to be nearby with that cudgel whenever the evil one decides to come round. She's a twelve star general who rallies an army of angels and saints to defeat the enemy.

40 Days for Life Kickoff Event Saves Baby!

What a testimony to the power of prayer. Go here to read all about it.