St. Francis' Feast Day is also our wedding anniversary

Today is the feast of St. Francis and my husband's and my 41st wedding anniversary. St. Francis fascinates me. I'm glad we married on his feast day, although I didn't know him as well in those days. He's credited with creating the nativity scenes we set up at Christmas. In 1223 in Greccio, Italy he put together a living nativity scene with the blessing of the Holy Father. He wanted to place the proper emphasis on the meaning of the feast rather than the secular emphasis on gifts and parties. (Some things don't change much.)  His inspiration immediately caught on and was imitated in countless other places. Francis also developed the chapel devotion of the Stations of the Cross at a time when the Holy Land was held by the Muslims and people couldn't make pilgrimages there to walk in the in the physical footsteps of the Lord. Because of the wisdom of St. Francis they could walk the path in their home churches.

I think these devotions show what a profound understanding of human nature St. Francis had. He realized how important "touching" mystical events could mean. We are not just spiritual beings; we learn though our senses. We need to experience God's love "with skin on." We need to "taste and see" how good the Lord is. We need to confess our sins out loud and hear the words of absolution from the priest. The smell of the oils and incense of the sacraments stresses their richness. We come to a much deeper understanding of the reality of both the birth of Christ and his suffering and death through entering into it with our bodies. Our sufferings become what St. Paul called a making up for what's lacking in the sufferings of Christ. What's lacking? Our active and willing sacrifice.

October is respect life month. If you are fortunate enough to have an infant in your life, hold and cuddle that little one imagining the joy of Mary holding baby Jesus and rejoicing at the goodness of God. Today, on our anniversary I want to reflect on the gift of my husband, Larry, our five children and their spouses, and our nineteen grandchildren. Love bears fruit and the Lord has given us a bountiful harvest of life.

"God has done great for us and holy is his name."

Is the question of Obama's eligibility nonsense or a fundamental Constitutional question?

A courageous Army officer is being court martialed because he is asking the president to do what every member of the military MUST do -- provide their long form birth certificate and their records: both educational and medical. Lieutenant Colonel Terrence Lakin is a career medical officer and decorated war hero. He has served 18 years in the Army and been deployed on foreign soil six times.

He is being court martialed for disobeying a "lawful" order to report for a second tour of duty in Afghanistan. Officer Lakin loves this country and he will pay a huge price if he loses this case. He will lose his pension, be stripped of all his decorations, be dishonorably discharged, and possibly be imprisoned. Does anyone really believe this patriot is doing it on a whim? No. He believes in the Constitution and wants, no demands, that it be upheld.

Congress investigated the Constitutional eligibility of John McCain who was born in the Panama Canal Zone. They did not investigate the Constitutional eligibility of Barack Obama. Why not? The Democratic National Committee confirmed his eligibility based on .... nothing.

Update on Joe Sobran who died yesterday

Joe Sobran died on September 30th close to 3:00 PM, the hour of Divine Mercy. I think it was fitting that this champion of truth who used words so effectively should die on the Feast Day of St. Jerome who translated the Scripture into the common language. Joe had a way of explaining even the most complicated matters in a down-to-earth way that resonated with common sense.

Please pray for the repose of his soul.

Here's what Fran Griffin who published his columns sent out about his final moments. Funeral details appear at the end:

9/30/10
Joe Sobran left this earth today just before 3 p.m. Over this past week, a multitude of prayers were offered for him his recovery. Now that he is on the other side, I am sure that he is aware of your prayers and kindnesses and is most grateful for them. While he didn't have a physical recovery, I believe that the many prayers brought him spiritual healing. There was a great calmness to his demeanor. Over the past few weeks, but particularly the past few days, he was resigned and looking forward to the next life.

Ann Coulter gave HOMOCON an earful: Does that justify her appearance?

HOMOCON is over and Ann Coulter gave them an earful, speaking against same sex marriage and criticizing their attemp to portray themselves as victims similar to victims of racism. So, does Ann's giving an in-your-face speech justify her speaking at the event? Not in my opinion.

I have to agree with Joseph Farah's assessment. If you speak to the KKK you give them credibility regardless of whether you criticize their positions or not.

If a celebrity chooses to speak to the Ku Klux Klan, there is no question the Klan benefits from such an appearance – no matter how much the speaker might attempt to explain the differences he or she might have with the group's agenda. Justifying such an appearance by suggesting it's just another paid speaking gig would hardly mollify the criticism or negate the benefit the Klan received from the event.

Of course, no one in respectable public life would consider speaking to the Klan for those reasons.

However, I would suggest the ungodly, sin-glorifying homosexual agenda represents a far greater and far more imminent danger to the future of the United States than does the Klan's racist, ungodly and sin-glorifying agenda.

That's not to say we should never speak to or evangelize sinners – be they Klan members or homosexual activists. In fact, that's exactly what we should do. What we should never do is... validate their activism in any way. [my emphasis]

The homosexual network wants to be in the news. Controversy serves their purpose. That people are arguing about their legitimacy gives them credibility. That's what Coulter did and I agree with Joseph Farah that it was wrong.

On the Campaign Trail: Liars, Soundrels, and Alan Grayson

Have you heard of Alan Grayson? He's a Democrat in Florida's 8th District who's running for reelection against Daniel Webster (Love that name!)  Webster is a Republican, a small business owner, pro-life, a family man, and a Christian who doesn't shy away from his faith. 

Alan Grayson, on the other hand, is a liar and a member of the "I'll do anything to win" school of politics. (Bill and Hillary Clinton, Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, Barney Frank, etc. are summa cum laude graduates as well.) Instead of running on the issues, Grayson's running on attack ads hoping his dirty lies will stick and defeat his opponent in a truckload of sludge.

Grayson ran an attack ad labeling Webster "Taliban Dan." You know those guys, the ones who stone women to death and throw acid in their faces. That's one way to pimp for the women's vote, eh? (If your target group are lesbians and pro-abortion feminists!) As a woman, the mother of three adult daughters, and gramma to ten little women ranging in age from two months to 15 years, I'm grossly offended by ads that assume women all support the right to kill their children (and grandchildren). I sure don't and neither do most of the women I know including those who've had abortions and regret it!

The "Taliban" ad completely distorted a meeting where Webster spoke to Christian couples urging spouses to pray for one another. Webster suggested to husbands that they choose a scripture passage to pray for their wives. He told them NOT TO PICK the ones that say wives should  "submit to me." Grayson turned the statement on its head. The ad is so deceitful even the London Telegraph reported on it, asking if it was "the most misleading attack ad ever made." The ad also shows a deep degree of religious bigotry portraying mainstream Christianity as dangerous and extreme, but don't expect the mainstream media to address that issue. Grayson is a darling of MSNBC where he appears often.

Don't take my word for any of this. Watch for yourself in this Fox piece both what Webster REALLY SAID and how it was distorted in Grayson's ad.

Grayson also called Webster a draft dodger, another lie. FactCheck.org said both the Taliban ad and the draft-dodging ad contained "false accusations." The reality is that Webster was in college ROTC and when he reported for duty was refused for medical reasons. But the truth doesn't seem to matter to Grayson which leads to the question: How could any constituent trust this blatant liar? Of course, when your party is run by a liar-in-chief, what else can one expect? Grayson's not really working for his constituents, but for the radical left in his own party. And I pray he's on the brink of a stinging defeat. Few politicians deserve it more than he does in this election cycle.

Webster is leading in the polls, and Grayson's ads have accomplished exactly the opposite of what he planned. They are filling up Webster's campaign coffers. I'll be glad to add my small bit to support him.. I may not be able to vote for Daniel Webster, but I can count on him voting for me and my family. You can visit Webster's website here. Pray for the solid Christians running this November and if your means allow send donations to your favorites. We need men and women of faith and conscience to clean out that cesspool on the hill!

Not all who say, "Lord, Lord," will enter the kingdom of heaven!

                                                                                President Obama is invoking the name of Jesus these days. At an Albuquerque town hall on Tuesday he claimed that the teachings of Jesus inspired him in his life of public service. Moving on.... he defended killing Christ's babies. Obama's words about following Christ,  "the precepts of Jesus Christ spoke to me in terms of the kind of life that I would want to lead - being my brothers’ and sisters’ keeper, treating others as they would treat me," are a clanging cymbal set against his actions.

And in fact a question or two after making his Jesus statement, he defended abortion using Bill Clinton's appalling word game that he wanted to make abortion "safe, legal, and rare."

Actions speak louder than words and Obama's actions are for murdering babies even in the last moments before birth. As an Illinois senator he voted in favor of the gruesome partial birth abortion procedure and even voted against providing life support for babies born alive. Hey, if mom and dad want you dead.... And abortionists donate bigtime to liberal politics. Can't offend them!

Cooperation with Evil: our Cultural Epidemic

Many otherwise moral people in our culture who would never think of directly committing a gravely evil sin, like abortion or sodomy, nevertheless consider it a positive virtue to approve of and cooperate in these and other depravities when committed by others. Under the mask of tolerance and compassion they take what I call the “Norfolk approach” to morality. The Duke of Norfolk, remember, in the play A Man for All Seasons, is a friend of England’s chancellor, Thomas More, who resigns after Henry VIII declares himself head of the Church in England. When the king demands More take the Oath of Supremacy which includes public affirmation that the king’s valid marriage to Catherine of Aragon was unlawful, he refuses. Norfolk, who along with most of the nobility and clergy capitulates to the king’s demand, urges Thomas to join them “for fellowship.” The saint’s reply? “And when we stand before God, and you are sent to Paradise for doing according to your conscience, and I am damned for not doing according to mine, will you come with me for fellowship?”1 Many, like Norfolk, are willing to cooperate with evil if it means protecting themselves or avoiding conflict with family or friends.

Before looking at some examples where cooperation with evil is almost epidemic, it’s necessary to know exactly what constitutes cooperation with evil. Is it ever acceptable? When is it sinful?2 The subject is complicated, but St. Alphonsus Liguori made it easier to grasp when he devised the distinction between formal and material cooperation in the 18th century. Formal cooperation, whether explicit (the nurse at the abortion mill) or implicit (the boyfriend who claims to oppose the abortion, but drives his girlfriend to the mill and pays for it), is always immoral. Read more...

Feast of the Great Archangels

Today the Church celebrates the feast of the three great Archangels described in Scripture: Michael, the warrior; Raphael, the guide and healer; and Gabriel, the messenger. These angels are wonderful intercessors for the family. What a model Michael is for the father of every family - standing over his wife and children as a watcher and protector. Whenever we leave on a trip I ask St. Michael to watch over things at home while we're gone and protect us on our journey.

I've always loved the story of Tobias and his quest for a wife. What a friend and guide he has in the great archangel Raphael who accompanies him. Not only that, but Raphael heals Tobias' father, Tobit, of his blindness. He reminds me of the guardian angels assigned to each one of us. He is also a great intercessor for mothers who are there with kisses and bandaids to heal the bumps and bruises of our little ones as well as guide them along life's path.

Gabriel, the great messenger, is a reminder to all of us to listen and be quick to respond to the word of God and carry it to others. He teaches us how to honor the Blessed Virgin, kneeling before her when she says, "Let it be done unto me" and becomes a living tabernacle.

Ask the archangels to intercede for you and thank God for giving us such great helpers. I always tell my grandchildren they have nothing to fear because St. Michael will watch over them and he has a big sword!

Columnist Joe Sobran is Critically Ill

Prayer for the intercession of Ven. Solanus Casey

for the healing of Joe Sobran:

(to be said on Tuesday, Sept. 28):

=========================================================

O God, I adore You. I give myself to You.

May I be the person You want me to be,

and may Your will be done in my life today.

I thank You for the gifts You gave to Father Solanus.

If it is Your Will, bless us with the beatification of

Venerable Solanus so that others may imitate

and carry on his love for all the poor and suffering of our world.

As he joyfull

y accepted Your divine plans,

I ask You, according to Your Will,

to hear my prayer for the restoration to health of

Joe Sobran through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

"Blessed be God in all His designs."

Imprimatur: Adam Cardinal Maida, Archbishop of Detroit

March 31, 2007 

Visit the Fr. Solanus Guild for information about this amazing and holy priest.

Disordered Attachments and the Spiritual Life

I'm engaged in an interesting exchange with a homosexual man in the comment section of one of the posts. It got me thinking this morning about disordered attachments. Many in our culture suffer from disordered attachments to sex, sins of lust. Fornication, adultery, masturbation, sodomy, pornography, contraception, same sex acts --.sins against chastity are as common as sand at the beach.

But lust isn't the only sin. How many of us have disordered attachments to food, alcohol, money, "stuff", even our beds. Lust is only one of the seven deadly sins. Greed, gluttony, anger and sloth aren't exactly rare. Envy is pretty common. And pride is a root sin for most, if not all, of us. So there are plenty of things for each of us to work on.

I recently cut out a saying by Cardinal John Newman from my Magnificat prayer book and taped it to the mirror so I would read it often.

If you ask me what you are to do in order to be perfect, I say, first-- do not lie in bed beyond the due time of rising; give your first thoughts to God; make a good visit to the Blessed Sacrament; say the Angelus devoutly; eat and drink to God's glory; say the rosary well; be recollected; keep out bad thoughts; make your evening meditation well; examine yourself daily; go to bed in good time, and you are already perfect.

That's quite a daily regimen. I'm working on it.