Abolish Child Trafficking: Close the U.S. Borders!

Child Trafficking and the Political Left's Silence

These children are unaccompanied. The left encourages parents to send their children with coyotes, gangs, and the drug cartels. Where do these children go once they arrive in the U.S. Some sources say the "family groups" are anything but -- that people claim to be families and then go their own ways once they are dropped in the interior of the country. So what exactly is going on with these kids? Are they modern indentured servants or worse when they find a "home?" Who's following up? How many will end up dead like the kids who disappear in foreign countries? Will some be sold into sex slavery?

Who knows? Let's ask the U.S. bishops who are so gung-ho on amnesty and the invasion on the border. Does anyone really care about these kids?

On Retreat -- I'll Be Praying for You!

Starting this evening I'll be on a five-day silent retreat based on the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius. I've attended this for most of the past 10-12 years annually with a priest from the Fraternal Society of St. Peter, Fr. James Buckley. It's a wonderful oasis of peace and meditation in a very noisy world. I love the silence, both the physical silence of no conversation except with the Lord and the angels and saints and the technological silence: no phones, no internet, no Facebook, no email -- just quiet time to listen to the voice of the one who speaks in silences.

I'm scheduling a few items to post while I'm gone, but I won't be moderating any comments until I return next Saturday. So please be patient and I'd appreciate your prayers for a fruitful retreat. Be assured I'll be praying for all my internet friends and for those who don't know yet that I really am a friend and consider me an enemy, just as they consider Jesus their enemy. May God open your eyes and bring you to realize His love and His truth.

And may our Mother Mary touch your heart and wrap you in the folds of her garment like she did for her little son Juan Diego.

A Day to Remember: Filled with Grace!

Twenty-nine years ago today, my Dad entered into eternal life. Today, one of the youngest of his great-grandchildren, Maximilian Edward, our newest grandchild, was baptized into the Holy Catholic Church. As I looked around at our children and grandchildren gathered around the baptismal font, I thought of all the branches on Dad and Mom's family tree. With ten children who all married and had children of their own, most of whom are now married and have children of their own -- well it's a legacy of love and life that stretches from the year they married, 1940, until today. I think mom and dad had 39 grandchildren, but that count may be off. I've totally lost track of the number of their great-grandchildren. And we look forward to many, many great-great grandchildren and beyond.

Do you ever think of your ancestors and pray for them? Especially those who passed on the faith? It has become a regular prayer for me. Thank you, dear ancestors, for loving and sharing the faith so that I could be a Catholic today passing the faith on to my own grandchildren. I can't think of a greater gift to give or be given.

Lord, if any of those dear ones are still in Purgatory, please release them today because of their faithfulness in transmitting the faith to their children and grandchildren.

St. Joseph, protector of the family, pray for us.

Hope You're Having a Family Fourth!

This country was founded on strong families. Think of the pioneer families described in the Little House books. What spirit and gumption they had! And they were people of prayer as well.

So we're starting our fourth with Mass praying for restoration of the family. As my grammar school civics book taught, the family is the basic building block of civilization -- and I don't mean the bizarre permutations of "family" we have today. I'm talking about the nuclear family. Surprisingly, even the U.N. has affirmed the "natural family" as the "fundamental unit of society" and the "natural environment" for the education and development of children. (Read more here.)

So praise God today for the family and enjoy all the festivities with your loved ones. We especially look forward to sparklers and the Woodstock fireworks! Have a Happy 4th of July!

Flee the Ear Ticklers! Repent and Reform Your Lives!

More from St. Francis of Assisi in Manhattan:



A lot of people really have a hate-on for Michael Voris. But it takes courage to go out and actually enter the belly of the beast and talk to folks who vehemently disagree with you. Like the sidewalk counselors at abortion mills who try to save lives and souls from the abortionist/gods of human sacrifice, men (and I do mean men) like Michael Voris have the courage and love of souls to speak the truth in charity.

If you go to a doctor to treat an illness, you want him to respect you enough to give you the hard truth. You want to know how to fight the disease aggressively.

If you have a disease of the soul you need a spiritual doctor who will tell you the hard truth and help you cut out the spiritual cancer that's killing your soul. Parents who affirm their children in sin because they don't want to face their wrath or rejection DO NOT LOVE THEIR CHILDREN.  They love themselves -- so much so that they would rather see their children in hell than feel their rage.

Spiritual fathers (like many of our bishops) lack the courage to tell the truth. They would rather tickle ears to win praise and acceptance from the world rather than be ridiculed and condemned. Who do they love? Surely not the sheep. If they loved the sheep, they would defend them from the wolves. They love themselves.

Michael Voris is a modern-day prophet walking in the steps of those sent by God to warn the people of Israel to return to the way of the Lord, the way prepared by the precursor of Christ. As St. John the Baptist "crying in the wilderness" said, "Reform your lives! The reign of God is at hand." Not a single soul in unrepented mortal sin will enter heaven. Don't let yourself or your loved ones be in that unhappy company on Judgment Day.

Tomorrow is First Friday: Take Advantage of the Graces!

I'm focusing on the nine First Fridays devotion to secure the promises of Our Lord to St. Margaret Mary. They're wonderful! What a consolation if you've made them!

Larry and I fulfilled the requirements in June. They're easy: go to Mass on the first Friday of the month for nine consecutive months, receive Holy Communion worthily, and go to confession within eight days before or after. There's even a website to help you keep track and send you reminders as First Friday approaches. I signed up and I hope you will too. And if you haven't enthroned the Sacred and Immaculate Hearts in your home, why not ask your pastor about it. The Legion of Mary happily visits families to carry out the enthronement. If your parish is blessed with a Legion, ask them about it.

I probably made the nine first Fridays when I was a child, but I want First Friday to become a perpetual devotion in my life. That will insure I go to Confession at least once a month as well as making sure each month starts out with reflecting on the grace mercy and love of Our Lord. What a win-win situation. So please join me by going to Mass tomorrow aware of the day's significance and reflecting in your heart on the goodness of God who desires us all to become saints.

Confusion is a SIgn of Satan!

When the teachings of the Church are deliberately muddled, it is a sign of the "smoke of Satan." St. Francis of Assisi deliberately confuses and the "smoke of Satan" there is enough to smother the consciences of those who enter and are foolish enough to inhale what they're peddling!

Good-Bye, Burger King!

It's hard to enjoy your meal when you feel nauseated!

Veterans Administration Puts Sex Change Patients at the Front of the Line

If the VA scandal weren't bad enough, read the article below and see exactly how the Obama administration treats those with REAL medical problems vs. those who want to change their s.e.x. Vets are dying waiting for treatment while men who want to look and sound and feel like women get seen and trreated. If it doesn't make you mad, why not?

SECRET TO SURVIVING OBAMA'S VA: S-E-X A bit from the article:

“My dad has believed his whole life that he is really a woman,” said Kori Peterson. “He currently has appointments for a rhinoplasty (a nose job) and a vocal cord surgery, all provided by the VA. Now my understanding is that the VA doesn’t do the gender reassignment surgery … so he has an appointment with a surgeon … through Medicare on July 1 to talk about his genital reassignment surgery.” 

“The priorities are a little off here,” said Peterson. “You’ve got these guys who have been on waiting lists forever and so many of them losing their lives as they wait perpetually. And then you have, it seems, like these things that should not be prioritized are being prioritized over life and death situations.” 

Taxpayers apparently will foot the bill one way or the other – either through the Veterans Administration, or through Medicare. 

“The Transgendered Identity Disorder diagnosis is a new thing, but my dad has been getting his hormone replacement (from the Veterans Administration) … since his diagnosis,” remarked Peterson.

Want security at the VA? Here's the prescription:

Sexting and Drunk Driving Lead to Job Security at VA

God is Joy!

I'm reading an interesting book called The Joyful Christ by Cal Samra. It was published in 1985 and is a little dated, but still thought-provoking. It stresses the healing nature of humor. This morning I read a story that bears retelling about a priest in Central America who, during a homily at a mission Mass asked a little girl, "Who is God." Here's how Samra describes what followed:

Everyone was sure she would reply, "God is Love," because that was the theme of the mass. Instead, she surprised the congregation by saying, "God is joy." 

"A profound insight," Father Alas said. "We must penetrate its meaning." 

The seven-year-old girl continued, "Jesus was close to his disciples because they were his friends. When friends come together, especially to serve others, there is always great joy. So, God is joy. It is the same today." 

"But what about Jesus on the cross?" Father Alas asked her. 

"Oh yes, he had perfect joy then, because at that moment he was giving everything he was and had to those he loved. He had to be very happy at that moment."
"From the mouths of babes comes true wisdom."

I think if she had been talking to Jesus, he would have looked at her with love and said, "You are not far from the kingdom." May we all have the wisdom of that little child!