Who Painted It?

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Mexico City, Mexico, Mar 27, 2009 / 04:59 pm (CNA).- During her recent visit to Mexico, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made an unexpected stop at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe and left a bouquet of white flowers “on behalf of the American people,” ...

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After observing it for a while, Mrs. Clinton asked “who painted it?” to which Msgr. Monroy responded “God!”

Rather than take offense, I get a chuckle out of left-wing intellectuals encountering the real world outside the D.C. Beltway or whatever urban hell-hole they dwell in. One would think that as the chief foreign diplomat of the United States would understand some basics or at least get a quick briefing before undertaking any sort of cultural mission.

One wonders if there are Obama supporters or old Bushies buried deep in the State Dept managing to allow the new figurehead to "step in it." Clinton recently presented a "RESET" button thingy to a Russian official. The only problem is that the button read "OVERPRICED."

My Catholic Faith

A free book on the web.

THE FOUR LAST THINGS ---- DEATH, JUDGMENT, HELL and HEAVEN

THE FOUR LAST THINGS ---- DEATH, JUDGMENT, HELL and HEAVEN

FATHER MARTIN VON COCHEM, O.S.F.C.

Father Martin von Cochem was born at Cochem, on the Moselle,
in the year 1625, and died at Waghausel in 1712.

“Remember thy last end, and thou shalt never sin.”

PART I. ON DEATH.

III. On the Apparition of the Spirits of Darkness.

BESIDES what has been already mentioned, the terrible appearance of the evil spirits makes death yet more alarming to us. It is the opinion of many of the Fathers, that every one, when expiring, sees the evil enemy, at any rate at the moment of drawing his last breath, if not before. How appalling this sight is, and with what terror it must inspire the dying, exceeds the power of words to declare. It is related of Brother Giles that one day, when he was praying in his cell, the devil appeared to him in so frightful a shape, that the Brother lost the power of speech, and thought his last hour had come. As his lips could not utter a sound, he raised his heart in humble supplication to God, and the apparition vanished. Afterwards, when relating what had befallen him to his brother-monks, he trembled from head to foot as he described the hideous aspect of -the adversary of mankind. Then going to St. Francis, he asked him this question: "Father, have you ever seen anything in this world the sight of which was so horrible that it was enough to kill one to behold it?" And the Saint replied: "I have indeed seen such a thing; it is none other than the devil, whose aspect is so loathsome that no one could gaze upon it even for a short time and live, unless God specially enabled him to do so."

St. Cyril also, writing to St. Augustine, says that one of the three men who were raised from the dead told him: "As the hour of my departure drew nigh, a multitude of devils, countless in number, came and stood about me. Their forms were more horrible than anything imagination can conceive. One would rather be burnt in the fire than be compelled to look upon them. These demons ranged themselves around me, and reproached me with all the misdeeds I had ever done, thinking to drive me to despair. And in fact I should have given way before them, had not God in His mercy come to my succour."

Here we have the testimony of one who actually had learnt by his own experience how frightful the appearance of the evil enemy is, and who declares that nothing can be more horrible than the form the devil assumes.

O my God! how overwhelming the terrors that will take possession of the hapless individual who lies at the point of death when the infernal dragon appears, full of rage, and threatening to swallow him up in his fiery jaws.

In this hour of supreme distress, send my guardian Angel to me, O God, I pray Thee, that he may drive away the evil enemy, otherwise I shall infallibly fall into despair and lose all hope of my salvation.

O most blessed Virgin Mary! who didst crush the head of the serpent, be with me in the hour of my death and do not permit the presence of the cruel adversary to cause my eternal perdition.

Hail Obama, Hail Fatherland

See Congressional Plan to create a million strong Civilian Youth Force

H.R 1388 allows institutions of higher education to incorporate service learning as a part of health professions, criminal justice, public policy, and teacher education curricula. In addition, it provides special consideration of applications submitted by Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic Serving Institutions, and Tribal Colleges and Universities. H.R. 1388 requires institutions of higher education to meet the requirements for the Federal Work Study program to participate.

Soon we may see Obama’s Mandatory Volunteerism Plan come to light. Sound oxymoronic doesn’t it? Mandatory Volunteer?

Somehow last week both houses of congress pushed forward an expansion of the Americorps national service plan. If you recall last year, the Obamassiah proposed a civilian national security force that’s “just as powerful, just as strong, just as well-funded” as the U.S. military.

The legislation included this language: “a workable, fair, and reasonable mandatory service requirement for all able young people.” In other words, start the goose stepping when they’re young, and expand the boots on the street. That’s right, Obama wants his own civilian army of young people. Does that ring any historical bells with anyone? How about the guy with the funny moustache?

The Religion of Peace™

A commenter is running an encyclopedia of sorts. This is quite a resource.

The Religion of Peace™

The Trinity of Hell

Preach it Pastor!

President of Texas

Apparently other people are thinking secession too. Chuck Norris writes:

On Glenn Beck's radio show last week, I quipped in response to our wayward federal government, "I may run for president of Texas."

That need may be a reality sooner than we think. If not me, someone someday may again be running for president of the Lone Star state, if the state of the union continues to turn into the enemy of the state.

From the East Coast to the "Left Coast," America seems to be moving further and further from its founders' vision and government.

I Choose Texas

From the Telegraph, UK

By Tom Leonard in New York
Last Updated: 10:58PM GMT 25 Nov 2008

Igor Panarin, a professor at the Diplomatic Academy of the Russian foreign affairs ministry, said the economic turmoil in the US had confirmed his long-held belief that the country was heading for extinction in its present form.

In an interview with the Russian newspaper Izvestia, he outlined how the US would divide along ethnic and cultural lines.

They are: the Pacific coast with its growing Chinese population; the increasingly Hispanic South; independence-minded Texas; the Atlantic Coast; a central state with a large Native American population; and the northern states where – he maintains – Canadian influence is strong.

Hmm, if forced to choose, I'd go to Texas in a heartbeat. There may be something too this when you start to analyze the cultural divide in this country, it is more divided than ever. There used to be core sets of beliefs that Americans believed in, call it brain washing, if you will.

That has all gone away. People make up their own minds, follow who they want to follow. Things like the internet are actually serving to break down society not unify it in anyway. And this may not be a bad thing in the end. Why be subjugated to people who do not share your beliefs? Why get used when you can pack your bags and move?

Pi (Math is everywhere)

Its fun when something straddles the two blogs of mine and I do not know where to put it. Fibonacci analysis is used extensively in the area of technical analysis of stocks, bonds and especially currencies. These Biblical comments by the Hassidic Jew are the most fun. One thing for sure: atheism is for dummies.

A Mostly Tepid Response

Maybe the push to deport Obama will come from the ranks of the military.



The analysis of the CNN reporter is rich.

New News

Once again, the Real Religion News Feed, deserves some attention:

Conservative Lutherans fight homosexual clergy consideration (OneNewsNow.com) Oh come now, if you were a real conservative you'd be a Roman Catholic.

PR and the Pope Well the Pope has his internal enemies. The first person quoted in the story was a Jesuit .. start the Inquisition there.

Microchip maker 'hid ties to cancer' implantable device lodged under people's skin ... sounds like something from a 1970s sci-fi thriller. Ooops ... that antenna causes cancer .. who knew?

Liberals are the true heirs of the Nazi spirit I won't even read this as I know it to be true on a deep and personal level. They're the first one to accuse you of being a Nazi but just examine their adoration to eugenics.

Wash. "death with dignity law" set to take effect Euthanasia: the ultimate payback for the generation that brought you Roe vs. Wade

Banned cleric Omar Bakri addresses conference at London primary school - Telegraph Sorry Londonstan, its over for you.

Designer baby row over US clinic Something tells me that these designer babies with their high powered Last-Names-As-First-Names "Morgan", "Cole", "Jackson", "Sloan" born to uber-power parents from the lilly white suburbs are going to be supreme mental misfits.

Card. Mahony on the “Tridentine” Mass As usual Raj gets it backward, the Novus Ordo is where nobody participates (except for the 25 Eucharistic "ministers") and the Tridentine crowd participates massively.

Toward nationalizing U.S. banks -- toward one world order This all will not work, though it may take 20 years to figure this out.

Holocaust-denier Williamson "will fight any German extradition" This guy need to meditate on the life of Saint Maximilian Kolbe.

Another blow to fatherhood: IVF mothers can name ANYONE as 'father' on birth certificate My sister has a theory that these IVF babies "aren't quite right."

Anger Management

In a recent polemic with a liberal, I forgot this important maxim that really rules over this blog and my life in general.

"He who is not angry, whereas he has cause to be, sins. For unreasonable patience is the hotbed of many vices, it fosters negligence, and incites not only the wicked but even the good to do wrong.” -- St. John Chrysostom

Sunday Night Prayer

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, bless us and grant us the grace of loving Holy Church, as we are bound to do, above every earthly thing, and of ever showing forth our love by the witness of our deeds.


Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, bless us and grant us the grace of openly professing, as we are bound to do, with courage and without human respect, the faith that we received of Thy gift in Holy Baptism.


Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, bless us and grant us the grace of sharing, as we are bound to do, in the defense and propagation of the Faith, when duty calls, whether by word or by the sacrifice of our fortunes and our lives.


Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, bless us and grant us the grace of loving one another in mutual charity, as we are bound to do, and establish us in perfect harmony of thought, will and action, under the rule and guidance of our holy Pastors.


Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, bless us and grant us the grace of conforming our lives fully, as we are bound to do, to the commandments of God's law and that of His holy church, so as to live always in that charity which they set forth.

* Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be to God

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, we ask in particular this special favour: [state your request here].

Dedication of One’s Family:

Most loving Jesus,
by Your sublime and beautiful virtues of humility,
obedience, poverty, modesty, charity, patience, and gentleness,
You blessed with peace and happiness the family
which You chose on earth.
In Your mercy look upon my family.
We belong to You,
for we have received Your many blessings over many years
and we entrust ourselves to Your loving care.

Look upon my family in Your loving kindness,
preserve us from danger,
give us help in time of need,
and grant us the grace to persevere to the end
in imitation of Your holy Family,
so that having revered You and loved You faithfully on earth,
we may praise You eternally in heaven.

Mary, dearest Mother,
to your intercession we have recourse,
knowing that your Divine Son will hear your prayers.
Glorious patriarch, Saint Joseph,
help us by your powerful prayers
and offer our prayers to Jesus through Mary’s hands.

Amen.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus Christ,
being subject to Mary and Joseph,
You sanctified family life by Your beautiful virtues.
Grant that we, with the help of Mary and Joseph,
may be taught by the example of Your holy Family,
and may after death enjoy its everlasting companionship.

Lord Jesus, help us ever to follow the example of Your holy Family,
that in the hour of our death Your glorious Virgin Mother
together with Saint Joseph may come to meet us,
and we may be worthy to be received by You into the everlasting joys of heaven.
You live and reign forever.

Amen.

Consecration to the Holy Family

O Jesus, our most loving Redeemer, who having come to enlighten the world with Thy teaching and example, didst will to pass the greater part of Thy life in humility and subjection to Mary and Joseph in the poor home in Nazareth, thus sanctifying the Family that was to be an example for all Christian families, graciously receive our family as it dedicates and consecrates itself to Thee this day. Do Thou defend us, guard us and establish amongst us Thy holy fear, true peace, and concord in Christian love: in order that, by conforming ourselves to the divine pattern of Thy family, we may be able, all of us without exception, to attain to eternal happiness.

Mary, dear Mother of Jesus and Mother of us, by thy kindly intercession make this our humble offering acceptable in the sight of Jesus, and obtain for us His graces and blessings.

O Saint Joseph, most holy guardian of Jesus and Mary, assist us by thy prayers in all our spiritual and temporal necessities; that so we may be enabled to praise our divine Savior Jesus, together with Mary and thee, for all eternity.

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be (three times each).

sent by Onyinye Nwosu of Germany of the Proud to be Roman Catholic FACEBOOK group

Mike Tracey - Sunday Night Jams

NJ police arrest Ann Coulter stalker to a cool techno beat.

We Have Nothing to Fear, but Obama

We have a full blown race war according to Rev. Manning.