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Father protects and gives his life for his children.
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Tom Lee was a man who always had a sparkle in his eyes and a Gospel message on his tongue. His family is one of those that people describe as “energy givers.” When Tom, his bride and his family of thirteen children would arrive in town, it always meant encouragement.
Last night as tornado storm winds approached the Lee home in Alabama, Tom gathered his wife and thirteen children in the den. They huddled and they prayed. Two minutes later the tornado descended upon them. The house was instantly destroyed as beams and cinder blocks rained down upon them.
But in his last great act of fatherhood, Tom Lee had the presence of mind to throw himself on top of his children, including his first-born son Jordan. Looking up at his father Jordan saw the blood in his father’s mouth and witnessed as the breath began to leave his father, but was able to hear the last words of his father’s crying out to God for the safety of his family. Then the spirit left the body of Tom Lee.
There were other injuries including children trapped under a piano and between beams. Medical assistance was nowhere in sight for many hours. There was just too much damage in the valley, too few support teams, and inaccessibility was a problem. Eventually they came.
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Saturday, April 30, 2011
My Daily Domestic Clips 05/01/2011 (a.m.)
Cooking with Love: In Honor of Divine Mercy Sunday AND the Beatification of Pope John Paul II
Cooking with Love: In Honor of Divine Mercy Sunday AND the Beatification of Pope John Paul II
Sounds delicious and worth a try on the special Divine Mercy/Beatification Sunday!
Sounds delicious and worth a try on the special Divine Mercy/Beatification Sunday!
Live Streaming for Beatification of John Paul II
Live streamed from the Vatican Here!
EWTN Coverage
EWTN Coverage
vaticantv on livestream.com. Broadcast Live Free
Friday, April 29, 2011
Catherine of Sienna
Saint Catherine should give mothers with large families, or moms contemplating the pros and cons of having another baby, some encouragement and hope. St. Catherine was the youngest of a very large family. She went on to become one of the most respected women in the church and of the middle ages! What a loss to the world it would have been if her parents opted not to have her.
Catherine Benincasa, born in 1347, was the youngest (one of my sources says the 23rd) of twenty-five children of a wealthy dyer of Sienna (or Siena). At the age of six, she had a vision of Christ in glory, surrounded by His saints. From that time on, she spent most of her time in prayer and meditation, over the opposition of her parents, who wanted her to be more like the average girl of her social class. Eventually they gave in, and at the age of sixteen she joined the Third Order of St. Dominic (First Order = friars, Second Order = nuns, Third Order = laypersons), where she became a nurse, caring for patients with leprosy and advanced cancer whom other nurses disliked to treat.
She began to acquire a reputation as a person of insight and sound judgement, and many persons from all walks of life sought her spiritual advice, both in person and by letter. (We have a book containing about four hundred letters from her to bishops, kings, scholars, merchants, and obscure peasants.) She persuaded many priests who were living in luxury to give away their goods and to live simply.
She made peace between worldly princes. The heads of Church and State bowed to her words. She weaned Italy away from an anti-pope, and made cardinals and princes promise allegiance to the rightful pontiff. She journeyed to Avignon and persuaded Pope Gregory XI to return to Rome. Even though she barely reached the age of thirty-three her accomplishments place her among the great women of the Middle Ages. The virgin Catherine was espoused to Christ by a precious nuptial ring which, although visible only to her, always remained on her finger.
Catherine went to Rome at the request of Urban VI to organize spiritual help towards ending the schism. Before leaving Siena for the last time, she dictated a book called The Dialogue of St. Catherine; this and her four hundred Letters comprise a great treasury of spiritual writing.
Once again in Rome she pitted herself against the powers of evil that threatened to engulf the church. For a whole year she lived corporally on the Blessed Sacrament and took less than an hour's sleep every night while she sent her zealous letters all over Europe, beseeching help for the restoration of unity and for peace, as daily she offered her life for this cause. One evening in January, 1380, while dictating a letter to Urban, she had a stroke. Partially recovering, she lived in a mystical agony, convinced that she was wrestling physically with demons. She had a second stroke while at prayer in St. Peter's and died three weeks later on April 29th, 1380, aged thirty-three. She was buried under the high altar in the Dominican church of Santa Maria sopra Minerva, but her head was afterwards removed and taken to Siena, where it is enshrined in the Dominican church. She was canonized eighty-one years after her death.
Divine Mercy Day 7
Seventh Day
Today bring to Me the Souls who especially venerate and glorify My Mercy*,
and immerse them in My mercy. These souls sorrowed most over my Passion and entered most deeply into My spirit. They are living images of My Compassionate Heart. These souls will shine with a special brightness in the next life. Not one of them will go into the fire of hell. I shall particularly defend each one of them at the hour of death.
Most Merciful Jesus, whose Heart is Love Itself, receive into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart the souls of those who particularly extol and venerate the greatness of Your mercy. These souls are mighty with the very power of God Himself. In the midst of all afflictions and adversities they go forward, confident of Your mercy; and united to You, O Jesus, they carry all mankind on their shoulders. These souls will not be judged severely, but Your mercy will embrace them as they depart from this life.
Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the souls who glorify and venerate Your greatest attribute, that of Your fathomless mercy, and who are enclosed in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. These souls are a living Gospel; their hands are full of deeds of mercy, and their hearts, overflowing with joy, sing a canticle of mercy to You, O Most High! I beg You O God:
Show them Your mercy according to the hope and trust they have placed in You. Let there be accomplished in them the promise of Jesus, who said to them that during their life, but especially at the hour of death, the souls who will venerate this fathomless mercy of His, He, Himself, will defend as His glory. Amen.
*The text leads one to conclude that in the first prayer directed to Jesus, Who is the Redeemer, it is "victim" souls and contemplatives that are being prayed for; those persons, that is, that voluntarily offered themselves to God for the salvation of their neighbor (see Col 1:24; 2 Cor 4:12). This explains their close union with the Savior and the extraordinary efficacy that their invisible activity has for others. In the second prayer, directed to the Father from whom comes "every worthwhile gift and every genuine benefit,"we recommend the "active" souls, who promote devotion to The Divine Mercy and exercise with it all the other works that lend themselves to the spiritual and material uplifting of their brethren.
The beautiful Katherine
Anyone else see the coincidence of Katherine's big day falling on the feast of Katherine of Sienna!?
Thursday, April 28, 2011
My Daily Domestic Clips 04/28/2011 (p.m.)
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I can run a wedding rehearsal with a full mass in anywhere from 45 to 60 minutes! Just sayin...
- The couple remained in the cathedral for about 90 minutes, where they practiced the ceremony.
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Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Divine Mercy 6th Day
Sixth Day
Today bring to Me the Meek and Humble Souls and the Souls of Little Children,
and immerse them in My mercy. These souls most closely resemble My Heart. They strengthened Me during My bitter agony. I saw them as earthly Angels, who will keep vigil at My altars. I pour out upon them whole torrents of grace. I favor humble souls with My confidence.
Most Merciful Jesus, You yourself have said, "Learn from Me for I am meek and humble of heart." Receive into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart all meek and humble souls and the souls of little children. These souls send all heaven into ecstasy and they are the heavenly Father's favorites. They are a sweet-smelling bouquet before the throne of God; God Himself takes delight in their fragrance. These souls have a permanent abode in Your Most Compassionate Heart, O Jesus, and they unceasingly sing out a hymn of love and mercy.
Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon meek souls, upon humble souls, and upon little children who are enfolded in the abode which is the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. These souls bear the closest resemblance to Your Son. Their fragrance rises from the earth and reaches Your very throne. Father of mercy and of all goodness, I beg You by the love You bear these souls and by the delight You take in them: Bless the whole world, that all souls together may sing out the praises of Your mercy for endless ages. Amen.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
My Daily Domestic Clips 04/27/2011 (a.m.)
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Why Defensive Medicine Won't Go Away...and Might Become Worse: Why Doctors Need to Be Concerned
- First, defensive medicine is real. Every doctor knows it. Although the number is difficult to quantify, Price Waterhouse did so in their 2008 study that estimated defensive medicine costs $210 billion a year. A Congressional Budget Office study from December 2008 backs up that number.
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Although this study is touted as verifying that defensive medicine is not a significant factor in healthcare costs because tort reform will only reduce costs by 0.5%, the fine print showed that number to be based on insurance premium reductions. It added that when defensive medicine is figured in, the total percentage could be as high as 7%. When multiplied by the $2.4 trillion in overall healthcare costs, that comes to $168 billion per year. Even in the healthcare world this is not an insignificant number.
Second, the current system doesn't give real justice for patients who have been truly harmed in medical malpractice. It takes years for a lawsuit to garner any money for patients. Much of the settlement/judgment goes to the plaintiff's attorney. Plus, it's rare that there will be a change in the physician's medical practice. There's no current mechanism to have the lessons learned from this trial be carried out for the specialty as a whole.
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My Dearest Daughter
In 1958 my mother got married and moved across the country. These are the letters written to her, mainly by her mother, between 1958 and 1960, as well as other artifacts from my family's past. Others in the series are in my del.icio.us file.
This letter is from my Uncle Cal to my mother in the fall of 1959. Apparently, my grandfather had just returned home to Michigan after visiting us all in New Mexico. I read this during Lent and it touched my heart because he mentioned that he wanted to visit Rome someday, and he never did. My Uncle died in his mid 50s unexpectedly from a dissecting aortic aneurysm. Some of you might remember that this was the same condition that killed actor John Ritter a few years ago. Because that has been on my mind lately, I am getting that Lifescreening exam on Friday to check out the shape of my aorta!
This letter also touched me because I was only 4 months old when it was written and he writes about meeting me. Uncle, (which is what I always called him, just "Uncle") was a sort of big brother person for me growing up. He was one of the "grown ups" and yet he was sort of like a kid too. I have fond memories of milking cows with him and playing catch every night behind the barn .
As I travel down the road towards my mid 50s this letter filled me with grief for my Uncle and for the fact that he never did make that trip to Rome.
This letter is from my Uncle Cal to my mother in the fall of 1959. Apparently, my grandfather had just returned home to Michigan after visiting us all in New Mexico. I read this during Lent and it touched my heart because he mentioned that he wanted to visit Rome someday, and he never did. My Uncle died in his mid 50s unexpectedly from a dissecting aortic aneurysm. Some of you might remember that this was the same condition that killed actor John Ritter a few years ago. Because that has been on my mind lately, I am getting that Lifescreening exam on Friday to check out the shape of my aorta!
This letter also touched me because I was only 4 months old when it was written and he writes about meeting me. Uncle, (which is what I always called him, just "Uncle") was a sort of big brother person for me growing up. He was one of the "grown ups" and yet he was sort of like a kid too. I have fond memories of milking cows with him and playing catch every night behind the barn .
As I travel down the road towards my mid 50s this letter filled me with grief for my Uncle and for the fact that he never did make that trip to Rome.
November 1959 JMJ
Hi Folks:
Well, Dad made it home all in one piece, and he's right back at it again. His old boss had a new job all lined up for him.
The way he talks about our little girl, I can hardly wait till January to see her. She sure sounds like a little doll. He had a big time. He's still talking about it. As I said before, I can hardly wait till I get there. I won't be able to hunt deer or anything like that then will I? As long as you've got lots of rabbits, ok!
Man, have we had the rain this fall since the first of August. Just rain, rain all the time. The fields would just get dry enough then it would rain again. I'll just have to wait until the ground freezes till I finish picking corn now. I just get stuck all the time. All the cattle stay in the barn now and is that little barn full. The weather man says it's going down to about 20 degrees tonight and it's going to stay there, so maybe I can start picking again tomorrow. We even had tornado warnings last Wednesday, but thank goodness nothing happened.
I am going up to Grandma's to see if I can pull down a nice big buck this weekend. Wouldn't it be something if I could get one the first year I go with a brand new rifle? Thanks for the one you gave us Pete. I'll bet that has a few years behind it. I'm going to have it refinished. We have a good gun shop that does that.
Man I got 7 big rooster pheasants this fall. That's better than I ever did before. I would like to get a deer now. Mom's going up with me and get some pictures of Grandma with the movie camera and some other things too. I hope she can get a picture of me dressing out my first deer.
I received a very nice letter from cousin Janet yesterday. A year from this June she and her husband plan to enter the BVS, something to do with the Brethren missionary service. Their headquarters are in West Germany and from their she says they don't know just where they'll go as yet. Boy, if it was me I'd find out. Some of those places are plenty hot. Anyway, they'll go to Kassel Hause in West Germany first as that's where the Brethren Headquarters are and they plan to stay on there for two years. Doesn't it seem like there's plenty to do at home? Well the church is paying for it, and I guess they'll get to see some things they wouldn't otherwise. I plan to go to Europe too, but not through the Church of the Brethren BVS. I want very much to make a tour of Europe, namely Rome.
Well, in two weeks it will be Thanksgiving again. Where does the time go? Would it be okay if I came out right after Christmas and spent New Years with you? My idea was to spend a holiday with you. We'd stay up New Years Eve and watch the old year go out. Let me know if that would be okay with you. Maybe we could invite Elena's Godmother over that night too. Oh boy, I plan to get down to Springfield sometime this winter too. It's been about 7years since I've been there. I may fly again. Although if I drove I could stop off at Uncle Elmer's for a night and see his nice new home.
Are you keeping up with the football this year sis? The MSU Spartans have a good chance for the Rose Bowel now. They re in second place in the bit ten standing. Northwester and Wisconsin are tied for first. So I hope MSU can keep on winning.
You know my favorite baseball player, Charlie Maxwell? they'll get the pennant next year. They'll have a new announcer for radio next year too Van Patrick retired.
Well I don't have much more to say now. Give our girl a bit smack for her Uncle and tell her I'll be there pretty soon.
Write soon and God love you Cal
Divine Mercy Novena Day 5
Fifth Day
"Today bring to Me the Souls of those who have separated themselves from My Church*,
and immerse them in the ocean of My mercy. During My bitter Passion they tore at My Body and Heart, that is, My Church. As they return to unity with the Church My wounds heal and in this way they alleviate My Passion."
Most Merciful Jesus, Goodness Itself, You do not refuse light to those who seek it of You. Receive into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart the souls of those who have separated themselves from Your Church. Draw them by Your light into the unity of the Church, and do not let them escape from the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart; but bring it about that they, too, come to glorify the generosity of Your mercy.
Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the souls of those who have separated themselves from Your Son's Church, who have squandered Your blessings and misused Your graces by obstinately persisting in their errors. Do not look upon their errors, but upon the love of Your own Son and upon His bitter Passion, which He underwent for their sake, since they, too, are enclosed in His Most Compassionate Heart. Bring it about that they also may glorify Your great mercy for endless ages. Amen.
"Today bring to Me the Souls of those who have separated themselves from My Church*,
and immerse them in the ocean of My mercy. During My bitter Passion they tore at My Body and Heart, that is, My Church. As they return to unity with the Church My wounds heal and in this way they alleviate My Passion."
Most Merciful Jesus, Goodness Itself, You do not refuse light to those who seek it of You. Receive into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart the souls of those who have separated themselves from Your Church. Draw them by Your light into the unity of the Church, and do not let them escape from the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart; but bring it about that they, too, come to glorify the generosity of Your mercy.
Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the souls of those who have separated themselves from Your Son's Church, who have squandered Your blessings and misused Your graces by obstinately persisting in their errors. Do not look upon their errors, but upon the love of Your own Son and upon His bitter Passion, which He underwent for their sake, since they, too, are enclosed in His Most Compassionate Heart. Bring it about that they also may glorify Your great mercy for endless ages. Amen.
Monday, April 25, 2011
My Daily Domestic Clips 04/26/2011 (a.m.)
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A movie review
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Barbara Hannah Grufferman: Life After 50: When You Look in the Mirror, What Do You See?
Being 50 and Fabulous
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Tea at Trianon: The Easter Bunny
Considering how much complaining some Protestant Christians do about Catholic traditions reaching back to Paganism, it's a hoot that the dreaded Easter Bunny is really a German Protestant tradition brought to this country. Oh the irony!
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Why Isn’t Birth Control Getting Better? - Health - GOOD
From time to time on Catholic boards I read about Catholic couples complaining about NFP and how hard it is and how they'd rather use artificial birth control. So I found it very interesting to see the very liberal pro-artificial birth control crowd complaining about their birth control choices!Be sure to check out the comments too because there are some very good ones, especially from the guy who reminds everyone that sex was for procreation as well as recreation!
Divine Mercy Novena Day 4
Fourth Day
"Today bring to Me those who do not believe in God and those who do not know Me,
I was thinking also of them during My bitter Passion, and their future zeal comforted My Heart. Immerse them in the ocean of My mercy."
Most compassionate Jesus, You are the Light of the whole world. Receive into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart the souls of those who do not believe in God and of those who as yet do not know You. Let the rays of Your grace enlighten them that they, too, together with us, may extol Your wonderful mercy; and do not let them escape from the abode which is Your Most Compassionate Heart.
Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the souls of those who do not believe in You, and of those who as yet do not know You, but who are enclosed in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. Draw them to the light of the Gospel. These souls do not know what great happiness it is to love You. Grant that they, too, may extol the generosity of Your mercy for endless ages. Amen.
*Our Lord's original words here were "the pagans." Since the pontificate of Pope John XXIII, the Church has seen fit to replace this term with clearer and more appropriate terminology.
"Today bring to Me those who do not believe in God and those who do not know Me,
I was thinking also of them during My bitter Passion, and their future zeal comforted My Heart. Immerse them in the ocean of My mercy."
Most compassionate Jesus, You are the Light of the whole world. Receive into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart the souls of those who do not believe in God and of those who as yet do not know You. Let the rays of Your grace enlighten them that they, too, together with us, may extol Your wonderful mercy; and do not let them escape from the abode which is Your Most Compassionate Heart.
Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the souls of those who do not believe in You, and of those who as yet do not know You, but who are enclosed in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. Draw them to the light of the Gospel. These souls do not know what great happiness it is to love You. Grant that they, too, may extol the generosity of Your mercy for endless ages. Amen.
*Our Lord's original words here were "the pagans." Since the pontificate of Pope John XXIII, the Church has seen fit to replace this term with clearer and more appropriate terminology.
Simple Woman
Outside my window...
Gray, wet, raining - again!
I am thinking...
about the Easter weekend! Definitely a time for prayer, reflection, preparation and celebration! We started out on Maudy Thursday with mass and the reservation of the Eucharist before Good Friday! Always very moving for me. I had planned to attend Good Friday and even play with the music group, but Gabe woke up with a terrible tooth ache - a tooth we had put off getting pulled until summer vacation! But it needed to come out that day and I was able to get him into the oral surgeon to have it done. So I spent the afternoon caring for him - not that he needed it. It's amazing how much easier a 15 year old can take oral surgery than Mr. Pete and I could when we were both over 40! He did really well.
Well enough that he played soccer the next day, sang with the choir for Easter Vigil and then got up to sing for Easter morning too! I am awed!
Mr. Pete and I sang for Easter morning and the churck was packed! Nice to see all those folks again that haven't seen since Christmas! Then it was off to my sister's house for Easter dinner. It was really a nice day!
I am thankful ...
my family, immediate and extended, and for my parish family.
From the learning rooms...
Sam is still preparing for the Natural Science CLEP test. He talked to his College Plus coach last Thursday who asked him how long he was planning to take to finish this degree? I think that put things in perspective for him. Still I wish he were more focused.
From the kitchen...
Black Bean Wraps from the Slim Fast Web Site are delicious!!!
I am wearing...
Warm ups and a white shirt.
I am remembering:
Mama- always
Also, that this would have been Raphael's first communion year. We decorated his grave for Easter and decorated the bushes by the angle statue with Easter Eggs. It looks very colorful even from the express way!
I am creating...
A clean house. It's time to get rid of mama's old vinyl records. Everytime I say that someone suggests that I try to sell them, but i wonder where? They are classical albums and I don't see much of a market for them.
I am going...
to continue the Bikini Boot Camp with the FIRM by Emily Welsh. I got four workouts in last week and lost two pounds! go me!
I am reading...
The Autobiography of Saint Therese of Lisieux: The Story of a Soul
Homeschooling with Gentleness: A Catholic Discovers Unschooling
Gabe saw this and wanted to know, "When does the homeschooling with gentleness start?" I am hoping...
to get ahold of the Wii Dance party. We played that at my sister's house yesterday and I had a blast!! It was soo much fun. I was a little afraid to try it at first because it was something new, but all those years of Jazzercise and home exercise videos paid off! It was just as easy as following that. I think I terrified my kids though. As I was dancin and groovin and movin, and I announced that I really wanted to get one of those for Mother's Day, to which Noah replied, "Dad, we just can't let that happen!!"
I am hearing...
the buzz in my ears and the humm of my computer
Around the house...
Getting back into the grove after spring break.
A picture I am sharing:
what Easter photo wouldn't be complete without the garbage can in the background! Ah well, the egg shells and Easter basket grass had to go somewhere!
Easter Bunny cake- thought up and executed by Izzy!
Sunday, April 24, 2011
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