The Truth about Mary and Scripture

When I was still Protestant, I never understood why Catholics made such a big deal about Mary. Now that I am Catholic, I am still learning about how to properly honor the Mother of our Lord Jesus. Catholic friends taught me how to pray the Rosary and now this beautiful prayer has become part of my daily life. This video shows the Scriptural basis for what the Catholic Church teaches about Mary. Please watch it and then share your thoughts.

October 1, The Feast of St. Teresa of the Child Jesus

Today is the Feast Day of my 2nd daughter's patron saint, Therese of the Little Flower. To celebrate the Feast Day, the children and I prayed the Rosary with our friends before Mass, assisted at Mass, and then attended a talk about St. Therese. What a lovely morning!

At the talk, I first learned how St. Therese and her sister prayed for a murderer to repent and love Jesus. As a fairly new convert, I am still learning about the saints. I loved hearing about her simple faith in God's mercy and grace.

Now tonight, I came across the same story on a blog I have discovered. The blog begins the tale . . .

The following took place in 1887, when Thérèse Martin was fourteen years old.
“One Sunday when I was looking at a picture of Our Lord on the Cross, I saw the Blood coming from one of His hands, and I felt terribly sad to think that It was falling to the earth and that no one was rushing forward to catch It. I determined to stay continually at the foot of the Cross and receive It. I knew that I should then have to spread It among other souls. The cry of Jesus on the Cross – ‘I am thirsty’ – rang continually in my heart and set me burning with a new, intense longing. I wanted to quench the thirst of my Well-Beloved and I myself was consumed with a thirst for souls. I was concerned not with the souls of priests but with those of great sinners which I wanted to snatch from the flames of hell.

“God showed me He was pleased with these longings of mine. I’d heard of a criminal who had just been condemned to death for some frightful murders. It seemed that he would die without repenting. I was determined at all costs to same him from hell. I used every means I could. I knew that by myself I could do nothing, so I offered God the infinite merits of Our Lord and the treasures of the Church. I was quite certain that my prayers would be answered, but to give me courage to go on praying for sinners I said to God: ‘I am sure You will forgive this wretched Pranzini. I shall believe You have done so even if he does not confess or give any other sign of repentance, for I have compete faith in the infinite mercy of Jesus. But I ask You for just one sign of his repentance to encourage me.’

You can read the ending here.

Feast of the Archangels

Feast of the Archangels was actually yesterday. But I saw this wonderful video this morning on one of my favorite blogs, Mommylife. And so I share it today with you today!



One of the very first Catholic prayers we learned in our conversion was the Guardian Angel Prayer.

"Angel of God, My Guardian Dear
to whom God's love commits me here.

Ever this day (night) be at my side
to light and guard and rule and guide. Amen."

Isn't it comforting that angels are REAL and not just something someone made up for a nice story?

My Faith

Apostle's Creed

I believe in God, the Father almighty,
Creator of heaven and earth,

and in Jesus Christ,
His only Son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the Holy Ghost,
and born of the Virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died and was buried.
He descended into hell.
On the third day He rose again.
He ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand
of God the Father Almighty.
He will come again to judge
the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Ghost,
the Holy Catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and life everlasting.
Amen.

40 Days for Life

40 Days for Life starts Wednesday in 238 locations. I will be participating with the group in a nearby town. Tonight is the vigil Mass for our group. We will pray afterwards at the local abortion clinic ( i.e. baby killing center).

My friend Mike has a wonderful post about his involvement with the 40 Days campaign. He begins -

"This Wednesday, September 22nd, is the start of the next campaign of 40 Days for Life. Twice a year, for 40 consecutive days, a group of people (over 350,000) pray and fast, at home or at abortion clinics in all 50 states, plus several other countries. Our goal is ambitious - to end abortion.

I got involved in the movement last fall, following the example of an online friend. I had heard about it before but was uncertain, and a little scared. I had seen and heard reports of pro-life "extremists" as well as pro-choice "extremists" and thought it would be a horrible, stressful experience. However, as I discovered it is a beautiful way to do something positive, and help save lives."

Read the rest here.

Stabat Mater dolorosa - Palestrina

AT, the Cross her station keeping,
stood the mournful Mother weeping,
close to Jesus to the last.

Through her heart, His sorrow sharing,
all His bitter anguish bearing,
now at length the sword has passed.

O how sad and sore distressed
was that Mother, highly blest,
of the sole-begotten One.

Christ above in torment hangs,
she beneath beholds the pangs
of her dying glorious Son.

Is there one who would not weep,
whelmed in miseries so deep,
Christ's dear Mother to behold?

Can the human heart refrain
from partaking in her pain,
in that Mother's pain untold?

Bruised, derided, cursed, defiled,
she beheld her tender Child
All with scourges rent:

For the sins of His own nation,
saw Him hang in desolation,
Till His spirit forth He sent.

O thou Mother! fount of love!
Touch my spirit from above,
make my heart with thine accord:

Make me feel as thou hast felt;
make my soul to glow and melt
with the love of Christ my Lord.

Holy Mother! pierce me through,
in my heart each wound renew
of my Savior crucified:

Let me share with thee His pain,
who for all my sins was slain,
who for me in torments died.

Let me mingle tears with thee,
mourning Him who mourned for me,
all the days that I may live:

By the Cross with thee to stay,
there with thee to weep and pray,
is all I ask of thee to give.

Virgin of all virgins blest!,
Listen to my fond request:
let me share thy grief divine;

Let me, to my latest breath,
in my body bear the death
of that dying Son of thine.

Wounded with His every wound,
steep my soul till it hath swooned,
in His very Blood away;

Be to me, O Virgin, nigh,
lest in flames I burn and die,
in His awful Judgment Day.

Christ, when Thou shalt call me hence,
by Thy Mother my defense,
by Thy Cross my victory;

While my body here decays,
may my soul Thy goodness praise,
safe in paradise with Thee. Amen.

Sorrowful is my soul even unto death

Sorrowful is my soul even unto death.
Stay here, and watch with me.
Now you shall see the mob that will surround me.
You shall take flight, and I shall go to be sacrificed for you.
Verse:
The time draws near,
and the son of man shall be delivered.

Tristis est anima mea usque ad mortem:
sustinete hic et vigilate mecum.
Nunc videbitis turbam quæ circumdabit me.
Vos fugam capietis, et ego vadam immolari pro vobis.
Versus:
Ecce appropinquat hora, et Filius hominis
tradetur in manus peccatorum.