"The Privileged Planet"

This documentary offers a scientific look into just how small a chance it is there there should be a world like our own that can sustain complex life. It is not explicitly for or against any particular creation theory, but simply looks at the facts and the chances of our existence as a planet. I've never really thought about this aspect of my life before, and it is very moving...sort of makes one feel like their life hangs in the balance all the time, but then he remembers that he has successfully defied the odds thus far. Despite a certain number of high thinking persons, it does disprove the theory of a disordered universe in chaos making such things as the cosmos by chance. Can such a thing logically and possibly come about merely by chance? I personally think that any person who holds this view is something of an idiot, but you'll have to check it out for yourself. ;-)




Part 2



Part 3



Part 4



Part 5



Part 6

Prayers after Communion

(taken from the Red Book and Fr. Lasance's Catholic Girls Guide)

Prayer before a Crucifix
Look down upon me, good and gentle Jesus, while before Thy face I humbly kneel, and with burning soul pray and beseech Thee to fix deep in my heart lively sentiments of faith, hope, and charity, true contrition for my sins, and a firm purpose of amendment; and whilst I contemplate with great love and tender pity Thy five most precious Wounds, pondering over them in within my heart and calling to mind the words which David, thy servant, said of Thee, my Jesus: "They have pierced My hands and My feet; they have numbered all My bones."


A Prayer to Our Lady
O Mary, most holy Virgin Mother, lo, I have received thy well-beloved Son, whom thou didst conceive in thy stainless womb, didst bring forth and suckle, and enfold in thy sweet embraces. See, humbly and lovingly I give back to thee the Son Whom it was all rapture and delight for thee to look upon; I orffer Him to be clasped in thy arms, to be loved with all thy heart, and to be offered up to the Holy Trinity in the supreme homage of adoration, for thy hnor and glory, and for my needs and those of all mankind. Most loving Mother, I beg thee to obtain for me forgiveness of all my sins, grace in abundance to serve Him more faithfully from now onward, and lastly, final perseverance, so that I may praise Him with thee forever and ever. Amen.

Prayer of Saint Thomas Aquinas

I give thee thanks, O Holy Lord, Father Almighty, eternal God, who has vouchsafed not for any merits of mine but solely out of the condescension of Thy mercy, to satisfy me a sinner, Thine unworthy servant, with the precious Body and Blood of Thy Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ.

I pray that this holy Communion be not to be a condemnation unto punishment, but a saving plea unto forgiveness. May it be unto me the armor of faith and the shield of good will. May it be the emptying out of my vices, the extinction of all concupiscence and lust, the increae of charity and patience, of humility and obedience, and all of the virtues; a strong defense against the snares of all enemies, visible and invisible; the perfect quieting fo alll my evil impulses, both fleshly and ghostly; a firm cleaving unto Thee, the one true God; and a pledge of a blessed destiny.

And I beseech Thee, that Thou would vouchsafe to bring me, a sinner, to that ineffable banquet whereThou, with Thy Son and the Holy Ghost, art to Thy saints true light, fullness of content, eternal joy, gladness without alloy and perfect bliss. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

Prayer before Mass

(taken from the Red Latin Mass book)

Eternal Father, I unite myself with the intentions and affections of our Lady of Sorrows on Calvary, and I offer to Thee the Sacrifice which Thy beloved Son made of Himself on the Cross, and which He now renews on this holy Altar. I offer it in the name of all mankind, with the Masses which are now being offered, and all those which will be offered throughout the world this day:
To adore thee and give Thee the honor which is due to Thee, confessing Thy supreme dominion over all things, and the absolute dependence of everything upon Thee, who art our one and last End;
To thank Thee for the innumberable benefits we have received;
To appease Thy justice, aroused against us by so many sins, and to make satisfaction for them;
To implore grace and mercy for myself, for Thy Church, for all afflicted and sorrowing, for poor sinners, for those whom I have promised prayers, for all the world, and for the holy souls in Purgatory. Amen.

Imitation of Christ

Taken from Preparation for Total Consecration according to Saint Louis Marie de Montfort. These speak of the littleness of man (in the sense of "homo" not "viri" for those of you who choose to take offense) and where his worth is from.

Lord, what is man that Thou art mindful of him; or the son of man, that Thou visit him? What has man deserved that Thou should give him grace? Lord, what cause have I to complain, if Thou forsakest me, or what can I justly allege, if what I petition Thou shalt not grant? I am nothing, I can do nothing of myself that is good, but I am in all things defective and ever tend to nothing. And unless I am assisted and instructed by Thee, I become wholly tepid and relaxed, but Thou, O Lord, art always the same and endure unto eternity, ever good, just and holy...

But I who am more inclined to go back than to go forward continue not always in one state for I am changed seven different times. But it quickly becomes better when it pleases Thee, and Thou stretchest out Thy helping hand: for Thou alone can change me that my heart be convereted and find its rest in Thee alone.

He who would be too secure in time of peace will often be found too much dejeced in time of war If you could continue to be humble and little in your own eyes, and keep your spirit in due order and subjection, you would not fall so easily into danger and offense. It is good counsel that, when you have conceived the spirit of fervor, you should meditate how it will be when the light shall be withdrawn.
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Wherefore, but I did know well how to cast from me all human comfort, either for the sake of devotion or thorugh the necessity by which I am compelled to seek Thee, because there is no man that can comfort me. Then might I deservedly hope in Thy favor, and rejoice in the gifl of a new consolation. Thanks be to Thee from Whom all things proceed, as often as it happenes to me, I, indeede, am but vanity and nothing in Thy sight, an inconstant and weak man. Where, therefore, can I glory, or for what do I desire to be thought of highly?

Forsooth of my very nothingness; and htis is most vain. Truly vainglory is an evil blague, because it draws away from true glory and robs us of heavenly grace. For while a man takes complacency in himself, he displeases Thee; while he looks for human applause, he is depreived of true virtues. But true glory and holy exultation is to flory in Thee and not in one's self. To find pleasure in no creature, save only for Thy sake. Let Name be praised, not mine; let Thy work be magnified, not ine; let Thy Holy Name be blessed, but let nothing be attributed to me of the praise of men. Thou art my glory; Thou art the exultation of my heart; in Thee will I glory and rejoice all the day; ut for myself, I will glory in nothing but in my infirmities.

The Fool's Prayer

Recently, life has taken a turn for the more confusing, and I remembered this poem from my high school days. It touched me then, but even moreso now, when I seek humility and simplicity adult wise. I hope you may enjoy it as well. It helps to envision oneself as the fool...for we are only humble if we think we are proud, and we are proud if we think ourselves humble.

THE FOOL'S PRAYER

by: Edward Rowland Sill (1841-1887)

HE royal feast was done; the King
Sought some new sport to banish care,
And to his jester cried: "Sir Fool,
Kneel now, and make for us a prayer!"

The jester doffed his cap and bells,
And stood the mocking court before;
They could not see the bitter smile
Behind the painted grin he wore.

He bowed his head, and bent his knee
Upon the Monarch's silken stool;
His pleading voice arose: "O Lord,
Be merciful to me, a fool!

"No pity, Lord, could change the heart
From red with wrong to white as wool;
The rod must heal the sin: but Lord,
Be merciful to me, a fool!

"'Tis not by guilt the onward sweep
Of truth and right, O Lord, we stay;
'T is by our follies that so long
We hold the earth from heaven away.

"These clumsy feet, still in the mire,
Go crushing blossoms without end;
These hard, well-meaning hands we thrust
Among the heart-strings of a friend.

"The ill-timed truth we might have kept--
Who knows how sharp it pierced and stung?
The word we had not sense to say--
Who knows how grandly it had rung!

"Our faults no tenderness should ask.
The chastening stripes must cleanse them all;
But for our blunders -- oh, in shame
Before the eyes of heaven we fall.

"Earth bears no balsam for mistakes;
Men crown the knave, and scourge the tool
That did his will; but Thou, O Lord,
Be merciful to me, a fool!"

The room was hushed; in silence rose
The King, and sought his gardens cool,
And walked apart, and murmured low,
"Be merciful to me, a fool!"

Litany of Humilty

O Jesus! meek and humble of heart, Hear me.
From the desire of being esteemed,
Deliver me, Jesus.

From the desire of being loved...
From the desire of being extolled ...
From the desire of being honored ...
From the desire of being praised ...
From the desire of being preferred to others...
From the desire of being consulted ...
From the desire of being approved ...
From the fear of being humiliated ...
From the fear of being despised...
From the fear of suffering rebukes ...
From the fear of being calumniated ...
From the fear of being forgotten ...
From the fear of being ridiculed ...
From the fear of being wronged ...
From the fear of being suspected ...

That others may be loved more than I,
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.

That others may be esteemed more than I ...
That, in the opinion of the world,
others may increase and I may decrease ...
That others may be chosen and I set aside ...
That others may be praised and I unnoticed ...
That others may be preferred to me in everything...
That others may become holier than I, provided that I may become as holy as I should…

An 80s child remembers when...

I saw this and just had to post it, it is such a riot! Acapella is a great art form, and these students from the University of Wisconsin Madison Campus have done an excellent job. If you were an 80s kid, you might actually remember this and get a kick out of it. Ah, memories.

My school...

Dr. Bergsma on the Inversion of Norms

When you are looking for a place that is going to change the world, you expect to find it in a huge institution with $12 billion in grants to their division A football team, countless resources, and new state of the art buildings going up all the time. You don't expect to find it in the middle of the rust belt, where 2500 student struggle to survive the polluted air and water, with professors who are raising multiple child families in a ghetto a mile away. It just doesn't seem like it should work like that.

You have to be very humble to come from Steubenville.

Prayer to Saint Gabriel for a Marraige Partner

This prayer is a little on the childish side in my judgmental opinion, but brings forth some good points nevertheless. Every person who either knows they are called to the married state or who does not yet know their calling should pray for their spouse and their children. Praying for him/her now helps immensely in your future happiness...not to mention their own as well. Also, when choosing a marriage partner, you are choosing the mother/father for your children as well as your own help mate. Saint Raphael has been invoked as a matchmaker for may years, and is pretty much awesome. If you don't believe me, read the book of Tobias.

Glorious Saint Raphael, Patron and lover of the young, I feel the need of calling to you and of pleading for you help. In all confidence I open my heart to you to beg your guidance and assistance in the important task of planning my future. Obtain for me through your intercession the light of God's grace so that I may decide wisely concerning the person who is to be my partner through life. Angel of happy meetings, lead us by the hand to find each other. May all our movements be guided by your light and transfigured by your joy. As you led the young Tobias to Sara and opened up a new life of happiness with her in holy marriage, lead me to such a one whom in your angelic wisdom you judge best suited to be united with me in marriage.

Saint Raphael, loving Patron of those seeking a marriage partner, help me in this supreme decision of my life. Find for me as a help mate in life the person whose character may reflect some of the traits of Jesus and Mary. May he(she) be upright, loyal, pure, sincere, and noble, so that with united efforts and with chaste and unselfish love we both may strive to perfect ourselves in soul and body, as well as the children it may please God to entrust to our care.

Saint Raphael, Angel of chaste courtship, bless our friendship and our love that sin may have no part in it. May our mutual love bind us so closely that our future home may ever be most like the home of the Holy Family of Nazareth. Offer your prayers to God for the both of us and obtain the blessing of God upon our marriage, as you were the herald of blessing for the marriage of Tobias and Sara.

Saint Raphael, friend of the young, be my friend, for I shall always be yours. I desire ever to invoke you in my needs. To your special care I entrust the decision I am to make as to my future husband (wife). Direct me to the person with whom I can best cooperate in doing God's holy will, with whom I can live in peace, love, and harmony in this life, and attain to eternal joy in the next. Amen.

In honor of Saint Raphael: Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be.

Where have all the Good Skirts gone?

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So, many young ladies have asked me "why are there no modest skirts that are NICE, not frumpy!!!!" and my small amount of research has yielded these. You do have to be picky, and some are pretty pricey, but most of these are guaranteed to be good quality, not flimsy, rippy, or otherwise worn out quickly. Personally, I intend to dress myself very nicely someday...that day when I am independently wealthy. ;-)

But, until then, I have taken a vow of poverty to dress myself in 2nd/3rd/4th/5th hand stuff and try to make the results look something like this. It can be done if you've got talent and a good eye. Don't forget to check the clearance racks, as you can often find things for 50-80% less than the original price!

Funky Frum https://www.funkyfrum.com/SearchResults.asp?Cat=13 has nice colors and styles...very streamlined puckered type things.

Hannah Lise is rather conservative, you've got to pick through it to find the good stuff, which may not work out for you anyhow. Beware of frump and loose fittingness.

Modest Clothing is just that, and very Amish. (not literally, but almost)

Shade has more tops than anything, but they modest while still fashionable and in good taste. Overall, very nice styles, simple, elegant, pretty and practical. They also have really cute maternity clothing.

J.Jill is one of my favorite clothing lines ever! Natural styles, elegant, fashionable, and great variety. You do have to pick through the funky stuff, and their boots look really silly.

Soft surroundings has lots of really long skirts, sometimes rather bizarre, but always colorful and pretty.

Christa-Taylor Modern, simple, and elegant, though a wee bit pricy. If you buy something from them, they will send some money or blankets or something to widows and orphans in Cambodia.

Eshet Chayil is a definite mix, moderate pricing, some sheik and antique styles. Kinda weird on the whole.

Next Tag is basically a search engine for literally thousands of items from different suppliers and allows you to search by style, brand, price, fabric, etc. You have to sort through for the nice things, but there are alot mixed in to hundreds of different skirts.

Style J has modern, long denim skirts, with options for petite and tall and extra-tall too! Moderately priced and will match many different tops and go with several styles.

Aimcraft.com

contains scores of skirts, shawls, tunic type shirts, and home décor strait from India. Very colorful and moderately priced.

Shopstyle.com : yet another wonderful source for comparing things from several sites. Prices vary, but it alows the freedom to sift through a lot of different styles, prices, etc.

Babel Extended

Being a nursing student tends to get a bit bogged up in the technical aspect of things, so I decided to audit a Theology course not only to spice up my schedule a bit but also to learn more about my faith just so that my theology center of my brain did not dry up and go completely sour, especially in lieu of the fact that I have recently been having difficulty recalling logic and doctrine for moral and theological issues. That, by the way, is simply a compound sentence with several dependent clauses attached to it and is not a run on. If anyone feels compelled to correct me on this point, please do so as I would rather know that I've messed up instead of continuing in my error.

Anyhow, Babel. Dr. John Bergsma is an assistant professor at Franciscan University of Steubenville, and specializes in Biblical theology. His class it totally awesome! Among many things cover in the first 16 chapters of Genesis (which I am unable to expound upon at this time due to time contstraints and general inability to keep thoughts flowing logically on more than one topic at this time), one of the things that struck me the most was the bit about Babel. God has already destroyed the earth through water, causing a "re-creation" and once again bringing the land out of the sea as at the creation, and once more setting up a covenant with the man, which is just as quickly by Noah and his sons as was the original covenant broken by Adam. The Lord God swears that he will never again destroy the earth through water, but we can see just how quickly that man becomes depraved and shrinks back into sin. To take a step back, Genesis 10 contains the names of all the peoples of the earth, all the ethnic backgrounds of the world: Chinese, Slovak, Italian, Egyptian, African nations, Aztecs, Asian and European nations, every nation and ethnic people is here represented. The names given by this text are very ancient and are not in common usage anymore, but they are the names representing the entirety of the race of men. Anyhow, Genesis 11 contains the account of Babel:

Then they said, "come let us build ourselves a city, and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth." And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower...And the Lord said, "Behold, they are one people, and they have all one language; and this is only the beginning of what they will do; and nothing that they propose to do will now beimpossible for them. Come, let us go down and there confuse their language, that they may not understand one another's speech." So the Lord scattered them abroad...and they left off building the city. Therefore its name was called Babel.

After the tower of Babel, the Lord makes a covenant with Abraham in 12:2-3 (actually a promise which is later extended and ratified as a covenant). In it he promises 3 things:
1. I will make you a great Nation.
2. I will give you a great name. (implies royalty)
3. in you all the families of he earth shall be blessed--> a universal blessing extended unto all the nations (families) of the world that will be given through you.
Therefore, Abraham, whom St. Paul and the Church refer to as "Our father in Faith," is the channel through which the blessing (grace? eternal life?) is to come to the nations, to all the people of the earth.

So, back to Babel. All of these nations are descended from Adam first, and then from Noah, so we are all related: Germans, Dutch, Italians, Moroccans, Arabians, Chinese, Russians, etc. That is a pretty cool gene pool if you think about it. Anyhow, at Babel you have the confusion of language, they can no longer understand each other. Now, God fulfills his promise to Abraham in God becoming Man in the person of Jesus Christ. In Acts 2:5 we see again men "from every nation under heaven," and they are later listed, giving names more modern than those in Genesis 10, but nevertheless taking in all the nations of the world. Here, all of these men listen to the preaching of Apostles, and are confused in their ability to understand! "They were bewildered because each onn heard them speaking in his own language. And they were amazed and wondered, saying, "Are not these men who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language?" Each is able to understand the words of the apostles in his own language, and we thus have a reversal of Babel: a common language. The common language is the language of the Holy Spirit.

Interesting to note that this is like Latin, the common language of the Universal Church. That the tangible language of the Holy Spirit is Latin, for the faithful from Israel, Germany, United States, Vietnam, Russia, South Africa, all communicate in this common langage...but that is a thought for another time as well.

If I've left anything out here, please tell me.

Our Lady

Excerpt from This Tremendous Lover by M Eugene Boylan

Happily there is a short cut to that union with Christ for the individual and for society. For as Pius X taught: "They are miserable and unfortunate who under the pretext of honoring Christ neglect Mary, for they do not know that the Child cannot be found except with His Mother." And the same Holy Father quotes the Apocalypze:

And a great sign appeared in heaven. A woman clothed with the sun and the moon under her feet and on her head a crown of twelve stars. And being with child, she cried travailing in birth and was in pain to be delivered.

and it applies to Our Lady, who, though blessed in heaven, is still laboring in a mysterious birth. Whose birth? asks the Holy Father: clearly ours, who are still detained in exile and have yet to be brought forth to the perfect charity of God and eternal happiness.

The part played by our Lady in our sanctification is so important that it calls for a book itself.

Saint Joseph, Ora pro nobis.

Saint Joseph, the husband of Our Blessed Lady and foster father of Our Blessed Lord is the man closest to Jesus. He exemplifies exceptional purity, humility, and strength. Holy Scripture rarely refers to anyone as righteous, but it does use this word to describe Joseph, therefore declaring that he is exceptionally holy. He has never failed me, and is invoked as the patron of family harmony, guardian of the church, patron of fathers and husbands, patron of virgins, patron of a good death. Pretty good resume, if you think about it. Here are some of my favorite prayers to the man closest to Christ. The Novena is great and has never been known to fail, so there is a caution with it saying to be careful what you ask for. It's a good one to use with vocations, family matters, and protection against impurity.

Memorare of Saint Joseph
Remember, O most chaste spouse of the Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who sought your intercession was left unaided. Full of confidence in your power I fly to you and beg your protection. Despise not, O foster-father of the Redeemer, my humble supplication, but in your bounty hear and answer me. Amen.

Prayer to St. Joseph (Novena if said 9 consecutive mornings).
O Saint Joseph, who's protection is so great, so strong, so prompt before the throne of God, I place in thee all my interests and desires. O St. Joseph, assist me by your powerful intercession and obtain for me from thy Divine Son all spiritual blessings through Jesus Christ Our Lord so that having engaged here below your heavenly power I may offer my thanksgiving and homage to the most loving of fathers. O St. Joseph, I never weary contemplating you and Jesus asleep in your arms; I dare not approach while He reposes near your heart. Press Him in my name and kiss His fine head for me, and ask Him to return the kiss when I draw my dying breathe. Saint Joseph, patron of departing souls, pray for me.

Things Irish coming soon

Due to the requests I've had, and the general need of the thing, I will be starting another blog shortly after the beginning of the school year.
What is the pressing need, you say? Why, Irish done in a simply way.
Dances, songs, lyrics, and such,
videos of ceilidhs we've had, and much
more than I now care to tell.
An Irish blog. How quaint. Well....
Anyhow, 'twill be up by October, God willing. Just thought I'd announce that. I'll be looking for contributors as well,
Peace be with ya all, and God bless your house and all that dwell in it.

what do I do with my life?

There comes a time in a person’s life when they have to decide if they like mountains or plateaus. Personally, mountain is much easier to spell than plateau so it is a nicer word. But seriously, a person cannot just stay where they are. “Christ loves you just the way you are” is a common religious platitude, and, though true in itself does not contain the fullness of the message it tries to convey. Yes, Our Lord loves you just the way you are because He is so merciful and loving that despite how disgusting and offensive your actions, thoughts, and ideas may be, He still sees His beloved creation: you. However, He loves you so much that Our Blessed Lord wants you and I in heaven with Him, which is why the end of our lives should be to know, to love, and to serve God. He loves you too much to let you continue down the road to punishment. Holiness is that which each person ought to be striving for. Everything else will fall into place. The quest for holiness leads to happiness, joy, peace, self control, good interpersonal relationships, etc.

I have met many a person who knows that a vocation is the way a person is to get to heaven. Suddenly, they become consumed in trying to figure out or “find” their vocation. They cannot move on without finding their vocation, so they try this, try that, embrace Ignatian spirituality for a month, then Franciscan, never really solidifying their relationship with Christ and with themselves. Honestly, yes, you want to know your vocation, but relax! Just strive for holiness and remove yourself from sin and your vocation will find you. Otherwise, you can get trapped into a cycle of “is he the one? Is this the time? Am I called to this order or that one?” each and every time a new option crosses your path, and you get all flustered that there may yet be another possible path.

Saint John Bosco was an acrobat as a youngster, and likened the way of sanctification to walking a tight rope. “I would keep my balance by looking straight ahead, my eye on my goal, never to either side or down. I knew that if I removed my eyes from the goal, I would lose my balance and fall” he said. “When striving for God, walk a straight path, and keep the minds eye turned to the Lord, never looking down or looking to either side, for I know I will fall and loose my way.”

Holiness is the means and the end. Everything else will fall into place. All I want is to begin life after death hearing the words: “Well done, my good and faithful servant…”

Patriotic reflections

Patriotism...what the heck is it? Is it flying Old Glory on the Fourth of July and Flag Day? Is it thanking our troops for the sacrifices they make? Is it paying our taxes and voting? Can we find it in a building or depicted in a work of art?

The symbols of patriotism in America are many and varied: the Stars and Stripes, our songs, the Washington Monument, the Lincoln memorial, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, a Purple Heart, the Declaration of Independence, the Statue of Liberty. Of these, the Statue of Liberty is not an image of a real person, mortal or immortal, nor is it a memorial or recollection of the past. She is the present, an image of an immortal idea representing the passion for that idea embraced by our forefathers when they came to America to find jobs, to find a better life, to have the right to own land, to be able to hunt for food and to choose who should rule over them. It was exemplified by the men who drafted and signed the Declaration of Independence, and those who joined the fight against England that all may know our belief "That all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, and among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." We hold these truths to be self evident. That is why we engaged in the World Wars, why we aided the fight in Korea and Vietnam: the rights of others were being violated. Were those who were violated Americans? No, but we certainly didn't let that stop us from coming to their aid. When the first attack in over 60 years to take place on American soil occurred only a few years ago, suddenly, people remembered Old Glory, and the Sentry of America, the Statue of Liberty. They began to fly the flag with pride, tears streamed from their eyes once again when they heard "the bombs bursting in air gave proof through the night that our flag was still there." Patriotism does exist in America...it just sort of seems to lay dormant until a tragedy happens that demands a rallying of forces .

Many don't know the words on the statue of liberty. She says "give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free..." that's really what America is made of...and it is grand. Millions of poor, battered immigrants That a whole nation should "hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men a created equal," and that everyone has the rite to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness....that just sort of rocks the world and shakes it upside down! That's why the beginning of the revolutionary war was the "Shot heard 'round the World." It was such a new idea, it was earth shattering, flying in the face of every Western Nation of the time.

Patriotism is a love of Country, of countrymen, and of ideals. Ideas are dangerous and motivating, the shape the destiny of people, movements, and ages. When we proclaim our ideas, take pride in our country and our identity as Americans. Maybe that's why shivers run down my spine during the national Anthem, why I love knowing all the songs about America that I can find, why fireworks on Independence Day make me happy. God bless the United States of America.

Summer update #2

Well, summer is fast fading away, and the weather in Virginia is finally cooling off...for a very short time I'm sure. It has been around 92F for most of the summer, give or take, and very humid. However, the great summer of 2008 has seen a relatively new addition to our weather: smoke. The fire in North Carolina blows directly our way from the South, covering us in a blanket of thick gray smoke. It smells nice, but does a number on one's lungs. They say it is burning 3 feet below the ground cause of the peat moss out that way, and that the only thing that could really put it out is a hurricane. On top of that, the great dismal swamp is burning as well. Well, unfortunately the Lord will never wipe away the face of the earth by water again, so he's going to burn it off.

We've been able to make the garden look better this year than we have in the last 10 years. Seems like our work on the stubborn gray clay has payed off finally. Lots of top soil, turning, and dead plant matter later, we have Tiger Lilies, chrysanthemums, Bleeding Hearts, foxgloves, Zinnias, Hostas, Hydrangas, and several varieties of unknown bulbs. Peter and I have worked alot outside this year. Peter is trying to turn outdoorsman (thanks to books and boyscouts) and has taken to splitting logs. The little ones are happy to assist him in this, and scrape off the bark and stack after the logs are split.

I've a part time job with a nursing home for severely disabled children. I was unable to find a full time position anywhere cause no one wants out of town college students, but this is nice enough. There are some of the cutest kids there, all deformed to some extent from birth defects, diseases, or accidents. Some had childhood illnesses that left their brains dysfunctional. I work mostly with teenagers.

My siblings and I have passes to the local recreation center, the city kid's workout. we don't have pastures to roam and lakes to swim in, therefore we need a pool or some other body of water. We play in the street, but there are these things called cars and power lines that continually get in the way...and we have already knocked the mailbox down once with a body.

Well, that's all forthe update now. More later.
Good night folks and God love you.

Intro to summer

Well, I'm home in Virginia for the summer now, so perhaps I'll have a chance to update things here more often. I'm working at the home for disabled children again, which is a very nice place and the work is fairly easy, but it's quite draining, emotionally and physically. By God's grace, the hours allow me to attend daily Mass. It is amazing what the Holy Sacrament of the Altar empowers and imparts in those who attend. Gee, I mean, the gospel today "those who partake of this bread remain in me and I in them." really makes a body feel like he's never totally divorced from the mercy and love of God, no matter how far he fall.

We had a strong gale last week, complete with wind gusts and hail. We came out alright, though several of my sisters and brothers did end up going around the neighborhood and helped our neighbors chop up fallen trees. The firewood gained from this experience has been masterfully crafted into a fort out back, approximately 3 feet in height with about 24 sq feet of space by the boyscouts and cubscouts of the family. It would be regarded with awe by any young lad interested in the fine things in life: namely nature and battles. The land finally looks like we take care of it, and the garden has been once again reclaimed from the invading yard. Squash, tomatoes, and peppers are off to a good start this year, and will hopefully remain healthy and blight-less for the remainder of the season.

Seven of us went out the strawberry field last week to continue the annual tradition and picked for about 90 minutes. Surprisingly, strawberry crops are actually a main attraction in this large city. I'm sure you can imagine my surprise when I learned that we had acquired no less than 77 1/2 pounds, all of which had to be paid for. Scraping together all of our money, and Mom's, we paid for it. I'm thinking we should hire ourselves out to some farmer or other. I mean, that's like 700 pounds/day!

And, as always, dialup clogs the phone line, so this post must end now. A very merry summer and a happy feast of the Holy Eucharist to you all!

A Fairy Tale of Grace

There was once a great and noble King whose land was terrorized by a crafty dragon. Like a massive bird of prey, the scaly beast delighted in ravaging villages with his fiery breath. Hapless victims ran from their burning homes, only to be snatched into the dragon's jaws or talons. Those devoured instantly were deemed more fortunate than those carried back to the dragon's lair to be devoured at his leisure. The King led his sons and knights in many valiant battles against the dragon.

Riding alone in the forest, one of the King's sons heard his name purred low and soft. In the shadows of the ferns and trees, curled among the boulders, lay the dragon. The creature's heavy-lidded eyes fastened on the prince, and the reptilian mouth stretched into a friendly smile.

"Don't be alarmed," said the dragon, as gray wisps of smoke rose lazily from his nostrils.

"I am not what your father thinks."

"What are you, then?" asked the prince, warily drawing his sword as he pulled in the reins to keep his fearful horse from bolting.

"I am pleasure," said the dragon. "Ride on my back and you will experience more than you ever imagined. Come now. I have no harmful intentions. I seek a friend, someone to share flights with me. Have you never dreamed of flying? Never longed to soar in the clouds?"

Visions of soaring high above the forested hills drew the prince hesitantly from his horse. The dragon unfurled one great webbed wing to serve as a ramp to his ridged back. Between the spiny projections, the prince found a secure seat. Then the creature snapped his powerful wings twice and launched them into the sky. The prince's apprehension melted into awe and exhilaration.

From then on, he met the dragon often, but secretly, for how could he tell his father, brothers or the knights that he had befriended the enemy? The prince felt separate from them all. Their concerns were no longer his concerns. Even when he wasn't with the dragon, he spent less time with those he loved and more time alone.

The skin on the prince's legs became calloused from gripping the ridged back of the dragon, and his hands grew rough and hardened. He began wearing gloves to hide the malady. After many nights of riding, he discovered scales growing on the backs of his hands as well. With dread he realized his fate were he to continue, and so he resolved to return no more to the dragon.

But, after a fortnight, he again sought out the dragon, having been tormented with desire. And so it transpired many times over. No matter what his determination, the prince eventually found himself pulled back, as if by the cords of an invisible web. Silently, patiently, the dragon always waited.

One cold, moonless night their excursion became a foray against a sleeping village. Torching the thatched roofs with fiery blasts from his nostrils, the dragon roared with delight when the terrified victims fled from their burning homes. Swooping in, the serpent belched again and flames engulfed a cluster of screaming villages. The prince closed his eyes tightly in an attempt to shut out the carnage.

In the pre dawn hours, when the prince crept back from his dragon trysts, the road outside his father's castle usually remained empty. But not tonight. Terrified refugees streamed into the protective walls of the castle. The prince attempted to slip through the crowd to close himself in his chambers, but some of the survivors stared and pointed toward him.

"He was there," one woman cried out, "I saw him on the back of the dragon." Others nodded their heads in angry agreement. Horrified, the prince saw that his father, the King, was in the courtyard holding a bleeding child in his arms. The King's face mirrored the agony of his people as his eyes found the prince's. The son fled, hoping to escape into the night, but the guards apprehended him as if he were a common thief. They brought him to the great hall where his father sat solemnly on the throne. The people on every side railed against the prince.

"Banish him!" he heard one of his own brothers angrily cry out.

"Burn him alive!" other voices shouted.

As the king rose from his throne, bloodstains from the wounded shone darkly on his royal robes. The crowd fell silent in expectation of his decree. The prince, who could not bear to look into his father's face, stared at the flagstones of the floor.

"Take off your gloves and your tunic," the King commanded. The prince obeyed slowly, dreading to have his metamorphosis uncovered before the kingdom. Was his shame not already enough? He had hoped for a quick death without further humiliation. Sounds of revulsion rippled through the crowd at the sight of the prince's thick, scaled skin and the ridge growing along his spine.

The king strode toward his son, and the prince steeled himself, fully expecting a back handed blow even though he had never been struck so by his father.

Instead, his father embraced him and wept as he held him tightly. In shocked disbelief, the prince buried his face against his father's shoulder.

"Do you wish to be freed from the dragon, my son?"

The prince answered in despair, "I wished it many times, but there is no hope for me."

"Not alone," said the King. "You cannot win against the dragon alone."

"Father, I am no longer your son. I am half beast," sobbed the prince.

But his father replied, "My blood runs in your veins. My nobility has always been stamped deep within your soul."

With his face still hidden tearfully in his father's embrace, the prince heard the King instruct the crowd, "The dragon is crafty. Some fall victim to his wiles and some to his violence. There will be mercy for all who wish to be freed. Who else among you has ridden the dragon?"

The prince lifted his head to see someone emerge from the crowd. To his amazement, he recognized an older brother, one who had been lauded throughout the kingdom for his onslaughts against the dragon in battle and for his many good deeds. Others came, some weeping, others hanging their heads in shame.

The King embraced them all.

"This is our most powerful weapon against the dragon," he announced. "Truth. No more hidden flights. Alone we cannot resist him." Melinda Reinicke, Parables for Personal Growth (San Diego, CA: Recovery Publications, Inc., 1993), pp. 5-9

Some favorites from an Irish Poet, Joseph Mary Plunkett

I see His Blood Upon the Rose by Joseph Mary Plunkett

I see his blood upon the rose
And in the stars the glory of his eyes,
His body gleams amid eternal snows,
His tears fall from the skies.

I see his face in every flower;
The thunder and the singing of the birds
Are but his voice—and carven by his power
Rocks are his written words.

All pathways by his feet are worn,
His strong heart stirs the ever-beating sea,
His crown of thorns is twined with every thorn,
His cross is every tree.


My Lady has the Grace of Death

My lady has the grace of Death
Whose charity is quick to save,
Her heart is broad as heaven’s breath,
Deep as the grave.

She found me fainting by the way
And fed me from her babeless breast
Then played with me as children play,
Rocked me to rest.

When soon I rose and cried to heaven
Moaning for sins I could not weep,
She told me of her sorrows seven
Kissed me to sleep.

And when the morn rose bright and ruddy
And sweet birds sang on the branch above
She took my sword from her side all bloody
And died for love.

Communications between sisters

My dear sister Deborah is always calling me and singing me popular songs, changing the words to fit to my situation. so I sent her this song one day, to the tune of "O Tenanbaum."

O Deborah, my Deborah
How lovely are thine eyeballs
O Deborah, my Deborah,
How lovely are thine eyeballs
They glance so sweet when morning comes
And are devious when day is done
O Deborah, my Deborah,
How lovely are thine eyeballs.

She wrote back with a nice poem, exploiting the fact that I don't have eyebrows.

Naomi, Naomi how thy eyebrows doth shine

They are so light

And flutter through the air

You'd never know

that they were ever there

And perhaps some day

When the world's bereft of delves

They will deign

To show themselves

But until then dear

I fear we must be content

To bid them farewell

Wherever they are sent

And in the life they find there

I pray they become not a bore

But find some eyebrowless peasant

Who needs them more.

So bid them adieu

And shed not a tear

You look so much better

Since they are not here.

We are so silly. =)

Nature, the Presence of God

I have recently been reflecting on Our Lord, and have focused on Him more. Funny how problems will help you do that. Just realizing (finally) that I really can no longer help myself. Actually, that I never was able to and I just need to rely totally and completely on him. But now, I've been seeing more and more that every time I turn around, He is there. In a new bud on a tree, the sunlight sparkling off the buckle on my pack, the spray of dogwood flowers in a drab little store downtown, in a kind word. He is there. Everywhere. Wanting to be seen, yet passed by by so many. How could I not have seen Him before?! Even now as I type, I look down at my hands and notice each marking, each freckle and realize that they more than the crucifix ring I wear speak of the glory and the wonder of God. I am fearfully and wonderfully made, and really have no reason to focus on my imperfections or those of the world around me, for the perfections are there. They are simple, and as such do not scream out for attention but wait patiently, as my Lord waits, to be notice and loved for themselves and not for the works they do.

Sacred Heart of Jesus, burning with love for me, inflame my cold heart with love for Thee.

I find that more and more, I am drawn to nature and feel close to my Lord and my Lady ("Nature's Solitary Boast") when I am surrounded or in touch somehow with creation. This poem is one of the favorites from my high school years, and speaks volumes on this sentiment, that nature is somehow alive with the life and love of God.

The Ballad of the Trees and the Master
Into the woods my Master went,
Clean forspent, forspent.
Into the woods my Master came,
Forspent with love and shame.
But the olives they were not blind to Him,
The little gray leaves were kind to Him:
The thorn-tree had a mind to Him
When into the woods He came.

Out of the woods my Master went,
And He was well content.
Out of the woods my Master came,
Content with death and shame.
When Death and Shame would woo Him last,
From under the trees they drew Him last:
'Twas on a tree they slew Him -- last
When out of the woods He came.
~Sidney Lanier

yay for the oldest...or not

Just read a study that says the oldest child in a family is often the most intellegent, due to keeping company with adults, teaching younger siblings, and taking responsiblity for a "clan."
I definitely feel like my younger siblings are going to be smarter because they were exposed to so much info earlier on, and also glean from my life experiences.

They will have life so much easier, and I'm sure they won't appreciate all the sacrifices I've made for them. Sigh.

But, as my little sister would say, "life is like that."
(insert here wiry grin)

The Chaplet of St. Gertrude for the Poor Souls

The prayer below was given to St. Gertrude of Sweeden, who had a great devotion to the holy souls. Our Lord promised that each time it is said, 1,000 souls will be freed. Later, the part in lower-case letters was added to include sinners still living.

"ETERNAL FATHER, I OFFER THEE THE MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD OF THY DIVINE SON, JESUS, IN UNION WITH THE MASSES SAID THROUGHOUT THE WORLD TODAY, FOR ALL THE HOLY SOULS IN PURGATORY, for sinners everywhere, for sinners in the universal Church, those in my own home and within my family. Amen."

Say this chaplet using regular Rosary beads. Begin with the Apostles' Creed, one Our Father, three Hail Marys and a Glory Be to the Father just as with Our Lady's Rosary.

On the five decades, say the above Prayer for the Holy souls on each Hail Mary bead and the Our Father on each separator bead between the decades.
------------------------------------------------------------------

Optional Prayers to add to the recitation of the Chaplet-

To be said after each decade...
Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, open the hearts and minds of sinners to the truth and light of God, the Father.
Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for the conversion of sinners and the world.\
"Glory be..."

To be said at the end of each Chaplet...
THANKSGIVING FOR GRACES BESTOWED ON ST. GERTRUDE
O most sweet Lord Jesus Christ, I praise, extol and bless Thee, in union with that Heavenly praise which the Divine Persons of the Most Holy trinity mutually render to Each other, and which thence flows down upon Thy Sacred Humanity, upon the Blessed Virgin Mary and upon all the Angels and Saints. And I give Thee thanks for all the graces Thou didst lavish upon Thy beloved spouse, St. Gertrude. I thank Thee especially for that ineffable love wherewith Thou didst pre-elect her from all eternity, didst enrich her so highly, didst draw her so sweetly to Thyself by the strongest bonds of love, didst unite her so blissfully to Thyself, dwell with such delight in her heart, and crown her life with so blessed an end. I recall to Thee now, O most compassionate Jesus, the promise Thou didst make to Thy beloved spouse, that Thou wouldst most assuredly grant the prayers of all who come to Thee through her merits and intercession, in all matters concerning their salvation. I beseech Thee, by Thy most tender love, grant me the grace . . . [mention it] which I confidently expect. Amen.

Link for the original story http://noroomforcontraception.com/cblog/index.php?/archives/78-New-Study-Abstinence-Works.html

New Study: Abstinence Works

Shortly after the publication of Douglas Kirby's Emerging Answers 2007, a study which found that abstinence programs were not effective, and after Virginia Governor Tim Kaine rejected federal funding for abstinence until marriage programs, a new study to be published in 2008 shows that a Virginia based program has been effective in delaying sexual activity.

Of course, you know which study made the headlines...

Interestingly enough, Dr. Stan Weed, the author of this new study, is on the Effective Programs And Research Task Force, which reviewed Emerging Answers in early 2007.

Being on this task force should give Dr. Weed an equal standing and equal credibility in the media. After all, if he wasn't a credible researcher, he wouldn't be on the task force along with Dr. John Santelli, who is the Department Chair of the Population and Family Health department at Columbia University, would he?

When Douglas Kirby or Dr. John Santelli publish studies supporting comprehensive sexuality education programs, headlines across the nation echo, and quite often misrepresent, the conclusions of their work.

For example, the Associated Press' recent headline describing Emerging Answers reads 'Report: Abstinence not curbing teen sex' - yet this headline is misleading.

This AP headline, as well as others, has caused me to suspect that reporters don't actually read the studies, and if they did, they don't actually understand the issue well enough. Consider that in Emerging A nswers, Kirby acknowledges that abstinence increased from 1995 to 2005. (Page 28, paragraph 3) Had the reporter read this paragraph, they wouldn't have been able to honestly pen such a misleading headline.

Interestingly enough, I wasn't able to find an AP story about Dr. Weed's study. And this isn't the first time the media has ignored studies supporting abstinence until marriage programs.

It seems that a double standard exists - if a study supports contraception and comprehensive sexuality education, it is considered newsworthy, but if a study supports abstinence, it is not.

Dr. Weed's study, An Abstinence Program's Impact on Cognitive Mediators and Sexual Initiation, will be pub lished in the Jan/Feb issue of American Journal of Health Behavior. You can read more about it here: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/88807.php

In closing, Virginia Governor Tim Kaine rejected Title V funding since he wanted to fund programs that are evidence based. Now that there is evidence that Virginia's program is effective, Gov. Kaine should accept the funding.

PS:

What can be done about the media blackout of studies supporting abstinence programs? Well, here are some ideas..

1. Bring these studies to the attention of reporters who you have spoken with in the past
2. Announce this study on your blog or website in a prominent location
3. Email news about the study to your mailing list
4. Send out press releases discussing the study
5. Email news about Dr. Weed's study to your friends.