Please pray for Egypt

“The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth” Psalm 145:18
Please pray the Rosary, Divine Mercy Chaplet, the Stations of the Cross and Litany's for the Nation of Egypt and other nations who are suffering so much. May the Mercy of Jesus overwhelm them with His Divine presence in this time of suffering and trial. God bless, Todd

Please pray for the nation of Egypt as it goes through such violent turmoil this week.
London: Day of Prayer for Egypt

Posted: Friday, January 28, 2011 6:13 pm

Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) and United Action for Egyptian Christians will host an interdenominational day of prayer for Christians in Egypt on 29 January in London.
Sectarian violence against Christians in Egypt escalated in 2010, and the start of 2011 was marred by the bombing of a Coptic church in Alexandria on New Year’s Eve in which 23 people were killed and 80 were injured.
The Day of Prayer for Egypt will begin with an ecumenical service at St Marys Church, Bryanston Square, W1, led by Bishop Angaelos, head of the Coptic Church in the UK, and attended by representatives of various Christian denominations. The increasingly tense situation for Egypt’s Christians will be discussed by Dr Raafat Girgis, a leading expert on the history of Christianity in Egypt, Ibrahim Habib of United Copts of Great Britain, and representatives from CSW. There will also be testimonies from Egyptian converts, and worship in both Arabic and English.Egypt has been rocked in recent days by protests against the government of President Hosni Mubarak, who has been in power for 29 years. Despite a ban on political demonstrations, thousands of demonstrators took to the streets of towns and cities across the country after Friday prayers in what is thought to be the biggest day of protest yet.CSW’s Chief Executive Mervyn Thomas said, “Egypt is at a critical time in its history and it is more important than ever that we join Christians in Egypt in praying for the future of their country. We look forward to welcoming Christians of all denominations as they join with us in standing in solidarity with the Church in Egypt at this crucial time.”CSW is the UK’s leading human rights advocacy organisation specialising in religious freedom, working on behalf of those persecuted for their Christian beliefs and promoting religious liberty for all.
The Day of Prayer will be held from10am-4pm on 29 January at St Marys Church, Bryanston Square, Wyndham Place, London W1H 1PQ. For further information visit http://www.csw.org.uk/.
http://www.indcatholicnews.com/news.php?viewStory=17549

St. Anthony of Egypt

(251-356)
The life of Anthony will remind many people of St. Francis of Assisi. At 20, Anthony was so moved by the Gospel message, “Go, sell what you have, and give to [the] poor” (Mark 10:21b), that he actually did just that with his large inheritance. He is different from Francis in that most of Anthony’s life was spent in solitude. He saw the world completely covered with snares, and gave the Church and the world the witness of solitary asceticism, great personal mortification and prayer. But no saint is antisocial, and Anthony drew many people to himself for spiritual healing and guidance.

At 54, he responded to many requests and founded a sort of monastery of scattered cells. Again like Francis, he had great fear of “stately buildings and well-laden tables.”

At 60, he hoped to be a martyr in the renewed Roman persecution of 311, fearlessly exposing himself to danger while giving moral and material support to those in prison. At 88, he was fighting the Arian heresy, that massive trauma from which it took the Church centuries to recover. “The mule kicking over the altar” denied the divinity of Christ.

Anthony is associated in art with a T-shaped cross, a pig and a book. The pig and the cross are symbols of his valiant warfare with the devil—the cross his constant means of power over evil spirits, the pig a symbol of the devil himself. The book recalls his preference for “the book of nature” over the printed word. Anthony died in solitude at 105.
Comment:
In an age that smiles at the notion of devils and angels, a person known for having power over evil spirits must at least make us pause. And in a day when people speak of life as a “rat race,” one who devotes a whole life to solitude and prayer points to an essential of the Christian life in all ages. Anthony’s hermit life reminds us of the absoluteness of our break with sin and the totality of our commitment to Christ. Even in God’s good world, there is another world whose false values constantly tempt us.
http://www.americancatholic.org/Features/Saints/saint.aspx?id=1263

Thoughts for the end of the day

Well, here I am winding down another day. So many things happen throughout the course of a day that it is easy to forget the important things. I did not go to mass today, I missed that time with Jesus. When I was a Protestant, time with Jesus was time spent studying the Bible and Prayer. Both of those are great, but nothing can replace receiving Him in the Host at the Eucharist!
If we truly undstand that He is there in the Host then going to Mass is going to spend time with Jesus and receive His real presence into our body. WOW! Not only that, but in the Mass we receive the Holy Scripture and devote time to prayer. Being Catholic is so much like being an American compared to the rest of the world we are so rich we can not even relate to others in a realistic way.

Daily we have the Mass! How much treasure is in one Mass, how much value is in that very thing we can participate in daily that the rest of the world is starving for? Jesus is there in the Eucharist and in the tabernacle. He is always there for us. It is so nice to know. Please go to Mass soon and be thankful for the opportunity to participate in His Church. God bless, Todd

Please pray the Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Divine Mercy Chaplet, and the Stations of the Cross daily. For the Salvation of Souls, the ending of Abortion, the intentions of the Holy Father Pope Benedict, Peace,the Holy Souls in Purgatory, the needs and intentions of at least 10 others, and for your nation. 3 million of us praying these prayers daily will have a significant impact for good on the lives of others.




Please read the Free E-Book Covenant of Mercy and Blessing. It is found on the right hand column under the pages section. Feel free to copy it to your computer and share it with as many others as you want. If this site is a blessing to you please share it with at least 10 others and help with our vision of spreading Devotion to the Divine Mercy and Grace of Jesus and helping 3 million new people start praying the Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Divine Mercy Chaplet, and the Stations of the Cross daily. Your prayers and gifts are greatly appreciated in this effort. Thanks, Todd

Conversation of the Merciful God with a Sinful Soul

Please pray the Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Divine Mercy Chaplet, and the Stations of the Cross daily. For the Salvation of Souls, the ending of Abortion, the intentions of the Holy Father Pope Benedict, Peace,the Holy Souls in Purgatory, the needs and intentions of at least 10 others, and for your nation. 3 million of us praying these prayers daily will have a significant impact for good on the lives of others

I thought this was good.

The mercy of God, hidden in the Blessed Sacrament, the voice of the Lord who speaks to us from the throne of mercy: Come to Me, all of you.


Conversation of the Merciful God with a Sinful Soul.(Excerpts from Saint Faustina's Diary)


Jesus: Be not afraid of your Savior, O sinful soul. I make the first move to come to you, for I know that by yourself you are unable to lift yourself to me. Child, do not run away from your Father; be willing to talk openly with your God of mercy who wants to speak words of pardon and lavish his graces on you. How dear your soul is to Me! I have inscribed your name upon My hand; you are engraved as a deep wound in My Heart.

Soul: Lord, I hear your voice calling me to turn back from the path of sin, but I have neither the strength nor the courage to do so.

Jesus: I am your strength, I will help you in the struggle.

 Soul: Lord, I recognize your holiness, and I fear You.

Jesus: My child, do you fear the God of mercy? My holiness (80) does not prevent Me front being merciful. Behold, for you I have established a throne of mercy on earth—the tabernacle—and from this throne I desire to enter into your heart. I am not surrounded by a retinue or guards. You can come to me at any moment, at any time; I want to speak to you and desire to grant you grace.

Soul: Lord, I doubt that You will pardon my numerous sins; my misery fills me with fright.

Jesus: My mercy is greater than your sins and those of the entire world. Who can measure the extent of my goodness? For you I descended from heaven to earth; for you I allowed myself to be nailed to the cross; for you I let my Sacred Heart be pierced with a lance, thus opening wide the source of mercy for you. Come, then, with trust to draw graces from this fountain. I never reject a contrite heart. Your misery has disappeared in the depths of My mercy. Do not argue with Me about your wretchedness. You will give me pleasure if you hand over to me all your troubles and griefs. I shall heap upon you the treasures of My grace.

(81) Soul: You have conquered, O Lord, my stony heart with Your goodness. In trust and humility I approach the tribunal of Your mercy, where You yourself absolve me by the hand of your representative. O Lord, I feel Your grace and Your peace filling my poor soul. I feel overwhelmed by Your mercy, O Lord. You forgive me, which is more than I dared to hope for or could imagine. Your goodness surpasses all my desires. And now, filled with gratitude for so many graces, I invite You to my heart. I wandered, like a prodigal child gone astray; but you did not cease to be my Father. Increase Your mercy toward me, for You see how weak I am.

Jesus: Child, speak no more of your misery; it is already forgotten. Listen, My child, to what I desire to tell you. Come close to My wounds and draw from the Fountain of Life whatever your heart desires. Drink copiously from the Fountain of Life and you will not weary on your journey. Look at the splendors of My mercy and do not fear the enemies of your salvation. Glorify My mercy.
http://www.pornnomore.com/Conversations.htm

Christian Unity or Protestant judgement....What is a polite Catholic supposed to do?

Today is Thurs. pray the Luminous Mysteries- Christ is baptised, Jesus changes the water into wine, Jesus preaches the gospel, The tranfiguration of Jesus, Jesus gives us the Holy Eucharist at the last supper.
5 decades for the necessities and intentions of at least 10 others, peace, the salvation of souls, the ending of abortion, the intentions of the Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI, the Holy souls in Purgatory, and the spreading of Devotion to the Divine Mercy of Jesus.

Today's Mass Readings:

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Hebrews 7:25 -- 8:6

Psalm 40:7-10, 17

Mark 3:7-12

I remind you to stir into flame the gift of God that you have through the imposition of my hands. For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love and self-control. So do not be ashamed of your testimony to our Lord, nor of me, a prisoner for his sake; but bear your share of the hardship for the gospel with the strength that comes from God.

-- St. Paul in his second letter to Timothy (2 Tim 1:6-8)
Read more: http://www.ewtn.com/Devotionals/inspiration.htm#20#ixzz1BbCqAuKT

Today's Homily
see post below this one for the video.

Saint of the day:

St. Sebastian

(257?-288?)
Nothing is historically certain about St. Sebastian except that he was a Roman martyr, was venerated in Milan even in the time of St. Ambrose and was buried on the Appian Way, probably near the present Basilica of St. Sebastian. Devotion to him spread rapidly, and he is mentioned in several martyrologies as early as a.d. 350.

The legend of St. Sebastian is important in art, and there is a vast iconography. Scholars now agree that a pious fable has Sebastian entering the Roman army because only there could he assist the martyrs without arousing suspicion. Finally he was found out, brought before Emperor Diocletian and delivered to Mauritanian archers to be shot to death. His body was pierced with arrows, and he was left for dead. But he was found still alive by those who came to bury him. He recovered, but refused to flee. One day he took up a position near where the emperor was to pass. He accosted the emperor, denouncing him for his cruelty to Christians. This time the sentence of death was carried out. Sebastian was beaten to death with clubs. HE was buried on the Appian Way, close to the catacombs that bear his name.

What to do as a polite Catholic???

It has finally happened, my being Catholic in a family of Protestant's has become an issue. During Christmas we went to Church services with some family members who were offended when my son and I did not go up for communion. My unbelieving realative can go up and partake of the Host and that is OK. It seems strange to me that we are the one's who offend others simply by following our creed. We believe that we can only commune with those who are in full communion with the Church. This offends more Protestants than I ever imagined, they want us to commune with them, but they do not want to share our faith.
For me this is the saddest thing. I joined the Catholic Church believing it is THE CHURCH Jesus founded. We can trace Her history back to the day of Pentecost. All other denominations broke off from someone else. Yet we are the one's who are at fault? Go figure.
As polite Catholics we have to defend ourselves graciously. We must take the ribbing and the sublime persecution graciously and lovingly. Why? Because this is what Jesus did. His family wanted to put Him away as a crazy person and He did not rant or rave about it. He simply went on doing what He was called to do. This site is dedicated to Him and I must follow in His footsteps. I am not at all understanding all of this, yet I know He is faithful and will see to it that everything will work out for His glory. I just wish I could have seen it coming.
I find that every Protestant wants Christian Unity as long as it is their way. None believe we should all be Catholic. Why is that? True Christian Unity must be Catholic. It is the only way it will work. Holy Mother Church does love all of Her children even those who through misguided good intentions split the very church they proclaim to defend. How can you say you love Jesus and not love His Church?
God bless, Todd