Thoughts At the End of 2011

As 2011 draws to a close, I find it interesting to look back on the year.  Let's take a look first of all at the country I call home - the United States of America.  Things were not good at the end of 2010 - high unemployment, people losing their homes, the dollar and the entire economy threatening to collapse, the survival of the family threatened with legalization of same sex marriage and general immorality, high abortion numbers, high numbers of kids failing in schools, threats of war everywhere - it just wasn't good.  But there was promise in the air - the nation had just elected large numbers of tea party candidates to the House of Representatives, and we were assured that things were going to change.  John Boehner, the new Speaker of the House, would stand up to Obama and turn this country around.  Good days were coming!

It is now 12 months later.  What has ensued during that time?  Well, we've been involved in yet another war - oops, I meant a "kinetic military action" in Libya.  President Obama didn't bother to get congressional approval for this "kinetic military action".  A few Republicans grumbled about that, but most didn't seem too upset and they certainly didn't do anything about it.  We were involved in overturning our long time ally in Egypt (very dangerous to be an ally of the United States - the US will turn on you every time); and we are now threatening to get involved with both Syria and Iran.  Hmmm, that doesn't sound too good. 

Christians Are Being Martyred and Driven Out of Mideast

As many as 1.2 million Christians lived in Iraq

before the 2003 invasion to oust leader Saddam Hussein.

However, many have since fled abroad in the wake of

stepped-up violence by al-Qaida-linked Muslim insurgents.

This Church, in Kirkuk, was hit by a car bomb that also

wounded 23 people in August 2011.

The MSM rarely speaks of the worldwide persecution of Christians, and when they do, we are never told the details.  We need to know what is happening to our brothers and sisters around the world, and most especially in the Middle East.  We need to be praying for them. 

Below is an article describing the life of Christians in present-day Iraq.  They have known persecution, violence, destruction and death since the American invasion of their land.  Is that what we fought for?

The Fate of Christians When America "Liberates" Countries

It seems to happen everytime the US "helps" another country towards becoming a democracy.  The Christians end up paying the price.  It happened in Iraq.  The oldest surviving Christian community in the world was in Iraq.  As Wikipedia tells us:  "Christianty was brought to Iraq in the first century by the Apostle Thomas, Addai (Thaddaeus) and his pupils Aggagi and Mari."  According to this same article:  "Prior to the Gulf War in 1991, Christians numbered one million in Iraq. The Baathist rule under Saddam Hussein kept a lid on anti-Christian violence but subjected some to "relocation programmes".  Under this regime, the predominantly Assyrian Christians were pressured to identify as Arabs. The Christian population fell to an estimated 800,000 before the 2003 invasion of Iraq." 

What happened after the 2003 invasion? 

After the 2003 invasion of Iraq, violence against Christians rose, with reports of abduction, torture, bombings, and killings.  Some Christians were pressured to convert to Islam under threat of death or expulsion, and women were ordered to wear Islamic dress.

In August 2004, International Christian Concern protested an attack by Islamists on Iraqi Christian churches that killed 11 people.  See 2004 Iraq churches attacks. In 2006, an Orthodox Christian priest, Boulos Iskander, was beheaded and mutilated despite payment of a ransom, and in 2008, Archbishop Paulos Faraj Rahho of Mosul died after being abducted. In January 2008, bombs exploded outside nine churches.

What did the Bush Administration do about the persecution of Christians?  Nothing.  Did you hear about it in the MSM?  Not on your life.  It is important to question why, after living in relative peace with their non-Christian neighbors for so many generations, is there suddenly a threat to the very survival of these Christians?  Who is really behind it?

ANOTHER REASON TO DISTRUST THE MSM

I think my blog is beginning to sound like an arm of the Ron Paul campaign.  Although I support Congressman Paul, as I have already posted, I do not believe that even if he is elected president that it will make a lot of difference in the direction of our country.  But I am blown away at how the entire establishment truly hates this man.  And he is the only man who can be trusted not to change his positions and to stand up for the Constitution and our rights as American citizens.  Here is yet another MSM editorial telling you how dangerous this true patriotic American is.

Joseph W. McQuaid: Ron Paul is truly dangerous

By JOSEPH W. McQUAID
New Hampshire Union Leader Publisher

Published Dec 29, 2011 at 3:00 am (Updated Dec 28, 2011)

Ron Paul is a dangerous man [I guess this is how we characterize anyone who stands up for traditional American values]. While his domestic libertarian views are quite attractive to some voters fed up with politics as usual, it is Paul’s position on issues of our national security that are truly dangerous.

Those views have been largely overlooked by a news media [Overlooked?  This is all I ever hear about Ron Paul!!]  more interested in the presidential “horse race” than in the candidates’ positions on issues. But we expect New Hampshire primary voters will examine the facts and act accordingly.

DESCRIPTION OF AN ABORTION

If you or someone you know is considering an abortion, please read this so you will know exactly what will happen to you and your baby. These are descriptions of abortions at various stages of pregnancy:

Suction-aspiration:
In this method, the abortionist must first paralyze the cervical muscle ring (womb opening) and then stretch it open. This is difficult because it is hard or "green" and not ready to open. He then inserts a hollow plastic tube, which has a knife-like edge on the tip, into the uterus. The suction tears the baby’s body into pieces. He then cuts the deeply rooted placenta from the inner wall of the uterus. The scraps are sucked out into a bottle. The suction is 29 times more powerful than a home vacuum cleaner.

Feast of The Holy Innocents

A voice was heard in Rama,
weeping and loud lamentation,
Rachel weeping for her children,
and she would not be comforted,
because they are no more.

Today is the Feast of the Holy Innoncents, which marks the massacre of baby boys by King Herod in his attempt to kill the Christ child. From Wikipedia: "Herod ordered the execution of all young male children in the village of Bethlehem, so as to avoid the loss of his throne to a newborn King of the Jews whose birth had been announced to him by the Magi."  We shake our heads in disbelief at the wickedness of King Herod in ordering this massacre. But there is a much greater massacre of innoncents happening every day, and probably not very far from you. It's called abortion.

It may seem odd that the Catholic Church would call the massacre of young boys by King Herod a "feast." Holy Mother Church says that these young boys were martyrs. St. Augustine explains:

Dearly beloved, today we keep the birth of these children, who, as we are informed by the Gospel were put to death by cruel King Herod. Therefore let earth rejoice with exceeding joy, for she is the fruitful mother of this great host of heavenly soldiers. The favour of vile Herod could never have done such service to these blessed ones as hath his hatred. For the Church testifieth by this holy solemnity, that whereas iniquity did specially abound against these little Saints, so much the more were heavenly blessings poured out upon them.

Who'd Have Thought?

I posted a couple of weeks ago that Father John Zuhlsdorf seemed to be actively supporting Newt Gingrich.  When I had posted negatively about the Newtster, Father Z called me a "Donatist"  because I dared to bring up past political actions of the former Speaker.  Well, it seems that even Father Z can't convince his loyal readers.  Below is a screen shot of a poll from Father Z's blog. Thumbs up to Father Z's readers for thinking for themselves, although I guess Father Z would call all of them Donatists. 

 

Father Z tried to explain away the Ron Paul vote thusly:

UPDATE: 19 Dec 1527 GMT:
I watched late yesterday as there was a sharp flood of several hundred votes for Ron Paul in a narrow time frame. Then the sharp spike stopped.

America, Land of the Free - Not So Much

Why is Ron Paul the only GOP presidential candidate who is speaking about this issue?  Are the others totally unaware of the National Defense Authorizaton Act, which allows the US Military to indefinitely detain anyone without a trial or even being officially charged, including American citizens, that the Government considers a threat?  Well, Ron Paul is speaking out about it, and we all need to hear what he has to say. 

 

 

Rep. Paul says defense bill assures ‘descent into totalitarianism’

By Jonathan Easley - 12/26/11 09:25 AM ET

GOP presidential candidate Ron Paul warned that the National Defense Authorization Act, which was passed by Congress this month, will accelerate the country’s “slip into tyranny” and virtually assures “our descent into totalitarianism.”  [Is anyone listening?]

“The founders wanted to set a high bar for the government to overcome in order to deprive an individual of life or liberty,” Paul, the libertarian congressman, said Monday in a weekly phone message to supporters. “To lower that bar is to endanger everyone. When the bar is low enough to include political enemies, our descent into totalitarianism is virtually assured. The Patriot Act, as bad as its violations against the Fourth Amendment was, was just one step down the slippery slope. The recently passed National Defense Authorization Act continues that slip into tyranny, and in fact, accelerates it significantly.”

The NDAA is the nearly $670 billion defense spending bill that covers the military budget and funding for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

One controversial provision mandates the detention of terror suspects and reaffirms the administration’s authority to detain those suspected of having ties to terrorist organizations.

“The Fifth Amendment is about much more than the right to remain silent in the face of government questioning,” Paul continued. “It contains very basic and very critical stipulations about the due process of law. The government cannot imprison a person for no reason and with no evidence presented and without access to legal council. The danger of the NDAA is its alarmingly vague, undefined criteria for who can be indefinitely detained by the U.S. government without trial.”

“It is no longer limited to members of Al Qaeda or the Taliban, but anyone accused of substantially supporting such groups or associated forces,” Paul continued. “How closely associated, and what constitutes substantial support? What if it was discovered that someone who committed a terrorist act was once involved with a charity? Or suppose a political candidate? Are all donors of that candidate or supporters of that candidate now suspects and subject to indefinite detainment? Is that charity now an associated force?”

The White House initially threatened to veto the NDAA because of the detainee language, saying it would tie the hands of law enforcement officials. But the administration dropped the veto threat before the bill passed the House, as the bill’s supporters argued that there were sufficient waivers.

“The president’s widely expanded view of his own authority to detain Americans indefinitely even on American soil is for the first time in this legislation codified in law,” Paul said. “That should chill all of us to our cores.”  [Sorry, Congressman Paul, but people are much more interested in American Idol than the fact that their freedoms are being taken away]

“The Bill of Rights has no exceptions for really bad people or terrorists or even non-citizens. It is a key check on government power against any person. That [the Bill of Rights] is not a weakness in our legal system, it is the very strength of our legal system. The NDAA attempts to justify abridging the Bill of Rights on the theory that rights are suspended in a time of war, and the entire United States is a battlefield in the war on terror. This is a very dangerous development, indeed. Beware.”

Big Bad Ron Paul

According to Republicans, who is even more scary than President Obama?  An evil Muslim terrorist?  Oh no, it's a 76-year old man who constantly talks about the US Constitution and warns us that our liberties are being taken away.  The person Republicans need to fear above everyone else is - Ron Paul!!   So says Dick Morris, the one-time Bill Clinton advisor turned Republican (we can really trust him, can't we?):

From Newsmax.com:

With Ron Paul surging in Iowa polls, Dick Morris, the Fox News analyst and Republican strategist, warns of horrific [oh my, lions and tigers and bears, oh my!] consequences for the GOP if he wins the GOP nomination.

In a column released on Dickmorris.com this weekend, Morris writes:

"Ron Paul remains terrifying. He is really the ultimate liberal in the race. He wants to legalize drugs [see below], repeal the Patriot Act, slash our military spending, pull out of Afghanistan [you betcha to all of that], and remove all limits on abortion [again, see below. Also, this issue means nothing to Dick Morris - he is pro abortion] . On these issues, he’s way, way to the left of Obama. What makes him a conservative is hard to tell. [Maybe the fact that he supports the Constitution, ya think?]  But, whatever he is, he would be a disaster as the Republican candidate. His bland assertion in the last debate, that 'anyone' will beat Obama is both self-serving and inaccurate. He wouldn’t. Anyone who votes for Paul and is not brought up short by his denuding us in our defenses against terrorism and his passivity in the face of Iranian nuclear weapons, has to realize that nominating him is tantamount to re-electing Obama."

Catholic Churches Bombed in Nigeria on Christmas Day

Violence against Catholics on Christmas Day.  Fron Reuters:  

By Felix Onuah and Camillus Eboh

ABUJA | Sun Dec 25, 2011 5:44pm EST

ABUJA (Reuters) - Islamist militants set off bombs across Nigeria on Christmas Day [it may or may not be true that the bombings were done by Islamist militants - don't accept this at face value] - three targeting churches including one that killed at least 27 people - raising fears that they are trying to ignite sectarian civil war [somone is trying to start a war, that is certain].

The Boko Haram Islamist sect, which aims to impose sharia law across the country, claimed responsibility for the three church bombs, the second Christmas in a row the group has caused mass carnage with deadly bombings of churches. Security forces also blamed the sect for two other blasts in the north. 

St Theresa's Catholic Church in Madala, a satellite town about 40 km (25 miles) from the centre of the capital Abuja, was packed when the bomb exploded just outside.

"We were in the church with my family when we heard the explosion. I just ran out," Timothy Onyekwere told Reuters. "Now I don't even know where my children or my wife are. I don't know how many were killed but there were many dead."

Hours after the first bomb, blasts were reported at the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Church in the central, ethnically and religiously mixed town of Jos, and at a church in northern Yobe state at the town of Gadaka. Residents said many were wounded in Gadaka, but there were no immediate further details.

A suicide bomber killed four security officials at the State Security Service in one of the other bombs, which struck the northeastern town of Damaturu, police said. Residents heard two loud explosions and gunfire in the town.

A Reuters reporter at the church near Abuja saw the front roof had been destroyed, as had several houses nearby. Five burnt out cars were still smouldering. There were scenes of chaos, as shocked residents stared at the wreckage in disbelief.

"Mass just ended and people were rushing out of the church and suddenly I heard a loud sound: 'Gbam!' Cars were in flames and bodies littered everywhere," Nnana Nwachukwu told Reuters.

Father Christopher Barde, Assistant priest of the church, said: "The officials who counted told me they have picked up 27 bodies so far."

Police cordoned off the area around the church. Thousands of furious youths set up burning road blocks on the highway from Abuja leading to Nigeria's largely Muslim north.

Police and the military tried to disperse them by firing live rounds into the air with tear gas.

"We are so angry," shouted Kingsley Ukpabi, as a queue of hooting vehicles lined up behind his flaming barrage.

ATTACKS INCREASE

Boko Haram - which in the Hausa language spoken in northern Nigeria means "Western education is sinful" - is loosely modelled on the Taliban movement in Afghanistan.

It has emerged as the biggest security threat in Nigeria, a country of 160 million split evenly between Christians and Muslims, who for the most part live side by side in peace [so who and what is suddenly causing this tension between the two groups?]. 

Its low level insurgency used to be largely confined to northeastern Nigeria, but it has struck several parts of the north, centre and the capital Abuja this year.

Last Christmas Eve, a series of bomb blasts around Jos killed 32 people, and other people died in attacks on two churches in the northeast.

At the church near Abuja, a wounded man whose legs were almost shattered to pieces by the blast was loaded onto a stretcher near an ambulance by security services.

"I'll survive," he said in a hushed voice.

The blast in Jos, a tinderbox of ethnic and sectarian tensions that sometimes sees deadly clashes between Muslims and Christians [didn't this article just say that there is mostly peace between Christians and Muslims?], was accompanied by a shooting spree by militants, who exchanged fire with local police, said Charles Ezeocha, special taskforce spokesman for Jos.

"We lost one policeman and we have made four arrests. I think we can use them to get more information and work on that," he said. Police found four other explosive devices in Jos, which they deactivated, he added.

President Goodluck Jonathan, a Christian from the south who is struggling to contain the threat of Islamist militancy, called the incidents "unfortunate" but said Boko Haram would "not be (around) for ever. It will end one day."

The White House condemned "this senseless violence and tragic loss of life on Christmas Day.

We need to pray for all involved here, the innocent victims and their families, and even for those involved in the bombings, that they can somehow repent and turn away from this violence. 

But remember what I have told you, folks, don't trust the MSM.  Yes, these bombings definitely happened and people were tragically killed.  Yes, the Muslims are claiming credit for these bombings, but who are these groups and who is manipulating them?  Why would people suddenly turn against their neighbors with whom they had been living peacefully?   Don't accept anything at face value.  Question everything you hear from the MSM.

Christ the King Born in a Manger

When I was a kid, one of my favorite Christmas songs was "Away in a Manger":

Away in a manger, no crib for his bed

The little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head
The stars in the bright sky looked down where he lay
The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay

The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes,
But little Lord Jesus no crying he makes.

We've heard the story so many times that it doesn't even register anymore. Christ was born in a manger. And we see the cute little pictures like the one here, and we have a big "awwww" moment. But think about it. The King of the Universe, our Creator and God, chooses to come to earth not in royal splendor but as a tiny babe in a manger filled with straw, "no crib for his bed".  What's the deal?

I pray with a Cenacle of Life group in which we pray the Rosary for Life, and the following is the meditation for the third Joyful Mystery, the Nativity of our Lord:

The Birth of God in total poverty amongst the animals attending the fields.  Amen.  Let us ponder, why was the Lord not born in a castle where kings live?  God chose to be born in a manger, which is a feeding trough for animals.  O' the Lord beckons those who are humble, who reject the wordly ways. 

The Creator of the Universe, the One who gives us every breath of air we breathe, chose to come to this earth in complete poverty. When people today go anywhere with their babies, they have to practically hire a truck to carry all of their baby stuff - car seat, diaper bags, bottles, forumla, toys, etc.. Our Lord didn't even have a blanket. All his parents had for him were "swaddling clothes":

"Swaddling clothes described in the Bible consisted of a cloth tied together by bandage-like strips. After an infant was born, the umbilical cord was cut and tied, and then the baby was washed, rubbed with salt and oil, and wrapped with strips of cloth."

And as the song says, he had no crib in which to lay his head, only a manger, a feeding trough for animals, filled with straw. 

Isn't it ironic that this momentous occasion - the birth of Christ, who was born into material poverty - is  marked by the world as a material orgy?  The "Christmas season" starts with what is called the biggest shopping day of the year, Black Friday.  And on Christmas Eve this year, the headline on the Drudge Report is: "Air Jordan shoes cause riots around nation."

Scuffles broke out and police were brought in to quell unrest that nearly turned into riots across the nation Friday following the release of Nike's new Air Jordan basketball shoes — a retro model of one of the most popular Air Jordans ever made.

The mayhem stretched from Washington state to Georgia and was reminiscent of the violence that broke out 20 years ago in many cities as the shoes became popular targets for thieves. It also had a decidedly Black Friday feel as huge crowds of shoppers overwhelmed stores for a must-have item.

Is this what Christmas now means in our society - wars across the nation over sneakers???

Then I came across this article:  "Just Say No to Christmas".  This article is in the "money" section of USA Today.  It starts out:

Susan Lee, a divorced mother of three in New York City, is taking a drastic step this year. "No Christmas for me," she says. "No gifts, no turkey, no tree, no kidding."

Lee, 41, a marketing consultant, says she needs a break from the stress and spending that are integral parts of the holiday [this is not the Christmas that has anything to do with that small babe in the manger]. Her kids will celebrate a traditional Christmas with their dad, but she's ignoring all the rituals.

"I start dreading Christmas from the time the decorations go up in the stores," she says. "It stopped being fun for me, so I'll find out this year if I can do without it altogether. I think it will be a relief. It already is."

Huh?  If there are "No gifts, no turkey, no tree," then there is no Christmas?  If it's not "fun," then what's the point????

The article later says:

Some people simply loathe the holiday. A Facebook search for "I hate Christmas" turns up dozens of results, including pages and posts from people who say they despise almost everything about Christmas: music, shopping, family gatherings, trees and lights. 

Guess what, folks?  The "music, shopping, family gatherings, trees and lights" is NOT what Christmas is about.  This article actually gives me great hope, because it is telling me that people are rejecting the false Christmas created by our materialistic culture.  They are finding that it leaves you with your pocketbook drained and empty feelings.  And that is most certainly not why God came to earth as a small babe wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger filled with straw. 

Susan from New York and all the rest who are tired of what Christmas has become might be very interested in Pope Benedict XVI's Christmas message for this year.  This is from Reuters:

Pope Benedict ushered in Christmas for the world's 1.3 billion Roman Catholics on Saturday, urging humanity to see through the superficial glitter and commercialism of the season and rediscover the real significance of the humble birth of Jesus.

. . .

Benedict, wearing resplendent gold and white vestments, urged his listeners to find peace in the symbol of the powerless Christ child in a world continually threatened by violence.

"Today Christmas has become a commercial celebration, whose bright lights hide the mystery of God's humility, which in turn calls us to humility and simplicity," he said in his homily to about 10,000 people in the basilica and millions more watching on television throughout the world.

"Let us ask the Lord to help us see through the superficial glitter of this season, and to discover behind it the child in the stable in Bethlehem, so as to find true joy and true light."

The Christmas story of how Jesus, who Christians believe is the son of God, was born powerless "in the poverty of the stable" should remind everyone of the need for humility.

"... let us strip away our fixation on what is material, on what can be measured and grasped. Let us allow ourselves to be made simple by the God who reveals himself to the simple of heart," he said.

My prayer is that everyone will find the true meaning of Christmas spoken of by our Holy Father.  Only then will we have the peace and joy that so many speak of this time of year, but rarely find.

The Shroud of Turin - Scientists Can't Explain It

The Shroud of Turin: modern photo of the face,
positive left, negative right.
Negative has been contrast enhanced

The Catholic Church is filled with miracles that cannot be explained by science.  One example is a host in Lanciano, Italy consecrated by a doubting priest that literally turned into flesh and blood in the 8th century, and which host can still be seen today.  Interestingly enough, the blood type in the host at Lanciano is the same as the blood type found on the Shroud of Turin.  What is the Shroud of Turin, you say?  Wikipedia tells us:

The Shroud of Turin or Turin Shroud (Italian: Sindone di Torino, Sacra Sindone) is a linen cloth bearing the image of a man who appears to have suffered physical trauma in a manner consistent with crucifixion. It is kept in the royal chapel of the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist in Turin, northern Italy. The image on the shroud is commonly associated with Jesus Christ, his crucifixion and burial. The origins of the shroud and its image are the subject of intense debate among scientists, theologians, historians and researchers. The Catholic Church has neither formally endorsed nor rejected the shroud, but in 1958 Pope Pius XII approved of the image in association with the Roman Catholic devotion to the Holy Face of Jesus.


The image on the shroud is much clearer in black-and-white negative than in its natural sepia color. The negative image was first observed in 1898, on the reverse photographic plate of amateur photographer Secondo Pia, who was allowed to photograph it while it was being exhibited in the Turin Cathedral. In 1978 a detailed examination was carried out by a team of American scientists called STURP. They found no reliable evidence of forgery, and called the question of how the image was formed "a mystery".

The Alternate Reality of the Mainstream Media

Why am I constantly going back to Ron Paul and how he is treated by the MSM and so-called conservative Republicans?  I do believe that Ron Paul is the best choice we have for president, but even if he should actually be elected, it still won't save our country.  It may give us a little more time, but the only thing that will save our country, and the whole world for that matter, is that the Catholic Church finally does what our Lady in the approved apparition of Fatima, has asked us to do, and that is to consecrate Russa to her immaculate heart. 

Our Lady asked that this consecration be done either in 1960 or upon the death of Sister Lucy, the only surviving seer of the 3 shepherd children involved in the Fatima apparitions, whichever came first.   Sister Lucy was still very much alive in 1960 (she did not die until 2005), and yet, even though the pope at that time, Pope John XXIII, fully acknowledged the legitimacy of Fatima and the request of our Lady to consecrate Russia to her immaculate heart, still refused to do it.  Many say that it was done by Pope John Paul II on May 13, 1982, exactly one year after he was shot.  But he never once mentioned the word "Russia", and he did not include the bishops of the world in the consecration, which must be done.  Blessed John Paul II consecrated the world to her immaculate heart "and those awaiting consecration."  That doesn't do it, and the condition of the world tells us it wasn't done.  Our Lady said that when the consecration was done, we would have peace in the world.  If not, Russia would continue to spread her errors.  You look around and tell me what is happening. 

Christmas - Bah, Humbug!

Hey, wait a minute - doesn't this blog say something about "Catholic?"  Isn't Christmas one of those big days with Catholics where people who never go to Church will actually show up because it is just that important?  Then what's with the "Bah, Humbug" stuff?  Oh yes, Christmas is a very important day to me, and one which I will celebrate joyfully and thankfully.  So what is my problem?

A lot of people get very upset about the secularization of Christmas.  But I have to say that I'm not overly bothered by those folks who refuse to say "Merry Christmas" and will become incensed if you so much as bring up the "Christ" part of Christmas.  They leave no doubt about what they do and don't believe.  I appreciate their honesty and forthrightness. 

Men's Rules for Women

This one is just for fun.

I have been married 11-1/2 years, and I love my husband dearly.  He is truly my best friend and I wouldn't trade him in for anything.  But the fact is, he is a man and I'm a woman (as it should be!), and that creates vast differences between us, and there are times when we drive each other crazy. 

Someone sent the following to me, and although you may have seen it, I wanted to share it.  I think it sets out very well what most men would love to say to women.

Vive la difference!

Why does the Establishment GOP Hate Ron Paul?

It is absolutely fascinating to watch the Establishment GOP running scared out of their britches over Ron Paul.  Why do they hate this man?  Wikipedia tells us this:  A native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Paul is a graduate of Gettysburg College and Duke University School of Medicine, where he earned his medical degree. He served as a flight surgeon in the United States Air Force from 1963 until 1968. He worked as an obstetrician and gynecologist during the 1960s and 1970s, delivering more than 4,000 babies, before entering politics in 1976. 

Sounds like a pretty down to earth guy to me.  Ron Paul has been married to his wife since 1957 (unlike Gingrich, who is on his 3rd wife) and has five children, one of whom, Dr. Rand Paul, is a United States senator.  According to University of Georgia political scientist Keith Poole, Ron Paul had the most conservative voting record of any member of Congress since 1937."  Yet, the King of Conservatives - Rush Limbaugh - absolutely hates Ron Paul and anyone who supports him.  Why doesn't Rush, who claims to be a conservative first and foremost, love Ron Paul?  Why instead does he call Ron Paul a kook and say Congressman Paul is the only unelectable GOP candidate? 

The Myth of Hollywood Romance

Below is an article by Dr. Henry Makow.  From Wikipedia:  "Henry Makow (born November 12, 1949) is a Canadian author, conspiracy theorist and the inventor of the boardgame Scruples."  Dr. Makow is Jewish by birth but has basically rejected the Jewish religion.  He isn't Christian because he says that although he wishes he could, he cannot accept Jesus as God.  But he definitely celebrates Christian concepts and believes that Christians are the ones who can ultimately save the world.  He contends that the world is driven by a small group of people known as the Illuminati, who literally worship Satan.   These people include the Rothschilds, Rockefellers and Warburgs, among many others.  He contends that they drive everything in our society, the ultimate aim of which is to enslave and destroy us. 


There was a time when I would have thought he was a complete lunatic.  But then I started looking into Fatima, and especially into the meaning of Our Lady's statement that: "Russia will spread its errors throughout the world, raising up wars and persecutions against the Church.  The good will be martyred, the Holy Father will have much to suffer, and various nations will be annhiliated."  That's some pretty heavy stuff, and it led me to the New World Order, which is actually very old.  The NWO is a group of people, driven by Satan, who want to destroy all religion and all national borders and completely dominate the world.  Most all of the world's leaders are involved in it, knowingly or unknowingly. 


The Illuminati are using various methods to accomplish their goals.  Almost everything we see in society is manipulated to destroy us, and that most definitely includes sex.  Below is an excellent article by Dr. Makow showing just how society, i.e. Satan, has perverted sex from the life-giving force it was created to be by God, to instead a life-destroying force.


This article seems to be written mainly for men, but I think women will undoubtedly benefit from it. 

Help Yourself to Jesus - A Definite Rant

One of the great things about living in New York City is that there is an abundance of churches.  It's hard to go more than just a few blocks without running into one.  On Sundays I normally go to Mass at one church that has another Mass shortly afterwards, and it is very difficult to stay and pray after Mass.  So lately I have been walking a few blocks to another stunningly beautiful church.  I don't want to give the name of the church or location just in case the wrong people get this information.  This church has a 9:30 Mass and then the church is usually empty until the next Mass at 12:30.

The church was built in about 1886 and has not been "renovated."  It retains its beautiful high altar, pictured:

Friday - Ember Friday and Day of Penance

Today is Friday, and as every Friday in the Catholic church is, it is a day of penance.  It is the day Our Lord and Saviour was crucified so that we may live, and the Catholic Church has always marked this day as such.  This is what the current Cannon law says:

Can. 1250: The penitential days and times in the universal Church are every Friday of the whole year and the season of Lent.

 Can. 1251: Abstinence from meat, or from some other food as determined by the Episcopal Conference, is to be observed on all Fridays, unless a solemnity should fall on a Friday. Abstinence and fasting are to be observed on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. 

Can. 1252: The law of abstinence binds those who have completed their fourteenth year. The law of fasting binds those who have attained their majority, until the beginning of their sixtieth year. Pastors of souls and parents are to ensure that even those who by reason of their age are not bound by the law of fasting and abstinence, are taught the true meaning of penance.

For the United States, the Bishops have ruled as follows:

• Every person 14 years of age or older must abstain from meat (and items made with meat) on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, and all the Fridays of Lent. 

• Every person between the age of 18 and 60 must fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. 

• Every person 14 years of age or older must abstain from meat (and items made with meat) on all other Fridays of the year, unless he or she substitutes some other form of penance for abstinence.

Faux Conservatives Smear Ron Paul Ahead Of Iowa Run In

Rush Limbaugh is highly intelligent and very skilled at what he does.  I listened to him for many years, and accepted most of what he said as being sincere and from the heart.  I was a true "ditto head" (does ditto head mean replacing your brain with that of someone else?).  I no longer believe that.  As stated in this article, Limbaugh has admitted he has carried water for the Republicans.  He praises people like Dick Cheney, a card-carrying member of the Council on Foreign Relations.  From Wikipedia:  Carroll Quigley, Professor of History at Georgetown University, stated, "The Council of Foreign Relations is the American Branch of a society which originated in England and believes national boundaries should be obliterated and one-world rule established." 

One person for whom Limbaugh has no use whatsoever is Ron Paul, a true conservative, a medical doctor who has delivered thousands of babies and is 100% pro life, the most important issue to me.  He is also truly anti-war, the one candidate who would have agreed with Pope John Paul II that it was wrong to go to war with Iraq.  Limbaugh has supported almost every major policy of the establishment Republicans, despite his statements to the contrary.  The establishment Republicans hate Ron Paul because he, unlike the other candidates, marches to a different drummer.  It's called the Constitution. Paul is the only candidate to speak about about the National Defense Authorization Act and the fact that it is taking away all of our constitutional rights.  (Limbaugh has never mentioned this bill on his program)  Paul is the only one to question the motives of the US Government in going to war around the world.  He is the only one to question the legitimacy of the Federal Reserve, which is not federal at all but private banks which make all of our monetary decisions for us, loan us money and then charge interest on that money. 

Notice in the video below Limbaugh's statement, "there is no perfect candidate."  That is going to be the mantra you will be hearing from the Republican side.  Very much like the Democrats in 2008:  "Anyone but Bush."  It's called "propaganda."

The following is from Infowars.com. 

Steve Watson
Infowars.com
December 15, 2011

With the latest polls showing Ron Paul within touching distance of the lead in Iowa with less than three weeks to go to the caucus, the phony conservative big guns have set about a desperate campaign to smear the Congressman, for fear that he could actually win.

Appearing on on Fox News Channel’s “On the Record with Greta van Sustren” on Wednesday night, radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh lambasted Paul, claiming that “right now anybody other than Ron Paul could beat Obama if the election were tomorrow — easily.”

Limbaugh also suggested that Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann, former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum and Texas Gov. Rick Perry were the most conservative candidates.

Watch the video.

Octave Day of the Immaculate Conception

Today is the Octave Day of the Immaculate Conception in the traditional calendar.  Holy Mother Church put great emphasis on this dogma prior to Vatican II, and I think it has been a great loss to all of us that this emphasis has been so greatly lessened.  Here is a beautiful reading from the traditional Breviary which eloquently praises our Blessed Mother and shows why she is so important in our salvation.  As St. Damascene said:  "Devotion to you, O Blessed Virgin, is a means of salvation which God gives to those whom he wishes to save." 

A Homily by St. Epiphanius the Bishop

St. Anne after the Conception of
the Blessed Virgin

I am at a loss what words or terms I ought to employ in speaking of this illustrious and holy Virgin. She is raised above all things except God ; she was made much higher than the Cherubim and Seraphim, and the whole host of heaven ; neither the voices of heaven nor of earth are full enough to set forth her majesty, no, not the voices of Angels. O blessed Virgin! O pure dove and Bride of heaven! O Mary! At once the heaven, the temple, and the throne of God! Mother of the Sun that shineth both on heaven and on earth, even Christ! Bright cloud, through which the Son of Man hath come as the lightning, that lighteneth from the East even unto the West! Hail, gate of heaven, full of grace, of whom the Prophet in the Song of Songs openly speaketh in the course of his prayer, saying, A garden enclosed is my sister, my Spouse, a garden enclosed, a fountain sealed.

The Virgin is that stainless lily whence hath sprung the Rose that fadeth not, even Christ. O Holy Mother of God! Ewe without spot, thou hast borne the Lamb that took flesh of thee, even Christ! O Maiden whose holiness hath dazzled the heavenly armies! There hath appeared a great sign in heaven, a woman clothed with the sun, and with the Light in her arms ; a great sign in heaven, the Virgin's womb the chamber of the Son of God ; a great sign in heaven, the Lord of angels made the Virgin's child. The angels accused Eve, but now they praise Mary, who hath raised Eve fallen, and restored to heaven Adam banished from Paradise. For Mary is the bridge between heaven and earth, the ambassadress who hath reconciled them in her womb.

We cannot measure the grace bestowed upon this holy Virgin. Hence the salutation addressed to her by Gabriel, Hail, thou glorious heaven, full of grace. Hail, Virgin adorned with many graces, yea, full of grace. Hail, thou vessel of gold that holdest the manna that came down from heaven, full of grace. Hail, thou unfailing fountain, that satisfiest the thirsty soul with sweet waters, full of grace. Hail, holy, sinless Mother of him that was before thee, even Christ. Hail, thou Queenly purple, mantle of the King of heaven and earth. Hail, thou Book that no man can understand, and yet which the Eternal Word, the Son of the Father, hath opened for earth to read.

Military given go-ahead to detain US terrorist suspects without trial

This bill is finally starting to hit the mainstream media.  The article below is from The Guardian in Britain.  US media are claiming that the bill does not include Americans, but at least we are getting the truth from other countries.  Read it and weep.

Barack Obama has abandoned a commitment to veto a new security law that allows the military to indefinitely detain without trial American terrorism suspects arrested on US soil who could then be shipped to Guantánamo Bay.

Human rights groups accused the president of deserting his principles [what principles were those?]  and disregarding the long-established principle that the military is not used in domestic policing. The legislation has also been strongly criticised by libertarians on the right angered at the stripping of individual rights for the duration of "a war that appears to have no end".  [The War on Terrorism (or is that War of Terrorism) was never meant to have an end.  We don't even have a defined enemy, making all of us potential enemies]

The law, contained in the defence authorisation bill that funds the US military, effectively extends the battlefield in the "war on terror" to the US and applies the established principle that combatants in any war are subject to military detention.  [The United States has now become the battle ground, and we are all potential enemy combatants]

The legislation's supporters in Congress say it simply codifies existing practice, such as the indefinite detention of alleged terrorists at Guantánamo Bay. But the law's critics describe it as a draconian piece of legislation that extends the reach of detention without trial to include US citizens arrested in their own country.

Palm-sized baby, 2nd smallest in US, is growing

A few days ago, on the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, I posted about my experience at the abortion mill with a young man whose girlfriend was 21 weeks pregnant and was determined to abort their baby.  He was quite distraught and it was absolutely heartbreaking to be there and be so helpless to stop the murder of his baby.  Below is a story of a baby born at 24 weeks which the doctors have desperately tried to save and appear to have done so.  We live in a schizophrenic society which will work desperately to save one baby, while discarding other babies as so much trash, as seen in the picture at left.  Contrast the picture of the aborted babies with that of Baby Melinda, pictured below.  As we have heard before, it's not a choice, it's a baby. 

 LOS ANGELES, Thu Dec 15, 08:59 AM

This undated photo provided by
Melinda Guido’s family shows Melinda,
with her mother's fingers in the scene,
in the neonatal intensive care unit

At birth, Melinda Star Guido was so tiny she could fit into the palm of her doctor's hand. Weighing just 9 1/2 ounces - less than a can of soda - she is among the smallest babies ever born in the world. Most infants her size don't survive, but doctors are preparing to send her home by New Year's.

Melinda was born premature at 24 weeks over the summer and spent the early months cocooned in an incubator in the neonatal intensive care unit in Southern California. Almost every day, her 22-year-old mother sits at her bedside and stays overnight whenever she can.

The day before her Thursday due date, Haydee Ibarra visited Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center where her daughter has been since her birth in late August. Melinda is believed to be the second-smallest baby to survive in the U.S. and third smallest in the world.

DO NOT TRUST ANYONE IN THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA

In my younger days, so many decades ago, I was what is called a very liberal thinker, and sided with the Democrats for the most part.  I hated Ronald Reagan who, of course, is worshipped by conservatives.  Rush Limbaugh calls him "Ronaldus Magnus." 

But then I hit my 30's, got what I thought was a "clearer" vision of the world, and decided the Democrats were completely wrong on almost every issue, and I became a Conservative Republican.  My heros were people like Ronald Reagan, Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, etc.  For the past several years I have gotten most of my news from Fox News - "fair and balanced", you know.  I listened daily to the conservative talk shows hosts like Limbaugh, Hannity, Mark Levin, Hugh Hewitt, etc.  I believed everything they said.  After all, they denounced those abortion loving, homosexual supporting, God-hating Democrats.  How could conservatives be wrong?

Ember Days - It's Good For Your Soul

Today is Ember Wednesday.  What's an Ember Wednesday, you say?  You've never heard of such a thing?  Well, that's because this is another Church tradition that was dumped in 1969.  Why did the Church dispense with these days?  You tell me.  These days involve fasting and abstinence.  In that sense, they are just not fun!  So why do we need them?

Below is one of the best descriptions of Ember Days that I have found:

Ember Days by Rev. Bernard Strasser, O.S.B.

This illustration shows, to a certain extent, how the ember days resemble our own lives. In the springtime we receive supernatural life through Baptism (represented by the baptismal candle); throughout the summer and autumn of our lives our souls are nourished by the Body (the host has been made from the kernels of wheat) and the Blood (the chalice) of our Lord. In the winter we reap the harvest of our good works as we begin our journey into eternity, fortified by Holy Viaticum and the sacrament of Extreme Unction (oil).

Ember Days

While man’s prayer is often entirely a petition, liturgical prayer is primarily praise, thanksgiving, and adoration. A typical example of this is the Gloria of the Mass in which we note the gradual rise of praise of God until it reaches a wonderful climax: “Laudamus te. Benedicimus te. Adoramus te. Gratias agimus tibi propter magnam gloriam tuam.” (We praise Thee. We bless Thee. We adore Thee. We give Thee thanks for Thy great glory.) In her official liturgical prayers the Church constantly exhorts us to praise, adore, glorify, and thank God. Moreover, she has set aside special seasons to offer prayers of gratitude for the gifts of God. This happens four times a year on Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday of the ember weeks which fall at the beginning of the four seasons of the year.

St. Lucy - Virgin and Martyr




The Martyrdom of St. Lucy about the year 304

 

Today, December 13, is the Feast Day of St. Lucy, who lived from 283 to 304, making her just 21 years old when she was martyred.   She is one of several female saints who are mentioned in the Canon of the Tridentine Mass.  The Novus Ordo Mass does not mention any saints, male or female.  I assume this is because we don't want to offend the Protestants, since they don't believe in praying to the saints. 

I'm attaching the reading from the Traditional Roman Breviary about St. Lucy.  As you will see, the Traditional Breviary has no qualms about graphically describing the martyrdom of St. Lucy. 

The Importance of Our Blessed Mother In The Plan Of Salvation

Unlike the Novus Ordo calendar, the Traditional Calendar celebrates the Feast of the Immaculate Conception for 8 days.  That means the readings continue to center around our Blessed Mother.  I found today's readings to be very inspiring and illuminating as to her role in the plan of salvation.

A Homily by St. Tarasius the Bishop

O Mary, where shall I find words to praise thee? Maiden undefiled, virgin unstained, exaltation of women, glory of daughters! Holy Maiden Mother, blessed art thou among women, thy glory is in thy guilelessness, and thy name is a name of purity. [St. Tarasius now shows how Mary is pictured throughout the Old Testament]  In thee the curse of Adam is done away, and the debt of Eve paid. Thou art the clean offering of Abel, chosen out of the firstlings of the flock, a pure sacrifice. Thou art the hope of Enoch, that firm hope that he had in God, and was not ashamed. Thou art the grace that was in Enoch in this life, and his transit to a better. Thou art the Ark of Noah, and the bond of reconciliation with God in a new regeneration. Thou art the the exceeding glory of the kingdom and Priesthood of Melchisedech. Thou art the unshaken trust of Abraham, and his faith in the promise of children that were to be.

National Defense Authorization Act - War of Terror Against the Citizens of the United States By the US Government

If you get your news mainly from the Mainstream Media, you probably did not hear one word about the National Defense Authorization Act, which was passed by the United States Senate on December 7, 2011 by a vote of 93-7.  The only senators who did not vote for this bill were Harkin, Thomas [D] of Iowa, Paul, Rand [R] of Kentucky, Coburn, Thomas [R] of Oklahoma, Merkley, Jeff [D] and Wyden, Ron [D], both of Oregon (maybe we should all move there), Lee, Mike [R] of Utah and Sanders, Bernard [I] of Vermont.  All of the other 93 senators have betrayed every one of their constituents. 

What is this bill about, you ask?  From The Hill's Congress Blog:

Last week, the Senate voted to pass a bill that would codify indefinite detention without trial in the United States, mandate military detention for terrorist suspects, and stop the transfer of even innocent detainees out of the Guantanamo Bay and Bagram military prisons.


If that sounds bad enough, just wait:  As we head into the holidays, the bill could get even worse. This week, the National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA, goes to conference, where the House and the Senate will try to reconcile a bad bill with a worse one.  Expect an even harsher, broader-reaching and more nonsensical bill in time for Christmas.