John 11:25-26

With Lent approaching I wanted to start posting scripture here relating to Christ's death and our salvation.

Jesus said to her: I am the resurrection and the life: he that believeth in me, although he be dead, shall live:And every one that liveth, and believeth in me, shall not die for ever. Believest thou this? John 11:25-26

Image Source: Believed to be in the Public Domain

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Philippines Update

Update: Keep praying!

In mid-January I posted about a bill in the Philippines (HB 3773) that would create a law similar to China requiring a "two child per family limit." The bill is highly opposed by the majority of the country and the Catholic Church; the Philippines is 87% Catholic.

Philippines President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo just announced that she will veto any legislation approved by lawmakers that would legalize abortion in the Philippines. She called this her "best birthday gift" to Archbishop Paciano Aniceto, the chairman of the Philippines Catholic Bishops Conference.

President Arroyo of the Philippines said that bill "pave[s] the way for the kind of human rights nightmare that is already in China, with its coercive sterilization and contraception practices."

I commend Arroyo, a practicing Catholic, for standing up for the truth - that human life is worthy of dignity. Thanks be to God for this great news.

Visit The Filipino Family Fund for more information and a petition against this dangerous bill

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An Offering of the Precious Blood for Souls

O my God, I beg of Thee, in union with the Immaculate Heart of Mary, through the merits of the Precious Blood offered to Thee in every Sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world, to grant that, this day, one sinner may be converted, one mortal sin be averted, one soul in doubt be converted to truth, one soul about to die in sin receive the grace of repentance and a happy death, and the deliverance of that soul in Purgatory which is nearest Heaven. I wish, by this offering, to console the Heart of Jesus in Agony for souls lost through the teaching of error against the true Church of Christ Jesus, our Lord. Amen.

Prayer excerpted from Schouppe, Father F.X., Purgatory: Explained by the Lives and Legends of the Saints. Rockford: TAN, 1991. "Appendix 3: Prayers for the Poor Souls", pp. 413-427. Imprimatur, Nihil Obstat.

Image Source: Believed to be in the Public Domain

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The Pope's April Prayer Intentions

Please join me in praying for Pope Benedict XVI's prayer intentions for April:

General: That the individual, social and political rights of women may be respected in every nation.

Missionary: That the Church in China may carry out its evangelizing mission serenely and in full freedom.

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Stational Church for April 1, 2006

Today's Stational church is St. Nicholas in Carcere

This Station is at a church built on the ruins of three pagan temples and consecrated to St. Nicholas. It is called in carcere because in ancient times it had been a dungeon—a prison devoid of light.

Water, food and light are indispensable for the maintenance and up-building of our natural life. Sacred Water, Sacred Food and Sacred Light are indispensable for the maintenance and up-building of our supernatural life.

1. "Unless a man be born again of water and the Holy Spirit, he can not enter into the Kingdom of heaven."
2. "Unless you eat the Flesh of the Son of Man and drink His Blood, you shall not have life in you."
3. "I am the Light of the world. He that follows Me walks not in darkness, but shall have the light of life."

Catechumens and Faithful both were deeply impressed while listening to the Gospel of "The Light of the World" read in today's stational church, which is over a dark dungeon. There criminals were held in confinement, deprived of light, liberty and the joys of life. A man in mortal sin walks in darkness. The light of Christ is not in Him. He sits in darkness and in the shadow of death. With God's help, we must free ourselves during the remaining days from all darkness.

St. Nicholas—lead us today to Him, who by Sacred Water has made us His living branches, to Christ Jesus, our Divine Food and Holy Light.

Let us pray: Mercifully compel our rebellious wills and make them subject to Thee, O Lord. We ask this Through Christ, Our Lord. Amen.

Source: St. John Cantius Parish

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Terri Schiavo - the one-year anniversary

Today is the one-year anniversary of the death of Terri Schiavo, who starved to death because her husband didn't love her. This is the reality that comes with euthanasia - good people die and life and death are placed in man's hands instead of God's.

Priests for Life offers the following prayer:

Lord God, I thank you today for the gift of my life,
And for the lives of all my brothers and sisters.
I know that life is always a good,
and that it never loses its value
when it is beset by weakness or injury.
Lord, thank you for the life of Terri.
Even in her suffering and death
She revealed Your glory
and truth that life is always sacred.
As I remember Terri, I also commit myself
to be active in the pro-life movement,
And never to stop defending life
Until all my brothers and sisters are protected,
And our nation once again becomes
A nation with liberty and justice
Not just for some, but for all,
Through Christ our Lord. Amen!

Via Dymphna's Well

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St. Stephen of Mar Saba

Today we remember St. Stephen of Mar Saba, the nephew of St. John Damascene. This young saint was introduced to monastic life at the age of 10 by St. John Damascene. Later on in life, St. Stephen asked his superior at the monastery if he would be permitted to live a hermit's life of prayer. The answer - he could except on weekends when he was needed as a counselor.

St. Stephen was a highly spiritual and prayerful saint although he also valued periods of quiet prayer and contemplation. During those times of prayer he would place a sign on his door: "Forgive me, Fathers, in the name of the Lord, but please do not disturb me except on Saturdays and Sundays."

St. Stephen of Mar Saba died in 794 AD. One biographer of him wrote, "Whatever help, spiritual or material, he was asked to give, he gave. He received and honored all with the same kindness. He possessed nothing and lacked nothing. In total poverty he possessed all things."

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Stational Church for March 31, 2006

Today's Stational Church at the the Church of St. Eusebius

The Roman Martyr-Priest, Eusebius, whom the Arian Emperor Constantius II had imprisoned for seven months in the priest's own home so that he might slowly starve to death, is today our leader to the blessed Christ for whose Divinity Eusebius died and won eternal life.Two weeks from today, we shall celebrate the Lord's life-giving death—the source of our resurrection and life. Christ's death is the Sacrament of all sacraments.

All the Christian mysteries flow from this main-spring: "the mystery of new life" "out of water and the Holy Spirit;" restoring or healing life in the tribunal of God's mercy; the reception of the Bread of Life at the Lord's Table; as well as the great "come forth" on the last day (from our tombs as Lazarus was called from his tomb). These and all other mysteries of our Faith are rooted in the death of the Lamb of God.

Let us pray: O God, who renews the world by Thine ineffable sacraments, grant, we beseech Thee, that Thy Church may profit by Thy eternal institutions, and not be lacking in temporal help. Through Christ, Our Lord. Amen.

Source: St. John Cantius Parish

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Lenten Prayer 1

Hear, Lord, the prayers we offer from contrite hearts. Have pity on us as we acknowledge our sins. Lead us back to the way of holiness. Protect us now and always from the wounds of sin. May we ever keep safe in all its fullness the gift your love once gave us and your mercy now restores. Amen.

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Catholic Church in France and Germany

Earlier in the year I was very pleased to read that the world Catholic population has increased by 1.1%! This is substantial.

In more recent, though equally joyful news, the Catholic Church remains highly frequented in Germany and France. Over the past year I've heard numerous reports of secularism taking over these two countries on CNN, so I was glad to finally have statistics. And the results are good for the Church. We just have to pray that more people in Europe practice the Catholic faith.

These are some of the statistics for France:

In France the poll showed that the Catholic Church remains by far the most important institution. Figures coming from the French Bishops Conference, a recent poll from the CSA institute and the daily LeMonde newspaper, show that 62 % of the population considers itself Catholic, 12 % say they are somewhat practicing and 35% are non-practicing. Half of French children are currently baptized, and about 18,826 adults and children over 7 years old were baptized in 2001. (Source)

In addition to this, there are over 24,000 priests and 100 bishops in France. Germany, likewise is showing a strong Catholic population benefiting from the election of Benedict XVI to the papacy.

Yet, the largest question remains as to whether these self-described "Catholics" are truly Catholic in the sense of Tradition.

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