Your words to me are life and health
Pour strength into my soul
Enable, guide and teach my heart
To reach its perfect goal
Your words to me are light and truth
From day to day they show
Their wisdom, passing earthly lore
As in their truth I grow
Your words are perfected in one
Yourself, the Living Word
Within my heart Your image print
In clearest lines, O Lord
(Hymn from a Magnificat morning prayer this week)
Showing posts with label Inspiration. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Inspiration. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Thursday, December 02, 2010
Today's Pick-Me-Up
I admit, I was succumbing to a bit of self-pity and restlessness the last day or two. But after 8am Mass this morning, that all changed.
I watched a sweet elderly lady balance herself and her cane against a pew to put on her scarf, and realized she must have come to church alone. I know her from seeing her regularly at daily Mass, but couldn't remember her name.
"Did you drive here all by yourself?" I approached, thinking to help her get to her car.
"Oh, no -- I walked," came the sweet reply, to my incredulous expression. (Mind you, it was all of 25 degrees F here this morning!)
"I've been told it's 18 blocks round-trip," she continued rosily while zipping her coat, "but I always tell people 14 because I don't like to sound like a show-off."
"And how old are you, again?" I queried.
"I'm 92 and —what's today?— 32 days."
She proceeded to kiss me goodbye on the cheek. "Love ya. And you have such a sweet dimple!"
That was just the inspirational kick I needed. Here is a precious lady who doesn't drive and who can barely walk steadily, yet who rises early on icy mornings to walk 8+ blocks one way to Church and who is always there on time... and here is 22-year-old me, who too many mornings (especially lately) weakly allows myself "just a few more minutes" under the warm covers and then arrives late to Mass.
The joyful witness of such fidelity moves me to strive for greater discipline this Advent, and reminds much I still need to learn about denying myself...
Thank you, Mary Ann! May your reward be great.
I watched a sweet elderly lady balance herself and her cane against a pew to put on her scarf, and realized she must have come to church alone. I know her from seeing her regularly at daily Mass, but couldn't remember her name.
"Did you drive here all by yourself?" I approached, thinking to help her get to her car.
"Oh, no -- I walked," came the sweet reply, to my incredulous expression. (Mind you, it was all of 25 degrees F here this morning!)
"I've been told it's 18 blocks round-trip," she continued rosily while zipping her coat, "but I always tell people 14 because I don't like to sound like a show-off."
"And how old are you, again?" I queried.
"I'm 92 and —what's today?— 32 days."
She proceeded to kiss me goodbye on the cheek. "Love ya. And you have such a sweet dimple!"
That was just the inspirational kick I needed. Here is a precious lady who doesn't drive and who can barely walk steadily, yet who rises early on icy mornings to walk 8+ blocks one way to Church and who is always there on time... and here is 22-year-old me, who too many mornings (especially lately) weakly allows myself "just a few more minutes" under the warm covers and then arrives late to Mass.
The joyful witness of such fidelity moves me to strive for greater discipline this Advent, and reminds much I still need to learn about denying myself...
Thank you, Mary Ann! May your reward be great.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Holy Card Heaven
I have to share this lovely treasure of a blog so that you, too, can enjoy its beauty! Not only are countless holy cards (including antiques!) shared, but they even have one of my favorite scriptures verses in the header. :)
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Happy St. Valentine's Day!
"Joy is a net of love
by which you can catch souls."
"Intense love does not measure,
it just gives."
"Love begins at home,
and it is not how much we do...
but how much love we put in that action."
"I have found the paradox,
that if you love until it hurts,
there can be no more hurt, only more love."
"I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God
who is sending a love letter to the world."
(Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta)
~ ~ ~
"Since love grows within you, so beauty grows.
For love is the beauty of the soul."
(Saint Augustine of Hippo)
Miss Anna at Maidens of Worth has a beautiful reflection here.Happy St. Valentine's Day!
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Too, too sweet
Is this not the sweetest thing? An impromptu performance at Mayo Clinic, by a couple married for 62 years — and the husband just turned 90!
HT: The Millers
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Of Movies, Actors, and Real Men
So, my family watched The Ten Commandments for the first time this Lent (I know, we've had so many people say they can't believe we hadn't seen it yet!). Both Charlton Heston and Yul Brynner were simply incredible. I've enjoyed Heston immensely when seeing him before, and it struck me how thoroughly he takes the individual character of each role. The Heston Moses never came across as a Moses/Ben Hur mix! He was entirely the character in all its uniqueness. In my mind, this is a mark of a truly excellent actor.
Those of you who've read my blog for a while probably know that I'm all about who actors and celebrities really are...not just who they are on screen. And the more I've learned about the real Heston, the more impressed I am. Not only does he portray many upright characters; he was one! He served in the air force, championed the civil rights movement, was a friend of Martin Luther King Jr., and spoke out against abortion. Most significantly, he was faithfully married for 64 years to his bride, Lydia, whom he wed at age 20! Amidst the countless Hollywood scandals and divorces, this speaks volumes. He stands alone amidst celebs married two, four, five, and seven times...
In fact, I learned that my oft-repeated quote "Political correctness is simply tyranny with manners," — which and for some reason I thought was from Chesterton — was actually from Charlton Heston! (By the way, his actual name was John Charles Carter).
Check out this wonderful LifeSiteNews article from his passing almost a year ago (and check out the links at the bottom of the story!):
Larger than Life Hollywood Icon and Pro-life Advocate Charlton Heston Dies at 84
And check out this wonderful video clip of Heston on abortion. Powerful! (Don't forget to pause the music at the right). This is the introduction he gave to a video made in 1987 to raise awareness of late-term abortions.
Those of you who've read my blog for a while probably know that I'm all about who actors and celebrities really are...not just who they are on screen. And the more I've learned about the real Heston, the more impressed I am. Not only does he portray many upright characters; he was one! He served in the air force, championed the civil rights movement, was a friend of Martin Luther King Jr., and spoke out against abortion. Most significantly, he was faithfully married for 64 years to his bride, Lydia, whom he wed at age 20! Amidst the countless Hollywood scandals and divorces, this speaks volumes. He stands alone amidst celebs married two, four, five, and seven times...
In fact, I learned that my oft-repeated quote "Political correctness is simply tyranny with manners," — which and for some reason I thought was from Chesterton — was actually from Charlton Heston! (By the way, his actual name was John Charles Carter).
Check out this wonderful LifeSiteNews article from his passing almost a year ago (and check out the links at the bottom of the story!):
Larger than Life Hollywood Icon and Pro-life Advocate Charlton Heston Dies at 84
And check out this wonderful video clip of Heston on abortion. Powerful! (Don't forget to pause the music at the right). This is the introduction he gave to a video made in 1987 to raise awareness of late-term abortions.
Monday, March 09, 2009
I Am Blessed
My family, friends, and especially my goddaughters made my birthday so special! So did each of you, with your kind words, wishes, and prayers. I am both blessed and overwhelmed by the outpouring of sweetness. Thank you, all of you!
It's hard to believe we are two weeks into Lent already...I am trying to make the most of this truly beautiful season. Yes, it is a "desert", but because we are there with our Lord, there is beauty. We easily forget that this is a positive season. We are supposed to deprive our bodies in order to beautify our souls. That's right: Lent is beauty treatment for the soul!
I don't know about you, but I always have to resist the urge to take on everything during Lent. The same dozen vices and struggles assail me with ongoing persistance, and, perfectionist that I am, I want to tackle them all at once. Unfortunately, I am too often an all-or-nothing person. When a few of my good intentions slip, I too quickly lose hold on the rest of them. Being faithful in the little things, and targeting my struggles one or two at a time, are ongoing goals of my Lent this year. This is not to say I've been glamorously successful thus far...but I am glad to have 4+ weeks left to work on this "beauty treatment"!
It's hard to believe we are two weeks into Lent already...I am trying to make the most of this truly beautiful season. Yes, it is a "desert", but because we are there with our Lord, there is beauty. We easily forget that this is a positive season. We are supposed to deprive our bodies in order to beautify our souls. That's right: Lent is beauty treatment for the soul!
I don't know about you, but I always have to resist the urge to take on everything during Lent. The same dozen vices and struggles assail me with ongoing persistance, and, perfectionist that I am, I want to tackle them all at once. Unfortunately, I am too often an all-or-nothing person. When a few of my good intentions slip, I too quickly lose hold on the rest of them. Being faithful in the little things, and targeting my struggles one or two at a time, are ongoing goals of my Lent this year. This is not to say I've been glamorously successful thus far...but I am glad to have 4+ weeks left to work on this "beauty treatment"!
Thursday, February 19, 2009
I Love LifeSiteNews!
Where else would we get such an affirming, beautiful story as this one?
Husband of Woman in Coma for 14 Years Visits Wife Three Times Daily, Won't Give Up
Will love his wife "until God has the last word"
SANTIAGO, February 18, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) -- In a story that stands in stark contrast to the Eluana Englaro and Terri Schiavo cases in Italy and the United States, a Chilean man has been visiting his comatose wife for 14 years, and says he won't give up on her.
Carlos Abarca has always visited his wife regularly, and now that he has retired from the national police force, he is able to come three times a day. He says that caring for her is his whole life.
"My affection will always be focused on her, I have never doubted it," he told the Chilean daily El Mercurio, which broke the story. "I don't seek for more from life than caring for her. There is nothing more to do."
The affection he has for his wife, says Abarca, is "stronger than ever. I want to protect her, care for her, make sure she is well, that she lacks nothing."
Abarca says he will continue to love his wife, "until God has the last word. In the end, if tomorrow she must go, our conscience will be clear."
Go here to see a touching photo and read the whole story.
Husband of Woman in Coma for 14 Years Visits Wife Three Times Daily, Won't Give Up
Will love his wife "until God has the last word"
SANTIAGO, February 18, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) -- In a story that stands in stark contrast to the Eluana Englaro and Terri Schiavo cases in Italy and the United States, a Chilean man has been visiting his comatose wife for 14 years, and says he won't give up on her.
Carlos Abarca has always visited his wife regularly, and now that he has retired from the national police force, he is able to come three times a day. He says that caring for her is his whole life.
"My affection will always be focused on her, I have never doubted it," he told the Chilean daily El Mercurio, which broke the story. "I don't seek for more from life than caring for her. There is nothing more to do."
The affection he has for his wife, says Abarca, is "stronger than ever. I want to protect her, care for her, make sure she is well, that she lacks nothing."
Abarca says he will continue to love his wife, "until God has the last word. In the end, if tomorrow she must go, our conscience will be clear."
Go here to see a touching photo and read the whole story.
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Fireproof rocks the box office!
Pro-Marriage Film Fireproof Wins at the BoxOffice with Highest per Screen Opening Weekend of 2008
'Fireproof' succeeds in theaters and print
'Fireproof' surprise hit of the fall (currently the lead story on the CNN Entertainment page!)
And even more wonderful are some of the incredible testimonies from couples and individuals whose marriages and lives have been powerfully changed. These testimonies, along with other encouraging news and exciting updates (including new additional theater listings!) can be found at the Official Fireproof Blog.
If you haven't seen it yourself yet, don't wait! Last weekend my sisters and I, along with a few girlfriends, were thoroughly delighted and inspired by this quality film. Let's make sure it continues to run strong so that many, many more may be inspired!
'Fireproof' succeeds in theaters and print
'Fireproof' surprise hit of the fall (currently the lead story on the CNN Entertainment page!)
And even more wonderful are some of the incredible testimonies from couples and individuals whose marriages and lives have been powerfully changed. These testimonies, along with other encouraging news and exciting updates (including new additional theater listings!) can be found at the Official Fireproof Blog.
If you haven't seen it yourself yet, don't wait! Last weekend my sisters and I, along with a few girlfriends, were thoroughly delighted and inspired by this quality film. Let's make sure it continues to run strong so that many, many more may be inspired!
Thursday, October 02, 2008
More Eduardo News
From CNA: Eduardo Verastegui, the Mexican actor who starred in the movie “Bella,” joined pro-life sidewalk counselors and prayerful demonstrators at a Los Angeles abortion clinic on Saturday as he counseled women to turn away from aborting their unborn children.
Many of the demonstrators were present at the Family Planning Associates abortion clinic as part of the 40 Days for Life campaign.
John Anthony, co-coordinator of 40 Days for Life Los Angeles, described Verastegui's efforts... According to Anthony, Verastegui spent time in prayer and counseled and encouraged women to keep their babies, acting with “love, tenderness, humility and compassion.” “Five babies were saved that morning!” Anthony said. “Prayer and love in action were key and beautifully exemplified by all present.”
From LifeSite News: He [Eduardo] said, "You wanna hear something really, really funny? Here's what happened at the end. All the nurses from the clinic — some were African Americans, some were Latinas — came outside."
The next thing Eduardo Verastegui knew, eight nurses wanted someone to take pictures of them with him. Instead, he gave each nurse a Miraculous Medal and his DVD. They didn't want to watch his DVD, but promised to do so simply because he requested it. He told them, "I'm going to be here next Saturday and we'll take a picture next Saturday." Then the security guard confronted him, asking, "What are you doing here?" Verastegui countered, "What are you doing here, my friend?"
Many of the demonstrators were present at the Family Planning Associates abortion clinic as part of the 40 Days for Life campaign.
John Anthony, co-coordinator of 40 Days for Life Los Angeles, described Verastegui's efforts... According to Anthony, Verastegui spent time in prayer and counseled and encouraged women to keep their babies, acting with “love, tenderness, humility and compassion.” “Five babies were saved that morning!” Anthony said. “Prayer and love in action were key and beautifully exemplified by all present.”
From LifeSite News: He [Eduardo] said, "You wanna hear something really, really funny? Here's what happened at the end. All the nurses from the clinic — some were African Americans, some were Latinas — came outside."
The next thing Eduardo Verastegui knew, eight nurses wanted someone to take pictures of them with him. Instead, he gave each nurse a Miraculous Medal and his DVD. They didn't want to watch his DVD, but promised to do so simply because he requested it. He told them, "I'm going to be here next Saturday and we'll take a picture next Saturday." Then the security guard confronted him, asking, "What are you doing here?" Verastegui countered, "What are you doing here, my friend?"
Friday, September 26, 2008
In Theaters Now: Fireproof
I have been thrilled about this movie ever since I first heard of it weeks ago.
In an age when marriage is so undermined, belittled, and devalued, a portrayal of faithfulness is a true breath of fresh air.
It got even better tonight when I read the most marvelous article about lead actor Kirk Cameron. This guy is the real thing: not only does he star in a movie upholding marriage, but he absolutely and totally lives it. In Hollywood, that is rarer than a poor celebrity! Mr. Cameron is married 17 years, the father of six children (four of whom are adopted), and — get this — will only kiss his wife. Even on screen. I think that is just the greatest thing...seriously, I got delightful shivers up my back just reading it. We're talking the genuine article here, folks!
Of course, that wonderful personal commitment of his leaves us all wondering how on earth they shot a kissing scene in a movie like Fireproof, which (obviously) has to have one. Simple: it's him and his real wife. “So when I’m kissing my wife, we’re actually husband and wife honoring marriage behind the scenes,” Kirk explains. So beautiful.
I'm excited to have learned all this before seeing the movie... it will only make it more meaningful when I do! And now, what are you waiting for?
- Visit the official website (and enjoy a both tearful and humorus trailer!)
- Read an interview with the Fireproof Cast on Focus on the Family's CitizenLink
- Read MSNBC's article "Kirk Cameron: I'll Only Kiss My Wife" (watch the video interview too!)
And most importantly, plan a real movie into your weekend!
Thursday, September 25, 2008
New Every Morning
The pace of my life lately has left me quite weary and worn. This morning, I sat in Church wondering how to maximize the hours ahead of me, trying not to become despondent as I contemplated the deadlines of the day. Arriving home, I was greeted by the sweet, shining faces of the morning glories which cascade over our fence— blue blossoms lifted towards the nearly equally blue heavens.
I longed for the upward gaze and serene loveliness of the morning glories, and with a sigh stepped into the moist grass. The sounds and smells of morning surrounded me, and for a sweet, tranquil moment I drank in its freshness. Its brightness and newness. The Giver of the new day reached down and soothed my soul. And my heart and gaze lifted upward.
"But I will call this to mind, as my reason to have hope:
The favors of the LORD are not exhausted, his mercies are not spent;
They are renewed each morning, so great is his faithfulness."
The favors of the LORD are not exhausted, his mercies are not spent;
They are renewed each morning, so great is his faithfulness."
(Lamentations 3:21-23)
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Of Walkers and Worship
At Holy Mass this morning, I ran into an elderly gentleman that my family has known for several years, but with whom I have not spoken in a while. We initially got to know him from attending Mass at the Cathedral, and that is where I saw him today. This same gentleman is now quite up in years, and as I watched him return from Holy Communion today I couldn't help but notice what an immense effort it took for him to make each step— even with the aid of his walker. Such fidelity struck me. Here is a man who can barely move, yet he still drives faithfully to Mass each morning, lifts his walker from his car, and propels himself into the Church on two unsteady feet to sit down slowly in a pew and worship his God. Many of the rest of us who are agile and nimble could use to take some inspiration from this depth of effort!
Saturday, February 23, 2008
A Picture of Faithfulness
Today, after spending some time visiting residents in a local nursing home, I sat near the entrance for a few minutes. And while I did, a very old, bent-over gentleman came shuffling into the room with tiny steps. He could barely walk, but he was pushing a wheelchair... with his elderly wife in it. Her voice came in an almost raspy whisper, but when I greeted them and asked her who the gentleman was, she said with a smile, "That's my husband." She was a resident, and he, visiting her. I couldn't help but ask how long they'd been married. "Sixty-three years", they answered me in unison.
Watching him propel his own feet and the chair as they left, and looking over his hunched back at their heads, a tear came to my eye and all I could think was...
Now that's faithfulness.
Watching him propel his own feet and the chair as they left, and looking over his hunched back at their heads, a tear came to my eye and all I could think was...
Now that's faithfulness.
Friday, February 15, 2008
Solo soy el instrumento
In my morning prayer, I've been reading a little book called "Mother Teresa and the Beatitudes". This morning, I read her quote about being God's pencil— I've heard the first part many times, but never the second before. So beautiful!"I am only a pencil in the hand of God...
God writes through us,
and however imperfect instruments
we may be,
God writes beautifully."
Let Him write through you today!
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
I suppose I should title this "Time Marches On"
Wow! So much has happened in the past two weeks. A highlight was hosting six beautiful young women from NET Ministries at our home for two nights the last few days of October. I was thrilled to be able to have their team at St. Joseph's leading a retreat for 85 youth on October 30, and we savored every moment of our time with them. I marveled at how instantly we girls (meaning my sisters and I) were able to connect with these missionary sisters-in-Christ, and how much we were able to do for each other in such a short time. Here were six young women of varying backgrounds and all different parts of the US, and such kindred spirits that we felt like we knew them forever. And it was more than that. It was the penetrating beauty of the Church Militant, the Mystical Body of Christ. I love how the girls refer to those other girls on their team as their "sisterhood" (likewise, the five young men on the team were the "brotherhood"). We felt so blessed to be a part of that sisterhood for the time there were here. Deo Gratias.
And it had struck me that my periodic, unplanned (and rather undesired) "breaks" of stepping away from my corner here for a bit are somewhat needed to help me in the continual effort of finding balance and discipline in my daily life. Each day our Lord stretches me. Each day He challenges me. Each day He has work for me. Some days that includes this. Some days it does not. Sometimes, it's a little hard to realize when it's the latter. :)
And it had struck me that my periodic, unplanned (and rather undesired) "breaks" of stepping away from my corner here for a bit are somewhat needed to help me in the continual effort of finding balance and discipline in my daily life. Each day our Lord stretches me. Each day He challenges me. Each day He has work for me. Some days that includes this. Some days it does not. Sometimes, it's a little hard to realize when it's the latter. :)
Saturday, November 10, 2007
On the Triumph of Love...
"Love cannot triumph unless it becomes the one passion of our life. Without such passion we may produce isolated acts of love; but our life is not really won over or consecrated to an ideal. Until we have a passionate love for our Lord in the Most Blessed Sacrament we shall accomplish nothing."
~St. Peter Julian Eymard
Monday, October 29, 2007
Thursday, September 20, 2007
No One Says It Like Father Corapi
And the other morning as I listened to him on Relevant Radio, I couldn't help but write some quotes down!
"The only way for you to become a saint - and, by the way, that's the only reason we're here, folks - is to do God's will."
"Our Lady led me to one place... to the Eucharist. If you piled up all the other goods of the Church over there, and put the Eucharist over here, that over there would be nothing in comparison... all other power - from preaching or teaching, or anything else, is a speck compared with the Eucharist."
"If we announced that Jesus Christ was coming to visit here tomorrow morning at 10, all the trafficways would be bottlenecked. Folks, He IS coming! If the Lord gave us Himself in the Eucharist, that means we need Him!"
"Why are Catholics who receive the Eucharist every week no different from the rest of the world? Because you receive only what you're ready to receive. The graces are infinite - but you have to be ready to receive them... If you begin to live the Gospel, your channel of grace will be widened."
"I'll tell you one thing that never wears off: the Blessed Sacrament. Get your priests to make a daily Holy Hour. When priests start living the only reason for their priesthood, the Church will turn around."
"Sometimes the last thing in the world we would choose to do is the very thing the power of God can choose to work through us... often the very thing we don't want to do, that doesn't come naturally to us, this is the very path that God chooses for our salvation."
"The lay state is not the absence of a vocation... it is a vocation."
What can I add? That's enough to meditate on for a while!
"The only way for you to become a saint - and, by the way, that's the only reason we're here, folks - is to do God's will."
"Our Lady led me to one place... to the Eucharist. If you piled up all the other goods of the Church over there, and put the Eucharist over here, that over there would be nothing in comparison... all other power - from preaching or teaching, or anything else, is a speck compared with the Eucharist."
"If we announced that Jesus Christ was coming to visit here tomorrow morning at 10, all the trafficways would be bottlenecked. Folks, He IS coming! If the Lord gave us Himself in the Eucharist, that means we need Him!"
"Why are Catholics who receive the Eucharist every week no different from the rest of the world? Because you receive only what you're ready to receive. The graces are infinite - but you have to be ready to receive them... If you begin to live the Gospel, your channel of grace will be widened."
"I'll tell you one thing that never wears off: the Blessed Sacrament. Get your priests to make a daily Holy Hour. When priests start living the only reason for their priesthood, the Church will turn around."
"Sometimes the last thing in the world we would choose to do is the very thing the power of God can choose to work through us... often the very thing we don't want to do, that doesn't come naturally to us, this is the very path that God chooses for our salvation."
"The lay state is not the absence of a vocation... it is a vocation."
What can I add? That's enough to meditate on for a while!
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Fighting for Life
There is an intense spiritual battle going on nearby...
A brand-new huge Planned Parenthood Clinic (said to be the largest in the nation) is scheduled to open next Tuesday, September 18th in Aurora, IL... and the pro-life response has been tremendous. Numerous Catholic, evangelical, and even non-denominational organizations and literally thousands of individuals have banded together, unified to fight against this fortress of death. On August 9th (40 days before the scheduled opening), an around-the-clock 40-day vigil was begun by the faithful. There have been special events, vigils, and rallies attended by hundreds of people and youth. This past Sunday a 7-day "Jericho March" (see Joshua 6:1-20) was begun, which will culminate this Saturday in a massive march of seven battalions circling the block! Tonight, Joliet's Bishop J. Peter Sartain will offer a special Mass at our Lady of Mercy Church in Aurora.
Because of being gone the last two weeks, we have not yet been able to physically join in the vigil, but by keeping the intention foremost in our prayers and family rosaries have been spiritually joining the battle. Tonight we plan to attend the Jericho March (7:00) and the Mass with Bishop Sartain (7:30). And we've been receiving email updates from from Eric Scheidler (son of longtime pro-life activist Joe Scheidler), whose Pro-Life Action League has been behind many of the efforts.
Just reading through the special website made for this effort has left me completely in awe. The way so many have banded together nothing short of an incredible testimony to God's grace bringing goodness even through the presence of evil. "The only way for evil to triumph is for good people to do nothing". Good people are indeed doing something, doing much; they have risen up in droves to join the fight!
And when I just saw on the site that from midnight to 8am next Tuesday (the scheduled opening of the clinic), husbands, fathers, and sons will keep vigil "in defense of their wives, daughters, and sisters," tears came to my eyes and goosebumps to my arms. What a witness. What a testimony to the truth of the pro-life movement: not degradation of womanhood, but defense of it. By our fathers and brothers and sons. By men of God. By all of us who realize with wonder how precious womanhood is, and how precious life is. And who are willing to fight and sacrifice to protect both.
If you are from anywhere near the Aurora/Naperville area, I encourage and challenge you to become part of the army! And actually... anyone can, near or far, by uniting in prayer, fasting, and sacrifice!
For more information, updates, action items, press releases, news coverage...
visit http://www.familiesagainstplannedparenthood.org/.
"Then the LORD said to Joshua, 'See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands...'" ~Joshua 6:2
*Note: Just a very tiny confirmation that this is, indeed, a heated spiritual battle was evidenced when I tried to publish this post. I hit "Publish", only to be greeted by an error page saying "something went wrong"... and when I clicked "back", the whole post was gone. A few months ago, this would have meant it was completely lost. But Praise God that Blogger has a new automatic save, which enabled me to recover this post!
A brand-new huge Planned Parenthood Clinic (said to be the largest in the nation) is scheduled to open next Tuesday, September 18th in Aurora, IL... and the pro-life response has been tremendous. Numerous Catholic, evangelical, and even non-denominational organizations and literally thousands of individuals have banded together, unified to fight against this fortress of death. On August 9th (40 days before the scheduled opening), an around-the-clock 40-day vigil was begun by the faithful. There have been special events, vigils, and rallies attended by hundreds of people and youth. This past Sunday a 7-day "Jericho March" (see Joshua 6:1-20) was begun, which will culminate this Saturday in a massive march of seven battalions circling the block! Tonight, Joliet's Bishop J. Peter Sartain will offer a special Mass at our Lady of Mercy Church in Aurora.
Because of being gone the last two weeks, we have not yet been able to physically join in the vigil, but by keeping the intention foremost in our prayers and family rosaries have been spiritually joining the battle. Tonight we plan to attend the Jericho March (7:00) and the Mass with Bishop Sartain (7:30). And we've been receiving email updates from from Eric Scheidler (son of longtime pro-life activist Joe Scheidler), whose Pro-Life Action League has been behind many of the efforts.
Just reading through the special website made for this effort has left me completely in awe. The way so many have banded together nothing short of an incredible testimony to God's grace bringing goodness even through the presence of evil. "The only way for evil to triumph is for good people to do nothing". Good people are indeed doing something, doing much; they have risen up in droves to join the fight!
And when I just saw on the site that from midnight to 8am next Tuesday (the scheduled opening of the clinic), husbands, fathers, and sons will keep vigil "in defense of their wives, daughters, and sisters," tears came to my eyes and goosebumps to my arms. What a witness. What a testimony to the truth of the pro-life movement: not degradation of womanhood, but defense of it. By our fathers and brothers and sons. By men of God. By all of us who realize with wonder how precious womanhood is, and how precious life is. And who are willing to fight and sacrifice to protect both.
If you are from anywhere near the Aurora/Naperville area, I encourage and challenge you to become part of the army! And actually... anyone can, near or far, by uniting in prayer, fasting, and sacrifice!
For more information, updates, action items, press releases, news coverage...
visit http://www.familiesagainstplannedparenthood.org/.
"Then the LORD said to Joshua, 'See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands...'" ~Joshua 6:2
*Note: Just a very tiny confirmation that this is, indeed, a heated spiritual battle was evidenced when I tried to publish this post. I hit "Publish", only to be greeted by an error page saying "something went wrong"... and when I clicked "back", the whole post was gone. A few months ago, this would have meant it was completely lost. But Praise God that Blogger has a new automatic save, which enabled me to recover this post!
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