Since When are Americans Enemies of One Another?

Apparently our President has strong feelings toward a large group of people he considers his enemies, which is probably me and you.  Check out Adam Tragone's telling article at Human Events here and you can also watch the speech on video.   

The GOP Will Not Compromise on Abortion, Boehner Says

So nice to hear some talk of real hope and change.  Boehner, the future speaker of the house, said the GOP will not compromise on the abortion issue.  "We will permanently end taxpayer funding of abortion and codify the Hyde Amendment,"  Boehner said.

The GOP is committed to the document they released in September, The Pledge to America.  Read more about Boehner and his comments at Lifenews here.  

Did u know how u born Amazing animation!!

Pope Honors All Women through St. Bridget of Sweden

St. Bridget, Example to All Women

  This week the Pope is honoring all women everywhere as he proclaims St. Bridget of Sweden an example for all Christian women to follow, especially mothers and widows.  St. Bridget lived in the 14th century, which was "a time before western Christianity had been wounded by division" and he said that she could
"intercede effectively before God to obtain the much-awaited grace of the full unity of all Christians."

   Bridget was married for 28 years to her husband, Ulf, and together they had 8 children, one of them being St. Catherine of Sweden, a testimony to the care and education they gave to their children.  She endeavored to build a domestic church in her home and had a very special and spiritual marriage with Ulf.  The Pope goes on to say that "not infrequently, as happened in the lives of St. Bridget and Ulf, it is the wife who with her religious sensibility, with delicacy and gentleness, is able to make the husband follow a path of faith.   I am thinking, with recognition, of so many women who, day in day out, still today illumine their families with their testimony of Christian life. May the Spirit of the Lord fuel the sanctity of Christian spouses, to show the world the beauty of marriage lived according to the values of the Gospel: love, tenderness, mutual help, fecundity in generating and educating children, openness and solidarity to the world, participation in the life of the Church.their families with their testimony of Christian life."

The Pope continues, "The second period of Bridget's life began when she became a widow. She renounced further marriage to deepen her union with the Lord through prayer, penance and works of charity. Hence, Christian widows can also find in this saint a model to follow."

  "In fact, the great Christian tradition recognizes the dignity proper to women," the Pope goes on to say, as he honors this woman of great femininity and contribution to Europe and all of Christendom.

  After her husband's death she began the order of Brigittines which included both monks and nuns.  She also experienced a series of divine revelations which are composed in a set of eight books entitled "Revelationes" which can be purchased here or here.

   Pray for us, St. Bridget, to follow in your steps of Christian faith, hope and charity.

Have You Voted?

The future Speaker prays.  How refreshing it is to have talk like this making air and internet waves.

Here's a quote from Boehner when speaking to conservative talk radio host Mike Gallagher,“I’ve been praying all day, every day,”  “Trying to make it through this election and make sure our team is successful.”  “(Prayer) does work.  You’ve just got to stay at it every day and build a closer relationship with our Savior.”

Boehner is a practicing catholic who is not afraid to tell the nation that we need God's help.  Join Boehner in casting your vote for the Republican Party and renewing our nation to God.

The feast of St. Perpetua and Felicity is not until March 7, but I am reminded of their glorious martyrdom by the childrens movie "The Story of Saint Perpetua" from www.catholicheroesofthefaith.com.  Perpetua and Felicity were early Christian martyrs living in Carthage, a Roman province in northern Afric.  They were thrown with several others to the wild beasts in the amphitheater during the persecutions of Emperor Septimius Severus for their unwavering catholic faith.  Christians were persecuted off and on for about the first 300 years A.D. until Constantine, the Roman emperor, whose mother was St. Helen, declared religious freedom for all Christians through his Edict of Milan in 313 A.D.  Remember all Christians were catholic until the protestant reformation or revolt in the late 1400s and early 1500s.  

   In Carthage a magnificent basilica was erected over the tomb of the martyrs, the Basilica Maiorum, where an ancient inscription bearing the names of Perpetua and Felicity has been found.

Following are some of the words of St. Perpetua which she wrote while she in prison, awaiting her martyrdom, and the words of an eye witness who took over her writing when she was sent to the wild beasts:

"While" says she, "we were still with the persecutors, and my father, for the sake of his affection for me, was persisting in seeking to turn me away, and to cast me down from the faith — 'Father,' said I, 'do you see, let us say, this vessel lying here to be a little pitcher, or something else?' And he said, 'I see it to be so.' And I replied to him, 'Can it be called by any other name than what it is?' And he said, 'No.' 'Neither can I call myself anything else than what I am, a Christian.'

"Then my brother said to me, 'My dear sister, you are already in a position of great dignity, and are such that you may ask for a vision, and that it may be made known to you whether this is to result in a passion or an escape.' And I, who knew that I was privileged to converse with the Lord, whose kindnesses I had found to be so great, boldly promised him, and said, 'Tomorrow I will tell you.' And I asked, and this was what was shown me. I saw a golden ladder of marvellous height, reaching up even to heaven, and very narrow, so that persons could only ascend it one by one; and on the sides of the ladder was fixed every kind of iron weapon. There were there swords, lances, hooks, daggers; so that if any one went up carelessly, or not looking upwards, he would be torn to pieces and his flesh would cleave to the iron weapons. And under the ladder itself was crouching a dragon of wonderful size, who lay in wait for those who ascended, and frightened them from the ascent. And Saturus went up first, who had subsequently delivered himself up freely on our account, not having been present at the time that we were taken prisoners. And he attained the top of the ladder, and turned towards me, and said to me, Perpetua, I am waiting for you; but be careful that the dragon do not bite you.' And I said, 'In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, he shall not hurt me.' And from under the ladder itself, as if in fear of me, he slowly lifted up his head; and as I trod upon the first step, I trod upon his head. And I went up, and I saw an immense extent of garden, and in the midst of the garden a white-haired man sitting in the dress of a shepherd, of a large stature, milking sheep; and standing around were many thousand white-robed ones. And he raised his head, and looked upon me, and said to me, 'Thou are welcome, daughter.' And he called me, and from the cheese as he was milking he gave me as it were a little cake, and I received it with folded hands; and I ate it, and all who stood around said Amen. And at the sound of their voices I was awakened, still tasting a sweetness which I cannot describe. And I immediately related this to my brother, and we understood that it was to be a passion, and we ceased henceforth to have any hope in this world.

The day of their victory shone forth, and they proceeded from the prison into the amphitheatre, as if to an assembly, joyous and of brilliant countenances; if prechance shrinking, it was with joy, and not with fear. Perpetua followed with placid look, and with step and gait as a matron of Christ, beloved of God; casting down the luster of her eyes from the gaze of all. Moreover, Felicitas, rejoicing that she had safely brought forth, so that she might fight with the wild beasts; from the blood and from the midwife to the gladiator, to wash after childbirth with But He who had said, "Ask, and ye shall receive," gave to them when they asked, that death which each one had wished for. For when at any time they had been discoursing among themselves about their wish in respect of their martyrdom, Saturninus indeed had professed that he wished that he might be thrown to all the beasts; doubtless that he might wear a more glorious crown. Therefore in the beginning of the exhibition he and Revocatus made trial of the leopard, and moreover upon the scaffold they were harassed by the bear. Saturus, however, held nothing in greater abomination than a bear; but he imagined that he would be put an end to with one bite of a leopard. Therefore, when a wild boar was supplied, it was the huntsman rather who had supplied that boar who was gored by that same beast, and died the day after the shows.  Sarturus only was drawn out; and when he had been bound on the floor near to a bear, the bear would not come forth from his den. a second baptism.

Moreover, for the young women the devil prepared a very fierce cow, provided especially for that purpose contrary to custom, rivalling their sex also in that of the beasts. And so, stripped and clothed with nets, they were led forth. The populace shuddered as they saw one young woman of delicate frame, and another with breasts still dropping from her recent childbirth. So, being recalled, they are unbound. Perpetua is first led in. She was tossed, and fell on her loins; and when she saw her tunic torn from her side, she drew it over her as a veil for her middle, rather mindful of her modesty than her suffering. Then she was called for again, and bound up her dishevelled hair; for it was not becoming for a martyr to suffer with dishevelled hair, lest she should appear to be mourning in her glory. So she rose up; and when she saw Felicitas crushed, she approached and gave her her hand, and lifted her up. And both of them stood together; and the brutality of the populace being appeased, they were recalled to the Sanavivarian gate. Then Perpetua was received by a certain one who was still a catechumen, Rusticus by name, who kept close to her; and she, as if aroused from sleep, so deeply had she been in the Spirit and in an ecstasy, began to look round her, and to say to the amazement of all, "I cannot tell when we are to be led out to that cow." And when she had heard what had already happened, she did not believe it until she had perceived certain signs of injury in her body and in her dress, and had recognised the catechumen.  

   And when the populace called for them into the midst, that as the sword penetrated into their body they might make their eyes partners in the murder, they rose up of their own accord, and transferred themselves whither the people wished; but they first kissed one another, that they might consummate their martyrdom with the kiss of peace. The rest indeed, immoveable and in silence, received the sword-thrust; much more Saturus, who also had first ascended the ladder, and first gave up his spirit, for he also was waiting for Perpetua. But Perpetua, that she might taste some pain, being pierced between the ribs, cried out loudly, and she herself placed the wavering right hand of the youthful gladiator to her throat. Possibly such a woman could not have been slain unless she herself had willed it, because she was feared by the impure spirit.

Holy martyrs, pray for us that we, who live in times similar to Rome but much more insidious and deceiving, may be strengthened by your faith and stand firm in our dedication to our Lord and his church. Amen.