St. Thomas Aquinas

Quotes from St Thomas Aquinas

"The things that we love tell us what we are.”
"Happiness is secured through virtue; it is a good attained by man's own will."
"Most men seem to live according to sense rather than reason."

Life is Good

" The Lord chooses you, the Lord loves you."

Pope Paul VI

Isaiah 43:1 But now, thus says the LORD, your Creator, O Jacob,And He who formed you, O Israel,

"Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;I have called you by name; you are Mine!

Throughout Scripture we see that God is merciful . Our God is a God who saves. Life is Good!

Choose Life

We must not be surprised when we hear of murders, of killings, of wars, of hatred. If a mother can kill her own child, what is left but for us to kill each other."~ Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta ~

"Planned Parenthood is the largest abortion provider in America. 78% of their clinics are in minority communities. Blacks make up 12% of the population, but 35% of the abortions in America. Are we being targeted? Isn't that genocide? We are the only minority in America that is on the decline in population. If the current trend continues, by 2038 the black vote will be insignificant. Did you know that the founder of Planned Parenthood, Margaret Sanger, was a devout racist who created the Negro Project designed to sterilize unknowing black women and others she deemed as undesirables of society? The founder of Planned Parenthood said, "Colored people are like human weeds and are to be exterminated." Is her vision being fulfilled today?" blackgenocide.org

Prayer For Mothers
Father in Heaven, we thank you for the gift of life.
Grant that all mothers who give birth may welcome their babies with love.
But if some mothers feel they are unable to raise their babies, grant that they may be compassionate toward the life which You have given and not destroy it before birth.
To those children who have been wantonly deprived of earthly life grant whatever happiness to which they are entitled, and to the mothers who have denied them life in this world, grant Your merciful grace of repentance and reconciliation with our Savior so that they may obtain eternal life in the next!
With ecclesiastical approval
Most Rev. Romeo R. Blanchette, D.D.

http://birthright.reachlocal.net/866-576-2764 http://www.saintgianna.org/
http://www.hopeafterabortion.com/

Made New

Ezekiel 36:26"Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.

Isaiah 42:9"Behold, the former things have come to pass, Now I declare new things; Before they spring forth I proclaim them to you."10Sing to the LORD a new song, Sing His praise from the end of the earth!

The Blessed Virigin Mary, Mother of God

Cyril of Alexandria"I have been amazed that some are utterly in doubt as to whether or not the holy Virgin is able to be called the Mother of God. For if our Lord Jesus Christ is God, how should the holy Virgin who bore him not be the Mother of God?" (Letter to the Monks of Egypt 1 [A.D. 427]). "This expression, however, ‘the Word was made flesh’ [John 1:14], can mean nothing else but that he partook of flesh and blood like to us; he made our body his own, and came forth man from a woman, not casting off his existence as God, or his generation of God the Father, but even in taking to himself flesh remaining what he was. This the declaration of the correct faith proclaims everywhere. This was the sentiment of the holy Fathers; therefore they ventured to call the holy Virgin ‘the Mother of God,’ not as if the nature of the Word or his divinity had its beginning from the holy Virgin, but because of her was born that holy body with a rational soul, to which the Word, being personally united, is said to be born according to the flesh" (First Letter to Nestorius [A.D. 430]). "And since the holy Virgin corporeally brought forth God made one with flesh according to nature, for this reason we also call her Mother of God, not as if the nature of the Word had the beginning of its existence from the flesh" (Third Letter to Nestorius [A.D. 430]).
___Photo taken from http://www.crossroadsinitiative.com/pics/Virgin_Mary_Mother_of_God.jpg

Christmas in July, and August ...

  What was Christmas like for me?  Did I experience it as  one of the people in Bethlehem who were so busy they passed by the stable unaware that the cry they heard was the cry of their Savior? Did I take the time I should have to adore our Savior ,who came as a babe that was hungry for love, hungry to forgive and hungry for souls, my soul?
This  past Christmas, did I  miss what could have been an Epiphany or was I  like one of the shepherds who dropped their work and did  seek Christ ,and do what they could to diligently find Christ in the crowds?
Who did I  most relate to in the story of Christ's Birth?
This Christmas was I  like the Wise men - "seeking" by the light of the Church to find Christ? Or like the shepherds present in adoration and ready to receive and spread the Good news? Or like the Innkeeper who was too busy to notice or honor the Christ Child in others and closed the door of his heart to the Holy Family? Or like Herod opposing Christ altogether? Did I suffer loss for Christ's sake as did the the mothers of the Holy Innocents? Did I listen to the call to be like St Joseph, obedient and faithful or like Mary, in love with God, surrendered and obedient or like Jesus, little, poor, humble, forgiving, life giving?... Christmas meditations can keep me busy all year.

"Come to Bethlehem and See"

Luke 2:15
15When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."
I am so impatient to get our shopping done.
My experience preparing for Christmas made me consider how impatient we all can be with ourselves and others. I guess that is par for the course as we live in a world that expects immediate results often achieved at a click of a button.

Ideally, we would like to embrace the trials of the season with joy that we are sharing in God’s plan to bring Christ into the world with a kind word or an open heart. I know that Christ will always remain in Christmas and keeping Him there is not the real problem. The real problem is making a way to remain with and in Him.

Little Boy,Little Fish, Big Faith

John 6:9  9"Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?"10 Jesus said, "Have the people sit down." There was plenty of grass in that place, and the men sat down, about five thousand of them. 11 Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish.
12 When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, "Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted." 13 So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.
The little boy gave the little he had trusting that nothing was impossible with God. He may of been one of the smallest among Christ followers but he had big faith that when we give Jesus our gifts no matter how small and limited we may think they are and no matter our weaknesses, Jesus can and will work wonders.

the Good News

In the Rosary God calls us to recall and contemplate not only the Sorrowful mysteries of the life of Jesus and Mary but also the Glorious, Joyful and those filled with the Light of God. In doing so we are called to be a people of Hope and Glory not doom and gloom. It is beautiful to discover that thehe mysteries of their lives are the mysteries of our own lives. The Rosary when recalled and prayed in union with the Church reminds us that the world and our lives are not hopeless. Like Jesus and Mary we too can persevere through our sorrow and so we are called to hope and Glory with Christ.
Church tradition calls us to pray the following Mysteries on certain days. Notice how only two days out of seven are we called to contemplate Christ's sufferings. The other five days we focus on joy, glory and light both in the lives of Jesus and Mary and in our own lives. A nice reminder to focus on the Good News !

Monday -Joyful
Tuesday -Sorrowful
Wednesday-Glorious
Thursday -Luminous
Friday-Sorrowful
Saturday-Glorious
Sunday -Glorious
For how to pray the Rosary go to http://www.ewtn.com/Devotionals/prayers/rosary/how_to.htm

In Memory of Michaela Rose Petit

"YOU MUST BE THE CANGE YOU WANT TO SEE IN THE WORLD."
by Mohandas Gandhi
I read this quote in the newspaper today. It was in an advertisement which was actually a letter written by Mr. Petit who suffered the horrific loss of his wife and two daughters this summer in a violent home invasion. His daugher Michaela wrote this quote in her facebook. This month, 11-17-95, was her birthday. SHe was my daughters age.
The violence that struck this family has stricken us all and peirced all our hearts but Glory to God for the words and life of Mr. Petit and his family who continue every day to pierce our hearts with heroic acts of faith hope and love. Someone said once that nothing good last forever.
HOW WRONG THEY WERE.
ONLY WHAT IS GOOD LASTS FOREVER. Their horrible evening has ended but their powerful witness of love remains and will remain for eternity.
Let us pray for the Petit family and all those who are victums of violence. May the love of God that conquered death and violence through the Cross and Resurrection of Jesus Christ bring healing and resurrection in their lives and the lives they touch. Amen

Prayer for Families

Heavenly Father,
you have given us the model of life
in the Holy Family of Nazareth.
Help us, O Loving Father,
to make our family another Nazareth
where love, peace and joy reign.
May it be deeply contemplative,
intensely eucharistic,
revived with joy.
Help us to stay together in joy
and sorrow in family prayer.
Teach us to see Jesus in the members of our families,
especially in their distressing disguise.
May the eucharistic heart of Jesus
make our hearts humble like his
and help us to carry out our family duties
in a holy way.
May we love one another
as God loves each one of us,
more and more each day,
and forgive each other's faults
as you forgive our sins.
Help us, O Loving Father,
to take whatever you give
and give whatever you take with a big smile.
Immaculate Heart of Mary,
cause of our joy, pray for us.
St. Joseph, pray for us.
Holy Guardian Angels,
be always with us,
guide and protect us.
Amen.
(Author: Mother Teresa of Calcutta)

Just Say Yes

"Who is the saint? The one who obeys God in his weakness, or the one who demands to have every admirable quality before he sets forth on his quest?" Taken from FATHER ELIJAH by Michael O'Brien

"It doesn't matter how you feel , it matters what you do. Our Lord Himself said that when He told the story of theman who had two sons whom he asked to go into the vineyared. One said no, but went. The other son said yes, and never went. Who did the father's will? The one who said he didn't feel like going, but went anyway(Matt. 21:28-31)That's the example we must follow." Mother Angelica, in Little Book of Life Lessons, edited by Raymond Arroyo

" Remember the Sabbath day, and keep it holy." God, Exodus

No matter how imperfect we may see ourselves and our circumstance we must put aside our excuses and do what it takes to say "yes" to God. This may be as simple as going to church when we don't feel like it or making a commitment to serve in a new way that is more demanding of our time and resources. Either way, when we move forward in sincerity and trust, God will bless our efforts.

Life is a Battle, Spiritual Warfare

EXODUS
8Then Amalek came and fought against Israel at Rephidim.
9So Moses said to Joshua, "Choose men for us and go out, fight against Amalek Tomorrow I will station myself on the top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand."
10Joshua did as Moses told him, and fought against Amalek; and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill.
11So it came about when Moses held his hand up, that Israel prevailed, and when he let his hand down, Amalek prevailed.
12But Moses' hands were heavy. Then they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it; and Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side and one on the other. Thus his hands were steady until the sun set.
13So Joshua overwhelmed Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.
__________________________________________
Moses and the people of Israel were in a battle. As long as Moses kept his hands raised up, Isreal had the better of the fight. But even Moses could not do this alone. Moses needed the help of the community (Aron and Hur) to support him. We too are in a battle and without community to support us we can not have the victory. Lifes battles can be exhausting and we like Moses need to do more than just believe that our help is in the Lord. This reading is a great reminder that we need to surround ourselves with others who share our faith and whom can we can depend on for help when we are weary. Don't Go it Alone.
Love Mrs. TLF

Our Lady of Fatima

In 1917 Mary the Mother of Jesus appeared to three shepherd children in Fatima Portugal.

There is alot of misinformation about Fatima on the internet. A reliable resource is found at http://www.ewtn.com/fatima/index.htm

Prayer and Message of the Angel of Fatima

My God, I believe, I adore, I hope, and I love You. I ask pardon for those who do not believe, do not adore, do not hope, and do not love You.

The Angel said when he appeared to the children: What are you doing? You must pray! Pray! The hearts of Jesus and Mary have merciful designs for you. You must offer your prayers and sacrifices to God, the Most High.

Lucy: "But how are we to sacrifice?" I asked

Angel: In every way you can offer sacrifice to God in reparation for the sins by which He is offended, and in supplication for sinners. In this way you will bring peace to our country, for I am its guardian angel, the Angel of Portugal. Above all, bear and accept with patience the sufferings God will send you.

Apparaition of Mary

Mary: "Please don't be afraid of me, I'm not going to harm you.....Say the Rosary every day, to bring peace to the world and an end to the war...Pray, pray very much...." for more got to http://www.ewtn.com/fatima/index.htm

Be Still

"Now as they went on their way, he entered a certain village, where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to what he was saying." Luke 10:38

I wonder what Jesus was saying. More importantly I ought to ask myself "what is Jesus saying to me today?". Am I willing to slow down enough to sit with Him and listen so I can hear His voice?
Much like sitting in front of the Blessed Sacrament, Mary sat at Jesus' feet and listened. I doubt if she had a book of Novena prayers with her. Sometimes that is important and God can speakto us through them but in this reading Mary simply "listened".  Today I need to lay down our prayer books, sit with Jesus and listen.
Scripture says "Be Still and Know that I am God" Pslam 46:10 .We pray for the grace to be like Mary and to make time to sit, be still and listen to our Lord. Thank God for the Blessed Sacrament where we can always go to be with Him.
Amen

Don't Worry Be Happy

Joy is prayer - Joy is strength - Joy is love - Joy is a net of love by which you can catch souls.
Mother Teresa

Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier.
Mother Teresa

Proverbs 3:5
5Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight. "

Rest

1He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High Will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the LORD, "My refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust!" Psalm 91

What is it to live or dwell in the shelter of the Most High? The world calls us to dwell on and in a lot of things. We can dwell in our worries and in the expectations of the world around us but if we can dwell in Him we can proclaim with the psalmist..
"My refuge and my fortress, My God in whom I trust!"
and as the psalmsit faithfully procalims...
"For it is He who delivers you from the snare of the trapper And from the deadly pestilence.
He will cover you with His pinions,And under His wings you may seek refuge;
His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark. You will not be afraid of the terror by night, Or of the arrow that flies by day;Of the pestilence that stalks in darkness, Or of the destruction that lays waste at noon. ... 11For He will give His angels charge concerning you, To guard you in all your ways. They will bear you up in their hands, That you do not strike your foot against a stone. ...Because he has loved Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him securely on high, because he has known My name. 15"He will call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. 16"With a long life I will satisfy him And let him see My salvation."
Dear God help us to stay close to you in your word and in your sacraments. Help us not to worry but to trust. May we persevere in grace and abide in you so we may rest in a faithful knowledge of your great love for us. Amen

Saint Therese of Lisieux

"You know well enough that Our Lord does not look so much at the greatness of our actions, nor even at their difficulty, but at the love at which we do them."

Patience

"Without the burdens of afflictions it is impossible to reach the height of grace. The gifts af grace increase as the struggles increase" St Rose of Lima
"Be patient with everyone, but above all with yourself. I mean, do not be disturbed with your imperfections, and always rise up bravely from a fall. " St. Francis de Sales

Silence

"Let us allow ourselves to be 'infected' by the silence of Saint Joseph! We have much need of it in a world which is often too noisy, which does not encourage reflection and listening to the voice of God."
Pope Benedict XVI, December 18, 2005