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Sunday, December 30, 2012

Need Prayers?


Many of you may know, that one of my blogs is "Prayer Requests". People requesting prayers for themselves, family, or friends may send an email to: faithofthefathers@gmail.com. I will post the prayer requests there, and people from around the country and around the world can pray for your special intentions.

Be sure to include Prayer Request as the email subject.

Friday, December 28, 2012

Pope Benedict XVI'S Prayer Intentions For January 2013



Vatican City, 28 December 2012 (VIS) - Pope Benedict's general prayer intention for January 2013 is: "That in this Year of Faith Christians may deepen their knowledge of the mystery of Christ and witness joyfully to the gift of faith in him".

His mission intention is: "That the Christian communities of the Middle East, often discriminated against, may receive from the Holy Spirit the strength of fidelity and perseverance".


You can find more information at: www.visnews.org
The news items contained in the Vatican Information Service may be used, in part or in their entirety, by quoting the source:
V.I.S. -Vatican Information Service.
Copyright © Vatican Information Service 00120 Vatican City


Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Washington State Activists Push Bill Again to Force Tax-Funded Abortions | LifeNews.com

The following excerpts are from LifeNews.com:
  • The abortion insurance mandate is a bill forcing insurance on citizens to cover abortions. It comes to us compliments of the abortion industry. Anyone buying a maternity insurance plan would be forced to buy additional coverage that would cover an abortion of the pregnancy. No exceptions. Every business would have to buy it for their employees. No exceptions. So much for the abortion industry actually being pro-choice.
  • This bill is arguably the top state legislative priority for our nation’s abortion industry and their aggressive push for abortion on demand. You may remember this bill during Washington State’s past 2012 legislative session, as House Bill 2330 and Senate Bill 6185. Washington was chosen to be the first state to run this unconstitutional bill, the test state, the state on the “cutting edge” of abortion on demand in the U.S.
  • No wonder. Washington State is ranked 50th in the country by Americans United for Life. That means it’s the most anti-life or pro-death state in America. It’s not just pro-abortion but favors ending life at all stages. The worst in America!!! This is a ranking that should motivate every citizen with a well formed conscience into action, at least to some degree, to do something.
Read more by clicking below:
Washington State Activists Push Bill Again to Force Tax-Funded Abortions | LifeNews.com

Monday, December 24, 2012

A Merry and Blessed Christmas To All!

"The Angel and the Shepherds" -- by James Tissot
Click the picture for the full resolution.

Thursday, December 20, 2012

Changes In Faith of the Fathers Blogs Effective January 1, 2013



Effective January 1, 2013, Faith of the Fathers blogs will reduce the number of "active" blogs, from 24 to 10.

Beginning January 1, the 14 that will no longer be posted to, will be listed as "Older Faith of the Fathers Blogs" as a link list at the very bottom of each blogs left hand sidebar. Those blogs will not be deleted, they will just no longer have any new posts added to them.

A decision to delete them entirely may come at a later date, as the 14 have very little to no traffic at all.

The 10 blogs that will remain active are as follows: 

Faith of the Fathers, Saint Quote of the Day, Daily Mass Readings, Approved Apparitions, Saints of the Faith, Pope Benedict XVI, Favorite Prayers And Scripture , Prayer Requests, The Early Church Fathers, and Apologetics.

These 10 are the blogs that have the most traffic and subscriptions, with the exception of the Prayer Requests blog. I will not remove it, as it is a blog I feel that is, and has been very helpful to many people.

In any case, thank you all for reading, following, and subscribing to these blogs.


Monday, December 17, 2012

From The Diocese of Charlotte: Rorate Mass in Latin held Dec. 15

Catholics attended what is thought to be the first Rorate Mass celebrated in the Diocese of Charlotte since the Second Vatican Council. The pre-dawn traditional Latin Mass, an ancient custom during Advent in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary, was held "in media nocte" ("in the middle of the night") and was illuminated only by candlelight.

Friday, December 14, 2012

Don't Let Time Slip Away



Today's tragic events in Connecticut have me thinking about things, as I am sure it has most of us.

I feel so much sorrow for the one's who died today, especially the children. No matter how I try to express my sorrow, it just seems so empty...too much like a cliche.

I suppose that is because we all know, that no matter what we might say, it won't change what happened. So the words I write, the things I think, seem so empty and shallow, that nothing I can say or write can make a difference whenever something awful like this happens.

To those of us who mourn the deaths of all the victims there is just nothing that we can say that will take the hurt away, that can ease the pain. All we can do is say "I'm sorry" and trust in God.

I heard someone on the radio tonight, ask "where was God when all this happened?" And they also asked, "why does God allow these things to happen if He is really there, and really cares?"

My reply to the first question is, God was, and is in the very same place He was, when His own Son died on the cross.

My reply to the second question is, that the old devil is behind this crime. And one of the reasons he caused this crime to take place, is so that you would begin to doubt God.

Let's not doubt God, but let's turn to Him. Now is when we all should turn to Him, and trust in Him. In the end, He will see us....and all the families and friends of the victims... through it all.

Another thing or two before I'm finished here. Hug your children tight, and tell them you love them. I don't care if your child is 5 or 55. Tell them.

Also, make sure that there are no bitter chasms between you and a loved one or friend. Call them. Tell them you love them. Tell them you miss them. Tell them you want to forget the past, and start anew.

Husbands and wives, don't allow petty arguments that seem so huge in your lives, to create a gulf between you. Don't go to bed angry. Don't let one or the other leave the house with one or both of you angry.

None of us are promised tomorrow. We don't know what tomorrow will bring, or even what the next hour will bring. Don't let it bring you any regret for having not made amends, or not having said some tender loving words. Take the time to say, "I love you". Take the time to say "I'm sorry". Take the time to say, "I forgive you". Take the time to ask for forgiveness.

Because just like the parents in Connecticut had no idea this morning that they would be seeing their child alive for the last time... we have no idea that someone in our lives... someone important in our lives...may be walking out the door... hanging up the phone...or going to sleep next to us...or in the same house with us... for the last time.

Don't let the moment escape you. Do it now!





Prayers For The Children In Connecticut


To You, O Lord, we humbly entrust these children, so precious in Your sight. Take them into Your arms and welcome them into paradise, where there will be no sorrow, no weeping nor pain, but the fullness of peace and joy with Your Son and the Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen.

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.



Thursday, December 13, 2012

Easy Gift Buying...Gift Cards!

Everyone knows someone (or several someone's), whom you just can't seem to find the right gift for. Whether it's the boss, junior's teacher, or a friend or relative, there are some people who are difficult to buy for, or you are not sure what to get them.

The best and easiest way to handle this dilemma, is to simply buy a gift card or gift certificate. They can be purchased in amounts from $15 or more. That way, the person receiving the gift card can then redeem it for whatever he or she wants. Problem solved, and everybody is happy.

Mystic Monk Coffee has Gift Cards available in amounts from $15 to $100. The recipient can choose some outstanding coffees and teas, as well as books, saint medals, and more from the Carmelite Monks of Wyoming, and you can help the monks in raising the money they need to build their monastery.


THE POPE'S FIRST THREE ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS ON TWITTER



Vatican City, 13 December 2012 (VIS) - @Pontifex, Pope Benedict XVI's Twitter account, attracted over a million and a half followers on its first day of existence. The Pope, after his first tweet at the end of the usual Wednesday general audience, responded during the course of the day to three questions posed by members of the public from three different continents. The first was: "How can we celebrate the Year of Faith better in our daily lives?". The Holy Father's answer was "By speaking with Jesus in prayer, listening to what he tells you in the Gospel and looking for him in those in need".

Shortly afterwards a second question was added: "How can faith in Jesus be lived in a world without hope?". "We can be certain that a believer is never alone. God is the solid rock upon which we build our lives and his love is always faithful", responded Benedict XVI.

The final tweet, posted around 6 p.m., was: "Offer everything you do to the Lord, ask his help in all the circumstances of daily life and remember that he is always beside you", in response to: "Any suggestions on how to be more prayerful when we are so busy with the demands of work, families and the world?"


You can find more information at: www.visnews.org
The news items contained in the Vatican Information Service may be used, in part or in their entirety, by quoting the source:
V.I.S. -Vatican Information Service.
Copyright © Vatican Information Service 00120 Vatican City



Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Vatican astronomer rejects Mayan prophecy of world's end : News Headlines - Catholic Culture

The following excerpts are from CatholicCulture's Catholic World News:
  • An ancient Mayan prediction that the world will end on December 21 is “not even worth discussing,” according to the head of the Vatican Observatory.
  • Father José Funes wrote in L’Osservatore Romano that the steady expansion of the universe might eventually lead to an explosive cosmological event, but that possibility is many millions of years in the future. More importantly, he added, for Christians “death can never have the last word.”
Read more by clicking below:
Vatican astronomer rejects Mayan prophecy of world's end : News Headlines - Catholic Culture

Catholic News Herald - NC bishops deeply saddened at ruling about 'Choose Life' plates - Catholic news from the Diocese of Charlotte


The following excerpts are from Catholic News Herald:
  • Federal District Court Judge James C. Fox has ruled that North Carolina cannot issue "Choose Life" license plates without offering a choice of plates with a different viewpoint.
  • Fox ruled Friday that the state's attempt to offer "Choose Life" plates only is unconstitutional because it is "viewpoint discrimination in violation of the First Amendment.
  • The ruling comes after the American Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit on behalf of four "pro-choice automobile owners" who contended the "Choose Life" plates were state-sponsored discrimination.
  • The Most Reverend Peter J. Jugis, Bishop of Charlotte, and the Most Reverend Michael F. Burbidge, Bishop of Raleigh, reacted to the Dec. 7 ruling that prohibits the sale of the"Choose Life" specialty license plate in North Carolina ...
Read more by clicking below:
Catholic News Herald - NC bishops deeply saddened at ruling about 'Choose Life' plates - Catholic news from the Diocese of Charlotte

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Wisconsin bishop bars retreats by 2 women religious, cites 'New Age' influence : News Headlines - Catholic Culture

The following excerpts are from Catholic Culture's Catholic World News:
  • Bishop Robert Morlino of Madison, Wisconsin, has banned retreats and workshops led by two women religious, saying that they “may not share an authentic view of the Catholic Church’s approach to inter-religious dialogue.”
Read more by clicking below:
Wisconsin bishop bars retreats by 2 women religious, cites 'New Age' influence : News Headlines - Catholic Culture

New Single-Serve Monk-Shots From Mystic Monk Coffee



Good news from Mystic Monk Coffee for those of you who use single serve brewers. Mystic Monk Coffee now offers Monk-Shots single serve coffee cups!

The monks web site says:
  • Our Monk-Shots are compatible with all major single serve brewers including Keurig ®, Breville ®, Mr. Coffee ® and Cuisinart ®, single-serve machines. Each pod contains up to 20% more coffee than most major pod brands, making for a richer, fuller cup.  Unlike other single-serve options, our Monk-Shots are made with recyclable materials.

The Monk-Shots are available in the two best selling regular blends, Breakfast Blend and Mystic Monk Blend.

When you order one, you get 14x Single Serve Monk-Shots.

There's not much time before Christmas, so if you need your order to arrive before Christmas, now is the time to place it.

Remember, your purchase of Mystic Monk Coffee helps support the monastery of the Carmelite Monks of Wyoming and this blog!





Monday, December 10, 2012

Merry Xmas

A Brief Explanation of the Original Meaning of Xmas



Merry Xmas to you and yours.

Yes, you read that right. Merry Xmas to you and yours.

“What is with this guy” you're wondering. “Does he realize what he is doing? Here he has a bunch of Catholic blogs and is saying 'Xmas'! Doesn't he realize what he is saying?”

Yes, I sure do!

A lot of people...most people in fact... tend to get very upset when they see the term "Xmas".

"Xmas? How dare they take Christ out of Christmas, and call it Xmas. After all, Christmas is derived from Christ's Mass, and calling it Xmas is just a blatant attempt to demean what Christmas means. They already want to say “Happy Holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas”...and now they want to make their attack complete by writing “Merry Xmas”? Well, I for one am not standing idly by while these secular humanists and their anti-Christian cohorts...."

Whoa there....slow down and take a couple of deep breaths. While you're taking your deep breaths I'll give you a little information so you can get your drawers (that means underwear to you people not from the country) out of a wad....so to speak.

The term Xmas is virtually as old as Christianity itself, and actually comes from classical Greek. The Roman letter “X” in our alphabet is similar to the Greek letter Chi, which is the first letter of the Greek word Χριστός, “Christos”, which translates as "Christ". The "mas" part is from the Latin-derived Old English word for "Mass". So, the word “Christmas” is actually derived from the Old English “Cristes mæsse”, literally meaning Mass of Christ.

“Xmas” (sometimes pronounced éksməss) is, and was a very common abbreviation of the word “Christmas”. So there is a very common misconception that the word “Xmas” is a secular attempt to remove the religious tradition of Christmas by taking Christ out of Christmas. This is just not the case for the term historically speaking.

According to the “Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of English Usage” the early use of Xmas dates back to 1551. Further, it (Merriam-Webster) states that X, Xp, and Xt, all derived from the Greek name, have all been used to stand for Christ- in other words besides Xmas. "Xpen" (1485), "Xpian" (1598), and "Xtian" (1845, 1915, 1940), all meaning "Christian", "Xstened" (1685-86) "christened" and "Xtianity" (1634, 1811, 1966) "Christianity".


Also, you can find the “X” being used in the ancient Christian fish symbol, or “Icthys”, as “ΙΧΘΥΣ”, which is an acronym for “Jesus Christ, God's Son, Savior”.  


The labarum, more often called the Chi-Rho, was rendered by taking the first 2 Greek letters of the name Christ (Χριστός), the "X" (Chi) the "P" (Rho), and is a symbol used in Catholic, Orthodox, and many Protestant Christian churches as a symbol for Christ. 

In a good deal of ancient Christian art, “x” and “xp” are used as abbreviations for Christ's name, as well as in many icons and ancient manuscripts of the New Testament.

The use of the term “Xmas” in place of Christmas was also used in letters from Lord Byron (1811), Lewis Carroll (1864) and Oliver Wendell Holmes (1923), in which Merriam-Webster's opines was indicative of “well-educated Englishmen who knew their Greek”.

So, I hope this helps.

I am not going to try to tell you that “Xmas” is not used by those who are trying to offend, as I am sure in some cases that it is intended so. Just remember the next time you see “Xmas”, they are still saying Christmas...and still honoring the name of Christ, even though they may not realize it.

Now, you do know it.

So, Merry Xmas to you and yours!




Judge rules ‘Choose Life’ license plates violate the First Amendment | LifeSiteNews.com



The following excerpts are from LifeSiteNews.com:
  • North Carolina women are free to choose abortion, but not pro-life license plates. A federal judge has ruled the state can only sell a “Choose Life” vanity plate if it also offers a pro-abortion alternative.
  • U.S. District Judge James C. Fox stated that offering only one side of the argument “constitutes viewpoint discrimination in violation of the First Amendment.”
  • The state legislature passed a bill authorizing the pro-life message with dozens of other specialty plate options in September 2011. The ACLU of North Carolina won an injunction against the plates that December. 
  • “We would have made the exact same argument if the situation was reversed,” ACLU-NCLF Legal Director Chris Brook told local media after Friday’s ruling. 

Read more by clicking below:

Judge rules ‘Choose Life’ license plates violate the First Amendment | LifeSiteNews.com

Saturday, December 08, 2012

US bishops announce prayer campaign for religious liberty, life, and marriage; encourage fast, abstinence on all Fridays : News Headlines - Catholic Culture

The following excerpts are from Catholic Culture's Catholic World News:
  • The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has announced a campaign of prayer and fasting for the “rebuilding of a culture favorable to life and marriage and for increased protections of religious liberty.”
  • The campaign, which will begin the Sunday after Christmas, “is essentially a call and encouragement to prayer and sacrifice – it’s meant to be simple," said Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone of San Francisco, chairman of the USCCB Subcommittee for the Promotion and Defense of Marriage. “It’s not meant to be another program but rather part of a movement for life, marriage, and religious liberty, which engages the New Evangelization and can be incorporated into the Year of Faith.”
Read more by clicking below:

Wednesday, December 05, 2012

Catholics urged to take part in National Night of Prayer for Life | LifeSiteNews.com


The following excerpts are from LifeSiteNews.com:
  • Catholics across the country will be united in prayer Dec. 8-9 during the 23rd annual National Night of Prayer of Life.
  • Father Frank Pavone, National Director of Priests for Life, is urging all parish priests and pro-life leaders to join in this vital effort.
  • “Prayer is the cornerstone of the pro-life movement,” Father Pavone said. “And parishes should be the hub of activity. Combine the two and you have a great formula for victory.”
  • The National Night of Prayer for Life is a prayer service that takes place from 9 p.m. Dec. 8 until 1 a.m. Dec. 9, and consists of adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, the Rosary, prayer to St. Michael, silent prayer and hymns.
Read more by clicking below:
Catholics urged to take part in National Night of Prayer for Life | LifeSiteNews.com


Religious freedom is top priority for Church leaders in Middle East : News Headlines - Catholic Culture

The following excerpts are from Catholic Culture's Catholic World News:
  • Religious freedom is high on the agenda as Catholic patriarchs and bishops of the Middle East meet this week in Harissa, Lebanon, to discuss Ecclesia in Medio Oriente, the apostolic exhortation by Pope Benedict XVI that furnishes a “road map” for the work of the Church in that region.
Read more by clicking below:
Religious freedom is top priority for Church leaders in Middle East : News Headlines - Catholic Culture

Tuesday, December 04, 2012

National Catholic Reporter defies Vatican, calls for women's ordination : News Headlines - Catholic Culture

The following excerpts are from Catholic Culture's Catholic World News:
  • The National Catholic Reporter has called for the ordination of women to the Catholic priesthood, condemning the Church’s teaching on the issue as “unjust.”
  • “Barring women from ordination to the priesthood is an injustice that cannot be allowed to stand,” the Reporter proclaimed in an editorial published December 3.
  • The editorial decried the Vatican’s decision to dismiss Roy Bourgeois from the Maryknoll society because of his public support for women’s ordination, and concluded by saying that the paper “joins its voice” with that of Bourgeois in that effort.
  • The editorial stand by the National Catholic Reporter is a clear challenge to Church authority.
Read more by clicking below:
National Catholic Reporter defies Vatican, calls for women's ordination : News Headlines - Catholic Culture

Monday, December 03, 2012

Pope Benedict Joins Twitter; Greeted by Profane, Hateful Tweets | LifeNews.com

The following excerpts are from LifeNews.com:
  • Pope Benedict joined Twitter today and was greeted by hateful tweets from Catholic bashers laced with profanity. Pope Benedict XVI ’s new Twitter account has been revealed, @Pontifex, and it already has more than 100,000 followers and is expected to be eventually followed by millions.
Note: I am sure the Pope would have this passage from The Gospel of John in mind: John 15:18-19: "If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you." 
    Read more by clicking below:
    Pope Benedict Joins Twitter; Greeted by Profane, Hateful Tweets | LifeNews.com

    THE POPE ON TWITTER



    VOICE OF UNITY AND LEADERSHIP FOR THE CHURCH

    Vatican City, 3 December 2012 (VIS) - A press conference was held this morning in the Holy See Press Office to explain the presence of the Pope on Twitter and to provide additional information on the use of the new media in the Vatican.

    The conference was presented by Archbishop Claudio Maria Celli, president of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications, Msgr. Paul Tighe, secretary of the same dicastery, Fr. Federico Lombardi, director of the Holy See Press Office, Vatican Radio and the Vatican Television Centre, Professor Gian Maria Vian, editor of 'L'Osservatore Romano' and Greg Burke, media advisor to the Secretariat of State. Claire Diaz-Ortiz, Twitter's director of Social Innovation, was also present.

    Given below are extracts from the English-language Note explaining the presence of the Holy Father on Twitter:

    "The Pope's presence on Twitter is a concrete expression of his conviction that the Church must be present in the digital arena. ... The Pope's presence on Twitter can be seen as the 'tip of the iceberg' that is the Church's presence in the world of new media. The Church is already richly present in this environment – there exist a whole range of initiatives from the official websites of various institutions and communities to the personal sites, blogs and micro-blogs of public church figures and of individual believers. The Pope's presence on Twitter is ultimately an endorsement of the efforts of these 'early adapters' to ensure that the Good News of Jesus Christ and the teaching of his Church is permeating the forum of exchange and dialogue that is being created by social media. His presence is intended to be an encouragement to all Church institutions and people of faith to be attentive to develop an appropriate profile for themselves and their convictions in the 'digital continent'. The Pope's tweets will be available to believers and non-believers to share, discuss and to encourage dialogue. It is hoped that the Pope's short messages, and the fuller messages that they seek to encapsulate, will give rise to questions for people from different countries, languages and cultures".

    "Part of the challenge for the Church in the area of new media is to establish a networked or capillary presence that can effectively engage the debates, discussions and dialogues that are facilitated by social media and that invite direct, personal and timely responses of a type that are not so easily achieved by centralized institutions. Moreover, such a networked or capillary structure reflects the truth of the Church as a community of communities which is alive both universally and locally. The Pope's presence on Twitter will represent his voice as a voice of unity and leadership for the Church but it will also be a powerful invitation to all believers to express their 'voices', to engage their 'followers' and 'friends' and to share with them the hope of the Gospel that speaks of God’s unconditional love for all men and women".

    "In addition to the direct engagement with the questions, debates and discussions of people that is facilitated by new media, the Church recognizes the importance of new media as an environment that allows to teach the truth that the Lord has passed to His Church, to listen to others, to learn about their cares and concerns, to understand who they are and for what they are searching. ... It is for this reason that it has been decided to launch the Pope's Twitter channel with a formal question and answer format. This launch is also an indication of the importance that the Church gives to listening and is a warranty of its ongoing attentiveness to the conversations, commentaries and trends that express so spontaneously and insistently the preoccupations and hopes of people".

    The first tweets from the Pope's handle on Twitter will be given on 12 December, Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Initially tweets will be published with the Wednesday general audiences, although they may subsequently become more frequent. The first tweets, on 12 December, will respond to questions put to the Pope on matters of faith. The public can send questions between now and 12 December in the languages listed below. The official Papal handle is @pontifex.

    In addition to English, tweets will also be published in the following languages:

    Spanish @pontifex_es

    Italian @pontifex_it

    Portuguese @pontifex_pt

    German @pontifex_de

    Polish @pontifex_pl

    Arabic @pontifex_ar

    French @pontifex_fr

    Other languages may be added in the future. Further information can be obtained at http://blog.twitter.com/


    You can find more information at: www.visnews.org
    The news items contained in the Vatican Information Service may be used, in part or in their entirety, by quoting the source:
    V.I.S. -Vatican Information Service.
    Copyright © Vatican Information Service 00120 Vatican City

    Friday, November 30, 2012

    POPE BENEDICT XVI'S PRAYER INTENTIONS FOR DECEMBER



    Vatican City, (VIS) - Pope Benedict's general prayer intention for December is: "That migrants throughout the world may be welcomed with generosity and authentic love, especially by Christian communities".

    His mission intention is: "That Christ may reveal Himself to all humanity with the light that shines forth from Bethlehem and is reflected in the face of His Church".


    You can find more information at: www.visnews.org
    The news items contained in the Vatican Information Service may be used, in part or in their entirety, by quoting the source:
    V.I.S. -Vatican Information Service.
    Copyright © Vatican Information Service 00120 Vatican City

    Now sick babies go on death pathway: Doctor's haunting testimony reveals how children are put on end-of-life plan | Mail Online

    The following excerpts are from The Daily Mail online:
    • Sick children are being discharged from NHS hospitals to die at home or in hospices on controversial ‘death pathways’.
    • Until now, end of life regime the Liverpool Care Pathway was thought to have involved only elderly and terminally-ill adults.
    • But the Mail can reveal the practice of withdrawing food and fluid by tube is being used on young patients as well as severely disabled newborn babies.
    • One doctor has admitted starving and dehydrating ten babies to death in the neonatal unit of one hospital alone. 
    • Writing in a leading medical journal, the physician revealed the process can take an average of ten days during which a  baby becomes ‘smaller and shrunken’. 
    • The LCP – on which 130,000 elderly and terminally-ill adult patients die each year – is now the subject of an independent inquiry ordered by ministers.
    Read more by clicking below:

    Thursday, November 29, 2012

    Vatican strips Austrian dissident of honorary title 'Monsignor' : News Headlines - Catholic Culture

    The following excerpts are from Reuters:
    • The leader of a dissident movement of Austrian priests has been stripped of the title “Monsignor” by the Vatican.
    • Father Helmut Schüller, the head of the Austrian Priests’ Initiative and a former vicar general of the Vienna archdiocese, no longer holds the honorary title of “Chaplain of his Holiness,” the Vatican announced on November 29. 
    Read more by clicking below:
    Vatican strips Austrian dissident of honorary title 'Monsignor' : News Headlines - Catholic Culture

    Prefect of CDF rips ‘heretical’ reading of Vatican II : News Headlines - Catholic Culture

    The following excerpts are from Reuters:
    • The new prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) has said that traditionalist Catholics advance a “heretical interpretation” of Vatican II if they claim that the Council made radical changes in Church teaching.
    Read more by clicking below:
    Prefect of CDF rips ‘heretical’ reading of Vatican II : News Headlines - Catholic Culture

    Egyptian Christians sentenced to death for Islam film | Reuters

    The following excerpts are from Reuters:
    • A Cairo court on Wednesday sentenced to death seven Egyptian Christians tried in absentia for participating in an anti-Islam video that was released on the Internet in September and prompted violent protests in Muslim countries.
    Read more by clicking below:
    Egyptian Christians sentenced to death for Islam film | Reuters

    This Is The Truth!


    Tuesday, November 27, 2012

    Poll: Abortion Didn't Cost GOP Election, More Americans Still Pro-Life | LifeNews.com


    The following excerpts are from LifeNews.com:
    • Much has been written about the effect of abortion on the 2012 presidential race and the apparent sudden shift in polls from the pro-life plurality (or majority, which we have seen in recent years) to a plurality or bare majority self identifying as pro-choice.
    • What has not been reported is that 1) of those who voted on the basis of abortion, the pro-life vote for pro-life candidates essentially equaled the pro-abortion vote for pro-abortion candidates; and 2) basic attitudes on abortion itself have not changed. A plurality, or even majority, of the public continues to oppose the vast majority of abortions that are actually performed.
    • While much has also been written about the “women’s vote,” race and ethnicity was a much greater determinant of how people voted than gender.
    • The CNN exit poll found that Mitt Romney won 59% of the white vote while Obama won 93% of the black vote and 73% of the Hispanic vote.  Significantly, Romney won 56% of white women and 51% of young white voters, 18-29.
    • Church attendance was also a predictor of how one voted.  Fifty nine percent of those who attend church at least once a week voted for Romney while 62% of those who never attend church voted for Obama.
    Read more by clicking below:
    Poll: Abortion Didn't Cost GOP Election, More Americans Still Pro-Life | LifeNews.com

    John McCain Faces Criticism Over His Call for Abortion Truce | LifeNews.com

    The following excerpts are from LifeNews.com:
    • Senator John McCain, the former presidential candidate, is facing criticism from pro-life advocates over his call for a truce on abortion.
    • McCain is under the mistaken notion that the abortion issue cost Republicans the 2012 presidential election and that pro-life advocates should state their views and then be quiet.
    • “As far as young women are concerned, absolutely, I don’t think anybody like me — I can state my position on abortion but, other than that, leave the issue alone, when we are in the kind of economic situation and, frankly, national-security situation that we’re in,” he said over the weekend. “I would allow people to have those opinions and respect those opinions. I’m proud of my pro-life position and record. But if someone disagrees with me, I respect your views.”
    Read more by clicking below:
    John McCain Faces Criticism Over His Call for Abortion Truce | LifeNews.com

    Senate to vote on UN disabilities treaty; pro-life, homeschooling advocates concerned : News Headlines - Catholic Culture

    The following excerpts are from Catholic Culture's Catholic World News:
    • The Senate is scheduled to vote soon on whether to ratify the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), a United Nations treaty opposed by several pro-life and homeschooling organizations. President Barack Obama signed the treaty in 2009.
    • “The global community could force America to sanction sterilization or abortion for the disabled--at taxpayer expense,” said Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council
    Read more by clicking below:
    Senate to vote on UN disabilities treaty; pro-life, homeschooling advocates concerned : News Headlines - Catholic Culture

    Our Gift Store

    As some of you may know...or may not for that matter. I have an online gift store associated with these blogs called "Faith of the Fathers Catholic Gifts" at Zazzle.com.

    Mostly the gifts are mugs, mouse-pads, and a few other items thrown in that have images of Our Lord, Our Lady, or the saints with an appropriate quotation.

    I also have 3 or so Christmas card designs available.

    The majority of the items are designed with some of the works of the masters.

    Below is a mug I "created" for sale at "Faith of the Fathers Catholic Gifts" on Zazzle.com. One side has the following quote from scripture:"I can do all things through Him who stregtheneth me" Philippians 4:13 The photo shows it in the 15 oz. white mug, but other colors and sizes are available, and you can make your choice by clicking here.


    You can also go the store and see all of the other items offered by clicking here.


    Monday, November 26, 2012

    Where Visitors Come From as of 11/25/2012

    I thought you might want to see what nations visitors to "Faith of the Fathers" blogs come from. This graphic shows the visitors to all of the blogs.

    Click on the photo to see the full size image:




    Saturday, November 24, 2012

    Thinking of Christmas Gifts?


    Well then, how about Christmas gifts that people will love... and at the same time help support the Carmelite Monks of Wyoming and their monastery located right here in the U.S.A.!

    Everyone who loves flavored coffee will especially love the Jingle Bell Java, which the monks describe as:

    "Jingle Bell Java is arguably our best flavor, with hints of white chocolate, festive spices and bourbon, which you are sure to enjoy!"

    New for this year, in a festive gold bag is their Christmas Blend 2012, which the monks say is:

    "Our Christmas Blend 2012 builds upon the success of previous years with this new blend - only available for the 2012 Christmas season!

    A selection of beans from all over the world, masterfully roasted and blended, with the end result being a coffee that is complex, fruity, and very smooth.

    This special coffee will only be available this Christmas season - don't miss out!"


    They also have a great assortment of Gift Packs available including chocolates (like chocolate covered coffee beans), teas, mugs, and more as well as their great coffees.

    Don't wait too long for the Jingle Bell Java and the Christmas Blend, they are time limited offers, and will be gone before you know it!


    Thursday, November 22, 2012

    Don't Forget People During The Holidays




    We all get busy during the Holidays.

    We shop, prepare meals, send cards, ship presents, write letters, and in general do all of the things that keeps us busy this time of year.

    Let's not get so busy though, that we forget about our friends, family, and neighbors who have no one... or no place... to spend the holidays. Many people, whether they may be single, widowed, elderly, or young, employed or unemployed, end up spending each and every holiday... all alone.

    This time of year, I always think of one little lady who was a customer at a store where I worked over 20 years ago. She was well up in years...a widow... and she and her late husband had not had any children.

    We were open on Christmas Day, and she came in to make a purchase. When I said "Merry Christmas" to her, she literally burst into tears. She told me how she always dreaded this time of year, since she had no family, and she spent each holiday alone. She said that Christmas was the hardest for her.

    I never saw her after the following spring of that year, so I don't know what became of her.

    Her situation always comes to my mind at this time of year though, especially since I am a never married single man, and have seen several holidays "alone", myself.

    The bottom line is, I am not writing this about me. I am writing this to encourage those of you who can, to make just a little extra effort to keep people in mind, who literally have no one else.

    Your little act of kindness and thoughtfulness could mean the difference between a Merry Christmas or just another day.


    Wednesday, November 21, 2012

    Ireland Government Defeats Motion to Legalize Abortion | LifeNews.com

    Ireland Government Defeats Motion to Legalize Abortion | LifeNews.com

    Attack on Elderly Pro-Lifer Leads to Arrest of Serial Rapist | LifeNews.com

    The following excerpts are from LifeNews.com:
    • I wrote in July about the attack of 69-yr-old pro-lifer Everett Stadig by an abortion proponent as Stadig was collecting signatures for Colorado’s personhood initiative in front of a Denver grocery store.
    • What followed is an example of perseverance in the face of injustice, which led to an amazing conclusion and a reminder of Genesis 50:20, “Even though you planned evil against me, God planned good to come out of it. This was to keep many people alive….”
    Read more by clicking below:
    Attack on Elderly Pro-Lifer Leads to Arrest of Serial Rapist | LifeNews.com

    Pakistan's blasphemy laws still claim many victims : News Headlines - Catholic Culture

    The following excerpts are from Catholic Culture's Catholic World News:
    • A Pakistani appeals court's decision to dismiss blasphemy charges against young Rimsha Masih has won applause from human-rights activists. 
    Read more by clicking below:
    Pakistan's blasphemy laws still claim many victims : News Headlines - Catholic Culture

    Monday, November 19, 2012

    Assisted Suicide: A Not So Enlightened Death | LifeNews.com

    The following excerpts are from LifeNews.com:
    • Since the eighteenth-century Enlightenment, science has offered a panacea for man’s problems. From the vaccine to the internal combustion engine to the computer chip, man has discovered that whatever his need happens to be – whether it is transportation, communication, or that all-important commodity, health – he can invent a solution and put it on the market.
    • The Enlightenment worldview affected more than Western culture’s view of science and technology. It also affected our view of God – first, by denying His supernatural intervention in the world, and second, by rendering His moral revelation unnecessary.
    Read more by clicking below:
    Assisted Suicide: A Not So Enlightened Death | LifeNews.com

    New Book Exposes How Assisted Suicide, Euthanasia Prey on People | LifeNews.com

    The following excerpts are from LifeNews.com:
    • The newly released book – Exposing Vulnerable People to Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide by Alex Schadenberg is now available for ordering.
    • Exposing Vulnerable People uncovers data from peer reviewed journal articles and studies related to the euthanasia deaths without request, the unreported euthanasia deaths, and the experience of nurses with euthanasia in Belgium. The book also examines the most recent statistics from the Netherlands.
    Read more by clicking below:
    New Book Exposes How Assisted Suicide, Euthanasia Prey on People | LifeNews.com

    Saturday, November 17, 2012

    Saint Jude's Chapel of Hope


    Not too many miles from where I live in western North Carolina, there is a tiny chapel called Saint Jude's Chapel of Hope.



    In 1981, a lady by the name of Beverly Barutio was diagnosed with advanced cancer. She underwent several rounds of chemotherapry. The cancer continued to advance, and the side effects from the chemotherapy were so bad, that Mrs. Barutio stopped the treatments.

    She prayed to God, and to Saint Jude, the patron of hopeless, desperate, and impossible causes. Her prayers were answered, and later checkups revealed no signs of the cancer.

    For a number of years, she had wanted to build a chapel to thank God and Saint Jude for her miracle, a place where others could pray and hope for their own miracles. So, some years later, she and her husband moved to Trust, a small mountain community in the mountains of western North Carolina. 


    There in 1991, at the intersections of Highway 63 and Highway 209 in Madison County, she and her husband built Saint Jude's Chapel of Hope. A little 12 foot by 14 foot cedar chapel that is always open for anyone to go in to pray, mediate, and hope. At the front of the chapel there is a cross, an open Bible, and a shrine to Saint Jude.

    If you are ever in western North Carolina, and would like to visit Saint Jude's Chapel of Hope, it is located between Hot Springs, and Waynesville, N.C. From Waynesville of Hot Springs you can follow Highway 209 to Trust, NC. From Asheville, you can follow Highway 63 (New Leicester Highway) to Trust. It's a beautiful drive

    Also, if you go, be sure to stop and eat at the cafe of the Trust General Store. If you leave there hungry, it's your own fault!


    Thursday, November 15, 2012

    PRAYER TO ST. JOSEPH OVER 1900 YEARS OLD

    You need to go see this at my friend Sofia's blog "Always Catholic"!! Click the link below:
    PRAYER TO ST. JOSEPH OVER 1900 YEARS OLD

    Wednesday, November 14, 2012

    Only prosecutor ever to criminally charge Planned Parenthood goes before ethics panel Thursday | LifeSiteNews.com

    The following excerpts are from LifeSiteNews.com:
    • Topeka, KS, November 14, 2012 (OperationRescue.com) – On Thursday, the final drama in a long and complex chapter of abortion history will play out in a Kansas courtroom. On the line is the law license – and career – of a former Attorney General and District Attorney who is accused of ethics violations for the way he handled investigations of illegal late-term abortions and the concealment of child rape by abortion clinics.
    • Phill Kline is accused of mishandling criminal abortion investigations between 2003 and 2008. The ethics complaint against him was filed by Dan Monet, an attorney that represented an abortionist who was the object of Kline’s investigations. The complaint was fueled by political manipulation and a public campaign to disgrace Kline launched by the abortion-defending local media, which often twisted or misreported facts during Kline’s ordeal that has now spanned nine long years.
    Read more by clicking below:
    Only prosecutor ever to criminally charge Planned Parenthood goes before ethics panel Thursday | LifeSiteNews.com

    Court decision due for Rimsha Masih in Pakistani blasphemy trial : News Headlines - Catholic Culture

    The following excerpts are from Catholic Culture's Catholic World News:
    • Pakistan’s High Court in Islamabad has completed its final hearing on the case of Rimsha Mashi, the mentally handicapped young Christian girl who faces blasphemy charges.
    • In final arguments, defense lawyers asked the court to dismiss the complaint, saying that the young girl had been “framed” by an Islamic leader, Imam Khalid Jadoon Chishti, who has already been found guilty of planting evidence. 
    Read more by clicking below:
    Court decision due for Rimsha Masih in Pakistani blasphemy trial : News Headlines - Catholic Culture

    US bishops encourage confession, approve Seelos memorial; economic statement fails to gain approval : News Headlines - Catholic Culture

    The following excerpts are from Catholic Culture's Catholic World News:
    • By large margins, members of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops voted to approve a statement encouraging Catholics to go to Confession during Lent (236-1 vote), to approve a statement on Sunday homilies (227-11 vote), and to add the optional memorial of Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos to the US liturgical calendar (213-1 vote). 
    Read more by clicking below:
    US bishops encourage confession, approve Seelos memorial; economic statement fails to gain approval : News Headlines - Catholic Culture

    Tuesday, November 13, 2012

    World's fastest-growing faith? A surprising answer : News Headlines - Catholic Culture

    The following excerpts are from Catholic Culture's Catholic World News:
    • What is the world's fastest growing religion
    • The answer from Philip Jenkins, a noted Baylor University scholar specializing in religious history, may come as a surprise. Islam is on the rise in the West, but elsewhere in the world the greatest growth is in Christianity.
    Read more by clicking below:
    World's fastest-growing faith? A surprising answer : News Headlines - Catholic Culture

    PRAYERS FOR THE UNEMPLOYED



    O Saint Joseph, we pray to you for those who are out of work, for those who want to earn their living or support their families.

    You who are the patron of workers; grant that unemployment may vanish from our ranks; that all those who are ready to work may put their strength and abilities in serving their fellowmen and earn a just salary.

    You are the patron of families; do not let those who have children to support and raise lack the necessary means. Have pity on our brothers and sisters held down in unemployment and poverty because of sickness or social disorders. Help our political leaders and captains of industry find new and just solutions. May each and every one have the joy of contributing, according to his abilities, to the common prosperity by an honorable livelihood. Grant that we may all share together in the abundant goods God has given us and that we may help underprivileged countries. Amen.

    * * * * * * *

    Dear Lord Jesus Christ,
    You wanted all who are weary
    To come to You for support.
    Lord, I am worn out
    By my inability to find work.

    Guide my steps to a righteous path;
    Give me the patience
    To find opportunities with a future.
    Calm my worries and fears
    As my financial responsibilities mount.
    Strengthen my resolve;
    Embolden my heart to open doors;
    Open my eyes to see life beyond rejections.
    Help me believe in me.

    Let me realize other ways
    To bring about Your kingdom on earth.
    Let me grow as a person
    That I may be worthy
    For Your greater glory.
    In the name of the Father.

    Amen.

    * * * * * * *

    God, our Father, I turn to you seeking your divine help and guidance as I look for suitable employment. I need your wisdom to guide my footsteps along the right path, and to lead me to find the proper things to say and do in this quest. I wish to use the gifts and talents you have given me, but I need the opportunity to do so with gainful employment. Do not abandon me, dear Father, in this search, but rather grant me this favor I seek so that I may return to you with praise and thanksgiving for your gracious assistance. Grant this through Christ, our Lord. Amen.

    Friday, November 09, 2012

    'ObamaCare is the law of the land': Boehner says House will not repeal | LifeSiteNews.com

    The following excerpts are from LifeSiteNews.com:
    • House Speaker John Boehner, the highest ranking Republican in Washington, has declared, “ObamaCare is the law of the land.”
    • ABC’s Diane Sawyer asked Boehner if he would continue to try to repeal the health care bill in the president’s second term.
    • “I think the election changes that,” Boehner replied. “It’s pretty clear that the president was re-elected. ObamaCare is the law of the land.”
    • He added that there “may be parts of it that we believe need to be changed,” but he had made “no decisions at this point” whether to rescind those specific provisions. 
    • The health care reform bill’s most infamous mandate requires virtually all employers to fund abortion-inducing drugs, as well as contraception and sterilization. Another provision allows insurance companies to cover abortion with a $1 surcharge. 
    Read more by clicking below:
    'ObamaCare is the law of the land': Boehner says House will not repeal | LifeSiteNews.com