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Sunday, August 02, 2015

Ten Years!



On August 1, 2005 Faith of the Fathers blogs were started.

There were four of us posting then, and alas, the only one left is yours truly.

It has been an enjoyable ride for the most part, but not always a smooth one.

There were a couple of occasions when finances forced me to disconnect from the internet, and after I returned from the last such event, everyone else had left. One due to her health, one due to some life changes, and I believe the other just lost interest.

Now I am having to deal with unreliable internet service, and I am doing extremely well if I am able to make one or two posts a week, when I had been making 3 or more per day!

Ah technology. It’s enough to make a man want to apply a hammer firmly to his computer.
Anyway, we have managed to hang around for 10 years! 10 years!

As an old friend used to say, “who would’ve thunk it?”

Anyway, thank you to all of the readers, subscribers, followers, and casual passersby of Faith of the Fathers blogs.

Many of you (you know who you are, and so do I), have given me lots of inspiration, guidance, and support...both spiritually and materially...when I have found myself in need.

Thank you one and all!

God Bless you all, and may Our Lady keep you in her care!




Friday, July 31, 2015

Pope Francis' Prayer Intentions For August 2015



Vatican City, 31 July 2015 (VIS) – The Holy Father's universal prayer intention for August is: “That volunteers may give themselves generously to the service of the needy”.

His intention for evangelisation is: “That setting aside our very selves we may learn to be neighbours to those who find themselves on the margins of human life and society”.


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





Tuesday, July 14, 2015

Shock Video Catches Planned Parenthood's Top Doctor Selling Body Parts of Aborted Babies | LifeNews.com


The following excerpts are from LifeNews.com:

A shocking new expose’ video has caught Planned Parenthood’s top doctor describing how the abortion business sells the body parts of aborted babies.

New undercover footage shows Planned Parenthood Federation of America’s Senior Director of Medical Services, Dr. Deborah Nucatola, describing how Planned Parenthood sells the body parts of aborted unborn children and admitting she uses partial-birth abortions to supply intact body parts.


Read more and watch the video by clicking below:
Shock Video Catches Planned Parenthood's Top Doctor Selling Body Parts of Aborted Babies | LifeNews.com


Monday, July 06, 2015

God Never Changes


Wednesday, July 01, 2015

Pope Francis' Prayer Intentions for July 2015

 


Vatican City, 30 June 2015 (VIS) – The Holy Father's universal prayer intention for July is: “That political responsibility may be lived at all levels as a high form of charity”.

His intention for evangelisation is: “That, amid social inequalities, Latin American Christians may bear witness to love for the poor and contribute to a more fraternal society”.


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, June 24, 2015

An Apology and An Announcement

I have am apology to make to the followers and the readers of these blogs, and then an announcement to make.

A very important announcement. At least it is to me, anyway.

First, I would like to apologize for the very erratic blog postings over the last couple of weeks or so. The telephone company has sold out to another company (a telephone co-op we've been told), and the DSL internet had become very spotty. Sometimes not working at all, especially if there was a thunderstorm. So, my landlady has switched the internet service to the cable company, and they still don’t have it quite right yet. I am getting my internet service (with her permission) via her wireless router.

I can’t complain since it is free to me, but still it’s annoying that it is still intermittent.

Now for the announcement, and the primary reason I have not posted as regularly.

The reason was, and is, a brand new baby girl born on June 19. Her name is Skylar Riley, and she is brand new first child to my “daughter” Jackie and her husband Todd Ray.

Jackie is the beautiful young woman whom I worked with at my previous job. She has never had a father in her life, and for some reason that I can’t explain, she became very attached to me, and decided that it is her duty to take care of me.

When Jackie found out that she was pregnant, she said “Steve, you are going to have to help me raise this kid, or I will have to hurt you”.

So what else could I do?

I am now a grandpa by proxy (she didn't have to exactly twist my arm), and I am very happy about it.

So there you have it. An apology and an announcement.


I love the announcement best.


Friday, May 29, 2015

POPE FRANCIS' PRAYER INTENTIONS FOR JUNE 2015

POPE FRANCIS


Vatican City, 29 May 2015 (VIS) – The Holy Father's universal prayer intention for June is: “That immigrants and refugees may find welcome and respect in the countries to which they come”.

His intention for evangelisation is: “That the personal encounter with Jesus may arouse in many young people the desire to offer their own lives in priesthood or consecrated life”.


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





Thursday, May 21, 2015

From The Dignitatis Humanae Institute: Irish 'Yes' Vote on Same-Sex 'Marriage' Poses Significant Threat to Religious Freedom

Note: The following is a press release from The Dignitatis Humanae Institute



Rome, 21 May 2015

Ireland will tomorrow become the first country to use a national referendum to allow same-sex “marriage”, posing a probable threat to religious freedom in the country if the electorate vote “Yes.”

Although the government plans to protect the right of churches not to celebrate same-sex “marriage”, this will appear only in legislation and not in the Constitution.

This leaves open the possibility of a same-sex couple taking the matter to court and winning the case, as the Constitution will have no protections for the Church if it refuses to officiate the ceremony.

In addition to this, and the obvious threat to the traditional family a “Yes” vote would present, European Dignity Watch has pointed out that the debate leading up to tomorrow’s referendum has been anything but fair.

All of Ireland’s publicly-funded political parties have actively campaigned for a “Yes” vote and used heavy handed tactics to ensure their members tow the party line, threatening them with expulsion if they don’t.

The country’s media has been overwhelmingly in favor of the “Yes” campaign, and ignored a Supreme Court ruling that both sides of the debate be given equal coverage.

Large multinationals employing many people in Ireland, such as Facebook and eBay, have told their employees to vote “Yes” and campaign for such a result on social media.

Wealthy donors have helped fund the "Yes" campaign, including a foreign billionaire - despite such funding being illegal under Irish electoral law. The Irish government has so far not reacted to this breach.

Ireland’s police are also actively supporting the "Yes" campaign, allowing police stations to be used for photo opportunities.

The Dignitatis Humanae Institute is greatly concerned by the threat a "Yes" vote presents.

"We call on all people who believe man is created in the image and likeness of God to do whatever they can to ensure a "No" vote succeeds," said DHI Chairman Luca Volontè. "As this is a referendum, the result will carry more weight than parliamentary legislation. The consequences of a "Yes" vote would therefore be disastrous for Ireland."

He added: "Given the limited time and the huge financial resources behind the "Yes" campaign, the best courses of action at this stage are fervent prayer, and the intercession of St. Patrick."


The Dignitatis Humanae Instituteaims to uphold human dignity based on the anthropological truth that man is born in the image and likeness of God and therefore has an innate human dignity of infinite worth to be upheld. The Institute promotes this understanding by supporting Christians in public life, assisting them to present effective and coherent responses to increasing efforts to silence the Christian voice in the public square.

Tuesday, May 19, 2015

Extremely Urgent Prayer Request For Ashley Silver

Ashley Silver


Ashley Silver is the daughter of a friend of mine. Ashley has been in ICU (intensive care unit) for several weeks now. Her body has been compromised by the use of intravenous drugs. She has MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus), the antibiotic resistant strain of staph. It attached itself to the main artery of her heart. Some of it flaked off and went to her brain and kidneys.

She has had a massive stroke, and several mini-strokes that have affected the left side of her body, and she is blind in her left eye. The doctors planned to do open heart surgery to repair the artery and damaged heart valve, but were forced to postpone it, as Ashley began to run a fever which as of today, spiked to 105°F (40.5°C).

She also now has staph infected blood clots in both her brain and her lungs.

Please join me in praying the following prayers to Saint Jude the Apostle, Saint Rita of Cascia, Saint Anthony of Padua, and Saint Raphael the Archangel for Ashley and her family.

Thank you.



PRAYER TO SAINT JUDE FOR A SICK CHILD



Saint Jude, the glorious apostle, faithful servant and friend of Jesus,
the patron of hopeless cases, of things despaired of,
pray for this child who is sick and so miserable.
Make use we implore you of this particular privilege accorded to you,
to bring visible and speedy help where help is almost despaired of.
Come to our assistance in this great time of need,
that we may receive the consolations and succor of Heaven
in all our necessities, tribulations and sufferings,
particularly to help this child to get better from her illness
and to give her good health
and to guide her path,
and that we may bless God with you
and all the elect forever.
I promise you, O Blessed St. Jude,
to be ever mindful of this great favor,
and we will never cease to honor you
as our special and powerful patron
and to do all in our power to encourage devotion to you.

Amen.



PRAYER TO SAINT RITA OF CASCIA



Dear Rita, model Wife and Widow,
you yourself suffered in a long illness
showing patience out of love for God.
Teach us to pray as you did.
Many invoke you for help,
full of confidence in your intercession.
Deign to come now to our aid for
the relief and cure of Ashley.
To God, all things are possible;
may this healing give glory to the Lord.

Amen.



PRAYER TO SAINT ANTHONY FOR HEALING



Compassionate Saint Anthony,
you are called the “Miracle Worker”
by those who have been blessed by your special friendship.
I ask you to look with favor on Ashley
who is weak and failing.

Great Saint Anthony, come to the assistance of Ashley.
Obtain for her health in mind and body,
and the strength to accept all suffering in union with Christ, our Savor.

Loving St. Anthony,
console all those who are afflicted,
and guide them to the heart of the Divine Physician,
where they will obtain compassion, mercy and hope.

Amen.



PRAYER TO SAINT RAPHAEL THE ARCHANGEL



Glorious Archangel Saint Raphael, great prince of the heavenly court, you are illustrious for your gifts of wisdom and grace. You are a guide of those who journey by land or sea or air, consoler of the afflicted, and refuge of sinners.I beg you, assist me in all my needs and in all the sufferings of this life, as once you helped the young Tobias on his travels. Because you are the “medicine of God” I humbly pray you to heal the many infirmities of my soul and the ills that afflict my body. I especially ask of you the favor for the relief and cure of Ashley, and the great grace of purity to prepare us to be the temple of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

O Raphael, lead us towards those we are waiting for, those who are
waiting for us! Raphael, Angel of Happy Meetings, lead us by the hand
towards those we are looking for! May all our movements, all their
movements, be guided by your Light and transfigured by your joy.

Angel guide of Tobias, lay the request we now address to you at the feet
of Him on whose unveiled Face you are privileged to gaze. Lonely and
tired, crushed by the separations and sorrows of earth, we feel the need
of calling to you and of pleading for the protection of your wings, so
that we may not be as strangers in the Province of Joy, all ignorant of
the concerns of our country.

Remember the weak, you who are strong–you whose home lies beyond the
region of thunder, in a land that is always peaceful, always serene, and
bright with the resplendent glory of God.


Amen.




Sunday, May 03, 2015

When I Say No, I Mean 'No'



I recently made a post which you may read here, in which I explained why I would no longer be utilizing GoFundMe in an attempt to raise funds for my cataract surgery.

Now it seems that GoFundMe has deleted yet another campaign. This time for a Christian florist, Arlene’s Flowers, a Washington state flower shop that also faces a fine for refusing to provide flower arrangements for a gay couple’s wedding.

GoFundMe has also changed their terms of service (according to an article on TheWashington Post online) to now exclude “campaigns in defense of formal charges or claims of heinous crimes, violent, hateful, sexual or discriminatory acts”.

As GoFundMe has decided to exclude those Christians who have been persecuted by the elements that GoFundMe apparently fears, I have decided that I will not personally contribute to any fund raising efforts made by any group or individual that chooses to utilize GoFundMe.


If GoFundMe can exclude persecuted Christians, than this Christian will exclude GoFundMe as well.








Thursday, April 30, 2015

Pope Francis' Prayer Intentions for May 2015



Vatican City, 30 April 2015 (VIS) - The Holy Father's universal prayer intention for May is: “That, rejecting the culture of indifference, we may care for our neighbours who suffer, especially the sick and the poor”.

His intention for evangelisation is: “That Mary's intercession may help Christians in secularised cultures be open to proclaiming Jesus”.


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, April 29, 2015

Obama’s Lawyer: Religious Institutions May Lose Tax-Exempt Status If Court Rules for Gay Marriage | National Review Online

Holy Matrimony


The following excerpts are from National Review:

Religious institutions could be at risk of losing their tax-exempt status due to their beliefs about marriage if the Supreme Court holds that gay couples have a constitutional right to wed, President Obama’s attorney acknowledged to the Supreme Court today.

It’s certainly going to be an issue,” Solicitor General Donald Verrilli replied when Justice Samuel Alito asked if schools that support the traditional definition of marriage would have to be treated like schools that once opposed interracial marriage. “I don’t deny that.”


Read more by clicking below:
Obama’s Lawyer: Religious Institutions May Lose Tax-Exempt Status If Court Rules for Gay Marriage | National Review Online



Tuesday, April 28, 2015

From The Dignitatis Humanae Institute: Queen of Sweden to DHI: Do Whatever You Can to Help Children - All Children

Note:The following is a press release from The Dignitatis Humanae Institute

(Photo: Benjamin Harnwell talking to HM Queen Silvia at the Vatican)

Rome, 28 April 2015

The DHI was honoured to participate April 27th in an exclusive, invitation-only Vatican seminar on Human trafficking.

Hosted by the ever-impressive Marcelo Sánchez Sorondo, Chancellor of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, in conjunction with the Swedish government, the "Seminar on Trafficking - with a Special Focus on Children" featured H.M. The Queen of Sweden, and DHI Board Member H.E. Cardinal Turkson, President of the Pontifical Council on Justice and Peace.

After thanking her for the work she was doing to highlight the terrible reality of the trafficking of children Benjamin Harnwell, DHI Founder, asked Queen Silvia - citing Mother Teresa - whether she also thought there was a connection between abortion and the hardness of hearts shown towards children after they are born.

The Queen, who is the Swedish Head of State, made immediately clear that she didn't want to - and cannot - enter the political debate on abortion. But as a global leader in the campaign for children's welfare, her answer in the context of the question deserves careful study and reflection.

Harnwell put to Her Majesty that Mother Teresa suggested that a society that aborts its children will never fully recognize the human dignity of people once they're born. He asked whether the way society in the West deals with children before they are born has somehow hardened our hearts to the plight of children being trafficked in the West today. "Is there is a correlation between these two events?," Harnwell asked.

Queen Silvia replied:

"I must say that Mother Teresa was a wonderful person and all the work she did was really fantastic. She was a Nobel Peace Prize winner - and so she really was a model. To talk about humanity and dignity was very important to her heart - I must say - and so I think she is very right: and so whatever you can do to help the children - all children - really, we should do.

The DHI will leave this excerpt as it stands without any editorialising interpretation, and encourages DHI supporters to keep the great Swedish people, and their noble Queen, in their prayers: especially Queen Silvia's mission to promote the rights of children - "all children" - in her work.

Editors' Note:

Taken from the Workshop programme:

"Inspired by the words of Pope Francis that 'Human Trafficking is Modern Slavery'and that this practice is a 'Crime against Humanity,'the purpose of the seminar is to highlight the special situation of children as victims of human trafficking as well as what measures, be it national legislation or international efforts, can be taken to protect better the rights of children. Practical examples of how children are affected and of possible legal measures will be given at the seminar."


The Dignitatis Humanae Institute aims to uphold human dignity based on the anthropological truth that man is born in the image and likeness of God and therefore has an innate human dignity of infinite worth to be upheld. The Institute promotes this understanding by supporting Christians in public life, assisting them to present effective and coherent responses to increasing efforts to silence the Christian voice in the public square.


Monday, April 27, 2015

Standing With The Klien Family



As many of you are well aware, I am in need of cataract surgery. I had started a campaign to raise funds for my much needed surgery by using the crowd funding site, GoFundMe.

I had seen and heard good things about GoFundMe, but a recent decision of theirs has prompted me to remove my campaign from their site entirely.

My reason for deleting my campain is best summed up in the description given on a petition (which I have signed) at CitizenGo.org:

GoFundMe just removed a campaign... simply because it supported a couple exercising their Christian faith.

Sweet Cakes by Melissa owners Aaron and Melissa Klien refused to bake a cake for a lesbian same-sex ceremony after discovering that the wedding would have two brides. This same-sex ceremony went against their firmly held religious beliefs, and they believed that their God-given, Constitutionally-protected right to religious freedom should allow them to decline to bake a cake for the ceremony.

The state of Oregon disagreed with this right. The lesbian couple sued the Kliens, and they will likely have to pay at least $135,000 in "emotional damages" to the couple.

As if this compromise of religious freedom was not enough, GoFundMe took down a fundraiser to support the Klien family. The fundraiser was posted by a friend of the family late last week, and it had already raised $66,000 by Friday afternoon. But on Friday evening, the campaign was taken down by GoFundMe.

GoFundMe released a statement claiming that the fundraiser violated their “Terms and Conditions.” In the terms and conditions, GoFundMe explains that “Campaigns in defense of formal charges of heinous crimes, including violent, hateful, or sexual acts,” will not be allowed on their site. In deciding to remove this campaign, they're accusing the Kliens of committing a crime that was both “heinous” and “hateful.”....

You may read the rest here. While you are there, sign the petition!

I can not in good conscience continue to have my needs take precedence over GoFundMe's apparent decision on caving in to the pressure of the "unnatural marriage" crowd and their willing co-horts.

I fully support the Klien family and their willingness to stand by their religious convictions. In removing my campaign, I also stand by mine.


Saturday, April 25, 2015

Top Posts For This Week



The top posts for this week are listed below by blog name and post title. Click on the post title if you would like to read them.

Faith of the Fathers:

Saint Quote of the Day:

Daily Catholic Mass Readings:

Faith of the Fathers Report

The Pope And Church News

Church Under Attack

Saints of the Faith

Approved Apparitions

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Friday, April 24, 2015

Armenian, Assyrian, Greek Genocide: 100 Years of Remembrance


The following excerpts are from AINA.org:

In his Sunday sermon on April 12, "Pope Francis referred to the 1915 Turkish mass killings of Armenians as the 'first genocide of the 20th century.'"

This papal declaration instantly flared into a diplomatic uproar. It absolutely infuriated Turkey's Islamist President Tayyip Erdogan, who "warned" the Pope against repeating his "mistaken" statement.

There was actually no mistake about it: The fact is, the Armenian Genocide cost 1.5 million Armenian Christians their lives, along with another million Assyrian and Greek believers.

And, thanks to the Pope's pronouncement and Erdogan's outrage, the rest of the world was effectively reminded of the approaching centennial of that genocide, which will take place on April 24.


Read more by clicking below:
Armenian, Assyrian, Greek Genocide: 100 Years of Remembrance


Tuesday, April 21, 2015

After vision of Christ, Nigerian bishop says rosary will bring down Boko Haram :: EWTN News


The following excerpts are from EWTN News:

A Nigerian bishop says that he has seen Christ in a vision and now knows that the rosary is the key to ridding the country of the Islamist terrorist organization Boko Haram.

Bishop Oliver Dashe Doeme says he is being driven by a God-given mandate to lead others in praying the rosary until the extremist group disappears.

Towards the end of last year I was in my chapel before the Blessed Sacrament… praying the rosary, and then suddenly the Lord appeared,” Bishop Dashe told EWTN News April 18.

In the vision, the prelate said, Jesus didn’t say anything at first, but extended a sword toward him, and he in turn reached out for it.

As soon as I received the sword, it turned into a rosary,” the bishop said, adding that Jesus then told him three times: “Boko Haram is gone.”

I didn’t need any prophet to give me the explanation,” he said. “It was clear that with the rosary we would be able to expel Boko Haram.”


Read more by clicking below:
After vision of Christ, Nigerian bishop says rosary will bring down Boko Haram :: EWTN News



Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Pope Francis' Prayer Intentions For April 2015



Vatican City, 31 March 2015 (VIS) – The Holy Father's universal prayer intention for April is: “That people may learn to respect creation and care for it as a gift of God”.

His intention for evangelisation is: “That persecuted Christians may feel the consoling presence of the Risen Lord and the solidarity of all the 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