A prayer for America

For West and for Boston; for those who died or were injured, for their relatives and friends, for the communities where they lived and worked.

                                                                     Viva Cristo Rey!

Father, once again we are reminded

that any security we have as individuals

and as a nation, comes only from the

abiding hope and trust we have in you

Once again, we are cut to the heart 

at the loss of life and damage to peace 

that we have suffered as a nation. 

So, Father, today we come to You 

and we seek Your peace for the families and victims of the 

horrible tragedy. 

For those still lost in the rubble of destruction, 

we ask for the safety of Your hand. 

For those consumed by worry and fear 

as they try to locate missing loved ones, 

we ask for the comforting presence of Your Spirit. 

We seek Your peace for the emergency workers,

that You would guard their lives 

as they seek to guard the lives of others. 

Give them the wisdom they need to perform their duties 

above and beyond the levels of their training. 

And Father, we seek Your peace for our nation and our 

world. 

In the midst of our questions and uncertainty, 

we recognize that the unknown details of this day 

are already in Your grasp. 

We know You sent Your Son as the Prince of Peace 

and even this day falls under His command. 

Help us to find the strength and comfort we need as a 

nation 

to continue to humble ourselves, 

pray and seek Your face for a new day in America 

and a new hope for our world.

"Now may the Lord of peace himself give you

 peace at all times and in every way. 

The Lord be with all of you." [2 Thess. 3:16]

At the request of Mack Hall - and gladly responded to

A good dish for a meat free Friday

In the 17th Century a certain Bishop of Quebec pronounced that the Friday abstinence could accommodate beaver as this was deemed to be 'fish' on account of it swimming in water.

Well I've visited Istanbul many times but I ain't no turkey! Sorry for the hillbilly phraseology but, you see, I was almost an American or, rather, my father was almost born an American in which case, I believe that I would be able to claim the USA as my fatherland and I rather fancy hillbilly talk.

My grandfather had emigrated to the USA in the 1890s and was joined by his wife. They moved around Boston and Connecticut until, my grandmama declared that she wanted to return to England (they were both first generation English, their parents, in turn coming from Ireland).

I believe that they had taken American citizenship but they certainly set sail for England aboard a US vessel. My grandmother was expecting a baby within a few days of setting off (strange) but the birth was delayed and she did not produce my father until they were back in Blighty. Phew! A narrow squeak!

A nice slice of Beaver? - actually I'll opt for the fish!

This post is going nowhere so cut to beaver stew recipe.....'enjoy' as they say almost everywhere now....first catch your beaver....

BEAVER STEW RECIPE
2-3 lbs 1 inch cubes beaver
Bacon grease
2 cups flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
2 medium onions
1/2 lb carrots
6 medium potatoes
2 stalks celery

Combine flour, salt and pepper in a closable bag or 2 quart closable plastic container and shake until mixed. Add beaver and shake until well coated.

Dice onions. Melt enough bacon grease in the bottom of a fry pan to sauté onions and beaver. Sauté onions and floured beaver in bacon grease, adding more grease as needed. Place sautéed cubes and onions in a 4 quart pot with enough water to cover. Add water to fry pan to remove the remainder of the bacon grease and flour. Add this pan gravy to your stew.

Slice carrots and dice celery. Add carrots and celery to your stew and simmer until beaver is somewhat tender (about 30 minutes). Taste broth and add salt or pepper to taste. Cut potatoes into 1 inch cubes and add enough water to just cover the meat and vegetables. Simmer until potatoes are done (about 30 minutes).

Now, if you enjoy this dish, a word of caution. If you find that your sentences carry a slight echoing whistle as you enunciate or, if you develop a fondness for nibbling at the trunk of trees - then is the time to stop!

Homosexual lobby adopts animal rights tactics

In the past ten years or so the animal rights movement in Great Britain has implemented some pretty horrific campaigns against those who earn a living breeding animals for scientific research. The worst campaign involved a family who farmed guinea pigs in the English Midlands and who were targeted by these criminals.
What transpired took place over several years but the main threats against the family were as follows: all suppliers and contractors were contacted and threatened with violence if they continued to supply the farm.
As a result no central heating oil was delivered along with feedstuffs and all other items that a farm and domestic accommodation rely upon.
Then the staff and their families were threatened and they sought work elsewere.
Of course, the farming family were themselves threatened with being burnt out and then, the recently deceased Grandmother was dug up from her grave and removed by the activists.

And now the homosexual lobby are commencing a similar campaign against pro life organisations in the US. At present it is non violent but it is, potentially, immensely harmful. They, under the banner of the organisation, All Out, have delivered a petition to PayPal requesting that all banking facilities be withdrawn form the pro life groups - and guess what? PayPal are said to be considering the request.

Here is a report sent to me by GM, to whom goes my thanks:-

"September 15, 2011 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Homosexual activists are pressuring PayPal to cut off the accounts of pro-family Christian organizations that oppose the homosexual political agenda and uphold sexual morality, and PayPal is showing signs that it may capitulate to their demands.

The homosexual organization behind the effort, All Out, claims that such organizations as Tradition, Family, and Property, and Americans for Truth About Homosexuality (AFTAH), as well as pro-family Christian activist Julio Severo, promote “hate, violence, and intolerance” and are “extremist.”

Pro-homosexual groups

“Thanks to PayPal, its (sic) easier than ever to send and receive money across currencies and continents - but it is also PayPal’s responsibility to make sure this technology doesn’t fall in the wrong hands. Anti-LGBT extremists all over the world are currently using PayPal to fundraise for their dangerous cause,” writes All Out.
“Not only is it against PayPal’s rules to promote promote ‘hate, violence, [and] racial intolerance,’ hate groups also damage PayPal’s brand and credibility. We ask that PayPal join the fight against online hate and immediately shut down the accounts of anti-LGBT extremist groups using the service.”
All Out says that is has collected almost 35,000 signatures on its online petition.
According to the European homosexual news service PinkNews, PayPal has responded by stating, “We take very seriously any cases where a user has incited hatred, violence or intolerance because of a person’s sexual orientation.”
Although it adds, “we also take into account the rights of free speech and freedom of religion,” PayPal reportedly goes on to note, “we regularly review organisations and websites that use our service, and stop working with those that break our Acceptable Use Policy.”
LifeSiteNews.com has created its own online petition at the website ProFamilyFreedom.net, which states: “I protest the attack by homosexual organizations on Christian activists Julio Severo, Americans for Truth About Homosexualty (AFTAH), and Tradition, Family, and Property (TFP). I encourage PayPal to affirm the right of pro-family organizations to use its service and to reject attacks on the Christian faith and other religions that uphold sexual morality and defend family values.”

Please sign the petition to stand up for religious values, conscience and free speech.

http://profamilyfreedom.net/

Where is the footage showing Pope JPII's first visit to the USA?

It seems appropriate, somehow, in the aftermath of Independence Day celebrations and, in light of the debate regarding communion in the hand or on the tongue to review Bl Pope John Paul II's visit to the USA way back in 1979.

Taken when Pope JP II was still a Cardinal -
 it was all so black and white then!

Why? Because he gave a guide as to how one should receive the Body of Christ.
A nun was kneeling at the communion rails (they did that back then) but, instead of opening her mouth and extending her tongue she held out both hands.
The Holy Father gently guided her hands so that they were joined Amen fashion and then placed the host on her tongue. What better sign could one wish for?

I just wish that I could find the clip on Youtube.

Happy Independence Day!

To the land of Little Women and Minute Men I wish you all a very happy Independence Day although, truth be told, I think that you would be much happier if your were all still part of England (heh, heh).

You have the good providence to speak (apparently), much as our ancestors at the time of Shakespeare spoke. You talk of the 'Fall' as we used to, you use the word 'puke' excessively (or so we are led to believe) and you also have a sort of rural drawl that our rustic forbears had. The thing is, we in England progressed and you lot stayed the same!

That was, by the way,  before my combox becomes full to overloaded, an English joke. We love our American cousins (or, at least, I do).
I have only spent 3 weeks in Concord and Boston back in 1990, but I learnt a great deal and that brief period changed my life and my way of thinking, thank you.

I remember, particularly, the graves of the Redcoat soldiers by the bridge in Concord.  They were the first to fall in this grim fight, far from home and, it has to be said, in a land that they thought of as being home also. The graves had fresh flowers placed on them every day and this had a profound affect on me. Would we in England be so generous to our foe?

I tried to find a musical extract that epitomised Britain's regard for the USA and I failed. So here is a little of Burl Ives and the Cowboy's Lament. Just as you may think that Britain is symbolised by Guardsmen in bearskins marching up and down the Mall, so we think of America as being Burl Ives and Cowboys---- maybe it's an age thing.

Either way......happy ID!

And now an American Catholic Guild for Bloggers!

Bloggers in the USA appear to be more open to new ideas and willing to explore them than perhaps their British counterparts. Anthony S Layne has an excellent piece which really sums up much of how I feel about a Guild.

Proposed guiding principles for Catholic Bloggers of America

1. The Catholic Bloggers of America unite:
   1. To exchange ideas, techniques and information to help each other become more prominent voices for the Catholic faith;
   2. To give each other support and encouragement in the practice and promotion of the Catholic faith;
   3. To eat, drink, swap stories, throw darts and bowling balls (but not at each other).
2. No annual dues to be set until it actually begins to cost something to run the Guild; work on behalf of the Guild should be voluntary as much as possible, and money collected only when and to the extent needed.
3. To the end of principle 2, formal organization should be kept to a minimum, developed only as required. Since the point is to get bloggers in the same room with each other for food, fun and talk, the only real purpose of the organization itself is to get the meetings arranged.
4. No test of faith should be required … especially not if it involves the flight speed of an African swallow; a simple oath that one abides by the Catechism and talks nice about the Pope will do.
5. The CBA is not intended to be a PAC or a watchdog organization: no particular political test should be required … unless you’re a unicorn-chomping pinko commie.
6. About the only other principle I can think of: MINIMUM AGE 21! I don’t want to have the same nightmare Richard had!

Snatched child found after 3 years

News agency reports regarding a Chinese 3 year old boy who was snatched from his Shenzhen family home  and then found three years later by his father who used Twitter type micro-blogs in his search must stir the hearts of Kate and Gerry McCann whose daughter, Madeleine was abducted nearly 4 years ago from Portugal.




Madeleine 2007

 There are reports (today) regarding Madeleine's disappearance, that a Portuguese/Angolan man has offered information regarding her whereabouts to Spanish police. He claims that she was taken by a well organised paedophile ring with British connections and that she may well be in the United States.

The McCanns must regard such claims with a mix of cynicism and hope but, for what it's worth, here is an image of how young Madeliene, now approachjing 7 years of age, might look today -



Madeleine today?

Please look out for her!

A prayer or two for Madeleine and her parents would not go amiss!



It's happened again! Another great Episcopal appointment in the USA!

H/T to Last Papist Standing for reporting yet another appointment of a sound Bishop in the USA. This time it is Bishop Robert Vasa who has just been made coadjutor of Santa Rosa - a Diocese in sore need of some spiritual vigour.
We have seen a veritable spate of good appointments of Bishops in the USA (why can't we have some here?) over the past 18 months and now Bishop Vasa will be getting to grips with California (or Californicator).

Bishop Vasa - "I answer to the Holy See, I don't answer to the USCCB"

Bishop Robert Francis Vasa, late of Baker, Oregon, is well known for his strong views on pro abortion Catholics and the fact that they should be refused Holy Communion. He is on record as stating that he would refuse Senator John Kerry if he presented himself at the Communion rails. Furthermore, he stated that any Catholic supporting abortion was guilty of heresy. He has crossed swords with the US Conference of Catholic Bishops on a number of occasions, generally on the issue of pro abortionists receiving the sacrament. Bishop Vasa has always aligned his teachings with those of the Holy Father and has accused the USCCB of "flattening" information from the Vatican.
His appointment is yet another example of the brick by brick approach of Pope Benedict.

GOD BLESS THE MARCH FOR LIFERS!

AND OBAMA CELEBRATES ANNIVERSARY OF ROE VS WADE -


Here is an extract from his speech:-

"Today marks the 38th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court decision that protects women's health and reproductive freedom, and affirms a fundamental principle: that government should not intrude on private family matters.

I am committed to protecting this constitutional right. I also remain committed to policies, initiatives, and programs that help prevent unintended pregnancies, support pregnant women and mothers, encourage healthy relationships, and promote adoption.

And on this anniversary, I hope that we will recommit ourselves more broadly to ensuring that our daughters have the same rights, the same freedoms, and the same opportunities as our sons to fulfill their dreams".

Meanwhile, the pro lifers march in their tens of thousands upon the Capitol, recalling the infamous decision of the US Court to legalise abortion some 38 years ago.
God bless them all, if we cannot be with them in person we can be with them in spirit - pray to Our Lady of Guadalupe for the unborn, pray to Almighty God to enlighten the hearts and minds of the death lobby, pray for the safety and well being of all on the march.

Of your charity pray for the repose of the soul of my father, Richard Collins

29 August 1897 to 24 January 1979 RIP

"And God shall wipe all tears from their eyes and death shall be no more...."

Something about Mary?

The US blog 1964 has a post on the declining popularity of the name 'Mary'. This in the same breath that the Holy Father announced his desire to see more Christian names coming to the fore at baptisms.
Well, the sad fact is, that in Great Britain, the top name for a girl today is (according to the 2008 figures from the Office of National Statistics) Olivia. Mary does not appear, certainly not in the top 10 and, I suspect, the top 20.
This is sad. And I am allowed to be smug because we have three daughters all called Mary! Finola Mary, Mary Sinead and Catherine Mary - not a bad route to go for Catholic couples.

But, back to the States. Whilst Mary as a name has suffered a decline, Joseph has maintained a steady unchanging level of popularity. Why? One might ask. Is Mary deemed to be just too plain?
It would be good to see Joseph climbing up the popularity charts in GB but, Mohamed in all its various spellings has the monopoly - a sign of the times in which we live.

Three sisters - three Marys!

American, Catholic, Republican and now the new Speaker of the House

H/T to http://whispersintheloggia.blogspot.com/   for posting on Ohio Congressman, John Boehner's new status after the big vote yesterday. In just over 200 years only  4 Catholics have been entrusted with the gavel - and they were all Democrats.
 Boehner (pronounced BAY-ner) is actively Pro Life and comes from a family of 12 children.
Married for 35 years, he is a fan of the UK Coalition Government's moves to curb spending and get the economy back on track.

                                                               Speaker John Boehner