SIMPLE FAITH

Virgin Mary, little did you know what God had in store for you. Yet your confidence and faith in God never failed. May your example of simple day-to-day faith help us to unfold the presence of your Son, Jesus, in all we do. Amen

prayer adapted from Minute Meditation online

photo from Assumption of Mary video

Joe Aboumoussa

Protest Angela Davis....5 Good Reasons!

It would be difficult to find a speaker who contradicts the teaching of the Catholic Church on more levels than Angela Davis.  Stalin maybe?  She is a notorious feminist, Marxist, communist, socialist who engages in pro-abortion, pro-same-sex "marriage" activism.

Yet, despite Davis' dismal record, Seattle University -- a Catholic institution -- plans to host a talk, book signing and reception for her on October 17 in the Campion Ballroom.  The event is sponsored by the Center for the Study of Justice in Society.  Poor Judgment!

We have a moral obligation to protect students from error! If our educational system won't....Catholics with decent values will!

5 Good Reasons why Angela Davis should NOT be allowed to Speak on a Catholic Campus (full details) click here

 1.  Angela Davis publicly supports abortion
 2. Angela Davis promotes same-sex "marriage"
 3. Angela Davis promotes atheistic communism / socialism  
 4. Angela Davis still clings to anti-Catholic ideology
 5.  Angela Davis undermines Catholic education and identity

A Leader of the Soviet Women's Committee (left) hands memento to Angela Davis (center), member of the Communist Party, USA 1972

Tradition Family Property Student Action (TFP)director John Ritchie stated: "If these reasons are not ample and sufficient grounds to cancel Angela Davis' appearance, will any anti-Catholic or sinful position be outrageous enough to disqualify any speaker from receiving a warm welcome at Seattle University?"

"Everyone knows that Communism is responsible for killing about 100 million people.  And countless people still suffer from its death grip in Cuba, North Korea, Vietnam and China.  So why does this ideology continue lurking in the halls of liberal academia with impunity?" Ritchie asked.  "Even worse, why is a Catholic university allowing Davis on campus when she publicly merges abortion and same-sex 'marriage' with Marx?"
EProtest Now! click here

Voice your concern politely yet firmly:
 Fr. Stephen V. Sundborg, SJ
Seattle University, President
Phone: 206-296-1891
E-mail: SUNDBORG@seattleu.edu

Please pray for all those involved in this poor judgment that they will reverse their decision and ask God for forgiveness. 

THE BELL

I KNOW WHO I AM
I am God's child (John 1:12)
I am Christ's friend (John 15:15 )
I am united with the Lord (1 Cor. 6:17)
I am bought with a price (1 Cor. 6:19-20)
I am a saint (set apart for God). (Eph. 1:1)
I am a personal witness of Christ.  (Acts 1:8)
I am the salt & light of the earth (Matt 5:13-14)
I am a member of the body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:27)
I am free forever from condemnation ( Rom. 8: 1-2)
I am a citizen of Heaven. I am significant (Phil 3 :20)
I am free from any charge against me (Rom. 8:31 -34)
I am a minister of reconciliation for God (2 Cor. 5:17-21)
I have access to God through the Holy Spirit (Eph. 2:18)
I am seated with Christ in the heavenly realms (Eph. 2:6)
I cannot be separated from the love of God (Rom 8:35-39)
I am established, anointed, sealed by God  (2 Cor. 1:21-22 )
I am assured all things work together for good  (Rom. 8:28 )
I have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit (John 15:16 )
I may approach God with freedom and confidence (Eph.. 3: 12 )
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Phil. 4:13 )
I am the branch of the true vine, a channel of His life (John 15: 1-5)
I am God's temple (1 Cor. 3: 16). I am complete in Christ (Col. 2: 10)
I am hidden with Christ in God (Col. 3:3) I have been justified (Rom5:1)
I am God's co-worker (1 Cor. 3:9;  2 Cor. 6:1) I am God's workmanship (Eph 2:10)
I am confident that the good works God has begun in me will be perfected (Phil1:5)
I have been redeemed and forgiven (Col 1:14).I have been adopted as God's child (Eph 1:5) 
I belong to God
Do you know
Who you are?

The sound of a bell can be joyous, wistful, mournful or even frightening. Christmas bells herald the coming of our Saviour. Bells ring to honor the dead. Church bells once tolled to warn townsfolk of an enemy attack. I liken bells to chimes and the wistful whistle of a traveling train... sounds I adore... finding them comforting and soul-touching.

 As a Catholic there is great meaning in bells. The Angelus, a devotion in memory of the Incarnation, is accompanied by the ringing of church bells at 6 am, noon, & 6 pm. The Angelus bell is a call to prayer and to spread good-will to everyone on Earth. When the Angelus bell peals, work stops and our hearts open to the mystery of The Word Made Flesh. In gratitude we bow our heads and pray.

The Angelus by Jean Francois Millet

There is no sound more beautiful than the Sanctus Bells.  At Mass, just before the Consecration when multitudes of angels are on the Altar, a server rings a small bell three times indicating to worshipers to join with the angels in praising God with the words, "Holy, Holy, Holy Lord..." The first time the bells are rung, the priest prays to the Holy Spirit to change the gifts of bread and wine into the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Our Lord. The second time is when he raises and presents the Body of Christ to the worshipers and finally when the same is done to the Precious Blood of Jesus in the chalice. The ringing of bells during the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass has a profound effect...there is no denying that when they are heard, all are aware that something supernatural is taking place. 

Did you know the Sanctus Bells are baptized? This special blessing consists of: washing the bells with holy water, then anointing the exterior with the oil of the sick and the interior with chrism. A censer of burning incense is placed under each bell and prayers are recited along with a Sacred Scripture reading.  The beautiful Blessing below is prayed over the bell.

We praise you, Lord, Father all-holy. To a world wounded and divided by sin you sent your only Son. He gave His life for His sheep, to gather them into one fold and to guide and feed them as their One Shepherd.

May Your people hasten to Your church when they hear the call of this bell.

May they persevere in the teaching of the apostles, in steadfast fellowship, in unceasing prayer, and in the breaking of the bread. May they remain ever one in mind and heart to the glory of Your name.

Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

The bells are then sprinkled with holy water and incensed.

To curse by bell, book & candle is a solemn form of excommunication used in the Catholic Church that entails: the bell being tolled, specific readings from the  Book of Offices, and three candles being extinguished with a certain ceremony.

Bells are common in other religious denominations. Methodists are known for their lovely "bell choir". Is there a more fitting way to "Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praise"?

Psalm 98:4.

Did You Know? The bell is a percussion instrument and an idiophone. Historically bells are associated with the concept of peace and freedom (the Liberty Bell). The study of bells is called, campanology. The 17th century phrase, Saved By The Bell, came about because of the fear of premature burial. To avoid this, a string attached to a bell could be rung by the interred person should he revive after burial. It is, also, a boxing term for a last minute intervention.

A parishioner friend of mine is so enamored with bells that he has written several books on the subject. see amazon A.A. Jr. Trinidad's Glass Bells 

My Fostoria Bell

Even Hollywood gives a nod to the bell: "The Bells of St. Mary", the faith-based movie, "Ring The Bell", "Bell, Book & Candle" (James Stewart & Kim Novak). Bells were significant in "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" and who could forget that famous line from "It's A Wonderful Life"..."Every time a bell rings an angel get his wings." Bells are, well, Bella! 

Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises! - See more at: http://www.adoremus.org/0305SantusBells.html#sthash.5jNdNSLw.dpuf

Violating The Catholic Conscience

Today, 1 out of 5 people in this country receive their medical care at a Catholic hospital. Today, the Catholic Church teaches 3 million students a day in its more than 250 Catholic Colleges and Universities, 1,200 Catholic High Schools, and 5,000 Catholic grade schools in the USA. Every day, the Catholic Church feeds, clothes, shelters and educates more people than any other organization in the world.

The new Obama Health Mandate could end all this. We have a president who, for the first time in U.S. history, is directly assaulting the First Amendment and Freedom of Religion. Once again, this administration is on the wrong side of our Constitution.

If the Catholic Church closes parochial schools where will those students be educated? They will merge with students in the public school system. If Catholic hospitals and institutions were to close its doors, where will those patients go for medical treatment?  The sick will be treated in public facilities. AND who will foot the bill? We will. AND where will we get the funds? Shrug, shrug...as we are already financially overburdened. Also, all Catholic adoption services would come to an end. A human disaster.

This is not an idle threat. It is reality. Catholics devoted to the true teachings of Christ cannot consent to abortion in any form. Catholics devoted to the true teachings of Christ know they will stand before God and answer to Him for whom we vote into office and what issues upon which we stand firm. The Sanctity of Life is not negotiable as well as the dispensing of abortifacient drugs, artificial birth control and providing sterilization.  

Cardinal Francis George of Chicago predicts that Catholic Hospitals will be gone in "Two Lents" under Obamacare regulations. The Catholic Church in the United States is being told that it must give up its health care operations, according to the cardinal. "Catholic hospitals, universities and social services have an institutional conscience, a conscience shaped by Catholic moral and social teaching" said Cardinal George. "The HHS regulations now before our society will make it impossible for Catholic institutions to follow their conscience." If the HHS regulations are not rescinded there will be few choices.  The sobering truth? Pay for practices they consider immoral, hire and serve only Catholics or Close down. This will leave millions of Americans with insufficient services and will also put their health in dire jeopardy.

 For the complete article click here. 

Statistics anyone?  Catholic hospitals serve: 16.6% on Medicare, 13.65% on Medicaid which is one in six seniors and disabled patients as well as one in eight low-income patients. 32% of these patients live in areas with few options for health care. They lead in breast cancer screening, nutrition programs, trauma, geriatric services, and social work. In many cases, they accept payment as full from Medicaid. Force Obamacare on the Catholic Church and 400+ health centers and 1,500 specialized homes will dissolve like Alka-Seltzer. Our current system will have to absorb almost $100 BILLION in costs each year. The Fiscal Times. 

As a result, the Catholic Church in the United States is being told that it must give up its health care operations, according to the cardinal. “Catholic hospitals, universities and social services have an institutional conscience, a conscience shaped by Catholic moral and social teaching,” said Cardinal George. “The HHS regulations now before our society will make it impossible for Catholic institutions to follow their conscience.” - See more at: http://cnsnews.com/news/article/cardinal-george-catholic-hospitals-will-be-gone-two-lents-under-obamacare-regulation#sthash.c2fv73FH.dpuf

Cardinal Francis George, Catholic archbishop of Chicago. - See more at: http://cnsnews.com/news/article/cardinal-george-catholic-hospitals-will-be-gone-two-lents-under-obamacare-regulation#sthash.c2fv73FH.dpuf

Cardinal Francis George, Catholic archbishop of Chicago. - See more at: http://cnsnews.com/news/article/cardinal-george-catholic-hospitals-will-be-gone-two-lents-under-obamacare-regulation#sthash.c2fv73FH.dpuf

There are more than 77 million Catholics in this country. It takes an estimated 50 million Catholic votes to elect a president. Please, for God's sake (literally), go to the polls in 2014 and be united in replacing all Senators and Reps with someone who will respect the Catholic Church, all Christians, and all Religions besides Islam.

Obama said, "The USA is not a Christian Nation." He is wrong- we are a Christian Nation founded on Judeo-Christian values allowing all religions in America to Worship and Practice Freely. Something Islam will never do. 

Pray For Our Nation               God Bless America