Babies in the womb

In a mother's womb were two babies. One asked the other: "Do you believe in life after delivery?" The other replies, "why, of course. There has to be something after delivery. Maybe we are here to prepare ourselves for what we will be later." "Nonsense," says the first. "There is no life after delivery. What would that life be?" The other replied "I don't know, but there will be more light than here. Maybe we will walk with our legs and eat from our mouths." The first says "This is absurd! Walking is impossible. And eat with our mouths? Ridiculous. The umbilical cord supplies nutrition. Life after delivery is to be excluded. The umbilical cord is too short." "I think there is something and maybe it's different than it is here" said the other. The first replies, "No one has ever come back from there. Delivery is the end of life, and in the after-delivery it is nothing but darkness and anxiety and it takes us nowhere." "Well, I don't know," says the other, "but certainly we will see mother and she will take care of us." "Mother??" said the first. You believe in mother? Where is she now?" Replied the other "She is all around us. It is in her that we live. Without her there would not be this world." "I don't see her, so it's only logical that she doesn't exist" said the first. To which the other replied, "sometimes when you're in silence you can hear her, you can perceive her. I believe there is a reality after delivery and we are here to prepare ourselves for that reality...."

Talk of Heaven

"I have become increasingly amazed at how little most modern people think of heaven. Even Church-going believers talk little of heaven, priests preach little on it. Our main preoccupation seems to be making this world a more comfortable and pleasant place. Even in our so-called spiritual life, our prayers bespeak a worldly preoccupation: Lord, fix my finances, fix my heath, get me a better job. Almost as though we were saying, 'Make this world pleasant enough and I’ll just stay here.'” ~Msgr. Charles Pope

Classic quotes

"I must keep alive in myself the desire for my true country, which I shall not find till after death; I must never let it get snowed under or turned aside; I must make it the main object of life to press on to that other country and to help others to do the same." (C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity)

‎"People travel to wonder
at the height of the mountains,
at the huge waves of the seas,
at the long course of the rivers,
at the vast compass of the ocean,
at the circular motion of the stars,
and yet they pass by themselves
without wondering. "
— St. Augustine of Hippo

Awesome quotes

‎"There, peeping among the cloud-wrack above a dark tower high up in the mountains, Sam saw a white star twinkle for a while. The beauty of it smote his heart, as he looked up out of the forsaken land, and hope returned to him. For like a shaft, clear and cold, the thought pierced him that in the end the Shadow was only a small and passing thing: there was light and high beauty for ever beyond its reach."
— J.R.R. Tolkien (The Return of the King)

“The issue is now quite clear. It is between light and darkness and every one must choose his side.”   (G.K. Chesterton, on his deathbed)

"I strongly suspect that if we saw all the difference even the tiniest of our prayers to God make, and all the people those little prayers were destined to affect, and all the consequences of those effects down through the centuries, we would be so paralyzed with awe at the power of prayer that we would be unable to get up off our knees for the rest of our lives." (Dr. Peter Kreeft)

Parents, be aware! September 15, 2015 (LiveActionNews) -- Imagine sitting down with a 10-year-old child and not just talking to her about where babies comes from, but about her own “sexual rights” as a child in the third grade and how to engage in oral and anal sex to avoid pregnancy. If this seems odd – and inappropriate – to you, then why is Planned Parenthood receiving our tax dollars to do exactly that? Planned Parenthood, the same organization currently under investigation for illegally selling the body parts of aborted babies, has taken on the role of Sex Educator in our public schools, teaching children as young as 10 that they have the right to “sexual pleasure.” The International Planned Parenthood Federation showcases their work with children in their guide EXCLAIM! Young people’s guide to ‘Sexual rights: and IPPF declaration.’ The IPPF’s aim is to guarantee sexual rights for all young people so they are “able to explore, experience and express their sexualities in healthy, positive, pleasurable and safe ways.” IPPF says that sexual rights are the same as all other human rights: “universal, inalienable, indivisible, interrelated and interdependent” – unless of course we’re talking about the right to be born. IPPF actually promotes the idea that “sexuality is a central aspect of being human during all phases of each person’s life.” Here are some more shocking quotes from IPPF’s declaration: 1) “There is a common assumption that young people are incapable of making decisions for themselves, so parents or other adults should have full authority over decisions related to their sexuality.” Yes, young people are incapable of making good decisions until they are well into their twenties. It’s actually scientifically proven, but, as we know, Planned Parenthood is known for its denial of science, especially the fact that life begins at conception. 2) “Since each young person develops at their own pace, there is no universal age at which certain sexual rights and protections gain or lose importance.” So at what age do we protect children from sexual predators who trick them into relationships through lies and deceit? According to IPPF, any child, at any time, could be ready for sex – so who are we to stop them? 3) “All young people are entitled to sexual well-being and pleasure, whether or not they want to have children.” Because apparently pregnancy is not a direct result of sex and children and young people should be free to have sex without having the expectation that they should ever bear a child from it without wanting to. 4) “Everyone has the right to life.” Yes, Planned Parenthood actually admits this. 5) Young people are entitled to “autonomy to make decisions about one’s sexuality in line with the evolving capacity of young people and without forceful interference from parents, guardians or other adult figures.” “Forceful interference from parents”? I think we call that good parenting. 6) Young people are entitled to “removal of laws that require parental, spousal or guardian consent that discriminate against young people based on age or gender and prevent young people from accessing sexual and reproductive health services.” Because you can’t take Advil at school without a parent’s permission, but you can obtain dangerous birth control or receive an abortion that could kill you without your parents’ knowledge. 7) Young people are entitled to “access to a wide range of contraceptives and to the newest advances in reproductive technology.” Because that’s what makes customers for Planned Parenthood – and they make a good amount of money from birth control and other services. And when even that “advanced” birth control fails, guess what? More abortion customers. 8) Young people are entitled to “liberalisation of abortion legislation to enable all young women to access safe abortion care.” Because abortion is where Planned Parenthood makes its real money. Over 51 percent of Planned Parenthood’s clinic income comes from abortion. PP played huge role in creating the National Sexuality Education Standards promoted by the United States government. According to PP, they reach 1.5 million young people each year with their sexual education teachings. This is extremely bad news for our youth and for the future. According to the American College of Pediatricians, adolescent sexual activity is actually detrimental to young people, especially girls. They recommend and endorse abstinence until marriage and say that adolescent sexual activity is “detrimental to the well-being of all involved, especially young women, and society at large.” Children ages 10-19 are at a higher risk for contracting STDs due to an increased number of sexual partners and to the “immaturity of the cervical tissue of girls and young women.” Most teens who have been sexually active regret it. But Planned Parenthood chooses to ignore the science and data once again. Why? Because they make their money by playing the role of the stranger offering candy to children. They tell children they should be having sex and they offer them empty promises and lies. They teach our children how to engage in sexual activities that most of these children have likely never even thought of at 10 years old. They make children feel as though they aren’t normal if they don’t partake in these sexual activities. When these same children become pregnant or infected with an STD after listening to Planned Parenthood’s advice, PP is there to make more money from them. All the while, they are the ultimate wolf in sheep’s clothing. Nothing but the devil in disguise. (From Lifesite News)

Think you're healthy? Think again!

We all think of ourselves as being generally healthy. Sure, we have a few things that could be improved, but each morning we get out of bed with enough energy and strength to go through the day. We may not get 8 hours sleep, but we get by. We may not always eat healthy, but what we do eat keeps us going. We have our occasional, nagging aches and pains- headaches, joint pains, occasional stomach upset. We take our Tylenol, Pepcid, vitamin supplements. But for the most part, life goes on as usual with only a few bumps in the road. We expect nothing less! We take our basic health for granted. Then in comes microscopic germ warfare for a visit, and not your normal garden variety. Suddenly your expected ability to be able to live your life "normally" disappears. What the heck??! I ache all over and don't have enough strength to get out bed? I can't sit up without extreme nausea and the end result of it? Plain water and saltine crackers don't stay down! Fever comes and goes, with extreme chills. After several days of this, it becomes apparent- I need some help! And after IV fluids and meds for nausea, there is limited improvement- it will take days to recover. Our bubble of health was just popped by some organism we can't even see. It has been the case for me recently after contracting Influenza A- and yes, I had taken the flu shot. These past days spent flat on my back in bed allowed many hours to think. It occurred to me how fragile our balance of life really is. It seems we go through life looking the other way- it won't happen to me. I won't get in a car accident, I won't develop cancer, my children won't be abducted or abused, that violence that happens all over the world won't come here and affect me or my family....I am immune to this. Not so! We are all walking a thin line with our eyes closed. It's important to stop and think just how fleeting our health can be. And it's also important to give thanks every day for the many blessings we have which are expected and taken for granted. Thank you, God, for the gift of health, each day that I have it!

Adopt a Catholic Seminarian

Ten years ago, I would never have guessed I would be on Facebook- and not only every now and then, but daily. The internet age has provided us a way to communicate with others all over the world. When I first joined Facebook I assumed it would be a way to see family pictures of grandkids and that's about all. But I have found many fellow Catholics who share my love of our Church on that site. There are also countless pages dedicated to our faith. It was in February of this year that I saw a post from one of those pages with several comments from others. One comment caught my attention and I "liked" the comment. It was posted by a young seminarian in Uganda, and that day we became friends. We started communicating frequently and I learned a lot within a few weeks. Uganda is an extremely poor country where the average income is a dollar a day. Very few families have electricity or plumbing in their homes. The country is mostly Catholic, and families raise their children in the faith starting at a very young age. Many vocations to the priesthood are the result of frequent, usually daily, family mass attendance. However, seminary education is about 10 years of formation. It is not free, although very reasonable in cost compared to America. Families struggle to assist their sons, and some cannot pay. My new friend had been in seminary for several years and "cost sharing" had more than doubled recently. It was doubtful his family would be able to pay the higher cost. I decided to become his sponsor/benefactor. Since that time, I have gotten to know my young friend very well. We have used Skype several times and I was able to see him, other seminarians and the seminary where he studies. I have seen his family and talked to them. I have learned some of his language called Luo- just a few phrases but enough that his mother (who speaks no English) could understand me. I am so happy to assist him to reach the priesthood! He will be a fine priest in a few years. I hope to travel to Uganda for his ordination. I knew there were many more seminarians needing assistance, so I decided to start a page on Facebook called "Adopt a Catholic Seminarian." I posted pictures and a short description of others needing help. I currently have 7 young men listed, and 3 have received offers of partial assistance. There will be more listed as I know of them. The page just serves as a way to introduce the young men to those who may be able to assist. I suggest getting to know each other first. The cost sharing amount is $250 per semester which averages less than $50 a month. A sponsor can pay all or part of that- any help is greatly appreciated! Any funds are sent directly to the seminarian or to the rector at his seminary. Do you wonder what you can do to promote the Catholic faith? This is one way to do just that, and it is very rewarding. Please send a message to the "Adopt a Catholic Seminarian" page and I am glad to answer any questions. https://www.facebook.com/AdoptACatholicSeminarian