Who Do You Worship?

Can’t say it any better than Mel Gibson, Tim Hughes and Jim Caviezel:

Aussie Tribute to Our Heroes

Please Pray With Me

A Prayer Request:

Hello to all:

Update on David:  As most of you know, the petscan was negative, which was truly good news.  This means the cancer has not metastasized into any of his major organs.  So, today was the next step – surgery – to remove more tissue from the site and then determine if the lymph nodes are affected.   Surgery took 4 ½ hours and was supposed to take two.  They had to call in a plastic surgeon to help close the wound, due to the size and placement on his back.  They ended up taking biopsies from four different lymph nodes – so he has dressings and stitches and gauze pads all over his back, under his arm pits, and on either side of his neck.  He is a mess!   We left the house at 6:15 a.m. and got home at about 4:45 p.m.  – so it was a long day.

The good news:  The lymph nodes were benign in the preliminary labs.  Final labs will not be in for a few more days, but the surgeon was confident that they are clean “for now.”

The bad news:  Because the initial site was so deep, they are still going to refer him to an oncologist and he will probably have to go through chemo.  Unlike other cancers, melanoma can crop up at any time and in any place (including internal organs) – even years down the line.  There isn’t that “5 year rule” with melanoma.   With other cancers, if you are cancer free for five years, you’re “cured.”  There is no “cure” for this.  He will always have to be checked closely and will have to be diligent whenever there are any external signs.   With the internal signs, sometimes you don’t know until it’s too late.  So the surgeon was not Mr. Sunshine.  He was very cautious and totally neutral.  It was very hard to read him.  The only optimistic thing he said was that Melanoma, unlike other cancers, can often be surgically removed – even from internal organs – without spreading.  So, he said it is one of those cancers where you “never give up hope.”

We will see the oncologist next week.  I will be anxious to hear what they say.    Overall, we feel good and we feel optimistic … but I know David is scared about the chemo and I didn’t leave today feeling like “this is over.”   He is in good spirits and fairly doped up on vicadin at the moment.  In fact, he’s sort of dancing (rather stiffly) to Earth Wind & Fire in the living room with Thomas at the moment.  I just had to yell at him to sit down and be still.   Gees.  What a dummy.

Tonight we have spent a lot of time on the phone to Kaiser dealing with the bleeding.  The major site just keeps soaking through and we aren’t sure what that means.  I’m supposed to be watching for signs of shock, but they don’t want us messing with the bandages.  So, I have a feeling we will have to go back in tomorrow to have it looked at, just to make sure everything is o.k.   He is obviously not in shock at the moment.   Then again… it could be a long night.

For now… all is well!!!

XOXOXOXO

Thanks for your care and concern,

Pray-As-You-Go

Check this out: Pray-as-you-go! and Sacred Space compliments of the Jesuits in Britain.

St. Gertrude the Great

Great promises of our Lord to St. Gertrude the Great

From The Life and Revelations of St. Gertrude the Great:

May my heart and my soul, with all the substance of my flesh, all my senses, and all the powers of my body and my mind, with all creatures, praise Thee and give Thee thanks, O sweetest Lord, faithful Lover of mankind, for Thy signal mercy, which has not only dissimulated the utterly unworthy preparation with which I have not feared to approached the super celestial banquet of Thy most sacred Body and Blood, but has added this gift to me, the most utterly vile and perfectly useless of Thy creatures. First, of having been assured by Thy grace that all who desire to approach this Sacrament, and who are restrained by fear from a timid conscience, who come to me, who am the least of Thy servants, led by humility, to receive this Sacrament with fruit to eternal life. Thou hast also added that Thou wilt not permit anyone whom Thy justice deems unworthy to abase themselves to ask counsel of me, O Supreme Ruler, Who, through Thou dwellest on high, regardest the humble. (CF. Ps. 112:5). What prompted Thy mercy, when Thou sawest me approach so often unworthily, to suspend Thy judgment, and not to inflict on me the punishment I deserve? Thou willest to make others worthy by the virtue of humility; and though Thou couldst do so more effectually without my assistance, Thy love, looking upon my misery, made Thee effect this through me, so that thus I may be a sharer in the merits of those who, through my admonitions, enjoy the fruit of salvation. But, alas this is not the only remedy which my misery requires; nor will one remedy satisfy Thy mercy, O most kind Lord! For (secondly) Thou didst assure my unworthiness that Thou wouldst consider whoever should expose their defects to me, with a contrite and humble heart, guilty or innocent, as I had declared them more or less guilty, and from henceforward Thy grace would so sustain them that They should never again be in such danger from their faults as they had been previously. And thus Thou hast relieved my indigence, which is so great that I have never even for a single day corrected myself as I ought, and yet Thou dost permit me to participate in the victories of others, when Thou, my good God, dost condescend, to give the grace of victory to Thine other more deserving friends through my words. Thirdly. The abundant liberality of Thy grace has enriched my poverty of merit by this assurance – that whenever I promise a favor to anyone, or the pardon of any fault, through confidence in Thy mercy, Thy benign love will ratify my words and execute my promise as faithfully as if it has been confirmed by an oath of the Eternal Truth. Thou didst add further, that if anyone found that the salutary effects of my promises were deferred, they should continually remind Thee that I had promised this grace from Thee. Thus dost Thou provide for my salvation according to the words of the Gospel: “With what measure you mete, it shall be measured to you again” (Matt. 7:2). And as, I alas, continually fall into the greatest faults, Thou desirest by this means to remit the punishment I deserve. Fourthly. To solace my miseries, Thou hast assured me, amongst other things, that whoever recommend themselves humbly and devoutly to my prayers will certainly obtain all the fruits which they hoped to obtain by the intercession of any other person: in which Thou hast provided for my negligence, which prevents me from satisfying, not only for the prayers which are made gratuitously for the Church, but also for those of obligation; and Thou hast found the means of applying the fruit of them to me, according to the words of David “My prayers shall be turned into my bosom” (Ps 34: 13); making me participate in the merits of Thine elect, who shall ask these graces of Thee through my intermission, although I am utterly unworthy of it, and granting me a share in them to supply for my indigence. Fifthly. Thou hast further promised my salvation by conferring these special favors on me, that whom ever with a good will, a right intention and a humble confidence, shall come to speak to me upon their spiritual advancement, should never leave me without being edified or receiving spiritual consolation. In this also Thou hast most suitably supplied for my indigence: for alas, I have wasted the talent Thou didst so liberally bestow on me by my useless words, but now I may gain some merit by what I confide to others! Sixthly. Thy liberality, O Lord, has bestowed on me thus gift, more necessary than all – certify to me that whoever, in their charity, will either pray for me – the vilest of God’s creatures – or perform any good works, either for the amendment of my life, or the forgiveness of the sins of my youth, or the correction of my iniquity and malice, shall receive this reward from Thy abundant liberality – namely, that they shall nit die until, by Thy grace, their lives have been pleasing to Thee; and that Thou wilt dwell in their souls by a special friendship and intimacy. And this Thou hast granted of Thy paternal tenderness, to assist my extreme indigence, as Thou knowest how many great corrections are needed for my innumerable sins and negligences. Thus, as Thy loving mercy will not permit me to perish, and, on the contrary by reason of justice, will not permit me to be saved with all my imperfections, Thou hast provided for me by means of the gains and merits of others. Thou hast added to all these favors, my kind God, by an abundant liberality – that if anyone, after my death, considering with how much familiarity Thou didst communicate with my unworthiness while in this life, should recommend themselves humbly to my prayers, Thou wouldst hear them as willingly as if they invoked the intercession of any other person, provided that they had the intention of repairing their faults and negligences, and that they humbly and devoutly thanked Thee for five special benefits which Thou didst grant me. First. For the love by which Thou didst freely choose me from all eternity, and which I declare to be the greatest of all the benefits which Thou hast bestowed on me: for as Thou wert not ignorant of, or rather didst foresee, the corrupt life which I should lead, the excess of my ingratitude, and how I should abuse Thy gifts, so that I deserve to have been born a pagan, and not an enlightened human being – Thy mercy, which infinitely exceeds our crimes, has chosen me, in preference to many other Christians, to bear the holy character of a religious. Secondly. Because Thou hast drawn me blessedly to Thee; and I acknowledged it to be an effect of the clemency and charity which is natural to Thee, Who hast won, by the attractions of Thy caresses, this rebellious and stubborn heart, which deserves to be loaded with fetters and chains; and it has seemed as if Thou hadst found in me the faithful companion of Thy love, and that Thy greatest pleasure was to be united to me. Thirdly. Because Thou hast united me so intimately to Thee; and I declare, as I am bound, that I am indebted for this only to Thy signal liberality, as if the number of the just was not great enough to receive the immense abundance of Thy mercies, not that I had better dispositions than others, but, on the contrary, that Thy charity might be the more signalized in me thereby. Fourthly. That Thou hast taken pleasure and delight in dwelling in my soul; and this, if I may so speak, proceeds from the ardor of Thy love, which has deigned to testify, even by words, that it is the joy of Thy all – powerful wisdom to stop to one so dissimilar to Thee, and so utterly ungrateful. Fifthly. That it has pleased Thee to accomplish Thy work happily in me; and, it is a favor which I have hoped with humble confidence from the tenderness of Thy most benign charity, and for which I adore Thee with gratitude, declaring, O sovereign, true, and only treasure of my soul, that I have in no way contributed to it by my merits, but that it is a true gift of Thy liberality. All these benefits coming from Thine immense charity, and being so far above my nothingness, I am unable to give thanks for the
m worthily; but Thou has further assisted my misery, in exciting others, by the most condescending promises, to render thanksgivings to Thee, the merit of which may supply my deficiencies. For which may all creatures in Heaven, on earth and under the earth, glorify Thee and thank Thee continually!

Patrick Kennedy Called to Order

As the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops continues to lobby forcefully against including federal financing for abortion in the health care legislation, Bishop Tobin, takes the fight of the City of God to the world of the day-to-day and the politics that mask secular world views with phony compassion and outright attempts to blind the faithful with fancy verbal confusion and misrepresentation. We have all seen it and know it well.  Finally, a clarion call to fidelity and truth!

Bishop Thomas Tobin’s public rebuke of Rhode Island Congressman Patrick Kennedy continues to speak with Church authority and honest discretion, no mealy-mouthed kowtowing here:

Abby Goodnough of the New York Times writes:

Bishop Tobin stepped up his public rebuke of Mr. Kennedy, accusing him Wednesday of “false advertising” for describing himself as a Catholic and saying he should not receive holy communion because he supports using taxpayer money for abortions.

“If you freely choose to be a Catholic, it means you believe certain things, you do certain things,” Bishop Tobin said on WPRO, a Providence radio station. “If you cannot do all that in conscience, then you should perhaps feel free to go somewhere else.”

Finally Truth in Advertising

From Beijing, China by NBC News’ Bo Gu

Until last weekend, Liu had been interviewed by both Chinese and foreign media about what he was selling: T-shirts that superimposed Obama’s face over that of China’s late Chairman Mao Zedong on the front, and the words “Oba Mao” on the back.

But Lui’s brisk business was suddenly terminated by local government officials, just days before Obama’s arrival in China, without any explanation. He says he was simply told, “No, you cannot sell Obama T-shirts anymore.”

 

Howard B Thyname, Penobscot, ME writes:

Finally truth in advertising – and it comes from China. (like we didn’t know it already)

 

Bombshell Dropped by Obama Admin Leaves America Shell-Shocked

Cowardly President has AG Eric holder drop the bomb while he himself escapes to foreign shores to avoid the fallout.

“A travesty”, “unconscionable”; Charles Krauthammer comments on Attorney General Eric Holder’s decision to try Khalid Shaikh Muhammed in civilian court in New York.

From Michelle Malkin:

Here is the e-mail the DOD’s Director Victim Witness Program sent out to victims, survivors, and family members of jihadi attacks this morning (via Sgt. Tim Sumner, brother-in-law of FDNY Joseph G. Leavey, 45, Ladder 15, WTC):

You are receiving this email because you have been identified as a victim, survivor, or victim family member of an Al-Qaeda attributed attack and have requested to be kept informed of events involving detainees charged in military commissions or being held in the Guantanamo Bay Detention Facility in connection with those attacks.

We would like to inform you that the U.S. Departments of Defense and Justice will be making an important public announcement later this morning. At 10:30 am Eastern Standard Time, the Office of Justice for Victims of Overseas Terrorism will post information for victims about the announcement on its password protected victims’ website. At 11:00 am the Defense and Justice Departments will issue a joint press release notifying the public of the information, and there will also be a press conference. In addition, the Defense Department will notify victims about the information by email.

Both the Defense Department (Karen Loftus) and the Justice Department (Heather Cartwright) are sending out this e-mail to ensure that as many victims as possible receive it. We apologize if you receive duplicates. If you know of other victims who may be interested in the information, please pass this on to them.

Here’s what Tim sent in response:

We have an announcement as well: we will fight with every remaining breath in our bodies both their bringing KSM and the rest of the 9/11 conspirators to federal courtrooms within walking distance of where they slaughtered our loved ones. And whomever finds Manhattan’s federal courthouse near Ground Zero a “sentimental favorite” for the 9/11 trials is a damn fool and they ALL ought to be fired. Pass that message on, far, wide, and up and down the chain-of-command.

See here for a petition to the president.

More to read:

Wake Up, Mr. President

Risky Proposition for Democrats

Illinois prision eyed for Guantanamo detainees

Witness to Evil

Mainstream Media "Medicalizing Mass Murder"

Bending over backwards or just bending over, the liberal media twists truth to fancy yet again.  Charles Krauthammer, commenting on their gyrations, states the obvious and odious.  Personal professional knowledge and former on the job experience leads Krauthammer to note:

It’s been decades since I practiced psychiatry. Perhaps I missed the epidemic.

But, of course, if the shooter is named Nidal Hasan, whom National Public Radio reported had been trying to proselytize doctors and patients, then something must be found. Presto! Secondary post-traumatic stress disorder, a handy invention to allow one to ignore the obvious.

 

Happy Holy Days! Getting Ready?

Get ready!  Here come the Holy Days.  We seem to be picking up speed as this year closes in a burst of joyous holy light.  Will we be able to see it?  It’s like waiting for a meteor shower.  Will the clouds obscure our view? There are clouds all around, there always are, but the eye of our soul have a lens like no other.  Hearts polished by prayer, by care and as always, too, by sacrifice, can see light raking the darkness.  No Alice through the looking glass here.  Christmas is for sober souls and vigilant seekers.

While You Were Sleeping America

Our Veterans didn’t sleep.  Thank you so very much for our freedom!

May we not let our veterans down by giving our freedom and our souls away.