It's Never Too Late

Every now and then we see the goodness and love of God made manifest through someone we know and love.

 

As Catholics, we are taught that we must seek eternal happiness in this life, and this life alone, or lose it forever once we have died.

 

And as Catholics, we are also taught that in this life there will be the suffering, or the cross to bear, but if we bear it with patience and in union with God and His Church, again, we have the expectation that we will be in heaven one day after we die.

For the past 11 years, my mom's brother suffered with cancer. I didn't realize how much until the other day when I talked to my aunt on the phone after my uncle passed away.

 

A lot of people might call our suffering our purgatory on earth. Many of the great saints chose to have purgatory on earth and suffered a lot for their fellow mankind out of love for God and all He has done for us.

 

It's safe to say that my uncle, Doug, suffered a lot, but maybe not necessarily for his fellow mankind, but because that's the way it was. Doug didn't know anything about the Catholic Church or what any of these things mean. When my mother was alive, who also died from cancer, she showed Doug some things about the Catholic Church, but how much she told him, we don't know.

 

Last Friday I got a call from my sister that Doug had succumbed to cancer. It wasn't a big surprise given the events of the week. His final months and days were horrible after he was diagnosed with cancer of the esophagus. He lost his voice, and he had to live with a tracheotomy in at all times because his airway was being compromised by the cancer. . 

 

A week ago Monday he began to hemorrhage from some unknown source. The blood and clots were coming up through his throat and it wasn't small amounts, but huge amounts and it continued on and on for the next few days. The doctors couldn't figure out where it was coming from. After 104 radiation treatments, they figured out that it was probably coming from a hole in the esophagus itself, which they plugged. It helped, but it wasn't enough help. They were preparing to do surgery on him, but because of the rapid blood loss, it would have probably ended his life. As it was, his life ended anyway.

 

Before he died, and I don't know how long he had been thinking of becoming Catholic, he asked for a priest. His wife, Dixie, was trying to prepare Doug for his final passage into eternity as best she knew how. But the lingering question on Doug's mind was "yes I'm going to die, I'm not afraid to die, but where will I be after I die?" So, because of my mom's faith and what she had been through when she was ill, a priest was called. He was given the sacraments of the Church for the first and last time, and  soon after all of it, he died in blissful peace.

 

My grandparents had not raised mom and Doug in any kind of religion. If anything, they were given an idea of born again Christianity, but in the long run, it turned off my grandparents. When my mother and father were married, my mom converted to Catholicism because that is how things were done then. But it was still her choice to do so.

 

But Doug didn't have an opportunity like that. At age 18 he enlisted in the navy and made it a career. He married a wonderful woman who was the love of his life and he was hers. After his retirement he worked at Lockheed for another 20 or so years, before retiring, and moving back near where he grew up.

 

When my sister told me that Doug had been baptized and received the last rites of the Roman Catholic Church, I lost it and began sobbing. I couldn't believe that a prayer I had silently prayed just the night before and, actually, throughout his illness, had come true. He died full of grace, something all of us pray for, but something a lot of us will not have. 

Rest in Peace Uncle Doug



He is now in eternal happiness and I believe, with my mother and grandparents and with them as our intercessors, my family should be in good shape. Hopefully they are praying for my three siblings and daughter, now away from the Church, to one day again be reunited and in full communion with the Church. This prayer answered brings me new hope and awareness that God is listening and He will answer it when it is His time. Our job, as Catholic Christians, is to pray for our families - all of them - Catholic and non-Catholic alike, and persevere in prayer our entire life.

 

I am thankful that I was raised Catholic. I was blessed with two wonderful parents, three siblings, a good husband, a daughter I adore and three special grandchildren. I only hope that when my time comes that I will have one last prayer answered before I die. And that is, to receive the last and final sacrament of the Holy Catholic Church for my journey home. I pray that prayer for all of us.

So, the moral of this story is this: it's never ever too late to turn to God or back to God in this life. It is too late in the next. It is in this life we must make our decision that only we can make. To follow God and His laws or not, as taught through His Holy and Immaculate Catholic Church. What will your decision be?

DEMONcratic Convention

 

Google Images

I was looking at the word 'democratic' convention earlier today and the word 'demon' just popped out at me. And I thought to myself, you know, this is exactly how I view what the DEMONcrats are doing at their convention. To me it is Lucifer's very own 'reality show' with Planned Parenthood, NARAL, gay/lesbians, supporters of contraception, and all sorts of sins on their agenda that our good and Holy Lord teaches us to not participate in during this life here on earth.

With Cardinal Dolan doing the final prayer next week, maybe he should add a little exorcism to that prayer and pray it at the beginning of the convention instead. Maybe we'll see people like Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid dressed up as little demons, stoking the fire under unsuspecting new democrats, to get them in to their little group and help them lose their souls, too, by lying to them about what, first of all, the Catholic Church teaches and that Obama is the best thing to ever happen to them since, um, Hitler.

To think that a group of politicians in this country can go up and stand there and say that they agree that an unborn child should be killed at any stage of pregnancy is appalling to most Christians.

To think that a group of politicians in this country can go up and stand there and say that they agree that gays should be allowed marriage rights, even though God, Himself, calls that lifestyle an abomination, is also appalling to most Christians.

Bartolomé Esteban Murillo's
"St. Francis of Assisi at Prayer"
oil on canvas

There is not one thing Christian about that whole convention. Nothing. It's a mockery to God and everything God has done for mankind. It's disgusting and offensive and should be to every living soul in this country and around the world.

So I am calling all Catholics to prayer this election year. And other Christians, too, who value life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. The only way our country will change, is by fasting, prayer and sacrifice. Period.

Each speaker at the republican convention ended their speech with "and may God bless the United States of America".  I am adding my amen and prayer that He will give us one last chance, because that's about all we have left. One.

Mamby Pamby Catholics

Excellent video by Michael Voris on how the Church has become slack on the teachings and dogmas that were part of the Church before Vatican II. He is in Trent Italy at the location of the council of Trent.

Taking on Protestantism...

From the Pope's mouth to Catholic ears...listen up Catholics!


Pope says:
Dear Brothers in the Episcopate:

I receive you with great joy, Pastors of the Church of God that journeys in Colombia, who have come to Rome for your ad limina visit and thus tighten the bonds that unite you to this Apostolic See. As Successor of Peter, this is a precious opportunity to reiterate to you my affection and cordiality. I am grateful for the kind words addressed to me in your name by monsignor Rubén Salazar Gómez, archbishop of Bogota and president of the Episcopal Conference, presenting me with the realities that concern you, as well as the challenges that the communities over which you preside in the faith must face. I know the efforts you have made in recent years, both within the Episcopal Conference as well as in your particular Churches, to implement initiatives geared to fomenting a current of renewed and fruitful evangelization. In fact, Colombia is not a stranger to the consequences of forgetfulness of God. Whereas years ago it was possible to recognize a unitary cultural fabric, widely accepted in its reference to the content of the faith and all that was inspired in it, today it does not seem to be so in vast sectors of the society, given the crisis of spiritual and moral values which negatively affects many of your compatriots. Hence, it is indispensable to revive in all the faithful their awareness of being disciples and missionaries of Christ, nourishing the roots of their faith, strengthening their hope and invigorating their testimony of charity.

To this effect, you have molded your evangelizing desires on the Global Plan of the Episcopal Conference (2012-2020), the result of a conscious discernment of the hour the Church is living in Colombia. I want to encourage you to continue following, with tenacity and perseverance, the guidelines set out in it. Do so by strengthening the communion to which Bishops are called in the exercise of their mission as, by agreeing on pastoral approaches and uniting wills, the ministry that the Lord has entrusted to you will bear copious fruits. With this same objective, take advantage of the reflections of the next Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, as well as the proposals of the “Year of Faith” which I have called, to illustrate your teaching with them and to irrigate your apostolate beneficially.

Growing religious pluralism is a factor that calls for serious consideration. The ever more active presence of Pentecostal and Evangelical communities, not only in Colombia, but also in many regions of Latin America, cannot be ignored or underestimated. In this connection, it is evident that the people of God are called to purify themselves and to revitalize their faith, allowing themselves to be guided by the Holy Spirit, to thus give new thrust to your pastoral action, as “many times sincere people who leave our Church do not do so because of what ‘non-Catholic’ groups believe but, fundamentally, because of what they live; not for doctrinal but for existential reasons; not for strictly dogmatic but for pastoral reasons; not because of theological but methodological problems of our Church” (5th General Conference of the Latin American and Caribbean Episcopate, Conclusive Document, n. 225). Hence, it is about being better believers, more pious, affable and welcoming in our parishes and communities, so that no one will feel distant or excluded. Catechesis must be promoted, giving special attention to young people and adults; homilies must be carefully prepared, as well as promoting the teaching of Catholic doctrine in schools and universities. And all this to recover in the baptized a sense of belonging to the Church and to awaken in them the aspiration to share with others the joy of following Christ and of being members of his Mystical Body.

It is also important to appeal to the ecclesial tradition, to promote Marian spirituality and to take care of the rich devotional diversity. To facilitate a serene and open exchange with other Christians, without losing one’s own identity, can also help to improve relations with them and to overcome mistrust and unnecessary confrontations. Moved by apostolic zeal and looking to the common good, do not fail to individualize all that hinders the right progress of Colombia, going out to meet those who are deprived of liberty because of the iniquitous violence. Contemplation of the lacerated face of Christ on the Cross will drive you also to redouble measures and programs tending to support lovingly and to assist all those who are being tried, particularly all those who are victims of natural disasters, the poorest, peasants, the sick and afflicted, multiplying solidaristic initiatives and works of love and mercy in their favor. Do not forget either those who must emigrate from their homeland, because they have lost their work or are keen to find it; those who see their fundamental rights trampled and are forced to leave their homes and abandon their families under the threat of the dark hand of terror and criminality; or those who have fallen into the ill-fated trade of drugs and arms. I wish to encourage you to continue on this path of generous and fraternal service, which is not the result of human calculation but is born of the love of God and of one’s neighbor, source where the Church finds her strength to carry out her task, giving to others what she herself has learned from the sublime example of her Founder.

Dear Brothers in the Episcopate, if the grace of God does not precede and sustain him, man soon weakens in his objectives to transform the world. Hence, for the light from on High to continue to make fruitful the prophetic and charitable commitment of the Church in Colombia, you must insist on fostering in your faithful their personal encounter with Jesus Christ, so that they pray without faltering, meditate assiduously on the Word of God and participate more worthily and fervently in the sacraments, celebrated in keeping with the canonical norms and liturgical books. All this will be a propitious way for an ideal itinerary of Christian Initiation, inviting all to conversion and sanctity and will cooperate towards the very necessary ecclesial renewal.

On ending this meeting, I pray to the Almighty that the Name of Our Lord Jesus is glorified in you, and you in Him (cf. 2 TSs1:12). While placing you under the protection of Our Lady of the Rosary of Chiquinquira, heavenly Patroness of Colombia, I am happy to impart the implored Apostolic Blessing, as pledge of peace and joy in Jesus Christ, Redeemer of man.

source: http://www.zenit.org/article-35061?l=english

Slap-A-Lapsed-Catholic

I'm annoyed. I get grouchy when the humidity is at 100% and the heat of summer has arrived. I also get really grouchy when the media twists events into falsehoods and spews them as factual news. Especially when it fuels antiCatholics who shoot from the hip first and ask questions later. AntiCatholic social media outlets are running amok with news that God is angry with those Catholic statues and used one to kill a priest. *sigh*

It's time to officially kick off my "Slap-A-Lapsed-Catholic" blog feature. I am NOT promoting violence, these are VERBAL slaps done with my BLOG, not with my hands. I do not want to get emails from anyone saying they got slapped because some mental midget used my blog as a permission slip to assault someone. This is NOT permission to physically assault anyone. Since I personally have to refrain from physically clubbing morons over the head with skillet, I have come up with the "slap-a-lapsed-catholic" blog feature instead. If this offends you...play me a violin.

So my first gripe of the day is against VaticanInsider.com for their terribly misleading article title which states "VIRGIN MARY STATUE KILLS PARISH PRIEST IN ITALIAN EARTHQUAKE". That is a very misleading title suggesting a statue of the Virgin Mary tumbled down on top of a priest killing him. What the article ACTUALLY says is that

"Unable to escape, Fr. Ivan was hit by a rock or a collapsing beam, while the two firemen who had accompanied him managed to escape unscathed."

There was NO deadly blow by any Virgin Mary statue- that was completely fabricated by VaticanInsider.com and clearly shows they want to mislead readers rather than simply reporting factual news. I get that they were probably suggesting that merely going into the church after the earthquake for the statue/s caused his death. I still say the title is purposely (in my opinion) misleading to make people believe a statue of the Virgin Mary toppled onto this priest killing him. This title sends antiCatholics into a tizzy, pointing gnarled fingers at Catholics saying "SEE! God is getting you for those pagan statues!" blah, blah, blah. *yawn*

Moving on...[this is the slapping part]

My next gripe is FREAKING LIBERAL CATHOLICS!!!!!!!! ACK!!!!!!!!!!! Oh boo freaking hoo to those liberal nuns who got a wake up call from the Vatican. And to the priests who support them... don't get me started on you disgraces to the collar!! Shame on you!!

Ever since the Vatican [FINALLY after TWO separate investigations 2008 & 2009] put it's foot down on these liberal nuns who are GOING AGAINST Catholic teaching (supporting contraception, pushing for female clergy [as if!], and abortion and gay marriage) they have not stopped whining. GET OVER IT!! You want to call yourselves 'Catholic'?? Then BE Catholic! Keep with ALL Church teachings. The Catholic faith is NOT a buffet for anyone to pick what they want and discard the rest.
Reading 'The Church Report' this morning I thought my head would exploded. If there is anything that gets me ticked off quicker than a liberal "Catholic" it's a liberal Catholic Religious!
From the article...

"The crackdown has caused an uproar among some Catholics, sparking dozens of vigils in cities across the country.
A Cleveland priest who has gone public with his support for the sisters says the Vatican action is an undeserved slap in the face to dedicated and educated women, and the anger it has created could trigger a major exodus from the pews.
"It's another event in which the people are disappointed in the leadership of the Catholic Church," said the Rev. Doug Koesel, pastor of Blessed Trinity Catholic Church in Cleveland. "This has the potential to be damaging to the church in the United States. Many Catholics have already walked away."

Good!! Don't let the door hit you in the backside on the way out!! Good riddance I say! If you don't want to BE Catholic and accept ALL Catholic teaching then GET OUT. No one is putting a gun to your head forcing you to be a member of the Catholic Church. If you think you can find better than GOD's ONLY created Church on earth, go for it. When you realise what a moron you've been and come crawling back the doors of the confessional will be open to you and you will be received back with open arms and cheering in heaven. Until then, shut up and stop whining. [my priest tells me I have to work on my patience and charity- smart priest] :)

Proud of Our Catholic Politicians?

I'm so NOT proud to have so many Catholic democrat polititians in our government I could scream. The lastest Catholic, VP Joe Biden, came out (no pun intended) Sunday and stated that he is perfectly comfortable with gay marriage. Caroline Kennedy agrees with him. WHAT? Well how quaint.

Caroline Kennedy. You know, JFK's daughter? A huge Catholic family. Granddaughter of Rose Kennedy? Oh wait, I forgot, they're democrats. The party who believes it's ok to support sin, no matter what branch of Christian they are, including Catholic.

Seriously folks. Do people truly believe God is joking in Scripture when he forbids gay unions?

Now I understand the equal rights thingy. I don't think it should be restricted only to people who are married. And in that case, heterosexual couples should enjoy the same civil rights benefits that the gay people are screaming about. Isn't that the right thing to do? I mean, fair is fair.

But no, that isn't how it usually works. Heterosexual people have to tie the knot and as we all know, gay people want to tie the knot too. But we know God forbids this so how can man do what God said no too?

Easy - just vote it in. Forget the end of our life. Forget that we might end up in that very hot cesspool of sulfer. God loves us. He doesn't care what we do. We don't need confession anymore - I mean that is what Evangelicals say. And they say God doesn't care what we do as long as we BELIEVE that Christ died for us on the cross.

Well shoot, then I am saved for sure because I believed that story at the age of 6. But I'm Catholic, so, according to them, I'm not saved. Well, so much for the easy part.

Here it is in a nutshell. The Catholic Church teaches gay marriage is wrong, but the democrat Catholic politicians in congress want it to be legal along with that other big sin, you know, :::whispering::: abortion.  And if you turn to the Evangelical way of thinking, then you are saved Caroline and Joe. Now isn't that nice? You don't have to do anything the Church says because you are democrat and the evangelicals say you're saved, so long as you pray the sinner prayer. Oh wait, did I forget to mention the sinner prayer? Well... just go look it up. Anyway all you do is pray it and happy days will be here again - you will be saved. No ifs, ands, or buts about it. Forget what God really says. Shucky doodles folks. There is hope at the end of the tunnel.

Are you listening Kathleen Sebelius? Are you listening Nancy Pelosi? You, too, are saved. Just watch any Evangelical program on tv. All of them recite that magical sinner's prayer. You don't even HAVE to be Catholic anymore. At least it let's the pressure off the Bishops. That's the least you democrats could do instead of commiting grave sacrilege everytime you receive Holy Communion - you know - the REAL BODY and BLOOD of Jesus Christ?

Speaking of the Bishops, just when is the Catholic Church going to put their foot down and demand that these politicians not be allowed to receive Holy Communion? The rest of us, when we commit mortal sin, don't get to go. So why should they? Does being "a government politician" make them immune, by God, for supporting sin? I'm just asking.

Now I don't want to be judgemental, or anything like that, so I guess I can't say for sure they will go to hell. But guess what folks? God hears your words just as we all did. He knows our thoughts, too. And Joe Biden, did you say this because you plan on running for president after Obama is done (hopefully after THIS election)?

I imagine there are many bishops and priests rolling over in their graves today at the nonsense our Church is letting politicians get by with. Oh wait, there are a lot of unmarried, living together Catholics, too. Wake up Catholics. Our unrepented sins are going with us when we die. Go to a local Catholic Chuch near you and confess your prayers today with a contrite heart and do the right thing because you love God, not because you love your job. Here is a hint: God says gay marriage is wrong. Period. Throw away that sinner's prayer and repent. For the Kingdom of God is at hand.

If you want to read the story on Joe Biden, follow the link.
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/05/06/biden-says-absolutely-comfortable-with-gay-marriage-rights-cites-will-and-grace/

From Photobucket!

When Did Our Morals Disappear?

I think the main problem of where our morality has gone in this country and in this world is - through the media - television and the movies. Everything we see, no matter how clean it seems to be on the outside, revolves around sex. It's like it's the only thing people can think about. And having raised a child in the 80's and 90's, if I were to do it over again, I would join the growing band wagon of not allowing her to watch tv OR watch many movies in my home. I, myself, have pretty much barred myself from network tv because it is so disgusting. I limit myself to TCM movies from the 40's and early 50's because after that, everything goes downhill.

And if this isn't bad enough, many states now have 'sex education' classes in high school because our children need to be taught about safe sex, abortion and birth control. Please. Why do kids have to learn about sex at all when they are in high school? Certainly it's not because they've matured enough to handle it. I mean, what the heck, if I get pregnant, I'll have an abortion. Right? Isn't that how they think? Do these kids realize what they are doing to their immortal souls? Do the parents? It doesn't seem like it and it doesn't seem like they even care.

One high school in this country had a group of college kids come in to teach on safe sex and whatever, and ended up talking about sex fetishes and other just as disgusting topics that juniors in high school do not need to know about.

This wasn't so bad as when the story broke in the media. Then I saw where the parents and people in general were standing up for this college in what they were doing, applauding them and telling us who opposed this that it's none of our business and they're glad kids are learning these things in school. Excuse me? Course there were a few slams at us about being Catholic. What ever happened to our parents being the teachers of things like this? Whatever happened to parents teaching their children abstinence instead of safe sex? It used to be that boys were the agressors when it came to sex. But now, we see girls doing all sorts of immoral behavior and for what? To get a guy? To get a free ticket to hell? Why is it the Catholic Church is practically the only Church to teach morals anymore? Where is God in everyone's life? No where? No one cares that these sex-filled activities are sinful if they are unmarried? And yes, if they are gay?

I read in Saint Faustina's diary that many people will end up in hell because they do not believe that hell exists. Well if they believe that, then do people also not believe in God? Or is God too loving to send anyone to hell? Here's a hint people: God does NOT send us to hell; we send ourselves via our SINS. You know - those things we do that offend God. If anyone on this green earth believes that all of this sex doesn't offend God, then you might as well pack your little bags for the next train to hell. Seriously.

I think I'm just getting tired from all the shock that we are exposed to today in the news and just when you think you've seen it all, something worse comes out. Are we ever going to hit bottom and start going back to God? Or is our world in for another "Noah's Ark" or "Sodom and Gomorrha?" God will punish this world for its sins. He has done it over and over again throughout history, and still people live as if God doesn't exist at all. I can't take it.

Well I'll get off my soap box now. Just think about what I said and if you don't believe me, you better start reading the Bible and read it for what it says. God means what He says. Seriously. He does.

From Google Images