Saturday, January 29, 2011

True and Lasting Happiness Can Never Be Obtained at the Expense of Others

Nor can heaven.

We must never rely upon our fallen human nature.

We must hold ourselves accountable for our sins.

We must find ourselves worthy,
because we are,
to accept the tremendous graces and healing available to us
through the Sacrament of Reconciliation,
and receive them often.

Forgive others.
Allow yourself to be forgiven.


Accept the love and mercy of God,
and share His love and mercy with others.

Seek Truth. Live it.

Value life.

True love leads to life!

Live morally, love heroically.

Attend holy Mass every day.

Receive Him, truly present,
Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity.

Receive Him as often as you can.

Pray for others, especially those who persecute you.


God makes it possible for us to live in imitation of Christ.

Oh how much we are loved and valued!

He remains with us, always.

God wants to work in each one of us.

Let Him.

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

So Many Gifts, So Freely Given

Food and children are at the top of my list.

One day I remarked to my children during another delicious meal that when I get to heaven I am going to be sure to thank God for all the wonderful food enjoyed during my lifetime. Their response: “Aren’t you going to thank Him for us?” So very many blessings freely and generously given to us by God!

Most loving and generous God,
I thank you for the mystery of Your Being and Your infinite love.
For creating me, for my family and for every friend I have ever had.
For neighbors, warm air, animals, flowers, and colors.
For rays of light and beautiful sunsets.
For a warm house, a hot shower, a steaming cup of hazelnut coffee.
For croissants with butter and jelly.
For band aids, batteries, scrunchies, and tandem bikes.
For gardens and children, laughter and love.
For sugar.
For allowing me to be part of the beautiful world that You created.
For music and singing. Emotions and facial expressions.
For the times you touch my heart so deeply and tenderly.
For vocations. For the Grand Canyon. For always welcoming me in Your house.
For always being present for us in the Eucharist.
For the opportunity to receive you every single day if I choose.
For giving me a free will and rules to follow. For sometimes having me wait.
For humiliations and suffering. For our conversations.
For all the times you make me smile.
For new ideas and opportunities to learn and create.
For Your directive to love heroically, just like Jesus.
For the opportunity to live in imitation of Christ.
For wanting our wills to be united.
I love you back!

Here is a list compiled with the kind help of Alice and my children Andre, Nick, and Alyssa to help you get started with your own list: rainbows, butterflies, puppies, candy, babies, bows, people, spices, birthdays, skateboards, friends, sand, flowers, parks, pinwheels, cherries, decorations, cupcakes, snowflakes, water, pets, Christmas, weddings, coffee, snow, buttons, breezes, movie theaters, flags, concession stands, buffets, airports, pineapples, beaches, straws, kites, purses, candy canes, prayers, comics, surfboards, music, popcorn, trains, chocolate hearts, games, fireworks, chairs, icicles, the ice cream truck, books, lemonade, smencils, diaries, sidewalk chalk, stories, tree climbing, forts, cherry tomatoes, notebooks, strawberries, smiles...

A thankful heart is a happy heart.


+ Think about what you are most grateful for and thank God for His goodness.
+ Share your gratitude with others and let them know how much you value them.

God is at work in you!
_______________________
Thank you Alice, Andre, Nick, & Alyssa for help with today’s blog. God is at work in you!

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Some Favorite Pictures From the Past Year

Adoration:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?id=100000606747197&aid=39128

Oh so many beautiful moments!

God is at work, in each one of us.


The One Holy, Catholic, & Apostolic Church.
+

Mary and the New Testament

IF...

By Thomas Mulcahy

If God's own messenger, the Archangel Gabriel, hadn't called her by the descriptive title, "Hail, Full of Grace" (Luke 1: 28); and if she had not been covered by the Holy Spirit's "unspeakable shadow" (see Luke 1:42); and if St. Luke, in describing Mary's visitation to Elizabeth, hadn't drawn a stunning comparison between the Virgin Mary and the all-holy Ark of the Covenant (see link below); and if Mary's visit (with Jesus in utero) to Elizabeth hadn't unleashed a veritable explosion of grace; and if, at the sound of Mary's voice, Elizabeth had not been filled with the Holy Spirit and boldly proclaimed Mary to be "the Mother of my Lord" (Luke 1:41-45); and if Simeon the prophet had not peered down through the decades to see that Mary, who had brought the baby Jesus to the Temple, was predestined to share closely in Jesus' passion, saying to Mary, "And a sword will pierce your own soul too" (Luke 2: 35); and if Mary's role as a powerful intercessor hadn't been so clearly manifested at Cana when she moved her Son to work His first public miracle against His own will since His "hour had not yet come" (John 2:1-12); and if the Lord Jesus Himself hadn't bequeathed her to us (from the cross) as our Spiritual Mother as He was meriting our very salvation, saying, "Behold, your Mother" (John 19: 25-27) as she stood faithfully at the foot of the cross in fulfillment of Simeon's prophecy; and if Saint Luke hadn't specifically pointed out that she was present with the Apostles in the Cenacle in "preparation for Pentecost" and the "birth of the Church" (quotations from Pope John Paul II; see Acts 1:14); and if Saint John hadn't seen her in a vision of heaven, "clothed with the sun" and wearing her Queenly crown of twelve stars (Revelation 12:1-2); and if Old Testament typology and New Testament fulfillment didn't point to her as the New Eve and Queen Mother (see especially Scott Hahn's masterful book, Hail Holy Queen); and if the testimony of the Catholic saints didn't overwhelmingly verify beyond all peradventure the amazing assistance she provides to those who accept her spiritual motherhood (which Jesus merited for us), leading them to greater union with Jesus, perhaps then you could persuade me not to accept all of the beautiful and sublime teachings about her by the Roman Catholic Church, the only church in Christendom which can trace its origin directly back to Jesus and the apostles.

Thank you, Tom, for sharing this with us! God is at work in you.

The Hail Mary

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee, blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the Fruit of Thy Womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen. +

_____________________
Sources:

Various Scott Hahn tapes including "Mary: Holy Mother," and his book, Hail Holy Queen; various Father Faber books (I believe he used the beautiful phrase, "unspeakable shadow," quoted above); internet article Mary, the Ark of the New Covenant (This Rock: October 2005); and other Catholic apologetic materials.

See also, Ignatius Catholic Study Bible; Dictionary of Mary; and by Pope John Paul II (click on link below): Mary's Presence in the Upper Room at Jerusalem

How Well Do You Know Him?

Know Him.
"He knows your name, and He loves you."

~Fr. Corapi

Accept, return, and share
the immeasurable and eternal
love of God.


God is at work in you.

Saturday, January 22, 2011

Fr. Pavone Announces Healing Effort for Former Abortion Providers

An Important Announcement from Fr. Pavone

January 22, 2011

Fr. Frank Pavone, National Director of Priests for Life, issued today a new invitation to former abortionists and a new action item for pro-life activists.

“With attention during these days on the gruesome activities of practicing abortionists and the conversion of former abortionists, it is important to renew the urgent invitation to reconciliation and healing that mark the ministry of the Church and the pro-life movement,” Fr. Pavone said.

“For the last two decades, Priests for Life has reached out to those who work in the abortion industry, and assisted them to come out and readjust to a normal lifestyle. Working with those who have found healing, and with professionals like Dr. Philip Ney, who has developed a treatment program for ex-abortionists, we have seen the urgency of helping these individuals attend first and foremost to their own needs. Those who have left the killing industry can, with the help of the Lord and His people, face the reality of what they have done, and undertake the arduous journey toward re-humanizing themselves and the children they killed. This is long, hard work. When the Lord comes to us, he forgives us in a moment, but healing takes years,” Fr. Pavone explained.

Priests for Life therefore invites all those who have left the abortion industry to come to the Society of Centurions and explore the options they have for healing. Specific gatherings of Centurions will be announced during the course of this year, and spiritual and psychological guidance are available to those who come forward.

Fr. Pavone urged pro-life activists to repeat this invitation to healing, and to contact Priests for Life if they know of those who need this assistance.

See www.societyofcenturions.com

God is at work in you!

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Announcing the “Ask Them What They Mean By ‘Choice’ Blog Day,” January 21!

Is your blog on the list?

By Jill Stanek

When NARAL announced a “Blog for Choice Day,” to be held this Friday, January 21, my blood boiled.

How dare they celebrate the upcoming 38th anniversary of the infamous Roe v. Wade decision with their ambiguous claptrap.

Over 50 million babies have been killed in America since that terrible day, most certainly nothing to cheer about, unless you’re in Rome at the Colosseum perhaps.

So pro-life bloggers are banding together to sponsor a counter “Ask Them What They Mean When They Say ‘Choice’ Blog Day” on the same day, January 21.

We’re also encouraging all pro-lifers on Twitter and Facebook to participate.

The idea is simple. Any time any of us reads pro-aborts spouting their obscure “choice” rhetoric on a blog, website, Facebook, or Twitter, we call them out on it. We ask them to explain what the “choice” is.

Is it to eat carrots rather than broccoli? To wear red instead of blue? No, of course “choice” is code for killing babies. What’s their problem with the A-word?

Yes, this is a shameless scheme to suck oxygen out of the pro-aborts’ social media universe, to deny them any time whatsoever to support abortion without defending it.

Co-sponsors:

5 and Counting

11 On My Own
40 Days for Life
A Catholic Mom in Hawaii
A Star of Hope
Abby Johnson
Abigail Seidman – The Abortion Nurse’s Daughter
Abortion in Washington
Accepting Abundance
American Life League (Judie Brown)
And Sometimes Tea
The Anti-Modernist
Axe Swipe
Big Blue Wave
The Black Kettle
Blatherings
Bro Jer’s Blog
C5′s Simian Roadhouse
Canadian Centre for Bio-Ethical Reform
Catholic Dads HQ
Catholic Fire
Catholic Heart and Mind
Catholic Preachy
CatholicVote.org
The Center for Women of Faith in Culture
Cheeky Pink Girl
Citizens 4 Freedom
The Cloakroom (FRC blog)
Coming Home (Dr. Gerard Nadal)
Concerned for Life
Constitutionally Right
Crazy Cat Lady Mews
Daughters of the Heavenly King
Debunking Atheists
Defend Us in the Battle
Don’t Buy the Abortion Lie
Exultet
Faith of the Fathers
First State for Life
Flash Point
The Four Last Things
From Beginning to End… and Back Again
Freedom Eden
Generations for Life
God is at Work in You
Hear Their Cries
Hawaii Right to Life
Hudson Valley Patriots
I Am Joe Sales
Illinois Review
The Immoderate Blog
In Him We Live
Is Anybody There?
Joseph Karl Publishing
Josiah Concept Ministries
KatyPunditThe Lady in the Pew
Lake Co. Right to Life Blog
Latter Days Ministry
LifeNews.com (Steve Ertelt)
LisaGraas.com
Little Catholic Bubble
LiveAction.org (Lila Rose)
Living on Faith
Man with Black Hat
Maureen’s Thoughts
Mom and Then Some
Mommy Life
Musings of a Catholic Mom
NowABetterWorld
On Pilgrimage
OneMom
One Voice
The Passionate Pro-Lifer
The Political Housewyf
Pro Ecclesia * Pro Familia * Pro Civitate
Pro-Life Action League
ProLifeBlogs.com
Pro-Life MN blog
Pro-Life in TN (Susie Allen)
Pro-Life Tribe
Pro-Life Wisconsin
Radiant Cross Right to Life
Random Thoughts and Musings
Run With Life
The Screllos
SecularProLife.org
SFO Mom
Shoved to Them
Sober Catholic
Social Justice Begins in the Womb
Speaking 4 Life
Stand for Life
Star-Studded Super Step (Andy Moore in New Zealand)
Students for Life of America
TFP Student Action
ThatMom.com
The Suzy B Blog (Susan B. Anthony List)
Teri O’Brien
ThatMom.com
Thoughts of a Regular Guy
Today Again
Training Happy Hearts
Truth or Scare
Van Maren Traditionalist Views
View from the Choir
Vital Signs
What Does Mike Think?
Wheat & Weeds
Where the Rubber Hits the Road
Worship From the Heart
Zeal for Your House Consumes Me:



To learn more and to add your blog to the list, visit: http://www.jillstanek.com/2011/01/announcing-the-ask-them-what-they-mean-when-they-say-choice-blog-day-january-21/

Thanks to Kimberly P. for coming up with the concept.

True love leads to life.

God is at work in you!

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

The Catholic Revolver with Jerry and Guest Leslie Brunolli

For Individuals Feeling Guilt and Shame From Abortion: Healing is Possible, and Help is Available
Leslie Brunolli is the San Diego Coordinator for Silent No More Awareness and also conducts Rachel's Hope post abortive retreats in San Diego, California.
Click on the link to listen to this very moving, honest, and healing show.
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/catholicrevolver/2011/01/19/the-catholic-revolver-with-jerry--leslie-brunolli

Rachel's Hope
After abortion healing and reconciliation
for Catholic Women (or Catholic friendly)

To learn more, click on the link:
http://rachelshope.org/

Offering compassion and healing to each individual person
in a non-judgmental environment.

Silent No More Awareness
A Campaign whereby Christians make the public aware of the devastation abortion brings to women and men. The campaign seeks to expose and heal the secrecy and silence surrounding the emotional and physical pain of abortion.

http://www.silentnomoreawareness.org/about/

Thank you Leslie, Jerry,
Rachel's Hope, and Silent No More Awareness.

God is at work in you!

Ponder Anew, What the Almighty Can Do

Through you!

God is at work in you.

Monday, January 10, 2011

Joseph Karl Publishing Completes Its 2010 Mission and Sets Its Sights on Three New Books and a Film in 2011

All for God's greater honor and glory.

Books Published in 2010:


God Moments:
Stories That Inspire, Moments to Remember

Written and Compiled by Michele Elena Bondi
Published October, 2010

One Man's Journey to Freedom:
Escape From Behind the Iron Curtain

by Gene X. Kortsha
Published December, 2010

Our Treasure
Written by Michele Elena Bondi Illustrated by Kristina Marie Pope
Published December, 2010

JKP's Dream Team:

Michele Bondi Bottesi, Publisher
Author Nancy Carabio Belanger, Editor
Gene X. Kortsha, Author, Editor
Paul A. Ray, Author, Editor
Susan Schoenstein, Author, Editor
Erin Howarth, Editor; Book Design and Packaging
Roseann Nieman, State-of-the-Art Graphic Design
George Piliouras and Associates, Cover Design; Communications
Brian Dittmer, Technology

Our Youth Division:

Kristina Marie Pope, Illustrator
Andre, Nicholas, & Alyssa Bottesi, Editors of Our Treasure

Our 2011 Book Award Entries:

2011 Randolph Caldecott Medal

Our Treasure - Illustrations

2011 IBPA Benjamin Franklin Book Awards

One Man’s Journey to Freedom: Escape from Behind the Iron Curtain: (3): Autobiography; History; Cover Design

God Moments (3): Religion; Gift Books, Small Format; Cover Design

Our Treasure (3): Children’s Picture Book; Cover Design; Interior Design


2011 Pulitzer Prize in Letters

One Man’s Journey to Freedom:
Escape from Behind the Iron Curtain


ForeWord Reviews Book of the Year Awards

One Man’s Journey to Freedom:
Escape from Behind the Iron Curtain (2): Autobiography; History

God Moments (1): Religion

Our Treasure (1): Children’s Picture Book

2011 Catholic Press Association Book Awards

One Man’s Journey to Freedom:
Escape from Behind the Iron Curtain (4): Autobiography; History; Design and Production; Best Book by a Small Publisher

God Moments (4): Spirituality Soft Cover; Design and Production; Best Book by a Small Publisher; Family Life

Our Treasure (5): Children’s Picture Book; Spirituality Hard Cover; Educational Books; Design and Production; Best Book by a Small Publisher

Align Center15th Annual Independent Publisher (IPPY) Book Awards

One Man’s Journey to Freedom:
Escape from Behind the Iron Curtain (1): Autobiography

God Moments (1): Religion

Our Treasure (2): Children’s Picture Books; Religion

Royal Dragonfly Book Awards

One Man’s Journey to Freedom:
Escape from Behind the Iron Curtain (4): Autobiography; History Nonfiction; First time Author Nonfiction; Cover Design

God Moments (3): Religion; Inspirational; Cover Design

Our Treasure (4): Children’s Picture Book 6 and Older; Religion; Best Illustrations; Cover Design

Purple Dragonfly Children’s Book Awards

Our Treasure (6): Children’s Picture Books 6 and Older; Best Illustrations; Education; Spiritual/Religious; Best Cover Design; Best Interior Design

Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards

Our Treasure (3): Illustrator; Children’s Picture Book Ages 4-8; Religious/Spirituality





Our Treasure Book Trailer



God Moments Book Trailer