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Christian pilgrims baptise themselves in the waters of the Jordan River on September 5, 2009 at Yardenit in northern Israel. An estimated 100,000 Christian worshippers make their pilgrimage to the Holy Land each year, and for many of them the highlight of their visit is being baptized in the same Jordan River where, according to Christian tradition, Jesus Christ was baptized by John the Baptist.

source: Zimbio.com, photo by: David Silverman

Christian pilgrims being baptized in the River Jordan., where Jesus Christ was baptized over 2000 years ago.

This breaks the limitation clause of , 'Till death do us part'. In this case, the man, continues to be with his beloved and expresses love through the flowers despite death. The Love that he showed her in life continues to show, and she is reminded of it, every year.

Sad and romantic at the same time.

tsk, tsk, tsk. Ms. Thorpe should be given mental rehabilitation to assess her situation, instead of being placed in a regular penitentiary.

Just my view.

Quote from: cujo on September 08, 2010, 09:28:05 AM
So far nobody won a war since the allies won in WWll ?

You're right, Ms. Cujo, the last Declaration of War that the United States gave was during the beginning of the World War II. After that war, the United States' military operations were enacted by Congress (undeclared wars) or in cooperation and/or in compliance with the United Nations' Security Council military resolutions. The last significant one being "Operation Enduring Freedom" (Iraq).

Other nations are applying this trend. The most noticeable one was the 1982 Falkland War. When Argentine forces invaded the Falklands, they never declared war on the Government of the United Kingdom.

The most recent one would be the 2008 Russian Invasion of the Republic of Georgia; both parties did not declare war on each other. Russia initiated a unilateral cease, no peace treaties were signed (since no declaration of war was pronounced).

The way wars/conflicts are being handled have changed.

Ben, I don't know if circumcision can reduce the transmission of HIV/AIDS, it can surely help in the prevention process (tho) because it would allow a quick insertion of a condom prior to having sexual intercourse, and thus, reduce in transmission of HIV/AIDS & a host of STDs. Uncircumcised penises have problems in putting a condom, as the extra fold of skin can dislodge a condom or crumple it.

Nowadays, its elective. There really is no need to have it if you don't want it.

I don't think wars are fought the same way that they were fought say..5-6 decades ago in the sense that nations nowadays don't declare war on one another. Nation states initiate military operations behind enemy lines without declaring war.

In Vietnam, America was not only fighting the Army of North Vietnam (as well as  Viet-Cong), but was fighting the Chinese & Russians so to say. America was fighting with one hand tied behind her back:

1. The military operation in Vietnam was unpopular and led to widespread protests in the country
    1b. The military conflict still accessed troops via the military draft, the effects of the war led to the repudiation of the draft process
2. North Vietnam was receiving military and technical aid from both China and the USSR
3. South Vietnam was loosing ground

In my opinion, the United States should have left Vietnam as what the French did during the 1950s. The objectives in entering the theater never materialized, not only did South Vietnam collapse , but over 50,000 American soldiers were killed in the fighting, thousands MIA, and tens of thousands wounded or maimed. The Domino Effect did not happen after-all, as was originally feared.

Manay, have you driven around Bohol by car? It took me 12 hours (given, i took pictures and stopped in some towns), but it was indeed a visual treat. It gives one the chance to admire the beauty of the Island.

The following passage is from a Jewish Rabbi, Isaac ben Yediah (13th century), regarding the circumcised Jew and the uncircumcised gentile:


When a woman makes love to an uncircumcised man, she feels pleasure and reaches orgasm first. When an uncircumcised man sleeps with her and then resolves to return to his home, she brazenly grasps him, holding onto his genitals and says to him, "Come back, make love to me". This is because of the pleasure that she finds in intercourse with him, from the sinews of his testicles -- sinew of iron and from his ejaculation -- that of a horse -- which he shoots like an arrow into her womb.

With the circumcised man it is different. He will find himself performing his task quickly, emitting his seed as soon as he inserts the crown. … As soon as he begins intercourse, he immediately comes to a climax. The woman has no pleasure from him. She leaves the marriage bed frustrated. She does not have an orgasm once a year, except on rare occasions.

[This is good for her husband: freed from lascivious desires] he will not empty his brain because of his wife [and] his heart will be strong to seek out God.

Quoted in David Gollaher, Circumcision: A history of the world's most controversial surgery, p. 22 by Isaac ben Yedaiah
http://www.circumstitions.com/Pleasure.html#yediah

OT: Tho most Europeans do not circumcise , the Germans, for instance, popularized a circumcision technique. It is called 'German Cut'. lol

I know that other peoples have their own preferences for maintaining the extra fold of skin on the penile shaft, however, a circumcised penis is cleaner. It's easier to clean and sperm can easily spray into the female's vaginal orifice thereby increasing the chances of fertilizing an egg. The extra fold of skin on an uncircumcised penis can hinder and sometimes even reduce the amount of sperm being released as some of the ejaculate can be trapped within the skin during intercourse.

The United States , technically speaking, did not win the Vietnam Conflict. The reasons for entering Vietnam was to support the Democracy in fledgling South Vietnam. South Vietnam was ultimately defeated, and the United States forced to retreat. Strategically speaking, the goal was not achieved. Effectively speaking, America's presence in the region led to an anti-communist fervor in surrounding countries, which did help contain communism (Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos being the battle ground states).

There are those who would consider the operations in the Vietnam being a failure, while there are others that would say that America did not loose the War because America did not officially declare war on Vietnam (North Vietnam in this case), but merely initiated a police containment policy.

For myself, I subscribe to the former. (tho one can debate the conflict being a War, considering a declaration of War was never issued by the United States Government..)

Your view?

Hi Ray, you know what really surprised me was how Rommel waited too long to strike the 8th Army. In his point of view, I can understand why he waited to properly know the strategic terrain. However, I think that this gave too much time for the 8th army to receive supplies and reinforcement, which in the end, reduced the Afrikacorp's ability to punch through to take Suez.

In my opinion, what Hitler should have done was invest in 3-4 more divisions to support Rommel's Afrika campaign and divert those divisions from the European theater (western theater, that is). I believe that Hitler put too much unecessary resources to his so called 'Atlantic Wall', which in the end, was useless considering the Allies did not invade in Calais as he thought, but in Normandy.

Now, had Hitler sent in about an extra division of Panzers and 3 infantry divisions to support Rommel, the realization of a strategic victory would have been possible. But i cannot help myself from asking: for how long tho?

Considering the fact that at this time, Germany was also invoved in a protracted campaign in the Eastern Front, it was only time before Germany's military industry would be stretched to the limit.

Now, had Hitler signed a peace treaty with Russia, and put pressure in Afrika, then, perhaps, victory might have been possible.

Your view?

The Japanese Invasion of China -- history in action.

WWII - A Darkness Descends - Japan Invades China

Truly beautiful.

Ask Anything

by: St. Thomas Aquinas


“Ask anything.”

My Lord said to me.

And my mind and heart thought deeply

for a second,

then replied with just one word,


“When?”

God’s arms then opened up and I entered Myself.

I entered myself when I entered

Christ.


And having learned compassion I

allowed my soul



to stay.

Quote from: ben on September 06, 2010, 11:23:31 AM
In summary, upon reflection:

• There are many reasons to be proud of the Philippines.  There are also problems which need to be examined, even the sacred cows.
  
• Dutch guy and the HK authorities are off base when they say the hostage foul-up is the fault of the whole Nation.  It's as if they were waiting for an opportunity to profess their superiority and to criticise collectively.
  
• The best thing the PNP could do is show humility and invite the Hong Kong Tiger Squad to come and instruct them.
  

Well said Ben.

Quote from: bol-anon nga cebuano on September 07, 2010, 12:05:28 AM
a mistake of one filipino is not a mistake of all filipinos because we are known as peace loving people.

Truly, and absolutely.

hehe how beautiful, the glass takes the cake.

Thanks, Dave. Pohon, id like to visit there.

    

TRANSUBSTANTIATION


God performs a miracle in each Mass. In fact, there has never been a miracle as great as this anywhere on earth for 2000 years. And it happens in every Catholic church every day!

"'It is not man that causes the things offered to become the Body and Blood of Christ, but He who was crucified for us, Christ himself. The priest, in the role of Christ, pronounces these words, but their power and grace are God's. This is my body, he says. This word transforms the things offered" (St. John Chrysostom; CCC 1375). "This change is not like natural changes, but is entirely supernatural, and effected by God's power alone" (St. Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologiae III, 75,4).

Such a miracle is beyond the power of man, but not beyond the power of God. "' . . . Could not Christ's word, which can make from nothing what did not exist [Gn 1], change existing things into what they were not before? . . ." (St. Ambrose; CCC 1375).

Reason says it is possible. But faith says it is actual.
Why do Catholics believe this astonishing fact - that what seems to all human perception to be ordinary bread and wine is in fact the body and blood of God incarnate? Because Christ said so! "'Because Christ our Redeemer said that it was truly His body that He was offering under the species of bread, it has always been the conviction of the Church of God, and this holy Council now declares again, that by the consecration of the bread and wine there takes place a change in the whole substance [being, essence] of the bread into the substance of the body of Christ our Lord and of the whole substance of the wine into the substance of His blood. This change the holy Catholic Church has fittingly and properly called transubstantiation" (Council of Trent in the sixteenth century; CCC 1576).

"The Eucharistic presence of Christ begins at the moment of the consecration and endures as long as the Eucharistic species subsist . . . " (CCC 1377). Since they remain for about 15 minutes in the human body after being swallowed, we should spend this time in prayer, thanksgiving, and adoration, and not quickly turn to worldly occupations.


http://www.savior.org/eucharist/trans.htm

Priesthood Ordinations: 'Become More and More One With the Heart of Christ, the Good Shepherd'



Archbishop Raymond L. Burke preached the following homily on the occasion of the Mass for the ordination of Fathers Matthew Barnard, Patrick Driscoll, Brian Hecktor, Michael Houser, Eric Kunz, Edward Nemeth, Kevin Schroeder, James Theby, and Noah Waldman, May 24, 2008, at the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis. The scriptural texts on which Archbishop Burke preached were Isaiah 61:1-3 (Reading I); Hebrews 5:1-10 (Reading II); and John 17:6, 14-19 (Gospel).

~~
Ordinands prostrate themselves for the chanting of the Litany of Saints during the Rite of Ordination at the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis, May 24, 2008. (Photo: Jeff Geerling) To the congregation:
[Beloved brothers and sisters: because these our sons, who are your relatives and friends, are now to be advanced to the Order of Priests, consider carefully the nature of the rank in the Church to which they are about to be raised.]

[It is true that God has made His entire holy people a royal priesthood in Christ. Nevertheless, our great Priest Himself, Jesus Christ, chose certain disciples to carry out publicly in His name, and on behalf of mankind, a priestly office in the Church. For Christ was sent by the Father, and He, in turn, sent the Apostles into the world, so that through them and their successors, the bishops, He might continue to exercise His office of Teacher, Priest, and Shepherd. Indeed, priests are established co-workers of the Order of Bishops, with whom they are joined in the priestly office and with whom they are called to the service of the people of God.]

The Holy Spirit, dwelling in His fullness in our Lord Jesus Christ, God the Son made man, is poured forth upon those called to the ordained priesthood, in order that they may act in the person of Christ, head and shepherd of the Father's flock. Through His priests, Christ, head and shepherd of the flock, teaches and sanctifies and guides all men of every time and place. The prophecy regarding the anointed of the Lord, given through the prophet Isaiah, has been fulfilled in Christ who has indeed freed us from the slavery of sin and everlasting death, and has inaugurated "a year of favor from the Lord," which continues without end in His holy Church (Reading I). Christ, seated in glory at the right hand of the Father, pours out the sevenfold gift of the Holy Spirit in the anointing of priests who, by a particular vocation and mission, continue to announce in His person the Gospel of freedom from sin, freedom for everlasting life.

As He was about to enter upon His passion and death, the culmination of His great work of salvation, Christ, our high priest, prayed for the Apostles, those first called to the priestly office. In His prayer, He made clear that His priests share in the mission given to Him by the Father, that He consecrates them for their mission which is indeed His mission, and that, although they belong totally to the Father, He sends them into the world to carry out His mission (Gospel). In the ordination of priests, we witness the truth proclaimed by the sacred author of the Letter to the Hebrews: "Son though He was, He learned obedience from what He suffered; and when He was made perfect, He became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey Him, declared by God high priest according to the order of Melchizedek" (Reading II). In the ordained priest, Christ Himself continues to be our priest always, "according to the order of Melchizedek."

[After mature deliberation, these, our brothers, are now to be ordained to the priesthood in the Order of the Presbyterate so as to serve Christ the Teacher, Priest, and Shepherd, by whose ministry His Body, that is, the Church, is built and grows into the People of God, a holy temple.]

[In being configured to Christ the eternal High Priest and joined to the priesthood of the Bishops, they will be consecrated as true priests of the New Testament, to preach the Gospel, to shepherd God's people, and to celebrate the Sacred Liturgy, especially the Lord's sacrifice.]

Because of the supremely sacred nature of the ministry for which our sons and brothers are about to be consecrated, pray for them daily, so that they may always and in everything conform themselves to the grace conferred upon them in ordination, that they may be holy shepherds of the flock whom God the Father entrusts to their pastoral care. By your love of the Sacred Priesthood, help them to see the sublime truth and beauty of their priestly vocation, and to conform their every thought, their every word and their every action to their priestly identity and mission.

To the candidates:
[Now, dear sons, you are to be raised to the Order of the Priesthood. For your part, you will exercise the sacred duty of teaching in the name of Christ the Teacher. Impart to everyone the Word of God which you have received with joy. Meditating on the law of the Lord, see that you believe what you read, that you teach what you believe, and that you practice what you teach.] By your manner of preaching and teaching, bring souls to Christ who alone frees them from their sins, frees them for the love of God and their neighbor, which is the way to eternal life. Through your person consecrated totally to God, Christ, our great High Priest, will continue to offer Himself for the "eternal salvation of all who obey Him" (Reading II).

By priestly consecration, you will belong totally to Christ the Good Shepherd. Christ Himself consecrates you, so that your priestly heart made be one with His glorious pierced Heart in the outpouring of self in love of the brethren, without boundary or condition. Give your lives for those whom Christ entrusts to your priestly care, and never cease to seek out those who do not know Christ, their Savior, or, having known Him, have wandered from Him. Give yourselves without seeking any consolation or reward, trusting that the Providence of God will, in His God's good time, bring forth the fruit of your labors.

Treasure the grace of priestly celibacy which you have received from God, and by which you love and serve Christ with all your being. You belong totally to Christ, in every thought and affection. Your celibate love is a participation in the total and enduring love of Christ, the bridegroom, for His bride, the Church; it flows from the glorious Heart of Jesus pierced for love of all mankind (cf. Sacramentum caritatis, n.24). At the dawn of each day, renew your celibate love of Christ and of your brothers and sisters in Christ. By your celibate love, be a source of strength to all whom you serve, so that their love of one another may be always chaste and holy.

If you are to act in the person of Christ for the Father's flock, if you are to be, in Christ, a true spiritual father, then you must know Christ deeply and love Him ardently. Treasure, above all else, the grace of priestly ordination, which you are about to receive. Do not be deceived by the "fierce wolves," who surely come among us in all forms of attractive disguise, tempting us to betray our union with Christ, our most beloved Brother in the priesthood, and leading us to become of the world, instead of being totally of God for the salvation of the world (cf. Acts 20:28-32). Be uncompromisingly loyal and selfless apostles of Christ, drawing all to His glorious pierced Heart, from which He never ceases to pour out upon the world the grace of the Holy Spirit, the mercy and love of God the Father.

In praying for His Apostles, before entering upon His passion and death, Christ, deeply conscious of how the world would hate them because of Him, prayed that the Father would "keep them from the Evil One" (Gospel). You will suffer in the world because of your loyalty as an apostle of Christ. Trust that the Father will safeguard and strengthen you always, and know that what you suffer in carrying out faithfully your apostolic ministry will bring countless graces to the flock in your care and to the whole Body of Christ. Never give way to doubt and discouragement. By your steadfast obedience to the teaching and discipline of Christ in the Church, you will unite your flock to Him who is the only source of their lasting joy and peace.

[In this way, let what you teach be nourishment for the people of God. Let the holiness of your lives be a delightful fragrance to Christ's faithful, so that by word and example you may build up the house which is God's Church.]

Be always loyal to the Roman Pontiff, who, as successor to Saint Peter, "is the perpetual and visible source and foundation of the unity both of the bishops and of the whole company of the faithful" (Lumen gentium, n. 23). Be vigilant against the incursion of those who, in every age, seek to divide, confuse and scatter the flock. Recall that Satan always seeks first to strike the shepherds, in order to scatter the whole flock (cf. Zechariah 13:7). By your daily offering of the Holy Mass, by your daily prayers and devotions, especially to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Priests, and by the regular confession of your sins, fortify yourselves against the wiles of the forces of evil, fortify yourselves to be tireless and true in your care of the flock.

[{Y}ou will exercise in Christ the office of sanctifying. For, by your ministry, the spiritual sacrifice of the faithful will be made perfect, being united to the sacrifice of Christ, which will be offered through your hands in an unbloody way on the altar, in union with the faithful, in the celebration of the {sacred mysteries}. Understand, therefore, what you do, and imitate what you celebrate. As celebrants of the mystery of the Lord's death and resurrection, strive to put to death whatever in your members is sinful, and to walk in newness of life.]

[Remember, when you gather others into the people of God through Baptism, and when you forgive sins in the name of Christ and the Church in the sacrament of Penance; when you comfort the sick with holy oil and celebrate the sacred rites, when you offer prayers of praise and thanks to God throughout the hours of the day, not only for the people of God but for the whole worldâ€"remember then that you are taken from among men and appointed on their behalf for those things that pertain to God. Therefore, carry out the ministry of Christ the Priest with constant joy and genuine love, attending not to your own concerns but to those of Jesus Christ.]

Take care always, therefore, to prepare well the celebration of the sacraments and sacramentals. Your faithfully loving service of the Father's flock is best and most fully expressed by the manner of your celebration of the sacred rites. By the manner of your celebration of the Holy Eucharist and the other Sacraments, the faithful will understand most fully the truths of the faith, which you hand on to them through your teaching and urge them to practice in their daily living. Regarding your offering of the Eucharistic sacrifice, I recall for you the words of our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI: "The priest is above all a servant of others, and he must continually work at being a sign pointing to Christ, a docile instrument in the Lord's hands. This is seen particularly in his humility in leading the liturgical assembly, in obedience to the rite, uniting himself to it in mind and heart, and avoiding anything that might give the impression of an inordinate emphasis on his own personality" (Pope Benedict XVI, Post-synodal Apostolic Exhortation Sacramentum caritatis, "On the Eucharist as the Source and Summit of the Church's Life and Mission," February 22, 2007, n. 23). By your attentive study of the liturgical books and by your reverence in carrying out the sacred rites, assist the faithful to recognize more clearly Christ who alone makes them holy.

Pray each day that your hearts may become more and more one with the Heart of Christ, the Good Shepherd. Devoted to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, ask our Lord daily to purify your minds of distractions and your hearts of wrong affections, so that your minds may be filled with holy thoughts and your hearts may be aflame with pure and selfless love. By the union of your hearts with the Heart of Jesus, let Christ reign in your lives, so that, through the outpouring of your lives in obedient service, He may draw all hearts to His glorious pierced Heart from which flows unceasingly the grace of salvation. One in heart with the Sacred Heart of Jesus, be filled with wonder and love before the mystery of the Holy Eucharist. See in the daily offering of the Holy Mass your priestly identity and your greatest service to God's holy people.

Entrust yourselves to Mary, Mother of Priests, who will draw you always to her Son, in whose person you are consecrated to serve. Our Blessed Mother knows better than any other human being the trials and the difficulties which you will encounter in your priestly ministry, and she, with a mother's love, will never fail to be at your side, to encourage you and to console you in any trial or difficulty. Be, therefore, daily at the side of the Virgin Mary by praying the Holy Rosary. One with her in love of Christ, her Divine Son, ponder, with her, in your heart the great mysteries of our faith, of which you are to be the priestly minister.

As good and holy shepherds, be attentive to guide God's people in the way of justice which leads to lasting peace. Promote the respect for all human life from the moment of inception to the moment of natural death, especially the life of our unborn brothers and sisters, and of our brothers and sisters who are burdened by special needs, illness, or advanced age. Safeguard the integrity of the marital union and of human procreation. Your priestly teaching and guidance will inspire and strengthen all of the faithful in the transformation of the culture of violence and death, in which we live, into a civilization of selfless love and life. Be attentive to those who suffer injustices in our society, especially the immigrant and refugee, and be, for them, the sign of God's all-merciful love. I recall the words of Pope Benedict XVI to the Bishops of our nation, during his recent apostolic journey:

Is it consistent to profess our beliefs in church on Sunday, and then during the week to promote business practices or medical procedures contrary to those beliefs? Is it consistent for practicing Catholics to ignore or exploit the poor and the marginalized, to promote sexual behavior contrary to Catholic moral teaching, or to adopt positions that contradict the right to life of every human being from conception to natural death? Any tendency to treat religion as a private matter must be resisted. Only when their faith permeates every aspect of their lives do Christians become truly open to the transforming power of the Gospel (Pope Benedict XVI, "Washington: National Shrine, Bishops' Address, April 16: 'Rediscover the joy of living a Christ-centered life via the virtues and prayer,' L’Osservatore Romano, Weekly Edition in English, April 23, 2008, p. 3).

Help those in your pastoral care to grow in understanding our solemn responsibility to be good stewards of God's manifold gifts, above all, the gift of human life, and to give faithful witness to the Divine Law in "the public square."

[Finally, dear sons, exercising for your part the office of Christ, head and shepherd, while united with the bishop and subject to him, strive to bring the faithful together into one family, so that you may lead them to God the Father through Christ in the Holy Spirit. Keep always before your eyes the example of the Good Shepherd who came not to be served but to serve, and who came to seek out and save what was lost.]

May you so live your priestly vocation and carry out your priestly mission that, when you have reached the fullness of the days of your earthly pilgrimage, Christ, your Brother, will welcome you, His good and faithful apostle, into the everlasting happiness of Heaven. May Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mother of America and Star of the New Evangelization; Saint Joseph, Patron of the Universal Church; and Saint Louis of France, Saint Vincent de Paul, and Saint Rose Philippine Duchesne, our archdiocesan patrons, intercede for you, that you may be faithful and generous shepherds after the Heart of Christ the Good Shepherd.

The parts of the homily in brackets are taken from"“Chapter II: Ordination of Priests," in Rites of Ordination of a Bishop, of Priests, and of Deacons, Second Typical Edition, from The Roman Pontifical as renewed by the Decree of the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, published by authority of Pope Paul VI, and further revised at the direction of Pope John Paul II, Washington, D.C.: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2003, pp. 74-76 (n. 123).

Is this true, David?

Then I must visit Wengen , Switzerland. I love snow.

The Knights of Columbus.

What a gorgeous view



Wengen, Switzerland

You're right, Ben. I'm doing my share by trying to shop and buying locally.

by: Unknown Author






Red roses were her favorites, her name was also Rose.

And every year her husband sent them, tied with pretty bows.

The year he died, the roses were delivered to her door.

The card said, "Be my Valentine," like all the years before.



Each year he sent her roses, and the note would always say,

"I love you even more this year, than last year on this day."

"My love for you will always grow, with every passing year."

She knew this was the last time that the roses would appear.



She thought, he ordered roses in advance before this day.

Her loving husband did not know, that he would pass away.

He always liked to do things early, way before the time.

Then, if he got too busy, everything would work out fine.



She trimmed the stems, and placed them in a very special vase.

Then sat the vase beside the portrait of his smiling face.

She would sit for hours, in her husband's favorite chair.

While staring at his picture, and the roses sitting there.



A year went by, and it was hard to live without her mate,

With loneliness and solitude that had become her fate.

Then, the very hour, as on Valentines before,

The doorbell rang, and there were roses - sitting by her door.



She brought the roses in, and then just looked at them in shock.

Then, went to get the telephone, to call the florist shop.

The owner answered, and she asked him, if he would explain,

Why would someone do this to her, causing her such pain?



"I know your husband passed away, more than a year ago,"

The owner said, "I knew you'd call, and you would want to know."

"The flowers you received today, were paid for in advance."

"Your husband always planned ahead, he left nothing to chance."



"There is a standing order, that I have on file down here,

And he has paid, well in advance, you'll get them every year.

There is another thing that I think you should know,

He wrote a special little card...he did this years ago."



"Then, should ever I find out that he's no longer here,

That's the card...that should be sent, to you the following year."

She thanked him and hung up the phone, her tears now flowing hard.

Her fingers shaking, as she slowly reached to get the card.



Inside the card, she saw that he had written her a note.

Then, as she stared in total silence, this is what he wrote...

"Hello my love, I know it's been a year since I've been gone,

I hope it hasn't been too hard for you to overcome."



"I know it must be lonely, and the pain is very real.

For if it was the other way, I know how I would feel.

The love we shared made everything so beautiful in life.

I loved you more than words can say, you were the perfect wife."



"You were my friend and lover, you fulfilled my every need.

I know it's only been a year, but please try not to grieve.

I want you to be happy, even when you shed your tears.

That is why the roses will be sent to you for years."



"When you get these roses, think of all the happiness

That we had together, and how both of us were blessed.

I have always loved you and I know I always will.

But, my love, you must go on, you have some living still."



"Please...try to find happiness, while living out your days.

I know it is not easy, but I hope you find some ways.

The roses will come every year, and they will only stop,

When your door's not answered when the florist stops to knock."



"He will come five times that day, in case you have gone out.

But after his last visit, he will know without a doubt

To take the roses to the place, where I've instructed him,

And place the roses where we are, together once again."

SALT LAKE CITY â€" Four Dominican novices from the San Francisco Province visited St. Catherine of Siena Newman Center Parish with their novice master, Dominican Father Anthony Rosevear last week, learning what life is like in a Dominican parish.

Father Peter Rogers, pastor of St. Catherine Newman Center, welcomed Dominican Brothers Albert Camburn, Simon Kim, Gabriel Mosher, and Michael James Rivera, who spoke at each of the weekend Masses about their religious vocations.

Fr. Rosevear said the current class of four novices “is about average for the San Francisco Province. “They will spend one year in the novitiate before taking their first, temporary vows, then they will have seven years of study. We are spending January and February visiting all the Dominican ministries in the southern part of the province, then in July, we’ll visit the ministries in the northern section of the province.”

The novices are slated to make their first vows in September.

In the meantime, they will continue their studies at St. Albert Priory in Oakland, Calif., and the Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology at the Theological Union at the University of California, Berkeley.

Brother Gabriel Mosher, a native of Albuquerque, N.M., said he was drawn to the Dominican order by their charism of teaching and preaching.

At 28, Brother Gabriel spent some time in the seminary, studying for the Diocese of Santa Fe, “but I really feel called to community life,” he said. “I also studied history and political science at Texas A & M.”

Brother Albert Camburn is 35, and a native of Boyertown, Penn.“I felt called to the priesthood, but I wanted the community support,” he said. “I feel others in the community will help strengthen my vocation and my mission.”

A carpenter for many years, Brother Albert earned a degree in biology from Kutztown University in Pennsylvania.

“I grew up thinking I would get a degree in wildlife management, but then, when I was 33, I began discerning a religious vocation. I looked at the diocesan priesthood, but the minute I walked into the Dominican house, I immediately felt like I was home,” he said.

Brother Michael James Rivera, 27, is a native of the San Francisco Bay area. He’d worked as a youth minister in a Dominican parish, and said he was drawn to the Dominican way of sharing faith and preaching the Gospel.

“Leaving the parish was both hard for the youth to whom I ministered and hard for me,” he said. “It was like leaving my protective parish family.”

Brother Michael James was an only child, so he’s getting used to community life with a few adjustments. “Now, I feel this is like a large family, with lots of brothers to keep me in line.”

Brother Simon Kim, at 25, is a native of Riverside, Calif., and a 2005 graduate of the University of California at Berkeley in biology and religion.

“I began discerning a vocation to the religious life before I began studying in college,” said Brother Simon. “I love sharing my faith with others, studying apologetics, and the academic side of the church. I’m taking the pastoral aspects of my vocation one step at a time.”

Although Brother Simon doesn’t see himself as a teacher, he’s looking at the possibility of campus ministry, so the visit to St. Catherine’s was particularly meaningful.

With their eyes on the priesthood, the four brothers, once they make their first vows, will undertake two years of philosophy study and four years of theology study. Then they will undertake a year of residency or practical training in a parish or other type of Dominican ministry before ordination.

Fr. Anthony said the Dominican course of study is communal, academic, pastoral, and spiritual.

Quote from: st. agnes on September 05, 2010, 08:55:08 AM
Anak, if ever may choice ka, huwag kang mag-abroad

omg! wHY?

Im too lazy to read the content..
this is what I am dreaming of.. to go abroad..
after everything happened to me, still, Im strong enough
to pursue my dreams..
tho my mom discourage me to go abroad because of my health, but still...
I believe in my prenciples in life...
I rather live a life with failure, than to live a life with regrets...
I am pushing thru my dreams.. after I will fully recover....
I see goin abroad would be our key to fullfill our dreams.
dreams of having a decent yet simple house, a hummer car for myself, a family of my own -- babie I mean...
how can I have them when we are earning not that much?
I think goin abroad is the answer for this...
so... wait for me there "abroad" (don't know which countryu I prefer to go... )

Elsie, follow your heart. Follow where you want to go, and by His Grace..you will do it. You can do it. Put your plans to God, and for sure He will guide your path. There is nothing that you cannot do when you present your plans before God Almighty...

That is always my method in doing things. Mo guide man siya , aber, He can make things happen even when we think it be hard to accomplish.


Keep on inspiring, sis!

Let me share mine:


When I attended Allegheny College (2004-2008), I would say that I was a non-practicing Catholic for quite some time, and attended Holy Day masses and feasts with family with no purpose aside from accompanying family and friends. As a college freshman, and being away from home and my family support, homesickness was a constant factor. I performed my academic studies as was required of me, but deep within me, I felt i was spiritually empty.

With the encouragement of friends and hallmates, I went to the Catholic mass at Allegheny College's Newman Chapel , which was celebrated on a Sunday at 7pm, with Fr. Mark Hoffman, the collegiate chaplain, presiding.

That first mass in Allegheny College, to me, was different from any other masses ive ever attended. It really was. I guess it was different because i found myself finding what i was looking for for quite some time, realizing the promise of the proverbial doctrinal verse in Matthew 7:7, "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." It wasn't long until I was properly introduced to Fr. Mark Hoffman, and developed a lifelong friendship with him, who was ever so pivotal in helping me find my faith. He would come sit with me on our free time, of course, and read with me with beautiful psalms in the bible, discuss with me about questions that i would bring to him and then provide a biblical answer, as well as the church's position on things. I guess i found that fatherly-relationship that i was so longing for , a fatherly relationship that cultivated my faith, nurtured it, helped it grow, through the patience of that bald-headed, funny, jokingly wise, sharp witted man that was Fr. Mark Hoffman. Countless hours were spent when i had a troubling time in class, or general homesickness where i would find myself going to his office and just talking.

I truly and officially, actively took up a Catholic mentality when I realized in the beginning of my 3rd year in college that I wasn't confirmed. My sister and I, apparently, were never confirmed, so we both signed up for the Catholic Confirmation , which we both completed , under the guidance of Fr. Hoffman. Officially we both were confirmed in Easter 2007 , presiding over us was Bishop Donald Trautman (Diocese of Erie, Pennsylvania, USA), who poured over us Holy Oils of confirmation. At that moment I felt the Holy Spirit.

Looking back at it now, the moment my friend Don took me with him to Newman Chapel that Sunday in 2004, was the day that I found Christ.
Everything else followed suit..

This was a barbaric form of lethal punishment. Lethal injection and death by guillotine is considered merciful in comparison to the electric chair.

Sometimes, an inmate was electrocuted for over 3 minutes till dead.

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

Share your salvation experience. How did you come to know the Word of God, and when did you take up the fight for the Faith?

Share your experience, how did you do it, was it difficult for you at first? How did you overcome?

We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

2 Corinthians 10:5

Note that it was documented that the Imperial Japanese Army performed a military victory parade after the city was taken.
Untold hundreds of thousands of Chinese civilians were killed in this military operation.

Nanking Nanking, part 11

The topic of this board is to discuss and debate the historical military operations, theaters of war, and all that it entails.

Join me, and let us talk about Military History. Members will ask questions about anything related to military history and will be given answers or opinions of said subject matter.

Note: Please keep this thread strictly subject matter related. Thank You.

The battleship Yamato.


IJN Battleship YAMATO

The two largest battleship classes during World War II.

Japan YAMATO VS USA Missouri

Otoko Tachi No Yamato - Battle Scene

The Imperial Japanaese Ship Yamato's brave last fight against the US Air Force.

Beautiful performance by the Japanese Taiko group, KODO




KODO - Heartbeat Video 2007

scene from movie: Pearl Harbor


Pearl Harbor - Attack

The Combined Imperial Japanese Fleet commanded by Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto attacks the American Pacific Fleet in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on the 7th of December, 1941.

It was recorded that the Japanese had a victory dance/ parade after their razing of Nanking in 1937.
The razing of the city is otherwise known as 'The Rape of Nanking'.


City of life and death (Nanking Nanking) - ceremony

Battle of El Alamein Fight In The Desert 07-11

The fighting was intense and often hand to hand, but no ground was gained by the Axis forces. One of the Australians killed on 31st was Sargeant William Kibby who, for his heroic actions from the 23rd until his death making a lone attack on a machine gun, was awarded the Victoria Cross. On Sunday, 1 Nov Rommel tried to dislodge the Australians once again, but the brutal, desperate fighting resulted in nothing but lost men and equipment. He did however regain contact with the 125th Panzer Grenadiers in the nose of the salient.

By now it had become obvious to Rommel that the battle was lost. His fuel state continued to be critical: on 1 November two more ships laden with fuel and ammunition, the Tripolino and the Ostia had been torpedoed and sunk from the air northwest of Tobruk. The shortage forced him to rely increasingly on fuel flown in from Crete on the orders of Albert Kesselring, commander of German Army Command South (OB Süd), despite the restrictions imposed by heavy bombing of the airfields in Crete and the Desert Air Force's efforts to intercept the transport aircraft.

(4) This phase of the battle began on 2 November at 1 a.m., with the objective of destroying enemy armour, forcing the enemy to fight in the open, reducing the Axis stock of petrol, attacking and occupying enemy supply routes, and causing the disintegration of the enemy army. The intensity and the destruction in Supercharge were greater than anything witnessed so far during this battle. The objective of this operation was Tel el Aqqaqir, the base of the Axis defence roughly 3 miles (4.8 km) northwest of the Kidney feature and situated on the Rahman lateral track.

The initial thrust of Supercharge was to be carried out by 2nd New Zealand Division. The division's commander, Freyberg, had tried to free them of this task, as they were under strength and had lost a brigade. However, in addition to its own 5th New Zealand Infantry Brigade and 28th (Maori) Infantry Battalion, the division was to have had placed under its command 151st (Durham) Brigade from 50th Division, 152nd (Seaforth and Camerons) Brigade from 51st Division and the 133rd Royal Sussex Lorried Infantry Brigade. In addition, the division was to have British 9th Armoured Brigade under command.

As in Operation Lightfoot, it was planned that two infantry brigades (the 151st on the right and 152nd on the left) each this time supported by a regiment of tanksâ€"the 8th and 50th Royal Tank Regimentsâ€"would advance and clear a path through the mines. Once they reached their objectives, 4,000 yards (3,700 m) distant, 9th Armoured Brigade would pass through supported by a heavy artillery barrage and break open a gap in the Axis defenses on and around the Rahman track, some 2,000 yards (1,800 m) further forward, which the 1st Armoured Division, following behind, would pass through into the open to take on Rommel's armoured reserves.

Supercharge started with a seven hour aerial bombardment focused on Tel el Aqqaqir and Sidi Abd el Rahman, followed by a four and a half hour barrage of 360 guns firing 15,000 shells. The two assault brigades started their attack at 1.05 a.m. on 2 November and gained most of their objectives to schedule and with moderate losses. On the right of the main attack 28th (Maori) battalion captured positions to protect the right flank of the newly formed salient and 133rd Lorried Infantry did the same on the left. New Zealand engineers cleared five lines through the mines allowing the Royal Dragoons armoured car regiment to slip out into the open and spend the day raiding the Axis communications.

Watch it.


Battlefield Britain Ep04 Spanish Armada Part 1/6

Sol y Mar Beach Resort, Tigbauan, Iloilo

Quote from: jorgeanna on September 06, 2010, 06:22:11 PM
unsay nakalami sa great dane nga iro? mao man gud na gipalit sa mga anak nako but after 2 months pa daw makuha kay kuwang pa og vaccinations... dili ba na hadlok? friendly ba na???

Anne, Great Danes are beautiful animals, they are large breeds, tho. Like any dogs, they will be protective of their pack families (you and your kids), and are very great pets. They are a loyal and beautiful breed.

Quote from: jorgeanna on September 07, 2010, 07:35:58 PM
the laughter of my kids and the smile of my hubby.........

hehe, Anne, so this is what they call 'Paradise on Earth' ?

The sweet simplicity of family...

puahahaha mao lagi, Father. Pa remind-remind pa ta kalingaw.

Charge to experience.   

This is beautiful and epic.

Bohol. There is like no other..

How to order this cd, Father?

Quote from: Mike Ortega Ligalig on September 06, 2010, 04:37:57 PM
Thank you in advance for your feedback here in this thread. I'm just testing it.

Green is good, Michael.

Simple is beautiful here.

Quote from: Mulligan on September 07, 2010, 06:32:44 AM
After the scandal, nadaot ang dula ni Tiger. Ang analysis sa uban kay kulang syag motivation.  Na under sex kono sya.  Haha   

Bedo, kuyawa man jud ni si Tigersex no? His definition of 'under sex' is our definition of maniakis. lol

"come and drink coffee with me. come sit by me."

"if you knew that what you said would make me bleed, would you do it anyway?"

-anonymous

If I was in Bohol, I would have already driven there. In fact, I know that my uncle and aunt are there right now. My aunt-in-law is from Loon.

Yes i mentioned you (your surname) to her and she said she knows of your family.

Check your pm. 

I have never attended mass in Cortes nor Ubay. I might have to do that in the future.

Kag didto sa ibabaw sa kalangitan

Didto sa bilog nga kahitaasan

Siya perme ang imo tag-ubay

Asta sa oras ikaw mapatay

Upod sa Iya ikaw magapabilin

Aton Ginoo tubtob sa katubtoban

Sa ngalan sang Amay sang Anak

Kag sang Espirito Santo Amen

Beautiful accents. 

21 Accents

'Canadian Speak' refers to their accent. Canadian accent sounds quite similar to the accents spoken in Montana, North & South Dakota etc (the midwestern states).

The Difference between Canadian and American Accents (abridged)

hehe, so does this justify the male response of, "What? Who? I don't know that woman..."

Quote from: manilyn on September 07, 2010, 11:25:28 AM
some people come into our lives and quickly go. Some people move our souls to dance. They awaken us to new understanding with the passing whisper of their wisdom. Some people make the sky more beautiful to gaze upon. They stay in our lives for awhile, leave footprints on our hearts, and we are never ever the same.

wow. powerful statement, sis.

word up, pops!

Quote from: ben on March 22, 2009, 05:14:09 PM
Ah, you mean the Holy Roman Empire.  That was later than the Classical Roman Empire.  Think of it as a medieval version of the European Union.

Correct, Ben. Not to mention the main difference in the fact that the classic Roman Empire was Latin and ruled by Latin peoples of Italy. The latter Holy Roman Empire was Germanic. The essential difference that delineates the said two political entities: language & ethnicity.

The Roman Empire was already collapsing prior to Constantine's conversion to Christianity. Constantine's conversion was a public statement, that the 'Old Roman Virtues' that were affiliated with the old religion was now downcasted. Tho one can argue that the 'classic' Roman Empire ceased to exist when Christianity was promulgated as the state religion, one relates the Roman collapse , in the traditional sense, to its military defeat to he Vandals and the uncontrolled German attacks of the Empire's frontier until the latter razed the Eternal City of Rome to the ground in the 5th century AD.

' i love you, lucino..'

by: A. Lorenzo Lucino

Hi brothers and sisters.
I was thinking about something for quite some time now, you could say that this has been a thought (or so) that has kept me pondering on the permanent things in life and its relation to life, health, and direction. I guess one could say that its almost an attempt of yours truly to delve into the spiritual aspect of things--life itself and the things that affects us, either they be physical , materialistic, spiritual, psychological and what not.

In regards to health and the natural processes of human development, we notice that nothing really stays permanent. Upon conception in the womb, the human fetus develops and grows , ranging from our neural circuitry, the development and maturation of our glands, our endocrine system, the hormonal pathways, and the circulatory system in regards to sustaining proper development. Upon partition from the womb, we continue to change, grow, ever-changing in that direction towards human anatomical-physiological maturity. But even after the body hits maturation (18 for females; 21 for males), the body continues to change. This is the very reason why there is a process we call as--Aging. This continues until the human body reaches a point of senescence and anatomico-physiologic death.

So it makes it quite absurd how many of us put extra emphasis on physical beauty and longevity in appearance, when in the end, beauty will fade. It corrodes with time, the natural flow of wear and tear has already written its destiny, which correlates with eventual organismal aging and death. So the propensity for us as a people in focusing things that are quite delineate makes no sense (in the end, that is).

Even the things that are made by man follows this rule and predispositon. Either it be bridges, buildings, homes, towers, statues. First upon completion, their strengths are observable in how they stand to the tests of time. However, the foundations of statues will eventually buckle. As time passes, the pedestals will corrode, erosion will take its toll on the mighty towers, the cement will eventually crumble, and seed that was sown by the human makers will return back to the earth from whence it came. Rock to rock; steal to mineral, brick to mortared crumbs.

There is truly no permanence in the world, natural or human-made.

The only thing brothers that truly lasts, is the living faith. The faith in Jesus Christ and in the Salvation of the soul upon death for those who believe in Him, and consolidate that Jesus Christ who is Lord is their Lord and Savior. We see firm testament in this from the lives and faiths of the martyrs int he 1st century, the generations upon generations of faithfully departed who have gone before us to their rest. Isn't it beautiful almost reassuring that tho they were born into human life, grew , matured, aged, and eventually died, that they kept their faith and dying in believing of that utmost pure of things: The Salvation of the Soul through Christ's Redemptive Promise. That despite their troubles, physical failings, their faith never wavered nor faltered.

That, brothers and sisters, is what truly , truly stands the test of time. That cannot and will never be destroyed.

~~

"..The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever."
-Isaiah 40:8


"...having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever...." 
1 Peter 1:23

by: A. Lorenzo Lucino

Hi brothers and sisters.
I was thinking about something for quite some time now, you could say that this has been a thought (or so) that has kept me pondering on the permanent things in life and its relation to life, health, and direction. I guess one could say that its almost an attempt of yours truly to delve into the spiritual aspect of things--life itself and the things that affects us, either they be physical , materialistic, spiritual, psychological and what not.

In regards to health and the natural processes of human development, we notice that nothing really stays permanent. Upon conception in the womb, the human fetus develops and grows , ranging from our neural circuitry, the development and maturation of our glands, our endocrine system, the hormonal pathways, and the circulatory system in regards to sustaining proper development. Upon partition from the womb, we continue to change, grow, ever-changing in that direction towards human anatomical-physiological maturity. But even after the body hits maturation (18 for females; 21 for males), the body continues to change. This is the very reason why there is a process we call as--Aging. This continues until the human body reaches a point of senescence and anatomico-physiologic death.

So it makes it quite absurd how many of us put extra emphasis on physical beauty and longevity in appearance, when in the end, beauty will fade. It corrodes with time, the natural flow of wear and tear has already written its destiny, which correlates with eventual organismal aging and death. So the propensity for us as a people in focusing things that are quite delineate makes no sense (in the end, that is).

Even the things that are made by man follows this rule and predispositon. Either it be bridges, buildings, homes, towers, statues. First upon completion, their strengths are observable in how they stand to the tests of time. However, the foundations of statues will eventually buckle. As time passes, the pedestals will corrode, erosion will take its toll on the mighty towers, the cement will eventually crumble, and seed that was sown by the human makers will return back to the earth from whence it came. Rock to rock; steal to mineral, brick to mortared crumbs.

There is truly no permanence in the world, natural or human-made.

The only thing brothers that truly lasts, is the living faith. The faith in Jesus Christ and in the Salvation of the soul upon death for those who believe in Him, and consolidate that Jesus Christ who is Lord is their Lord and Savior. We see firm testament in this from the lives and faiths of the martyrs int he 1st century, the generations upon generations of faithfully departed who have gone before us to their rest. Isn't it beautiful almost reassuring that tho they were born into human life, grew , matured, aged, and eventually died, that they kept their faith and dying in believing of that utmost pure of things: The Salvation of the Soul through Christ's Redemptive Promise.

That, brothers and sisters, is what truly , truly stands the test of time. That cannot and will never be destroyed.

~~

"..The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever."
-Isaiah 40:8


"...having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever...." 
1 Peter 1:23

hehe, perfect view man na sigoro? lami bitaw ang pormasyon sa lubut. (anatomical perfection?)

tsk, tsk, tsk. Cause and effect jud ni. Effect sa ijang pagka over-sex. Best of luck na lang to both parties..

hehe pariho ta duha, Anne. Clean cut bitaw pood ahoa.

Only a few. I wanted to meet up with my maninoy who is based in Bohol still, Mr. Albert Uy.
He was my dad's good friend during their high school and college days. Sayang wa ko ka meet up. Pohon na pood.

Naa pood koy maninoy na based diri sa 'states. Valencianon pood.

Quote from: greenmachine on September 06, 2010, 02:12:28 PM
yeah, i'm busy fixing computers. laagan man pud diay ka bay lorenzo, parehas ta

ah mao ba. pc repair tech diay ka, bai? hehe mao lagi , laag laag kai nindot man gud ning bohol!

Beautiful.

hehe, daghan bitaw nga Cebu Pacific flights nowadays. Is their service that bad?

I think there is going to be another one this coming December. Please contact Dr. S. Buac of Gallares Hospital.

Do you? Share some specifics..

Quote from: ms da binsi on November 20, 2007, 08:27:29 AM
Who wants to participate???

Who has suggestions and ideas??

What book to read?

I recently finished 'The King's Trial' by David P. Jordan.

I highly recommend it. You'd like it, actually.

Quote from: hazel on October 27, 2007, 05:20:12 AM
this is mine....Jar Jar Binks



*wink, wink*

Jar Jar Binks?

Are you hiding anything from your loved one?
If so, what is it?

What bed time story do you like most?

Do you see beauty in simplicity?

I am glad you like it Bambina. I will work on one for you..

sitting with mama

 VATICAN CITY â€" The Vatican on Sunday raised the possibility of using behind-the-scenes diplomacy to try to spare the life of an Iranian widow sentenced to be stoned for adultery.

In its first public statement on the case, which has attracted worldwide attention, the Vatican also decried stoning as a particularly "brutal" form of capital punishment.

Vatican spokesman the Rev. Federico Lombardi said the Catholic church opposes the death penalty in general.

Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani was convicted in 2006 of adultery. In July, Iranian authorities said they would not carry out the stoning sentence for the time being, but the mother of two could still face execution by hanging for adultery and other offenses.

Her son, Sajad, told the Italian news agency Adnkronos that he was appealing to Pope Benedict XVI and to Italy to work to stop the execution.

Lombardi told The Associated Press that no formal appeal had reached the Vatican, but hinted that Vatican's diplomacy might be employed to try to save Ashtiani.

"When the Holy See is asked, in an appropriate way, to intervene in humanitarian issues with the authorities of other countries, as it has happened many times in the past, it does so not in a public way, but through its own diplomatic channels," Lombardi said in a statement.

In one of the late Pope John Paul II's encyclicals in 1995, the pontiff laid out the Catholic Church's stance against capital punishment.

Italy's foreign minister, Franco Frattini, told the ANSA news agency that while Italy respects Iranian sovereignty and isn't in any way interfering, "a gesture of clemency from Iran is the only thing that can save her."

Meanwhile, the lawyer who defended a woman sentenced to death by stoning in Iran was reunited with his family in Norway Thursday.

Mohammad Mostafaei said he was pleased his wife and 7-year-old daughter were allowed to travel to Norway on tourist visas.

In August, the 31-year-old lawyer fled to Turkey then Norway after learning Iranian officials intended to arrest him. He has said he is seeking asylum in Norway, but still hopes officials in Iran will allow him to return to his practice.

Mostafaei's wife, Fereshteh, said Thursday that she was "really happy" to join her husband in Norway. But she said she was "very worried about the future" and unsure how long the family will stay in Norway.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/39015497/ns/world_news-mideastn_africa

Thanks for the added information, Green!

What's up?

Do you keep in contact with your god-parents?

Have you personally experienced a miracle?

Silent Hill

Elsie's Poem

For you, Elsie...

by: Bran Lorenzo



As the rose rises from the cold morning of winter,
it sprouts to colorful red by spring's dawn

As the blue-jay chick chirps at the coming of mother,
so does the faith of the believer beams at Christ's Word

Let trust and recompense be placed on Him who has the power,
to change, to perform, to heal, to make miracles, to strengthen..

And on that day that the rose rises to the sun's warmth
its leaves overflowing with green color, photosynthesis abounding
And on that day the sunflower will bend at the warm sunlight
And on that day the chirping of the birds will be filled by compassionate mother.

And the cool autum's wind will brush upon thy face, cooling it,
awaiting the sun's comforting warmth.

Shining upon thy hand..

He has a point. We know the problem regarding security enforcement, we will solve it. We shouldn't prostrate ourselves to everyone that complains..
Is the Philippines and the noble Filipino people enslaved to HK & foreign tourist? No.
The Filipino people are not to blame for one act of terror, and that one individual does not represent the continuum of 100 million Filipinos.

Dear Beloved,


Some of us need to be uplifted, as some of us are easily downcasted, some of us go through phases in life that may trouble the mind, and it is in these times where the man of God is tempted and easily influenced by negative factors that do no good , but whose effects are the antithesis of Christ's message to support and help those in need. So we should sometimes be open to this, open in the sense that we should be sensitive to the situations of others--either their health problems, their financial situations, and family situation. What can happen to them can also happen to us, and as much as we would like to be helped in times of despair and ill circumstances, the same stands for them, our brothers and sisters in Faith.

So we should uplift others, as much as we would like to be uplifted when we are feeling down. We are told that the Holy Spirit lives within us, and that we should be servants to one another, for we are and were purchased at a price. While we were yet sinners, the Love of God was so pronounced that He sent His only begotten Son to be the perfection of our sins. As St. Augustine once said, 'there is a deep within you that you yourself do not know it is within you...' this is in reference to the eternal soul and its inherent longing to be with Christ. This longing is the proof of the total Love of God for you and I , to be with us, and to secure us. Instead of alienating ourselves from Him, or distancing ourselves from Him, we should retract and do the natural inclination. The inclination to be with Him. To please Him.

So let us be kind and compassionate to those who are in need. As Christ was compassionate...

Let us remember this particular verse and etch it in our hearts. That despite our sins and imperfections, we can be kind, we can be helpful, we can be compassionate to those who need help, those who have no one to turn to.

29Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

-Ephesians 4:29-32


The Peace and Love of Jesus Christ be with Us All...

CHRIST, Be Our Light

Sambayanihan Choir @ Virgil,Illinois...
Our thanks to Father Fecto for his hospitality.
for more info:
http://ssppvirgil.com/

Christ, be our Light
(Bernadette Farrell)

1. Longing for light, we wait in darkness.
Longing for truth, we turn to you.
Make us your own, your holy people,
light for the world to see.

Refrain
Christ, be our light! Shine in our hearts.
Shine through the darkness.
Christ, be our light!
Shine in your church gathered today.

2. Longing for peace, our world is troubled.
Longing for hope, many despair.
Your word alone has powr to save us.
Make us your living voice.

3. Longing for food, many are hungry.
Longing for water, many still thirst.
Make us your bread, broken for others,
shared until all are fed.

4. Longing for shelter, many are homeless.
Longing for warmth, many are cold.
Make us your building, sheltering others,
walls made of living stone.

5. Many the gifts, many the people,
many the hearts that yearn to belong.
Let us be servants to one another,
making your kingdom come.

One of the most beautiful church hymnals , sung by a gathering of priests.

June 24 2008 Christ Be Our Light

Quote from: hofelina on September 04, 2010, 05:08:51 PM
Due Reverence     

"My goodness has decreed that anyone at all, just or sinner, who holds Mary in due reverence will never be snatched or devoured by the infernal demon." -God's pledge through St. Catherine of Siena 

Amen. Amen.

Most Holy Virgin Mary never has it been known that  you would leave anyone who have recourse to you...pray for us o Most Holy Mother of God...

"Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends."
John 15:13

Quote from: Mike Ortega Ligalig on July 14, 2010, 06:02:50 AM
by Joe Stowell, Our Daily Bread

There was a time when a certain West Coast city may have been one of the most hostile places to the gospel in America. Posters in coffee shops advertised witchcraft meetings where you could learn to cast a spell on your enemies.

It was such a challenging environment for churches that they struggled to get building permits from the city council. And there was a lot of “woe is me” talk among church leaders. Until a group of pastors began to meet to pray regularly and then decided to take the love of Jesus into their city. They started a ministry to the homeless, to those suffering with AIDS, to teens at risk. Faithfully and intentionally they brought the love of Jesus to the needs of hurting people. Before long, the city agencies started calling on them for help. Better yet, the churches started growing as people responded to the gospel in action.

Which proves the point: Sometimes you’ve got to “show up” before you speak up. No one really wants to hear what we have to say about the love of Jesus until they’ve seen it in our lives (Matt. 5:16). Then even the most ardent opponents to the gospel may just be glad you’re in their town, their office, or their neighborhood. And then you just might be able to tell them about Jesus.

Let us go forth, as called of God,
Redeemed by Jesus’ precious blood;
His love to show, His life to live,
His message speak, His mercy give. â€"Whittle

When you share the gospel, make sure you live the gospel.

This is true, and despite our sins and predisposition to sin (Romans 3:23), we should always surrender our sins and our failings to Christ Jesus, as a faith in Him purifies us and steers the believer closer towards the Truth that is in Christ. Proclaim the Good news , but never cease admonishing one's self of the inherent sinful nature knowing that salvation of sin is the Love of Christ Jesus...whom we will continue to share with others.

Beautiful passage, Michael.

How wonderful it is, that we, tho sinful, are saved in Jesus Christ. Just as was Mary of Magdalene., just as Paul (formerly Saul)...

The Lord uses one's strengths to His Purpose, even despite, our predisposition to sin and imperfect nature.

That is the Beauty...of His Message.

He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?
Romans 8:32