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Hello, I adjusted the settings on this blog to make it easier for you the readers to post comments. That was my intention anyway because I often goof up internet procedures.

God Bless You!

Lena

Hail Mary, Full of Grace

Today is the last day of my novena. I've been saying the rosary for my novena. Now, I know some of you say the rosary every day or on a regular basis. I hardly say the rosary. Two days ago, my prayers were answered. The solution came from an unexpected source. That's just like God, isn't it? He surprises you. Today I will say a rosary in thanksgiving. I know we are suppose to be saying lots of prayer of gratitude.

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.

I wonder what non-Catholics do when they're in a crisis? Any non-Catholics out there? What are some of your prayers during a crisis?

I don't know how many times I've said the Hail Mary in an airplane when it has hit turbulence or during take-offs and landings. The Hail Mary is my life line, and so far every plane I've been on has always landed safely: even the time a tire blew out when the plane landed in Seattle.

Click here for directions on how to pray the rosary.

Merry Christmas

Going along with my pastor, Father G., I am still celebrating Christmas because Christmas starts December 25 and ends on the Eiphaney (sp?).

Didn't like your gifts? Don't worry; you can't take them with you anyway. What you can take with you is Jesus and Everlasting Life. Thank God literally for sending His Only Son, through Mary, to earth. If you stick close to Jesus, he'll stick close to you.

First American Approved Apparition Site

I read this on the HuMAMAeVitae blog. The apparition site is at  Shrine of our Lady of Good Help in Wisconsin.

Advent - Time for Preparation

It's really difficult to get into the Christmas spirit sometimes.If someone dies, or if there's family conflict, or if I am just not feeling jolly, I can't really get into the whole jingle, jingle of it. (Someone told me that he hates the whole "forced merriment" of the season. I love that phrase). Usually it takes me most of Advent to get into the Christmas mood, and that's why I've sent out Christmas cards on December 26, 27, 28, and so on.

My pastor Father G. reminded us that Advent is to prepare for the coming of the Lord. It's not Christmas until December 25, and then it's Christmas for twelve entire days (until January 6).

No wonder, I'm not in the Christmas mood yet. I am just preparing, so I am not even expected to be in the Christmas spirit now .Hmm, I thought I was being humbugg-y all these years.We Catholics are suppose to be preparing during these the next few weeks. Hey if you're already in the Christmas Spirit then glad tidings to you. I'll just prepare for and proceed towards Christmas day by day at my usual slow place because I really do need every day of Advent. I have been normal and fine all these years.

By the way, did I mention I have an awesome collection of Advent calendars? One of my dear aunts gave me an Advent calendar every year when I was growing up, and I saved them all. Many of them were made in West Germany (before the wall came down).

Mother Theresa Stamps

Today I bought Mother Theresa stamps, and nearly skipped out of the post office. I was thrilled that such a fine Catholic woman was being honored by the United States Postal Service. For a moment I thought maybe I would be thought of as a godly and saintly-like woman since Mother Theresa (or MT) and I are both Catholic. Yes, goodness by association. However, I am responsible for my own saintly-like behavior, which isn't very saintly.

I also bought some cartoon stamps because they're cute. Actually I get a kick out of Dennis the Menace.

I've been feeling guilty of a few things, so I better work a penance/confession/reconciliation into my calendar. If only we could email our guilty feelings to God, and receive absolution in our inbox. But no, I have to go see a priest. That's the way it works. And really, I would feel better seeing and hearing the words of absolution in person the way it's meant to be.

Speaking of recon(ciliation), I have always gone face-to-face. Never have I used that screen. Have you?

I like to say recon for some reason.

Lose, Lose, and Lose Again

I've been reading blogs by women who suffered ectopic pregnancies. For those who don't know what it is means, it's when a growing embryo is stuck in a tube (not a test tube) or someplace else except the uterus. If it's stuck in the tube, the tube will eventually rupture and cause great pain and bleeding. The expectant mother COULD DIE from this. The embryo WILL CERTAINLY DIE. The embryo MUST BE REMOVED one way or another if the expectant mother is to LIVE. It's not a pretty picture at all. I was surprised that some Catholic bloggers are very particular on the way the embryo is removed. Of course, they are quoting church doctrine and documents from this that and the other thing. I think the embryo should be removed in the way that is best medically for the mother. It's a situation of DOOM. It's a pregnancy of DOOM. The embryo is going to die if it's removed and it's going to die if stays in the mother. Aaaaaaaaaaaaargh. What the mother needs is some tender, loving, care because it's a sad, sad, sad situation. The mother is going to LOSE the baby. That's a certainty.

Then there was a blog titled Zippy Catholic. Zippy (not to be confused with Zippy the Squirrel) who said it's unjust to pay women equally for equal work because the man has to support the family. Well, Zippy here just undermined my dignity as a woman by saying that. I just want to hit Zipps with a frying pan. People like Zipps make me not want to be Catholic. I don't want to lose earning power because I am a woman. And I shouldn't. That's sexist. I have talents, I have skills, and I have a brain and should be compensated for the work I do using my God-given talents, skills, education and brain.

I just have to remind myself that Zippy is NOT the church. Zippy is NOT the church.

Right now I'm a Catholic who is angry at some of my fellow Catholics who are way at the other end of the spectrum of Catholicism.

Lena