St. Charbel Makhlouf

As I told you about here St. Charbel Makhlouf chose to be my Saint of the Year for 2007. This is the first of several posts to come about this saint's life. I hope you enjoy learning about St. Charbel with me.

From Lives of the Saints

Youssef Makhlouf was born in 1828 in Bika’Kafra, the highest village of Lebanon, near the grove of the still-conserved famous cedars of Lebanon. The youngest of five children, he became a little shepherd. Their pious mother lived almost as a religious in her family home. She would pray with outstretched arms, telling her family to allow no one to see her at those moments. The children’s father also possessed the genuine piety which recommends a Christian to his brethren, but the little Youssef never knew him, for he died when the youngest son was only two years old. An uncle took upon himself the support of the family, which was thereby maintained intact. The child was profoundly affected by the example of two other maternal uncles, who were monks of the Maronite Lebanese Order, living in a hermitage only three miles away, and whom he often visited, at first with his mother, later on his own. They would say to him: “All here below is nothing, the world is vanity, life is short. The true beauty is God, near Him there is true happiness. Wisdom is to not find oneself with empty hands at the supreme hour.”

new Rocky movie

I admit it. I have not seen any of the Rocky movies. But, I might have to watch them with the release of the lastest installment. Especially after coming across this article.

Actor Sylvester Stallone Returns to Christian Faith, Includes Conversion in New Movie"

Sylvester Stallone, of “Rocky” and “Rambo” fame, has come back to his Christian roots, in a conversion experience that he says has released him from the pressures of the world.

“The more I go to church,” Stallone said, reported Focus on the Family’s CitizenLink, “and the more I turn myself over to the process of believing in Jesus and listening to His Word and having Him guide my hand, I feel as though the pressure is off me now.”

Stallone’s new movie, Rocky Balboa, is the latest and final chapter in the ‘Rocky’ series, reflecting the star’s conviction that life is about following Christ, not battling it out alone.

Courtesy LiftSite.net

New UN Convention Forbids Withdrawal of Food or Fluids from Disabled like Terri Schiavo

From LiftSite.net

UNITED NATIONS, December 15, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) - The newly approved United Nations "Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities" which was adopted by the General Assembly Wednesday forbids nations which sign on to it from denying "food and fluids" to disabled persons.

Article 25 of the Convention, which deals with health, directs (in sub-section f) nations to "Prevent discriminatory denial of health care or health services or food and fluids on the basis of disability."

Commenting on the development, Alex Schadenberg of the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition told LifeSiteNews.com that "To cause death by dehydration by denying food and fluids to a person based on their disability or cognitive ability, such as Terri Schiavo, is to kill them by euthanasia."

Read Entire Article

The Truth About Priests

Please say a prayer for your priest and those considering a vocation to the priesthood.

O my Jesus, I beg You on behalf of the whole Church: Grant it love and the light of Your Spirit and give power to the words of priests so that hardened hearts might be brought to repentance and return to You, O Lord.

Lord, give us holy priests; You Yourself maintain them in holiness. O Divine and Great High Priest, may the power of Your mercy accompany them everywhere and protect them from the devil's traps and snares which are continually being set for the souls of priests. May the power of Your mercy, O Lord, shatter and bring to naught all that might tarnish the sanctity of priests, for You can do all things. I ask You, Jesus, for a special blessing and for light for the priests before whom I will make my confessions throughout my lifetime. Amen.

wonderful news

From Luukas' dad:

I think I'm in love with St Lucy.

We went to see the eye doctor today. When she examined Luukas he showed quite clearly that he was fixing his eyes on many different objects and even following them, though only for a short time. Of course his vision is extremely far from perfect, but at least he sees light, wide stripes and movement. And he has great problems in directing his eyes on whatever he wants to look at. Now we have instructions on what to do to help him with all that. The doctor said his vision can only improve from now on, but nobody can say how good it will be. We'll be talking to St Lucy again, I think

Saint for the Year: 2007

I was chosen by St. Charbel Makhlouf

Look for more post later as we learn about this saint.

Get your Saint for a Year

disturbing statistics

49% number of Catholics that do not agree that all abortions should be illegal
1% those who are unsure
30% number of Catholics who never attend Mass and believe all abortions should be illegal
60% number of Catholics who attend Mass at least once a week and believe all abortions should be illegal.

Read article on LifeSite.net

Catholic Carnival #97

Here it is

Saint of the Year

Visit Moneybags at A Catholic Life to learn more about this devotion.

Catholic Carnival is up

Catholic Carnival

Update on Luukas and Rosa

Baby Luukas is going for a vision exam on December 12th.

From Luukas' mom:

On 13 December Luukas has an appointment in the eye clinic in Helsinki. It is the day of St Lucy, the patroness of people with seeing difficulties. I hope this is not a coincidence. Please, join us and pray the following novena from 4 to 12 December, preceding the appointment day. On 6 December, I ask you to say a little prayer to St. Nicolas on his day, too. He is the saint I have been praying to for Luukas' vision the most.

NOVENA TO SAINT LUCY
(For Perfect Vision)

Relying on Your goodness, O God,
we humbly ask You,
through the intercession of Saint Lucy,
virgin and martyr,
to give perfect vision to our eyes,
that they may serve for Your greater honour and glory.

Saint Lucy,
hear our prayers
and obtain our petitions.

Amen

Also, Rosa has been diagnosed with epilepsy. Please keep her in your prayers.

Luukas has a blog! Luukas' Story

Possible 2nd miracle attributed to John Paul II

Miracle attributed to John Paul II

Extraordinary ministers of Eucharist barred from purifying vessels

I saw this when it was originally posted over a week ago. I didn't get around to putting it up then.

From Catholic News Service:

At the direction of Pope Benedict XVI, extraordinary ministers of holy Communion will no longer be permitted to assist in the purification of the sacred vessels at Masses in the United States. Read Entire Article

UK Docs: "Active Euthanasia" on Disabled Newborns Will Cut Abortion Rates

From LifeSite.net:

Britain's Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecology has put forth a proposal calling for the active euthanasia of babies born with serious health problems, the Times reported Sunday. One argument the doctors are using is that the possibility of killing newborns after birth will reduce "late abortions".

The college is arguing that medical advances which allow severely disabled babies to survive more often and with longer life spans make the option of "active euthanasia" necessary for the wellbeing of families.

"A very disabled child can mean a disabled family," the proposal said. "If life-shortening and deliberate interventions to kill infants were available, they might have an impact on obstetric decision-making, even preventing some late abortions, as some parents would be more confident about continuing a pregnancy and taking a risk on outcome."Read Entire Article

Are they really making this arguement? What person in their right mind proposes killing newborns as a way to stop late term abortions? Correct me if I'm wrong but aren't doctors supposed to help preserve life? To many in the medical profession have become power manic monsters with a god complex. As we pray for all children, both born and unborn, let us also pray for those doctors who recognize the sanctity of life and thier duty to protect it and pray that more who share thier convictions will join their ranks.

I'm back and I'm an uncle!

I was away all last week. I spent the week at home seeing my new nephew. Andrew Luke was born at 11:21 pm on October 31st and weighed 7 lbs. 13 ozs. and was 19.5 inches long.