'All shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well' Bl.Julian of Norwich
Sunday, June 30, 2013
Tuesday, June 25, 2013
You Looked Down
You looked down
From Your Cross
To behold faithfulness,
Your Mother.
You beheld her look of grief,
As she suffered Your pain.
You wed it
To Your Own,
Presenting all
Before Our Father's holy throne.
© 2013 Joann Nelander
Thursday, June 20, 2013
Believe
O Man, believe
That the Virgin did conceive
Her God and mine
And happily thine.
2013 Joann Nelander
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
Catholic Groups Criticize Pelosi’s Claim That Abortion Is ‘Sacred Ground’ | Daily News | NCRegister.com
Prominent Catholics and members of the pro-life movement denounced statements by House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi that, as a Catholic, she views the protection of late-term abortion as “sacred ground.”
Maureen Ferguson, senior policy adviser for the Catholic Association, called it “amazing” that the trial of Philadelphia abortionist Kermit Gosnell “did not touch Nancy Pelosi's heart.”
“What we learned from the Gosnell trial and what we understand is going on inside other clinics is not only human-rights abuse' but it also puts women in harm’s way,” she said in a statement.
Gosnell was a Philadelphia late-term abortionist who was recently convicted of several counts of first-degree murder for the killing of infants who survived his abortion attempts, among other crimes and health violations.
During a June 13 press conference, Pelosi was questioned about the matter by a reporter who asked what the moral difference was between legal late-term abortions and the infanticides of babies of the same age committed by Gosnell.
The question came in reference to Pelosi's opposition to a bill introduced in Congress to ban late-term abortions after 20 weeks gestation unless doctors deemed the mother’s life or basic health were deemed to be at risk.
Pelosi did not answer the question, saying instead that the bill was an effort to ensure that “there will be no abortion in our country.”
She also framed the protection of late-term abortion as a matter of faith.
“As a practicing and respectful Catholic, this is sacred ground to me when we talk about this,” she said. “I don't think it should have anything to do with politics.”
Saturday, June 15, 2013
Morning Sigh
A sigh of longing
A sigh of love
A sigh bidding to my side
The Lord above.
Breathe in the Spirit.
Breathe in that Holy Ghost.
Breath deeply in the morning
The God of hosts.
Copyright 2013 Joann Nelander
All rights reserved
Friday, June 14, 2013
Support the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act
Michael Taylor
Executive Director :
Please support the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act (H.R. 1797) and oppose all weakening amendments. This bill represents a common-sense reform of abortion policy.
"It is anticipated that the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act (H.R. 1797) will be considered on the House floor as early as June 18.
Please urge your Representative to oppose all weakening amendments and to support the bill. Please click on the link below to send your message today!
Because there is substantial medical evidence that an unborn child is capable of experiencing pain at least by 20 weeks after fertilization, this measure asserts a compelling governmental interest in protecting unborn children from this stage.
In testimony before Congress, Dr. Maureen Condic, Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, University of Utah, School of Medicine, concluded: “In light of the scientific facts, the observations of medical professionals, our own experience of pain, and our indirect experience of others’ pain, we must conclude that there is indeed a ‘compelling governmental interest in protecting the lives of unborn children from the stage at which substantial medical evidence indicates that they are capable of feeling pain.’ And this unambiguously requires a 20 week fetus to be protected from pain, as proposed under H.R. 1797.”
Find your president and congressman:
- U.S. House of Representatives (Posted on 10/10/2002)
- U.S. Senate (Posted on 10/10/2002)
- White House (Posted on 10/10/2002)
Abortion Non-Discrimination Act (ANDA)
Born-Alive Infants Protection Act
Child Custody Protection Act/CIANA
District of Columbia Abortion Funding
Federal Employees' Health Benefits (FEHB)
Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE)
Medical Training Non-Discrimination (ACGME)
RU-486: Chemically Induced Abortion
New Advent: Watch closely, Catholic leaders: Australian Chief of Army demonstrates how you address sex abuse
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QaqpoeVgr8U?feature=player_embedded&w=640&h=360]
Thursday, June 13, 2013
Fix Me Up by Zach Sobiech
“Fix Me Up” Lyrics
Tell me something you never told before
Before I walk through the door, I adore you, I adore you
I do, I do
Smile with me and cry with me
I won't ever tell a soul
Hold my hand
I'll squeeze it back
And I'll never let go
Never give up, never look back
I won't give up I'll keep on trying
Dry your tears up, all your crying
Cannot fix me up my darling
Fix me up my darling
Twisty, turning winding path
I could listen to your laugh
As we tiptoe on these humble truths
I don't want to lose you
Show me how to love deeper than the surface, my friend
And you can show me what it means to have purpose
And I'll tell you again
Never give up, never look back
I won't give up I'll keep on trying
Dry your tears up, all your crying
Cannot fix me up my darling
Fix me up my darling
Woh Woh Woh….. Hold on
Don't you lose hope the sky's not falling
Please just listen 'cause I'll be calling
Stay with me just one more moment
I know you're in pain just please don't show it
One more moment, please
It's too late I'm afraid I have to leave
[Repeat]
Promise me, promise me that you'll…
Never give up, never look back
I won't give up I'll keep on trying
Dry your tears up, all your crying
Cannot fix me up my darling
Fix me up my darling
Fix Me Up by Zach Sobiech
“Fix Me Up” Lyrics
Tell me something you never told before
Before I walk through the door, I adore you, I adore you
I do, I do
Smile with me and cry with me
I won't ever tell a soul
Hold my hand
I'll squeeze it back
And I'll never let go
Never give up, never look back
I won't give up I'll keep on trying
Dry your tears up, all your crying
Cannot fix me up my darling
Fix me up my darling
Twisty, turning winding path
I could listen to your laugh
As we tiptoe on these humble truths
I don't want to lose you
Show me how to love deeper than the surface, my friend
And you can show me what it means to have purpose
And I'll tell you again
Never give up, never look back
I won't give up I'll keep on trying
Dry your tears up, all your crying
Cannot fix me up my darling
Fix me up my darling
Woh Woh Woh….. Hold on
Don't you lose hope the sky's not falling
Please just listen 'cause I'll be calling
Stay with me just one more moment
I know you're in pain just please don't show it
One more moment, please
It's too late I'm afraid I have to leave
[Repeat]
Promise me, promise me that you'll…
Never give up, never look back
I won't give up I'll keep on trying
Dry your tears up, all your crying
Cannot fix me up my darling
Fix me up my darling
Clouds by Zach Sobiech
Lyrics to Zach's Clouds:
Well I fell down, down, down
Into this dark and lonely hole
There was no one there to care about me anymore
And I needed a way to climb and grab a hold of the edge
You were sitting there holding a rope.
And we'll go up, up, up
But I'll fly a little higher
We'll go up in the clouds because the view is a little nicer
Up here my dear
It won't be long now, it won't be long now.
When I get back on land
Well I'll never get my chance
Be ready to live and it'll be ripped right out of my hands
Maybe someday we'll take a little ride
We'll go up, up, up and everything will be just fine.
And we'll go up, up, up
But I'll fly a little higher
We'll go up in the clouds because the view is a little nicer
Up here my dear.
It won't be long now, it won't be long now
If only I had a little bit more time
If only I had a little bit more time with you.
We could go up, up, up
And take that little ride
And sit there holding hands
And everything would be just right
And maybe someday I'll see you again
We'll float up in the clouds and we'll never see the end.
And we'll go up, up, up
But I'll fly a little higher
We'll go up in the clouds because the view is a little nicer
Up here my dear
It won't be long now, it won't be long now.
BY ZACH SOBIECH
Saturday, June 8, 2013
Mary stored up all these things in her heart
From a sermon by Saint Lawrence Justinian, bishop Mary stored up all these things in her heart
While Mary contemplated all she had come to know through reading, listening and observing, she grew in faith, increased in merits, and was more illuminated by wisdom and more consumed by the fire of charity. The heavenly mysteries were opened to her, and she was filled with joy; she became fruitful by the Spirit, was being directed toward God, and watched over protectively while on earth. So remarkable are the divine graces that they elevate one from the lowest depths to the highest summit, and transform one to a greater holiness. How entirely blessed was the mind of the Virgin which, through the indwelling and guidance of the Spirit, was always and in every way open to the power of the Word of God. She was not led by her own senses, nor by her own will; thus she accomplished outwardly through her body what wisdom from within gave to her faith. It was fitting for divine Wisdom, which created itself a home in the Church, to use the intervention of the most blessed Mary in guarding the law, purifying the mind, giving an example of humility and providing a spiritual sacrifice.
Imitate her, O faithful soul. Enter into the deep recesses of your heart so that you may be purified spiritually and cleansed from your sins. God places more value on good will in all we do than on the works themselves. Therefore, whether we give ourselves to God in the work of contemplation or whether we serve the needs of our neighbor by good works, we accomplish these things because the love of Christ urges us on. The acceptable offering of the spiritual purification is accomplished not in a man-made temple but in the recesses of the heart where the Lord Jesus freely enters.
Thursday, June 6, 2013
Don’t Be Good
If you think being good is good enough, you’re not good enough. The problem with being good is that it is putting the cart before the horse. We see people who are holy like Mother Teresa and we notice that she does good. She feeds hungry people and rescues babies from the trash heap. So we are inspired and we decide to be good too. So we get involved in the local soup kitchen and we busy ourselves helping the needy and that’s all well and good, but we forget that before Mother Teresa went out on the streets she spent an hour in contemplative prayer. She was more than good. She was holy.
via Don’t Be Good.
Abortion Battle Kicks Into High Gear in New York | Daily News | NCRegister.com
The release of the Women’s Equality Act drew a sharp response from the Church in New York and its pro-life allies. A statement signed by Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York and the bishops of the New York Catholic Conference declared Cuomo was expanding access to abortion, easing all restrictions on late-term abortion and leaving women without any legal protection from forced or coerced abortion.
“As the pastors of more than 7.2 million Catholic New Yorkers, we fully oppose this measure and urge all our faithful people to do the same, vigorously and unapologetically,” they stated. “We invite all women and men of good will to join in this effort and defeat this serious attempt to expand abortion availability in our state and to codify the most radical abortion proposals of any state in the nation.”
The Register obtained a copy of an analysis of Cuomo’s bill prepared for the New York Catholic Conference, which indicates the Women’s Equality Act expands abortion even more than the language from the Reproductive Health Act, which many pro-life advocates believed would be reflected in the bill. The Reproductive Health Act is a stand-alone bill that would make abortion a “fundamental right” in New York state law, but it has never achieved enough support on its own in the state Legislature to become law.
“The new language accomplishes the same result with less limitations,” the analysis notes. It explains that the Women’s Equality Act, in adopting Roe’s broad health exception (which Roe’s companion Doe v. Bolton case said includes “all factors — physical, emotional, psychological, familial and the woman’s age — relevant to the well-being of the patient”) would essentially mean abortion on demand up to the moment of birth.
The analysis notes the state Health Department would have the power to qualify non-doctors to perform abortions and even late-term abortions with the removal of the “duly licensed physician” requirement in the state penal law. Moreover, the analysis says that removal of abortion from the penal law would prevent prosecutors from going after domestic abusers who directly cause a pregnant woman to lose her unborn infant.
The analysis adds that the concerns over conscience protections remain, since the bill does not define whether “health-care provider” includes health-care institutions, individuals or both. It says that Catholic schools and charities could still find themselves faced with the choice of referring for abortion or losing state contracts and licenses that keep their doors open.
Wednesday, June 5, 2013
Live Henceforth in My Love
Pour over me,
Around me,
And through and through.
It is You,
Who plans for me,
Accomplishes this work,
And I
For my part,
Desire,
And yield,
My whole life,
Loving You.
©2013 Joann Nelander All rights reserved
Sunday, June 2, 2013
Sorrow in the Midst of Joy
In the midst of joy,
I bear many sorrows.
For the perfection
Of the Trinity's All Holy
Work of Love,
I place my longing,
My yearning,
Next to your perfect sorrow.
May my cries
Pierce your Immaculate Heart,
O Holy Mother,
As you behold your Son,
In His Dying.
What good can come of sorrow?
You, Queen Mother,
Who sit enthroned
Beside His throne,
Sharing the sweetness
Of Love's fulfillment,
Know,
And count it all joy.
The One Son,
The One Christ,
Bears Mankind,
As He bore the Cross.
Savor the shed tears
And offer them,
As you did your own.
I await the morning,
The bright dawning
Of Love's true laughter.
©2013 Joann Nelander
All rights reserved
Intimacy of Prayer
Who can fathom the intimacy of prayer?
Your eyes never leave me.
Your Heart is ever open to my sighs.
You wait, watching to catch my eye.
You watch, waiting for a return of love ,
And suffer my distraction.
You listen for my footsteps.
You long to hear my voice,
And Your Heart leaps,
When I whisper Your Name.
Who can penetrate
The devotion of Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
To this poor work of Your Hand,
Waiting, waiting, waiting,
For the final touches of Your Love?
©2013 Joann Nelander
All rights reserved