Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton is recognized as the first American born Saint (28 August, 1774 - 4 January, 1821), she was raised in the Episcopalian Church which during those times, was much more conservative than what you see today.
At that time the Catholic Church in America was undergoing persecutions.
The influx of Catholic Immigrants from Europe was beginning in full swing. The Catholic Church went from something like 15,000 to 17,000 thousand to over 20,000,000 in a short period of time.
To the Protestants, this was seen as a threat to their vision of a Protestant Nation. Catholic Churches in New York and Philadelphia were ransacked and burned to the ground, convents were attacked by Protestant mobs.
Protestant Universities began to push Anti-Catholic belief's using misrepresentations from Maria Monk and others that still have affect today. Even though all this was vindicated by the individuals themselves.
People like Jack Chick and Tony Alamo are among those who still push this Anti-Catholic rhetoric. Anti-Catholic sentiment have always been a recognized sport in America from several groups such as the fundamentalist Protestant to the Humanist Secularist Atheist.
Such was the time of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton. Her Husband died in Italy as a result of a terrible illness. Elizabeth would be exposed to the Catholic Faith as she stayed with her husband, William Magee Seton who died sometime in 1803.
St. Elizabeth would eventually convert to the Catholic Church on 14 March, 1805.
She began to build a hospital but because of the anti-Catholic sentiments that was the environment, it did not succeed.
Through their urgings and support, St. Elizabeth would establish the Catholic School system, she would establish a community of Sisters at Emmitsburg.
They would eventually become part of the Daughters of Charity after 1850. She was dedicated to the Eucharist, the Virgin Mary, and the scriptures.
Of her many attributes, courage is definitely high on the list along with faithfulness. She was a strong women during a time that had many demands. Elizabeth was also a Mother, who lost two daughters.
Prayer was her lifeline. Taking a passage from St. Paul, St. Elizabeth once said, "We must pray literally without ceasing—without ceasing—in every occurrence and employment of our lives...that prayer of the heart which is independent of place or situation, or which is rather a habit of lifting up the heart to God as in a constant communication with Him".
St. Elizabeth was canonized a Saint by Pope John XXIII on March 17, 1963. It is reported that one of her favorite Scriptures was Psalms 23. That happens to be one of mine as well. I would sing this Psalms as a hymn that my Son's had put together musically in our "Final Hour" days.
Daniel 9:24-27: "Seventy weeks are decreed for your people and for your holy city:
The transgression will stop and sin will end, guilt will be expiated,
Everlasting justice will be introduced, vision and prophecy ratified and a most holy will be annointed.
Know and understand this:
From the utterence of the word that Jerusalem was to be rebuilt
Until one who is anointed and a leader, there shall be seven weeks. During sixty-two weeks it shall be rebuilt, With streets and trenches, in time of affliction.
After the sixty-two weeks an anointed shall be cut down when he does not possess the city;
And the people of a leader who will come shall destroy the sanctuary.
Then the end shall come like a torrent; until the end there shall be war, the desolation that is decreed.
For one week he shall make a firm compact with the many;
Half the week he shall abolish sacrifice and oblation;
On the temple wing shall be the horrible abomination until the ruin that is decreed is poured out upon the horror."
The above is a prophecy that presents a very important time-table to very key events concerning Christ.
I want to begin that seven is regarded as the perfect number of Christ. Seven represents God's action in the things He has made.
It has symbolic meaning throughout scripture. In the above scripture, what is factored in is that every seventh year on the Hebrew calender was a sabbatical year.
After every seventh set of seven years there would be a year of Jubilee (read Leviticus 25:1-17).
Daniel's prophecy will focus around the seventy sets of seven.
In Hebrew, shabua is the word for seven. This calculates to dozens which is best understood as "times" or "times periods" or seasons.
To the Jews of Daniels time, this would be easily understood. The groups of seven are refered to as "weeks".
The seventy weeks that Daniel referes to is then seen as seventy weeks. In this prophecy of Daniel, the sevens appear four times.
In this text, a week is viewed as a decade representing ten years. The sixty-two weeks in this context is seen as 430 years. The whole complete prophecy of Daniel then covers 490 years. This covers:
604 B.C. Daniel is deported to Babylon
539 B.C. Babylon conquered by Medo-Persian empire
457 B.C. Persian decree to rebuild Jerusalem
444 B.C. Nehemiah begins the rebuilding
167 B.C. Greek Antiochus desecrates the Temple
142 B.C. Jews win independence
54 B.C. Roman Pompey sacks Temple
10 B.C. Herod's Temple completed
4 B.C. Incarnation, the birth of the Lord
30 A.D. Passion of the Lord
64 A.D. Nero torches Rome
67-70 A.D. Titus destroys Temple
136 A.D. Jerusalem destroyed
476 A.D. Rome fell David B. Currie Historical Timeline (taken from his book -
Rapture: The End-Times Error That Leaves the Bible Behind
This is very important because this covers from Daniels deportation to Babylon to the fall of the Temple of Jerusalem. That is the seventy-weeks predicted by Daniel at great accuracy.
Seventy weeks are decreed for your people and for your holy city: This is the Jews under the Covenant and the Holy City is Jerusalem.
The transgression will stop and sin will end, guilt will be expiated, Everlasting justice will be introduced, vision and prophecy ratified, and a most holy will be anointed. This is the ministry and coming of Jesus Christ,"the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world".
From the utterence of the word that Jerusalem was to be rebuilt Until the one who is anointed and a leader, there shall be seven weeks. From Daniel to the rebuilding of the Temple (604 B.C. to 444 B.C.) Jesus is the anointed one. This will be seven weeks.
During the sixty-two weeks it shall be rebuilt, with streets and trenches in time of affiction. This takes us from Nehemiah rebuilding the Temple in 444 B.C. to Antiochus who desecrates the Temple 167 B.C. After the sixty-two weeks an anointed shall be cut down when he does not possess the city; Jesus has arrived in the first advent and his entry into Jerusalem will end with his death. This is marked 33 (April 3) A.D. for His passion.
And the people of a leader who will come shall destroy the sanctuary. This is when Titus destroys the Temple in between 67-70 A.D.
Then the end shall come like a torrent; until the end there will be war, the desolation that is decreed. With the destruction of the Temple came the fall of Jerusalem. The war lasted three and a half years bringing great anguish on the Jews.
For one week he shall abolish sacrifice and oblation; Jesus ends the Old Covenant's animal sacrifice as His sacrifice begins a New Covenant in His blood (Matthew 26:26).
On the Temple wing shall be the horrible abomination until the ruin that is decreed is poured out upon the horror. The Jews are then scattered and the Romans set up their eagle over the ruins of the Temple.
As the Old Testament is being literally destroyed by the Roman army, the Catholic Church had survived the Great Tribulation. Remember Our Lord warned His people to take flight and so the Church was not in Jerusalem when it fell. The Catholic Church moved out setting up it's headquarters in Rome! Wow! Now this is going to be fascinating!!!!
From Rome, the Catholic Church begins a spiritual rule that will reign until Jesus returns. Those who have gone before us marked with the sign of faith continues to pray to God for the Church."Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God".
Notice the"Great Cloud of Witnesses",these are the ones who were great in faith. Hebrews 11 is known as the "faith" chapter. Many of these were raised from the dead at the Resurrection. They are not oblivious to what is going on today. They are pulling for us, they are praying for us, they are with us.
"And when he (Angel) had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and with golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints; and they sang a new song, saying, 'Worthy art thou to take the scroll and to open it's seal, for thou wast slain and by thy blood didst ransom men for God from every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and hast made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they reign on earth".
Notice that Jesus established a kingdom with priests who are empowered on the earth. This is the Catholic Faith. Also notice the incense and the prayer of the saints. This is a heavenly vision, yet this is happening on the earth as well. The Mass recieves that spiritual benefit of the heavenly worship and through it we are connected with the Saints in heaven.
"When the Lamb (Jesus) opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. Then I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them. And another angel came and stood at the altar with a golden censer; and he was given much incense to mingle with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar before the throne; and the smoke of the incense rose with the prayers of the saints from the hand of the angel before God".
Notice the incense, the prayer coming from the saints upon the altar before the throne of God. The Saints intercession to God on mankinds behalf. It is here that angels always behold the face of Our Father on our behalf. That is a great reason why you do not want to despise one of the Lord's children and cause them to sin. Unrepentant sin will be brutally punished. The Catholic Church was founded by Jesus Christ whom Daniel so clearly outlined the Lord's coming. Knowing this, let us follow the teachings of the Catholic Faith knowing full well that Jesus is speaking through the "Bark Of Peter"
(Editors note) Just recently the story of another martyr killed by Muslim Liberals. In watching the video at the end of this article, it was hard for me not to hold back tears. I'm not really a crier, but upon watching it, you will see what I mean. Please keep the Church in suffering in your prayers. I updated a tribute to one such martyr at the end of the article.
This great and glorious day, ALL SAINTS DAY, listening to FOX and FRIENDS, the report of 52 Iraqi Catholics who were held hostage by Islamic Terrorists (Middle Eastern Liberals) to include two Priests, 10 police officers, and several women.
There were about 120 people at Our Lady of Deliverance church when these extremist Muslim terrorist wearing suicide vests stormed the Church.
Many people living in Iraq and the Middle East are crying for freedom.
Many Christians are living in silence not coming out with their Christian faith because of this kind of Islamic threat. American's have had debate recently over the subject of Muslims Terrorists. The liberal talking heads in our Country want to make this a politically correct talking piece.
Joy Bahaar of the VIEW walked off the stage with Whoopi Goldberg at Bill O'Riely's indignation over Muslims (Extremism). Ron Williams was fired by NPR because of a statement he made of Muslims on airplanes. Yet, these same people have said terrible things about Christians.
I'm afraid this terrible story of the true martyrs of Our Lady of Deliverance will be ignored or found on page 10, but these little ones will forever be held in the arms of the Lord.
I have seen first hand this kind of evil from Islamic Terrorists (Middle Eastern Liberals). They would take teenage boys and kill them, then use their bodies placing explosives in them to blow them up when people got near them. They will place suicide vests on and go to a child's soccer game and kill themselves. They will blow themselves up in a crowded market place, their intent is to kill. I was near Baghdad serving in one of the JSS positions when Middle Eastern Liberals attacked 6 Catholic Churches in Baghdad.
Our Knight's of Columbus was trying to help families of hundreds of Iraqi's preparing for their first Holy Communion as Catholic Priests fled the Country for their lives. This is the hard cold facts living there for Christians. The Seed of the Martyrs bear witness to the Lord upon all the earth.
Today is ALL SAINTS DAY, please remember our Brothers and Sisters who are the persecuted Church. May their deaths not be in vain and may the Church here in America have the strength to stand up for what is right in America.
Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray; and do Thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Host - by the Divine Power of God - cast into hell, satan and all the evil spirits, who roam throughout the world seeking the ruin of souls.
Amen.
The following is from Associated Press:
BAGHDAD – Iraqi security forces stormed a Baghdad church where militants had taken an entire congregation hostage for four hours, leaving at least 52 people dead, including a priest, Iraqi officials said Monday.
It was not immediately clear whether the hostages died at the hands of the attackers or during the rescue late on Sunday night in an affluent neighborhood of the capital.
The incident began when militants wearing suicide vests and armed with grenades attacked the Iraqi stock exchange at dusk Sunday before turning their attention to the nearby Our Lady of Deliverance church — one of Baghdad's main Catholic places of worship — taking about 120 Christians hostage.
Maj. Gen. Hussein Ali Kamal, the deputy interior minister, said 52 people were killed and 67 wounded, in the bloodbath. Officials said at least one priest and 10 policemen were among the dead. Many of the wounded were women.
A Christian member of parliament on Monday described the Iraqi rescue operation as "not professional," saying "it was a hasty action that prompted the terrorists to kill the worshippers."
"We have no clear picture yet whether the worshippers were killed by the security forces bullets or by terrorists, but what we know is that most of them were killed when the security forces started to storm the church," Younadem Kana said.
Video footage from an American drone that was overhead during the attack showed a black plume of smoke followed by flashes from inside the building before what appears to be soldiers going in. U.S. forces often supply air support to Iraqi forces conducting operations on the ground, feeding them video footage of what American drones see from the air.
The casualty information was confirmed by police and officials at hospitals where the dead and wounded were taken.
There were conflicting accounts about the number of attackers involved in the assault, with Baghdad military spokesman Maj. Gen. Qassim al-Moussawi saying Sunday night that security forces killed eight, while the U.S. military said between five and seven died.
Two police officers on the scene, however, say only three attackers were killed and another seven arrested afterward.
Outside the Syrian Catholic church Monday morning, Raed Hadi leaned against his car on top of which rested a casket holding the body of his cousin, who was killed in the siege. Hadi was waiting for the police to let him onto the church grounds to bury his relative. He railed against Iraqi authorities.
"It was a massacre in there and now they are cleaning it up," said Raed. "We Christians don't have enough protection. ... What shall I do now? Leave and ask for asylum?"
Police pushed back onlookers from around the church by erecting a barbed wire fence but residents and people from the Christian community claimed that it was too little, too late.
A cryptically worded statement posted late Sunday on a militant website allegedly by the Islamic State of Iraq appeared to claim responsibility for the attack. The group, which is linked to al-Qaida in Iraq, said it would "exterminate Iraqi Christians" if Muslim women in Egypt were not freed.
It specifically mentioned two women in Egypt that extremists maintain have converted to Islam and are being held against their will in Egypt. The two are wives of priests and are believed to have converted to Islam to leave their husbands since divorce is banned by Egypt's Coptic Church. One woman disappeared in 2004 and another in July.
Egypt's Christians had maintained they were kidnapped and staged rallies for their release. Both were later recovered by police, denied any conversions and were then spirited away to distant monasteries.
In the message, the militants claim the two are still Muslim and called upon the Vatican, which held a meeting earlier in October to discuss the fate of Christians in the Middle East, to release the women.
"We direct our speech to the Vatican and say that as you met with Christians of the Mideast a few days ago to support them and back them, now you have to pressure them to release our sisters, otherwise death will reach you all," the message said.
Iraqi Christians, who have been frequent targets for Sunni insurgents, have left in droves since the 2003 U.S.-led war. Catholics used to represent 2.89 percent of the population in 1980; by 2008 they were just 0.89 percent.
One Iraqi man who identified himself only as Abu Sami for security reasons, said his wife was inside the church during the attack. Although she was unharmed, he said he feared that the church siege signaled a new round of violence by militants against Iraq's Christian community.
"I expect the coming attacks will be worse in the future since the government is doing nothing to protect us. We are peaceful people and never harmed any of our fellow countrymen, so we do not understand the reasons behind such evil attacks," he said.
"Many Christians now believe that they do not have any hope in Iraq and the best thing to survive is to seek another country to live in," he said.
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Associated Press writers Sinan Salaheddin in Baghdad and Sameer N. Yacoub in Amman, Jordan contributed to this report.
They are calling him John Paul the Great, and it is pretty tough to argue. Now, he is one step closer to sainthood.
What a model of holiness this man was. What a reflection of Jesus.
This humble servant of God was the third longest serving Pope in the storied history of the Catholic Church (Saint Peter, Pius IX) which may have been hard to imagine when he followed John Paul I who served a mere 34 days.
What most of us will remember from this giant of a man is his gentle spirit, his undying devotion, his boundless fear and his constant admonition echoing the words of Jesus; "Be not afraid" In the end, we remember the man who emulated his Lord by patient suffering.
What John Paul II personified was a walking, talking refutation of Catholic haters who would paint the Pope as arrogant, sinful and worldly. Billy Graham once called John Paul II the "moralist man on earth" and, if anything, it was an understatement. JP II exemplified everything it is to be a true Christian- goodness, purity, courage, forgiveness and humility. The world became a poorer place when he left us in April of 2005.
We can now rejoice that his cause of sainthood has taken another step. On May 1st (The feast of the Divine Mercy), John Paul II will be beatified by Pope Benedict XVI.
Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton is recognized as the first American born Saint (28 August, 1774 - 4 January, 1821), she was raised in the Episcopalian Church which during those times, was much more conservative than what you see today.
St. Elizabeth would eventually convert to the Catholic Church on 14 March, 1805. 
