Editors Note-St. Barbara's Feast Day is December 4th and I want to re post this article in honor of her feast day. However, just a note that the Walking Dead is currently in season 4. It will resume airing on 9 February 2014 for those interested.
This past Sunday, I watched the final episode of "The Walking Dead" and I was shocked when one of the main original characters was killed.
Andrea (Laurie Holden) did not survive the season 3 finale, kind of sad when you get interested in following the story line and the characters.
Andrea had become a fictitious hero as she tried to save lives.
With this being said, this past Saturday, I traveled through Austin Texas and to San Antonio to celebrate the Easter Vigil and Sponsor one of my former Solders, SSG Cardenas, into the Catholic Faith.
What a great blessing this event was for all concerned. While in Austin, I bought the movie, "Saint Barbara, Convert and Martyr of the Early Church" and I popped it out and watched it last night.
As I watched the movie, I recalled my deployment in Korea with the 2nd Battalion 17th Field Artillery Regiment.
I quickly learned how important St. Barbara meant to the traditions of the Artillery. St. Barbara is recognized as the "Patron Saint" of artillery and so I watched the movie with great interest to see the connection.
The Movie "Saint Barbara" is presented by Ignatius Press, produced by LUX VIDE as a foreign film. I had to catch the English sub-titles to keep up with the story, but all in all, I was able to get into the movie.
To give some background on St. Barbara, she was born sometime near 283 A.D. raised in Nicomedia, Asia Minor.
Her Father, Dioscrus, was a strong Roman Govenor who had a hatred for the Catholic Faith. He was a devout Pagan who believed in the power of Rome. He considered the Church as a threat against the "divine" Emperor.
Despite all his efforts, St. Barbara would herself follow the footsteps of her Mother and become a Christian. Dioscrus built a tower intending to close St. Barbara off from the world.
She placed in this tower three windows representing the Holy Trinity. Notice that St. Patrick utilized the Shamrock and St. Boniface used the upside down pine tree to teach the Trinity.
Now I learn that St. Barbara used the three windows to signify the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
I have often taught people showing that fractions, decimals, and percentages can be used in mathematics to get the same truth. Also I have compared the Trinity with H2O showing three forms, liquid, steam, and ice forming a three in one substance.
Others can use other different tools to teach the Triune God, and you can see that the Church has done this all along. St. Barbara would eventually become a Christian and placed the three windows in the tower.
Because of the terrible persecutions of Diocletion, Decius, and others, the Christians would suffer greatly.
When St. Barbara came forward as a Christian, she refused to marry the prefect of the province, Martinianus, who brutally tortured her.
There are several miracles that surround this great Saint. The story is told that her Father, Dioscrus, upon learning of her conversion to the Catholic Faith, he drew is own sword to kill her.
Just as the Lord took St. Phillip (Acts 8:39) and moved him, the Lord also protected St. Barbara (through her prayers).
This is much the same way God saved St. Peter (Acts 12:6-11). The Lord gave St. Barbara an opening of escape miraculously transporting her to a mountain range where she found the company of shepherds.
This miracle is also seen in modern times in the saintly life of Padre Pio.
Dioscorus pursued St. Barbara and had her brought back to Nicomedia and placed before the prefect Martinianus.
She was imprisoned in a dark prison cell where she was bathed in light, much in the same way that the German Guard testified about St. Maximilian Kolbe (WWII), who gave his life for others in a Nazi Concentration camp.
She was terribly tortured each day only to be healed during the night. Torches that were used to burn her had no affect, much like the miracle that took place at the martydom of St. Polycarp (155 A.D.), when fire had no affect on him.
Ultimately, St. Barbara would be beheaded by her own Father. I can't imagine this scene, as a Father, this is unbelievable.
Her martydom was December 5, 305 A.D. under the reign of Emperor Maximainus and prefect of Marcien (286-305). At her tomb, miracles continue through the intercession of this heavenly Saint who loved God above all else.
St. Barbara is the Patron Saint of artillery probably because of her Father, who was struck by lightning after killing his Daughter.
She has been honored by many nations as a Patron of their cannon, explosives, and artillery.
After watching the movie of St. Barbara, I was struck of how Andrea (The Walking Dead) and St. Barbara were prevalent in my mind.
One was fantasy, the other real. One suffered through tribulation in fantasy, the other suffered for real.
I love how St. Barbara had experience many miracles and signs from the Lord that have been experienced by other great saints.
God is real and he loves you as he does St. Barbara. I encourage you to take what is real and grow in His truths as given to us by His Holy Church. The following is the trailer for St. Barbara, you will have to read the English, but it is still good!
Recently I have been challenged by Anti-Catholics if there were any proof regarding the Catholic teaching on the Blessed Virgin Mary's Assumption into Heaven.
Their question is not really coming from a true commitment to the truth of the teaching, but rather a stubborn rejection of the doctrine.
Through their doctrine, "Sola Scriptura", they do not believe that you can prove the Assumption of Mary through Scripture.
I will respond here recognizing that the Bible does not always address everything verbatim, like a textbook in a college setting, much of the bible speaks implicitly and at the same time it can speak explicitly.
That is why the Lord left a Church of authority, to be able to explain the tradition of the Church trough authority and scripture. Some things are well grounded, somethings need elaboration and understanding.
Regarding Mary's Assumption into Heaven, there are basically two traditions, one from Ephesus, the other from Jerusalem. We know that John took Mary into his house beginning from the cross.
We also know that St. John took Mary with him to Ephesus which is the foundation for the first tradition of the Assumption.
Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich (1774–1824), through a vision of the Lord, Jesus Christ, was able to pinpoint the very place that The Virgin Mary and St. John lived over-looking the large city of Ephesus.
This tradition of Mary's Assumption coming from here in Ephesus is related to their claim of the blessed Virgin Mary.
The most important tradition of the where the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is Jerusalem. That at the end of her life here on earth, St. John brought Mary back to Jerusalem where she would enter into her eternal joy with Jesus and the host of Heaven. This is where the Catholic Church honors this event at the Church of the Domition in Jerusalem.
From the Scripture, I will draw upon the text of Psalms 45, I think we can see some important clues regarding the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. We see a glimpse of this heavenly glory with the Messiah (Jesus Christ) in heaven in Psalms 45. In verse 9-10 we see a very important scripture relating to the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of Jesus. It reads, "daughters of kings are among your ladies of honor; at your right hand stand the Queen in gold of Ophir".
Can you argue that Mary assumed this position during the life of Christ? I do not believe there is any indication that Jesus acted as King among the people in this life. It wasn't time yet, even when the people were ready to make Jesus King, he gives them the Bread of Life Discourse when many abandoned him.
Mary would technically be Queen at the very moment of the Incarnation. However, she would not be recognized until after the Lord institutes the Church and the Resurrection.
Psalms 45:1-9 refers to Jesus and verses 9-17 concerns this Queen. Did St. John witness the Assumption of Mary, tradition teaches yes he did, from Scripture he writes:
"And a great portent (sign) appeared in heaven, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars" (Revelation 12:1).
Clearly, St. John recognizes the Blessed Virgin Mary as "Queen" of Heaven as he gives a vision of this Woman much like the Queen found in Psalms 45. That St. John sees the event of the Assumption of Mary with Psalms 45.
Psalms 45 continues to say, "Hear, O daughter, consider, and incline your ear; forget your people and your father's house; and the king will desire your beauty. Since he is your Lord, bow to him; the people of Tyre will sue your favor with gifts, the richest of the people with all kinds of wealth. The princess is decked in her chamber with gold-woven robes; in many colored robes she is led to the king, with her virgin companions, her escort, in her train. With joy and gladness they are led along as they enter the palace of the king. Instead of your fathers shall by your sons; you will make them princes in all the earth. I will cause your name to be celebrated in all generations; therefore the peoples will praise you forever and ever" (Psalms 45:9-17).
Notice that the "rich" seeks her favor, just like Adonjah had first sought Bathsheba's intercession. The Queen of Psalms 45 will be remembered and celebrated in all generations, and the people will praise her forever. Is there any other woman in history that can fit this description? Hillary Clinton?
This praise will not be worship that is given to God alone, but it will be honor and petition. Notice what Mother Mary says, "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my savior, for he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden. For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. And his mercy is on those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm, he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts, he has put down the mighty from their thrones, and exalted those of low degree; he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent empty away. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his posterity for ever" (Luke 1:46-55).
Only the True Church of the Living God will echo St. John's vision for all time. The Church that Jesus founded, the Catholic Church, will proclaim the Assumption of Mary until the Lord returns to judge the living and the dead.
As I have already stated, all of the teachings of the Church can be found to substantiate itself through her tradition and scripture. This means that all the teachings of the Church can be found in scripture either explicitly or implicitly.
An Anti-Catholic asks me a series of questions, "Let us test this assertion. Where does the Bible support Mariology, such as in the beliefs that:: (a) Mary is sinless, such as in the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception, in light of Luke 1:46-47?
You have an Archangel appearing to a lowly handmaid. The Archangel identifies this woman as "full of grace". St. John had two instances where he had angels appear to him, what did he do, he bowed down to them. I think that it takes a special grace of God to distinguish a vision of the Lord, an angel and a devil. Yet , we have an Archangel appearing to Mary announcing the good news.
Jesus is the only other person refereed to as "full of grace" (John 1:14). Jesus is full of grace because He is God, Mary is full of grace because of God's protection. She is the woman of Genesis 3:15.
Mary was chosen to be the Mother of our Lord from the beginning. When Mary was conceived, the Lord preserved her free from original sin. This is called the "Immaculate Conception". Do you believe Satan had his hand on Mary, even as when our Lord was in her womb?
St. Irenaeus referred to Mary as the "Ark of the New Covenant". He made the typology between Eve and Mary "Against Heresies" as St. Paul did with Adam and Jesus (Romans 5:12). This reveals the perspective and role Mary had in the early Church.
(b) Mary is the Theotokos, or the "Mother of God," if the doctrine of the hypo-static union is not found within written Scripture?
Luke 1:43 states, "And how does this happen to me, that the Mother of my Lord should come to me"? Do you believe Jesus is God or are you one that the Second Council of Constantinople was directed at?
What is the difference in calling Mary "Mother of my Lord" and "Mother of God"? The Catholic Church at the Council of Ephesus in 431 A.D. taught that this woman is “in virtue of the incarnation, truly theotokos, Mother of God.”
(c) Mary was assumed into heaven?
"This dogma is rooted in the biblical depiction of Mary as the New Eve (St. Ireneaus-Against Heresies-189 A.D.). Death is the result of the Fall. If Mary is the New Eve, who shares in the New Adam's victory over sin, then she should also share in His victory over death and physical decay.
St. Ignatius and PolyCarp, followers through St. John, taught St. Ireneaus. When it come right down to it, I personally prefer to listen to the stream closest to the source, it is much more pure than listening to these "Street Preachers" who are founded on 20th Century Protestantism.
It was also not fitting that the body which was sanctified to bear God Incarnate should see corruption. So God took His New Ark into heaven. In Revelations 12:1, right after his vision of the ark of the covenant in heaven (11:19), St. John sees a great Woman: the New Eve, the Virgin Mary, Image and Model of the Church. This verse strongly insinuates the Assumption of Mary".
Revelation is known to carry symbolic messages that are hard to understand. The woman of Rev 12 is the Virgin Mary.
It may have implications for the Church, but it is Mary as she "labored to give birth", "She gave birth to a son", "Her child was caught up to God and His throne" (Ascension of Jesus), "The woman herself fled into the desert where she had a place prepared by God..."
Considering that Mary was taken to a "place" prepared by God after the Lord's Ascension, this could not be Egypt. This is some kind of typology of the Exodus. St. John wrote this about 40 years after Mary had Assumed into heaven and it is reasonable to recognize that John witnessed or knew well of it.
If you compare Genesis 3:15 with Revelation 12 you see the "woman", the "offspring", the dragon or serpent, the intensity of childbearing, and this war that rages with "the rest of her offspring"!
After the Early Church Fathers and during the time of some of the Early Councils, the following comes from the Saints:
"If therefore it might come to pass before the power of your grace, it has appeared right to us your servants that, as you, having overcome death does reign in glory, so you should raise up the body of your mother and take her with you, rejoicing into heaven. Then said the Savior [Jesus]: 'Be it done according to your will" (Pseudo-Melito The Passing of the Virgin 16:2-17; 300 AD).
"Therefore the Virgin is immortal to this day, seeing that he who had dwelt in her transported her to the regions of her assumption" (Timothy of Jerusalem Homily on Simeon and Anna; 400 AD).
"And from that time forth all knew that the spotless and precious body had been transferred to paradise" (John the Theologian, The Falling Asleep of Mary; 400 AD)
"The Apostles took up her body on a bier and placed it in a tomb; and they guarded it, expecting the Lord to come. And behold, again the Lord stood by them; and the holy body having been received, He commanded that it be taken in a cloud into paradise: where now, rejoined to the soul, [Mary] rejoices with the Lord's chosen ones..." (Gregory of Tours, Eight Books of Miracles, 1:4; 575-593 A.D.)
"As the most glorious Mother of Christ, our Savior and God and the giver of life and immortality, has been endowed with life by him, she has received an eternal incorruptibility of the body together with him who has raised her up from the tomb and has taken her up to himself in a way known only to him." (Modestus of Jerusalem, Encomium in dormitionnem Sanctissimae Dominae nostrae Deiparae semperque Virginis Mariae (PG 86-II,3306, before A.D. 634)
"It was fitting...that the most holy-body of Mary, God-bearing body, receptacle of God, divinized, incorruptible, illuminated by divine grace and full glory...should be entrusted to the earth for a little while and raised up to heaven in glory, with her soul pleasing to God." (Theoteknos of Livias, Homily on the Assumption; before 650 A.D.)
(d) Mary is the Mediatrix of all graces?
Let’s take a look at the church’s teaching. One of the titles by which Mary is invoked is ‘mediatrix.’ This title, according to Vatican Council II (’62 - ’65), ‘neither takes away from nor adds anything to the dignity and efficacy of Christ the one mediator.’
What the title ‘mediatrix’ truly conveys is that this woman, through her own free will, chose to become the mother of the promised one. (See Luke 1:26-38.)
Her role in redemption began with her ‘yes’ to God, and so she became the vehicle in which the Son was sent from heaven (John 3:16).
This woman’s obedience and faith allowed the door to be opened for you and me. Mary was chosen for God’s plan, and she followed it as called. She is honored as ‘model of the church,’ ‘daughter of Zion,’ ‘the new Eve,’ ‘ark of the new covenant.’ The Council of Ephesus in 431 A.D. taught that this woman is “in virtue of the incarnation, truly Theotokos, Mother of God.”
(c) Mary is the "Queen of Heaven," in light of Jeremiah 7:17-19 and Jeremiah 44:15-19?
Mary is not "Queen of heaven" in light of Jeremiah 7:17-19 and Jeremiah 44:15-19! She is Queen of heaven in light of Psalms 45:10, 1 Kings 2:19. Jesus is the rightful King in the line of David, the Queen is not the wife, but the mother is!
Compare the woman of Psalm 45 with the Woman of Luke 1: Psalm 45:18, "I will make your name memorable through all generations; therefore shall nations praise you forever and ever". Luke 1:48 "For He has looked upon His handmaid's lowliness; behold, from now on will all ages call me blessed". Psalms 45:6-8 are identified in the book of Hebrews 1:8-9 showing that Jesus is the fulfillment of this prophecy of the Messianic King, Mary, His Mother through her faithfulness, would become the Mother of the Church (Rev 12:17). She is the "great sign (that) appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars" (Rev 12:1).
I find it ironic that Anti-Catholics oppose the Virgin Mary because they cannot find "The Assumption" implicitly defined in the scriptures like a history text book. Yet, the word "Trinity" is not found in Scripture and they mostly do not have problems with the doctrine. It all goes back to Authority.
Mary, Purgatory, Saints, Sacraments, all of these teachings are only a sidebar compared to the real issue at hand. The Catholic Church is the true Church of Christ and that is the real issue that the Street Preachers cannot handle.
Jeff Hutchins, a team member of St. Paul's Street Evangelization from Dallas, will co-host Deepertruth's Friday evening show.
This show will focus on Evangelization as a Catholic outreach. Jeff is a convert to the Catholic Faith from the Church of Christ.
Jeff has appeared on Deepertruth giving testimony of his conversion to the Catholic Faith and he has been a regular on Facebook.
The Friday Show will focus on Evangelization which really is part of all things Catholic. Look for Fridays at 8:00 Eastern, 7:00 Central, 6:00 Mountain, and 5:00 West Coast all P.M.
Come and greet Jeff as he brings his talents of street witnessing to Blogtalkradio.
Did you know that Jesus spoke more about hell than he did about heaven?
Why do you think that is?
Jesus came to save the sinners and set the captives free, he wants the repentance of the sinner, not their condemnation.
Consider Revelation 21:8, "But as for cowards, the unfaithful, the depraved, murderers, the unchaste, sorcerers, idol worshipers, and deceivers of every sort, their lot is in the burning pool of fire and sulfur, which is the second death."
How important is that? The Virgin Mary at Fatima after giving the Children of Fatima a vision of Hell (13 July 1917), told them: "You
see Hell, where the souls of poor sinners go. To save them God wishes
to establish in the world the devotion to my Immaculate Heart. If they
do what I will tell you, many souls will be saved, and there will be
peace... But if they do not stop offending God... He is going to punish
the world for its crimes by means of war, of hunger, and of persecution
of the Church and of the Holy Father."
St. Peter instructs us to "Be
sober and vigilant. Your opponent the devil is prowling around like a
roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, steadfast in
faith, knowing that your fellow believers throughout the world undergo
the same sufferings".
Pope Pius XII warned the world in
1950 that to be a true Christian beginning in the later half of the 20th
Century they would have to live as "Living Martyrs" because the attack on the family will be so severe, because people will be greatly affected by their environment.
It is time that Catholics stand up and cast their nets into the deep to bring in a great catch.. Pope Francis is calling for us to stand up and be counted. 1 Timothy 4:1 says, "Now the Spirit explicitly says that in the last times some will turn away from the faith by paying attention to deceitful spirits and demonic instructions..." That maybe so, but we are called to take the gospel to all the nations. We will ultimately win the war because the war is already won. Jesus won the war, but the battle rages for souls and the devil knows his time is short. We are to be vigilant, "Concerning times and seasons, brothers, you have no need for anything to be written to you. For you yourselves know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief at night. When people are saying, 'Peace and security,' then sudden disaster comes upon them, like labor pains upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape." 1 Thessalonians 5:1-3 We are to stand for justice to right the wrongs of society. The Church must be that moral compass that people can respond to Jesus through. Jesus sent the Catholic Church to go to all the world as one voice to pick up the wounded, to heal them, to love them. There is a lot of walking wounded out there. On July 9, 2013 on the Ross and Margie Show (The Roundtable) Deepertruth aired the show "Answering scandal with personal holiness". That is really the answer! Let our example in doing the will of God in our lives speak loudly. 2 Corinthians 6:14 states, "Do not be yoked with those who are different, with unbelievers. For what partnership do righteousness and lawlessness have? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness? What accord has Christ with Beliar? Or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said: 'I will live with them and move among them, and I will be their God and they shall be my people."
1 Corinthians 5:9-13 states, "I wrote you in my letter not to associate with immoral people, not at all referring to the immoral of this world or the greedy and the robbers or idolaters; for you would have to leave the world. But I now write to you not to associate with anyone named a brother, if he is innoral, greedy, an idolater, a slanderer, a drunkard, or a robber, not even to eat with such a person. For why should I be judging outsiders? Is it not your business to judge those within? God will judge those outside. Purge the evil person from your midst."
Pope Pius XII once wrote, "It is often said
almost with passive resignation that fashions reflect the customs of a
people. But it would be more exact and much more useful to say that
they express the decision and moral direction that a nation intends to
take: either to be shipwrecked in licentiousness or maintain itself at
the level to which it has been raised by religion and civilization."
Little Jacita of Fatima said, "Fashions will
much offend our Lord. People who serve God should not follow the
fashions". Jacinta also said, "The sins which cause most souls to go to
hell are the sins of the flesh".
We are to pray for those who are choosing to live in sin. Remember the Virgin Mary's warning: "You
see Hell, where the souls of poor sinners go. To save them God wishes
to establish in the world the devotion to my Immaculate Heart."
That is key, let us first place God number one in our lives and everything else will fall in place. God is one that we can place our trust. Put on the whole Armour of God, frequent the Sacraments, Go to Mass, pray the Rosary and the Divine Mercy as well as all prayers of the Church. We have lots of them. Get to know your bible, don't let it draw dust!
"Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teaching. It is good to have our hearts strengthened by grace and not by foods, which do not benefit those who live by them. We have an altar from which those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat. The bodies of the animals whose blood the high priest brings into the sanctuary as a sin offering are burned outside the camp. Therefore, Jesus also suffered outside the gate, to consecrate the people by his own blood. Let us then go to him outside the camp, bearing the reproach that he bore. For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the one that is to come. Through him then let us continually offer God a sacrifice of praise, that is, the fruit of lips that confess his name." (Hebrew 13:9-15)
In the Catholic Church there is a continual offering taking place all over the world as one voice. What a powerful truth this is. St. Paul asks this question: "The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? Because the loaf of bread is one, we, though many, are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf." (1 Corinthians 10:16-17)
St Paul then will reference the altar of the Lord stating, "You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and also the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and of the table of demons. Or are we provoking the Lord to jealous anger? Are we stronger than he? (1 Corinthians 10:21)
If we are to analyze St. Paul's description of the Altar, something very extra-ordinary is taking place on the Altar. Something holy is taking place. God's presence is made manifest with the consecration of the Eucharist, "Do this in memory of me."
This happens at every Mass in every nation and the Lord's voice is being heard in the face of all the enemies of God who seek to eradicate His image on earth. But they will not succeed. This past week
a little girl (Yasmin Gomes) was born prematurely at 2.6 pounds this month and stopped breathing soon after and they declared her dead and issued a death certificate.
The Mother, Jenifer Gomes da Silva said, "My world crashed down right then. It was the most desperate moment when all my dreams were snatched away.” (Brazilian media)
Yasmin was pronounced dead by doctors after unsuccessful attempts to bring the child back. A nurse Ana Claudia Oliveira, asked hospital officials to send the baby’s body to a local Catholic church instead of the hospital morgue. Ms. Oliveira told International Business Times“I can assure you, the child was dead. Her pupils didn’t respond to light. All her signs pointed to the complete absence of life.” “I saw it with my own eyes. She was blue all over, completely dead.”
The Child Yasmin was dressed in a burial gown when Church authorities placed the baby’s body on altar. Three hours later, the baby came alive. That is the most amazing thing. A miracle takes place on the Altar every Mass, this is unique because this is a visible transformation from death into life.
Yasmin's Grandmother, Elza Silva, was on her way to the chapel to transfer the baby back to the hospital to the morgue when she saw the miracle take place. She states, "At first I couldn't believe it, we couldn't accept that it could happen. Then we saw that she was breathing. We hugged each other and started to shout, 'she's alive, she's alive."
Doctor Aurelia Filipak stated that what happened he had not seen in his 20 years of medical practice. Everyone involved believed this to be a miracle.
When Pope John Paul II went to New Orleans in 2000, he wanted to go to a Church that had not been vested so security quickly went to the Church before the Pope was to arrive. They brought dogs into the Church to ensure that there were no bombs or anybody that would be a threat to the Pope. Once inside the Church, the police officers were shocked to see the dogs reacting at the tabernacle that there was a human body present. What a sign that the police officers were able to see. It is important that we also see the value of the Altar of the Lord.
(The following is taken from a pamphlet that I was given by Sister Mary Teresita at near Kansas City at Divine Mercy Parish)
Ad Gentes is a religious community of avowed women and men committed to participate in the liturgical life of the Church as agents of Evangelization. We share a communal life in the model of the early Church where the body of Believers was united in heart and soul (Acts 4:32).
We are inspired by the words of Jesus to echo in our world today: "Go therefore, make disciples of all nations" (Matthew 28:10).
The community was founded in 2003, through a response to the promptings of the Holy Spirit, by Father Vitalis Ejike Anyanke, a priest of the Catholic Archdiocese of Omaha Nebraska, USA.
Ad Gentes Missionaries are committed to the total development of human persons. The life of the community is characterized by Eucharistic Celebration, Study of the Scriptures, Pastoral Ministries, and a life lived in Humility and Generosity.
We are guided by our constitution and we subscribe to the ancient rule of St. Augustine. We adopted the thoughts expressed in the writings of St. Augustine as a clear source of inspiration for appreciating the Gospel values.
What Ad Gentes does:
Finding ways to work with at risk youths
Serving the pastoral needs of rural and inner city communities, immigrants, and refugees
Continuing the work of evangelization among African-American communities
Serving as Parish Catechist and religious Education Teachers
Promoting literacy in challenged communities and providing alternative educational and skills acquisition programs for school dropouts
We provide services through ministry of education and home healthcare services for the elderly and homebound
Youth enhancement program
Community development
Facilitating dialogue in troubled areas, creating oasis of hope
Inter-religious and cultural dialogue, especially among Christians and other faiths
We hope you see the urgency in this mission and necessity to be part of this impassioned missionary journey.
We are embarking on various capital projects to further provide services on Women's Health, Literacy Program and Skills Acquisition Training Center and would need your generous support towards these projects. You can also designate your help to specific projects.
We are in the process of building a medical center in Jankasa Nigeria.
Your gift of prayers cannot be measured in material terms. We need your prayers. You are surely in our prayers and daily remembrance at the Holy Mass.
Our Patron Blessed Seelos:
Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos, C.SS.R (1819-1867) lived a heroic and miraculous life, coming to be known as the "Cheerful Ascetic." A Redemptorist priest, he was beatified by Pope John Paul II in the Solemn Jubilee Year 2000. Father Seelos possessed great mystical gifts due to his intense prayer life. His dedication to ministry with cheerful holiness makes him still an outstanding model for clergy, religious and laity alike. As an itinerant preacher and lifelong friend of the poor and destitute, Seelos was a spiritual father to tens of thousands. Despite his early death at age 48, so profound was his missionary zeal that sickness, persecution, and even the upheaval caused by civil war could not stop him.
This past Friday, I had the opportunity to visit "The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art" in Kansas City Missouri. What an opportunity this was as I wanted to find a work of art for my homework assignment for my Humanities Art Class.
This place was colossal, huge. You can literally spend all day here and really just touch the surface. The more I looked for something for my paper, the more I found myself looking through the whole Museum.
There was a great Egyptian gallery that would take you days to go through if you took the time to really look at it all. There were some Roman art intermixed with this gallery, it kind of reminded my of the alliance between Cleopatra and Rome. I am also reminded of the movie that stared Richard Burton as "Mark Anthony".
You walk in the building and all around were guys wearing dark suits keeping watch on the tourists as they went through the various stages.
They were also helpful in guiding you to where your wanting to go. I had a great time meeting some of the staff working there. As you can see, they even helped me take some pictures.
Those columns behind me were huge, that ceiling must of been 50 feet high. There were huge sculptures that were placed throughout the Museum that really caught your eye.
There was a nice restaurant inside the Museum that really came in handy as I didn't know that taking this tour would have been so exhausting, it was really good.
One of my favorite places within the Museum was the European art gallery. Yes there were the ancient relics of pottery and statues, but I really loved the Knight on his horse.
Do you think this place comes alive after midnight? While I was there I saw several groups of young children making this tour with a guide.
It reminded me when I was in Catholic School just a few miles away from here. This was a very family oriented place to go.
Everyone who can appreciate art as a professional down to the youngest student could take something home with them. From the American Indian culture and art down to the Mexican contemporary gallery, there is a lot for everyone.
The religious paintings were really spectacular! I chose this particular picture because of the relevance I place on the Scriptures. This is an oil painting on canvas of St. Jerome, the first Biblical Scholar who spent 34 years in the Holy Land and 15 more years in Rome translating the Scriptures from the original languages.
Antonio d' Enrico, also known as "Tanzio da Varallo", an Italian born painter (1575-1635), entitled this work "The Penitent Saint Jerome" (1630).
This painting depicts a lot of symbols showing through art the importance of penance. As he researched and studied the scriptures, he lived as a hermit much like many of his time.
Notice the red cardinal's hat in the upper left of the picture, it is kind of tucked away in the upper left as a background. This shows he was a prince of the Church, you can see the red clothing as well which denotes the blood of Christ.
The books are before him as he is studying them, writing them. Notice the rock in his right hand, this is St. Jerome beating his chest with the rock to show his sorrow for sin. The skull is placed there as a reminder that worldly pursuits only bring death. When you look closely at St. Jerome's fingernails over the skull, they are dirty which is contrast by the self discipline and spiritual devotion emphasized by the paintings bright light.
Oil paintings of this kind were important for European artists especially on canvases such as "The Penitent St. Jerome." We see the illusion of light and dark illustrating an emphasis and focal point that the artist wants to convey. This painting gives an "Atmospheric Perspective" which displays objects in the background seemingly less distant such as the cardinal hat.
As I finished my tour, I couldn't help but noticed the art located on the landscape. Notice how small the couple walking on the left of the bad-mitten birdie?
It was a great day that I enjoyed. I would encourage you to find a local Museum near you and see what there is to see. It is part of our culture and much of the religious art is so inspiring.
Here at Fort Hood we have a couple of good Museums that depict some of our Units history. I invite you to come check them out when you happen to come to Texas and the Fort Hood area!
The battle lines are drawn and the effort to indoctrinate young people is in full swing.
I recently took on an on line college course entitled "Sociology and Sexology" thinking I might be able to take the class.
Early on the Teacher (not named) made it clear they did not want scripture or anything Christian based involved in the discussions.
I will add that the Teacher did admit that she is an Atheist and regarded scripture too divisive.
As the class progressed onward it is clear and plain to see why. There is no fellowship between the lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans (LBGT) lifestyles and Orthodox Christianity.
The Progressive (liberal) movement have been developing curriculums to teach (beginning with) kindergarteners all the way up into the graduate level in college. Reported on CNN Opinion, BlackinAmerica" from the article, "Same-Sex marriage will hurt families, society" it says:
"In Massachusetts, where a ruling legalized same-sex marriage in 2004, kids in public schools are reading books depicting same-sex families. At a California charter school in 2008, kindergartners' parents objected when a school newsletter alerted them to "National Coming Out Day;" a parent told a local ABC-TV affiliate that a teacher at the school screened a film to kindergartners the previous year showing gay families."
This is where I now find myself, I am not a teenager or young adult that can be so easily indoctrinated, but the effort imposed by Academic society is drastically complimentary to the Obama's Administration attack on faith and family. The following is the most recent engagement between the Teacher and myself:
"This chapter is by far and away one of the most difficult for me to respond to because I cannot nor will not be able to approve of this kind of lifestyle under any circumstances. Homophobia does not apply in any sense of the word. I grew up watching the original Star Trek and I thought J. S. Cavalcante is extremely over the top. It is one thing to understand that people act out their sexuality in various way, but this does not make it right. We have moved towards the literal understanding and meaning of what hedonism is. Basically, anything goes with no responsibility. This will never be accepted in society by and large despite the attempts to indoctrinate young people away from their parents and their faith. I most certainly can have compassion for those who choose to live outside of the norm. The invention of sexual orientation is steeped in the progressive movements of the latter 18th Century. I most certainly believe that most of these studies are flawed regardless if they are trying to tie the length of a persons fingers or the width of their ear canal. None of it is proven. To discover that they are "gay" is liken to someone who believes they were born a "witch", I have spoken with both camps, it is the same rhetoric. Where ever there is a dominance of acceptance of the LGBT we see a decline of faith and family. It is a really sad state because of the impact this has on families. Suicide is at epidemic levels among those who practice unnatural sex. You have to kill the conscience. I know that some here do not like the use of scripture, but for many of us, this is really a defiance against what our faith is. Love the sinner, hate the sin has been the motto in resisting such lifestyles. For me, this is a difficult task because it really pushes the envelop to an "in your face" status."
"Again Donald, you are not taking a sociological perspective. This is not about agreeing or disagreeing about certain 'lifestyles" as much as it is about the various types of people who live in this society. The social fact remains that there are many sexualities and ways of expressing ones self. But when you start tying in religion once again, you begin to judge others who do not follow your very narrow worldview.
As a social scientist and a human being, I take great offense to the statement that 'in societies where there is acceptance of LGBT people that we see a decline in faith and family'. Where is your scholarly research? Where is your proof? It is your opinion.
Not everyone in this class agrees with what they read but they are able to look beyond gut reactions and moral judgments to talk about the material at hand. Even Mr. Cole questions his understanding of the material but he is able to critically think through his confusion because he wants to learn.
This posting shows me that you do not. Have you ever stopped to think that one of your classmates might be LGBT? Do you not have respect for your fellow classmates? Leave your judgments off of the weekly discussions.
And yes, I think homophobia describes your approach to the topic at hand - there is hatred and fear of individuals just because they don't believe the way you do.
You may think that I'm crossing the line but I have every right to ask that students analyze material using a sociological perspective and remain respectful to their classmates. It's in my syllabus. Read it for yourself."
I will give here an example of the material that we are presently covering:
The following is taken from the textbook entitled "Sexualities in Context, A Social Perspective" and the following comes from J.S. Cavalcante, "The Word Withheld". (Ironic that "The Word Withheld" is more than symbolic)
"They shed their cloths, leaving them where they fell, and dropped into Kirk's bunk together. Spock slid his hands around Kirk's back and down to his ________ pulling Kirk against him. He could not wait for the sensation of Kirks naked body against his; when he finally felt it, it was ecstasy. Kirk was warm in some places and cool in others, his arms and chest and thighs like sculpted marble. The pulse in his throat thrilled against Spock's lips. Spock's hands shook as he caressed the curves of Kirk's backside.
Kirk's hands were not particularly steady, either, as he stroked Spock's chest, carding his fingers through the curling black hair. "You're beautiful," Kirk whispered, "and all of a sudden I'm as nervous as a teenager."
This definitely casts a very different objective of Star Trek??? This Chapter was entitled "The Alphabet Soup of Sexualities", which covers the "invention of Sexual Orientation quoting Gay publications such as the "Advocate". (The Virgin Mary who is our true Advocate before the Lord is now replaced by a pro-Gay advocacy group?)
This Chapter also covers that Christians and people like myself are homophobes. The assertion is that those who oppose homosexuality on biblical grounds are "socialized into hegemonic masculinity", inspiring "hate crimes, murders, assaults (sexual, physical, and emotional), rapes, batteries, and other forms of violence."
This makes clear what the Teacher thinks of me when she writes, "And yes, I think homophobia describes your approach to the topic at hand - there is hatred and fear of individuals just because they don't believe the way you do."
I have never nor would I ever advocate violence against anyone, what is most important here is the violence that the LGBT brings upon themselves. The following is from "Impact, a LGBT health and Development Program, White Paper, A healthy Chicago for LGBT youth". This is coming from a pro-Gay site, think about the balance in reality?
Results show thatChicago LGBT youth report health disparities across all domains. In terms of mental health, LGBT youth were more likely to report depression and depressive symptoms, previous suicide attempts, and non-suicidal self-injury. In terms of sexual health, LGBT youth were more likely to report sex risk behaviors, a deficit in HIV education, and in female-born youth, were more likely to report pregnancy. In terms of substance use, LGBT youth were more likely to use tobacco, alcohol, and marijuana. And finally, LGBT youth were more likely to report experiences of sexual violence and victimization. Taken together, these results indicate health disparities for Chicago LGBT youth are strong and pervasive. Due to the presence of these disparities at such a young age, they are likely to influence to health and well-being of LGBT Chicagoans throughout their lifespans.
Consider what the Teacher concludes in her response regarding another classmate "Even Mr. Cole questions his understanding of the material but he is able to critically think through his confusion because he wants to learn." The obvious thing to conclude here is that if you oppose LGBT you are confused and you need to be enlightened to the truth behind this lifestyle. There is no hell, no judgment, no right or wrong. Can't we all just get along?
Mom and Dad, are you listening to this? This is centered on an extreme Progressive position that is out to indoctrinate your children from the earliest age down to the Academic. This is being made into a science taught with the same assurance to math, reading, and history. Even Catholic Schools must be really vented before sending your children to school.
I took this course with the intent of testing my compassion for the sinner and humanity, but this is a clear case of pure indoctrination bent to reform America. Know that when you start seeing commercials of children playing with toys of the opposite sex, this is part of a process to change America. They want to take away the meaning of Christmas, but they want you to buy their new gospel?
Hell bells, another entrapment set out by the enemies of God. We are being conditioned and desensitized to join them. The scriptures and the teaching of the Church is clear about this. Mother Mary reminds us that more souls go to hell because of the sins of the flesh than any other reason. Do we think that we are smarter than He, surely not!
Editors Note-St. Barbara's Feast Day is December 4th and I want to re post this article in honor of her feast day. However, just a note that the Walking Dead is currently in season 4. It will resume airing on 9 February 2014 for those interested.
I quickly learned how important St. Barbara meant to the traditions of the Artillery. St. Barbara is recognized as the "Patron Saint" of artillery and so I watched the movie with great interest to see the connection.
She placed in this tower three windows representing the Holy Trinity. Notice that St. Patrick utilized the Shamrock and St. Boniface used the upside down pine tree to teach the Trinity.
When St. Barbara came forward as a Christian, she refused to marry the prefect of the province, Martinianus, who brutally tortured her.
She was imprisoned in a dark prison cell where she was bathed in light, much in the same way that the German Guard testified about St. Maximilian Kolbe (WWII), who gave his life for others in a Nazi Concentration camp.
St. Barbara is the Patron Saint of artillery probably because of her Father, who was struck by lightning after killing his Daughter.
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