New Saints and Blesseds

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Acquaint yourself with the new Saints and Blesseds from 2013 by clicking here.

I am so happy to see that Madre Lupita is now a Saint of the Universal Church.  I sincerely request her intercession for the conversion of the government of the USA and the spiritual resolve of the Church in the USA.

Camille Paglia

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Sometimes it takes Balaam's ass to tell the truth.  Sometimes it takes a lesbian atheist feminist scholar to take a stab at it:

Camille Paglia: 

A Feminist Defense of Masculine Virtues:

The cultural critic on why ignoring the biological differences between men and women risks undermining Western civilization itself.

http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303997604579240022857012920

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Romanian Christmas Carol

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One of my very favourite Christmas carols, one of the gorgeous Romanian colinde, sung by the tenor Roberto Alagna:

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Advent 4

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Prayer of St. Nicholas of Flüe

My Lord and my God, 
take from me everything that distances me from you. 

My Lord and my God, 
give me everything that brings me closer to you. 

My Lord and my God, 
detach me from myself to give my all to you. 

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Romania's Painted Churches

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It is no secret that I am deeply drawn by the Romanian Orthodox and Greek Catholic Churches.  The theology, the liturgy, the chant, the religious folksongs ... all of them speak to me perhaps even more profoundly having survived the Communist horror.

Where Latin rite churches of the West hold their treasures within the buildings for the most part, the Romanian painted churches adorn the exterior walls with magnificent scenes depicting the living faith of the Church.  Below is a photo from a Smithsonian magazine article ("Scripture Alfresco") showing a Romanian Orthodox nun walking by a church in Sucevița Monastery.  Enjoy ... and marvel.

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Advent and Christmas Music

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You are invited to listen to RADIO WALSINGHAM ONLINE for splendid Advent and Christmas music from round about the world.

Advent Blessings to All !

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Coptic Hymn: Intercession of the Saints

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  Coptic Orthodox Church, Divine Liturgy of St. Basil

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Slaying Unfettered Consumerism

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I was pleased to see Joe Weisenthal's blog post "The Pope Just Published One Of The Most Powerful Critiques Of Modern Capitalism That You Will Ever Read" at  Business Insider which focuses on the Pope's economic critique of 'unfettered consumerism' among other economic considerations in Pope Francis' just released Apostolic Exhortation.  

It is important to understand what the Pope is teaching without recourse to pundits and entertainers: Click here for the article which includes a link to the full text of the Pope Francis' Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium.

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Ikon Weeping in Hawaii

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I always pay attention to ikons that weep myrrh.  The meaning is always the same: Repent.  Yes, the myrrh is a blessing, and, yes, people are frequently healed through the miracle.  However, for the faithful the message to all is a call from God to repent. Almost always such a miracle is sent as a warning from Heaven for all to return to the Most High God.

The ikon weeping at the Russian Orthodox parish in Hawaii is one of which you may not have heard, but its significance at this time is striking.  Click here to be taken to a story with video about the ikon.

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Pope Francis of the Poor

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In today's Houston Chronicle (one of the last major newspapers still in existence in the USA) there are several positive Catholic articles today, and one in particular from AP regards our Pope Francis and his care of the poor:

When he was archbishop of Buenos Aires, Pope Francis was known to sneak out at night and break bread with the homeless, sit with them on the street and eat with them, as part of his aim to share the plight of the poor and let them know someone cared. That's not so easy to do now that he's pope. 

But Francis is still providing one-on-one doses of emergency assistance to the poor, sick and aged through a trusted archbishop. Konrad Krajewski is the Vatican Almoner, a centuries-old job of handing out alms — and Francis has ramped up the job to make it a hands-on extension of his own personal charity.

Pope Francis of the Poor ...  The remainder of the article may be read by clicking here.

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Short and to the Point

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A brief letter appeared in the New York Times from Bridget Kurt that expresses the feelings of many regarding Pope Francis' off the cough remarks.  Click here to read.

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N.S.A. Report Outlined Goals for More Power

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Click this link to learn more of l'Affaire N.S.A.  

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