Thanksgiving, ISIS & Assault on Innocence

Dear TIA,

We give Thee thanks for all Thy benefits, O Almighty God, who livest and reignest world without end. Amen.

Dear Lord:

Today we give thanks, For our many blessings, As we pray for those in need.
We give thanks, For our family and friends, As we pray for those who are lonely.
We give thanks for our freedoms, As we pray for those who are oppressed.
We give thanks for our good health, As we pray for those who are ill.
We give thanks for our comfort and prosperity, as we share our blessings with others.
On this day of Thanksgiving, may the love of God enfold us; the peace of God dwell within us; and the joy of God uplift us.
Amen.

With thanksgiving for all graces received this past year,

     Happy Thanksgiving to you.

     M.E.

Dear TIA,

Isn’t it wonderful? Francis says he will 'never close the door' on talks with Islamic State (ISIS or IS) an effort to bring peace to a region of the world suffering from violence and persecution.

Further, he said that "terrorism" could describe not only the actions of such extremist groups, but also those of some national governments using military force unilaterally. So, the West is as guilty as the Muslims, who are openly persecuting and crucifying Catholics, forcing conversions, raping women and girls, and killing children? So none of this is reason to close the door on talks with ISIS?

Another reporter told the Pope that his remarks at the European Parliament on employment, the dignity of human life and the role of the State in helping citizens made it seem like the Pope could be a card-carrying member of the Social Democrat Party.

"I don't want to label myself on one side or another," the Pope said and, "besides, this is the Gospel."

So, the unlimited mercy of Francis extends to terrorists and socialists, all in the name of the Gospel.

Who could believe it would come to this?

The news report is here.

     Our Lady of Fatima, pray for us and come to our aid.

     J.J.

TIA,

Parents who send their children to schools – public and Catholic – should read this. There is no excuse for not knowing what your children are being exposed to.

What is happening in Oregon sex education is, unfortunately, not unique. All across the nation Planned Parenthood and its cohorts are networking with state education departments and others who are in a position to foist its repugnant, abusive sex education on children, deceiving and sidestepping parents.

Make sure it is NOT happening in your schools.

Read the article here.

     M.K.

TIA,

Here is an obituary printed in the London Times, which I found brilliant.

S.S.

Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape. ...

He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as knowing:

- When to come in out of the rain;
- Why the early bird gets the worm;
- Life isn't always fair;
- And maybe it was my fault.

Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more than you can earn) and reliable strategies (adults, not children, are in charge).

His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a 6-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition.

Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly children.

Common Sense lost the will to live as the churches became businesses; and criminals received better treatment than their victims.

Common Sense took a beating when you couldn't defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar could sue you for assault.

Common Sense was preceded in death by:

- His parents, Truth and Trust;
- His wife, Discretion;
- His daughter, Responsibility;
- and by his son, Reason.

He is survived by his 5 step-brothers;

- I Know My Rights;
- I Want It Now;
- Someone Else Is To Blame;
- I'm a Victim;
- Pay me for Doing Nothing.

Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone.

TIA,

I just received this e-mail from John Vennari. I am passing it on to you. Perhaps your readers will be curious to watch it.

Best wishes,

     L.C.

Parody: Bergoglio and the Synod

I just wrote and recorded this parody - hope you have fun with it.

It's about Papa Bergolgio and the Synod. I think you'll recognize the tune I used.

A quick listen, it only runs two minutes.

We can only take so much pain from our dear leaders in Rome, so a bit of mild satire may be welcome.

Feel free to share, if you're so inclined.

It is here.

One priest said of the piece, "It's satire and humor that pretty much tells it like it is."

     Oremus! Prayers and best wishes.

     John Vennari

TIA,

Here we find the secret of the “Way of the Cross” society. With similar rectitude, medieval man logically embraced his own suffering, paying special attention to the hardest part of his situation. This is frequently represented in medieval pictures and stained glass where each is engaged in his craft. All work diligently but without hurry, anxiety or laziness. They carry their crosses, this hardest part of their lives, with joy and resignation since their model is Christ, Who suffered infinitely more for us.

“In this way all individual suffering is but the shadow of divine suffering, and all virtue is as a partial realization of absolute goodness,” observes Huizinga. (1)

The result of this uprightness in suffering was that the person imagined for himself a way of imitating Christ that had perfection and sanctification as its goal. This perfection was well reflected in the quality of all his works, masterpieces and monuments.

Alas, how such considerations differ from those of today! People seek fleeting and easy happiness. They flee hardship, lose themselves in frenetic laughter, and constantly seek to escape their responsibilities. In their blindness, they cannot see Christ in His Divine rectitude and follow Him on the dolorous Way of the Cross.

Yet it was this perspective that brought forth the flowering of the Middle Ages. The medieval man did not plan the Middle Ages; he merely desired to be like Jesus Christ. And from the realization of that desire, the Middle Ages was born and flowered.

This is the secret of the Middle Ages - and it is also our secret. If we could but have a similar, lively, and loving idea of Jesus Christ, we would want what they wanted and obtain what they received.

     S.G.

(1) Johan H. Huizinga, The Waning of the Middle Ages: A Study of the Forms of Life, Thought and Art in France and the Netherlands in the XIVth and XVth Centuries (Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday Anchor Books, 1954), p. 206