Faith in Roman Catholicism

12:06:34 AM CST

For many of us, December brings feelings of sadness and some hardship.  There is probably pain in some lives I'll never fully understand.  I was listening to an Irish Christmas CD we own, and this song is track six, by artist Natalie MacMaster.  It came on as we were decorating our Christmas tree.  I thought of some pain in my life, but I was reminded of how fortunate and blessed I am, and then of the honour, respect, and love I have for those who endure with what they are given.

If you are in any kind of pain, physical, psychological, emotional, or spiritual, this song if for you.  Know that I'll offer prayers for you every time I hear it. 

How pale is the sky that brings forth the rain
As the changing of seasons prepares me again
For the long bitter nights and the wild winter's day
My heart has grown cold my love stored away
My heart has grown cold my love stored away

I've been to the mountain left my tracks in the snow
Where souls have been lost and the walking wounded go
I've taken the pain no girl/man should endure
Faith can move mountains of that I am sure
But faith can move mountains of that I am sure

Just get me through December
A promise I'll remember
Get me through December
So I can start again

No divine purpose brings freedom from sin
And peace is a gift that must come from within
I've looked for the love that will bring me to rest
Feeding this hunger beating strong in my chest
Feeding this hunger beating strong in my chest

Get me through December
A promise I'll remember
Get me through December
So I can start again

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10:13:49 PM CST

My mom and I were talking in the kitchen.  She wants to bring Christopher West to our area to give a few talks over a weekend in 2008 on Theology of the Body.  Many roadblocks keep coming up.  A friend of ours told her that if it's God's will that it be done, Christopher West will be here.  Think of all the intercessors my mom has from the souls in purgatory for whom she has prayed for years.  She says the St. Gertrude prayer for the Holy Souls.

My mom started the prayer November 15, 2001.  She has saved 18,430,000 souls to date, by saying the prayer 10 times a day. 

I say the prayer too.  I marked down March 8, 2004 on the card as my start date.  As my mom and I were having this conversation, I figured I'd do the math, and see how many souls I've saved since that date. 

The card reads:

Our Lord told St. Gertrude the Great that the following prayer would release 1000 souls from Purgatory each time it is said.

"Eternal Father, I offer Thee the most precious blood of Thy Divine Son, Jesus, in union with the Masses said throughout the world today for all the holy souls in Purgatory. Amen."

I didn't know what was coming.  I hadn't planned it out.  I had thought it would be a good idea to come up with a number for awhile, but I never got around to it. 

As of today, Saturday, December 2, 2006, by saying the prayer once a day and 1000 souls being saved each time I say it, since March 8, 2004, I have saved exactly 1,000,000 souls.

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3:12:00 PM CST

I went through my house today and took some pictures of the Christmas things that are slowly appearing.  Take a browse through the album.  The first one is our advent wreath.  The Christmas Tree in there is actually our second tree.  It will be covered in all our Irish ornaments by the end of the night.  The REAL tree will be arriving shortly and will be trimmed with everything else. 

The task I have before me is trying to put up Christmas lights on the landscaping in all the snow we got! 

I'm very excited for tonight because I've been saving a Christmas CD that is an "Irish Christmas".  All the songs are played on Irish instruments.  I've been saving it for the beginning of advent, which TECHNICALLY starts at Sundown with the vigil. 

Christmas really is a wonderful time of year!  Click here>>>JOY TO THE WORLD

Also>Notice that the December Feasts list to the left is somewhat liturgically coloured...I had to take a few liberties.  Many colours this month!

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2:19:07 PM CST


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5:14:31 PM CST

As evening falls on yet another Thanksgiving Day, I thought of another song that fits for this evening.  It is another Irving Berlin song sung in duet by Bing Crosby and Rosemary Clooney in the 1954 motion picture White Christmas.

When I'm worried and I can't sleep
I count my blessings instead of sheep
And I fall asleep counting my blessings
When my bank roll is getting small
I think of when I had none at all
And I fall asleep counting my blessings

I think about a nursery and I picture curly heads
And one by one I count them as they slumber in their beds
If you're worried and you can't sleep
Just count your blessings instead of sheep
And you'll fall asleep counting your blessings

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11:56:51 AM CST

Written by Irving Berlin.
As sung by Bing Crosby in the 1942 motion picture Holiday Inn.

I've got plenty to be thankful for
I haven't got
A great big yacht
To sail from shore to shore
Still I've got plenty to be thankful for

I've got plenty to be thankful for
No private car
No caviar
No carpet on my floor
Still I've got plenty to be thankful for

I've got eyes to see with
Ears to hear with
Arms to hug with
Lips to kiss with
Someone to adore

How could anybody ask for more?
My needs are small
I buy them all
At the five and ten cent store
Oh, I've got plenty to be thankful for

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2:33:04 PM CST

Today is the feast day of Saint Cecilia.  She is the patron of musicians and performers.  Before performances of plays and musicals at my high school, we always pray for her intercession.  There is a stained glass picture of her in the choir loft at church. 

Our priest told a story at Mass of how Saint Cecilia was to be killed by axe, but the axe didn't go through.  She was found hours later, SINGING! 

May her intercession guide all musicians and performers in proclaiming the glory of God in their song.

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6:07:44 PM CST

I got out of school at 3:05pm today, and left the building after Chamber Choir Rehearsal knowing I wouldn't have to sit through another class for a whole week!  I have the rest of this week off, and then I'm on KAIROS Retreat this Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday.  I've been so over tired, that I'm getting stressed again, and I can feel it affecting me.  So here's:

My To-Do List for this week:
1. SLEEP!
2. Eat lots of Thanksgiving Dinner.
3. SLEEP!
4. Spend time with my family.
5. SLEEP!
6. Grow closer to Our Lord on my retreat.
7. SLEEP!
8. Maybe a bit of homework...we'll see.  :-)
9. SLEEP! 
10. Make rounds in J-Land Journals.
11. SLEEP!
12. Various relaxing activities including cooking, reading, watching TV, praying, listening to music, playing piano, board and card games, and SLEEPING!

I finally did make some rounds in J-Land right before I wrote this.  If I haven't been by in awhile, LET ME KNOW!  Wake me up!  Yell at me if you want!  (In a kind courteous way of course!)

TOURNAMENT REVOLUTIONIZED!  It's the new and improved mini version of Journal Tournament.  Registration is now open through 30 Nov 2006.  To find out more information, visit the home journal.  There are a lot of new changes going on.  Don't miss it! 

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3:43:36 PM CST

I have good news!  I just saved a bunch of money on my car insurance by switching to Geico!

But seriously.  Actually my good news is I got my first acceptance letter from the University of St. Thomas!  I have been accepted into the class of 2011.  I'm so excited!  The letter puts an ease on my spirit, because it's a school I'm REALLY serious about and the stress of applying is over.  There still are a few more colleges I'm applying to and/or need to hear from. 

I'm a "Tommie" if I want to be! 

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5:53:08 PM CST

This Thursday, my parish is hosting a speaker, Susan Tassone.  She is known for her prayer books in devotion to the Holy Souls in Purgatory.  We'll be having a Divine Mercy Chaplet, followed by her talk.  She is supposed to be an amazing speaker.  My mom has seen her before, and Susan signed my mom's book with "See you in heaven! -Susan". 

I found an interview with and information on Susan Tassone at the Medjugorje USA Web Site.  Check it out if you get the chance.

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In other areas of life, things keep rolling along.  I've had a few late nights, but I'm always looking for a stress release, and it's keeping me sane.

I was a leader for a Sophomore Retreat last night.  It was a powerful experience for me as I hope it was for the retreatants.  I was able to go to confession to a former pastor of my parish, Msgr. Brady.  He truly is an amazing man!  (I sometimes think he's so holy, his feet don't touch the ground!  If you watch him walk, it seems like he glides.  I pray for holiness like his.)  I'll be talking about his book when I get around to having the time to read and contemplate it. 

Enough of that.  Off to more homework!

Oh!  And one more thing:

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