I'm sorry, pro-choice people...

...but it's high time you looked into the mirror.

Believe me, I was once like you. I truly believed in the slogan "a woman's right to choose." It really did appall me that I wasn't given the choice to do whatever I wanted to do with "my own" body.

But you know? I always tried to see the other side. I distinctly remember saying to my equally pro-choice husband: "Gee. If I really thought that a fetus was a human being, I'd feel as outraged as they are. But of course, it's not, right?"

I was wrong. And surely, surely, at this point? You know the truth.

That fetus is a human being. We all know that now. We, whether we choose to admit it or not, realize that abortion is simply another name for killing.

And if we don't admit it, that's our choice. We can choose to be stupid.

Or we can suck it up and face the truth.

You still have the right to choose. Is this truly what you choose? Is this anything about "women's rights?"

"Greater Love"...please pray for Fathers Carlos Lopoez and James Doran, OMV

On Tuesday, April 9, God willing, Father James Doran, OMV, will give a kidney to his friend and brother priest, Father Carlos Lopez, at Mass General Hospital.

This is a wonderful gift from Father Jim, and a wonderful thing for Father Carlos. Rejoice and be glad! This is Christianity!

Just as He said!!!!!

Habemus Papa!

Thanks to my good friends at Grassroot Films.

Saint Patrick and religious freedom

'Course I know this song has many a lore as to its origins. But I do ask that, at the end o' Saint Patrick's Day, you pray for the religious freedom of the Roman Catholic Church...and for the country of Ireland and my own country of the United States, and all the countries o' The Lord's creation, that they be spared by the evil of killing babes in the womb...and o' their souls. (My grandfather, Leo James Kelly, Sr., used to croon this tune to us):

Oh now Paddy dear, 'n did ye hear, the news that's goin' round?

The shamrock is forbid by law to grow on Irish ground!

No more Saint Patty's Day we'll keep, his colors can't be seen,

Fer there's a cruel law agin the wearin o' the green.

I met with Napper Tandy and he took me by the hand,

And he said "how's poor ol' Ireland and how then does she stand?"

She's the most distressful country that e'er yet was ever seen,

They're hangin' men and women for the wearing 'o the green!

And if the color we must wear is England's cruel red,

Let it remind us of all the blood that Ireland has shed.

Then pull the shamrock from yer head and throw it on the sod,

And never fear, twill take root there, tho under foot 'tis trod.

When the law can stop the blade o' grass from growing as they grow

And when the leaves in summer time, their color dare now show,

Then I will change the color, too I wear in my caubeen.

But 'til that day, please God, I'll stick to the wearin' o' the Green.

Reverse racism...this time in my home town

Kathy Schiffer tackles the absurdity of racism in a few terse sentences. Well worth the read.

"Humility" (a poem my mom wrote)

Humility—where has it gone
Has indifference taken its place?
Love—do we use the word so lightly
To fill an empty space?

Have our hearts become so hardened
And our eyes become so blurred,
That the cry of help around us
Is merely just a word?

Do we turn our backs to sorrow
Because we do not care,
Do we live first for tomorrow
Have we no time to spare
For the homeless and the hungry
For the child who weeps alone,
Have we become so worldly
That our hearts are made of stone?

Do the thoughts of war depress us?
Do we run away and hide?
Can we find a safer refuge
From the war we have inside?

Do we light a single candle
For the man who has much less,
Or are we far too much concerned
For our own happiness?

Do we turn our thoughts to Heaven
Only in times of need
Do we ask just for ourselves
Are we such a special breed?

Humility—where has it gone
Indifference has taken its place...
Love: we use the word so lightly,
To fill an empty space!

Marie Kelly

Sede Vacante

Jesus Ridiculed: The Crowning of Thorns

At the chapel I frequent during the week, the Rosary is prayed after every Mass. During Lent, we pray the Sorrowful Mysteries daily.

I find them difficult, frankly. I'd be lying if I didn't admit this. The most difficult to contemplate is, for me, the Third Sorrowful Mystery: Jesus is crown with thorns.

Why is this so difficult for me to dwell on?

Certainly the quick answer is the pain...thorns piercing his head, having been brutally scourged, to say nothing of betrayed...not an easy thing to think about.

But it's the humiliation that leaves me...sorrowful.

The Crowning with Thorns is, I often think, the most human thing Jesus submitted to. Why? Because, throughout his sojourn on earth, he repeatedly avoided any exaltation, any pomp, anything remotely resembling the homage due to to...well, to God. He fled those who would make him an earthly "king." Repeatedly. He went about doing good, yes, but so often asked his witnesses not to tell anything about him. Not about his works. He recoiled from praise. He couldn't help but do good, but he didn't want to be patted on the back for it, never mind made a "king."

But we didn't believe him.

Why, I wonder? Perhaps because we ourselves so often aspire to recognition...to receive that award, this raise in pay, that nomination, this compliment...I don't know.

But I do know that, for Jesus, the Crowning with Thorns was more than an excruciating headache...it was the ultimate humiliation.

Image: Detail of a stained glass window courtesy of Stained Glass Inc: www. stainedglassinc.com

It told him that we didn't get it. That we really thought he was seeking earthly glory. And we mocked him for it in a way that must have hurt so badly that I can't even begin to imagine it. Can you?

Perhaps Mary will help us here.

Imagine helplessly witnessing someone you love intimately and deeply—your child, your spouse, your best friend, someone—in unbelievable pain. Now see that person, wracked in agony, being...I don't know...fitted with a dunce cap, maybe. Mocked, certainly. Verbally tortured by the accusation of aspiring to become something he or she never wanted, all while slowly and painfully dying, naked, and without a friend in the world. Perhaps that will help us understand what the ignominious path Jesus not just chose, but embraced, meant to him...to his mother...to us.

The fact that Jesus simply died and rose again should be enough for me and for you, I suppose. But this Lent, I cannot help but think that the ridicule he bore was maybe his ultimate gift.

Ash Wednesday: Be kind, be welcoming, or at least be silent.

Okay, I understand that, God willing, churches and chapels will be mobbed on tomorrow with folks wanting—and we don't know their reasons—to receive the ashes that will, or should, remind them of their imminent mortality. Yes, I understand that, even above Easter in may churches, this is the most crowded church day of the year. Yes, I do understand that, aside from maybe Palm Sunday, Easter, and Christmas, that many of these people wouldn't recognize what a church looks like if it were the mirror they look into daily. But I'm asking you, begging you: be a Catholic. If just one of those folks looking for a dirty forehead leaves contemplating a genuine return to the Church...would that not be a glorious thing?

You can pray for that!

May God continue to bless you.

"They Have No Wine": Mary's example of prayer

I don't know about you, but I have this weird habit, in prayer, to add the solution.

As in:

"Jesus, please do this, that, and the other thing, in order to fix this, that, and the other thing."

To be more specific:

"Jesus, here's the thing. What I want you to do is somehow arrange that so-and-so be appointed to the Supreme Court. This'll help in the fight against abortion."

Or:

"Hey Jesus, my husband's cold will go away if you just CONVINCE him to use Vick's Vapo Rub, thanks so much!"

Or:

"Jesus, please make that idiot who sat next to me on the bus today stop with the profanity already, okay?"

Or:

"Jesus. Here's what we've gotta do here. Really, this will work! Just make so-and-so pro-life!"

Or:

"Look Jesus. You let So-and-so win this election and hey, we'll all be just fine, thank-you-very-much, Amen."

These are pretty sucky prayers.

Now don't get me wrong. The Church, guided by the Holy Spirit, gives us many intercessory prayers. At Mass, for example, we're encouraged to pray for the Church, the Holy Father, the sick, the dead, for faith, hope, and love.

Prayers of intercession are not wrong. Prescribing the solution is dumb.

At the wedding bash in Cana, the embarrassed groom and his bride had one of those "uh-oh" moments...the wine was running 'way short. Or maybe they weren't troubled by it, but somebody was. The parents, maybe? I don't know. I do know that our loving Mom, Mary, felt somebody's pain.

Now what did she do? She prayed! And how did she pray?

Did she say: "Hey Son, here's the thing. Snap your fingers and create some wine. Now!" Or, "Jesus, Love, make a miracle...DO something!" Or even: "Kid, look water, wine, both liquid, right? Do Mama a favor and change that water into wine, okay, that's a good boy."

Nope. She just said four words:

"They have no wine."

That was it. She didn't tell Him the solution. She told Him the problem.

And so confident was she (despite the rather droll exchange...or rather Jesus' response to her about "not being His time) that she told the wine guys: "do whatever He tells you." (A rather terrific motto of Boston's Cardinal Archbishop, by the way.)

Badda-bing. We know what happened next.

What can we learn from our Mother?

Well, we can learn how to ask for help from Jesus. We can tell Him the problem, and leave the answer to Him.

We can tell Jesus, for example:

"Jesus, my spouse is sick."

"Jesus, unborn children are dying."

"Jesus, when people take your Name in vain, it hurts me."

"Jesus, I'm lonely."

"Jesus, I'm sick."

"Jesus, my child is in trouble."

You get what I mean. Besides saving a lot of words and time, prayer like Mary's underscores the confidence you and I have in Jesus' love for us. And His Divinity!

Jesus doesn't need the answers. He actually doesn't even need the prayers.

But we do. Let's let Him do His work...without our advice.

May He continue to bless you!

January 22: A day that will live in infamy

Once again, though, Jill Stanek is asking us to ask them: "What do you mean by `choice'?"

NARAL celebrates 1/22 like it was a birthday...ironically enough.

Throughout the United States—and please God, other countries—Catholic and other Christian communities are holding prayer vigils, Masses of Reparation, a Day of Penance, and Holy Hours to powerfully and spiritually fight the culture of death. Please. Join us.

May The Author of Life continue to bless you!

Urgent prayer request from Mark Shea's reader

Our eldest child, 13 years old, was found dead yesterday morning in his bed.  Doctors have not yet determined the cause of death.  My wife and I, and his 4 younger siblings, are still in shock and in so much pain  Right before we went to bed, he and I prayed the joyful mysteries.    We’re certain he’s in heaven.  Please pray for his mother and siblings.

Litany of Christmas Thanks

Litany of Christmas Thanks

(Response: Baby Jesus, we thank you.)

For the Blessed Virgin Mary your Mother who said "Yes" to the angel. R/

For John the Baptist who leapt in the womb of Elizabeth his mother when you visited him in Mary. R/

For Joseph your foster father who trusted the angel instead of heeding his own doubts. R/

For the donkey that carried your expectant Mother to Bethlehem. R/

For the neighbor who led your holy family to the stable. R/

For the manger in which you were placed as if in the first tabernacle. R/

For the animals who were there in the first moments that you were adored. R/

For the angels and their song that led shepherds to your stable. R/

For the shepherds who worshiped you and then proclaimed the Good News like priests. R/

For Simeon who all his life had been waiting for you in the temple, longing to hold you. R/

For Anna the prophetess who proclaimed you to all those looking for deliverance and peace. R/

For the star that led the Magi to your manger and your Mother. R/

Loving Father,

all of these Christmas gifts

symbolize how much you love us

with the supreme Gift of your Son, Jesus Christ,

born for us this Christmas day.

We give these gifts to one another to express

how grateful we are for your unfathomable generosity

and to show how eager we are to share that goodness with one another.

Bless these tokens of love and caring.

Never let us get attached to material things,

but rather let the joy flowing from these presents

strengthen our bonds of love, deepen our relationships,

and move us to be more thankful, selfless, and giving all the days of our life.

Thank you for the birth of Jesus,

our brother and our Savior.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son,

and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning,

is now and will be forever.

Amen. 

(Adapted from Blessing Prayers: Devotions for Growing in Faith

by Fr. Peter John Cameron, O.P.)

 

My Mom, the Religious Ed Teacher

"Trust"

Dear God, I want so much
To place my trust in you --
But there are times, dear God
I know not what to do.

I feel such pain, and loneliness,
I fear the long dark night --
I wish that I could keep Your face
Forever in my sight --

Then, I'd remember how
Your Son did suffer too,
And how in fear He was
And how He prayed to You.

For He was human as am I,
And knew He'd have to die
He put His trust in You
And never questioned why.

Please, let me be like Him
And follow in His way
I'll place my trust in You, dear God...

...and never cease to pray.

Marie Kelly

Written for my C.C.D. class

November 16, 1987

Santa Claus: pro-life, pro-woman, pro-Jesus

'Course, maybe like you, I've known Santa Claus since I was a kid. I used to see him a lot, but lately? Only a few weeks before each Christmas. Still, it's always good to see him.

For the past few weeks he's been hanging around the Prudential Center of Boston, directly across from the post office and a few steps away from Saint Francis Chapel.

I've tried to pop by to see him whenever I could...sometimes—often—he's busy with little kids, patiently listening to them. If we can't chat, we manage to blow kisses to each other (often, alas, to the dismay of the photographer who has to take the picture over again.)

A couple of weeks ago—on the eve of his namesake's day (that would be Saint Nicholas)—we spent a half an hour or so together, talking over old times...you know. We posed for a photo, which was fun.

And, somewhat to my surprise, he asked me what I wanted for Christmas!

He: "Kelly, come on. What'd you like me to bring you this year?"
Me: "Santa, you come on! You know I've got everything I need and I'm not a kid anymore."
He: "Sure you are Kel...now don't be silly, there's got to be something."

As it happened, I had in my hand a gift request from the annual Saint Francis Chapel Giving Tree—a wonderful effort by some good pro-life folks to help unborn babies and their parents to warm up Christmas a bit. So...

Me: "Okay, Santa. What I'd like is for the Chapel Giving Tree to be a great success!"
He: "Giving Tree?"
Me: "Yeah. You know. Moms. Babies. Folks in need."
He: "Hmmm...like Jesus and Mary and Joseph?"
Me: "Well, yes, actually."

Then I kissed him goodbye and hurried off.

Today I found myself in an impossibly long line at the post office. I needed to mail two letters overseas and the auto-machine thing wasn't working. Since I'd just been to confession—top story: Kelly Was Impatient—I tried to ignore the line and make cheerful talk with my fellow queue-mates. It worked, actually. In the middle of one conversation, a nice looking lady came into the crowded area calling out:

"Excuse me, is there a Kelly here?" I looked around, and since nobody else claimed the name, I pleaded guilty as charged.

"Oh, good," she said. "Santa sent me to ask if you'd be good enough to stop by and see him...if it doesn't make you late for Mass, of course."

Gamely trying to ignore my slightly flaming cheeks (along with the sudden hush in the post office...I mean, how often does a 50++ woman get publicly summoned by that Little Round Elf?) I assured the lady I'd do my best, and hey presto! Suddenly I was at the counter!

In no time, my transaction with the grinning post office lady done, I rushed across the aisle and sank into Santa's sofa. He said:

"Kelly. Forgive me for taking so long. Here. Take this for the Giving Tree. And the babies. And the moms. And for Him."

After staring at the wad of bills he thrust into my hands, I threw my arms around him and dashed off to the Chapel Office minutes before Mass started, and gave the money to the receptionist. "It's for the Giving Tree," I explained.

"Great timing!" she said. "They're on their way to pick up the stuff. Thanks, Kelly!"

"Don't thank me," I mumbled. "Thank Santa Claus." But she only smiled.

I entered the Chapel praising God...and giving thanks for a very giving man.

Merry Christmas!

The dead in Newtown, CT, 12/14/12: please pray!

Please pray for the souls of those who suffered a violent death in Newtown, Connecticut on Friday, December 14, 2012, and for the consolation of their loved ones.

The children

Charlotte Bacon, age 6

Daniel Barden, age 7

Olivia Engel, age 6

Josephine Gay, age 7

Ana M. Marquez-Greene, age 6

Dylan Hockley, age 6

Madeleine F. Hsu, age 6

Catherine V. Hubbard, age 6

Chase Kowalski, age 7

Jesse Lewis, age 6

James Mattioli, age 6

Grace McDonnell, age 7

Emilie Parker, age 6

Jack Pinto, age 6

Noah Pozner, age 6

Caroline Previdi, age 6 

Jessica Rekos, age 6

Avielle Richman, age 6

Benjamin Wheeler, age 6 

Allison N. Wyatt, age 6

The adults

Rachel Davino, age 29 

Dawn Hochsprung, age 47

Adam Lanza, age 20

Nancy Lanza, age 52

Anne Marie Murphy, age 52

Lauren Rousseau, age 30

Mary Sherlach, age 56

Victoria Soto, age 27

May God continue to bless you.

"Threaten marriage?" Go 'way to the back of the line, ladies

There's a meme traversing social media networks that uses these two old ladies (below) brandishing their "marriage certificate," courtesy of the state of Washington, to challenge those of us who doggedly persist in believing that marriage is a union between a man and a woman on our "feelings of threat."

Makes me laugh out loud...or perhaps cry.

Because these two old gals, of course, have about as much "threat" power as did a wandering ice berg had after the Titanic sunk.

The threat began—let's face it, folks—long before the notion of same-sex "marriage" ever entered the picture.

And when did the threat begin?

Gee. Probably forever. But for purposes here, let's just start with my lifetime. (It's my blog.)

How 'bout when among Catholics of The Greatest Generation, after reading Humane Vitae, (clearly limning the dangers of artificial birth control), a sudden rash of "irregular periods" infested women...a "disorder" obligingly "cured" by The Pill?

Or maybe when the divorce rate overcame the 50% mark?

Or when "wife swapping" became vogue in suburbia?

Or when "open marriage" gained popularity as a means to "keep the zip" in marriage?

Or when the "sexual revolution" opened the doors to premarital sex, abortion, and all sorts of nice stuff like that? And the ladies and gentlemen of The Greatest Generation had no problem with taking their daughters to the friendly neighborhood gynecologist to be either fitted for a diaphragm or prescribed The Pill?

I could go on, but you get the picture.

Dearest ladies, you couldn't cause a threat to traditional marriage if you tried. Because you, and the "activists" who are using you, have missed the point entirely.

You're not a threat. You're merely a result.

Alfred Hitchcock's Surprise Ending

A biographer said that the director, at the end of his life, shunned religion. Not true. I was there.

A wonderful read. Enjoy!

Happy New Year!

Christ, King of the Universe!

"Our Prayer" to Our Lady: written by my mom in 1940

My sister Buzzy gave me my mom's diary on my wedding day. While thumbing through it this evening on the day of the Presentation of Our Lady, I was struck by this entry, written in 1940.

"Our Prayer"

Oh, Virgin Pure

Oh, Virgin Fair

Sweet Mary, lily white,

Keep us in thy loving care.

Protect us, day and night.

Watch o'er us when

The days are dark

With life's great trouble

And strife.

Keep within us

A burning spark

A Love for eternal life.

Keep vigil, sweetest Mother dear

When Satan aims his arrow of sin

Coat our souls with an armor of fear

Of Hell's precocious din.

Please give us thy helping hand

When we stumble

In erring way.

Deliver us from the Devil's snare;

Protect us, we humbly pray.

3 Days of Adoration, Prayer, Fasting: 2012 Elections

The inspiration for 3 days of fasting and prayer is found in the Book of Esther. Queen Esther, when informed of the possible annihilation of her people, called for a three day fast prior to her interceding with the king on behalf of her people.

Mary has been likened to Esther as she continually intercedes with the King of kings on our behalf. The nation has been entrusted to her under the title of Immaculate Conception. Let us ask her to pray with us and for us that we, as a people, will choose life.

"Who knows but that it was a time like this that you obtained the royal dignity?" (Esther 4:14)

Many thanks to my friends at Missionaries of the Blessed Sacrament for this prayer.

Prayer for Our Country

O Most Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Mercy, at this most critical time, we entrust the United States of America to your loving care. Most Holy Mother, we beg you to reclaim this land for the glory of your Son.

Overwhelmed with the burden of the sins of our nation, we cry to you from the depths of our hears and seek refuge in your motherly protection. Look down with mercy upon us and touch the hearts of our people.

Open our minds to the great worth of human life and to the responsibilities that accompany human freedom.

Free us from the falsehoods that lead to the evil of abortion and threaten the sanctity of family life.

Grant our country the wisdom to proclaim that God's law is the foundation on which this nation was founded, and that He alone is the True Source of our cherished rights to live, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

O Merciful Mother, give us the courage to reject the culture of death and the strength to build a new Culture of Life.

"...I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse; therefore choose life, that you and your descendants may live." (Deuteronomy 30:19)

Happy All Saints Day!

Prayer to Prevent Assisted Suicide

True Compassion at the End of a Life

O God, source of all life and hope, grant us the grace to see you in others, especially in the poor and vulnerable, the frail and the old.

Look kindly on your sons and daughters who have grown weak through illness and age: fill them with the strength of your Holy Spirit. Keep them firm in faith and serene in hope, that they might give us all an example of patience and joyfully witness to the power of your love.

We pray for our country and for our Commonwealth of Massachusetts: that we might continue to protect and defend the dignity and worth of every human life, created in your image and likeness.

Assist us as we oppose those who, out of misguided mercy, advance the cause of doctor-assisted suicide.

Help us to recognize that to die with dignity is to die in your loving embrace, trusting in your compassionate care for us, and allowing your will be done in us.

Mary, Mother of God, pray for us and help us grow in faith and trust, so that your words might become ours:

"Let it be done to me according to God's will."

Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

(Many thanks to Father Jonathan Gaspar, Director of Divine Worship of the Archdiocese of Boston for this prayer. Please. Vote NO on Question 2 in Massachusetts.)

VIDEO REPORT: Son of State Senator Neal Kedzie Attacked; Sean Kedzie Speaks Out

VIDEO REPORT: Son of State Senator Neal Kedzie Attacked; Sean Kedzie Speaks Out

Mary, and getting a jump start in doing our job: Prayers of the Faithful

There are two really important words in the Ave Maria —the Hail Mary prayer.

NOW. Pray for us sinners, NOW.

And at the hour of our DEATH.

Because there are really only two important times in our lives. NOW. And when we are approaching the final "now."

Not everyone prays the Hail Mary.

Sad, but true. And yet—aside from The Lord's Prayer—this one doesn't get any better. Our job is to get people to Heaven.

So here's what I propose (and many priests already do this):

When concluding the prayers of the faithful—or, as they're also called, the Offertory Intercessions—why not make it a habit to vocally implore Our Lady to intercede for us...to add her wonderful voice... in that amazing prayer called the "Ave Maria?"

Think about it. Not only are you asking Mary to pray for you, but, if everyone prays to her, well...everyone is asking for the same thing:

"Pray for us sinners NOW, and at the hour of our DEATH."

I mean, really. Jesus never denied His Mother anything. That's why the "Hail Mary" is such a great prayer! And if, for whatever reasons, our brethren (to say nothing of our sisthren) aren't in the habit of using this magnificent prayer, what is to stop our celebrants from leading the assembly in doing so?

Pray about this. And maybe encourage your pastor to do the same.

May God, through the intercession of His Mother, Mary, continue to bless you.

The Detroit Tigers: you will forgive this bit o' nostalgia

Father George W. Rulter in Newton: Wed. 10/17 at 6:00 PM

From reader Kristine DeMatteo:

Mary Immaculate of Lourdes Parish presents:
Father George W. Rutler
"Crisis of Saints: Holiness in the Year of Faith"
Wednesday, October 17, 6 PM, Lower Church Hall.

(and my alert eyes spotted the money question: it's FREE!)

Mary Immaculate of Lourdes in Newton Upper Falls extends an open invitation to attend a talk by Father George W. Rutler, who will speak about "A Crisis of Saints: Holiness in the Year of Faith." He will discuss the importance of looking at the saints for guidance. For while saints have lives peculiar to a specific time and place, human nature never changes. The way the saints draw on the strength of the Holy Spirit is a guide for today's faithful at a time of cultural upheaval.
For more information, contact Kristine at kdemat@comcast.net

Okay, that's the PR. Here's my take.

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to, after even a cursory glance at Father Rutler's bio, to realize that here's a guy worth listening to. It also doesn't take a genius to know that holiness is the A Numero Uno No Questions Allowed One Single Thing We're Needing Right Here, Right Now.

And anybody who recommends looking to the saints for guidance is right up there with the Evangelists. Hope to see you there.

"Gentle Woman?" Yeah. "Tough Woman?" Absolutely!

While reflecting upon the Seven Sorrows of Mary tonight, I was reminded of a homily I heard at Mass today by Father Mike McNamara. He spoke against something that somehow always bugged me—didn't sit quite right—and that would be the notion of Mary as the weak, totally berserk, wreck of a grief-maddened woman unable to cope with her enormous sorrows.

(I almost got up and applauded, but thankfully my guardian angel held me firmly in my check.)

Indeed, it's true that Mary is a "gentle woman." So please, Carey Landry fans, no protests, thanks.

She's also One. Tough. Lady!

Don't like the image of Mary's toughness? Ponder, if you will, on the "Seven Sorrows."

1.) Simeon's Prophesy. Okay so she's told her Child will be the rise and fall of many..."and you, yourself, a sword shall pierce." How did she react? Did she say "good grief, no, no, I'm not ready nor willing for this stuff!" Nope. She accepted it. Pondered his words.

2.) The Flight into Egypt. I mean, come on! First she gives birth in some barn somewhere in a tiny town. Then she finds out some maniac "king" is dead set on killing—killing!—her little Boy. Her husband tells her he dreams that they've gotta hot tail it into a foreign country and what does she do? Say, "no, sorry, my parents haven't even seen the Boy and besides, what the bleep am I supposed to do in Egypt of all places?" Nope. She just does it. She goes. She Womans-up, so to speak.

3.) Jesus Can't be Found. Any parent who's lost a child—in the mall, at the beach, in the park, wherever—has to understand the agony of this situation. As it turned out, Mary thought He was with Joseph, Joseph thought He was with Mary...you know the story. So for three bleeping days they backtracked, searching, looking, praying...and finally they found Him. In the temple, for Heaven's sake, "listening...and asking questions." Did she admonish her Son? Well, in a way, yes she did, and understandably so! But when He answered her question, she accepted it. She didn't kvetch and moan about the Impossible Nerve of Some People's Children or anything like that. She accepted it and took Him home. Period.

4.) Mary meets Jesus on the Road to Calvary. She probably cried. But she didn't keel over. She followed him.

5.) Mary Sees Her Son Crucified. Crucified! As horrible as any death is, crucifixion pretty much trumps it all. Imagine how you'd feel if you saw your son, or daughter, or husband, or even that person you really don't like all that much suffering unspeakable horrors? Again, she probably cried. But again, she didn't crumple. She stood by the Cross. Mostly all their friends fled like ninnies—to be honest, what I'd probably do—but she stood by the Cross. Did I mention that this is One Tough Lady?

6.) Mary Sees Her Son Taken Down from The Cross. It's all over folks. Nothing more to see. The guy's dead. Another day in good ol' Roman-ruled territory so you might as well go home. Not so with Mary. If you examine Michelangelo's Pieta and other similar images, you can search but you will not find any hysterical woman. You'll see a sorrowful woman, indeed, but not one ready for the looney bin. You'll see—and I hope you pray on this—one resigned to the Will of God.

7.) Mary Sees Her Son Laid in the Tomb. A few days ago I went to a wake of a beautiful, three year old girl who died of leukemia. Her casket was opened. The last thing I wanted to see was this child buried. I cannot even begin to think about how her parents felt. What excruciating pain!  Hell, I couldn't even bring myself to see my late husband Bill, or my mom, or my dad, being lowered into the ground. But did Mary throw herself over the grave, hysterically screaming? Nope. She watched it all. And somewhere inside of her she knew that God's Will was done. More than anyone else, she knew. And accepted it.

Here's the thing: Mary is tough!

She's tough on sin, tough on the devil, and filled with tough love—of the best sort—for her children. That would be you and me.

So it's probably best to follow her advice: the last of her words recorded in the Bible:

Do Whatever He Tells You!

May He continue to bless us, and may our very loving, and very tough Mother continue to pray for us all.

Hope you had a good one :-)

If someone asks for your prayers? Just DO it! Now!

Today, after Mass, a very good friend asked for my prayers. I responded, quite truthfully, that in fact I prayed for him every morning.

Wrong response!

When someone asks for you to pray for him or her, do it immediately. Never mind that you prayed for that person already, or -- even worse -- that you intend to pray for that person. Or worse even than that, the Pavlolian response: "yes of course I'll pray for you."

Why is this a wrong—or least an woefully inadequate response? Here's analogy:

Picture yourself in a dark alley somewhere. Someone, you sense, is after you, perhaps armed. Thank God, here comes a policeman! You—sensibly—say: "Hey, Officer! Please help me! I think I'm in danger!"

And the man in blue responds: "Oh don't worry. I protect folks all the time. If you're ever in trouble, just call on me...or any police officer. Meanwhile, know I'm on the job!"

And then he walks away, cheerfully convinced he's done his duty.

And there you are, a sitting duck for the guy you sense is on his way to get you.

Prayer is a powerful weapon. 

A gun or a shield or an armed officer is also a powerful weapon—potentially. But unless he or it is used immediately, he or it is pretty much useless at the moment. Use it, or it's rendered impotent. 

So the next time someone says "please pray for me" here's what you want to do.

Stop. And pray. Right then and right now.

Never mind your good intentions. You might not live to realize them. A sobering thought, but true.

You just stop and pray. Maybe a "quick" Ave—by the way, an incredibly powerful prayer—or maybe a more intense prayer, depending on the requester's needs.

But never mind the "sure I'll keep you in my prayers" or any of the other well-meant promises.

You might forget, you know. Or you might not get the chance to carry out your promise.

So why delay? Pray! Right then, and right now.

May God continue to bless you.

Thank you, Paul Ryan...

...for saying "yes."

"Leadership sister" shows true colors, alas

"We would question, however, any policy that is more pro-fetus than actually pro-life. You know, if the rights of the unborn trump all of the rights of all of those who are already born; that is a distortion, too, if there's such an emphasis on that."

Sister Pat Farrell, president, Leadership Conference of Women Religious

Again. I suspect anybody who crowns herself as a "leader." Particularly, of course, in the Catholic Church.


Here, this self-proclaimed "leader" screws up royally. Worse, she...hesitates. If you're a Catholic? You don't hesitate. You know there's a difference between right and wrong and you know what that difference is and you don't...hesitate...to say it.


Sorry, Sister. You are one sorry sister.

Catholic "institutions" should refuse federal $$$

I hate to say it, but the president has a point. If Catholic institutions accept Caesar's dough, then they should be prepared to pay the price.

In the immortal words of Nancy Reagan? Just say "no!"

~~~~~~~~~

Swensen: “He describes himself as a Catholic voter and wrote 'What can you say about a healthcare bill that’ll mandate insurance companies to provide birth control, sterilization, etc. to employees of Catholic universities, hospitals and churches since this goes against the Catholic religion?' We know there is compromising language in place. Some say it doesn’t go far enough and that the real, the much bigger issue is religious liberty, not contraception.”

Obama: “Yeah. Well it’s absolutely true that religious liberty is critical. I mean that’s what our country was founded on. That’s the reason why we exempted churches, we exempted religious institutions, but we did say that big Catholic hospitals or universities who employ a lot of non-Catholics and who receive a lot of federal money, that for them to be in a position to say to a woman who works there you can’t get that from your insurance company even though the institution isn’t paying for it, that that crosses the line where that woman, she suddenly is gonna have to bear the burden and the cost of that. And that’s not fair.”

~~~~~~~~~~~

Here's the whole interview here.

Read the black. Do the red.

Improvising Illinois priest barred from pulpit

ObamaCare's Lost Tribe: Doctors

A Wall Street Journal story the day after the Supreme Court ruling examined in detail its impact across the "health sector." The words "doctor," "physician" and "nurse" appeared nowhere in this report. The piece, however, did cite the view of one CEO who runs a chain of hospitals, explaining how they'd deal with the law's expected $155 billion in compensation cuts. "We will make it up in volume," he said.

Volume? Would that be another word for human beings? It is now. At Obama Memorial, docs won't be treating patients. They'll be processing "volume."

This article is worth the read.

We might not win this battle. But we've already won the war.

Please do be prepared. In the eyes of the secular world, we might not win the battle we are fighting during—and after—the Fortnight for Freedom.

As a matter of fact, in the eyes of the world, we've already lost. You know this. Catholic teachings are all but outlawed in the land of the fruited plains and the home of the brave.

The memorials we celebrate on June 22—Saints John Fisher and Thomas More—remind us all too clearly that a country once dedicated to the Church of Jesus Christ, and Her Vicar in Rome—that, in the secular world, the Kingdom of God is not all that easy to help come about.

But. No matter. We've already won the battle—or, rather, Christ on the Cross has won it for us.

Pray. Fast. Sacrifice. And, yes, fight.

But in the end? Be of good cheer.

We've already won.

Fortnight for Freedom

Prayer. Study. Catechesis. Public Action.

Welcome home, Leah!

She was a very cool atheist, as atheist's go. I expect she'll be an even cooler Catholic. Thank you, Lord.

Blessed be Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar!

A blessed Corpus Christi to you!

Pelosi On Contraception & Faith: "I Do My Religion On Sundays, In Church"

Uh...how does one "do" one's religion, exactly?

Guardsman, peace-loving landlady are at odds over apartment rental - BostonHerald.com

Yes, indeed, war is hell. But so are some not-so-grateful would-be landladies, in my humble opinion.

My fetus might be ____. So I'll kill her.

Your Congress, my congress, and our president simply reaffirmed the fact that abortion is not at all a "pro-woman" issue. But we knew that already, didn't we?

"The right to choose [to kill my child]" has been a mantra for lo these many years now. What puzzles me is trying to figure out why so many pro-lifers are so upset about the recent decision to bless abortions based on sexual preference. [Read: "I don't want a girl." Or, if it makes you feel better, "I don't want a boy." Probable reality? "I want a boy."]

Well, to be clear, I do understand why folks are upset. I guess my question is: where's the surprise here?

Abortion has never been about "women's rights."

Abortion has always been about egoism. About "I'm better than you are." About "if we're going to [sigh] go through all this crap, then we'd damn well get what we're paying for."

And it's a buyer's market.

If you're apt to be sickly, forget about it. If there's a chance you might be a slow learner, or too short, or too tall, or not quite have the right hair, or not have the exact dimple, or may be a brunette (you wanted a blonde) or might be blonde (redheads are so cute!) or won't be athletically, scholastically, musically, artistically, or fill-in-the-blank inclined, it's toodle-loo toots. You won't make it in our world.

And God help you if they really do find a homosexual gene because if they do? And you've got it?

You're toast.

It's the age of designer babies, folks.

I'm sorry, of course, that our elected officials decided—nah, not decided: affirmed—that it's just peachy to kill an unborn child because she's the "wrong gender."

But I'm certainly not surprised. What else did you expect? Equality???? Come on.

May God continue to bless you.

I hear a siren outside...it's time to pray...

A siren. Something might be wrong. "Dear Mary, someone might be in trouble. Please pray for them, and for those who are off to help them."

It takes next to no time to ask for these prayers. And yet the power of them is something I'm humbly aware of.

I'm driving past a cemetery. It's time to pray. "Lord, have mercy on them...and on me."

A nanosecond and yet how powerful...who knows what soul will be freed from the bondage of Purgatory and welcomed into His Holy Arms? (And let's not forget: I asked for mercy on myself as well.)

I'm walking, sure-footed, and see many people. There's an old man in a scooter. A young woman on crutches. An elderly lady in a wheel chair. A laughing young lady, obviously pregnant, wheeling a carriage with an infant in it and dragging along a toddler.

Yes, indeed. It's time to pray.

As I walk home I see a policeman, lights whirling in his car, approaching another motorist. A speeder? Something worse?

No matter. It's time to pray.

The thing is, our gracious Lord gives us ample opportunities to pray for one another. Not just "hints" but scenes that scream out "for the Lord's sake please pray for me!"

And I'm grateful for them. Because every time I offer up a prayer for someone else I'm also offering a prayer for myself. After all, prayer is conversation with the Almighty and Who else but the Great Conversationalist Himself will ignore me? Or ignore you?

And so, right now, you  might be reading this, intent on feeding your child, kissing your spouse, calling your mom, waving to your neighbor...it doesn't matter.

Because right here and right now? It's time to pray.

Celebrate the anniversary of my Baptism!

"Going therefore, teach ye all nations; baptizing them in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." Matthew 28-19

Alleluia! Today is the anniversary of my Baptism according to the rite of the Roman Catholic Church, by Reverend Joseph Zalibert at Saints Cyril & Methodius Church, Detroit, Michigan (the church moved to Sterling Heights, Michigan in 1971). I thank my parents, Leo James Kelly and Maria Victoria Ulanowicz Kelly, my godparents, Vincent and Angelina DuRocher, and most of all, my God Who claimed me for His own.

It is my great joy to renew the vows made by my parents and godparents on my behalf!

I reject Satan, and all his works, and all his empty promises.

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, Who was born of the Virgin Mary, was crucified, died, and was buried, rose from the dead, and is now seated at the right hand of the Father.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and life everlasting.

Amen!

A Catholic View: White House Counts Unborn Babies as Visitors?

A Catholic View: White House Counts Unborn Babies as Visitors?

Daily Mass: Confessions of a spoiled brat

I am blessed—and I wish I'd realize this more—to be able to participate in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass on a daily basis...have been since the mid-1980's.

This privilege is something I've taken for granted, as easily as a child takes for granted that she'll be fed by her parents.

And, like that same child? I've been complaining. Not that the food isn't good. No, never that. Receiving the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus Christ daily? It just doesn't get any better.

Still, I do complain.

Mostly about the priest celebrants. You know these guys...they gave up their lives in order to serve Christ and His people. I pray for them every day.

Yet still, I complain.

Publicly! Mostly about what I consider the "ad libbing" on the part of the priests. Oh, sheesh, a parenthetical comment is creeping up on me here...

(Okay I can't resist...from today's Mass I give you: "...with you and the Holy Spirit, live and LOVE forever and ever. Amen." Father? There's nothing wrong with the word "reign")

I'm sorry. Actually this, or rather the snitty irritation it aroused it me — forget that, the truth is I allowed  the snitty irritation in myself — got me thinking.

"Kelly? You thought???"

Okay, enough of that. Yes, I did indeed think!

Mostly, I thought of the people who don't have the incredibly blessed luxury of being able to participate in the daily celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. I recalled being jarred by a Facebook post from my friend Colleen Hammond, for example, who wrote: "Oh, how I wish I could go to Mass every day!" And I recalled how, years ago now, by friend Lisa Graas, being disabled, was often unable to attend Mass on Sundays, never mind weekdays.

And my mind became unbearably filled with thoughts of folks—Catholic, Jesus-in-the-Eucharist adoring folks—who have been barred by any sorts of things: government, illness, lack of priests, whatever—from celebrating the incredible Sacrifice of Calvary offered bloodlessly but no less live and in Person...that Sacrifice that redeemed us, set us free, and is repeated endlessly, every day, world without end.

And I was, and remain, truly humbled.

I—there's that word again, "I"—need to remember that, through no merit of my own, God has given me the opportunity to, every day, embrace Him in what's the most precious gift in the world: The Mass. And, not incidentally, pray that everyone, the world over, be given the same opportunity.

No doubt, God willing, I'll still point out irregularities some priests insist on practicing when they, too, have been given a gift without compare.

But, please God, with every wince I experience, during the Mass, remind me to pray for those who haven't even the luxury of wincing.

Amen.