The Death of Osama Bin Laden

VATICAN CITY, 2 MAY 2011 (VIS) - This morning the Director of the Holy See Press Office, Fr. Federico Lombardi, S.J., released the following declaration on the news regarding the death of Osama Bin Laden.

 "Osama Bin Laden, as is known, claimed responsibility for grave acts that spread division and hate among the peoples, manipulating religion to that end. A Christian never takes pleasure from the fact of a man's death, but sees it as an opportunity to reflect on each person's responsibility, before God and humanity, and to hope and commit oneself to seeing that no event become another occasion to disseminate hate but rather to foster peace".

Disappointed

The Divine Mercy Novena started on Friday. I was hopeful, and led to believe, that our parish would encourage and propagate the Divine Mercy devotion. A lovely lady from the parish compiled and presented a proposal, which I understood to be a formality. I asked the Director of Liturgy if RE should obtain copies of the novena and chaplet or if they would be distributed to the Parish before Easter. I was told to hold off purchasing the booklets for RE. The DRE agreed to say the Chaplet with all the RE children when we gather, I brought her the copy of the Chaplet that we use during Children's Adoration. Sadly, we didn't say the Chaplet tonight with all the kids. We say it almost every week in my Third Grade class, the kids did a great job praying for the Meek and Humble Souls and the Souls of Little Children tonight. Last night, after Mass, our Pastor talked with Number One Son about his Divine Mercy All Saints Costume. He also mentioned that the devotion was spreading. I asked if there was going to be something special on Divine Mercy Sunday and he said it would be mentioned in the Homily. I hope and pray that promoting a devotion to the Divine Mercy was not delayed a year because our Deacon will be ordained to the Priesthood on Divine Mercy Sunday and our pastor, associate pastor and a bus load of people from our parish will be at Notre Dame. Blessed John Paul II declared on April 30, 2000, "The Second Sunday of Easter from now on throughout the Church will be called Divine Mercy Sunday." Eleven years later and this beautiful devotion doesn't warrant more than a one line mention in the Homily? It is very sad and disappointing that promoting Divine Mercy has not been mandatory or, at the very least, strongly encouraged.

Our Allergy Free Waffles

3 eggs, separated
1/4 cup sugar
1/3 c tapioca starch
1 cup garbanzo bean flour
2/3 cup soy milk
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
1/3 cup canola oil

In a stand up mixer with the whisk attachment, whisk the egg whites (you will add the yolks later) with the sugar until they form soft peaks.
Change to the mixing paddle, add all other ingredients on low until well combined.
This makes 6 waffles in our waffle maker. Spray with spray oil and cook until golden. Serve plain, with cooked fruit, with butter or with your favorite syrup. We usually use agave nectar, but I found some cane sugar golden syrup that was equally yummy and much cheaper!

"Pray, Hope, and Don't Worry!"
--St. Padre Pio

84,000 Novenas for the Pope’s 84th Birthday!

Will you join me in giving the Pope a huge gift for his birthday? Pope Benedict XVI is celebrating his birthday on April 16th and I'm joining up with praymorenovenas.com to get 84,000 people to pray a novena for the Pope's 84th birthday.

On April 8th, we will begin praying for nine days leading up to and ending on the Papa Benedict's birthday. The Pope prays for us everyday so it's time to return the gift to him on the anniversary of his birth.

84,000 Novenas is a lot! So, I'm going to need your help. I want everyone who reads this blog to do the following to help with this birthday gift!

+ Sign up here: http://bit.ly/h0052O
+ Join the facebook event and invite your friends here: http://on.fb.me/eE2Xs7
+ If you have a website, post about it there!
+ Email your friends and family and get them praying too!

I'm sure the Pope will love that we are all praying for him! Please help us reach our goal of 84,000 novenas for the Pope!

Remember to sign up to pray your novena for the pope here: http://bit.ly/h0052O

A reminder for myself..

Chrysostom also warns against hypocritical fasting: gIt is possible
for one who fasts not to be rewarded for his fasting. How? When indeed
we abstain from foods, but do not abstain from iniquities; when we do
not eat meat, but gnaw to pieces the homes of the poor; when we do not
become drunkards with wine, but we become drunkards with evil
pleasures; when we abstain all the day, but all the night we spend in
unchastened shows. Then what is the benefit of abstention from foods,
when on the one hand you deprive your body of a selected food, but on
the other offer yourself unlawful food?h

Home Loan Modification

Last year, right before Hubby was hospitalized, I applied for a Home
Loan modification. The mortgage industry was overwhelmed with
applications and after months of waiting, our application expired. We
filled out another application last Fall and Friday, I got a call from
the Office of Home Owner Preservation. After worrying all weekend, I
had the thought that if we had been denied, they would have sent a
letter. I'm praying that a phone call is good news. I will find out
today after work. St. Joseph pray for us.

I see him!

Number Two son brought me my Diary of St. Faustina with it open to the
back where there are photographs. He points to Bl. John Paul II and
says, " I see him, I see him." "Where do you see him?" I say. "In my
imagination, in my dreams."
"What does he say to you?" "Go to church eighteen minutes." Hmm, I
guess I have to wait a little longer to hear what else John Paul II
has to say to our almost four year old.