Bomb Threat at Lourdes

Someone called in a bomb threat at the shrine at Lourdes on today of all days. Nope, no anti-Catholicism here. Move along people.

The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Today we celebrate the Glorious Assumption of Our Lady into Heaven. Canon Francis Ripley in his excellent book "This Is The Faith" has this to say about it:

On November 1st, 1950, Pope Pius XII defined as a truth revealed by God that, when the course of her life on earth was finished, Our Lady was taken up body and soul into Heaven. The Feast of the Assumption has been celebrated since the 5th century according to the records we have, and countless Saints, Doctors of the Church and theologians have proclaimed their belief in the doctrine, basing their arguments on Holy Scripture, which presents to us the Mother of God as always closely united with her Divine Son and as always sharing His lot, particularly in that struggle against Satan, which, as was foretold in Genesis, was to lead to a complete victory over sin and death -- two words always joined in the writings of St Paul.

On this day I re-consecrated myself to Jesus through Mary, becoming her willing slave, ready to serve her and her Divine Son. May her Motherly protection keep me free from sin and worthy of the promises of Christ.

Journaling and Prayer

Besides running my mouth (fingers?) at the keyboard all day, I am also a prolific journal writer (the old-fashion kind with pens and paper). My journals span anywhere from 2 years to 6 months depending how how small or big the journal is and how much I write. I started this particular journal in March, days before my world crashed down when my mom died. Then, in July, it crashed down again when my finance left me without any explanation or even a kiss-my-ass. So I'm so very glad this journal is coming to an end. I like fresh starts.

Anyway, I'd like to end the last 2 pages with a prayer of some sort but not being very good at improvised prayers I decided to look up "Prayers at the end of the journal". Nada. So, I will be doing a bit of research and seeing if 1) there are any other Catholic journalers (I made up that word) and if not, maybe even start one on my own. (!)

If you come across any prayers that seem appropriate or relevant  then by all means, leave them in the comments!

Pray for conversions

I read this week that author Anne Rice has apostatized from the Church. How unbelievably sad. Her reason basically boils down to that the Church won't conform with the world. This led me to think about other public figures who we ought to pray for their conversion. St. Therese the Little Flower adopted such a soul and her prayers were efficacious. (St. Therese of Lisieux had prayed for the conversion of the notorious and unrepentant killer Henri Pranzini in 1887 and was able to read in the newspaper of his last-minute grab for a crucifix as he approached the scaffold. He kissed the wounds of Jesus three times before being guillotined.) I thought of a person who needs such prayers would be that professor in Minnesota (?) who likes to desecrate the Blessed Sacrament. Just as St Therese made Pranzini her "project" I will make the Professor mine. Our Lady of Fatima told the little seers to pray for sinners as many go to hell because they have no one to pray for them.