A thank you to the medical center that helped save Baby Joseph
(We received a follow-up email from Priests For Life, asking us to send a quick “thank you” to the hospital who will care for Baby Joseph in the United States. Following is an excerpt from their letter…)
“We at Priests For Life are very grateful to you for being among the tens of thousands of pro-lifers who sent e-mails to the doctors and administrators at the Canadian hospital where Baby Joseph would have been forced to die. This victory just goes to show that when enough good people get involved and work together, miracles happen.
“We’re also extremely grateful that the Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital [in St. Louis, MO] — out of dozens of hospitals we contacted—had the intestinal fortitude to stand up to all the political pressure and say, ‘YES! We’ll take Baby Joseph and care for him! That’s what we do!’
“Without them, Baby Joseph had no real hope of survival. Therefore, I’m writing to ask you to send one more e-mail —this time, a “Thank You” e-mail to the officials at Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital—and tell them how thrilled you are that they took in Baby Joseph during the most critical hour in his fight for life.
“All you have to do is click here, and use the e-mail form that we’ve provided for your convenience.”
Please continue to pray for Japan and all the victims of the earthquake and tsunami
“God is our refuge and our strength, a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change, though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea; though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble with its tumult.
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High.
God is in the midst of the city; it shall not be moved; God will help it when the morning dawns.”
Psalm 46:1-5
Consider donating to the relief effort for the victims of this tragedy through Catholic Relief Services
The Red Cross is organizing a relief effort, more details can be found here: http://www.redcross.org/en/
Baby Joseph saved by Priests for Life
(We received this letter from Priests for Life today as a thanks to all who supported their effort to save Baby Joseph! When we bind together in Christ, we make a difference.)
“I have great news to share with you today. We have had success in getting Baby Joseph out of Canada and bringing him to the United States to receive the health care he needs.
“Last night I arrived in Ontario, Canada, to rescue Baby Joseph Maraachli from the London Health Sciences Centre. For two weeks, doctors at the hospital in London, Ontario, have been delaying the baby’s transfer to a hospital where efforts to save his life will not be officially labeled “futile.” Read more about this at www.priestsforlife.org.
“I flew in a medical jet with Baby Joseph and his father, Moe Maraachli, to SSM Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center in St. Louis, Mo. He is now being evaluated by the staff at this wonderful Catholic facility.
“I want to thank each and every one of you for your help. None of this could have been possible without you. Your prayers and your emails to Canadian officials are what helped us to get Baby Joseph out of Canada.
“This proves that when we all band together united for such an important cause we can make a difference. Let this be incentive for us to continue to work together to protect the most innocent and to truly bring about a culture of life.
“Please keep praying for Baby Joseph and his family. Continue praying and fighting for others like Baby Joseph who are considered by some in the medical profession to be “worthless” and continue to pray and fight for an end to the slaughter of the most innocent still in their mothers’ wombs.
“Keep watching for Baby Joseph developments on our website at www.priestsforlife.org and in special emails and alerts that I will send to you.
“Thanks and God Bless,
“Father Pavone
National Director,
Priests for Life”
Remedies for Temptation
“Because man is a composite being, spirit and body, there already exists a certain tension in him; a certain struggle of tendencies between spirit and flesh develops. But in fact, this struggle belongs to the heritage of sin. It is a consequence of sin and at the same time a confirmation of it. It is part of the daily experience of the spiritual battle” (Catechism of the Catholic Church #2516).
Proven remedies for temptation:
Prayer
daily Mass
filial devotion to our Lady
reading of the Sacred Scriptures
adoration
frequent reception of Confession
God can go back into our lives and reverse anything we did wrong, or that wronged us
Posted with permission from Spiritdaily.com
Do you realize that God can go backwards in time and reverse the effects of anything we have done wrong, or that was wrongly done to us (if He so wills)? We have mentioned this before — how the Lord not only can allow us to rectify past mistakes as if they didn’t even exist (once we seek His forgiveness and expiate — purify) but can even revisit certain points in our lives and eliminate the cause of a disease or psychological harm that set in during particular periods.
The Lord is omnipotent. He is also timeless. He can appear at any time in any situation. He speaks to our supernatural existence, which is the root of our dignity. There is not a single miracle that you do not have the potential to tap into. There is never reason not to persevere. We have seen accounts right unto death of how trust and perseverance pay off — mountains moved, severe problems eradicated. Usually, they are smaller mountains — bumps in our lives — that we need help over.
Life on earth is a constant invisible transaction. Our victories often seem like “minor” victories, but they are no less miraculous. The money that came when you needed it? That lonely child of yours who suddenly has a buddy?
“Small” victories, but perhaps not really all that small.
We see such miracles every day and refer to them as answered prayers. It’s the way that the God of miracles coordinates our lives when we are in tune with Him and are selfless. I once received a Christmas card that listed the various ways of “dying to self.” It was eye-opening. It described dying to self as:
— When you are forgotten or neglected and you don’t hurt with the insult, but your heart is happy — that is dying to self
— When your advice is disregarded, your opinions ridiculed, and you refuse to let anger rise in your heart, and take it all in patient, loving silence — that is dying to self
— When you lovingly and patiently bear disorder, irregularity, tardiness, and annoyance… and endure it as Jesus endured it — that is dying to self
— When you never care to refer to yourself in conversation or record your own good works, or itch for praise after an accomplishment, when you can truly love to be unknown… that is dying to self
— When you can see your brother or sister prosper and can honestly rejoice with him, and feel no envy even though your needs are greater — that is dying to self
— When you are content with any food, any offering, any raiment, any climate, or any society — that is dying to self
— When you can take correction, when you can humbly submit inwardly as well as outwardly, with no rebellion or resentment rising up within your heart — that is dying to self.”
Slowly but surely, we must reorient our lives; it takes patience. Life on earth is a constant struggle to balance our moods, diligent in our work, steadfast in our prayer, and full of constant love, which is the true power of the universe and what will propel us upward. Nothing is tragic when it assists our march to Heaven. A safe life is a deep life lived for God. When we approach each day from the perspective of His mission instead of our own designs, we are on the way to opening doors we didn’t even know existed, doors behind which, as I have emphasized, are graces. During the famous Catholic apparition known as the “Miraculous Medal,” the Blessed Mother appeared with rings on her fingers, each set with gems that radiated streams of light. It was explained to the seer (a nun who was later canonized, St. Catherine Laboure) that the rays from the gems were the symbols of graces that came from Christ and that Mary, as His assistant, shed upon those who asked for them. “The gems from which rays do not fall,” she said, “are the graces for which souls forget to ask.”
We need to stop and think about what we may be missing! Those gems come when we are seeking His embrace and have taken the time to humbly ask for them. When we have resistance, we have to remember that there may be spiritual forces unique even to certain areas that can intermingle with our own vulnerable spirits. These need to be cleansed. — at the same time that we invoke angels.
Once received, such graces are enhanced every time we’re diligent, overcome a bad habit, confess a sin (making a real effort not to repeat it), or turn away from what tempts us. God blesses us to encourage us in goodness and withdraws blessings to indicate when we are in error. Graces are enhanced every time we turn the other cheek.
I have seen a number of cases where what seemed like a disaster caused by the evil of another was simply ignored and followed by graces that greatly exceeded what the evil took away.
[adapted from the book The God of Miracles]
Prayer request for the people of Japan, and Red Cross relief effort
Dear readers, we ask that everyone take a moment to say a prayer for the people of Japan. The Red Cross is also organizing a relief effort, more details can be found here:
http://www.redcross.org/en/
Give and Take by Danielle Rose
From Danielle Rose’s Album, Defining Beauty – Most insightful, truthful songwriting I have heard, truly touches my soul.
New Testament translated for Aboriginal tribe in New Guinea (and they’re thrilled)
Just wanted to bring to everyone’s attention an amazing story about a tribe in New Guinea, the Kimyal, and how overjoyed they were upon receiving the New Testament translated for them. It just reminds us not to take for granted what we have here, as we’ve had this available to us for centuries and don’t always give thanks enough for this fact.
We are made for Eternal Life
Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent, where we are marked with ashes. The ashes on our forehead remind us of the human condition: Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.
The Church asks us to increase our prayer, fasting and almsgiving. True fasting and prayer should make us more aware that nothing on earth can ultimately satisfy us. We are, as St. Augustine famously wrote, made for God and so our hearts are restless until they rest in Him.