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Ash Wednesday – Little Black Mark on Your Head Today
Posted in Catholic, Christ, Christian, Church, Culture, Faith, Holy Spirit, In a nutshell, Lent with tags Ash Wednesday, ashes, Catholic, Culture, Lent, Religion, Spiritual, Video on February 22, 2012 by JoannaGolgotha of Jasna Gora
Posted in Art, Catholic, Christ, Christian, Church, Culture, Faith, Lent, Spirituality, The Cross, Tradition with tags Art, Ash Wednesday, Catholic, cross, crucifixion, golgotha, Illustration, Jerzy Duda Gracz, Jesus, Lent, life, Poland, priests, The Passion on February 21, 2012 by Joanna
Of Band-aids and False Compassion
Posted in My Journal with tags 12 week fetus, abortion, Alan Guttmacher Institute, Catholic, fetus, God, Good Housekeeping, India, magisterium, Mexico, planned parenthood, pregnancy, pregnant, womb on February 17, 2012 by JoannaFrom Zoey (meaning “Life”)
“Joanna,
Overall I don’t support abortion and I understand what you are saying but I still think that there should be exceptions. There are a lot of children under the age of 12 that have given birth so it’s not a rare situation. In some instances both the mother and the baby died in childbirth. It is not God’s will for a young lady to end up pregnant and then for her and her baby to die in the process. A woman’s body is not physically prepared to deliver a child until the age of 18. It is not rare anymore for a small child to end up pregnant. I don’t believe that its ever God’s will for a child to be pregnant. A lot of people don’t have health insurance and it costs $10,000 to give birth in a hospital. We live in a very fortunate country where pregnancy centers take in young women with a baby on the way and no place to go but other countries don’t. Think of a young child in India or Mexico that has gotten raped, ended up pregnant and doesn’t have any means to take care of the child and no one to help her. Think of all the children that can’t afford to go to a hospital. If there are any problems whatsoever and they can’t deliver the baby naturally, both the mother and the baby die. Other countries don’t have non-profit charities and involved churches or pregnancy hot lines, help centers and women’s shelters. In poorer places both the mother and the child end up homeless, or dead. Just because we have the technology to ensure a proper birthing process doesn’t mean that everyone can afford it. I’m a Catholic, I don’t support abortion, I was in danger of abortion myself, my first name is the Greek word for LIFE and my grandmother gave birth to 15 children, and only 10 survived. And even *I* can make some exceptions for those that really need it.”
Joanna to Zoey:
Dear Zoey (meaning “life”),
You say “I’m a Catholic, I don’t support abortion.” What does that actually mean if you then turn around and become you own Magisterium with your statement, “And even *I* can make some exceptions for those that really need it.”
God loves and values the life of each individual regardless of circumstance and without discriminating on the basis of age or social situation. You seem to place a greater value on lives because of perceived need, (i.e. pregnant 12-year-old) but would abort the life of the even more vulnerable 12 week old living in the womb. Do you really think abortion doesn’t severely scar at any age ( emotionally, physically or spiritually?) Invading the womb with death is more than a moral intrusion. Abortion is a token band-aid. Allowing abortion has led to tolerance and acceptance in our broken society, so that now it is an over-the-counter/vending machine “choice” with no one the wiser. Intrinsic evil is never morally okay. One in four women in our country has had an abortion , and I’m guessing, they weren’t pregnant 12 year olds. A sin like rape or incest is also not justification for another sin, murder. The perpetrator of the killing being a man or woman with an MD after their name doesn’t make it less deadly, nor that fact that the media or law makers gives it the Good Housekeeping seal of approval.
The following is a list of useful abortion statistics as well as some facts on abortifacients. All abortion numbers are derived from pro-abortion sources courtesy of The Alan Guttmacher Institute and Planned Parenthood’s Family Planning Perspectives.Click here for the Guttmacher Institute’s latest fact sheet on abortion.WORLDWIDENumber of abortions per year: Approximately 42 Million
Number of abortions per day: Approximately 115,000Where abortions occur:
83% of all abortions are obtained in developing countries and 17% occur in developed countries.© Copyright 1996-2008, The Alan Guttmacher Institute. (www.agi-usa.org)
UNITED STATES
Number of abortions per year: 1.37 Million (1996)
Number of abortions per day: Approximately 3,700Who’s having abortions (age)?
52% of women obtaining abortions in the U.S. are younger than 25: Women aged 20-24 obtain 32% of all abortions; Teenagers obtain 20% and girls under 15 account for 1.2%.Who’s having abortions (race)?
While white women obtain 60% of all abortions, their abortion rate is well below that of minority women. Black women are more than 3 times as likely as white women to have an abortion, and Hispanic women are roughly 2 times as likely.Who’s having abortions (marital status)?
64.4% of all abortions are performed on never-married women; Married women account for 18.4% of all abortions and divorced women obtain 9.4%.Who’s having abortions (religion)?
Women identifying themselves as Protestants obtain 37.4% of all abortions in the U.S.; Catholic women account for 31.3%, Jewish women account for 1.3%, and women with no religious affiliation obtain 23.7% of all abortions. 18% of all abortions are performed on women who identify themselves as “Born-again/Evangelical”.Who’s having abortions (income)?
Women with family incomes less than $15,000 obtain 28.7% of all abortions; Women with family incomes between $15,000 and $29,999 obtain 19.5%; Women with family incomes between $30,000 and $59,999 obtain 38.0%; Women with family incomes over $60,000 obtain 13.8%.Why women have abortions
1% of all abortions occur because of rape or incest; 6% of abortions occur because of potential health problems regarding either the mother or child, and 93% of all abortions occur for social reasons (i.e. the child is unwanted or inconvenient).At what gestational ages are abortions performed:
52% of all abortions occur before the 9th week of pregnancy, 25% happen between the 9th & 10th week, 12% happen between the 11th and 12th week, 6% happen between the 13th & 15th week, 4% happen between the 16th & 20th week, and 1% of all abortions (16,450/yr.) happen after the 20th week of pregnancy.Likelihood of abortion:
An estimated 43% of all women will have at least 1 abortion by the time they are 45 years old. 47% of all abortions are performed on women who have had at least one previous abortion.Abortion coverage:
48% of all abortion facilities provide services after the 12th week of pregnancy. 9 in 10 managed care plans routinely cover abortion or provide limited coverage. About 14% of all abortions in the United States are paid for with public funds, virtually all of which are state funds. 16 states (CA, CT, HI, ED, IL, MA , MD, MD, MN, MT, NJ, NM, NY, OR, VT, WA and WV) pay for abortions for some poor women.© Copyright 1998, The Alan Guttmacher Institute. (www.agi-usa.org)
© Copyright 1997, The Alan Guttmacher Institute. (www.agi-usa.org)
© Copyright 1995, Family Planning Perspectives
© Copyright 1988, Family Planning Perspectives
115 Roman Catholic Bishops Speak Out / HHS Mandate
Posted in My Journal with tags Bishops, Catholic, Christian, HHS mandate, Kevin William Vann, Los Angeles, New York City, Obama, Oklahoma City, outrage, Paul Loverde, Roger Mahony, St. Louis Missouri, Timothy Dolan on January 31, 2012 by JoannaH/T Thomas Peters
Here are the bishops who are Speaking Out Against Obama/HHS Mandate:
Items in bold mean the statement was read at all diocesan Masses or included in all parish bulletins on Sunday:
- 1. Roger Cardinal Mahony of Los Angeles, CA (Emeritus)
- 2. Cardinal-designate Timothy Dolan of New York City, NY
- 3. Bishop Joe Vasquez of Austin, TX
- 4. Archbishop Robert Carlson of St. Louis, MO
- 5. Bishop Thomas Olmsted of Phoenix, AZ
- 6. Archbishop Allen Vigneron of Detroit, MI
- 7. Archbishop John Nienstedt of Saint Paul & Minneapolis, MN
- 8. Bishop David Ricken of Green Bay, WI
- 9. Bishop Paul Etienne of Cheyenne, WY
- 10. Bishop William Lori of Bridgeport, CT
- 11. Bishop Thomas Doran of Rockford, IL
- 12. Cardinal-designate Edwin O’Brien of Baltimore, MD
- 13. Bishop Felipe Estevez of Saint Augustine, FL
- 14. Bishop James Conley of Denver, CO
- 15. Bishop Daniel Jenky of Peoria, IL
- 16. Bishop David Zubik of Pittsburgh, PA
- 17. Bishop Walker Nickless of Sioux City, IA
- 18. Bishop Paul Loverde of Arlington, VA
- 19. Archbishop Jerome Listecki of Milwaukee, WI
- 20. Bishop Kevin Vann of Fort Worth, TX
- 21. Bishop Kevin Farrell of Dallas, TX
- 22. Archbishop Dennis Schnurr of Cincinnati, OH
- 23. Bishop William Medley of Owensboro, KY
- 24. Archbishop Wilton Gregory of Atlanta, GA
- 25. Bishop Peter Libasci of Manchester, NH
- 26. Bishop Frederick Campbell of Columbus, OH
- 27. Bishop Richard Malone of Portland, ME
- 28. Bishop Anthony Taylor of Little Rock, AR
- 29. Archbishop Paul Coakley of Oklahoma City, OK
- 30. Bishop Patrick McGrath of San Jose, CA
- 31. Bishop Joseph Bambera of Scranton, PA
- 32. Archbishop Thomas Wenski of Miami, FL
- 33. Archbishop Jose Gomez of Los Angelas, CA
- 34. Daniel Cardinal DiNardo of Galveston-Houston, TX
- 35. Bishop Leonard Blair of Toledo, OH
- 36. Donald Cardinal Wuerl of Washington, DC
- 37. Bishop Patrick Zurek of Amarillo, TX
- 38. Bishop Kevin Rhoades of Fort Wayne-South Bend, IN
- 39. Bishop William Callahan of La Crosse, WI
- 40. Archbishop John Myers of Newark, NJ
- 41. Bishop Bernard Hebda of Gaylord, MI (better link needed)
- 42. Bishop David O’Connell of Trenton, NJ
- 43. Bishop Fabian Bruskewitz of Lincoln, NE
- 44. Bishop Michael Mulvey of Corpus Christi, TX
- 45. Archbishop Timothy Broglio of Military Services, USA
- 46. Sean Cardinal O’Malley of Boston, MA
- 47. Bishop Robert Morlino of Madison, WI
- 48. Bishop Richard Lennon of Cleveland, OH
- 49. Archbishop Gregory Aymond of New Orleans, LA
- 50. Bishop Alexander Sample of Marquette, MI
- 51. Bishop Michael Burbidge of Raleigh, NC
- 52. Bishop Walter Hurley of Grand Rapids, MI
- 53. Bishop Thomas Paprocki of Springfield, IL
- 54. Bishop Francis Malooly of Wilmington, DE
- 55. Bishop Peter Jugis of Charlotte, NC
- 56. Bishop Francis DiLorenzo of Richmond, VA
- 57. Archbishop Roger Schwietz of Anchorage, AK
- 58. Bishop Samuel Aquila of Fargo, ND
- 59. Bishop Gerald Kicanas of Tuscon, AZ
- 60. Bishop Robert Muench of Baton Rouge, LA
- 61. Bishop Sam Jacobs of Houma-Thibodaux, LA
- 62. Bishop Michael Jarrell of Lafayette, LA
- 63. Bishop Ronald Herzog of Alexandria, LA
- 64. Bishop Glen Provost of Lake Charles, LA
- 65. Bishop Michael Duca of Shreveport, LA
- 66. Bishop Dale Melczek of Gary, IN
- 67. Bishop Michael Jackels of Wichita, KS
- 68. Bishop Peter Christensen of Superior, WI
- 69. Bishop John Noonan of Orlando, FL
- 70. Bishop Gregory Hartmayer of Savannah, GA
- 71. Bishop Jaime Soto of Sacramento, CA
- 72. Archbishop Charles Chaput of Philadelphia, PA
- 73. Bishop Michael Driscoll of Boise, ID
- 74. Bishop Robert Cunningham of Syracuse, NY
- 75. Bishop David Kagan of Bismarck, ND
- 76. Bishop Paul Bradley of Kalamazoo, MI
- 77. Bishop Placido Rodriguez of Lubbock, TX
- 78. Archbishop John Vlazny of Portland, OR
- 79. Bishop Joseph McFadden of Harrisburg, PA
- 80. Bishop William Murphy of Rockville Center, NY
- 81. Bishop Michael Sheridan of Colorado Springs, CO
- 82. Bishop Timothy McDonnell of Springfield, MA
- 83. Bishop Robert Lynch of St. Petersburg, FL
- 84. Archbishop Henry Mansell of Hartford, CT
- 85. Archbishop Michael Sheehan of Santa Fe, NM
- 86. Bishop Robert Gruss of Rapid City, SD
- 87. Bishop Gerald Barbarito of Palm Beach, FL
- 88. Bishop Michael Cote of Norwich, CT
- 89. Bishop Edward Kmiec of Buffalo, NY
- 90. Archbishop Joseph Naumann of Kansas City, KS
- 91. Archbishop Joseph Kurtz of Louisville, KY
- 92. Bishop Roger Foys of Covington, KY (better link needed)
- 93. Bishop John LeVoir of New Ulm, MN
- 94. Bishop Gerald Barnes of San Bernadino, CA (better link needed)
- 95. Bishop Terry LaValley of Ogdensburg, NY
- 96. Bishop Salvatore Matano of Burlington, VT
- 97. Archbishop Peter Sartain of Seattle, WA
- 98. Bishop Martin Amos of Davenport, IA (better link needed)
- 99. Archbishop George Lucas of Omaha, NE
- 100. Bishop Edward Burns of Juneau, AK (better link needed)
- 101. Bishop John Quinn on Winona, MN
- 102. Bishop Joseph Cistone of Saginaw, MI
- 103. Bishop Raymond Gaydos of Jefferson City, MO
- 104. Bishop Daniel Conlon of Joliet, IL
- 105. Bishop Robert Guglielmone of Charleston, SC
- 106. Bishop Frank DeWane of Venice, FL
- 107. Bishop Richard Pates of Des Moines, IA
- 108. Bishop Robert McManus of Worcester, MA
- 109. Bishop James Tamayo of Laredo, TX
- 110. Bishop John Kudrick, Eparchy of Parma, OH
- 111. Bishop John Barres of Allentown, PA (better link needed)
- 112. Bishop Ronald Gainer of Lexington, KY (better link needed)
- 113. Bishop Lawrence Brandt of Greensburg, PA
- 114. Bishop Joseph Tyson of Yakima, WA
- 115. Bishop Gerald Dino, Eparchy of Phoenix, AZ
Cloud Clutter
Posted in My Journal with tags belief, Catholic, Christian, conviction, Faith, God, hope, presence, promise on January 24, 2012 by JoannaGrey the day with cloud and clutter,
Music’s muted melody obscured,
Discord in search of harmony,
Gives lie to the Promise of His Presence,
If Truth were only that which can be seen.
Faith, though,
Believes not vision, but God,
For God’s sake.
All powers of perception,
But a touch of His finger,
A curtain parted for a peek,
Hardly the measure
Of the Almighty’s might.
By Faith,
The eyes of the soul see,
And pierce the veil,
Rendering gain,
That gleaned in blindness,
So I count the clouds joy,
For Faith keeps hope alive.
I am all believing,
And with conviction,
Clutched and cradled,
Felt with the fingers of my trust.
I live the Promise of His Presence.
© 2012 Joann Nelander
What have I ?
Posted in My Journal with tags Catholic, dance.music, Faith, poetry & prayer prose, the Word, time, universal, universe on January 18, 2012 by JoannaWhat have I,
That You have not given?
Can I count myself my own?
Clothed in flesh,
Before I knew the light,
I burst forth
From a borrowed womb.
Opening my eyes on life,
Mother love shown as my sun.
Before hunger could claim me,
My mouth was filled with sweetness,
Free flowing as a font.
Years brought knowledge,
But not answers.
My needs were met,
Far beyond survival’s mark,
So I presumed dominion,
Supposed myself a god.
In time it was Wisdom
That instructed,
As Providence constructed.
It was You
Who hung the heavens.
You commanded the Earth.
You birthed all powers that be,
Created Universe and Light.
Time and Tomorrow
Were born at Your Word,
As star and star dust
Danced to Your music.
I whirled in abandonment,
Irrational contentment.
You hold all in being,
As summit and treasure,
And by Love possessed,
What have I?
What have I?
I have it all!
I have, by that same Love,
You, My Love,
You.
©2012 Joann Nelander
Wounded Soldier Down
Posted in My Journal with tags Catholic, Christ, Christian, death, decision, hour of death, Sabbath, saved, soldier, wounded on January 12, 2012 by Joanna
Wounded soldier down!
The very air crackles about him,
The moment is charged with alarm.
Fallen is Babylon.
Fallen, too, the Savior.
Man at war within himself,
His livery undeclared.
Wounded soldier down!
Two armies meet in one field of battle.
Only one shall rise again.
Victory is at hand.
Only one has paid the price.
Wounded soldier down!
Unseen forces join the fray.
The smell of fear draws the demonic.
Hell combats hope and the holy,
Raising doubts by telling lies.
Wounded soldier down!
Dragged by the heels,
Through the mire of memory.
Sin gnashes its teeth.
The enemy assails a child of God.
Wounded soldier down!
Prayer cries out before the throne of God.
There were days in which he’d prayed.
And there was selfless love.
Sprinkled as holy water.
Father forgive him,
Though he knew little of Me.
Wounded soldier down!
A moment of Truth
Before One God,
How will you now?
Choose your livery.
Be you a son to Me?
I won the battle long ago,
Fighting now for you alone.
Wounded soldier down!
Angelic encampments
Muster to the call.
Hell is engaged,
As son you choose to be.
Wounded soldier down!
Life leaves you on that plain.
Bereft of breath.
Like a child,
Lifted heavenward,
On wings of the holy,
To your Sabbath rest.
©2012 Joann Nelander
Forget Not
Posted in Art, Catholic, Christ, Christian, Faith with tags Born again (Christianity), Catholic, Christ, Christian, Faith, Lord, love, Poetry on December 30, 2011 by JoannaAs I walk in Your house,
May I never forget You are Master,
Lord of this domain.
May my thoughts
Spring as fruit upon the vine.
Sustain me, O my Beloved,
With the Bread of angels.
Hallowed Ground of my New Birth,
Give me Your heavenly Water,
That I may never thirst again.
Let it rise within me,
As an eternal spring,
And let it fall from heaven,
Like those “torrents
In the southern desert,”
Sheltered in Your arms,
Covered by the corner of Your mantle,
Fed by the Manna of Your Heavenly Body,
Who could forget to sing You songs of Love?
Copyright 2011 Joann Nelander
Advent – Prayer in Waiting
Posted in My Journal with tags Advent, Catholic, Christian, Christmas, food. desert place, stable, Straw on December 21, 2011 by JoannaAdvent is upon my soul.
Divine gift of season,
I listen for the cry of a First Born Son,
Begotten before Time begun,
And enfleshed in the Virgin’s womb.
I come to her,
Who is the Ark,
Your Mercy Seat.
Kneeling beside her,
In these pregnant moments,
I lay my head upon her lap.
Her wonderment, and awe,
In steadfast contemplation,
Inspire angels’ songs.
I hear their reverent voices
In my night.
Their chorus bids me come.
Come to the stable of simplicity.
Leave the noisy city for a deserted place,
The Wilderness, whose hidden way
Leads to the waiting manger,
Now, in expectant readiness,
For the Food, that will feed
The hungry world.
My Advent prayer,
Come, O Holy Infant!
Come to my straw
©2010 Joann Nelander
Blossom in the Desert
Posted in My Journal with tags Advent, Catholic, Christian, Christmas, creation, Eucharist, Faith, Fiat, hope, Hope of the Nations, Mary, poem, Praise, seasonal, thanksgiving, the Word, Virgin on December 21, 2011 by JoannaSad the plight of Man,
Mourning the lose of Paradise.
Captive to cowardice,
Hiding from his God.
Cast out, betraying,
And accusing one another,
Empty of grace, forlorn.
One garden of hope remains.
One paradise,
Ready for the Spring.
One immaculate heaven on earth.
O Virgin, say but the Word,
And your “Fiat”
Will blossom forth in Faith,
Rarity of your virginal ground.
Immaculate fecundity,
Queen Mother, Desert Willow,
New Eve, bearer of New Adam,
With new creation, rejoicing.
Voicing all thanksgiving,
A Eucharist for the sons and daughters of God.
© 2011 Joann Nelander
New Day Dawning
Posted in Advent, Art, Catholic, Christian, Faith, Holy Spirit, Poetry, Prose & Prayer, Religion with tags Catholic, Christian, Faith, Morning Star, Poetry, Sabbath on December 16, 2011 by JoannaO Lord, I have no doubt
Of Faith’s fulfillment.
I no longer ask "when,"
For passing days,
But flavor and add splendor,
To my Sabbath Rest,
My dream of Love unending.
If weary of this wasteland
Spring returns with leaf and bud.
Birds’ refrain and cricket chirp
Pull back the curtain,
Time and Sin descended,
To light on promise
Dawning of New Day.
Copyright 2011 Joann Nelander
A Prophecy Concerning Egypt, Assyria & Israel by Isaiah
Posted in Catholic, Christian, My Journal, Photography, Religion, Scripture, Spirituality with tags Catholic, Christian, office of the day, prophecy on December 2, 2011 by Joanna
From the book of the prophet Isaiah
19:16-24
The future conversion of Egypt and Assyria
On that day the Egyptians shall be like women, trembling with fear, because of the Lord of hosts shaking his fist at them. And the land of Judah shall be a terror to the Egyptians. Every time they remember Judah, they shall stand in dread because of the plan which the Lord of hosts has in mind for them.
On that day there shall be five cities in the land of Egypt speaking the language of Canaan and swearing by the Lord of hosts; one shall be called “City of the Sun.”
On that day there shall be an altar to the Lord in the land of Egypt, and a sacred pillar to the Lord near the boundary. It shall be a sign and a witness to the Lord of hosts in the land of Egypt, when they cry out to the Lord against their oppressors, and he sends them a savior to defend and deliver them. The Lord shall make himself known to Egypt, and the Egyptians shall know the Lord in that day; they shall offer sacrifices and oblations, and fulfill the vows they make to the Lord. Although the Lord shall smite Egypt severely, he shall heal them; they shall turn to the Lord and he shall be won over and heal them.
On that day there shall be a highway from Egypt to Assyria; the Assyrians shall enter Egypt, and the Egyptians enter Assyria, and Egypt shall serve Assyria.
On that day Israel shall be a third party with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing in the midst of the land, when the Lord of hosts blesses it: “Blessed be my people Egypt, and the work of my hands Assyria, and my inheritance, Israel.”
Islam – John A. Hardon S.J.
Posted in My Journal with tags audio, Catholic, Christian, Fr. John A. Hardon S.J., Islam on October 15, 2011 by JoannaJesus , Savior in Repose
Posted in Catholic, Christ, Christian, devotion, Faith with tags adoration, altar, Catholic, Christian, Jesus, Prayer, savior, tabernacle on September 28, 2011 by JoannaO, my Jesus, in gentle and humble repose upon the altar, Wrap Your arms about me. My body yearns for Your embrace. Only Your Humanity can unlock the treasure trove of grace, You hold in store for me, a repentant sinner, Grace, You purchased for me by Your Coming to Man as Man, In Your weakness and poverty and might. You called Yourself, Son of Man, And by Your obedience, suffering and Death upon the Cross, Showed us True Love. All Holy, All Human, All Love, Servant of God, Benefit and Benefactor of Man, Apply the fruit of Your Saving Death To my humanity, To the glory of God and the continuous deification of my poor, desirous body and soul. Conceive in me thoughts, words and deeds, which bring to fulfillment, Our Father's plan for my life and eternity, So, that purged of all Sin and concupiscience, I might shine with radiant joy, Hidden and secure in Your Heart, As does Your Virgin Mother, Mary. "Be it done to me according to Your Word." Amen. Copyright 2011 Joann Nelander All rights reserved
Thinking with Fr. John A. Hardon, S,J., S. T. D. – Real Presence
Posted in Catholic, Church with tags Catholic, Christian, Faith, God, Last Supper, Mary, meditation, mystery, New Covenant, tabernacle, the Faith, truth on September 18, 2011 by Joanna
Image via Wikipedia
Mary was the first tabernacle.
At the Last Supper Jesus, the Christ, ordained and empowered His Apostles to do what, until then, only He could do, make Himself present, in His humanity, to the world.
What the senses can not perceive, the believing heart receives as total gift, total God, in His Holy and eternal Humanity, not just Spirit, but human flesh and blood, along with the power to make Him present in the world and to the world through out Time.
Mary received, and by her body, in her body, made Him present as gift from God the Father. In her Immaculate body, at Her faith response,”Fiat secundum tuum.” God became Man, and Mary was His Tabernacle, the Ark of the New Covenant, in fulfillment of the Old Covenant.
Reality challenges the mind and senses to believe God.
“And the virgin shall be with Child.”
“This is My Body…This is My Blood.”
God enters Time and remains in Time, coming unto his own and so remaining “Emmanuel”, “God with us” for all Time until earth and the heavens be no more, made new, as promised, a New Heaven and a New Earth. And God remaining Man throughout eternity with the Virgin at His side with the children He gave her from His Cross.
Realization of Truth
Posted in Catholic, Christ, Christian, Culture, Poetry, Religion, Spiritual with tags Catholic, Real Presence on September 17, 2011 by JoannaEternity without You is Hell.
Hallowed Steps
Posted in Catholic, Christian, Faith, In a nutshell with tags Catholic, meditation, online writing, Poetry on August 30, 2011 by JoannaLetting go, and letting God, still holds challenge.
A lifetime of learning hasn’t made it easier,
Just more imperative,
As my way just gets in my way.Like a little lamb, I follow,
Though the way be set by trial ,
My shepherd walks before.In hallowed steps
I plant my feet.
Surety and Covenant abiding
Your Way, my way, forevermore.By Joann Nelander
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Wisdom of the Church
Posted in Catholic, Christian, Church, Church Fathers with tags Catholic, reading, St. Augustine on August 17, 2011 by JoannaFrom a sermon by Saint Augustine, bishop
He who perseveres to the end will be saved
Whenever we suffer some affliction, we should regard it both as a punishment and as a correction. Our holy Scriptures themselves do not promise us peace, security and rest. On the contrary, the Gospel makes no secret of the troubles and temptations that await us, but it also says that he who perseveres to the end will be saved. What good has there ever been in this life since the time when the first man received the just sentence of death and the curse from which Christ our Lord has delivered us?
So we must not grumble, my brothers, for as the Apostle says: Some of them murmured and were destroyed by serpents. Is there any affliction now endured by mankind that was not endured by our fathers before us? What sufferings of ours even bear comparison with what we know of their sufferings? And yet you hear people complaining about this present day and age because things were so much better in former times. I wonder what would happen if they could be taken back to the days of their ancestors–would we not still hear them complaining? You may think past ages were good, but it is only because you are not living in them.
It amazes me that you who have now been freed from the curse, who have believed in the son of God, who have been instructed in the holy Scriptures–that you can think the days of Adam were good. And your ancestors bore the curse of Adam, of that Adam to whom the words were addressed: With sweat on your brow you shall eat your bread; you shall till the earth from which you were taken, and it will yield you thorns and thistles. This is what he deserved and what he had to suffer; this is the punishment meted out to him by the just judgment of God. How then can you think that past ages were better than your own? From the time of that first Adam to the time of his descendants today, man’s lot has been labor and sweat, thorns and thistles. Have we forgotten the flood and the calamitous times of famine and war whose history has been recorded precisely in order to keep us from complaining to God on account of our own times? Just think what those past ages were like! Is there one of us who does not shudder to hear or read of them? Far from justifying complaints about our own time, they teach us how much we have to be thankful for.
Shout for Happy!
Posted in My Journal with tags anniversry, Catholic, Christian, marriage, poem, Prayer, wedded on June 11, 2011 by JoannaO holy saints of God,
Help Us to celebrate this day.
Bedeck our house in pure white lilies,
Picked by the hand of Love.
Such were the souls of Mary and Joseph,
As they journeyed forth to live the Father’s Will,
As they kept faith,
Bless the years that pass.
Bless the days that be.
Our youth God entwined,
Weaving gold out of straw,
Fashioning a cord that bound us ever close in dreams of love.
O, Holy Love,
Your fiber of Being,
Imperceptible, yet alive,
Knit the garment of our marriage.
As we gifted each other
With our very lives
And lived the Promise.
Taking pleasure in each other,
And the mystery You impart,
Mutual donation and happy hopes
Gave substance to our youthful reveries.
Soon, You delighted Your children with children to sweeten the wine we sipped.
You never waited on our understanding or perfection .
You built rather on duty and faith, Married unto eternity.
Your sacrament enfleshed in our lives as grace,
Filled our days with laughter amid challenge,
Befriended us in friends ,
As a corsage of heart and healing.
You opened the door of opportunity,
And we feared not to enter in.
Receiving in the womb, Your joy and plenteous reward,
Covenant love lived despite our weakness.
Hope hanging like numberless leaves,
On trees the formed an arbor for our love.
Yes, dear saints, sing songs with us,
To welcome home the Promised Groom,
Who never left our side.
Make of this day a joyful shout,
A happy anniversary!
The Power of Christ’s Blood
Posted in My Journal with tags Blood of Christ, Catholic, Good Friday on April 22, 2011 by JoannaFrom the Catecheses by Saint John Chrysostom, bishop
The power of Christ’s blood
If we wish to understand the power of Christ’s blood, we should go back to the ancient account of its prefiguration in Egypt. “Sacrifice a lamb without blemish,” commanded Moses, “and sprinkle its blood on your doors.” If we were to ask him what he meant, and how the blood of an irrational beast could possibly save men endowed with reason, his answer would be that the saving power lies not in the blood itself, but in the fact that it is a sign of the Lord’s blood. In those days, when the destroying angel saw the blood on the doors he did not dare to enter, so how much less will the devil approach now when he sees, not that figurative blood on the doors, but the true blood on the lips of believers, the doors of the temple of Christ.
If you desire further proof of the power of this blood, remember where it came from, how it ran down from the cross, flowing from the Master’s side. The gospel records that when Christ was dead, but still hung on the cross, a soldier came and pierced his side with a lance and immediately there poured out water and blood. Now the water was a symbol of baptism and the blood, of the holy Eucharist. The soldier pierced the Lord’s side, he breached the wall of the sacred temple, and I have found the treasure and made it my own. So also with the lamb: the Jews sacrificed the victim and I have been saved by it.
“There flowed from his side water and blood.” Beloved, do not pass over this mystery without thought; it has yet another hidden meaning, which I will explain to you. I said that water and blood symbolised baptism and the holy Eucharist. From these two sacraments the Church is born: from baptism, “the cleansing water that gives rebirth and renewal through the Holy Spirit,” and from the holy Eucharist. Since the symbols of baptism and the Eucharist flowed from his side, it was from his side that Christ fashioned the Church, as he had fashioned Eve from the side of Adam Moses gives a hint of this when he tells the story of the first man and makes him exclaim: “Bone from my bones and flesh from my flesh!” As God then took a rib from Adam’s side to fashion a woman, so Christ has given us blood and water from his side to fashion the Church. God took the rib when Adam was in a deep sleep, and in the same way Christ gave us the blood and the water after his own death.
Do you understand, then, how Christ has united his bride to himself and what food he gives us all to eat? By one and the same food we are both brought into being and nourished. As a woman nourishes her child with her own blood and milk, so does Christ unceasingly nourish with his own blood those to whom he himself has given life.
