In Honor of Memorial Day

In Flanders Fields

In Flanders Fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.

By: Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD (1872-1918), Canadian Army

Memorial Day weekend, the un-official start of summer, and a day that is filled with picnics, parties and travel. The last day of what was a 3-day and is fast tuning into a 4-day weekend, And while many communities do their part to honor their sons & daughters who gave the ultimate sacrifice in service to their country it saddens me that the meaning behind the day seems to be getting lost.

I myself will be picnicking with friends and doing a little bit of traveling. But I will also be attending a Mass on Monday and praying the Office of the Dead for all those who so valiantly gave their lives so that I may enjoy the freedoms that I do. It is my hope that you to will do something to honor them.

Happy Memorial Day!

Have fun, be safe, and please rememer the real reason for the day!

Peace to All!

Pearls...

"One of the most beautiful gifts in the world is the gift of encouragement. When someone encourages you, that person helps you over a threshold you might otherwise never have crossed on your own."

~ John O'Donohue (1956-2008)

And another gift is the Grace to realize that sometimes discouragement, especially from someone you love, is doing the same thing!

Come Holy Spirit

John 14:26-27
The Advocate, the holy Spirit that the Father will send in my name--he will teach you everything and remind you of all that (I) told you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.

The Third Person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit, is one that I understand the least, but appreciate the most.


As Jesus said, the Father will send the Advocate to teach us everything and remind us of what He told us. What an awesome gift!

Problem is, sometimes the Holy Spirit works so subtly, so quietly, so mysteriously, that if I do not listen attentively and lovingly, with my whole heart, soul and mind, I will never hear the Spirit speak to me, and if I can’t hear the Spirit, the Spirit cannot work through me.

The Holy Spirit lights the fire for God in our hearts. Let us pray that we can be aware of the workings of the Spirit in our lives, and be thankful for this amazing gift of the loving and merciful God, who sent the Sprit to dwell in us.

Come, Holy Spirit, and fill the hearts of your faithful, and kindle in them the fire of your divine love. Send forth your spirit, and they shall be created, and you shall renew the face of the earth. O God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit instructed the hearts of the faithful, grant, that by the same Spirit we may be truly wise and ever rejoice in his consolation. We ask this through Christ our lord. Amen.

Thank You BXVI!

On his way to Portugal while speaking to reporters, the Holy Father made the following comment,

"The greatest persecution of the church doesn't come from enemies on the outside but is born from the sins within the church," the pontiff said. "The church needs to profoundly relearn penitence, accept purification, learn forgiveness but also justice."

 While I agree that the media, and many others have jumped on the "anti-Catholic" bandwagon in recent months, the one issue I have always had is that is seemed that the "blame game" was even being played by the Vatican.(Remember, back in 2002, when the "scandal" broke here in the States, it was an "American problem!")

My prayers have been answered!
Let the healing begin!!