Well Deserved Chastisement

All should read this and shiver -

"Now I beg those who read this book not to be disheartened by these misfortunes, but to consider that these chastisements were meant not for the ruin but for the correction of our nation. It is, in fact, a sign of great kindness to punish sinners promptly instead of letting them go for long. Thus, in dealing with other nations, the Lord patiently waits until they reach the full measure of their sins before he punishes them; but with us he has decided to deal differently, in order that he may not have to punish us more severely later, when our sins have reached their fullness. He never withdraws his mercy from us. Although he disciplines us with misfortunes, he does not abandon his own people." ~2 Maccabees 6:12-16

Holy Card

Image of a French Holy card published by R. Pannier, Paris, in the late 19th century

(source)

They don't make them like this anymore. This is an old, 1800's holy card that I ran across when searching for an image for my previous post on a prayer for the dying - putting into google "holy card dying" This is a poignant meditation on death. This is a topic close to me at present as I spent the better part of the last day assisting at the bedside of a dying family member. Below is the interpretation of the words on the card from French.

“Eternity. You, mortal, who has an immortal soul, study, meditate, ponder over this great word: ETERNITY.” Frame: “Do the good while there is time. Ponder over Death to live well and to die well. Think about death, give up sin, stay out of the world, give yourself up to God. Death is certain, only its hour is uncertain.” Inside the frame: “Prepare for a good death through a good life, for time is short. Today is my turn, tomorrow yours. I have been, you shall be what I am. Pray for the souls in Purgatory. They expect your prayers and the relief of their plight. Make a choice. Eternal Heaven. Eternal Hell.”

Prayer for the Dying

Jesus and Mary at the deathbed of St. Joseph

O merciful Jesus, lover of souls, we beseech you by the agony of your most Sacred Heart and by the sorrows of your Immaculate Mother, to wash clean in your blood the sinners of the whole world who are now in their final agony, but especially those on their way to eternal damnation and who are to die this day. Heart of Jesus, who suffered death’s agony, have mercy on these poor souls. Amen.

(Prayer for Mercy for the Dying from the booklet, Devotion to the Divine Mercy)

Source

Distraction at Mass a bad thing?

I have a great deal of longing for piety, reverence, sacredness and solemnity at Mass. My family and I are blessed to be members of a very good parish actually. Positives: We have order priests, many (not all) altar servers wear cassocks, our priests wear cassocks, 1880's style church architecture, rather minimal wreckovation, orthodox homilies, pipe organ, fairly solid catachetics...well not too bad right?

Negatives: Odd mixture of sappy 70's music, a virtual ARMY of extraordinary ministers, no altar rail, altar girls wearing flip flops...you get the picture.

The point of this post is not to complain but to rather share with you how I've learned to cope with this. Oh, about 3 years ago or so I went through a terrible, close to one year temptation to flee the Church. If there had been an SSPX chapel in my town, I don't think I could have resisted going there. Anyway - I would at times be in such spiritual pain at mass I would try to let my soul flee the church while "I" stayed put in the pew to make my Sunday obligation. This was a terrible affliction. Currently my soul has calmed down and this is why...

I went to confession about my "distraction" and was directed to close my eyes when this temptation (to flee Mass) came upon me and pray to Jesus and His mother for help and join my suffering with thiers.
So I began as directed and after months and months of struggle I can now sit rather peacefully through anything. Through God's grace I have been gifted with some help in this regard. The ONLY time I open my eyes once the Liturgy of the Eucharist starts is when I go to Communion until we stand for the prayers of the faithful. I never look upon the hand raising at the Our Father, I look not upon the scantily clad making the mad dash for the altar. Even with the use of the rather horrible Mass of Creation my soul follows the liturgy while my eyes cannot see the horrors before me.

I let my soul explore the depths of the beauty of our Catholic religion as it were. At the Agnus Dei I imagine a multitude of saints surrounding Jesus the Lamb at Knock and all the angelic choirs sing to Him. I can barely hear the organ, or the people around me. During the Eucharistic prayer I imagine being instead in a medieval Cathedral with St. Charles Borromeo saying mass ad orientam with great sanctity. At other times I kneel at the feet of a holy priest in a Nazi gulag saying a secret, private Mass. Going on...the Sanctus can be the Seraphim bowing low to the Throne singing out "Sanctus, Sanctus!" or St. Thomas More singing as he walked to the block, or St. Joan of Arc singing her love of God from the flames....you get the picture. The great amen could be the moment that Maria Goretti chose to give her life rather than into her attackers impure desires, staring up at the tip of the knife "Amen"

My soul can soar the heights while my body stays still and quiet in the pew. In a word I try to join my soul with the Church Triumphant because it is only there that my thirst for beauty and solemnity will be satified. Only Heaven shall not disappoint. Sometimes my soul is so immersed in my contemplation that I have a hard time not crying or letting it show.

The Lord had pity on me and has granted me this great consolation and has saved me from further discouragement. I wanted to share this with you so you may try this to see if it is helpful for your soul as well.

May Mary's prayers go with you always. Amen+

Holy Father Pope Pius XII

One True Refuge - One True Church IV & Final

"For, were the Church in any time hidden and invisible, to whom would men have recourse in order to learn what they are to believe and to do? It was necessary that the Church and her pastors be obvious and visible, principally in order that there might be an infallible judge, to resolve all doubts, and to whose decision everyone should necessarily submit. Otherwise, there would be no sure rule of faith by which Christians could know the true dogmas of faith and the true precepts of morality, and among the faithful there would be endless disputes and controversies. "And Christ gave some apostles, and others pastors and doctors, that henceforth we be no more children tossed to-and-fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine" [Eph 4:11-14]. "
"But what faith can we learn from these false teachers when, in consequence of separating from the Church, they have no rule of faith. How often Calvin changed his opinions! And, during his life, Luther was constantly contradicting himself: on the single article of the Eucharist, he fell into thirty-three contradictions! A single contradiction is enough to show that they did not have the Spirit of God. "
"He cannot deny Himself" [2 Timothy 2:13]. In a word, take away the authority of the Church, and neither Divine Revelation nor natural reason itself is of any use, for each of them may be interpreted by every individual according to his own caprice. Do they not see that from this accursed liberty of conscience has arisen the immense variety of heretical and atheistic sects? I repeat: if you take away obedience to the Church, there is no error which will not be embraced. "

St. Alphonsus D. Ligouri

One True Refuge - One True Church III

Detail of the Polytriptich of the Resurrection by Titian

"The innovators have been challenged several times to produce a text of Sacred Scripture which would prove the existence of the invisible church they invented, and we are unable to obtain any such text from them. How could they adduce such a text when, addressing His Apostles whom He left as the propagators of His Church, Jesus said: "You cannot be hidden" [Matt 5:14].
Thus He has declared that the Church cannot help but be visible to everyone. The Church has been at all times, and will forever be, necessarily visible, so that each person may always be able to learn from his pastor the true doctrine regarding the dogmas of faith, to receive the Sacraments, to be directed in the way of salvation, and to be enlightened and corrected should he ever fall into error. "

St. Alphonsus D. Ligouri

Church Suffering

Watch it over and over

One True Refuge - One True Church II

"The innovators themselves do not deny that the Roman Church was the first which Jesus Christ founded. However, they say that it was the true Church until the fifth century, or until it fell away, because it had been corrupted by the Catholics. But how could that Church fall which St. Paul calls the "pillar and ground of truth" [1 Timothy 3:15]? No, the Church has not failed. The truth is, that all the false churches, which have separated from the Roman Church, have fallen away and erred. "

"To convince all heretical sects of their error, there is no way more certain and safe than to show that our Catholic Church has been the first one founded by Jesus Christ. For, this being established, it is proved beyond all doubt that ours is the only true Church and that all the others which have left it and separated are certainly in error. But, pressed by this argument, the innovators have invented an answer. They say that the visible Church has failed, but not the invisible Church. But these doctrines are diametrically opposed to the Gospel. "

~St. Alphonsus Ligouri

One True Refuge - One True Church I

Introduction: I've said before that I am not a Catholic apologist. I tend to spend little to no time in consideration of protestant faiths. Unfortunately I did go to a Lutheran High School so did study Martin Luther's heresies for 4 years. As a result of this I came back to the Truth in the Catholic Church. I have experienced first hand the errors of protastantism and shun them like the plague they are. Anyway, I read a fine reading called "Against the Reformers" by St. Alphonsus Ligouri. Beautiful, simple title is it not? I'll post it in parts and God bless you.

Against the Reformers

"A church which is not one in its doctrine and faith can never be the True Church. Hence, because truth must be one, of all the different churches, only one can be the true one, and outside of that Church there is no salvation. "

"Now, in order to determine which is this one true Church, it is necessary to examine which is the Church first founded by Jesus Christ, for when this is ascertained, it must be confessed that this one alone is the true Church which, having once been the true Church must always have been the true Church and must forever be the true Church. For to this first Church has been made the promise of the Savior that the gates of Hell would never be able to overturn it [Matt 16:18]. "

"In the entire history of religion, we find that the Roman Catholic Church alone was the first Church, and that the other false and heretical churches afterwards departed and separated from her. This is the Church which was propagated by the Apostles and afterwards governed by pastors whom the Apostles themselves appointed to rule over her. This character can be found only in the Roman Church, whose pastors descend securely by an uninterrupted and legitimate succession from the Apostles of the world [Matt 28:20]. "

St Alphonsus Mary De Liguori (1696-1787) Bishop and Doctor of the Church

Cult of Feelings

I just read my husband's excellent post on just one of the many current scourges upon the world in this time - what I have come to call the "cult of feelings" Far too many in our times have lost what so many in the past once took as a truth - that reason and the will must rule the emotions. The higher self must rule over the lower more base part of ourselves. Our will to live in virture must rule the physical desires of the body to wallow in passion. Emotions have their place, but they ought never to rule the soul.

Over my desk at work I have a list of things our Lord said to St. Faustina - one statement sums it up nicely:

"Do not be guided by feeling, because it is not always under your control; but all merit lies in the will."

~Our Lord Jesus Christ to St. Faustina.

Forgetting Ourselves and Finding Healing in the Divine

I was reading a fascinating and orthodox book titled: "Leave your Life Alone by Hubert Van Zeller. Most surprising was that fact that it was written in the 1970s, a time of turmoil and descent from the Church. He writes:" In spite of its concern with outward things, western society has ever been so concerned about its inward troubles. Escape into materialism has shown itself to be a boomerang and we are all more locked up inside ourselves than ever: the boomerang has come back in the form of a ball and chain. That is why we bore one another so incessantly: we are fellow prisoners whose recreation is to talk about ourselves . We revel in our prison sentences while preaching freedom, we are so earger to outdo one another with our permissiveness that the only real freedom worth having is missed." Indeed, it seems that the pop-psychology approach of caring for ourselves first, has led us into an obsession about self that has taken the form of "self-consciousness", "self-determination" and self-evaluation". Aldous Huxley writes wisely of the negative impact of self-empowerment and caring for self philosophies--a widely misguided cultural phenomenon that has perhaps lead us into becoming a society afflicted with clinical depression. Huxley writes: "The systematic cultivation of self-awareness may as easily produce undesireable as desirable results. Where personality is developed for its own sake, and not in order that it may be transcended, there tends to be a rising of the barriers of separateness and an increase of egotism". The evidence, right now, points towards this separateness pervading the American landscape and causing isolation and a notable increase in depression and anxiety. The National Institute of Mental Health, reported in 2004, that approximately 26% of adult Americans suffered from a variety of mood and anxiety disorders, representing close to 58 million Americans. There is indeed a malaise sweeping through American society, causing a restlessness of the soul, and compromising the individual's ability to cope with the demands of daily life. A data health management firm, IMF Health, estimates that in 2007, pharmaceutical sales of antidepressants in the US topped $11.9 billion, an amount that should cause alarm. The talk of treatments and remedies for depression remain centered on the prescription of antidepressants and on coping mechanisms for getting through the day. For those who are spiritually minded, the culture contaminates Church teachings regarding selfless charity as a remedy for ailing souls, and whispers to the soul the perverted notion that an inward examination will bring peace. There is something to an inward examination of conscience that is good, but Van Zeller cautions the reader that there is a danger, when seeking knowedge of self with too much zeal, that can lead the individual into discouragement and confusion. Van Zeller claims that when an individual looks inward and asks the question: "What do I feel bout the problem?" rather than "What does God feel about these things?, "he ceases to be a spirtual person". He further writes "Among the first fallacies of today is the one which believes that worry and fear and guilt can be exorcized by talking about them. Do you wonder that we all become bores?" Could it be that the cure for our depression epidemic is to not worry about our own situation, but to simply feed the hungry and clothe the poor? for in doing so we feed and clothe Jesus himself?


Our Lady's Tears Productions has begun the filming of our second documentary which will explore the depression epidemic in American society. Pray for our endeavor and help us, if you can, by visiting our website: http://www.ourladystears.com/ and purchasing our documentary on the Theology of Human Suffering, in addition to chaplets and rosary beads.

Remember our Lady's Tears

In all the business of life, with all your stress and difficulties - remember there was a darker day. No one suffered more than Our Lord. Secondly suffered His holy Mother - no mere human suffered more than she and for her the grace of God sufficed. Is shall suffice for you and me as well. When darkness comes to your soul, go to her feet and pour out your suffering to her. She understands suffering well and will obtain assistance in all your needs.

Understanding Human Suffering: The Germaine Cousin Paradox

As Christians we struggle with the understanding of suffering. We love the glory of the resurrection and we are delighted by the wonder of the transfiguration, but we struggle with the implications of the Holy Cross. The life of Saint Germaine Cousin, a Catholic saint whose life is virtually unknown, [click here to view the short produced by Our Lady's Tears Productions], is a paradox that leaves us restless for we have trouble understanding how an all loving God could allow an innocent child to suffer. We are appalled and silenced in the face of such a mystery. I would like to engage the reader to share how such suffering could be allowed. To give some fuel for discussion, I would like to quote Fr William of Saint Thierry, a 12th Century Cisterian abbot, theologian and mystic, who rightly discerned what hindered the human spirit from understanding these mysteries, that only angels seem to contemplate joyfully. “The unclean soul, the impure conscience, the proud mind, and curious conceit are rightly kept at a distance from the quest of the divine sacraments and mysteries. For the spirit of discernment flees anything false and will not dwell in a body subject to sin. Wisdom will not enter into an ill-disposed soul” [Fr William of Saint Thierry † 1148; Cistercian Abbot].

New Catholic Film Company

My wife and I were concerned about the quality of the films produced by Hollywood and their impact on the minds of our children. We discussed, late into the night, that the Lord would ask us at the moment of our death: "Where are your children? and where is your wife or husband?" We knew that we would have to say: "Watching TV or a movie, Lord". The next question would invariably be: "..and what are they watching?" This idea of the Lord Jesus holding me accountable for what my family was viewing on TV frightened me because I knew that I could not be certain that the programs they were were viewing were not scandalizing them with images of impurity. Sensuality and impurity in film, stick to a child's brain like tar and is removed only with great difficulty. Movies today, even Disney productions, are laced with sensuality. When I looked more closely at what my children were viewing, I was shocked by the degree to which Hollywood was successfully endocrinating my children into the ideals of sensuality, and ultimately into the notion that feelings, not reason, should govern ones life. We also felt that Hollywood was convincing our children that God did not exist, and that their Catholic faith was a lie. Films like "The DeVinci Code" created great controversy and doubt around the Catholic church, and we found that it was difficult to protect our children from the lies. As Catholics we felt deeply called to counter Hollywood and its lies about religion, God and Catholicism. We decided to form this new film company, using our retirement money, and drew our community into action. We convinced them that we can make a difference as individuals. It is true that countering Hollywood is a little bit like David facing Goliath, but we understood that this call was real and powerfully strong. Many times I have asked the Lord to remove this desire if it was not from Him, but that if it was His inspiration, then to quadruple the intensity of the fire so that I could not stand it anymore. He answered my prayer with the latter. Using our church scola choir, we recorded the Miserere Mei as the theme song for our first movie short on the life of Saint Germaine Cousin. We wrote the script on the life of saint Germaine Cousin who lived in Pibrac France during the 17th century. Then we requested volunteer actors from our state university Theater and Dance department, and hired a professional crew of camera, sound and light specialists. With three days of filming we completed the short and then realized that a full motion picture needed to be done in order to fully reveal the miraculous life of this unknown Catholic saint. Sometimes called the ‘True-Life Cinderella’, Germaine Cousin grew up as a poor shepherd girl in 16th century France. Burdened with an unsightly and painful skin condition called scrofula, she was ostracized by her community and feared by her peers. After the death of her kind mother, her over-worked father remarried. His new wife was cruel and selfish, and beat little Germaine ceaselessly. Germaine was forced to sleep in the icy barn, year after year, and was required to do all of the work around her stepmother’s house. She was given barely enough food to eat, and was constantly subjected to horrible physical and emotional abuse. Her days were filled with back breaking labor and devastating isolation. Despite all this, Germaine’s heart was filled with love and forgiveness. Starving, she nevertheless shared her food with the desperate poor. Rejected by the town's people, she still prayed for her community’s well being, and for the souls of her tormentors. Her selflessness and love of Christ brought her closer to the most holy cross, and to a greater understanding of the redemptive nature of suffering. She soon began to perform miracles that wonderously transformed the people around her. She parted waters, turned bread to flower blossoms, healed the sick, and was protected from from hungry wolves by powerful angels. Constantly sick herself, she died at the age of 22. Approximately 43 years later, her body was exhumed in an incorrupt state, thus demonstrating her sanctity and holiness. Hers is a story of courage, love, and dedication to a holy life in which could be found the three pillars that hold up all saints, namely: prayer, charity and suffering. You can view the movie short: here: GERMAINE: Requiem of a Soul. From the movie we created a documentary on suffering. The idea came from the realization that deep human suffering permeates our entire culture as evidenced by the epidemics of obesity, depression and sexually transmitted infections. Using medical experts and researchers in the fields of medicine, nutrition and sexual health, we produced a 96 minute documentary that explores the prevalence of the epidemics of obesity and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in American society, and their relationship with deep moral, physical and spiritual sufferings which have now insidiously found their way into the lives of the American populace. The fabric of society is now changing into a culture guided by a dictatorship of relativism, for which no moral standards exist. The consequence is a youth that engages in lifestyles that rob them of the flame of purity and innocence, corrupting, as it were, their very souls and casting a shadow that blocks their access to life giving joy. This documentary is a must see for those searching for deep meaning and hope in life's journey and its many sufferings. It invites the audience to embrace a life in Jesus Christ and open their minds to new possibilities of experiencing joy in this life as well as in the next. Using footage from the Germaine movie short, the viewer can understand how suffering often results from abandoning ourselves to the Lord's perfect and holy will so that we may be able to also participate in the suffering of Christ on the cross. You can view the trailer to the Theology of Human Suffering. .

David James

My husband

Been a long time since I've posted. This can be attributed to my being too busy and also my own lack of inspiration and dryness. Anyway, my husband who is working diligently on Our Lady's Tears Productions will now also be writing and posting to this blog. I will be back, maybe with him joining me here I'll feel more inspired!

Consolation and the Book of Ruth

Ruth and Naomi gleaning in the field of Boaz

The Book of Ruth 16 And therefore let us humble our souls before him, and continuing in an humble spirit, in his service: 17 Let us ask the Lord with tears, that according to his will so he would shew his mercy to us: that as our heart is troubled by their pride, so also we may glorify in our humility. 18 For we have not followed the sins of our fathers, who forsook their God, and worshipped strange gods. 19 For which crime they were given up to their enemies, to the sword, and to pillage, and to confusion: but we know no other God but him. 20 Let us humbly wait for his consolation, and the Lord our God will require our blood of the afflictions of our enemies, and he will humble all the nations that shall rise up against us, and bring them to disgrace.

I know most Christians focus alot on the New Testament, as I suppose we ought...but...I have to say although I love the NT, I have a special love and reverence for the Old Testament. Lately I've been getting "lost" in the books of Kings - I could read of the lives of King David and King Solomon and oh the sad sad fall of King Saul. This story brings tears to my eyes every time I read it. Oh how easy it is to fall! To have the annointing of the Lord, to have the counsel of the Prophet Samuel, and then to turn to idolotry! What folly! Oh poor Saul! Yesterday I read the following passage:

2 Kings 7:15 But my mercy I will not take away from him [King David], as I took it from Saul, whom I removed from before my face.

When I read this passage, it appears there is little reason to hope for the soul of Saul, but I pray perhaps in that brief moment before his soul left his body he turned toward the Lord's mercy! There is no greater tragedy than the soul lost forever to the fires of hell.

But I digress...

I wanted instead to say how much I love the OT and in particular the books of Tobit and Ruth - as quoted at the top of this post. When I read thie above passage, it seemed as if this addresses the very time in which we live. Though the entire world clamors in diabolical hatred toward the Holy Catholic Church, though the press, world leaders and the wicked within the Church persecute the Holy Father, though our Christian life be assailed on all sides - we MUST be steadfast! Be still and hope in the Lord, though the darkness is all around - rejoice and know that He is with us! Be not attached to the Lord's sweetness and consolation - be not attached to the trappings and trifles of this world! Look for all your reward in Heaven where He who is Holy will wipe every tear from your eye and you will suffer no more! Rejoice!

"Death but not sin!"

-St. Dominic Savio, age 7 from his writings in preparation for first Holy Communion

Prayer of Discouragement

Moses' Prayer of Discouragement

Book of Numbers -Israel

10 Now Moses heard the people weeping by their families, every one at the door of his tent. And the wrath of the Lord was exceedingly enkindled: to Moses also the thing seemed insupportable. 11 And he said to the Lord: Why hast thou afflicted thy servant? wherefore do I not find favour before thee? and why hast thou laid the weight of all this people upon me? 12 Have I conceived all this multitude, or begotten them, that thou shouldst say to me: Carry them in thy bosom as the nurse is wont to carry the little infant, and bear them into the land, for which thou hast sworn to their fathers? 13 Whence should I have flesh to give to so great a multitude? they weep against me, saying: Give us flesh that we may eat. 14 I am not able alone to bear all this people, because it is too heavy for me. 15 But if it seem unto thee otherwise, I beseech thee to kill me, and let me find grace in thy eyes, that I be not afflicted with so great evils.

Hearing the complaint of Moses, the Lord did give him consolation and help:

16 And the Lord said to Moses: Gather unto me seventy men of the ancients of Israel, whom thou knowest to be ancients and masters of the people: and thou shalt bring them to the door of the tabernacle of the covenant, and shalt make them stand there with thee, 17 That I may come down and speak with thee: and I will take of thy spirit, and will give to them, that they may bear with thee the burden of the people, and thou mayest not be burthened alone. 18 And thou shalt say to the people: Be ye sanctified: tomorrow you shall eat flesh...

...But with a just consequence:

for I have heard you say: Who will give us flesh to eat? it was well with us in Egypt. That the Lord may give you flesh, and you may eat: 19 Not for one day, nor two, nor five, nor ten, no nor for twenty. 20 But even for a month of days, till it come out at your nostrils, and become loathsome to you, because you have cast off the Lord, who is in the midst of you, and have wept before him, saying: Why came we out of Egypt?

...and also a just chastisement:

33 As yet the flesh was between their teeth, neither had that kind of meat failed: when behold the wrath of the Lord being provoked against the people, struck them with an exceeding great plague. 34 And that place was called, The graves of lust: for there they buried the people that had lusted.

I am no theologian, just a simple Catholic. I see that the Lord answered Moses's prayer of discouragement based on his suffering of burden and did not chastise him. The Lord did however chastise Israel's complaining despite God's provisions for them. We are such a whining people.

We must turn with trust to the King of Heaven and ask for His actual grace to sustain us in all things - not waste our prayers and thoughts on frivolous so-called sufferings. Rest in the Spirit of the Lord and let not your heart become hopeless but rather hope in the Lord for He is in charge and control of all things. Though the gates of hell beat against you, though all things seem to fall apart around you - lock yourself up in the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary for there is the only true refuge.

Lord have pity on me. Amen+

Great Quote

"I do not know what I may appear to be to the world; but to myself I seem to have been only like a boy playing on the seashore, and diverting myself in now and then finding a smoother pebble or a prettier shell than ordinary, while the great ocean of truth lay all undiscovered before me... The true God is a living, intelligent, and powerful being. His duration reaches from eternity to eternity; His presence from infinity to infinity. He governs all things."

—Memoirs of the Life, Writings, and Discoveries of Sir Isaac Newton (1855) by Sir David Brewster (Volume II. Ch. 27); Principia, Second Edition

What a beautiful, humble and true statement. I have found myself from time to time in prayer contemplating God's handiwork - the laws of physics, mathematics, the periodic table, the intricate complexity of matter, of the human body...etc. I have been known to spend time gazing upon the heavens and seeing not the chemical and physical nature of what I see but rather being awestruck at the power of God who is the All Powerful Creator of All. Now I am surprised to find a like minded soul in none other than Sir Isaac Newton who studied God's creation and gave HIM all the credit instead of placing himself as God.

St. Thomas More

St. Thomas More ~ husband, father, lawyer, courtier and martyr

While never for a moment turning from God, he managed to remain a man of the law (nearly unbelievable in itself--particularly given the time) and a devoted Father and Husband. The image above portrays St. Thomas More's farewell to his daughter. It was painted in the nineteenth century by Edward Matthew Ward. To my mind it captures perfectly the tenderness, deep regard, and concern that St. Thomas More lavished on his family until the day of his death.

In a letter to his beloved daughter Margaret More Roper, St. Thomas More speaks quite eloquently. This is a small excerpt from his letter regarding his third interrogation which took place prior to his sentence and ultimately his execution by order of King Henry VIII.

Sir Thomas More refused to sign an oath to his acknowledement to Henry VIII's declaration of placing himself as the head of the church in England - which places him and his oath swearer's outside the church. I was reading through these letters and was struck by this specific quote:

"Whereupon I refused the oath.... I meddle not with the conscience of them that think otherwise, every man suo domino stat et cadit. I am no man's judge. It was also said unto me that if I had rather be out of the world as in it, as I had there said, why did I not speak even out plain against the statute. It ap­peared well I was not content to die though I had said so. Whereto I an­swered as the truth is, that I have not been a man of such holy living as I might be bold to offer myself to death, lest God for my presumption might suffer me to fall, and therefore I put not myself forward, but draw back. Howbeit if God draw me to it himself, then trust I in his great mer­cy, that he shall not fail to give me grace and strength.

In conclusion Master Secretary said that he liked me this day much worse than he did the last time, for then he said he pitied me much and now he thought that I meant not well; but God and I know both that I mean well and so I pray God do by me.

I pray you be, you and my other friends, of good cheer whatsoever fall be of good cheer of me, and take no thought for me but pray for me as I do and shall do for you and all them."
Your tender loving father,Thomas More, Knight.

St. Thomas More, Holy Martyr of God - Ora Pro Nobis!

Tower Hill - Site of St. Thomas More's Holy Martydom

Tower Hill execution block

St. Germaine Cousin

Our Lady's Tears Productions first motion picture is available now for viewing. We chose to depict the life of St. Germain Cousin (more here). What is currently completed is actually a 30 minute short. We hope to be able to complete a full motion picture - if the Lord permits it and wishes to fund it. We are very grateful to RealCatholicTV for showing the film.

We are also in post production on two other projects, one is close to completion called "The Theology of Suffering" based on Pope John Paul II's Apostolic letter SALVIFICI DOLORIS, and also a short film on the Sacred Heart of Jesus in the life of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque

May the Lord bless you all

REAL Music

Please Lord, I beg you, save your people from hippie, happy clappy music at Mass but instead in Your mercy send us truly beautiful music such as this. Lord have mercy upon us! Amen+

Mary at the Foot of the Cross

Was recently at the Cathedral of St Paul and with my new camera took some photos of what is in my opinion the very best image ever painted of the Death of Jesus. This painting is huge and is quite high upon the wall so I apologize for the angle.

I have spent many moments standing before this painting, to the point of hurting my neck looking up at it. This is a very worthy painting and I thank God it exists in a Church and not in a museum.

After some consideration, I have come to believe this is a depiction of the moment of the death of Jesus, our Lady's 5th sorrow. Notice how the face of Jesus is darkened and discolored as happens after death but yet there is a heavenly glow surrounding His Holy Face - this is rather rare in art to depict Jesus in His human death rather realistically.

Mary's face by contast in very light and starkly pale, stricken as in death by her suffering but yet she lives. Notice how the artist (I don't know who the artist is BTW) shows Mary to be deeply grieved but she does not appear by any means despairing. Even beneath the shadow of the death of her only Son, she does not despair. She possesses the strongest faith, knowing Jesus to be Lord, knowing that He suffers according to His will and she is at all times accepting of God's will.

This is quite frankly a perfect depiction of how great suffering can coincide in the soul along with great joy. Joy does not in one small part diminish her suffering, but the suffering does not take away from her joy. It is as if you can hear Mary saying "You have done it! Amen my Son, you have accomplished the redemption of Man! O how terrible! O how wonderful!"

"I will remain with You and see you through to the House of the Father. I too offer myself to the Eternal Father for the salvation of souls! I offer myself and would die for You if I could my Son. How is it that you die and I still live?" How touching the way St. John supports and cares for our Blessed Mother but does not wisk her away. Like a real man he stands by her side, with great respect and awe he assists her in carrying this great burden. He witnesses the sacrifice of the Lord in body, and also the sacrifice of Mary in spirit. What a great honor was given to St. John.
I don't even know what to say about poor Mary Magdalen giving in to her grief at our Lord's feet. We would all do well to bring all our cares, our burdens and our sorrows such as this in prayer at all times.

I place my poor soul at your feet as did Mary Magdalen Lord, in time and for all eternity. Amen

Abide with me

A co-worker of mine lost a daughter yesterday in a car accident. Please pray for the repose of this young lady's soul and also for the devastated family that remains in the vale of tears.

Abide with me

Abide with me; fast falls the eventide;
the darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide.
When other helpers fail and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, O abide with me.

2. Swift to its close ebbs out life's little day;
earth's joys grow dim; its glories pass away;
change and decay in all around I see;
O thou who changest not, abide with me.

3. I need thy presence every passing hour.
What but thy grace can foil the tempter's power?
Who, like thyself, my guide and stay can be?
Through cloud and sunshine, Lord, abide with me.

4. I fear no foe, with thee at hand to bless;
ills have no weight, and tears not bitterness.
Where is death's sting? Where, grave, thy victory?
I triumph still, if thou abide with me.

5. Hold thou thy cross before my closing eyes;
shine through the gloom and point me to the skies.
Heaven's morning breaks, and earth's vain shadows flee;
in life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.

Henry F. Lyte, 1793-1847 Wrote this poem as he lay dying of TB.

Angel's Voices

Beautiful

Our Lady of Sorrows - Ora pro nobis!

Chaplet of Our Lady's Tears IV

How to Pray the Rosary of Our Lady of Tears

The rosary transmitted to Sister Amalia by the Mother of God consists of forty-nine white beads, which is divided into seven parts by seven larger beads of the same color -- similar to the rosary of the seven sorrows of Mary. At the end, there are attached three more small beads and a medal of our dear Lady of Tears.
Through these instructions we are directed to honor Mary our Mother on account of her sorrows, for which she shed many tears. The medal of our Lady of Tears is an essential part of the rosary, but it must be the way it was revealed to Sister Amalia by the Mother of God on April 30, 1930. In Germany, this medal is made with the specified inscription in all the European languages.

On the Medal to Jesus

(flipside of Medal of Our Lady's Tears)
O crucified Jesus, we fall at Your feet and offer You the tears of the one, who with deep compassionate love accompanied You on Your sorrowful way of the Cross. O good Master, grant that we take to heart the lessons which the tears of Your most holy Mother teach us, so that we may fulfill Your holy will on earth, that we may be worthy to praise and exalt You in Heaven for all eternity. Amen+

In Place of the Our Father
(and on the final three beads)
V. O Jesus, look upon the tears of the one who loved You most on earth,
R. And loves You most ardently in heaven.

In Place of the Hail Mary
V. O Jesus, listen to our prayers,
R. For the sake of the tears of your most Holy Mother.

On the Medal to Mary
O Mary, Mother of Love, Sorrow and mercy, we beseech you to unite your prayers with ours so that Jesus, your Divine Son, to whom we turn, may hear our petititons in the name of your maternal tears, and grant us, not only the favors we now ask, but the crown of everlasting life. Amen.

(Source, Pamphlet Our Dear Lady of Tears.
Imprimatur
Buchweiser, Gen. - Bit.
Munchen, 22. Marz 1935)

Go HERE to purchase the chaplet - pamplet with overview of devotion and prayers included.

Chaplet of Our Lady's Tears III

Approved Apparition of Our Lady of Tears

Jesus fulfilled this promise to Sister Amalia exactly four months later, in the Spring of the following year. At the divinely appointed time, the Blessed Virgin Mary gave this treasure to heaven's beloved Institute. The following are Sister Amalia's own recollections of what took place.
"It was March 8, 1930. I was in the chapel kneeling on the steps of the altar, as I suddenly felt myself being lifted up.
Then I saw a woman of unspeakable beauty approaching me. She wore a violet robe, blue mantle, and a white veil draped over her shoulders. Smiling, she floated in the air towards me, holding a rosary in her hands, which she herself called "corona" [i.e. circle and means rosary]. Its beads shined like the sun and were as white as snow. Handing me this rosary she said to me,
'This is the rosary of my tears, which is being entrusted by my Son to His beloved Institute as a portion of His inheritance. The invocations were already given by my Son. My Son wants to honor me in a special way through these invocations, and so, He will grant all graces that are begged for the sake of my tears. This rosary will provide for the conversion of many sinners, especially those possessed by the devil. To the Institute of the Crucified Jesus is reserved a special honor, that is the conversion of many members of a wicked sect to the blooming tree of the Church. Through this rosary the devil will be conquered and the power of hell will be destroyed. Get ready for this great battle.'
When our Blessed Mother Mary had finished speaking, she disappeared."

According to a pamphlet entitled "Our Dear Lady of Tears" which bears the church's Imprimatur, "Innumerable graces have been received through the praying of the rosary to honor the tears of our dear Lady. The reason lies in the promise of the holy Savior, 'no favor will be refused, when asked of Him for the sake of the tears of His most holy Mother.' "

Our Lord Jesus rewards in a special way the sincere reverence for the sorrows of His most holy Mother. Consider praying rosary of our Lady of the Tears daily for nine days, receive the sacraments and perform works of mercy this Lent.

The official account dating to the 1930's also states: "From religious, we understand, that the praying of this rosary is a pious practice to which they attribute extraordinary graces. For that reason, they pray it daily often to ask graces for themselves and others, the conversion of sinners, heretics, and atheists, to obtain graces for priests and missionaries, to help the dying, and to free the poor souls from Purgatory."
When we are in sorrow and suffering fills our soul, let us direct our thoughts to God. Through the tears of Mary, His most holy Mother, we can soften the heart of God, even though it is ever ready to grant us mercy, graces and blessings.
"At the present, so it seems to us, the blessed tears of the Mother of Jesus are especially powerful to win the heart of God." -- Msgr. Count Franciscus von Campos Barreto, Bishop of Campinas, Brazil where these apparitions took place.

(Source, Catholic Devotions)

Go HERE to purchase this chaplet (scroll down)

Chaplet of Our Lady's Tears II

About the Image of Our Lady's Tears

Our Lady of Tears to Sr. Amalia: "Through this rosary the devil
will be conquered and the power of hell will be destroyed."

Our Lady spoke to Sister Amalia: "Do you know why I wear a blue mantle? To remind you of heaven, when you are feeling weary from your labors, and carrying the cross of your tribulations. My mantle reminds you of heaven, to give you indescribable joy and eternal happiness , and this will give courage to your soul and peace to your heart, to continue the struggle until the end!" Do you understand the significance of my purple-violet tunic? I will tell you that you should remember, as you stand before the image of Tears, of the colors I wear, purple signifies pain. The pain the Jesus felt when they beat him, barbarically, on his body. My mother's heart and my soul were also lacerated by pain, on seeing Jesus."
"My child, I will explain to you why I wear this white veil , around my breast and covering my head. White signifies purity, and being the white flower of the Holy Trinity, I could appear without this whiteness. The sweet smile you see traced on my lips is for the immense happiness to be able to give mankind such a precious treasure!"

"I will explain to you the reason I appear with my eyes inclined downward. Inspired painters have recorded my eyes looking upward to sing the glory of my immaculate conception. Then why are my eyes inclined downward in this apparition, into which you entrust yourself to my blessed tears? It signifies my compassion toward humanity, because I have come from heaven to alleviate your suffering. My eyes will always be directed to your sorrows and afflictions, whenever you ask my Son through the tears I shed. And as you are near my image, see that I gaze at you with eyes of compassion and tenderness."

"My child, I will tell you about the rosary in my hands. I have named it the Crown (chaplet) of Tears . When you are near me, seeing this chaplet in my hands, remember that it signifies mercy, love, and pain... this chaplet of my blessed tears signifies that your Mother loves you. Use all its privileges, resort to it with confidence and love." (Source: Catholic Devotions)

Get this chaplet here, pray it often as a powerful spiritual weapon against the devil.

Prayers Honoring Our Lady's Sorrows I

Chaplet of Our Lady's Tears

(Picture: Our sweet Lady of Tears - The Helper of the Poor and Suffering Mankind - as she appeared to Sister Amalia of the Scourged Jesus in Campinas, Brazil on March 8, 1930.)

Due to the mercy of God, there are many ways we can honor Him through honoring His Mothers Sorrows. Offered here is another pious practice which takes the form of a rosary honoring Mary's Tears. This rosary form, commonly called a chaplet was given by Heaven to humankind through Mary in a apparition to one Sister Amalia of the Scourged Jesus in Brazil. I have searched the web for more "primary" sources on this sister and apparition but have found little. I can say with certainty that this devotion and chaplet, along with the appartion have the official approval of the Church and the booklet written regarding it bears an Imprimatur.

There is more information on this devotion than should be posted at once, so the next few days will be devoted to this subject. To begin with, recall how many marian apparitions there have been where the Mother of God has shed tears. Our Lady of La Salette comes to mind of course, but has she not been sad over our sins and the loss of many souls at Lourdes and Fatima as well? It is our duty to honor our Heavenly Mother and to dry her tears. The following is from the little pamphlet which came with the chaplet I purchased years ago:

"The rosary or chaplet presented to Sr. Amalia by the Mother of God consists of 49 small white beads, divided into seven sets by seven larger beads and one medal, that of Our Lady of Tears which is attached to the rosary. Through this arrangement, we are clearly directed to venerate Mary, Our Mother, for the sake of her sorrows, for which she cried abundant tears. The medal of Our Lady of Tears in an integral part of the rosary; however, it must be exactly like the one the Mother of God revealed to Sr. Amalia on April 8, 1930."

From a booklet entitled "Our Lady of Tears" bears an imprimatur from 1936:

"On November 8, 1929, Sister Amalia, her heart moved by the grief of a relative whose wife was critically ill, sought Jesus in the Tabernacle and pleaded that she might give her own life for this mother of little children. So sincere was the desire of this Sister who bears the Holy Stigmata that Our Lord spoke to her, telling her how to pray to attain this grace. Jesus said: "Pray to me on behalf of my mother's tears, I shall gladly grant them. My Daughter, whatever men will ask of Me for the sake of the tears of my mother, I shall grant them lovingly." Sister Amalia bent low her head as she reflected on the Tears of Our Lady. "How shall I pray?" she asked humbly.
"O Jesus, listen to our prayers on behalf of your holy mother's tears. O Jesus, look down upon the tears of her who loved you best on earth and most deeply loves you now in heaven," was the answer. Our Lord answered her: "Later my mother will give the treasure of her tears to my beloved institute as a magnet of mercy."

More on this apparition tomorrow!

As I have mentioned earlier, my husband and I have started up a film company oddly enough named Our Lady's Tears Productions in order to make films on the lives of the saints and other Catholic topics. We are currently supporting the funding of a film on the life of St. Germaine Cousin (trailer here) with the sale of chaplets of Our Lady's Tears. We pray that is spreading this beautiful devotion to Our Lady's Sorrows souls will be brought to the school of Mary.

The medal on the chaplet of Our Lady's Tears associated with this apparation we could not find ANYWHERE so we had them made, and the company we hired to do this did a fine job.

We have been busy hand making these chaplets and they are now available for purchase with 100% of the proceeds going to fund the movie. We do not take one cent for ourselves.

Go here if you'd like to have one of these chaplets, they are just as described while supplies last. Currently we have on hand enough supplies for about 1000 chaplets.

May Mary's prayer go with you always!