Your Support Has Helped Me to Decide to Keep The Blog Going

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Holy Card image reprinted with permission from Micki at

"Holy Cards for Your Inspiration"

which has an additional link posted on the sidebar

Dear Friends in Christ,

I received so many emails from all you in which you demonstrated such love and support for me to continue this blog after the unwarranted attacks that I received lately from one very unhappy soul. I even spoke on the phone with Micki, a wonderful Catholic blogger from the Midwest, who suggested that I prayerfully reconsider this decision.

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She also said that if I did indeed shut down this blog and/or make it for private readership only, then the person who is obviously very possessed by the evil one, will certainly have won his/her goal. She is absolutely correct! She said that someone had also been harassing her in an 'anoymous' way. A kind soul then wrote to her stating that there are people influenced by Satan 'out there' who are trying to shut down Catholic Christian blogs! So it is not just my blog! How sad this is, but triumphant in Christ we shall all stand!

'nuff said, friends . . . I'll keep the blog (that really is ALL of ours, not just mine) public and posted for all of us to come together to share and learn about "OUR Beautiful Catholic Faith"!

Many Blessings to each and all of you,

~ bella

Please Donate To Catholic Relief Servies For Trusted Aid To Haiti Victims

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Haiti still needs all of our help and will continue to need our aid for years to come. As we all continue to pray for Haitians and everyone involved in the rescue and recovery efforts, many of us want to offer financial assistance as well. So where should you send your valuable, hard-earned money and KNOW that your money is in trusted hands and going where you want it to go to help the victims in Haiti?

Give to Catholic Relief Services

The following information is taken directly from the web page of Catholic Relief Services, ranked as one of the top charities around the world.

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(I have correctly and professionally provided an official credit and legal citation to the CRS web-site. I also place the information in "quotations" which correctly indicates that the statement is from CRS and not myself. I take no credit in the words of CRS, but only own the desire to share information for trusted use of charitable donations).

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You can go directly to the site by following this link or read the information that I have posted for you.

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To donate, you need to go to CRS at:

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http://www.catholicrelief.org/

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Here is the information for you to feel more confident of where your money is being used for not only Haiti aid, but throughout the world:

"You've probably heard some of the inspiring stories of people whose lives have been transformed through the generosity of CRS donors like you. Your donations hold incredible power to alleviate suffering and restore hope for our brothers and sisters overseas. But we know you want to be sure your gifts will be used wisely, and we respect your concern. Through careful stewardship of resources, we make sure the funds you have so generously entrusted to us go where they are most needed. We want you to feel confident that your decision to give to Catholic Relief Services is a sound one, and that your donations will be used effectively and efficiently to make a lifesaving difference.

Please take a moment to review some of the resources provided here and learn more about how we work. CRS is most thankful for your help—we would be unable to carry out our lifesaving work without it.

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CRS is Efficient

Additional Ratings and Rankings of CRS:
Chronicle of Philanthropy's Top 400 Charities
NonProfit Times' Top 100
Valued Partner of Guidestar
Awarded Best in America Seal

How we ensure your donation will be used wisely:

We are one of the most efficient organizations in the world. Did you know that 93 percent of the money we spend goes directly to programs that benefit the poor overseas? We work hard to keep our overhead down and consistently work smarter and find better ways of doing things to eliminate redundancies that often plague other organizations. You are always welcome to review our financial statements.

Additionally, we meet all 20 of the strict Charity Standards set by the

Better Business Bureau's charity rating arm, the Wise Giving Alliance, and have an "A" rating from the American Institute of Philanthropy. Both of these charity watchdog groups use criteria that confirm fiscal efficiency, such as percentage of funds going directly to programs, cost to raise a dollar, transparency and honoring of donor intent.

CRS-funded relief supplies are packed by students at Saint Paul University in Manila, the Philippines, to be delivered to flood victims affected by 2009 Typhoon Ketsana.

We strive for efficiency in all that we do. Under our Guiding Principles, based on Catholic social teaching, we follow the tenet of subsidiarity: A higher level of government—or organization—should not perform any function or duty that can be handled more effectively at a lower level by people who are closer to the problem and have a better understanding of the issue. In many of the countries where we work, our local Church partners represent an efficient network already on the ground. Their work allows us to mobilize quickly to distribute food, emergency supplies and information, often within hours of a disaster. Together, we can meet the most critical needs and then help people "build back better" so that their communities will be stronger and better able to contend with future events.

CRS is Effective

How do we know we are making a difference?

Catholic Relief Services has more than 60 years of experience and technical expertise to help as many people as possible in an organized and manageable way, quickly and reliably. The unspeakable 1994 genocide in Rwanda was a turning point for our agency as we vowed to not only meet immediate needs but also challenge structures that promote injustice. In 1988, our experience responding to Hurricane Mitch in Central America gave us invaluable knowledge and honed our approach to disaster response. It was this expertise—and the overwhelming donor response—that fueled our five-year effort to help survivors rebuild their lives after the Indian Ocean tsunami.

Our programs are carefully executed, monitored and evaluated by our talented staff—some of the best and brightest—who have chosen to dedicate their lives to serving the poor overseas, even if it often means long hours and scant visits back home to the United States. It is the caliber of CRS' staff around the world that has earned CRS respect in the humanitarian community. Thanks to their expertise, CRS is regarded as a leader in many of the diverse fields that we work. Below are some examples where CRS embodies the best:

A CRS water project has had a profound impact on the health of residents, especially children—who are most susceptible to illness and disease—in Legedini, southern Ethiopia.

Founding member of the Sphere Project that set the standards for humanitarian and disaster response.
Founding member of NetHope, an Information Technology consortium with the goal of bringing technology to the developing world.
Member of the PEPFAR Consortium—the largest undertaking by any nation to combat HIV and AIDS.
CRS' work for orphans and children affected by HIV is considered to be a key model to follow, and a forum was held in 2008 to share best practices.

Learn more about why CRS' emergency response programming is held in high esteem by reading this article about Pat Johns, known as the "Master of Disaster." CRS' microfinance programming helps the very poorest by introducing savings and internal lending communities and self-help groups that strengthen the entire community.

CRS strives to be innovative and solve problems in creative ways that often resolve two needs at the same time. Take, for instance, building keyhole gardens in Lesotho. These waist-high gardens allow people with HIV to tend their gardens without stooping, giving them a way to get manageable levels of exercise as well as grow fresh food to eat.

CRS is Accountable

How do we maintain integrity in all the work that we do?

As a faith-based 501(c)(3) charity, Catholic Relief Services is exempt from filing a Form 990 with the Internal Revenue Service. However, we make all of this information available on our website every year. We invite you to look under the hood and read our Financial Information Form, Annual Report and Summary of Program Activities. You'll see that 93 percent of the money we spend goes directly to programs that benefit the poor overseas.

We so value the trust placed in us by our donors that we have created a Pledge to Donors. To report back on how donations are being used to transform lives overseas, we publish a monthly CRSbriefing e-newsletter, presenting stories of those we serve with our donors' support. Additionally, our interactive Annual Report highlights the previous year's accomplishments and a breakdown of how much money was raised and how it was spent.

We strive to be good stewards, not only with the donations entrusted to us, but also through careful program planning that ensures good stewardship of natural resources by using strategic measures in watershed management and conservation agriculture that will protect resources for future generations.

Each year we sign pledges with many outside organizations to uphold integrity in the work we do overseas. We also comply with U.S.-based charity watchdog groups who confirm that we meet their strict standards:

U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (CRS is governed by the USCCB)
Caritas Internationalis (consortium member)
National Catholic Development Conference (accountability standards)
Association of Fundraising Professionals (Donor Bill of Rights)
Direct Marketing Association (Commitment to Consumer Choice)
InterAction (PVO Standards)
Sphere (Standards in Disaster Response)
Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance (Charity Standards)
Independent Charities of America (Best in America seal holder)
2008 Global Accountability Report results - CRS ranked six out of 30 overall.

Finally, please take a minute to review our revised Mission Statement, Guiding Principles and Privacy Policy. We are most accountable to those we serve, alleviating the suffering of the poor overseas and giving Catholics in the United States the opportunity to live their faith in solidarity with their brothers and sisters around the world."

Again, this information is directly from the CRS web-site, with proper, legal citation and quotations, and is only posted for you to help you make a more confident decision, with the help of the Holy Spirit, regarding which relief organization to send your financial assistance to for the victims in Haiti and around the world.

Blessings,

~ bella

Catholic Prayers for New Year's Blessing

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Prayer for a Blessing on the New Year
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O sacred and adorable Trinity,
hear our prayers on behalf of our holy Father the Pope,
our Bishops, our clergy, and for all that are in authority over us.
Bless, we beseech Thee, during the coming year,
the whole Catholic Church;
convert heretics and unbelievers;
soften the hearts of sinners so that they may return to Thy friendship;
give prosperity to our country and peace among the nations of the world;
pour down Thy blessings upon our friends, relatives, and acquaintances,
and upon our enemies, if we have any;
assist the poor and the sick;
have pity on the souls of those whom this year has taken from us;
and do Thou be merciful to those who during the coming year
who will be summoned before Thy judgment seat.
May all our actions be preceded by Thy inspirations and carried on by Thy assistance,
so that all our prayers and works, having been begun in Thee,
may likewise be ended through Thee.
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Amen.
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New Year's Prayer
(By Archbishop Carroll)
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Almighty and eternal God,
You have, through Jesus Christ, revealed Your glory to all nations.
We pray You to preserve the works of Your mercy,
that Your Church, being spread through the whole world,
may continue with unchanging faith in the confession of Your name.
We pray You, who alone are good and holy,
to endow with heavenly knowledge, sincere zeal, and sanctity of life our Chief Bishop,
Pope Benedict, the vicar of our Lord Jesus Christ, in the government of His Church;
our own Archbishop and Bishop; all other bishops, prelates, and pastors of the Church;
and especially those who are appointed to exercise among us the functions of the holy ministry and conduct Your people into the ways of salvation.
We pray You, O God of might, wisdom, and justice,
through whom authority is rightly administered, laws are enacted, and judgment decreed,
to assist with Your Holy Spirit of counsel and fortitude of the President of the United States,
that his administration may be conducted in righteousness,
and be eminently useful to Your people over whom he presides;
by encouraging due respect for virtue and religion,
by a faithful execution of the laws in justice and mercy,
and by restraining vice and immorality.
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Counsel and sound judgment are mine; I have understanding and power. By me kings reign and rulers make laws that are just; by me princes govern, and all nobles who rule on earth. PROVERBS 8:14-16
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Let the light of Your divine wisdom direct the deliberations of Congress,
and shine forth in all the proceedings and laws framed for our rule and government,
so that they may tend to the preservation of peace,
the promotion of national happiness,
the increase of industry, sobriety, and useful knowledge,
and may perpetuate to us the blessing of equal liberty.
We recommend likewise to Your unbounded mercy all our brethren and fellow citizens throughout the United States,
that they may be blessed in the knowledge and
sanctified in the observance of Your most holy law;
that they may be preserved in union,
and in that peace which the world cannot give;
and after enjoying the blessings of this life,
be admitted to those which are eternal.
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Amen.
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Blessings for the New Year of 2010,
~ bella
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Sunrise Over the Ocean on New Year's Day 2010!

.Watching God's Glory during a perfect sunrise over the Atlantic Ocean

on New Year's Day, 2010!

Wishing all of you a blessed New Year!
~ bella

New Year's Eve On The Beach 2009

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A view of the peaceful Atlantic Ocean on New Year's Eve, 2009!

So beautiful!

Blessings,
~ bella

Buon Natale! Merry Christmas!

. . reprinted with permission from "Holy Cards For Your Inspiration" blog

(link is listed for you on my sidebar below)

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Buon Natale Amici!

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Merry Christmas Friends!

Wishing You Beautiful Christmas Blessings,
~ bella

The Catholic Practice of "First Saturday" Devotion to Mary's Immaculate Heart

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On the first Saturday of every month, Catholics are called by the Blessed Mother (as relayed to us through many of her visitations, including Fatima), to honor her. We believe that on Holy Saturday, the eve of Easter, Mary, the mother of Christ, suffered terribly, yet had great faith.

Catholics believe that on these first Saturdays of each month, we help to console the sorrows of our heavenly father, our Lord, Jesus Christ and our Lady, Christ's mother . . . because we have sinned against

Mary's Immaculate Heart. The First Saturdays devotion had already been an established custom in the Catholic Church. In 1905, Pope Pius X approved the devotion and granted indulgences for its practice of the First Saturdays of twelve consecutive months in honor of the Immaculate Conception.
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For this devotion, whether alone or in a group, one can select any five success months, and engage in each of the following four (4) activities, each of which must be done with the sincere intention (in their minds and hearts) to honor Mary and for the reparation of the damage done to her Immaculate Heart:

1. Go to confession: This can be done one week earlier, however, the intention of reparation to the Immaculate Heart must be in one's mind and heart prior and during confession.

2. Attend Saturday Mass.

3. Receive the Eucharist with the necessity of offering it in reparation to Our Lady, and finally,

4. Pray the Rosary with a minimum of 15 minutes spent in the company of Mary while properly meditating on the mysteries of the Rosary (which represent Christ's life). One or more decades of the Rosary can be said. Our Lady promises us that she will be present to those who keep her company.

All of these spiritual elements of the five "First Saturday" devotions are unique in that the primary intention within the hearts of devotees is to repair the damages caused to her for blasphemies and offenses against her, her name and her holy initiatives.
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In 1925, Sister Lúcia, the only Fátima visionary to survive into adulthood reported that the Blessed Mother came to her in her convent at Pontevedra, Spain with the following statement:
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"Look, my daughter, at my Heart encircled by these thorns with which men pierce it at every moment by their blasphemies and ingratitude. You, at least, strive to console me, and so I announce: I promise to assist at the hour of death with the grace necessary for salvation all those who, with the intention of making reparation to me, will, on the first Saturday of five consecutive months, go to confession, receive Holy Communion, say five decades of the beads, and keep me company for fifteen minutes while meditating on the fifteen mysteries of the Rosary."

"You have seen hell where the souls of poor sinners go. To save them, God wishes to establish in the world devotion to my Immaculate Heart. If what I say to you is done, many souls will be saved and there will be peace... I shall come to ask for... the Communion of reparation on the first Saturdays..."

Five ways in which people offend the Immaculate Heart of Mary:

1.attacks upon Mary's Immaculate Conception

2.attacks against her Perpetual Virginity

3.attacks upon her Divine Maternity and the refusal to accept her as the Mother of all mankind

4.for those who try to publicly implant in children's hearts indifference, contempt and even hatred of this Immaculate Mother

5.for those who insult her directly in her sacred images.

Our Lady said to Lucia:

“I shall come to ask... that on the First Saturday of every month, Communions of reparation be made in atonement for the sins of the world.”

It was there Our Lady completed her request for the Five First Saturdays and gave her great promise. Appearing with the Queen of Heaven in that apparition was the Infant Jesus, Who said to Lucia:

“Have pity on the Heart of your Most Holy Mother. It is covered with thorns with which ungrateful men pierce it at every moment, and there is no one to remove them with an act of reparation.”

Our Lady then spoke:

“See, my daughter, my Heart encircled by thorns with which ungrateful men pierce it at every moment by their blasphemies and ingratitude. Do you, at least, strive to console me. Tell them that I promise to assist at the hour of death with the graces necessary for salvation all those who, in order to make reparation to me, on the First Saturday of five successive months, go to confession, receive Holy Communion, say five decades of the Rosary, and keep me company for a quarter of an hour, meditating on the fifteen mysteries of the Rosary.”

To those who faithfully follow Our Lady’s requests for the Five First Saturdays, she has made a wonderful promise which she will certainly fulfill:

“I promise to assist at the hour of death with the graces necessary for salvation.”

Her presence at the hour of our death and giving us the final grace of perseverance is of paramount importance (the final gift of the grace of perserverance is second only to the gift/grace of Faith). After completing the Five First Saturdays, one may continue the devotion simply to console the Immaculate Heart of Our Lady and to atone for the sins of the world.

Blessings and a beautiful First Saturday of September, 2009,

~ bella

First Fridays Devotion: What Catholics Believe

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Hello to My Dear Friends in Christ,

Today is the first Friday in the month of October, 2009. Catholics have a tradition known as the Nine First Fridays Devotion to the Sacred Heart.
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Well, what is that some you may be asking? Here is quoted information provided by Catholic Culture.com and a direct link is provided for you below.
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From the writings of St. Margaret Mary:
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"On Friday during Holy Communion, He said these words to His unworthy slave, if I mistake not: I promise you in the excessive mercy of my Heart that its all-powerful love will grant to all those who receive Holy Communion on nine first Fridays of consecutive months the grace of final repentance; they will not die under my displeasure or without receiving their sacraments, my divine Heart making itself their assured refuge at the last moment."
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With regard to this promise it may be remarked:
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(1) that our Lord required Communion to be received on a particular day chosen by Him;
(2) that the nine Fridays must be consecutive;
(3) that they must be made in honor of His Sacred Heart, which means that those who make the nine Fridays must practice the devotion and must have a great love for our Lord;
(4) that our Lord does not say that those who make the nine Fridays will be dispensed from any of their obligations or from exercising the vigilance necessary to lead a good life and overcome temptation; rather He implicitly promises abundant graces to those who make the nine Fridays to help them to carry out these obligations and persevere to the end;
(5) that perseverance in receiving Holy Communion for nine consecutive First Firdays helps the faithful to acquire the habit of frequent Communion, which our Lord eagerly desires; and
(6) that the practice of the nine Fridays is very pleasing to our Lord since He promises such great reward, and that all Catholics should endeavor to make the nine Fridays.
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Prayer Source: Enthronment of the Sacred Heart by Rev. Francis Larkin, SS.CC., St. Paul Editions. http://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/prayers/view.cfm?id=876

and here ia another link to The Devotion To The Sacred Heart of Jesus:

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http://www.catholictradition.org/Two-Hearts/devotion12.htm

Sacred Heart of Jesus

Where your treasure lies there will you find your heart.

O most Sacred Heart of Jesus,

in your wounds I find my consolation,

in your pierced heart I find a companion for my sorrows.

O most Sacred Heart of Jesus,

in your heart's joy I find my contentment,

in your purity I find my hope.

O most Sacred Heart of Jesus,

in the radiant light streaming from your heart my blindness disappears,

in your fiery love I am ablaze with awe.

O most Sacred Heart of Jesus,

in your humiliation I can bear scorn from others,

in your longings I am fulfilled.

O most Sacred Heart of Jesus,

in the blood and water which gushed forth from your lanced heart I am reborn in you,

you refresh my very being.

Forever beating in the love of the Holy Trinity is found your human heart,

authoring life and radiating eternal affection.

Would that I could find God's treasure,

it would be found in a humble and contrite heart.

You by your divinity know all things divine and

by your humanity you feel all things human.

By the mystery of your Sacred Heart,

you have united man to yourself forever.

Hold back nothing from me that could draw me

more completely into the deepest recesses of your heart.

Whether peace or distress, bliss or grief,

I accept all as an invitation to know you and love you more profoundly.

O Lord perfect me in your love, confirm me in your grace

and take delight in the richness of my surrender.

Where your treasure lies there will you find my heart.

Amen.

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"I promise you, in the excessive mercy of my heart that my all-powerful love will grant to all those who receive Holy Communion on the First Friday for nine consecutive months, the grace of final repentance; they shall not die in my disgrace nor without receiving the sacraments; my divine Heart shall be their safe refuge in that last moment."
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The Twelve Promises for the Devotion to the Sacred Heart.for

1. I will give them all the graces necessary for their state in life.
2. I will give peace in their families.
3. I will console them in all their troubles.
4. They shall find in My Heart an assured refuge during life and especially at the hour of death.
5. I will pour abundant blessings on all their undertakings.
6. Sinners shall find in My Heart the source and infinite ocean of mercy.
7. Tepid souls shall become fervent.
8. Fervent souls shall speedily rise to great perfection.
9. I will bless the homes in which the image of My Sacred Heart shall be exposed and honoured.
10. I will give to priests the power to touch the most hardened hearts.
11. Those who propagate this devotion shall have their name written in My Heart, and it shall never be effaced.
12. The all-powerful love of My Heart will grant to all those who shall receive Communion on the First Friday of nine consecutive months the grace of final repentance; they shall not die under My displeasure, nor without receiving their Sacraments; My Heart shall be their assured refuge at the last hour.
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Blessings,

~ bella

Thanks and Welcome!

Lately I've had a lot of new followers that want to chat or learn more about our Catholic faith. Lola, Claudia (from Brazil!), Karen Louise, Agnes, Jean, Dawn, Becca, Cam, Heidi, SAHM, Jackie and Rachel are just a few of my new friends!
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What an honor and a blessing....each new person leads me to his/her blog and it goes on and on from there. What a community of faithful that continually help me and give me strength in my journey of learning more about this gift of the Church from our Heavenly Father and His Son on earth!
Here's what Lola said recently on her blog, "What Lola Wants"

"Adrienne, who has my attention daily, had a link to La Bella Vita, a fabulous Foodie Blog, and it really has some mouthwatering photos... Well by googling chance I found, it's blogger also has another blog Beautiful Catholic Faith that has the above video! And now I am a FOLLOWER! Why is it that when I google and find a wonderful blog, that it is no surprise that their blogroll also has some of my favorite blogger's listed?"

Lola's blog link is: http://lolawantsunsoclicited.blogspot.com/

Do stop by and learn more about current events and Catholicism from Lola and Adrienne (Adrienne's Catholic Corner..... the link is on my sidebar on the right)

Blessings to both of you for all that you write about for your readers,

~ bella

Catholic Videos from "Real Catholic TV" -- Very Educational About Our Faith!

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Hello dear friends,
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I just want to give a big shout out of recognition to the web-site "RealCatholicTV.com" for developing so many, many, MANY helpful and informative videos about our beautiful Catholic faith AND current events that keep every Catholic and non-Catholic IN THE KNOW of current events!

Many of us learn better visually (especially our younger generations) and some of us don't have time to read every sound bite of every blog (like me!), so therefore, with credit given to where credit is due, I've embedded some videos from this awesome website.....please visit and donate if you can so that they can keep producing such valuable materials.
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I hope that your faith is increased by the videos' messages.
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Blessings,
~ bella

More On How Catholics Differ From Protestants

Blessings,

~ bella

More Protestant Errors by RealCatholic.TV

Blessings,

~ bella

Catholocism: The One True Faith vs. Protestantism

Blessings,

~ bella

Now THAT'S GOOD CUSTOMER SERVICE! Blog Following Widget is FIXED!

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Wow!

Whoever responded to my pleas regarding the non-functioning "Follow" widget sure worked fast! All is up and running very well and I'd like to just thank whoever it was who read my comment on Blogger Help and/or my previous blog post because IT WORKS NOW! What great customer service!

Thanks so much and many blessings,

~ bella

Is anyone else having problems with their "FOLLOW" box?

Hi everyone,

Is there anyone else having problems with their "Follow" / "Following" box appearing? Mine has been blank for 2 days now. I've contacted Blogger, but wanted to know if anyone could tell me what to do.

Thanks so much!

Blessings,

~ bella

Why I Am Catholic

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I found this wonderful video over on "Doing All Things Graciously" blog:



Blessings,

~ bella

Blessing of My New Rosary

This week I bought a new rosary, one that has a little bit of water from Lourdes contained in a glass centerpiece. It is simply so beautiful, with a lovely crucifix and clear, shimmery glass beads. So this evening I took it with me to have our pastor bless it after Mass.

You can see the bubble in the water from Lourdes in the rosary's centerpiece above.

So I decided that it would be a good thing to chat about regarding our Catholic faith. So I went to the Catholic Answers web-site and found the following information regarding the Catholic practice of blessing our rosaries:

"The Rosary, like a cross or Crucifix, Holy Water, Blessed Palm is a sacramental.

A sacramental stems from the Church's Sacraments, which are instruments of God's Grace. When you get a sacramental blessed, this holy object now becomes an instrument of blessing.

As Fr. John Corapi says, the prayers said over a blessed object are applied to every situation where that object is used. So, when a priest blesses your Rosary, you receive the blessing of the Rosary, each time you pray with it. You should therefore get your scapula, Crucifixes and other objects blessed.

If you look up the link you will see how the Church has wisely given blessings to many objects of daily use. http://www.catholicdoors.com/prayers/blessings.html

This is so that we live our lives in such a way that we are already living as we would in Heaven - because in Heaven everything we use and every corner of our Heavenly home will be blessed. I got my guitar blessed, so that I can praise God with my music. You can get some salt blessed, to remind you of how you have to be salt of the earth, use the salt to bless your food or add some to clean water and then bless your house with it.
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Sacramentals stem from the Sacraments, they need to be blessed before they are used so that the prayers of the Universal Church can be applied to the person using that Sacramental.
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From the Cathechism of the Catholic Church (CCC)
Chapter 4: OTHER LITURGICAL CELEBRATIONS ARTICLE
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1 SACRAMENTALS 1667 "Holy Mother Church has, moreover, instituted sacramentals. These are sacred signs which bear a resemblance to the sacraments. They signify effects, particularly of a spiritual nature, which are obtained through the intercession of the Church. By them men are disposed to receive the chief effect of the sacraments, and various occasions in life are rendered holy."
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The characteristics of sacramentals1668 Sacramentals are instituted for the sanctification of certain ministries of the Church, certain states of life, a great variety of circumstances in Christian life, and the use of many things helpful to man. In accordance with bishops' pastoral decisions, they can also respond to the needs, culture, and special history of the Christian people of a particular region or time. They always include a prayer, often accompanied by a specific sign, such as the laying on of hands, the sign of the cross, or the sprinkling of holy water (which recalls Baptism).
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1669 Sacramentals derive from the baptismal priesthood: every baptized person is called to be a "blessing," and to bless.
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Hence lay people may preside at certain blessings; the more a blessing concerns ecclesial and sacramental life, the more is its administration reserved to the ordained ministry (bishops, priests, or deacons).
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1670 Sacramentals do not confer the grace of the Holy Spirit in the way that the sacraments do, but by the Church's prayer, they prepare us to receive grace and dispose us to cooperate with it. "For well-disposed members of the faithful, the liturgy of the sacraments and sacramentals sanctifies almost every event of their lives with the divine grace which flows from the Paschal mystery of the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Christ. From this source all sacraments and sacramentals draw their power. There is scarcely any proper use of material things which cannot be thus directed toward the sanctification of men and the praise of God."
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Various forms of sacramentals
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1671 Among sacramentals blessings (of persons, meals, objects, and places) come first. Every blessing praises God and prays for his gifts. In Christ, Christians are blessed by God the Father "with every spiritual blessing."
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This is why the Church imparts blessings by invoking the name of Jesus, usually while making the holy sign of the cross of Christ.
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1672 Certain blessings have a lasting importance because they consecrate persons to God, or reserve objects and places for liturgical use. Among those blessings which are intended for persons - not to be confused with sacramental ordination - are the blessing of the abbot or abbess of a monastery, the consecration of virgins and widows, the rite of religious profession and the blessing of certain ministries of the Church (readers, acolytes, catechists, etc.). The dedication or blessing of a church or an altar, the blessing of holy oils, vessels, and vestments, bells, etc., can be mentioned as examples of blessings that concern objects.
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The Holy Father, Pope Benedict's Prayer Intention for September: Knowing God's WORD!

From His Holiness, Pope Benedict, here is a brief video overview of his prayer intention for Catholics this September: Reading the Bible more for knowledge of God's Word!
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Tony Blair, His Catholic Conversion, and Anti-Catholicism in England

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Who says Anti-Catholicism doesn't exist?

"Granny told me not to marry a Catholic, Tony Blair tells paper"
(from http://www.guardian.co.uk/)

Tony Blair has revealed that after ignoring a stern warning from his great-grandmother about marrying a Catholic, he now finds his new-found faith has become the driving force in his life as he seeks to clear up the world's religious conflicts.
Speaking to L'Osservatore Romano, the Vatican's daily newspaper, Blair said today he considers Pope Benedict's belief that God is central to politics, society, economics and culture "brilliant".
Weeks after a packed Catholic conference in Italy gave Blair an ovation for his words about the universality of Catholicism, the pope's newspaper was equally effusive, calling the convert "a gentleman, educated, smiley, courteous in a way few know how to be".
Letting slip the Vatican's possible ambition for Blair, the paper also described him as "a probable future president of the European Union".
With a double page spread at his disposal, Blair served up a mix of anecdotes about his conversion and strong indications of how faith is at the heart of every step he takes.
Starting with his childhood, he recalled how "in one of her rare moments of lucidity, during an illness, my great-grandmother – who was in many ways fantastic – told me,
'Do whatever you want but don't marry a Catholic.' Which is exactly what I did."
Despite ambitions to be a rock star or a footballer when he arrived at university,
Blair said he was soon taken by his future wife, Cherie Booth, who was already an active Catholic on campus.
During his recent speech, Blair said she had been the driving force behind his conversion shortly after leaving office two years ago. Today
he added that conversion was "a path I have followed for 25 years," helped, he added, by a crucial private mass held by Pope John Paul II in 2003.
"It was an episode which really struck me," he said.
Catholicism's universality was its appeal, he added.
"If you are Catholic you can go anywhere in the world and take part in mass in any country."
The last people to understand this, he complained, are British journalists, who are still unprepared for religious, let alone Catholic, politicians.
"It's a shame but that is how it is.
However, I can say that for normal people, as opposed to those who speak on TV or write in newspapers, it was never a problem."
Faith, he added, would help him tackle "the Christian responsibility" of fighting climate change, creating dialogue with China ("They are talking a lot about Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism"), understanding what makes a family strong, and even how to fight poverty.


Going beyond Mr. Blair's grandmother's anti-Catholocism, I highly recommend that you click on the news link above (under the title of the article) and search under 'politics', 'religion' and "Tony Blair' to read the ABSOLUTELY HORRIFIC ANTI-CATHOLIC comments left by British commentors on this article. Ignorance.....sheer and utter ignorance about the Catholic Church prevail in England!

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