You say Happy Holy Days...!

Ok, it is a joyful season, so let's not get mad and upset when people , especially when those well trained clerks at the busy stores greet you with a "Happy Holidays"...At those moments try to CHEERFULLY and LOVINGLY respond this way: "Amen, same to you, Have Very Happy Holy Days ",-and think: The Immaculate Conception, Christmas, The Holy Family, Feast of our Lady, Epiphany of the Lord, The Presentation, Baptism of the Lord etc...all these Holy Days fall within the Advent and Christmas Season....so smile , be happy about these Holy Days and remember: they say it but those with an agenda who have trained them think they are not saying it!  meanwhile, Have a Happy and Blessed  Advent Season!

Rest in my wounds ......

Today is Wednesday....have a happy one....As we recite the Holy Rosary today we meditate upon the five Glorious mysteries of Christ... (Resurrection of Jesus, Ascension into Heaven, The Descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, The Assumption into Heaven of Blessed Mother Mary both in Body and Soul and the Coronation of Our Lady as Queen of Heaven and Earth...)Pondering upon them, entering those mysteries is so peaceful and joyful...I love those mysteries and always look forward to meditate upon them as we pray, but I think the Lord wants me to share this below:....Before he was Resurrected and Ascended into Heaven, where He is seated at the right hand of God the Father, from where he will come again, He wants people to know that through Jesus Christ, God became flesh and dwelt among us ...he did so out of LOVE for Humanity, his creatures which He knows all by name before we were born....and He died on the Cross for our sake and for our salvation and he knows of every pain and suffering we are all going through....He knows of our troubles, tribulations and worries and he is inviting every one of us to REST IN HIS WOUNDS and to CONSOLE HIS SACRED HEART.... May God bless you all and have a Glorious Wednesday....
Love
Merita B-McC

Offer it up....

This is for women in general and mothers especially: Please do not despair, ever,....you do serve others constantly...be joyful and happy knowing that very little job you tackle, every task you complete, regardless of time, effort or energy you put in it, because you put true love in it, that is taken into account as a service for the good of others.. you just have to learn to offer it up for a certain person or intention..vocalize it, make it known who are you offering it up and the fountain of mercy and consolation that steams from that sincere offering will come to you in abundance and it is so rewarding.... God bless you all ! 

Are we religious and why...

I just thought to share this before heading out....we are born with a design in our hearts to worship SOMEONE. Revelation (OUT OF LOVE) has taken place in the Old Testament and the Incarnation, Crucifixion,Passion, Death and Resurrection of Christ sealed the Salvation history....It is proclaimed and affirmed that the Salvation is within the reach of the Church that Christ founded upon the ROCK....yet many of us think and behave as this has never been brought about to Humanity.... except we keep one trait, we behave religiously ...but......think about it .....YES WE DO.....and YES WE CAN behave religiously (as to worship a higher power) because we are designed to worship...Now the question is who is the god each and every one of us worship and why...many worship sports,, some are so crazy about academia or arts, a lot worship power and sex, a lot love alcohol and drugs, many love their body, ego and pride, a lot of people are fond of food, hence we have gluttony, some fall into self-pity to the point of despair ... ..... Stop for a second and think: Who am I worshiping today and ....are these "high powers" the ones who would finally save my soul ....?

Happy Feast Day of St."Padre" Pio

Taken from EWTN.COM

Highlights Of His Life 25 May 1887. Born in Pietrelcina, Benevento, Italy of Grazio "Orazio" Mario Forgione (1860-1946) and Maria Giuseppa de Nunzio Forgione (1859-1929). Padre Pio's Family Home 26 May 1887. Baptized Francesco Forgione. 27 September 1899. Confirmation. 22 January 1903. Took the Habit of the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin (age 15), entering the novitiate and taking the name Pio. Until priestly ordination he would be called Fra. (Fratello/Br.) Pio. 22 January 1904. Made his First Profession of the Evangelical Counsels of Poverty, Chastity and Obedience. 1907. After three years of temporary profession he pronounced his final vows. 10 August 1910. Ordained to the priesthood in the chapel of the Archbishop of Benevento. September 1910. Received the Stigmata visibly for a short time. He begged God to take them away. He confided it only to his spiritual director. November 1911. Supernatural phenomenon came to the attention of his superiors when he was observed in ecstasy. 5-7 August 1918. Transverberation of the heart (the phenomenon of the wounding of the heart indicating the union of love with God). 20 September 1918. Received the Visible Stigmata, which would last for 50 years, while praying after Mass in the choir loft of the (old) Church of Our Lady of Grace, next to the Friary. Our Lady of Grace 1919. Rumors that the Church would transfer the local saint began to agitate the populace of San Giovanni. 2 June 1922. Orders of the Holy Office (today the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith) began to restrict the public's access to Padre Pio. 1924-1931. Various statements of the Holy See deny the supernaturality of Padre Pio's phenomena. 9 June 1931 (Feast of Corpus Christi). Padre Pio ordered by the Holy See to desist from all activities except the celebration of the Mass, which was to be in private. Early 1933. Pope Pius XI orders the Holy Office to reverse its ban on the public celebration of Mass, saying "I have not been badly disposed toward Padre Pio, but I have been badly informed." 1934. Padre's Pio faculties are progressively restored. First the confessions of men are allowed (25 March 1934) and then of women. (12 May 1934). 23 September 1968. At 2:30 a.m. he died in his cell. As he had foretold he lived sickly but died healthy, with the stigmata healed. 26 September 1968. Buried in the crypt prepared for him in the Church of Our Lady of Grace. Back The Man  -  The Franciscan  -  The Priest  The Mystic  -  The Saint  -  Multimedia

Bl.Pope John Paul II points Albanians towards their own daughter and sister- ...watch the video!

Bl.Pope John Paul II addresses the Albanian Nation and points them to their own daughter, the wonderful and only Mother Teresa.(now blessed also :-)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MmgVsMy2zJk

Take up the Cross! Do not be afraid!

1 March 2013

At this time, as the month of March begins and the Spring is about to come, the History is being made. The Catholic Church is without a Pope, an Interregnum time is on, the world is watching the Catholic Church and many , who are not catholics do get engaged in conversations and do give opinions according to their formation and according to their understanding of our Faith. Many may be simply sympathetic, some may be sceptic, but a lot of people could even be insulting and humiliating towards our Church, our Faith and the Clergy. Just read the press or watch the secular media and you get the gist of it. But, please dear friends, rejoice and do not despair. The fact that they are engaged into the Conversation, even with bitter words, is a sign that their souls thirst to know the Truth, according to the Natural Law, they are designed to know the Truth but separated from it from the Fall and the consequences of Concupiscence. Remember, friends, what the Sacramental and Actual Grace has done in the souls of the Faithful(read the yield of the Fruits of the Holy Spirit) , that is lacking in many thirsting souls because of willful rejection. So as Lent is continuing, please keep in your prayers all the people and be CHARITABLE. Engage and lovingly explain our Faith. You never know what a smile or a kind word could bring about. Pray to give up Pride, Donate to give up unnecessary Possessions and Sacrifice to give up some Pleasures so we can better serve the Lord and his World. Take up the Cross!!! Do not be afraid! Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

Free Will and Grace-reflections after a talk

Last night, February 7th 2013,  we attended Dr.William Marshner's talk on "Grace and Free Will " at the Institute of Catholic Culture. He explained the very logical and philosophical presentation on the basis of St.Augustine's writings /teachings and analyzed (among other things) John Calvin's Predestination Theories...It was mind blowing. I had thought Islam only , excludes Free Will to the extend that everything is " known or written" by God and nothing can change it .... no effort on human side can change the "God written" destiny.......In fact Calvin had some similar ideas...very interesting I thought... John Calvin’s interpretation of predestination states that not only does God govern all events, but he also has already determined who will be saved, and who will be damned. Dr, Marshner, using St.Augustine's writings explained the difference and argued how Free Will makes the destiny happen. God KNOWS (there is no time in God) what will happen to all, but he always makes Grace and other means available to people , so whoever engages his action and receives the Grace available and furthermore let Grace work in them, in few words let God be the center and in charge of their lives, they are then the governed and the saved by God... . So while God knows our destiny, we DON't. So, why then assume the worst while we can WILL and Act upon it (wanting to happen and will it) and make room for Grace to dwell in us... ? See the difference ....? OUR OWN CHOOSING makes a difference ...... To those who reject God's Available Grace and fall into despair, by not engaging the Free Will to accept Grace well.....God may then say: "be my guest...."
There is Mercy but it also that goes hand in hand with Justice...

Take care friends, and dont waste time worrying, Let God lead you....

What does it really mean when people say: "This is the teaching of the Catholic Church?

Sometimes one might notice that someone is not too comfortable with what we discuss and the points we raise on certain issues, which could include social, political or morals. Furthermore they get upset and do not like the idea that these things are said to be taught by the Catholic Church and reject them simply by saying that they are not Catholics and thus have no obligation to do what the Catholic Church teaches. May I please clarify what is meant by declaring the teaching of the Church: The Catholic Church proclaims the Truth as it was given to her by Jesus Christ. The Church has a duty to proclaim and propose to the world what Christ gave her so she can help the children of God(all people) to be saved for Eternity. Hence thee Church doesn't IMPOSE its teachings, the CHURCH only PROPOSES what she has been given to use for the sake of God's Love for his people. The people then, catholic or not, are to make the individual judgments and act and live their lives as they deem right.(We see a lot of actions out there...whether is in line with the teaching or in opposition to it)...When one says the consequences of the opposition of these teachings are of spiritual and eternal nature and value, it is then when the hearts are restless and tricked.... hence the tensions flare ..... No one wants flares, but the flares are ignited from withing the soul itself, the soul whose faculties are not in proper order with the Natural Law's design( the order of their original creation). The good news is that when we see anger, zest and resentment which shows up as a disagreement, it is then the time to LOVE more, to PRAY more and SACRIFICE more for those beautiful searching and wondering souls. Love you all, Merita B.McC

"Urim" and "Thummim"--Perhaps the Albanian language has the answer to the meaning of these words?

By Merita B.McCormack
Washington DC 
January 31-st 2013

On "Urim" and "Thummim" I am going to have a pure speculation but read me carefully and those who are familiar with Scripture correct me if I am wrong or perhaps have a better  explanation.

Reading the book of Leviticus 8:1-10. It is about the ordination of Aaron and his sons. As we all know  of the Old Testament conceals the New Testament , which on the other side  reveals the Old (Testament)..

Okay, now.....when you read  the words "Urim and Thummim " in Albanian language immediately you know what these words mean. They have some great  meaning. "Urim" in Albanian  means a "Blessing" and "Thummim" (Thumbim)" means a "Piercing"(by a thorn especially).. 

Now for those Albanians who are familiar with the Scripture and the subject,please don't tell me that these words don't strike right home...My God, they do, and furthermore , in both Leviticus 8 and Exodus 28 (where these words are used) , in the notes it says that the meaning of these (Hebrew) words and the exact  nature of the objects so designated are uncertain. tehy were apparently lots of some kind which were drawn or cast by the priest to ascertain God's decision in doubtful matters. hence the burse in which they are kept was called the "breastpiece  of decision" .

 "in this breastpiece of decision you shall put the urim and Thummim that they may be over Aaron 's heart whenever he enters the presence of the Lord" (Ex 28 :30)..

and this was to be done for every ordained priest.....these lots are put over the breatpiece over the heart of the priest....I am jumping up and down...I didn't make any new discovery I am sure..... but I may have some sort of an  answer for the scholars.....well at least so I desire :-) ...

regardless of what the relation could be,  it is so very true the Albanian language has the meaning of these words   as "Blessing" and "Piercing" ...and the object to be covered with these lots  in this case is the Heart...Perhaps is a concealed reference to the Sacred Heart of Jesus?

Albanian Linguists , scholars, Doctors of Divinity where are you?!
Perhaps if we could properly read the bible  we could learn something and nourish our souls....but one never knows what treaures could be hidden there :-) 
 Oh well,  my friend, James Wm. Pandeli knows what I mean in this case !!

Mother Teresa, pray for us!

I had an interesting occurrence, which I would like to share with you. Few weeks  ago, somewhere in  cyberspace, an Albanian (of West) friend of mine, whose academic work I greatly respect and for whose soul I greatly care,  purported some  of Blessed Mother Teresa's words. She did so by providing an out of context sentence in Albanian, without citing the author on  a social issue, hence providing  a confusing  e-feed for many, stipulating that Mother Teresa was a sadist.

The majority of  my friend’s readers, as I have come to know, are not familiar at all with the Catechism or the  teachings of the Catholic  Church on certain issues, especially on human suffering and its meaning. These are important elements of knowledge, as many know, for one to grasp and comprehend that, when some one states something like: "be happy and  accept the state of life you are in,  as that is for your good and for the world’s greater good"-  is a good thing, that person (in this case Mother Teresa)  has some sound reason behind it.  She knows something we don’t know. In such cases we  should research and find out where it springs from, and not just jump into conclusions.

As I entered the e-conversation, I left soon, when I noticed that a couple of people, including the post's author,  which I believe  to be very well educated in certain fields of Liberal Arts/Science, all publicly declared Atheists, were belittling and mocking me  personally. So, figuring that the conversation was really about a stipulation and gossip, not real substance, I  stayed away from that particular conversation, seeing no point  in continuing or arguing, as the conversation about the mountain(mother Teresa), was becoming a conversation about a grain of sand(personal egos ).

But when I noticed that they were making sure  to twist  Mother Teresa’s statements on poverty and discredit her, mock her and insult her , that was hurting me to the core as it was based on false premises. 

Since then, I have been praying what to do about it. I prayed for the conversion of hearts, such as those of the respected human persons  involved in the mockery.  I also  prayed about peace in my heart and to be able to forgive. I wanted to have and keep my  peace but also to keep my "ducks in a row ", when one part of me felt insulted by the men of quite an age and I felt tempted to be angry. I asked for God 's Mercy and Grace.  Then, Padre Pio reminded me when a soul is in temptation (and resists it) , it  is pleasing to the Lord....and hence I received the necessary Sacraments, thank God!

I have also been asking Mother Teresa's intercession to pray for these men and women who insult her words and deeds often,  and as it appears, she is smiling down from Heaven. Low and behold, four times today, within  a ten minutes of time frame, I either received a message, or heard on the national radio  marvelous quotes from Mother Teresa or someone describing  her miraculous deeds and how the nations sang her praises!  Our  Blessed Mother Teresa keeps smiling when people mock her  up there(in heaven) from down here (earth). The praising of Mother Teresa (in my 10 minutes of this story ) came from NON-ALBANIANS. Many  of the people who spoke highly of her, are  lay people, only one is a religious leader of a certain Apostolate/Ministry, all spreading the Gospel and helping people throughout the world, making a real good change, following in Mother Teresa’s  foot-steps. What  do (some )Albanians do? They mock her! I’m sure many have the answer and know why. So, friends, I kindly  ask to please pray for my Atheists friends’ soul, especially for  my Albanian Atheists friends living now in the West,  as not only a nation's unity (Albanian nation) is at stake, but some souls' eternity is also in jeopardy. Many of us (Albanians) are not only a victim of  Communism at home, but sadly  also have been taken advantage of by the Secularism and Moral Relativism in the West. The cracks are wider for such  souls to fall in these circumstances ... There is a double favorable environment for the vice to thrive and there is a double risk of loosing for eternity such vulnerable souls... God bless you and thank you!