Mark P. Shea's Blog, page 1351

Irish Orangemen Still Exist

Shouting the gospel of No Popery to a rapidly de-Christianizing Ireland like disappearing dinosaurs baying for a mate across a desolate post-asteroid wasteland.

That's weird

The National Post up in Canada picked up my blog about despising not prophesying.

By the way, please note the big fat update at the bottom of that piece on the Register page. Turns out Akita ain't quite so approved as I thought.

Mary Kochan...

...remarks on the strange murderous hatred of babies that always attends a culture in the process of rejecting God.

A guilty people always hate the innocent.

Prayer Request

A reader writes:

I am asking for prayers for the repose of the soul of my aunt, C., who passed away suddenly earlier today. She lived in another state and we have not seen her since 1989; there were a lot of reasons for this, none of them particularly happy, but she did always send cards for every holiday and gifts at Christmas that were always a delight to open. I will not miss the material things, but what they represented: threads connecting me to a family member distanced from us by much more than geography. These were the avenues she preferred reaching out to us through. Knowing now I will not get another card for the Fourth of July or Halloween or Christmas makes me sad indeed.

I also ask for prayers for her children, her husband in the coming days and weeks.

Prayers would especially be appreciated for my mother and grandmother, who are feeling the deep pang of losing a sister and a daughter. They are inconsolable and I cannot mend their broken hearts, so I ask God to do it for me.

Father, hear our prayer through your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Mother Mary, pray for all involved in this situation, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Colleen...

...from Catholic Parents OnLine writes:

Yesterday I received a phone call from a friend (I won't mention names) whose story must be told!

Pope John Paul II said we are living in a "Culture of Death" and truly this is a story about a kind of courage that is seldom seen. It's a testimony of a Catholic husband and wife with beautiful children who believe in the sanctity of human life, so much so, that the husband was suspended from his construction job because he refused to work on the new Planned Parenthood building. Here is the story in the words of the wife/mother:

[My husband] was asked to go to build the new Planned Parenthood building in our town. He refused and was given a week off (we believe this was punitive) of work. I need you to pray for the people that are working on this building because they think they are doing a good thing or because they think they have no choice. [My husband's] boss told him "You know, I have every right to fire you because of your refusal to work on this?" [My husband] said "yes". He's not being fired, but depending on if they want to make an example of him or not, he could very well be fired. This is the company and the work that my husband has been doing for more than 15 years . He is very good at doing what he does and I don't believe he will be fired but it's pretty scary these days. A week off of work is very bad, financially, but the lessons for the kids are a great reward, as is finding out who the people are around you that support you and may even be changed for the good by your stance! Share [My husband's] story (don't use his name or his company name, we don't want to embarrass them in case they have a change of heart) and please pray for him to stay strong and not worry.

Please pray for this family and pass the story on, perhaps it will give courage and hope to others in this situation!

Father, hear the prayer of your children and defend this man for taking a stand of conscience. Mother Mary, pray for them! We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen!

Here's a healthy development

Adoration U!

Despise Not Prophesying

In which I propose not ignoring the message of approved apparitions given the track record of success in ignoring Our Lady of Fatima.

No. It's not obligatory. Nor is it public revelation. Neither is looking both ways before crossing the street or not playing in traffic. Still, it looks like a wise idea.

554 Followers!

Today, my minions, toadies, and suckups, here is a depressing look at what my native Seattle has to look forward to when the Seattle fault goes:



As my colleague in Evil, Sauron, has discovered, building your Dark Tower out of obsidian is inadvisable if you lose track of those pesky One Rings. But, of course, I AM INVINCIBLE!

That is all!

A reader writes:

I have a prayer request of you and your readers. I have a disability that I've had all my life, but in recent years I've developed some additional health problems that are really kicking my fanny right now. These problems are messy, awkward and uncomfortable. My doctor is recommending tests next week, and I'm nervous about what the results may show. This is more than I can handle by myself. I know I should face these trials with faith in Our Lord, but yesterday I found myself yelling and screaming and cussing. One thing after another went wrong. I felt completely overwhelmed. I ask for the grace to face whatever comes with courage and real trust in the Christ I say I believe in. I feel like Peter who could walk on water as long as he stayed focused on Christ but began to sink as soon as he looked away at the turbulent sea and his fears.

Father, hear the prayer of your son, that he may be helped through this trial with the grace you promise and that he wishes to receive. Give him courage and strength and help him to find healing in the grace that is sufficient for him as it was for Paul in his affliction. Mother Mary and St. Paul, pray for him and for his caregivers and those who love him. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

A rather dissenting view...

...on how great and safe nuclear power is. I have to say I haven't been terribly impressed on the naked and bald-faced lies the Japanese government and nuke authorities have been telling as the reactor situation has worsened. The "Everything is Fine! Nothing to Worry About!" narrative that has accompanied images of explosions and expressions of grave concern from everybody who is not paid to emit Happy Talk just cements the conviction that these people can't be trusted and prompts me to wonder if our own people can be trusted either.