Mary Did You Know?

Hat Tip: NCRegister.com



Source: Apostleship of Prayer

New Benedict XVI Holy Land Travel Blog

There is a new blog specifically associated with Pope Benedict XVI's trip to the Holy Land. For those who want up to date exclusive news regarding the Holy Father's every important apostolic journey I urge you to access it or peruse it regularly.

Click here for the Pope Benedict in Israel blog.

Moreover, their associated site, Catholic Friends of Israel, also disseminates pertinent information in relation to the Holy See and the great state of Israel.

As such, read the Bishop of Rome's itinerary below:

Friday, May 8 (Rome, Amman)

9:30 a.m. (3:30 a.m.) Departure from Rome's Leonardo da Vinci International Airport.

2:30 p.m. (7:30 a.m.) Arrival at Queen Alia International Airport in Amman. Welcoming ceremony. Speech by pope.

3:30 p.m. (8:30 a.m.) Visit to the Regina Pacis center in Amman. Speech by pope.

5:40 p.m. (10:40 a.m.) Courtesy visit to the king and queen of Jordan at the royal palace in Amman.

Saturday, May 9 (Amman, Mount Nebo, Madaba)

7:15 a.m. (12:15 a.m.) Private Mass in chapel of apostolic nunciature in Amman.

9:15 a.m. (2:15 a.m.) Visit to the Memorial Church of Moses at Mount Nebo. Speech by pope.

10:30 a.m. (3:30 a.m.) Pope blesses the cornerstone of the Latin Patriarchate's University of Madaba. Speech by pope.

11:30 a.m. (4:30 a.m.) Visit to the Hashemite Museum and the King Hussein Mosque in Amman.
11:45 a.m. (4:45 a.m.) Meeting with Muslim leaders, diplomats and rectors of the University of Jordan outside the mosque. Speech by pope.

5:30 p.m. (10:30 a.m.) Celebration of evening prayer in the Melkite Cathedral of St. George in Amman, attended by priests, men and women religious, seminarians and members of church movements. Speech by pope.

Sunday, May 10 (Amman, Bethany Beyond the Jordan)

10 a.m. (3 a.m.) Mass at Amman's soccer stadium. Homily by pope. Recitation of Angelus. Talk by pope.

12:45 p.m. (5:45 a.m.) Lunch with patriarchs, bishops and the papal entourage in the Latin-rite vicariate of Amman.

5:30 p.m. (10:30 a.m.) Visit to Bethany Beyond the Jordan, the site where Jesus was baptized.

6 p.m. (11 a.m.) Blessing of cornerstones for a Latin Catholic church and Melkite Catholic church at Bethany Beyond the Jordan. Speech by pope.

Monday, May 11 (Amman, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem)

7:30 a.m. (12:30 a.m.) Private Mass in chapel of apostolic nunciature in Amman.

10 a.m. (3 a.m.) Departure ceremony at Queen Alia International Airport. Speech by pope.

10:30 a.m. (3:30 a.m.) Departure for Israel.

11 a.m. (4 a.m.) Welcoming ceremony at Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv, Israel. Speech by pope.

4:15 p.m. (9:15 a.m.) Courtesy visit to President Shimon Peres in presidential palace in Jerusalem. Speech by pope.

5:45 p.m. (10:45 a.m.) Visit to Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial in Jerusalem. Speech by pope.

6:45 p.m. (11:45 a.m.) Meeting with organizations involved with interreligious dialogue at the Pontifical Institute Notre Dame of Jerusalem Center. Speech by pope.

Tuesday, May 12 (Jerusalem)

9 a.m. (2 a.m.) Visit to the Dome of the Rock and courtesy visit to the grand mufti. Speech by pope.

10 a.m. (3 a.m.) Visit to the Western Wall.

10:45 a.m. (3:45 a.m.) Courtesy visit to two chief rabbis of Jerusalem at the Hechal Shlomo center. Speech by pope.

11:50 a.m. (4:50 a.m.) Recitation of the "Regina Coeli" prayer at the chapel of the Cenacle together with the Catholic ordinaries of the Holy Land. Speech by pope.

12:30 p.m. (5:30 a.m.) Brief visit to the Latin Patriarchate's co-cathedral.

1 p.m. (6 a.m.) Lunch with the Catholic ordinaries of the Holy Land at the Latin Patriarchate.

4:30 p.m. (9:30 a.m.) Mass in the Josafat Valley. Homily by pope.

Wednesday, May 13 (Jerusalem, Bethlehem)

9 a.m. (2 a.m.) Welcome ceremony in the square in front of the presidential palace of Bethlehem. Speech by pope.

10 a.m. (3 a.m.) Mass in Manger Square. Homily by pope.

12:30 p.m. (5:30 a.m.) Lunch with the Catholic ordinaries and Franciscan community of the Holy Land and the papal entourage in the Casa Nova guesthouse.

3:30 p.m. (8:30 a.m.) Private visit to the grotto in the Church of the Nativity.

4:10 p.m. (9:10 a.m.) Visit to the Caritas Children's Hospital.

4:45 p.m. (9:45 a.m.) Visit to the Aida refugee camp. Speech by pope.

6 p.m. (11 a.m.) Courtesy visit to the president of the Palestinian Authority in the presidential palace.

6:40 p.m. (11:40 a.m.) Farewell ceremony in the courtyard of the presidential palace. Speech by pope.

Thursday, May 14 (Nazareth)

10 a.m. (3 a.m.) Mass on Mount Precipice in Nazareth. Homily by pope.

12:30 p.m. (5:30 a.m.) Lunch with the Catholic ordinaries and Franciscan community of the Holy Land and the papal entourage in the Franciscan convent.

3:50 p.m. (8:50 a.m.) Meeting with Israel's Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in the Franciscan convent.

4:30 p.m. (9:30 a.m.) Pope greets religious leaders of Galilee in the auditorium of the Basilica of the Annunciation. Speech by pope.

5 p.m. (10 a.m.) Visit to the Grotto of the Annunciation.

5:30 p.m. (10:30 a.m.) Celebration of evening prayer in the upper Basilica of the Annunciation in Nazareth attended by bishops, priests, men and women religious, seminarians, members of church movements and pastoral workers of Galilee. Speech by pope.

Friday, May 15 (Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Rome)

7:30 a.m. (12:30 a.m.) Private Mass in chapel of the apostolic delegation in Jerusalem.

9:15 a.m. (2:15 a.m.) Ecumenical meeting in the headquarters of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem. Speech by pope.

10:15 a.m. (3:15 a.m.) Visit to the Holy Sepulcher. Speech by pope.

11:10 a.m. (4:10 a.m.) Visit to the Armenian Apostolic patriarchate's Church of St. Jacob.

1:30 p.m. (6:30 a.m.) Farewell ceremony at the Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv. Speech by pope.

2 p.m. (7 a.m.) Departure from the Ben Gurion International Airport for Rome.

4:50 p.m. (10:50 a.m.) Arrival at Rome's Ciampino airport.

Newt's Catholic Conversion-Video

Hat Tip: Da Mihi Animas

Plus, The Weekly Standard denotes Newt's aggressive critique of the Obama Administration:

The U.S. is at greater risk of terrorist attack because of the Obama administration's actions, Newt Gingrich said Monday.

In a chat with POLITICO readers, Gingrich also called the administration’s response to the North Korean missile launch a “vivid demonstration of weakness in foreign policy.” He said Obama’s proposals for a resumption of nuclear arms limitation talks reflected “a dangerous fantasy that runs an enormous risk. ... Not since Jimmy Carter have we had an administration this out of touch with reality.”

“Dick Cheney is clearly right in saying that between the court decisions about terrorists and the administration actions, the United States is running greater risks of getting attacked than we were under President Bush,” said the former speaker of the House and Georgia congressman.

Palm Sunday & World Youth Day-UPDATE

Source: Vatican You Tube



Source: Apostleship of Prayer

Read or here the Holy Father's Sunday Angelus here.

Palm Sunday & World Youth Day

Photo Hat Tip: Catholic Fire

Hat Tip: A Catholic View

Remembering Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

April 4, 1968

Photo of Lorraine Hotel courtesy of BeastandBean Flickr



Hat Tip: Cristine at Infidel Bloggers Alliance


U2 - Pride (In The Name Of Love)
by huntylch

Hat Tip: Midnight Rider at Infidel Bloggers Alliance

Benedict XVI Champions JP2

Source: Apostleship of Prayer



Source: Vatican You Tube



Hat Tip: Orbis Catholicvs

Krupa JP2 Nexus?

Via Fox News the Polish American uber model, Joanna Krupa, is stating she is taking her cue from the late Pontiff in terms of nudity???

"I think worrying about going topless in a photo shoot or film is really ridiculous," Krupa told FOXNews.com in an exclusive interview. "And the fact is Pope John Paul [2] said, since we were born naked, it is art, and it's just showing a beautiful body that God created."

"I was born in Europe, and Europeans have a more casual, natural way of dealing with nudity," Krupa adds. "Interestingly enough, these days, you see nudity and toplessness in almost every critically acclaimed movie, and whenever I pick up a French Vogue, I see bare breasts, and French Vogue still sets the standards."

Photo: JUSTIN PRICE FOR JOANNAKRUPA.COM

I don't even know how to respond to that statement but it's Friday and it has been a long week...














See her Wikipedia entry here.

See her Myspace page here.

See her IMDB page here.

See her official website here.

See her You Tube page here.

Fr. Corapi-Socialism is "Inherently Evil"

In his weekly newsletter Father John Corapi, SOLT, reminds us that socialism is "inherent evil" and corrupt:

At a time when it surely seems that capitalism has run amuck and poised the world on the edge of economic ruin, the temptation is very strong for the pendulum to swing too far left into the failed and immoral territory of socialism. Historically pure socialism has never worked, philosophically it cannot work, and morally it is inherently evil (because it undermines the right of private property ownership, an inherent human right) and hence should not be given a chance to work.

The response might be that what we have at the moment isn’t pure socialism. The problem is that the moment is incredibly fluid and the direction toward a more radical form of socialism under way with frightening speed. Unless, of course, you believe the politicians and their appointees whose stock-in-trade has become lies, deception, and self-interest.

The common error is to think that socialism helps the poor and disenfranchised. As Pope Leo XIII pointed out as long ago as 1891 in his Encyclical “Rerum Novarum”, socialism does not help the poor. Rather, it reduces everyone to the same lowest common denominator of poverty and misery, while at the same time drying up the very sources of capital.

I recently prepared a half hour video presentation for the “Fullness of Truth” conference in Corpus Christi, Texas that speaks of the Church’s social teaching relative to socialism. This is a brief synthesis of some of the problems we face economically and how socialism is not the answer to these problems.

We are making this half hour DVD available to our customers free with a regular purchase of $50.00 or more for a limited time only.

God Bless You

Fr. John Corapi

Picture courtesy of Stoney River Lodge Bear Hunts

John Paul II the Great Pics

Along with the Apostle Peter, the first Pope, and Saint Pope Leo I the Great I truly believe that John Paul II belongs in that select company of Vicars of Christ!

Catholic Fire has a spellbiding dated post here of incredible Pope John Paul II the Great photos...

John Paul II-We Miss You

Hat Tip: A Catholic View

Today's remembrance in his native country of Poland is particularly special and poignant:

Krakow, Poland, Apr 2, 2009 / 03:50 am (CNA).- On Thursday Poland will mark the fourth anniversary of the death of Servant of God Pope John Paul II with prayers, poetry and music as a website advocates for his beatification. A web page has been created where readers can sign in and endorse the “Saint now” appeal launched in St. Peter’s Square on the day of the pontiff’s funeral.

“The page was not opened to pressure people or try to speed up the beatification process, but to send a tangible sign that the words ‘Saint now’ were not just uttered on the spur of the moment,” the page organizers said, according to SIR.

The appeal says “John Paul II exerts great influence on the moral attitudes of the Polish population and lives in our hearts as a saint.”

Signatures to the appeal are displayed under a short prayer thanking God for the gift of Pope John Paul II and asking that he be beatified soon, SIR reports.

The Polish-language website is located at http://www.beatyfikacjajp2.pl/

Also on Thursday, Pope Benedict XVI will preside at a Mass marking the anniversary of John Paul II. Young people from the diocese of Rome are particularly welcome at the ceremony as a preparation for World Youth Day, which is celebrated on the diocesan level on April 5.

As he does so eloquently & with such elan, Deacon Keith Fournier has a magnificent post today regarding the significance of the late, great Vicar of Christ:

CHESAPEAKE, Va. (Catholic Online) - It is hard to believe that it has been four years since the one whom I call with deep affection, “My Champion”, the beloved late Servant of God John Paul II went to the Fathers house. As I grow older it has become so clear that he is the man who has most influenced my life and shaped my thought. He is also the one who singlehandedly turned my whole plan for my own future upside down through the witness of his life and the wisdom of his writings.

Wednesday, his beloved successor, the Servant of the Servants of God, Pope Benedict XVI, told the Pilgrims gathered in Rome "With you, I pray for the gift of beatification," during the General Audience in Saint Peter's Square. To honor his memory I offer this article which I wrote on the day he died and I join my prayer to the chorus of millions “Sancto Subito”!:

“I am happy. You should be too. Let us pray together with joy” Pope John Paul II right before he died.

"I feel that my mission is about to begin, my mission to make God loved as I love him, to teach souls my little way ... the way of trust and absolute surrender ... I will spend heaven doing good on earth." St. Therese

"The words were just announced to a waiting world “Pope John Paul II has died.” The heart of that world has broken. The tears of the faithful will fill rivers. We will pray, and reflect on the life and example of this incredible gift, Pope John Paul II, for centuries to come. We had in our midst, John Paul the Great.

With millions of the faithful throughout the world, I watched and prayed throughout these painful days for our Pope. He showed us how to live for Jesus Christ. He showed us how to love, poured out for others. He showed us that suffering, joined to the Savior, can become a sign of God’s continued mercy and an occasion of grace. Then, he showed us how to die, not with fear, but with faith. Just this morning, he spoke these words to a friend at his bedside “I am happy. You should be too. Let us pray together with joy.”

It seems like only yesterday that he stepped out on to the balcony in St. Peters Square and proclaimed: "Be Not Afraid! Open up, no; swing wide the gates to Christ. Open up to his saving power the confines of the State, open up economic and political systems, the vast empires of culture, civilization and development…. Be not afraid!" He strode onto that platform with strength and vitality.

This mountain climbing Polish Pope was so filled with the love of God that it was contagious. A talented and gifted "man of letters", a playwright, a philosopher, an intellectual giant, a poet, but more importantly, a genuine human being with a heart that embraced the whole world, like the Heart of the One whom he represents on earth. He was truly the “Vicar of Christ”, representing the Lord, the King of Kings, for us all. We had him but a short time.

Now, he is home with the Lord. (Read entire commentary here)

Here's to You Mr. Jefferson

Hat Tip: Infidels are Cool

Remembering Pope John Paul II

UPDATE 1:

Sophia Loren writes the Vatican on behalf of the beatification and sainthood of Pope John Paul II. (H/T NCRegister.com)

ANSA.it reports:

(ANSA) - Rome, March 31 - Sophia Loren has lent her weight to the cause of Pope John Paul II reaching sainthood.

The screen star has written to the Vatican official who is putting the case for the late pope's beatification, one step from sainthood, Italian magazine Chi reports in an edition out Wednesday.

''The memory of John Paul II is jealously guarded in my heart,'' says the 74-year-old screen icon.

''It is a daily memory,'' she says, adding that she prayed at the pope's tomb ''to bear witness to my great admiration and devotion''.

Another Italian magazine, Oggi, reported two new alleged miracles Tuesday as part of the dossier being put together by the pope''s 'postulator', Msgr Slawomir Oder: a Polish boy with incurable kidney cancer who reportedly rose from his stretcher after visiting the pope's tomb; and a Texas woman said to have recovered from respiratory failure after being given up for dead.

Beatification is the final stage on the way to being declared a saint. It means that someone can be called 'Blessed' and that the person can be venerated by Catholics in the place where he or she lived, whereas a saint is venerated by the entire Church.

FAST TRACK.

John Paul was put on a beatification fast track after his death in 2005 but the Vatican has repeatedly denied reports that he will get to the pre-sainthood stage any time soon. Despite this, there has been speculation that a June 2009 date would be chosen to coincide with the 30th anniversary of John Paul's election as pope. (Read entire article)

Plus, if you are so inclined you can purchase the following DVD, with trailer below:

A unique 5-DVD collection that chronologically follows, step by step, Pope John Paul II’s life, including his childhood in Poland, his appointment as Pope, his most important foreign visits, and his last days. The last section is dedicated to his touching final farewell to the faithful in Rome. It is the extraordinary portrait of a Pope who spiritually guided millions of people, leaving an indelible mark in the recent history of mankind.


DVD 1. From Crakow to St. Peter’s chair
DVD 2. 1988-1991: The fall of the Berlin Wall
DVD 3. 1992-1995: Witness to Peace
DVD 4. 1996-1999: Towards the III Millennium
DVD 5. 2000-2005: From the Jubilee to the last goodbye

Reagan-Forever Relevant!

"You and I know and do not believe that life is so dear and peace so sweet as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery. If nothing in life is worth dying for, when did this begin -- just in the face of this enemy? Or should Moses have told the children of Israel to live in slavery under the pharaohs? Should Christ have refused the cross? Should the patriots at Concord Bridge have thrown down their guns and refused to fire the shot heard 'round the world? The martyrs of history were not fools, and our honored dead who gave their lives to stop the advance of the Nazis didn't die in vain. Where, then, is the road to peace? Well it's a simple answer after all.

"You and I have the courage to say to our enemies, "There is a price we will not pay." "There is a point beyond which they must not advance." And this -- this is the meaning in the phrase of Barry Goldwater's "peace through strength." Winston Churchill said, "The destiny of man is not measured by material computations. When great forces are on the move in the world, we learn we're spirits -- not animals." And he said, "There's something going on in time and space, and beyond time and space, which, whether we like it or not, spells duty."

"You and I have a rendezvous with destiny.

We'll preserve for our children this, the last best hope of man on earth, or we'll sentence them to take the last step into a thousand years of darkness."

Hat Tip: Bare Naked Islam

Cross-Posted: The Astute Bloggers