'The Bible' is a History Channel Hit

The following excerpt is from The Clicker

By Drusilla Moorhouse, TODAY contributor

"The Bible" was a television ratings miracle when the History Channel miniseries premiered on Sunday (March 3, 2013).

With 13.1 million tuning in to the five-part docudrama's debut, "The Bible" smote the competition -- including the networks -- and became cable's most-watched program this year.

"Today, more people are discussing God's chosen people -- Moses and Abraham -- in one day than ever before," said Mark Burnett and his wife and producing partner Roma Downey in a History Channel statement.

But the über-producer isn't taking all the credit for "The Bible's" miraculous success.

"The hand of God was on this," Burnett told EW. "The edit came together perfectly, the actors came together perfectly, it just comes to life."

Read More: The Bible

Priorities for Next Pope: Successful Communication

News Story from RomeReports.com

Having a good message, is no longer enough. In today's world, it's essential to communicate it clearly. The Vatican has long perceived that communication is an ongoing issue, in which it needs to raise its game.

One of the last measures Benedict XVI took was hiring American journalist Greg Burke as the Vatican's media adviser, a formal role supervised by the Secretariat of State

GREG BURKE
Vatican Communications Adviser

“Things move very slow in the Vatican. I don't think we are totally up to date. But certainty in recent months, we saw the Pope go on Twitter, and I think that was positive. We saw also a hub, news.va. There had been a lot of criticism the Vatican had a website early on, but it's very slow to change. But the hub of news.va, bringing many of the Vatican news sources together, it's been very positive.”

To dialogue with society, outreach is essential. The Vatican recognized it and increased its online presence, as well as on social networks and mobile devices. But, there's one more thing the Vatican improve upon.

GREG BURKE
Vatican Communications Adviser

“I think we can learn from things that work. We can learn from things that work in other Church institutions, in local churches and we can learn from other institutions. I always use an example that might be slightly heretical, but of the UN World Food Program. They have a great website, they offer video, the have all their spokespeople, their names, the faces, the emails, the cells phone. And I thinks that's a very good kind of example.”

Communication of an international institution like the Church will pose a great challenge for whoever takes over the @Pontifex Twitter account.

Prayer to Our Lady of Mental Peace

Our Lady of Mental Peace by Stephen B. Whatley

New painting released by artist Stephen B Whatley | Flickr.com

A new 2013 tribute to the Blessed Virgin Mary by expressionist artist Stephen B. Whatley; inspired by a prayer to Our Lady of Mental Peace (below) from the prayer book, The Illustrated Book of Mary (2010, William J. Hirten Co., RI, USA).

O Lady of Mental Peace,
Mother of Tranquility
and Mother of Hope,
look upon me in this time
of my weakness and unrest.
Teach my searching heart
to know that God's Love
for me is unchanging and
unchangeable, and, that
true human love can only
begin and grow by touching
His Love.

Let your gentle Peace -
which this world cannot give
- be always with me.
And, help me to bring this
same Peace into the lives
of others.

Our Lady of Mental Peace,
- Pray for me!

***

Our Lady of Mental Peace - Pastel on paper
Created on March 3, 2013
23.4 x 16.5in

To order prints from the artist, please visit his website at www.stephenbwhatley.com

THE ROSARY CHAPLET OF OUR LADY'S TEARS

YouTube Video on Praying the Chaplet

The following excerpt regarding the origin of the chaplet is from CatholicTradition.com:

Next to the Most Precious Blood of Jesus there is nothing more touching and effective than the tears of our heavenly Mother! How many tears she shed on the Way of the Cross and when she stood beneath the Cross! She shed bitter tears in reparation for the many insults her Divine Son then and which He would receive in the future. She wept bitter tears for the many souls who would not submit to the Commandments of God, and so would be lost forever.

 

This rosary or chaplet was revealed in 1929 and 1930 by Our Lord and His most holy Mother to Sister Amalia in Campina, Brazil, and was confirmed as supernatural by Bishop Campos Baretto.
 

Our Lords words to Sister Amalia on November 8, 1929 were:

 

"My daughter, whatever I am asked through the tears of My Mother, I shall give lovingly."

On March 8, 1930 the most Pure Mother stated:

 

"Through this rosary the devil will be subdued and the power of Hell will be destroyed. Prepare yourself for this great combat."

 

From CatholicExchange.com:

 

The sorrows used for meditation are also known as the seven sorrows of Mary

• the prophecy of Simeon;
• the flight into Egypt;
• the loss of the Child Jesus in the Temple;
• the meeting of Mary and Jesus as he carried His Cross;
• the Crucifixion; the striking of Jesus with the lance;
• Mary receiving the body of Jesus in her arms; and
• the Body of Jesus being placed in the tomb.

 

Read more: The Power of Tears

Our Lady of Medjugorje's Monthly Message to Mirjana Soldo

Cross of Light, Mine Hill, NJ - Photo by Loci B. Lenar

Medjugorje Today - News Agency Reporting on the Virgin Mary's Apparitions in Medjugorje

Our Lady's March 2, 2013 Message to Mirjana Dragicevic-Soldo

"Dear children! Anew, in a motherly way, I am calling you not to be of a hard heart. Do not shut your eyes to the warnings which the Heavenly Father sends to you out of love. Do you love Him above all else? Do you repent for having often forgotten that the Heavenly Father, out of His great love, sent his Son to redeem us by the Cross? Do you repent for not yet having accepted the message? My children, do not resist the love of my Son. Do not resist hope and peace. Along with your prayer and fasting, by His cross, my Son will cast away the darkness that wants to surround you and come to rule over you. He will give you the strength for a new life. Living it according to my Son, you will be a blessing and a hope to all those sinners who wander in the darkness of sin. My children, keep vigil. I, as a mother, am keeping vigil with you. I am especially praying and watching over those whom my Son called to be light-bearers and carriers of hope for you – for your shepherds. Thank you."

Emotion fills St. Peter's Square: Benedict XVI flies overhead as he leaves Vatican

News from RomeReports.com

March 1, 2013. (Romereports.com) Hundreds of emotional people filled St. Peter's Square to watch the Pope emeritus' departure from the Vatican. It was their last chance to see Benedict XVI as he boarded the white helicopter that took him through across the skyes of Rome, and to Castel Gandolfo.

Read More: Benedict XVI

Routine Surgery Opens Door to Heaven

From CBN TV

Multiple organ failure during a routine kidney stone removal put Dean Braxton's life in the balance and gave him a glimpse of the afterlife and Jesus.

Documentary Sheds New Light on Our Lady of Guadalupe Miracle

Photo by Loci B. Lenar

The following excerpt is from the NCRegister:

By Celeste Behe, Register Correspondent

A barren hillside in Mexico. A humble peasant named Juan Diego. A beautiful lady. A painted tilma.

The facts surrounding the story of Our Lady of Guadalupe are known to most informed Catholics. Or are they?

 

"Ask just about any educated Catholic where Guadalupe is, and the answer you’re likely to get is ‘Mexico,’" says movie director and producer Tim Watkins. "But, in fact, Guadalupe is in Spain."

It’s a surprising piece of information, one of many revealed in the fascinating documentary The Blood and the Rose.

 

"There are numerous connections between certain events that took place in both the Holy Land and in Europe and the events which led up to Our Lady’s miraculous appearance in the New World," says Watkins. "Their convergence, more than 15 centuries in the making, was guided by the hand of divine Providence."

 

The feature-length documentary — which brings together the talents of executive producer Steve McEveety (The Passion of the Christ) and actor Eduardo Verastegui (Bella) — includes on-location interviews with experts in the fields of science, history and theology.

Their findings help to recount the "untold" part of the Guadalupe story, which, says Watkins, "doesn’t end with Juan Diego."

 

"The movie really conveys much more than the Guadalupe story," agrees Raymond Arroyo, creator and host of EWTN’s The World Over and guest speaker at the Jan. 24 premiere screening of the documentary.

Referring to the image of Guadalupe, he says that "any image that shows up 500 years after its premiere on an air freshener or a rapper’s bicep is an image firmly ensconced in the popular imagination."

 

But, as Watkins observes, key elements of the miraculous image of Our Lady of Guadalupe are usually missing from these reproductions. "This is no ordinary icon that we can just alter at will to suit different applications and tastes," he says. "God himself is the artist, and he conveys in the image numerous messages and proofs that demonstrate that it is nothing less than his word."

 

The film sheds light on many of these elements, including the pattern on Our Lady’s garment.

Read more: Documentary of  Lady of Guadalupe

Pope's last Angelus: I will not abandon the Church. I will serve in a different way

News from RomeReports.com

It was the last time that Benedict XVI appeared before his studio window to lead the Angelus as Pope. It's estimated that about 200,000 pilgrims gathered in St. Peter's Square to thank the Pope for his eight year Pontificate.

Some came with banners to thank the Pope and be part of history. With only days left as Pope, Benedict XVI clearly spoke about his retirement. In Italian he said, God is asking me to serve the Church in a way that's more appropriate for my age and strength.

BENEDICT XVI
“The Lord is calling me 'out to the mountain' to devote more time to prayer and meditation, but this does not mean I'm abandoning the Church. In fact, if God is asking this of me, it's precisely to continue serving the Church with the same dedication and love with which I have served so far, but in a way that's more suited for my age and strength.”

The Pope's Angelus was repeatedly interrupted by applause and cheers. Before completing the last Angelus of his Pontificate, the Pope said he will always be close to the Church and its people.

BENEDICT XVI
“Thank you, I will always be near you.”

This Angelus was the Pope's first public appearance, following a spiritual retreat which ended on Saturday. On Monday he will meet with Cardinals of the Roman Curia and on Wednesday, he will celebrate his last General Audience in St. Peter's Square.

Rachel Lozano's recovery from cancer could be labeled a miracle by the Vatican

Rachel Lozano

The following excerpt is from KSDK.com

By Art Holliday

ST. LOUIS (KSDK) - "Whether the church says it or was or not, I believe it was a miracle."

That "M" word: miracle. During the nine years she's been cancer free, Rachel Lozano has used that word a lot, explaining over and over again why she's still among the living.

"Sometimes it's a little overwhelming at times," said Lozano. "I think of this time as my extra years on earth."

Most of Rachel's high school years at St. Joseph's Academy were spent fighting a rare and sometimes fatal form of cancer, Askin's tumor. She had multiple surgeries and underwent a bone marrow transplant. Chemotherapy claimed her hair, but she whimsically turned her bald head into a canvas for colorful artwork. In her high school graduation photo, she was smiling brightly, even though she was fighting for her life.

"It was strange. I actually had a peacefulness when I would think and pray about it," said Lozano. "I didn't know what that peacefulness meant. I didn't know if that meant dying or that meant living."

When the cancer appeared for the third time, the doctors delivered the worst news possible.

"That I pretty much had a few weeks to live at the most, depending on which organ was hit first, because the tumor recurred between my heart, lung, and spine."

During one last surgery to remove cancer, Rachel Lozano's doctors were shocked to find no cancerous tissue. The cancer was gone.

A 2000 photograph shows Lozano at the gravesite of Father William Chaminade, founder of the Marianists in 1817. She had flown to Rome to attend a ceremony honoring Father Chaminade. Feeling a strong connection to the priest, Lozano prayed to Chaminade to cure her cancer.

"He also overcame a lot of obstacles in his life and never gave up hope," said Lozano. "I see the parallels in our lives that way."

Eventually Rachel Lozano's recovery was declared to be a miracle by the St. Louis Archdiocese and the investigation was passed along to the Vatican. If the Vatican certifies that Lozano's case is a miracle, it would be the second miracle attributed to Father Chaminade, and the Pope could declare Chaminade a saint. She doesn't know if or when that will happen.

Read More: Rachel Lozano

Overcoming Racial Hate with Love

The video and following excerpt is from CBN TV

Sisters Barbara Shores and Helen Shores Lee remember growing up in Alabama during the turbulent Civil Rights era.

NBC: A violent and gory mocking of Jesus

The following news bulletin and excerpt is published on the site of American Family Association - afa.net

This past weekend, NBC's "Saturday Night Live" aired an extremely violent and gory segment mocking Jesus Christ…just for laughs. And, it's available now online.

 

The segment is a fake movie trailer depicting ... Jesus returning to get revenge. It's called, "Djesus Uncrossed." Thanks to the funding by mainstream advertisers, NBC is painting Jesus as a revengeful murderer bent on killing the Romans who crucified Him.

 

You can watch the skit here, but be aware you will be disgusted at the mockery.

 

TAKE ACTION

 

Kmart, Sears and J.C. Penney have the responsibility to demand their brands not support programs that mock people of faith.

 

Sears, Kmart and J.C. Penney are underwriting this attack on the Christian faith on NBC network. Let them know you are offended.

 

Visit the following link to Sign the Petition:
http://secure.afa.net/afa/activism/SignPetition.asp?id=2010

 

Read More: Take Action! 

Lent at the End of an Age

Photograph by Loci B. Lenar

The following excerpt is from TheCatholicThing.org

By Bevil Bramell, OMI

We are at the end of an age. And that is a fact that must loom large in the inventory of our Christian lives, for which we are all individually responsible. The priest or bishop or professor who misled us in college will not be with us at the judgment seat. Neither will “the culture” or the media. Lent is the suitable time to put aside all excuses and to reflect on larger concerns, which are becoming more acute with each passing year.

The “take-out” model of parishes – where you drop in to church for the sacraments and little else – has left generations of U.S. Catholics poorly informed and largely unprepared for a culture that no longer supports life, basic faith, truth, or morality. So for Catholics, this is the question: how do I carve out my life in a world that constantly contradicts what I believe so that I become a saint?

 

Read More: Lent at the End of an Age

Wojtyla for saint: A miracle has been presented to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints

The following excerpt is from the Vatican Insider:

BY ANDREA TORNIELLI

There is a presumed miracle that has been attributed to the intercession of John Paul II. The Postulator of the Cause, Mgr. Slawomir Oder presented this inexplicable case of healing to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints headed by Cardinal Angelo Amato, a month ago. The dossier is now in the hands of the medical commission. It all took place in the utmost secrecy and confidentiality. But Amato himself and the Archbishop of Cracow, Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz - who had been Pope Wojtyla’s personal secretary and a big promoter of his canonization – had already discussed this three weeks ago. The Polish pope’s “inner circle” therefore hoped Wojtyla would receive the title of Saint by 2013.

A reliable source has confirmed to Vatican Insider that a step forward has been made, even if the alleged healing has not yet been examined by the Congregation’s medical commission, headed by Dr. Patrizio Polisca, Benedict XVI’s personal doctor. As is known, in order for a beatification to take place, the Catholic Church needs to guarantee and recognise a miracle attributed to the intercession of the candidate for sainthood and this miracle needs to have occurred after the death of the person who performed it. A second miracle needs to be confirmed in order to move up a step from beatification to canonization, an act proclaimed by the Pope, which implies infallibility and makes the worship of a saint universal. The second miracle must have been performed after the individual’s beatification. In the case of Wojtyla, it took place after the ceremony on 1 May 2011 in the presence of a huge crowd.

It is now up to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints to assess the case and decide whether the case presented has the necessary attributes for the medical commission – composed of various specialists called to give their thoughts on the scientific inexplicability of the healing - to approve it.

Wojtyla was beatified for having healed a French nun, Sister Simon Pierre, who worked in a hospital’s maternity ward, from Parkinson’s disease. She had the same syndrome as John Paul II. The sisters prayed for the Pope when he passed away. And Sister Marie Simon Pierre was suddenly cured. The procedure for the recognition of this case of healing was not at all easy because it is difficult to give a precise diagnosis of certain neurological illnesses. Not all the doctors consulted gave their approval even though the Congregation’s final assessment was positive.

Read More: Pope John Paul II