Heartbroken Dog Attends Mass Daily

The photo and following excerpt is from LifeWithDogs.com

Every day when the bells ring out to mark the start of services at a church in Italy, Tommy is there. The German Shepherd used to attend mass with his owner Maria Margherita Lochi. Two months ago Lochi passed away and Tommy continues to attend mass without her, heartbroken and missing his companion.

When 57-year-old Lochi passed away, Tommy was there with the mourners at her funeral service. He continues to mourn and attends services every day. “He’s there every time I celebrate Mass and is very well behaved,” said Father Donato Panna. “He’s still coming to Mass even after Maria’s funeral, he waits patiently by the side of the altar and just sits there quietly.” Panna, who recently lost his own dog, can’t bear to turn Tommy away.

Read More: Tommy

The Remarkable Artwork of Stephen B. Whatley

Our Lady of Lourdes by Stephen B. Whatley

The Art of Stephen B. Whatley - Flickr.com 

Commentary by Loci B. Lenar

Stephen B. Whatley is a remarkable and a multi-talented artist.  His colorful artwork spans an array of topics from Christian Tributes, still-life, portraits to landscapes and cityscapes. 

Stephen resides in the UK while his art is in many private collections throughout the world including the USA.  His artwork has been featured in Time magazine, USA Today, The London Times newspaper, and his tribute to Elizabeth Taylor was featured on CNN.

Stephen's commissions include Buckingham Palace and a series of 30 paintings for Her Majesty's Tower of London to name just a few.  

I recently ordered two collectible prints from the artist which arrived from the UK on Friday. The two signed prints include Our Lady of Lourdes and The Virgin Mary of Breezy Point, New York. The vibrant and multihued prints of Our Lady will add a colorful and uplifting presence to my home.  The prints of Our Lady are quite stunning!

Stephen's new painting of Saint Andrew is one of many brilliant portraits of saints that he has painted in recent years.

However, his beautiful cityscape of the Avenue of the Americas, NYC, painted in January of 2013 is refreshing and puts a colorful perspective on one of my favorite cities!  My wife, Teresa and I often visit New York City to see Broadway shows and enjoy lunch or dinner at Carmine's on West 44th Street. The new pastel painting is reflective of the ambiance that Manhattan has to offer while visiting the city.
   
If your interested in original art or prints of Stephen B. Whatley, please visit his website and view his Online Gallery.

The following new paintings and description is reprinted by permission from the artist:

Saint Andrew by Stephen B. Whatley

Saint Andrew, a recent work in oils by expresssionist painter Stephen B. Whatley

The artist felt compelled to pay tribute to this apostle (see image on top) - sometimes called the first friend of Jesus - with prayers and great compassion for a dear friend, Andrew - a devout Catholic from Ireland - who has been fighting throat cancer.

Painted on the Feast Day of St Andrew - November 30, 2012 ( also the National Day of Scotland) - the artist viewed various historic images of Saint Andrew that reveal him usually depicted in late middle age often carrying the cross, upon which he was crucified. He was also inspired by the statue of Saint Andrew in St Patrick's Cathedral, New York City - which features strongly in the romantic Hollywood feature film, Miracle In The Rain (US 1956).

St Andrew was known for his self-effacement and generosity and is Patron Saint of fishermen, and rope makers.

Oil on canvas,
27 x 19.5in/ 68.6 x 50cm
www.stephenbwhatley.com

***

Avenue of the Americas, NYC by Stephen B. Whatley

Avenue of the Americas, NYC by Stephen B Whatley 

 

The most recent work in a series of paintings and drawings of New York City by expressionist artist Stephen B. Whatley.

This drawing - made on the first day of 2013 - was inspired by 3 drawings made on location in October 2010 from the edge of Central Park, looking up the Avenue of The Americas, more commonly known as 6th Avenue. Captured here, below the eclectic mix of architecture, is one of the horses and carriages that passed by as Stephen drew - a romantic feature of this area of Manhattan.

Avenue of the Americas, NYC.  January 1, 2013
Pastel on paper, 23.4 x 16.5in/ 59 x 42cm
www.stephenbwhatley.com

Priest publishes book on apparition of angels to 'mystic' women

The video and following news story is from RomeReports.com:

The book Angeli e Mistiche, or Angels and Mystics, profiles 61 women that claim to have clearly seen the intervention of Angels in their lives.

FR. MARCELLO STANZIONE
Author, Angeli e Mistiche
“They are 61 profiles of exceptional women, very different among them. There are noble women, common women, educated women and ignorant, laywomen, nuns. But they have something in common in their lives, they choose Jesus Christ and had experiences with angels.”

The women Marcello Stazione writes about in his book are saints, blessed women, and even martyrs, such as Saint Cecilia, whom according to tradition would pray along with her guardian angel.

FR. MARCELLO STANZIONE
Author, Angeli e Mistiche
“We see how in the martyr's acts, the angels would come to console these women. I'm thinking of Cecilia and Agnes. The beautiful thing is that these women have changed the history of humanity within the Church. These are women that have founded religious orders, hospitals, schools. They were extremely pragmatic and realistic people. They were not lucid women, and their work has made it possible for angels to take action here on Earth.”

In the book, Stazione explains the importance that angels had in the lives of these women, and how they in turn influenced the history of the Church and humanity.

FR. MARCELLO STANZIONE
Author, Angeli e Mistiche
“There are also women from the modern era, such as Mother Theresa of Calcutta, whom had a great devotion to angels. Or Natuzza Evolo, the famous Calabrian mystic, whom would make accurate medical analysis to those that would go see her, despite being extremely ignorant. She would see the guardian angel of the person that would go to her.”

The new book by Father Marcello Stanzione shows how spiritual beings can have an even bigger impact in people's lives.

Week of prayer for Christian unity traced to American priest

Origins, meaning of week of prayer for Christian unity traced to American priest

The video and following news story is from RomeReports.com:

For many, Father Paul Wattson was a visionary. He was born 150 years ago, at the midst of division and war raging in his native Maryland during the American Civil War. Growing up such a difficult period of social unrest and reconciliation, he was exposed to the social issues of the time. They helped shape his life, which would lead him to the establishment of groups and movements which today carry on his legacy.

FR. JAMES PUGLISI
Minister General, Franciscan Friars of the Atonement
“He is an extremely human person, A person who was very related to what was going on in his time, but at the same time had a vision looking forward. Seeing beyond the concrete facts of today and seeing how God was moving the course of history.” Born to an Anglican preacher, his desire to care for others led him to establish the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement. The society worked, among other things, to bridge the divide between the Anglican and Catholic churches. The unity he strove for inspired him to come up with the idea of an octave of prayer for unity. It takes place each year from January 18-25. FR.

JAMES PUGLISI
Minister General, Franciscan Friars of the Atonement
“They were two bookends; and the bookends were the Chair of St. Peter on the 18, so he saw this as the center of unity gathered around St. Peters Chair, and the 25 was the conversion of Paul who was the apostle preaching to all the nations.” The origins and purpose of week of prayer is ever present in the book Fire in the Night, an autobiography of Father Wattson. The book, soon to be published by the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement, explains how Father Wattson realized the need to pray for unity, especially to evangelize the world.

FR. JAMES PUGLISI
Minister General, Franciscan Friars of the Atonement
“They believe there's an Anglican God, a Catholic God, a Baptist God. But how can they accept us when we say that God is one. So you see this scandal of the division of Christians is fundamental. This is what pushed Father Paul to say that this prayer is necessary.” This year's theme centers on the topics of justice and solidarity within unity, inspired by the demeaning treatment of the 'untouchable' class in Indian society. During the week of prayer, people are asked to pray not just for ecumenical unity, as in the union between the Christian churches, but also for closer unity of each individual to God.

Prayer for World Peace

Photograph by Loci B. Lenar

God the Father

Creator of the Heavenly Kingdom

We petition the Court of Heaven
And humbly pray for mercy and divine intervention.

Send forth blessings of spiritual deliverance—

Free nations from the strife of war—

Release cultures from the shackles of poverty—
Instill stability and prosperity—
Healing earth of suffering—

With saving grace for humanity—

We implore Heaven for miraculous signs

By altering the destiny of humankind

Into a glorious era of peace and harmony

Through divine love and prayerful unanimity—
 
Almighty Father we graciously thank thee

In granting our prayers through the name and power

Of your divine Son, Jesus.
Amen

Copyright © 2005 Loci B. Lenar

Millennium Prayer for World Peace is written with inspirational words to pray daily to Our Heavenly Father for divine intervention. Loci B. Lenar was spiritually inspired in 2005 by Our Lord Jesus Christ to write a prayer for peace.

Joe Melendrez, Texan dedicated to spreading the Gospel through rap

The following news story and video is from RomeReports.com:

At the tender age of 11, Joe Melendrez wrote his first poem. His Puff Daddy album inspired him to put the words to a beat. At school, he would “break it down,” like Michael Jackson or Usher.

Then in 2001, at 15-years-old, he was invited to a spiritual retreat, where he decided his verses would praise God.

Since then, he has published two rap albums, and has toured throughout the United States. He's also breaking ground abroad, participating in World Youth Day 2011 in Madrid, and in Uganda, where he volunteered at several orphanages.

JOSE MELENDREZ
Rapper
“Notorious BIG, a big time rapper said you always gotta rap about what's real to you. And God is real to me, and that's all I wanna rap about it. I wanna rap about what's real to me. I'm gonna rap about things or topics that can encourage people to live better lives, to know Christ. Because I know it's so necessary, and God it's everything to me.”

Above all things, Joe Melendrez enjoys his concerts. It allows him to get closer to his fans and explain to them his verses.

He goes on to say that much of today's music is dominated by superficial messages. He aspires to something greater. Melendrez explains that some of the greatest rappers also talk about their faith in their verses because God is still a relevant topic. However, he recognizes there's a lot of work.

JOSE MELENDREZ
Rapper
“A lot of time people have negative ideas of rap, and they're like 'oh you can't do that.' And rap is a literally a style, it's poetry with rhythm. I call mine spiritual poetry. And so once you get past it, once you see the fruits of the rap, once they see people going deeper into prayer... Moms come up to me and say 'Hey my kids wanna rap the rosary every morning when it's time to go to school.'”

Music, performing and helping those in need define the life of Joe Melendrez, since that retreat in 2001. Nearly 12 years later, he now helps organize similar retreats in California to help young people there find their way to God.