Great Rosary (Shopping) Site I Found!

Ok, so I hope this doesn't offend the owner of this website, or actually, I hope my website and posting their page doesn't offend them. But as you will come to learn, Rosary's/Rosaries are kinda my "thing."

I am really light in terms of posting ever since starting this blog, but that is because of a family health situation. I am trying to keep up on the blogging and blog-reading, but it is hard from the hospital. This blog has somewhat stumbled out of the blocks. Plus I haven't used BLOGGER in a while. I have a private blog, but with that I am using a hosting site (paid) and wordpress, so this is a little unfamiliar to me. Also, I don't know how to get traffic right now, so I know a lot of people aren't reading yet. Back in the day you would hook up HaloScan and start with some decent Trackbacks and things were up and going. Now, HaloScan is something else and you can't do that easily. Plus, linking or linkbacking or whatever Blogger uses doesn't seem to work, or at least work with my site. Anyways, I digress.

If you like Rosaries, or making Rosaries, you should check out: Dakota Rosary Works

People Need to Stop Trying To Get Attention...

If you are ever so desparate and in need of attention that you write something like Anthony Stevens Arroyo recently wrote, well then you probably need to find something else to do.

Hat Tip to the CMR for their coverage. To check it out, click below.

Creative Minority Report: On Faith: Cancel March for Life

After reading what Arroyo wrote, I wondered, "How many other "Christians/Catholics" out there really think that way?

More American Catholics need to read, "Render Unto Caesar" by: Archbishop Chaput. This problem is quite widespread. The problem is that to the novice politico and lukewarm cafeteria Catholic, this reasoning might actually resonate. This all or nothing attitude always seems to be the attack of the liberal leftist Catholics. (e.g. You can't be pro-death penalty and pro-life). Without getting into the arguments, they need to be discussed on their own merits. Lumping them not only takes away from each individually, but it also conflates the overall issue into an undefined dichotomy. In simple terms it is combining apples and oranges and arguing that because both are fruit, they are THE same, instead of essentially the same in terms of their nature. Surely at some level there is similarity, but they aren't always identical.

We will pray for Arroyo. And major congrats to the CMR for taking the article to task.

Blog Worth Reading: The Crescat

So one of the blogs that inspired me to publish my inane and insane thoughts and ramblings is having another one of their famous THEME WEEKS.

This week is Mantilla week... and you should really go check it out :)

The Crescat...: without further ado; mantilla week...

Feast of the Archangels

Sancte Michael Archangele, defende nos in praelio. Contra nequitiam et insidias diaboli esto praesidium. Imperet illi Deus, supplices deprecamur. Tuque princeps militiae caelestis, Satanam aliosque spiritus malignos, qui ad perditionem animarum pervagantur in mundo divina virtute in infernum detrude. Amen.

Today is one of my favorite feast days. It is also the feast-day of my confirmation saint: Michael. So today is a fitting day to start this blog. Although, I do start it with a heavy heart; I received difficult news earlier that my father suffered a stroke today. His second in the past 4 months. So I do pray today with a heavy heart - asking God for quite a bit. Mostly I ask the angels to fly to my father, and my mother, and comfort their hearts and bring them the Peace of God.

Angels are a very real thing.

One of the best books I have read on this subject is: "St. Michael and the Angels"

This blog will not always be this serious... but today is important to pay attention to our angels. St. Augustine said, "The angels have care of us poor pilgrims, they have compassion on us and at God's command they hasten to our aid, so that we, too, may eventually arrive at our common fatherland."

St. Hilary says, "Our weakness could not resist the malice of the evil spirits without the assistance of our Guardian Angels!"

Angelic Spiritual study, is not a safe thing. It is like slide, once you begin you cannot easily stop your descent. Angelic study reminds me of the quote from the "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" by: C.S. Lewis, said by Mr. Beaver:

"Safe?" said Mr. Beaver."Who said anything about safe? 'Course he isn't safe. But he's good. He's the King, I tell you."
— C.S. Lewis (The Chronicles of Narnia)

So it isn't for everyone... in fact I recommend that you don't jump into it lightheartedly, or thinking that you are indestructible, because you are not, at least not in an earthly and temporal way. Certainly if you are a Christian, your soul is sealed by God, but there are no promises about your body here on earth. This is not an exaggeration or some dramatic warning. It is very...VERY real. St. Peter warns us, "Be sober. be watchful, for your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, goes about seeking someone to devour." I Peter, 5:8.

So we must pray to our Archangels today... pray for their protection, and to give them Thanksgiving... for God entrusted them to protect heaven once, and he constantly entrusts them to protect his most precious people.

"Then war broke out in Heaven; Michael and his angels battled against the dragon. The dragon and its angels fought back, but the could not prevail and there was no longer any place for them in Heaven. The huge dragon, the ancient serpent, which is called the Devil and Satan, who deceived the whole world, was thrown down to earth, and its angels were thrown down with it." - Apocalypse 12:7-9

The Beginning...

"From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent are taking it by FORCE!" -Matthew 11:12 (NAB)

This blog is for one thing and one thing only:

Ad Maiorem Dei Gloriam!

I believe that we are all involved in a Spiritual War - one that exists between Heaven and hell. The War is real, the battles create heroes, legends, and villains. The battles also cause pain, joy, love, hate, remorse, fear, anguish, and hope. Some choose to ignore this war; some choose to pretend the battles are simply 'bad luck,' 'coincidence,' or 'fate.' I think such thoughts are misguided. Angels are real, the devil is unfortunately real, and the salvation or damnation of our souls is VERY real. Heaven is attacked daily by the spirits of evil - and the violent choose to defend Heaven and enter it by force!

That is why I titled this blog: 'Defend Us In Battle... because we need as much help as we can get and who better to seek out for such help than the Archangels and all the choirs of angels.

Disclaimer:

I don't promise to be the greatest blogger or the greatest Catholic... I just hope that my blog might bring Glory to God.

There are plenty of better blogs to read - blogs that are much more deeply rooted in the Faith, more true to doctrine, and more intellectually nourishing. I can promise to do nothing more than try each day to fight my way into Heaven by force; against evil and lies.

St. Michael - St. Gabriel - St. Raphael-- ORA PRO NOBIS!