97% of Public Comments Oppose HHS Mandate
The first round of public comments on the administration's proposed HHS mandate have been released by the federal website and show overwhelming opposition to the anti-conscience rule.
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Survey: A Third of Americans Flunk Citizenship Test
Do you know when the Declaration of Independence was adopted? Can you name just three of the thirteen original colonies? If a president can no longer serve, who takes his place? If you are unable to answer these questions, you're not alone. A new survey has found that almost a third of Americans can't answer them either!
Want to Lose Weight? Get More Sleep!
New research is finding that too many sleepless nights can do more than just make you cranky - they can make you fat! Check here to get another helpful tip about weight loss and to read about the cbd benefits in this area.
Our Lady of Hope --- Feast Day January 17
Devotion to Our Lady of Hope is one of the oldest Marian devotions, dating back to the first shrine erected to her in France in the year 930. Centuries later, on January 17, 1871, Our Lady of Hope appeared in the French village of Pontmain when it was threatened by Prussian armies during the War of 1870. Around 6:00 that evening, two small boys named Eugene and Joseph Barbedette saw Our Lady in the sky above a barn. Dressed in a dark blue robe sprinkled with stars, with a gold crown on her head, our Heavenly Mother lowered her hands in a gesture of welcome and smiled. The boys' called their parents, the parish priest and a convent full of sisters, but only they and two young girls could see the apparition. The pastor called the whole town together to pray the Rosary with the children and as the villagers prayed, the apparition grew steadily larger. When they finished the Rosary and began singing the Magnificat, a white banner suddenly appeared in the sky with large gold letters slowly forming the words:
"PRAY, MY CHILDREN. GOD WILL ANSWER BEFORE LONG. MY SON LETS HIMSELF BE MOVED."
At about the same time as the apparition was occurring in Pontmain, the Prussian troops stopped dead in their tracks as they came in sight of the tiny village. The Prussian General was reportedly unable to advance and told his troops: "We cannot go farther. Yonder, in the direction of Brittany, there is an invisible Madonna barring the way." Three days later, he surrendered his army. What message could be more consoling to hearts in the midst of hardship and tribulation than the tender promise of Our Lady of Hope: “Pray, my children; God will soon answer your prayers.”
For Reflection:
Our Blessed Mother under her title of Our Lady of Divine Love and Our Lady of Hope prevented devastating events from happening. Can you remember a time when you received her intercession in this way? Look at Our Lady’s words to the people of Pontmain. How is she speaking to you today through them? Journal your thoughts, insights and reflections.
California Law Could Ban Sexual Orientation Change Efforts
A law is making its way to the floor of the California state senate that could make it illegal for therapists to encourage sexual orientation change in minors, and would require adults to sign a consent form before the therapy can begin.
President Calls Upon Our "Better Angels" on National Day of Prayer Proclamation
President Barack Obama has issued a proclamation declaring this day to be a National Day of Prayer and asks Americans to embrace their responsibility to one another and to "rely on the better angels of our nature in service to one another."
Chen Guangcheng Now Wants Asylum in the U.S.
Even though it was widely reported that blind Chinese dissident Chen Guangcheng left the U.S. embassy yesterday on his own volition for a "safe location" somewhere in China, Chen is now saying that he was not given full information about his release and is asking for asylum in the U.S.
Vatican Defends Parents' Right to Homeschool
In a sweeping statement issued just last week, the Holy See's Permanent Observer to the United Nations stressed the essential relationship between parents and children, particularly in regard to the education and upbringing of youth, and warned governments away from using the education process as a vehicle of ideological indoctrination.
Our Lady of Divine Love
Nestled in Rome among the 700+ chapels and churches found there is the Shrine of Our Lady of Divine Love. Like so many of the religious places in the city, its history reflects the abundant graces which come to us through the intercession of the Blessed Mother. In 1570 a painted image of the “Mother of Divine Love” was given to a charitable organization and was positioned on a gate tower of the Castel di Leva on the outskirts of town. Two centuries later, a solitary pilgrim was walking on the Appian Way toward Rome and lost his way. He spotted some farm buildings in the distance and began to make his way in that direction when suddenly a pack of wild sheepdogs saw him and bolted towards him. He began to run but was about to be overcome by the vicious dogs when he saw the image of Our Lady on the gate tower. “Madonna, help me!” he cried out in panic. Instantly, the dogs halted as though held by an invisible force. They soon calmed down and peacefully retreated. This was the first of many miraculous interventions by the Madonna of Divine Love. In 1745, a church was erected to enshrine this miraculous image in honor of Our Lady under this title. Popularity of the Shrine began to grow and the Blessed Mother was beseeched under the title of Our Lady of Divine Love by countless numbers of pilgrims and Italians. And miracles continued to be recorded; here are two from contemporary times:
In 1935, 3,000 Italian soldiers leaving for the Ethiopian War entrusted themselves to Our Lady under this title at the Shrine. All 3,000 of them returned home unharmed in spite of the tremendous casualties that war produced.
During WWII, the city of Rome was in grave danger of destruction. Pope Pius XII ordered that the Image of the Mother of Divine Love be moved into the city and carried in pilgrimage to various churches. On June 4, 1944, the people of Rome converged at the Church of St. Ignatius and prayed to Our Lady under this title begging her to deliver their city and to keep them safe. They promised to erect a new shrine as a sign of their gratitude should their prayer be answered. It was. Rome was spared. On June 11, just one week later, the Holy Father made pilgrimage to the Shrine and conferred on Our Lady the title of “Savior of the City,” adding it to her title of Mother of Divine Love. The new shrine was completed in 1991. Like the lone pilgrim who traveled the Appian Way, we too, have need of Our Lady’s intercession as we journey in this alien land. May his cry never be far from our own lips, “Madonna, help me!”
For Reflection:
On May 1, 2006, Pope Benedict XVI visited the Shrine of Our Lady of Divine Love. He said, “Today too, there is a need to convert to God, to God who is Love, so that the world may be freed from war and terrorism…Dear brothers and sisters, from this Shrine of Our Lady of Divine Love, I therefore renew the invitation I expressed in the encyclical "Deus Caritas Est": "To practice love and in this way to cause the light of God to enter into the world" (No. 39). Amen! Today, how is God asking me to be His light in the world? Beseech Our Lady under her title of Mother of Divine Love to show you the way in which you should go.
Do You Believe the World Will End in Your Lifetime?
A new poll has found that a surprising percentage of the world's population - including 22 percent of Americans - believe the world will end during their lifetime.
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