Sunday, 21 April 2013

Am being a pilgrim--see you tomorrow


And to all my friends for whom I lit candles, "I lit a candle for you in Walsingham." Of course, in the Catholic Shrine...

 Erasmus, the Dutch scholar, visited Walsingham in 1513 and was impressed by the splendour of the Shrine. He wrote:
'When you look in you would say it is the abode of saints, so brilliantly does it shine with gems, gold and silver ... Our Lady stands in the dark at the right side of the altar ... a little image, remarkable neither for its size, material or workmanship.' From here


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The Walsingham Pilgrim Seal



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UPDATE-Doug Giles at his best

http://townhall.com/columnists/douggiles/2013/04/21/the-boston-terrorists-were-muslimsplease-forward-this-to-chris-matthews-n1574025?utm_source=thdaily&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=nl
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Thoughts on our call to Christ........

From the Pope's sermon today.

 I would like to ask you: have you sometimes heard the voice of the Lord which through a desire, a certain restlessness, invites you to follow Him more closely? Have you heard it? I can’t hear you…there you are! Have you had any desire to be apostles of Jesus? Youth must spend itself for high ideals. Do you think so? Do you agree? Ask Jesus what he wants from you and be brave! Be brave, ask Him!!! Behind and before every vocation to the priesthood or consecrated life, is always the strong and intense prayer of someone: a grandmother, a grandfather, a mother, a father, a community ... That's why Jesus said, "Pray the Lord of the harvest - that is, God the Father - to send out laborers into his harvest" (Mt 9:38). The vocations are born in prayer and from prayer, and only in prayer can they persevere and bear fruit. I like to underline this today, the "World Day of Prayer for Vocations." We pray especially for the new priests of the Diocese of Rome, whom I had the joy of ordaining this morning. And we invoke the intercession of Mary. Today there were 10 young men who have said "yes" to Jesus and were ordained priests this morning ... This is beautiful! Let us invoke the intercession of Mary who is the woman who said "yes." Mary said "yes," all her life! She has learned to recognize the voice of Jesus since she bore him in her womb. Mary, Our Mother, help us to know better the voice of Jesus and follow it, to walk the path of life!


Text from page http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2013/04/21/regina_caeli:_ask_jesus_what_he_wants_from_you/en1-685094
of the Vatican Radio website 


And Happy Birthday to Rome-2766 years young! (Photos not from yesterday's celebrations.)
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Pray for Persecuted Sheep



http://www.firstthings.com/blogs/firstthoughts/2013/04/22/egypts-copts-and-persecution/


UPDATE ON PERSECUTION WATCH ABOVE

We need to pray for all the sheep in Christ's flock, especially those who are being persecuted.






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Good Shepherd Sunday and Vocations

Today is International Vocations Sunday in the Catholic Church and Good Shepherd Sunday.

Pray for vocations. Pray for me.


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FYI Denver

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_23070899/shots-fired-denvers-civic-center-after-pot-rally

I am trying to pay today.
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Walsingham Advertisements: On Pilgrimage in Norfolk

I wish I could recommend the Catholic Shrine Cafe, but I cannot. There is no wifi, the food is not top drawer (understatement), and they do not accept swipe cards. Cards need to be used in Walsingham as there is no ATM in the entire village.

The Norton Cafe in the Anglican Shrine has all three, and God bless them for wanting to serve pilgrims.

Also, I want to highly recommend The Pilgrim Shop, which is also online at this address. http://www.pilgrimgifts.co.uk/

I have known the proprietor for three years, and he loves to go out of his way to serve his customers. One of the great beauties of his shop are Spanish lace mantillas, and gorgeous hand-made icons.

Take a peep.

God bless you all on this sunny but cold day from Norfolk.






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