Our 19th anniversary dinner in Tuscany

Alright, we weren't exactly in Tuscany, just at a restaurant by that name.
We went for the first time to Mohegan Sun to a uniquely situated,  though loud restaurant in the shopping mall section called "Tuscany". The noise was provided by the casino's constant music, the Saturday night rowdy crowd, and the rushing waterfall behind us. It was hard to speak to each other without shouting.
Hardly an intimate dinner, but the wine was good,  Francisco's swordfish was outstanding and my goat cheese Tortellini with smoked squash, honey walnut sauce was heavenly. Its a nouvelle cuisine, big plates, tiny portions place, good for the figure, but don't go there hungry.Mohegan Sun has many dining options, you can go to the all you can eat buffets, we chose atmosphere and fancy cuisine considering the occasion.
 We did a bit a sightseeing in the fancy shops, won $10 in the slot machines and called it a night. Such passes for thrills among us old married folk. Then we came home bearing ice cream to celebrate our marriage with the teenagers who were babysitting Christina.
It was a lovely time. Thank you God for my marriage, my home, and the blessing of family.

A Song for my Aunt Teresa

My Aunt Teresa is preparing to meet Our Lord today, she has been anointed, her family is with her, and we are praying the Divine Mercy Chaplet. Will you pray a Hail Mary for her and join me in this tender song about the Infant Jesus coming down from the stars to earth?

She was the matriarch of our family and will be greatly missed. 

Here are the lyrics to Tu scendi dalle stelle from Italy, in Italian and with an English translation…

Tu scendi dalle stelle
(Italian)
Tu scendi dalle stelle
O Re del Cielo
E vieni in una grotta
Al freddo al gelo.

E vieni in una grotta
Al freddo al gelo.
O Bambino mio Divino
Io ti vedo qui a tremar,
O Dio Beato
Ah, quanto ti costò
L’avermi amato.
Ah, quanto ti costò

L’avermi amato.

A te che sei del mondo,
Il creatore
Mancano panni e fuoco,
O mio Signore.
Mancano panni e fuoco,
O mio Signore.

Caro eletto, Pargoletto,
Quanto questa povertà,
Piu m’innamora
Giacche ti fece amor
Povero ancora.
Giacche ti fece amor
Povero ancora.
Here’s a rough English translation of Tu scendi dalle stelle by Monique Palomares…

You Come Down from the Stars

(English)
You come down from the stars
Oh King of Heavens,
And you come in a cave
In the cold, in the frost.
And you come in a cave
In the cold, in the frost.

Oh my Divine Baby
I see you trembling here,
Oh Blessed God,
Ah, how much it cost you,
Your loving me.
Ah, how much it cost you,
Your loving me.

For you, who are of all the world
The creator,
No robes and fire,
Oh my Lord.
No robes and fire,
Oh my Lord.
Dear chosen one. 

Gratitude

Sunday's Gospel was about the 10 lepers Jesus cured and the fact that only one returned to thank Him.
Fr Tito's homily reminded us, that without gratitude, we can fall prey to bitterness, as we expect too much from the world. The world is good, but all it owes us is an opportunity to gain heaven. When you get more joy and abundance than trouble and trials, be grateful.

So when my beautiful kitchen window is full to overflowing with my tomato harvest, and I find myself having to can for the first time in decades, I am grateful. Last year, my tomatoes died of neglect, as I ran to Long Island to be with my mother who was wasting away from cancer. This year, I had my in-laws, farmers from El Salvador, to help tend the garden. I showed them how to can tomatoes and make savory homemade Italian spaghetti sauce. We invited over 10 of our friends, and had a party. We sent frozen sauce to Fr Tito, and my father. We were grateful.

. After our meal, we attended an inspiring presentation given at his youth group by Susan Conroy about her life helping Blessed Mother Teresa in the slums of Calcutta. Susan Conroy says she gives thanks each night she sleeps on a soft pillow with clean sheets, after she watched thousands sleep on the filthy sidewalks of Calcutta. She spoke fondly of watching a poor man die like an angel, and how Mother Teresa told her of the many graces which flowed into her from this experience. She is grateful.

 Fr Tito invites the best Catholic speakers available for his group, which has grown to 60 members. Last month we were able to see Fr Donald Calloway give his amazing testimony. Thanks be to God for a holy pastor who helps us grow spiritually.
We are grateful for you, Fr Tito.

Fr Tad on euthanasia

In May of this year, we suddenly discovered that my mother, age 74 had terminal cancer. We experienced some of what that Fr Tad discusses in this article in The Pilot about palliative care vs euthanasia. Relieving pain may shorten the life of a dying person, and make them addicted,  but it is NOT euthanasia. Fr Tad says,
" Pain management is a serious, if not central obligation for health care professionals and for all who care for the dying. Although we may never choose directly to cause death by using high doses of pain medication, such medicines may be given to dying persons, even if the successively higher doses required for effective pain remediation may indirectly end up shortening their life. Good hospice or palliative care diligently seeks to provide effective, but not excessive, pain medication."
My father often found the Palliative Care Team in a Catholic hospital woefully ignorant about Church teaching on end of life issues. For example, they called Terri Shindler Schiavo "Brain dead" and thought that her dehydration murder was merciful. Mercy had no place in her death; it was horribly painful.
 We have much to learn about enf of life issues, but the question is, are we interested?
Will it be too late when Obamacare comes in and anwers those questions for us?
Is that what we want, keep enjoying our TV shows and live for today lifestyles and not being bothered to think and read up on these issues, leaving them to a hospital when the time comes?
Not a good idea. Someday it may be you that is cut off without recourse.
I was asked by a non-believing relative; "Isn't death what Catholics look forward to? I mean, why the fuss, if you go there a little sooner?" The answer I gave was we want to go when God sends us and not a minute sooner. We all have a job to do on earth, even if some of it is suffering in a hospice. My mother offered up her suffering for this person as she died in the last four months of her life. Two days after her death, he baptized his young children. That time Mom had to suffer, and she did offer it for him, was part of her mission for her life. We had no right to shorten her life intentionally and deprive her of this magnificent act of sacrifice.
Life is precious to its last moments.
 I described Mom's happy death in my column at Catholic Mom.com. If you love someone who is terminally ill, give them the dignity of a happy death. It will be your last act of love for them.

Recourse to Mary

Thank you to all my friends and family who are embracing us with love and prayer during the wake of my mother. The large crowd who attended last night's wake was truly touching. We will begin tonight's viewing at 7:15 by reciting the Luminous Mysteries of the holy rosary.

Her funeral is tomorrow at 10AM in St Philip Neri Church 344 Main Street, Northport, NY 11768.

If you can't come, please pray for us as we walk through a valley of tears.

St. Alphonsus di Liguori
"This world being a place of merit, it is rightly called a valley of tears; for we are all placed in it to suffer, that we may, by patience, gain our own souls unto life eternal. When our crosses weigh heavily upon us, let us have recourse to Mary, who is called by the Church the Comfortress of the afflicted; and by Saint John Damascene, the Remedy for all sorrows of the heart.

Ah, my most sweet Lady, thou who wast innocent didst suffer with so much patience; and shall I, who deserve hell, refuse to suffer? My Mother, I now ask thee this favour—not, indeed, to be delivered from crosses, but to bear them with patience."

Glories of Mary, (Tan Books: 1978), 497-8.

HT Mary Vitamin

A Letter to Lowe's Home Improvement

I live nearer to Home Depot than to Lowe's. I love to shop at Home Depot, and found the people who work there very friendly. But I won't be spening any money there, since I read this from One Million Moms.
Here is a letter I sent to Lowe's. I'll post their response.

Dear Lowe's,

I was about to do major home repairs(about $10,000 worth) using products from Home Depot, after a washing machine flooded my home. One Million Moms told me in an email that Home Depot not only sponsored multiple gay pride parades, but encouraged children to attend by signing on as a vendor and offering workshops for them at the event.

I am looking for another home improvement company to spend my insurance check. Do you donate to homosexual organizations?



I have hope that their contributions are more family friendly since they are based in NC and all the contributions I see in Google searches seem decent (affordable housing, disease charities, etc).

Here is the information about Home Depot.

Home Depot seeks children at multiple gay pride parades
According to the Nashville Gay Pride website, Home Depot gave over $5,000 to be a major sponsor of its 2009 Gay Pride Festival in June.

But simply financing the event wasn't enough for the big box chain.Home Depot also signed on as a vendor, conducting kid's craft workshops for children via a special booth set up just for them.

To this end, Home Depot is basically encouraging the attendance of children at events which openly expose them to transvestites, cross-dressers, and homosexual activities.

Unfortunately, Home Depot's participation in the Nashville Pride Festival doesn't stand alone. It has also sponsored kid's booths at other gay events in Atlanta, Kansas City, Durham, Portland, and San Diego.

Gay pride events have a long track record for offensive public displays of homosexual conduct.

Obviously, Home Depot is OK with the idea of exposing children to an unhealthy and risky environment. So much so, it is willing to participate in it.

TAKE ACTION

Let Home Depot know you are sickened by their support and approval of children at homosexual events.

If you are a customer, please add an additional personal line to our prepared letter to Home Depot.

After sending your email, make an extra effort to protect children by calling Home Depot personally.

Paula Drake is the Senior Manager for Corporate Communications.

Her number is 770-384-3439.
Send Your Letter Now!

The Family Scores a Victory in New York State!

WOW, this really happened in the bluest of blue states!
Someone out there has been praying. Keep it up.
Republicans now control the state Senate, after two Democrats switched their party affiliation.
Nearly 1,000 marriage advocates gathered on the Capitol steps in Albany, N.Y., today to support the state laws defining marriage as the union between one man and one woman.
The rally came one day after two Democrats in the state Senate switched their party affiliation as the debate over a same-sex "marriage" bill escalated. Republicans now control the Senate, which wraps up this legislative session in eight days.
Leading the rally were Tony Perkins, president of FRC Action; Maggie Gallagher, president of the National Organization for Marriage; and Bishop Harry Jackson Jr., founder of the High Impact Leadership Coalition.
"Yesterday, we were thinking we needed to come up here and make a strong push so gay 'marriage' would not be passed," said Valerie Case, a reporter at WMHR in Syracuse. "Today, it looks like it may not even be an issue. However, we know in New York that may not last long."
Josh Griffin, who participated in the rally, said he can see God at work.
“First of all, God ordained marriage between one man and one woman, and it's important to keep it that way," he said. "Also, I believe it (same-sex 'marriage') has ramifications for our liberties here in the United States.”

Fr Corapi on Motherhood

This Sunday we once again have the joy of celebrating Mothers Day.

It is certainly fitting enough that this falls in the month of May, the month the Church dedicates to the Mother of Jesus and our Spiritual Mother. It's a beautiful month dedicated to what is perhaps the most beautiful reality I can imagine mothers. In the often misguided and morally confused society we live in, the vocation and blessing of being a mother isn't esteemed highly enough by many individuals that are so preoccupied with making a living and accumulating material things. Sometimes motherhood isn't respected enough by men. Even more baffling sometimes women don't themselves value this calling and honor as they ought. As far as I'm concerned, it would be hard to imagine a more noble, more necessary, and more beautiful calling in life. Moms, only in Heaven will you realize just how pleasing you are to God. You have collaborated with God our Father in bringing new life into the world. You have given our heavenly Father children, and these children He treasures more than you could ever imagine."Mother" Perhaps the most beautiful word in all of language. It expresses life. It expresses love. It expresses cooperation with God. It speaks of something that will never end.One day, moms, you'll be honored by God himself for your many sacrifices. For now, accept our thanks, our love, and our tribute. We salute you, Moms, this day and for all eternity. God bless you for all you've done for us.

In Jesus

Love through Mary our Mother,

Fr. John Corapi

Pro-family rally in Hartford to oppose homosexual teaching in schools

from the Family Institute of Connecticut
FIC Action Rally/Lobby Day on April 7th!

The Lawlor-and-McDonald-controlled Judiciary Committee has approved the most extreme bill possible to codify the court's same-sex "marriage" ruling. It makes almost no provision for religious liberty, takes away the conscience rights of justices of the peace and will likely lead to a state mandate to teach homosexuality in our schools!

We need your help to stop this awful bill and the transgendered special rights bill which may soon be voted out of this same Committee! (On transgender bill, see the link at the bottom of this message.)

On Tuesday, April 7th at 10:00 a.m. the Family Institute of Connecticut Action will hold a Pro-Family Rally and Lobby Day on the steps of the state Capitol in Hartford. We need as many pro-family state residents as possible to attend our rally and then meet with their own legislators afterwards to ask them to vote to protect faith and family.

After the Rally, all of those interested will make their way over to room 1C of the Legislative Office Building where we will receive packets of pro-family information. From there we will go to meet with our individual legislators to ask them to vote pro-family. Don't worry if you have never "lobbied" before! We will have materials available to help you.

The most effective approach to lobbying for faith and family is to bring as many people as possible to Hartford on a weekday to meet directly with their state representative and state senator. We know it is a sacrifice to take a day off from work and we appreciate what so many of you are willing to do to help protect society's most precious institutions. But our opposition regularly appears at the state Capitol in large numbers. Having legislators see with their own eyes that the pro-family side enjoys greater public support is the only way to reverse the anti-family stranglehold over our state Capitol.

And FIC Action will be there on April 7th to help guide you. Following our 10 a.m. rally we will march together into the Legislative Office Building where our volunteers will help direct you to where you need to go to meet with your own state representative and state senator. We will also provide brief talking points on why pro-family bills should be supported and anti-family bills should be opposed.

In fact, there is information we can provide to you right now to help you get a jumpstart on making your April 7th lobbying day as effective as possible.

First, call your state representative and state senator and make an appointment to meet with them. House Democrats can be reached at 800-842-8267 and House Republicans can be reached at 800-842-1423. Senate Democrats can be reached at 800-842-1420 and Senate Republicans can be reached at 860-240-8800.

Tell them that you are their constituent and you would like them to be at the state capitol on April 7th to meet with you. Set a time. Do not settle for meeting with a legislative aide-tell the aide that you want just 5 minutes of your legislator's time.

If when you arrive for your appointment your legislator is in session, give a note to a "runner" from his office to inform him or her that you have arrived. Most legislators will take time out of the session to meet with their constituents.

If your legislator(s) are not available on April 7th, pick another day to meet with him or her. We need as many people as possible to attend our April 7th Rally and Lobby Day. But the most important thing is that you have face-to-face time with your legislators to ask them to vote pro-family.

Protecting faith and family in 2009 depends on you. Please forward this message to every pro-family state voter you know and encourage them to join the fight. Tell your churches to come to FIC Action's April 7th Rally and Lobby Day and help us fight for the family!

We hope to see as many of you as possible at the state capitol at 10:00 a.m. on April 7th. Thank you and God bless you for all that you do to fight for faith, family and freedom.

We need your support to hold rallies, lobby days, press conferences and other pro-family public education events! Click here to help FIC Action convince legislators to vote pro-family!

Please get the word out to your churches, friends, and family!

Connecticut, rise up against anti-family forces!

Urgent! Public Hearing THIS FRIDAY on Same-Sex "Marriage" Bill!
S.B. 899, the bill that could force Connecticut's schools to teach homosexuality as normal, will receive a public hearing THIS FRIDAY (March 6th) at 10:00 A.M. in Room 2C of the Legislative Office Building in Hartford.
We need as big a pro-family turnout as possible on Friday to stop or significantly alter this bill! Please prepare now, if you are able, to be in Hartford on Friday--either to testify or simply to be present to show your support for pro-family values.
Watch for more details tomorrow on directions, parking and testifying.Click here to support the one Connecticut organization sounding the alarm and leading the charge: Family Institute of Connecticut!

Spotlight Commentary: Judgement to Rush

Spaniards celebrate the family

On the Feast of the Holy Family yesterday, hundreds of thousands of Spanish families gathered in Madrid. Let's follow their example here in the US.
Hundreds of thousands of people attended a Mass in central Madrid on Sunday designed to promote traditional family values in a predominantly Roman Catholic country that has legalized gay marriage and made it easier for people to divorce.
The service started with a message from Pope Benedict XVI, who urged Spanish Catholics to keep their families strong.
"Dear families, do not let love, openness to life and the incomparable links that join your homes weaken," the pope said in a message read out in Madrid. "The pope is by your side," the pontiff added.

Read the entire story here.

HT Associated Press

Campbell's it's not your mother's soup anymore

No doubt you have happy memories of one type of Campbell's Soup; Chicken Noodles when you had a cold, or Tomato with grilled cheese on meatless Friday lunches. Well, think again. Campbell's Soup is now promoting the homosexual agenda and two mommy families. Maybe you might want to change your brand of soup.
You can email Campbell's Soup here and voice your protest.
The Campbell's Soup Company purchased a pair of two-page advertisement spreads in one of the nation's leading pro-homosexual magazines, including an ad highlighting a lesbian couple and their son, reports the American Family Association.
The advertisement for Campbell's product Swanson's broth, the AFA reports, appears in both the December 2008 and January 2009 issues of The Advocate, a magazine that touts itself with the line, "For 40 years, setting the standard in LGBT journalism."
Read the entire story at World Net Daily

Father Patrick Peyton's cause for canonization opened

This is wonderful news. No one save Archbishop Fulton Sheen did more to evangelize America than Fr Peyton whose famous saying, "the family that prays together, stays together" is well known.
Peyton, who died in 1992, used technology to reach more people than he ever could by person, founding Family Theater Productions in 1947 in Hollywood, said the Rev. John Phalen, president of Holy Cross Family Ministries, which carries on Peyton's work.
He bolstered his message with Hollywood elites, including Loretta Young, Jimmy Stewart, Bing Crosby and Lucille Ball, who appeared on his shows. He ended many programs with his catchy family message, now trademarked by his ministry.
As Peyton grew up in Ireland, his family prayed the rosary daily and it brought them strength, Phalen said. He thought the centuries-old tradition linked to the Virgin Mary could help other families.
May he pray for the Catholics in this nation who need his message of the family rosary more than ever.
HT AP

Once gay marriage is legal in your state, it will be taught to your children in school

Simple math: get parents involved = fewer abortions

Family Research Council Releases New Study on Successful Abortion Reduction Legislation
Washington, D.C. -Today, Family Research Council released a study demonstrating which state level parental involvement laws are most effective in reducing abortions among minors. The study is the first comprehensive analysis of minor abortion data from nearly all 50 states between 1985 and 1999. Overall, the findings indicate that when a state enacts a parental involvement law, the abortion rate falls by an average of approximately 13.6 percent.
The study is available on www.frc.orgFamily Research Council Fellow and study author Dr. Michael J. New, assistant professor of political science at the University of Alabama, had this to say:"This study is the first of its kind to compare different types of parental involvement laws. The study finds that more protective parental involvement laws result in even larger declines in abortion rates. Laws that require parental consent instead of parental notification reduce the minor abortion rate by about 19 percent. Furthermore, laws that mandate the involvement of two parents, instead of just one parent, reduce the in-state abortion rate by approximately 31 percent. Minnesota and Mississippi laws are among the most effective in reducing abortion rates among minors."This study shows that parental involvement laws are an important causal factor in this decline in the overall abortion rate among minors in the United States, which has fallen by close to fifty percent between 1985 and 1999. Currently about 36 states have a parental involvement law on the books, but some are more effective than others in their ability to reduce the incidence of abortion."
"The overwhelming evidence in support of parental involvement laws should be a boon to legislators everywhere."

Fr Jonathan Morris' opinion of Sarah Palin's motherhood

Many good Catholic mothers have been disagreeing on this one. Let's listen to Fr. Jonathan on what kind of mothering Sarah Palin has time to do.

I do not know if Gov. Sarah Palin will make a good Vice-President. I do know she is being an exceptional mom, also in moments of crisis. Some have said, in many, many ways, “Big deal!”
But most of these are men.
I ask if any of us guys could be a mom of five, with a handicapped child, achieve an 83% approval rating as state governor, and smile all the way through a prime time speech, after the week this woman has just had.

Good point, Father. It takes a mom to multi-task like that!

Read his entire article at Fox News blog.

Don't say "it's impossible"

from the Family Research Council
Polygamy: Next Stop, New York State
For a case study in where same-sex "marriage" can lead, look no further than the Netherlands. New reports are circulating that the Scandinavian country, which already recognizes counterfeit marriage, has opened its official registers to polygamists. Although the Dutch officially ban the practice of polygamy, they've agreed to make concessions for the country's immigrants. If Muslims or others move to the Netherlands with multiple wives, a new policy calls for the local leaders to register those marriages. Local registrars are recognizing polygamous marriages every week.
This is exactly what social conservatives have argued all along. When a government redefines marriage, there's no limit to the perversity that will follow. While liberals insist that same-sex "marriage" is the ultimate goal, their demands only lay the groundwork for other relationships to demand the same entitlements. Of course, now that leaders like Gov. David Paterson (D-N.Y.) have agreed to open their borders to out-of-state marriages, what's to keep polygamists from petitioning for recognition in New York?
If marriage means everything, then we are helpless to prohibit anything. Additional Resources Netherlands Recognises Polygamous Marriages of Muslims reports Dutch Newspaper

NYS Governor Patterson wants input!! Give it to him now!

The phone was answered immediately; the script was exactly as described below. It took all of 8 or 9 seconds. -- You don't have to be a New York State resident, so spread the word WIDELY.

New York Governor David Paterson has opened a phone line to determine how much support there is for his directive to recognize same-sexmarriages from other states and countries. The call is simple. Here's all you have to do:

Call: 1-518-474-8390

This is literally what happens when calling:Person on the Other End of the Phone: 'Executive Chamber, may I helpyou?'

You: 'I want to voice my opposition to Governor Paterson's same-sexmarriage directive.'

POTOEOTP: 'OK, what's your zip code?'You: '11231 (or whatever it is).'

POTOEOTP: 'OK, thanks, goodbye.' ---

Obama attacks Dr. Dobson

If you were running for President, would you attack the biggest radio talk show host in the world, Dr. James Dobson of Focus on the Family?
Barack Obama didk since Dr Dobson doesn't appreciate his twisting Sacred Scripture to justify his pro-abortion voting record, and anti-marriage stance. "He is editing God's Word to fit his liberal worldview, and the more exposure his views on these matters get, the more obvious this will become to American Christians."
A "coalition of pastors and other Christians" has launched an anti-Dobson Web site, to defend the "Christian faith and Barack Obama."
Read the etire story here.
HT Citizen link