Medjugorje: Beautiful Video Made By Wish TV 8 Anchor Eric Halvorson

In October, 24-Hour News 8 anchor Eric Halvorson traveled to Medjugorje in  Bosnia-Herzegovina. The group Halvorson traveled with included about 80 people from the U.S., Canada and Australia, and they were among hundreds on the mountain for Mirjana's  vision  on that day. This is his beautiful report.

Crib at St James Church Medjugorje Christmas 2011

O Holy Night- Paul Harrington Live at Whitefriars Church Dublin

This is a very special live rendition of O Holy Night by Paul Harrington. It was made at a carol service at Whitefriars Church in Dublin on Christmas Eve 2010. This was in aid of Dublin's inner city homeless. Paul will participate once more on Christmas Eve 2011 at Whitefriars Church Dublin.

Amazing Testimony of Model Ania Golędzinowska at Medjugorje -December 2, 2011

During the pilgrimage to Medjugorje on the occasion of the apparition of the Virgin Mary to Mirjana  on December 2, 2011,  I had the opportunity to hear the testimony of  Ania Goledzinowska
"I reached a point where I thought it over, it was all too easy to go to that fourth floor where I was," said Ania.

"I had everything, money, clothes, cars, just ask and I would get, but really what I needed no one was able to give it to me, that is Love." "One night - continues Ania - I had  recovered and was placed in a room in a very dilapidated condition.  I  noticed at my bedside the figure of a man not very tall , with a beard.  He several times shook his head without saying a word. It was as if to say: Ania, Ania, but what are you doing!

At the time I did not recognise him but now I can say that the person I was close to  at that time was Padre Pio! And 'he gave me the initial impetus for change.. But now that I see in the photographs I recognize him  well. "

Another interesting aspect of the testimony of this girl  was when she was told to have three attitudes: forgive, not judge and love.
Ania decided to forgive all those who  had caused [her] evil. She invited those present to make gestures of forgiveness, not to judge and to love.

[On June 25, 2011, the 30th anniversary of the apparitions in Medjugorje, the Association of the PURE HEART, was established  by Father Renzo Gobbi in Medjugorje. The first person to adhere to the guiding principles was Ania Goledzinowska , who has also assumed the responsibility to personally take care of the organization.]
She then spoke about  the Association for  Pure Hearts and pointed out that, on the occasion of the apparition of December 2,  she had asked for confirmation in her heart from Our Lady regarding this initiative, because lots of rings had been placed in a container  at  the Blue Cross , to be blessed. Well, just recently in the message Our Lady has referred to the pure heart when She said: "My children, only a pure heart, not weighed down by sin, can open up ..."
Ania has successfully interpreted this phrase as an encouragement to continue this work, which specifically aims to promote premarital chastity in young people.

 This is a  witness that warms my heart to Ania, whose beaming face  reveals the true beauty of a life full of a blossomed love of God.  A life that before was wandering in the darkness  but after having drawn from the vessel of mercy (Diary of St. Faustina Kowalska accompanies this stage of her life) is  now full of light and hope.

God works wonders in the heart of His creatures, and this story is proof. In her valuable testimony she  has also focused on the value of suffering.
To those who say that God does not exist because a good God would never allow women to give birth to children with disabilities or other conditions, Ania replied that: "Children with disabilities have the pass to Paradise. These people disadvantaged in body and mind have already paid the ticket to blissful eternity. They are given to us in families because through them  parents can also gain the right to Paradise. All suffering is important and precious in God's eyes. We are sanctified through the pain! Suffering is not a punishment but a gift that God gives to help us win the salvation of our souls! " Strong words.

"And God - continued Ania - continually speaks to us, gives us so many signs of His presence. Years later, reviewing the album of my childhood and adolescence, I realized even then God spoke to me, but I could not see the signs of His presence. In fact, among the many things that have remained from that period, I also found the Saint of Divine Mercy  (St. Faustina Kowalska ) that a relative had given me. Even then, Jesus was near me, but I, I did not see! "
(I have translated this from DALLA CARNIA A A MEDJUGORJE)

The Catholic Church:Eleven things I love about it-by Father Mark Mary

What I love about the Catholic Church by Father Mark Mary

I heard the other day a couple of people ridiculing catholicism in the media, both of them, I believe, are fallen away Catholics. As a husband praises and cherishes his wife, we Catholics need to honor the Church. Off the top of my head, I rattled off eleven things I love about the Church. I know “eleven” is not a nice number for a list, but it is what came to mind for me. Everything on this list does not belong exclusively to the Catholic Church, for there are elements of sanctification which exist outside of her visible structure. But in the Church we have the fullness of the means of sanctification............

Now read the eleven HERE
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Video:Banneux, Belgium Marian Apparitions of 1933

Banneux is a small town, southeast of Liège in Belgium. It is known because of the reported Marian apparitions of Our Lady of Banneux, also known as Our Lady of the Poor to a young girl called Mariette Beco.

Video: Apparition to Mirjana on December 2, 2011 at the Blue Cross, Medjugorje

Bank Of Ireland raises more funds -No need for Noonan to wipe out junior bondholders (December 2011)

Bank of Ireland needed more funds for recapitalisation. If the bank had failed in this task the government would have been forced to pump in more money. As a quid pro quo it would have taken a bigger stake in the bank and imposed haircuts on junior bondholders. Michael  Noonan had flagged this  on November 23:  In fact BOI managed to raise the money by buying back the outstanding junior bonds at a discount so the government did not have to put more money into the bank. So why would Noonan burn the bondholders IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE. Yet he is being  unfairly lambasted in relation to this issue.  The Irish government has already  raised about 15 billion euros by imposing losses on subordinated bank bondholders
I hold no brief for bondholders. It sticks in my throat but remember that the ECB has us over the barrel of a gun thanks to the bank guarantee. Whether it should have been given  by the late Brian  Lenihan  is neither here nor there now. The fact of the matter is that it was given. I am well aware of the differences between senior and junior bondholders. The ECB is keeping our banks afloat with 130 billion euro. It has made clear what the consequences are for us if we fail to pay senior bondholders.

Thanks to the bank guarantee money owed to senior bondholders is now part of our sovereign debt. Default on payments to senior bondholders is thus seen as default on the national debt and would thus make it impossible for us to return to the bondmarkets for many years.

Incidentally it appears that UK pensioners  owned some of these subordinated bonds.. As far as I am aware they are from Yorkshire. I am glad that these people were not wiped out as they would have been left in destitution. As an Irishman I rest easier that they were not wiped out.

Ireland:Taoiseach Enda Kenny – Address to the nation on Sunday 4th December 2011

Good evening.

Tonight I’m taking the opportunity to speak to you directly on the challenge we face as a community, as an economy, and as a country.
I know this is an exceptional event.
But we live in exceptional times.
And we face an exceptional challenge.

It is important that you know the truth of the scale of that challenge –
and how we are addressing it.
That challenge:-
To restore our economy.
To create the environment to sustain jobs, and to look after the most vulnerable people in our society.
At the end of last year, our economy was in deep crisis.
And while steps to recover from the crisis have been taken…
We remain in crisis today.
I would love to tell you tonight that our economic problems are solved, that the worst is over.
But, for far too many of you, that is simply not the truth.

If you’re unemployed, you’re one of the many who still can’t find work.
If you’re in business… you may still not be able get the credit you need, or to get paid on time.
If you’re a parent who has just put the children to bed… you may be wondering how you’re going to meet that mortgage, or pay those bills.

Or you may be looking at your adult children. Wondering how you’ll say goodbye to some of them as they leave Ireland in search of new opportunity in the New Year.
Tonight, that may be the truth as you live it, and know it.
Let me say this to you all:
You are not responsible for the crisis.

My Government is determined that now; the necessary decisions and changes are made to ensure that this is never allowed to happen again.
Right now, our most important responsibility is to do what must be done to get our economy back on its feet.
That requires fixing the enormous deficit in our public finances caused by too much borrowing and the cost of rescuing the banks.
We all know that if, in our own lives, we are spending more than we are earning – we have a problem.
Right now, the State is spending €16 billion a year more than it is taking in.
This problem will not be fixed unless we take action to bridge this gap.
This can only be done by us, ourselves. Working together.
That means that in this Budget we must cut public spending by €2.2 billion and raise €1.6 billion in extra taxes.

When we were elected, the Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore and I, pledged that our Government of Fine Gael and the Labour Party, would fix this deficit in a way that would get Ireland working. We began by taking urgent steps to stem the crisis and close that gap in our public finances.
We are shutting down dysfunctional banks and we have recapitalised the remaining ones at a lower cost than expected, by imposing losses on some bondholders.

We implemented a jobs initiative that cut taxes on tourism and employment, and that created over 20,000 new job and training placements.
We secured a lower rate of interest on the country’s borrowings that will save us €10 billion over time.
We have met our commitments to the EU and IMF in full, and on time.
This has been acknowledged worldwide, and has helped restore some international confidence in Ireland.
But the steps the Government has taken merely reflect your courage, your character, and your sense of responsibility, for which I

thank you.

While none of this has ended the crisis, and we have not so far been in a position to do everything we promised, we have made a start.
We have begun to stabilise our finances.
The improved confidence has helped strengthen exports – a key driver of future success. But we have a long way to go.
This week, we will introduce a budget that will build on those first steps towards recovery.
This budget will be tough – it has to be.
It will move us towards a manageable deficit of 3% of our GDP by 2015.

But getting the deficit under control is just a means to an end.
The main purpose of this budget, and of our four year strategy, is the creation of jobs for our people.
Jobs are central to this budget because work plays such a central role in our lives.
Work provides focus. Work gives us independence. Work gives our families hope.

I get to meet lots of people in this job – a woman in Limerick whose husband had found work after being on the live register for months told me, “he did not just get back his job; he got back his dignity; once more he felt he was making a contribution.”
We won’t be able to create jobs overnight.
It will take time.
But, by 2015, I want to see our deficit under control and real growth in jobs.

We are not able to do all we would like to in this budget because we simply can’t afford to.
We have had to postpone some really good projects – like Metro North, for example.
But this budget will be a jobs budget in two ways:
Firstly, by putting our public finances back onto a sound footing.
As our deficit moves to sustainable levels, investors will start regaining their confidence in Ireland and credit will be made available at better rates.
This means businesses will be able to start borrowing, expanding, and hiring again.

Secondly, the budget will include a series of targeted measures specifically designed to create jobs and get people back to work.
It will include, among other initiatives, a new system of loan guarantees will enable banks to resume lending and a new micro finance scheme which will help people to start their own businesses.
This will allow small firms to take on one or even two employees:-
New jobs to create new incomes, to assist the economy on the path to growth and confidence.
To make sure we keep as many jobs as we can, to make sure you get to bring home as much as you can, and to make sure you know where you stand with your wages.

To give you some certainty for the year ahead, we’re leaving income tax untouched.
Instead, we will raise the 1.6 billion of extra taxes that Ireland needs mainly through indirect taxes, difficult though these will be.
The highest priority is to create more jobs, but we will also do all we can to protect the most vulnerable in our communities – our children,
the sick, and the elderly.

I wish I could tell you that the budget won’t impact on every citizen in need, but I can’t.
Difficult choices are never easy, but we will invest in crucial projects like the National Children’s Hospital, school buildings and health centres.

Before asking families to make sacrifices, we also insisted on sacrifices from those at the top:
We cut the pay and removed state cars and Garda drivers for Ministers.
In the last few weeks I have informed former Taoisigh that entitlements, like free mobile phones and staff allowances are being withdrawn.
The pay and pensions of senior public servants have been cut.
This week’s budget will go further.
50 quangos will be abolished or merged, and the public sector will be downsized by 23,000 people by 2015.
Next year, we will hold a referendum to abolish the Seanad.


But these steps are just a start.
We will reform how we run the country so that we never return to the practices that drove our economy into freefall – reckless spending, weak oversight of banks and reliance on a property boom for tax revenues.
However – In Ireland, an island nation – we cannot operate in isolation. We are part of the European Union.

All the changes we undertake ourselves are set against the backdrop of continuing uncertainty about the future of the European single currency.
Let me be clear – Ireland supports stronger economic governance throughout Europe, and particularly in the Eurozone.
In fact, the Irish people are paying the price now for the absence of such rules in the past.

European leaders must make and – more importantly this time must implement – clear decisions this week to prove our shared determination to protect our currency.
Otherwise, international confidence and investment in Europe will continue to fall.
In the ongoing negotiations in Europe, I will work to achieve a positive outcome for Ireland – one that ensures and protects our economic security.

Firm action will help to restore confidence throughout Europe, and here in Ireland.
In outlining the Government’s strategy with you tonight, I do not for a moment want to make it sound simplistic or painless. It is not.
We are on a four year path to recovery. This, our first Budget, is a necessary step, but it will include cuts to many worthwhile projects.

It will also raise some indirect taxes which will be hard for many people.
The truth is, our economy remains fragile, and it will take us several years to recover fully.
While the creation of jobs will be at the centre of our plan, I am painfully aware this will not happen quickly enough for many who are out of work today. It will take several years to create the numbers of new jobs we need.

But over the last months we have made a start.
Towards more jobs.
Towards more opportunities.
Towards renewed confidence.

A start towards a country where our young people can stay at home to build their future here, rather than moving away.
A start in essence toward getting Ireland working again.
That’s the commitment the Tánaiste and I made to you when you elected us.
And that is the commitment we are working to deliver each and every day.
We have begun taking hold of these problems and deal with them head on.
I am very optimistic for the future.

I want to be the Taoiseach who retrieves Ireland’s economic sovereignty, and who leads a Government that will help our country succeed.
I want to make this the best small country in the world in which to do business, in which to raise a family and in which to grow old with dignity and respect.
All around Ireland, I meet people who want to play their part in achieving those goals.

I meet young people, students and business people who are full of ideas, energy and optimism. I want to enable them, and many others,
to achieve their full potential.
I believe Government, being honest and open, working with the people, will meet and beat the challenges we face.
Next Tuesday December 6th is the 90th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty in 1921.
Just as our fledgling state made its way to becoming a Republic then –

I believe with all my heart, that we the Irish people can now make our way to recovery, to prosperity and to the fulfilment of the dreams of our children and the founding fathers of our nation .

Medjugorje, Mary’s Meals and Magnus Macfarlane-Barrow

Magnus Macfarlane-Barrow’s first experience of delivering aid was to drive a Land Rover crammed with food, clothing and medicine from the Highlands of Scotland down to Bosnia. At the time he was a salmon farmer: he had taken just a week’s holiday to do it. When he got back, his family shed was bulging with aid that had poured in from friends and friends of friends. He quit his job, sold his house, and learned to drive articulated lorries. Now, about 20 years later, his charity Mary’s Meals feeds half a million children every day.

But that is not the start of the story. At least, not how Magnus tells it. The real beginning was 10 years earlier, when he was 14, and he went on a pilgrimage to a small village called Medjugorje...  (Continue reading at  CatholicHerald.co.uk )

The Incorrupt Body of St. Bernadette of Lourdes

The  body of St. Bernadette  was placed in a chapel in the Church of St. Gildard at the convent in Nevers where she lived for thirteen years. The Sisters of Charity and Christian Instruction at Nevers  welcome visitors. The body of Saint Bernadette is still shown despite being  132 years old

Video:Relic of Virgin Mary To Promote Motherhood In Russia

A sacred relic, believed by some Orthodox Christians to be the belt of the Virgin Mary, is drawing thousands of Russian pilgrims in search of a cure for a myriad of ailments including infertility. But the treasure -- a 2,000 year old cincture woven from camel fur - is also having political resonance.
Russian leaders have called the country's shrinking population a matter of national security and now the influential Orthodox church has joined the fight. It wants to take the relic to pregnancy centres to discourage women from having abortions and save mother Russia by promoting motherhood. The relic came from the Greek monastic complex of Mount Athos.
(Al Jazeera's Neave Barker reports from Samara.)

Prayer In Our Every Day Lives by Susan Conroy on EWTN

Here Susan Conroy gives some wonderful insights into prayer in our every day lives. (Visit EWTN Audio Library for many fine podcasts) There is a silent break for about 1.5 minutes half way through this. The second half of the talk then commences.

The Catholic Church:Heaven, Hell, Purgatory

Just Think of It!

DO you believe in life after death? Do you agree that the human soul is immortal, that once it comes into existence it will never go out of existence? If you don’t, have you considered what the future holds for you? Have you the courage to do that, or do you just make glib statements like “Once you die you’re finished”, without considering the implications of what you’re saying? I know that there are people who say they believe that we come back into this world in a new form: they call this reincarnation. I notice that such people always expect to appear again as someone or something that is very beautiful. But suppose you come back as a rat or a woodlouse:yuck!

The Catholic Church teaches that the human soul is immortal, that it does not perish when it separates from the body at death, and that it will be reunited with the body at the final Resurrection (Catechism of the Catholic Church,sect.366) This belief is the foundation on which our belief in heaven, hell, purgatory is based.  And the teaching of Jesus as
reported to us in the Gospels is the ground on which our belief stands.

Jesus often spoke of people having eternal life, of people living forever. See the sixth chapter of St. John’s Gospel. And the crowning event of his own life was not his death, but his resurrection, by which he showed that he could overcome death, that death no longer had power over him, and that we could believe him when he promised that we also in our time would overcome death by rising at the end of time. So our belief in life after death is really a way of saying that we believe Jesus is telling us the truth, that he can do for us what he promises to do. He really is the centre of our religion, the leader who inspired the Apostles to go and proclaim that he is the Lord of life who is always alive: they were so convinced of the truth about Jesus’ resurrection that they gave their lives rather than deny it.
 (Author: Fr. Robert Arthure, Cappoquin, Co.Waterford, Ireland-produced with kind permission)

Video of Apparition to Marija Pavlovic at Varese, November 20, 2011

(See: Varese News for photographic gallery of the event)

St. Jean-Marie Vianney: Sin is The Executioner of The Good God And The Assassin of The Soul

Sin is the executioner of the good God, and the assassin of the soul. It snatches us away from Heaven to precipitate us into Hell. And we love it! What folly! If we thought seriously about it, we should have such a lively horror of sin that we could not commit it. O my children, how ungrateful we are! The good God wishes to make us happy; that is very certain; He gave us His Law for no other end. The Law of God is great; it is broad. King David said that he found his delight in it, and that it was a treasure more precious to him than the greatest riches. He said also that he walked at large, because he had sought after the Commandments of the Lord. The good God wishes, then, to make us happy, and we do not wish to be so. We turn away from Him, and give ourselves to the devil! We fly from our Friend, and we seek after our murderer! We commit sin; we plunge ourselves into the mire. Once sunk in this mire, we know not how to get out. If our fortune were in the case, we should soon find out how to get out of the difficulty; but because it only concerns our soul, we stay where we are.


We come to confession quite preoccupied with the shame that we shall feel. We accuse ourselves by steam. It is said that many confess, and few are converted. I believe it is so, my children, because few confess with tears of repentance......
 
He who lives in sin takes up the habits and the appearance of the beasts. The beast, which has not reason, knows nothing but its appetites. So the man who makes himself like the beasts loses his reason, and lets himself be guided by the inclinations of his body. He takes his pleasure in good eating and drinking, and in enjoying the vanities of the world, which pass away like the wind. I pity the poor wretches who run after that wind; they gain very little, they give a great deal for very little profit -- they give their eternity for the miserable smoke of the world.


My children, how sad it is! when a soul is in a state of sin, it may die in that state; and even now, whatever it can do is without merit before God. That is the reason why the devil is so pleased when a soul is in sin, and perseveres in it, because he thinks that it is working for him, and if it were to die he would have possession of it. When we are in sin, our soul is all diseased, all rotten; it is pitiful. The thought that the good God sees it ought to make it enter into itself. And then, what pleasure is there in sin? None at all. We have frightful dreams that the devil is carrying us away, that we are falling over precipices. Put yourself on good terms with God; have recourse to the Sacrament of Penance; you will sleep as quietly as an angel. You will be glad to waken in the night, to pray to God; you will have nothing but thanksgivings on your lips; you will rise I towards Heaven with great facility, as an eagle soars through the air....

Video:Sr Briege McKenna, Medjugorje and the Priesthood ( A MUST view)

Medjugorje in St Stephens Cathedral Vienna on 17/11/11 (Ivan speaks from 77.50 approx)

Several people speak  movingly about the influence of Medjugorje on their lives. One of the speakers saw Father Slavko dying and became a priest.  Medjugorje  visionary Ivan speaks from  77:50 in the video.(English translation for all speakers)

Video: Why Medjugorje- A film by Croatian director Josip Loncar

Why Medugorje? is a film by Croatian director Josip Loncar. It documents his own personal experience when he visited Medugorje for the first time in 1987. This film very much captures the Spirit of Medugorje from a pilgrim's perspective. As an added bonus narration is by renowned scripture scholar Tony Hickey. After watching this film, you will have many good reasons why you should consider visiting Medugorje.

Italy: Medjugorje Visionary Vicka has Apparition at Corridonia on November 13, 2011

Two thousand people attended a prayer meeting with Vicka Ivankovic, the visionary of Medjugorje, who has been having  daily apparitions of the Virgin since  24th June 1981. The religious event was held in the industrial area of ​​Corridonia, in the company of spouses Pierluigi Enzo and Angela Silence who are linked the seer by a long relationship of friendship.

The Holy Mass was celebrated by parish priest Fr Luciano Montelpare, which turned especially to young people and recalled Pierluigi Gabriel, son of Enzo and Angela, who died last summer in a car accident. "A very good boy, who was able to stay away from the temptations of alcohol and drugs," said the priest. He said that Gabriel should be taken as a model.

Vicka Ivankovic  led the recitation of the rosary, inviting everyone present to intensify prayer, to practice fasting, to approach  confession, to receive the Eucharist and to read the Bible. Then there was the apparition. Vicka was praying before the statue of the Madonna, when she fell on her knees with her eyes turned up and started talking and gesticulating. Her face was lit by a smile. Then the seer described the content of the encounter with the Blessed  Virgin in which she stressed the importance of prayer for her plan reiterating its closeness.

The organization of the large prayer meeting was perfect.  A big screen was set up given the presence of many the faithful, outside the building. "The religious event - said the pastor of Corridonia, Don Luciano - was held  in an atmosphere of prayer, characterized by peace and serenity." Even in the past  when the family Pierluigi had organized meetings with  Vicka the response of the faithful was always great. The goal is to let everyone know about the existence of the apparitions. A phenomenon which  is  certainly very attractive.
According  to Vicka the Virgin Mary is especially concerned  for young people and families.
(Source:Corriere Adriatico-Daniel Fermanelli)

Video: George Was Healed of Epilepsy and Asthma in Medjugorje

George from Lebanon speaks about his experiences in Medjugorje, including being healed from Epilepsy and Asthma. He also shares how he struggled with prayer even after his miraculous pilgrimage, and needed a re-conversion! Something we all must do every day!

Video:Fr. Scott Adams Medjugorje Testimony

US:Reversing Abortion in Mississippi with Personhood Amendment-Vote YES

On November 8 (today) Mississippians will vote on Amendment 26. If the pro-life initiative passes, unborn children will finally be afforded the right to life they deserve starting at the moment of conception. Innocent life will be protected, not killed. The measure would also stop cloning. Vote YES to life.

US: Film Producer Jason Jones tells Catholic Conversion and Pro-Life Ministry Story

Film Producer, Co-Executive Producer of Bella, Jason Jones shares his conversion story, his pro-life activism story and more. MUST SEE! This is a truly inspirational story that everyone should hear!

Jason came to Ave Maria University to support the Student’s for Life Gala.(via 
MariaNews )

Medjugorje: Apparition to Mirjana on November 2, 2011

Our Lady's message to Mirjana:

“Dear children, the Father has not left you to yourselves. Immeasurable is His love, the love that is bringing me to you, to help you to come to know Him, so that, through my Son, all of you can call Him ‘Father’ with the fullness of heart; that you can be one people in God’s family. However, my children, do not forget that you are not in this world only for yourselves, and that I am not calling you here only for your sake. Those who follow my Son think of the brother in Christ as of their very selves and they do not know selfishness. That is why I desire that you be the light of my Son. That to all those who have not come to know the Father – to all those who wander in the darkness of sin, despair, pain and loneliness – you may illuminate the way and that, with your life, you may show them the love of God. I am with you. If you open your hearts, I will lead you. Again I am calling you: pray for your shepherds. Thank you.”

Medjugorje Visionary Marija Pavlovic at Verona November 5, 2011

(fotoservizio di giorgio marchiori)

Looking edegant in a black suit, Marija  immediately catches the attention of the audience which she addresses with a smile: "Through my testimony the intent is to convert everyone." Long applause greeted her on her arrival at the altar. A group of children offered white and red roses. Marija said to one of them " I will put them down as a gift to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, to tell her that we want a world of good and  that we want to dry her tears with many basins."

Marija placed the roses at the foot of the statue of the Virgin where there were a few baskets of folded cards with the intentions of the faithful. Marija invited the  audience to continue in prayer- "We are the outstretched hands of God.”

Silence set in at 17.50, preceded by a long Sshh that interrupts the prayer. It is the moment of the awaited hour. Marija Pavlovic, one of the six visionaries of Medjugorje, in front of the statue of the Madonna, holding a rosary in her hands, talks quietly with the Virgin. There are around five thousand participants at this time in Verona Sports Palace to share faith and prayer. All three intense minutes melt in prayer to the Virgin . At the end of the apparition Marija, with great  simplicity, goes to take her place in front of the microphone

"So many people I met were far from God," said Marija, "away from the sacraments. But when they had the courage to put God first in their lives, everything  changed.
Because there is no future without conversion. Today it's all falling apart. If we no longer have God we no longer have hope. " It spares no barbs to lay and religious, "Let the politicians around the world listen. We are no longer upright.. Everything is based on "I give you if you give me." Too many politicians are compromised with drugs and prostitutes. And there's evil in the Church, where they discover incidents of pedophilia. Many times it seems that people are not saved anymore. But, thank God, we all have the possibility of a new life. This is why Christ has sent us his mother. Our Lady's messages are not new. They are already contained in the Scriptures. But the Lady wants to awaken us and change our lives from evil to good. "

Marija said people are invited to live a life respectful of others, without accumulating unnecessary goods, meeting the needs of the poor, the hungry children in the world, and respecting the environment in which we live. And remember, "says Mary, our life is like a flower. It wilts and dies . Perhaps we can live longer but the end is for all. Yet often we act like peacocks, chasing money and success. But everything passes. So accept the invitation of the Madonna. We must look to eternal life, and come to God with her pipes that bring fresh water in the desert of the soul. With her we become seers, her witnesses. Without her, we are nobody. "

Our Lady, Marija  concluded, "calls us because we become a blessed hope for the many people who are drifting. We want to be a prayer and hope for those who do not have any more hope. We want to be a blessing for the whole city, for all that abuse and broken families. I saw the Madonna in front of the broken families that have found the courage to say sorry. Jesus died for us and gave us his mother to give us hope and peace that should reign in all of us."

My translation (Via L'Arena-Helen Cardinals)

International Youth Festival Medjugorje 2011 Song: "Come and fill this temple"

 Medjugorje Youthfest Orchestra and Choir performing "Come and fill this temple" at the International Youth Festival in Medjugorje, Bosnia and Herzegovina (August 2011).

Come, o come and fill this temple,
and fill this temple with the glory of the Lord
come, o come and fill this temple,
and fill this temple with the glory of the Lord

Come, o come and fill this temple,
and fill this temple with the glory of the Lord
come, o come and fill this temple,
and fill this temple with the glory of the Lord

There's a place of unity, a place for fellowship,
there's a place where God's people come together,
when the Spirit of the Lord descends and binds our hearts as one
and we're filled afresh with holy power

Come, o come and fill this temple,
and fill this temple with the glory of the Lord
come, o come and fill this temple,
and fill this temple with the glory of the Lord

So we wait with open arms, we're hungry for your love,
and we worship now the name of Jesus,
forgive us, Lord, for grieving you and warm our hearts anew
with the fire and zeal of pentecost

Come, o come and fill this temple,
and fill this temple with the glory of the Lord
come, o come and fill this temple,
and fill this temple with the glory of the Lord
come, o come and fill this temple,
and fill this temple with the glory of the Lord
come, o come and fill this temple,
and fill this temple with the glory of the Lord
come, o come and fill this temple,
and fill this temple with the glory of the Lord!

What I Saw at "Occupy Wall Street" -by John Ritchie

In the following article John Ritchie looks at the Occupy Wall Street protest from a Christian perspective.

Soon after entering the protest perimeter at Zuccotti Park a piece of communist propaganda was thrust into my hand. The flier starts: “It’s not just Wall Street… capitalism must be destroyed.”

As I continued reading, other lines jumped off the page: “Only communism can live up to the aspirations the Occupy Wall Street movement has tapped into.” Then the tag line calls readers to “join the revolutionary communist Progressive Labor Party.”

I kept walking, tiptoeing around a maze of sleeping bags and clutter.

Ten reasons to reject socialism.

The next sight that caught my attention was a large, dirty flag stamped with the figure of communist terrorist Che Guevara held by a disheveled protester. I approached and saw “Smash the State” printed on it. “I don’t think this is going to remain peaceful,” said the fellow holding the communist Che flag. Meanwhile, a group of agitated anarchists dressed in dark, dirty clothes yelled, “What does democracy look like? This is what democracy looks like.”

Beside the Che flag was a gray-bearded man hawking buttons. “I’m an anarchist,” he offered. Pointing to his buttons, he explained: “These are anti-war, these are racial, these are gender [pro-homosexual], and these are anti-authoritarian.” Other crude signs were displayed amid the eclectic conglomeration of hundreds of disgruntled protesters. “Eat the rich,” said one. Others promoted socialism or environmental “rights.”

Then I stumbled into a discussion circle dedicated to “breaking the gender binary,” which is another way of saying they want to dismantle the differences between male and female. The very idea of manhood and womanhood was offensive to them.

How interesting. Seemingly separate movements all converged for a common revolt. Protesters shared a common contempt for authority, our military, morality, law, order, private property and inequality in general. By chance, I looked up and saw a man holding a megaphone emblazoned with the word “revolt.” Churchill put it well. “Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy. Its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery.” Continue Reading HERE

Medjugorje-Historical Video of the Apparitions from 31/12/1984

Medjugorje Visionary Marija at St. Agnes Church in Key Biscayne (Florida) on 24/10/11

Thousands of the faithful gathered Monday, October 24, 2011 at St. Agnes Church in Key Biscayne (Florida) with songs and prayers to welcome the appearance of Our Lady of Medjugorje. Whole families, children, old devotees, men and women had been waiting for the message of the Blessed Virgin, kneeling on the damp grass of a football field adjacent to the church of St. Agnes, while preparing the heart through meditation and prayer.

Rivers of people in a sea of faith came to hear what Marija one of the visionaries of Medjugorje had to say.
About three thousand faithful of all ages and from all parts of Miami met in search of prayer, signs and responses.
Children, elderly, adolescents, adults and young people prayed the rosary together, attended Mass, and listened in rapt attention to what Marija had to say.
Speaking in Italian, she said that in this time of change, when the economy and security depend on what seems to collapse, it is good to go for help to the Virgin in prayer, and ask for her intercession with God
Marija, with an air of cheerfulness pointed out that she is only a divine channel. She stressed the transient nature of our stay on earth and the importance of achieving a sense of our lives in an eternal dimension and not temporary. "With our behaviour we risk eternity, I am responsible for my actions but you are responsible for yours," said the visionary.
Marija stressed the importance of praying every day and the necessity to keep a Bible at home. At the end of the event medals blessed by the Virgin were distributed. Among those present most commented with amazement on the great participation at the event and on the spiritual thirst of the people.
( Click Source)

Ireland:David Gwynn Morgan argues for Referendum YES Vote-26/10/11

In an article titled Amendment on inquiries vital to better Constitution  in today's Irish Times,David Gwynn Morgan emeritus professor of law at University College Cork argues convincingly  that objectors to the change proposed fail to realise that  it will be interpreted in the context of the rest of the Constitution

EVERYONE WILL have noticed the House of Commons Culture and Media Committee’s inquiry into the phone-hacking at Rupert Murdoch’s News International, and many will recall the late Jim Mitchell’s Public Accounts Committee inquiry (assisted by the comptroller and auditor general) into the non-payment of Dirt.
Neither of these would be lawful in Ireland today. The reason is the landmark (or landmine) case of Abbeylara, which it is the object of the 30th amendment to modify.
Continue Reading HERE 

Ireland: Dr Donal K Coffey: A ‘Yes’ vote on Oireachtas inquiries will bring us a vital democratic function

Dr Donal K Coffey is a lecturer in constitutional law in the University of Portsmouth, and recently completed his PhD on Irish constitutional history. In an articled titled: A ‘Yes’ vote on Oireachtas inquiries will bring us a vital democratic function he argues that on balance the government has got it right. Quite frankly I cannot understand the opposition to this amendment.

 Parliamentary investigative committees are  hugely effective in the UK, USA,  France, Holland,  Belgium, Brazil, Germany, Austria. They strengthen democracy rather than take from it. Parliamentary investigative committees obviate the necessity for costly tribunals in most cases. It is in the taxpayers interest that there is a YES vote.
Dr Coffeys article may be accessed here at:http://tiny.cc/qykzy

Ireland: Matt Cooper on Late Late Show ploughs the populist furrow 21/10/11

Tonight Matt Cooper appeared on the Late Late Show with Ryan Tubridy to plug his new book. He spoke about the lead up to IMF/EU bailout. He criticised Sarkozy and Merkel for putting the squeeze on Ireland. However this would not have arisen Matt if the country were not practically bankrupt. He spoke about paying back the bondholders. Face facts Matt. Once Brian Lenihan gave the bank guarantee bank debts became part of sovereign debt. To refuse to pay the bondholders would amount to a SOVEREIGN DEFAULT.  Now he  failed to outline the implications of such a  default. It sounds all so simple but unfortunately it is not.

The ECB is funding Irish banks to the tune of 180 billion euro. It has warned that it would withdraw this funding if Ireland defaulted. This would result in the loss of all deposits and the closure of the banks. A sovereign default would make it impossible to go back to the bond markets. Nobody would lend to us. If Matt is in favour of default he should say so and should also spell out the implications. He should take a good hard look at Argentina in the wake of a default. The middle class was wiped out and thousands ended up rummaging in bins for scraps of food. Their savings were wiped out.

Matt criticises the austerity. Nobody likes austerity but once the last government signed up to the EU/ IMF deal it gave a legally binding guarantee to correct the public finances. Failure to honour the EU/IMF deal means that the government would be deprived of funding to bridge the 19 billion euro deficit. Cuts/Tax rises totalling 19 billion euro would have to be introduced immediately. Is that what Matt wants? Of course we all hate austerity. But what is the alternative? The Greek economic crisis already threatens to derail the Euro. If Ireland were now to go ahead and not pay bonholders( default) it is likely that the euro would topple as there would be a massive contagion. It would be the coup de grace for the Euro. Is that what  Matt wants?

We all know about the irresponsibility of some German banks. However at this juncture the Euro is on a knife-edge. It is a time for cool heads from our politicians who must seek  to defend our interests. Cooper really seems to have it in for Michael Noonan. Noonan is pursuing a cool calculated approach. Ireland will secure an amelioration of its plight at EU level INCREMENTALLY.

Matt Cooper spoke about the plight of  many mortgage holders. Certainly at least 70,000 people have distressed mortgages. The government must introduce measures to tackle this problem. However there is no crock of gold available.   Conservatively the cost would be at least  €6 billion. Where  exactly is  Matt suggesting that the money should come from ? He seems to be hinting at not paying bank bondholders. If so he is advocating default. It is populist but it is not a solution. It is the road to an economic cataclysm. Of course it is shameful that bank bondholders who gambled are being compensated. Unfortunately the bank guarantee has ensured that they now hold sovereign debt which, must be honoured to the detriment of mortgage holders.

Matt Cooper has not articulated a coherent solution to the problem.  How exactly would Matt Cooper decouple bank debt from sovereign debt seeing as the late Brian Lenihan on behalf of the taxpayer guaranteed such debt which ipso facto became sovereign debt.
Is he implying that the budget deficit can be cut without harsh measures? If he is he has a duty to outline the alternative. In relation to the bondholders the approach being advocated by  Matt amounts to default. How would he  protect the economy and the  Irish people from the total economic collapse that would ensue from a default?

There is no easy way out of this mess. Obama decided to ramp up public spending in the US. In short he has dodged the austerity measures required to tackle the US deficit. Has he solved the problems of the US economy by adopting a contrary approach to that adopted in Ireland? I think the answer is glaringly obvious.
No Matt there is no easy way out of this for Ireland, Europe and the US. It will be a long slow hard grind.

Medjugorje Apparitions And Strange Coincidences

24/25 June 1981 - June 25, 1991
On 24 June 1981, six young  children  Ivanka Ivankovic, Mirjana Dragicevic, Vicka Ivankovic, Ivan Dragicevic, Ivan Ivankovic and Milka Pavlovic   while walking on a rocky hill, called Apparition Hill, overlooking their homes saw from afar the Blessed Virgin.

 June 24 is the date on which the Church celebrates the Nativity of St. John the Baptist, the forerunner of Jesus . On June 25 the children returned once more. Two of the children who made up the previous group were missing:Ivan Ivankovic and Milka Pavlovic. They were replaced by two others; Maria Pavlovic and Jakov Colo . At Medjugorje Our Lady presented herself with the title of Queen of Peace and warned that only personal conversion, fasting and prayer can avert the wars. This was prescient.

On the tenth anniversary of the apparitions, war began in this region.  On  June 25, 1991, in fact, the parliaments of the Republics of Croatia and Slovenia proclaimed their independence from Yugoslavia. The same day the Yugoslav army began an armed attack on Slovenia, the first act of the bloody war that would involve Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Kosovo and then Serbia itself, the initiator of the conflict. This war caused thousands of deaths and injuries and immense destruction.

June 25, 1966
The apparent coincidences do not end there. On 25 June 1966 the Holy See and the Yugoslav government signed the Protocol which laid the groundwork for a modus vivendi with less conflict between the Yugoslav communist regime and the Catholic Church. One of the positive consequences of this agreement was that the government made it less difficult to build new Catholic churches, including the parish church of Medjugorje, which was completed in 1969.

August 5, 1995
June 25, is not the only coincidence of a Croatian national holiday with a feast of Medjugorje. In fact, on 5 August 1995 the Croatian Army liberated the city of Knin. August 5, has been proclaimed a national holiday under the name of the Homeland Thanksgiving (Dan domovinske zahvalnosti) national holiday.  The   Madonna at Medjugorje declared that August 5 was her real birthday. This has been confirmed by Marija and Jelena.

Italian politician organises pilgrimage to Medjugorje

A councilor from the Municipality of Trent  and member  of Northern League, Claudio Villotti, organized under the auspices of the Northern League  political party a  pilgrimage to Medjugorje . He collected 45 signatures. "We hired a coach with 50 seats going to the shrine, explains the South-Villotti the newspaper and attended  Mass in Italian at 11 am in the church." The trip had the blessing of Mauritius Fugatti, secretary of the Lega Nord Trentino. The programme of the journey of faith also included  the final prayer on Apparition Hill and then a moment of silence on the mountain where stands the cross of Medjugorje. (Source: AGI.it)

The apparitions at Medjugorje are playing a major role in the revival of Catholicism in Italy. The visionaries are regular visitors to Italy and are often met by huge crowds. Italian pilgrims also have easy access to Medjugorje. In addition Medjugorje is receiving huge coverage in the Italian media.

Tasovcici Refugee Camp, Capljina, near Medjugorje: Donegal pensioner cycles to raise funds for church

Photo: Brian McDaid 1610BD07

A Donegal pensioner will take to the saddle for charity this coming Wednesday. He wants to raise funds to allow poor families in the Tasovcici Refugee Camp, Capljina, near Medjugorje, build a new church.

Alphonsus Surplus from Letterkenny estimates it will take until next Sunday to complete the 140 mile trip to Croagh Patrick in Co. Mayo. He will then link up with other pilgrims who will also be climbing the mountain the same day.

As a keen cyclist, Alphonus thrives on the physical challenge. A familiar sight on the roads with his fluorescent yellow jacket and safety helmet, he has already completed many trips on his bike to religious sites including Lough Derg.
Read the full story at Donegal Democrat

Medjugorje Visionary Marija at Castel Goffredo, Italy on October 6, 2011

Ireland: Finance Minister Noonan speaks about Mortgage Arrears Working Group report

Video: The Power Of The Rosary

Dr. Mark Miravalle explains the power of the Rosary and how it has even changed the course of history. As such it is very much needed today and all Catholics need to take up this powerful prayer. To ask questions regarding Mary, email Dr Mark Miravalle: marycast@airmaria.com . Also on http://airmaria.com?p=22197
Ave Maria!

Countess Milona von Hapsburg speaks about Medjugorje

When June Keithley introduced me to Countess Milona von Hapsburg last Thursday, Oct. 6, I was struck by the great contrast between her storied royal lineage and her sweet simplicity of dress and demeanor.

Here, clearly, was a person who had succeeded in transcending the trappings of “royalty” to focus exclusively on the more important aspects of life that now mattered most to her.
They were mostly significantly led by the spiritual mission that had prompted her many years ago to uproot herself and her family and live in the Marian apparition site of Medjugorje, a small village in the former Yugoslavia.

Unexpected blessing
June had invited some religious and lay leaders to have lunch with Milona and listen to her sharing, not about her privileged life and lineage, but about her unique mission in Medjugorje, and the deeply transformative effect it has had on her and her loved ones...
Continue reading HERE

Medjugorje: Apparition to Mirjana on October 2, 2011

Video: John Wayne's Grandson Fr. Matthew Muñoz Medjugorje Testimony

Ireland: Video of Lights in the sky falling over Naas, Co. Kildare

Liveline caller Paddy Murray contacted the show with this video clip of strange lights in the sky falling over Naas, Co. Kildare

Article: Medjugorje viewed from a Romanian perspective as Transylvanians go on pilgrimage

Pilgrims from around the world climb Cross Mountain.  Many of them come from Transylvania

Medjugorje in Bosnia is a place where people believe that thirty years ago in 1981  the Virgin Mary appeared to six young people. Medjugorje is a village situated between the mountains and has became one of the main places of pilgrimage for Christians worldwide.  Catholic  pilgrims  visit  Medjugorje but so also do  Orthodox and  Protestant. Millions of pilgrims annually attend  religious services in several languages and climb  Mount Krizevac.  One thing is certain: their faith has brought prosperity throughout the region.

Medjugorje avoided war
"Medjugorje is a place where you should be ready to go, to feel the faith that directs you  when  you step into this remote place in Bosnia. The Blessed Virgin appears regularly, and Medjugorje has become one of the main attractions of Bosnia, say visitors.  The Medjugorje phenomenon,  brings pilgrims from around the world. The war in  Bosnia did not affect this area, although less than 20 kilometers away  fierce battles were fought.  The Blessed Virgin watched over the village and its surroundings, and  Her messages urge people to  peace and continued faith.   The exhortations of the Virgin Mary-Gospa, as locals call Her- to faith have gone around the world.

Faith without gendarmes

Most pilgrims arrive at the church built in the village-  a simple church, which is often overcrowded. .. At Medjugorje, everything is very well organized:  There are dozens of places where confession is held in several languages..Thousands of pilgrims attend services held outdoors.

.. In September, Medjugorje was taken by storm. Although the temperature was over 35 degrees, the faithful listened  to religious services in several languages. Many Italians, mostly elderly people pray in groups, by reciting the Rosary. A group of young Polish Christians sang songs  with guitar. Hundreds of people are queuing up to confess, but it is extremely well organized, without the need for intervention by the gendarmes or police, who otherwise have no involvement in the church in Medjugorje.

Cross Road, traveled daily by thousands of pilgrims

..The Way of the Cross is made of sharp rocks and some sand for the millions of pilgrims. People of all ages climb Mount Krizevac. Many are barefoot and  say the prayers. Dozens of believers of all nationalities go to the Cross. A Romanian Orthodox family, with preschool children, got quietly, barefoot, on the mountain.

People pray the stations of the Cross.  A  group of dozens of Italians passed  and said out loud "Ave Maria". Children climbed hard, but because they saw their parents go through the route barefoot they take off their shoes and struggle on the rocks. They do not cry but clench their  teeth and go on.  From time to time, the Romanian  father  takes out of a bottle of mineral water . At the same time, another group of pilgrims descends . Two ladies slip but some young people help them not  to fall.  They are Romanian women  probably because they are working in Italy with a group of Italians.  They say thank you in Romanian and encourage the  young people to climb. The road is difficult. A woman  is carrying a baby in her arms. She is crying and....

Elderly, some disabled, others with various  health complaints- everyone wants to go to the Cross though the   temperature  was over 35 degrees. There  was no first aid point, or  water source, only faith and human solidarity.  At one of stops for the Stations of the Cross  three young evangelical, Romanians, sing. They visited Croatia and then  returned from Dubrovnik to Medjugorje.  They came out of curiosity  onto  Cross Road.  A huge group of women sing hymns . They came to  pray  to the  Virgin Mary at  the Cross. Besides, organized groups of Italians pray aloud.

Descending is almost as hard as the ascent, but when it comes to faith, it goes beyond any barriers. Hundreds of pilgrims say the prayers in various languages. Then return to their homes more peaceful and more at peace with themselves.... Medjugorje is the faith that has triumphed.
 (My translation  from a report in the  Romanian newspaper Actualitate)

Miracle of St. Michael: US Marine saved in Korean War

This is the true story of a Marine wounded in Korea in 1950. Writing to his mother, he told her of a fascinating encounter he experienced in the war. Father Walter Muldy, a navy chaplain who spoke to the young Marine and his mother as well as to the outfit commander, always affirmed the veracity of this narrative. We heard it from someone who read the original letter and retell the story here in all its details and in the first person to better convey some of the impact it must have had when first told by the son to his mother.

Dear Mom,

I am writing to you from a hospital bed. Don’t worry, Mom, I am okay. I was wounded, but the doctor says that I will be up in no time.
But that’s not what I have to tell you, Mom. Something happened to me that I don’t dare tell anyone else for fear of their disbelief. But I have to tell you, the one person I can confide in, though even you may find it hard to believe.

You remember the prayer to Saint Michael that you taught me to pray when I was little: “Michael, Michael of the morning,…” Before I left home for Korea, you urged me to remember this prayer before any confrontation with the enemy. But you really didn’t have to remind me, Mom. I have always prayed it, and when I got to Korea, I sometimes said it a couple of times a day while marching or resting.
Continue reading HERE

Medjugorje: Italian Model gives up Chanel for a life of prayer at Medjugorje

Model and TV presenter Ania Golędzinowska tells Paolo Gambi why she left the world of glitzy celebrity for Medjugorje

As Silvio Berlusconi grapples with the greatest crisis the Italian republic has ever seen, a member of his extended family has gone on a long retreat to Medjugorje. Ania Golędzinowska, the Polish girlfriend of Paolo Enrico Beretta, the Italian prime minister’s nephew (he is the son of Silvio Berlusconi’s late sister, Maria Antonietta), has moved to the town in Bosnia and Herzegovina to lead a life of prayer.

How did you end up in Medjugorje?
The first time I was invited by a friend who also paid for the trip. I had a sort of an allergy for priests and the Church. But that first trip changed my life, so much so that for the following two years I was no longer able to live serenely, because I realised that I had never been really happy in my entire life. What I was living was an illusion, not true happiness. I became depressed. I had a privileged life that I no longer liked. Instead, I wanted simple, normal things. One morning I woke up, called a friend and asked him to find me a place to stay in Medjugorje – or I would have jumped out of the window. I left Italy with two bags without telling anyone. And here I am.
Continue reading at CatholicHerald.co.uk

Troy Davis Execution: Time To Abolish the Unchristian Death Penalty

I cannot say whether Troy Davis was innocent or not.  I have no wish to make little of the  murder of police officer, Mark MacPhail.  I know that his family has suffered grievously. My heart goes out to them. However there are grounds to suspect that this conviction was unsafe.  Hundreds of thousands of people have signed petitions on Davis' behalf.
Davis' supporters include former President Jimmy Carter, Pope Benedict XVI, a former FBI director, the NAACP, several conservative figures and many celebrities, including hip-hop star Sean "P. Diddy" Combs.  The support  has bridged the political divide. This is not easily achieved in the US at any time.

It  is also important to consider the fact  that  if Davis is innocent the real murderer is at liberty today and free to kill others. Davis’  plea to the MacPhail family minutes before he died  sends a chill  right through me every time I read it.  “I did not personally kill your son, father, brother. All I can ask is that you look deeper into this case so you really can finally see the truth.”

Capital punishment is legalised barbarism.  It satisfies a blood lust. The Fifth Commandment states that "thou shall not kill". All life is sacred.  It is not for the state to play God. Innocent people mainly from the black community have been executed in the US. Once an innocent person is executed, the wrong cannot be undone. It is much better to err on the safe side and abolish the death penalty. 138 inmates sentenced to death in the USA have been exonerated since 1973 (At end of 2010)

Even if an  individual  commits murder, a death sentence will not bring back the murdered  person. It is much better  to sentence the murderer to life in prison.  Two wrongs will not a right make. For  Christians it cannot be  a case of an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.  Christians must forgive if they wish to enter heaven.

Finally it is important to remember that some politicians have used  and continue the death penalty as a vehicle for self- advancement. They are despicable individuals with no conscience.
Their claims to be Christian  ring hollow.

 All life is sacred.  It is Gods gift.   It is time for all Christians to stand up for life in all circumstances

Italy: Apparition to Medjugorje Visionary Marija at Desenzano

Desenzano Cathedral was packed and there was  sweltering heat. Maria was visibly tired  after a tour de force at Tregnago on September 16th where she also had an apparition. There was great participation by the congregation.
After the apparition at Tregnago Marja Pavlovic, who speaks Italian well as her husband is in Monza, turned to the  many sick, crippled and suffering. She invited them to have faith and hope in a miracle: "Not later than two weeks ago, in Medjugorje, a man in a wheelchair for 15 years has stood up and started to walk. In a few days I will be in Latin America, where I  will meet a man who had a serious tumor  that he had  entrusted to  Our Lady at the time of the apparition. The tumour is now  healed. " The idea of ​​bringing  Marija to Tregnago came from Mario Zampedri, city councilor in the town of Val d'Illasi .  He said "We want to pass a message, especially to young people: the true God is not the money. There are many people who are sick and desperate, but they are not alone. "

Among the crowd was Mimma, a 36 year old  from Catania. She said  "As soon as I heard about this meeting, I asked my boyfriend to accompany me, even if he does not believe -  She says - I went over to the faith after some serious problems.  I discovered Medjugorje from television, then I bought several books. There has never been [anybody who went to Medjugorje], but who does not come back changed. "When you go you feel involved in something greater and find comfort," confirms Isabella, a lady from  Soave. (based on a report in  Corriere Del Veneto )

Rugby Union World Cup 2011: Australian Sour grapes from Tim Horan on Irish victory

 According to former Australian Rugby Union great Tim Horan the clever Irish faked their way to victory over Australia last  Saturday. Sadly Tim  is a bad loser unlike most Aussies who graciously accepted defeat. The reality is that Ireland was superior to  Australia on the day and deseved to win..

Clever Irish faked way to victory by Tim Horan

IRELAND had a deliberate plan to fake injuries each time there was a breakdown in play last Saturday, so they could slow the game down and frustrate the Wallabies.

How can I be sure? By talking to Irish assistant coach Alan Gaffney in the dressing rooms afterwards.

If James Horwill was more experienced as a captain, he would have blown up about it to referee Bryce Lawrence and really created a scene - there is no way Richie McCaw would have stayed silent if a team used the same tactics against the All Blacks.
Australia's future opponents will have taken notice of the strategy...Read Tim Horan's article at thetelegraph.com.au

Video and Article: Miracles in Medjugorje

Tucked in the mountains in Bosnia-Herzegovina there's a little village called Medjugorje. And for millions around the world the most important event of our time is happening there.

Believers say the blessed mother revealed herself to six children on a hillside in 1981. She told them that she will appear every day until she shares ten secrets with each of them. They say the secrets are events that will happen on earth in the near future and when she has revealed all the secrets she will stop appearing daily.

Jackie Janson has 14 children, 40 grandchildren and lives in Burlington. She's traveled to Medjugorje three times.

"When the blessed mother appeared to the kids in the church the whole outside lit up too," said Jackie. Read full article at Kypost

Presidential Election Leaflet from Gay Mitchell – Fine Gael -2011 Presidential Election

Video: Could the US and China go to war

Stephen Glain, author of State vs. Defense, believes the U.S. and China are, indeed, on a collision course. "Absent a good faith attempt to negotiate this thicket of disputes between China and Taiwan and the Philippines and Brunei and others, I think it's inevitable," he says. "The Chinese are not going to back down.".. (Yahoo)

2011 Rugby World Cup: Donal Lenihan on Ireland's prospects against Australia tomorrow

Rocky Elsom speaks about the Ireland Australia World Cup game tomorrow

Newfoundland:15 Incredible Iceberg Photographs

Downhome has  chosen what it considers to be the top fifteen photographs of icebergs from a total of eight hundred submitted by readers. The photographs come from the following locations in Newfoundland:

• Twillingate
• Near Exploits Island
• Broad Cove, Conception Bay
• Crow Head, Twillingate, N.L
• Clarke’s Beach
• Tors Cove
• Port Union
• Near  Quidi Vidi
• St. John’s
• Twillingate
• Back Harbour, Twillingate
• Cotrell’s Cove
• Goose Cove near St. Anthony
• Grates Cove
• Cape Charles, Labrador

The photographs may be accessed HERE

A Medjugorje Visit by Mario brings peace

I could not believe my eyes when I arrived in Medjugorje-the prayers of thousands of pilgrims on the street, in every place, the confessions in churches and courtyards in front of the parish of St. James in Medjugorje, an unconditional faith of pilgrims and residents, the association with God. All are  weapons against  evil.


I felt an instant sense of peace that cannot be described. The mind is "free." Anxieties vanished such as fears for temporary employment, health,  universities, the family . I began to look at the future differently.

It was Mary, Queen of Peace, it was the Holy Spirit coming down on all pilgrims, including me, the actual testimony of love after 30 years of apparitions and messages.  This pilgrimage which I  greatly desired was the culmination of a call which came to me about a year before. I met  Marija, one of the six visionaries, after an apparition on 11 / 08/2011.  I felt very emotional  on the most beautiful day of my life.

The  6th to the 13th of  August 2011, was a testimony of true conversion and faith. I finally put my life at the heart of God, His life projects and work. I got rid of the negativity, which I had been breathing for too long. It had distressed me and left me without peace, and made me moody and insecure.

Medjugorje is a place of rebirth, of steadfast faith and prayer, "the hope of humanity", as stated by the "Blessed," Pope John Paul II, a place plagued by Tito's communism and war announced by the tears of Mary, ten years before. It did not succumb to evil, blackmail, threats  and torture perpetrated against religious Christians and ordinary people. About 50 million pilgrims from all over the world have visited it since the Virgin with two beads appeared on the hill of the apparitions of Mount Podbrdo, for the first time on June 24, 1981.

Humanity will change when as Mary says, people "Pray, pray, pray."

Until a few days ago I was also anxious for a role that did not come.  My life plans were slow to be realized. I was 40 years old and had no guarantee of employment in Italy. I could not understand why I had so much bad luck.

Well in Medjugorje you change. There the Virgin embraces us. The thrills of the sultry days of August testify to Her presence. One feels "untouchable”. In Medjugorje, all the pain, anxieties and fears disappear and we become serene.

We are "all equal" the Madonna, says in her messages to the visionaries, and through them the world and this is felt in that holy place where faith shines through in all living beings, where the Madonna is dedicating Herself to humanity.

Medjugorje visit by Alex Giorgetti the best water polo player in the world

The famous Italian water polo player, 24 years old Alex Giorgetti came to Medjugorje. He comes from Savona in Italy, and he is offense player of Pro Recco, as well as the member of men’s Italy National Water Polo Team. They were the champions at the World Championship this year.


Young Alex had meeting first with Fr. Miljenko Šteko, the Head of the Information Office in Medjugorje and gave him the water polo ball signed by all of the players of Italian team. He later shared his life experience with journalist of Radio Station “Mir” Medjugorje. He told us about his conversion that he experienced a year ago when he met Jesus in Mary and is very happy after having completely changed his life.

He lived without prayer and sacraments before his conversion and he said: “Since Italy has not won the World Championship in the last twenty years, I made decision that if we achieve a good result, I would come to Medjugorje and thank Jesus for that. Not that we became the World Championship Winners, but I was awarded as the best player of the Championship. That is why I decided to come and thank Jesus and Our Lady for all of the graces they bestowed upon me. I climbed Apparition Hill and Cross Mountain in my bare feet, and that was such a beautiful experience for me. I feel content and fulfilled and cannot wait to return to Italy so I could witness about the beauty of this place. I arrived here with my twin brother. Before, I never spoke with him; I never told him that I loved him. He never went to church, never prayed and this was the first time here that he went to confession and Holy Mass. I see all of that as fruits of my conversion and I am so happy to see him as joyful as he is, that was never the case in the past. He was not as lucky as I was in my life, because he was born with physical disability and all of that influenced him. Our parents always separated us in everything we were to do. Mother showed more affection to me and I was the one with better clothes, toys, the one who received more candies and sweets throughout the time of our childhood. She could see that I loved sports and that I was talented for water polo and she was always taking me for training practice to swimming pools.

I had perfect life; I was young, pretty looking and successful while my brother was lonely and sad. I was even too selfish to see that. I did not have need to talk to my family because I had everything else in my life: money, girlfriends and successful career. But all of that did not last too long. I ended long relationship that I had with my girlfriend. I loved here sincerely, but she was interested only in money and glory. I rejected invitation from our National Team Coach and I was completely desperate, broke, without family, friends, without girlfriend and career.

I was nearly in the condition of depression. Shortly afterwards, I got to meet pair of twin brothers who shared their story of conversion with me. Their story touched me deeply and I decided to share with them my own problems, my loneliness and my restlessness. I wanted Jesus to heel me, to change my life and give me peace that I was longing for so deeply. That is when changes started to take place in my life. I confessed, started going to Holy Mass, reading Holy Bible and helping to the poor. My life was changed completely. Relations with my family and other people became different, full of meaning, my career was advancing again and I became a new person. It was simply because God turns everything to good.

My family and my friends read about my conversion in newspapers, after I decided to share that with other people and they were truly surprised. The most beautiful thing is when you are able to live the truth and to be what you really are. My new life has just begun and my desire is to meet Jesus more and more with each day. I hope my story will be example to other young people to change their lives and to understand that nothing in their lives makes sense without Jesus.”
Source: © Information Centre "Mir" Medjugorje ( http://www.medjugorje.hr/)