Interview with French nun Sr Marie Simon Pierre cured through intercession of Pope John Paul II

The beatification of Pope John Paul takes place in Rome tomorrow. French nun Sister Marie Simon-Pierre suffered from Parkinson’s disease for four years but was completely cured some two months after the Pope died.
Having prayed to John Paul II, the nun said, she awoke one morning and was capable of performing previously difficult tasks, such as walking and writing. This amazed her doctor.
"When I went to see my neurologist, he looked at me and said: ’what happened, have you been taking double doses of your dopamine medication?’ No, doctor, I replied, I’ve stopped taking it completely," said sister Marie-Simon-Pierre, a member of the "Little Sisters of Catholic Maternities." "He concluded that there was no more sign of the illness"

“I was sick, and now I am cured,” Simon-Pierre said at a March 30, 2007, press conference in Aix-en-Provence, France. She has been fully cured contrary to reports in the Guardian newspaper.

After an investigation by a medical and religious commission appointed by the Vatican, a miracle was declared last year. The declaration of a miracle can only occur if senior doctors appointed by the Church have certified that there has been an "instant cure" from serious illness that cannot be explained in any other way.

Canada: Iceberg Climbing in waters off Labrador

DISCLAIMER: This video depicts an extremely dangerous activity: iceberg climbing. Posting this is NOT an encouragement to any individual to attempt this under any circumstances. (NB this footage contains some foul language.)

Watch as iceberg climbing enthusiasts risk their lives just for the thrill in the waters around Labrador. Those who attempt this are highly likely to be killed as the icebergs can roll or break apart as the climbers make their ascent.

Video: Catholic Priest Steven Scheier before judgement seat of God facing hell

On October 18 1985 Catholic Priest Father Steven Scheier was involved in a head on collision in which he broke his neck. He was thrown from his vehicle. The right side of his brain was partly sheared off. Many cells were crushed. He was unconscious at the scene. He came before the judgement seat of God and was condemned to Hell by God. However the Blessed Virgin interceded for him and God gave him another chance.
This is a truly amazing story. The interview with Mother Angelica aired on April 15 1997.

John Henry Newman Prayer:Dear Jesus,Help us to spread your fragrance

According to a priest who worked with Mother Teresa for years, her favourite prayer, and one she recited every day of her life, is one written by the great English churchman John Henry Newman. In it, it he speaks of that glimmer, that radiance that reveals the destination, the reason for the journey (Thanks to Marjorie Dannenfelser of Susan B. Anthony List for details:

Dear Jesus,
Help us to spread your fragrance everywhere we go.
Flood our souls with your spirit and life.
Penetrate and possess our whole being so utterly,
that our lives may only be a radiance of yours.
Shine through us,
and be so in us,
that every soul we come in contract with
may feel your presence in our soul.
Let them look up and see no longer us,
but only Jesus!
Stay with us,
and then we shall begin to shine as you shine;
so to shine as to be a light to others;
the light O Jesus, will be all from you,
none of it will be ours;
it will be you, shining on others through us.
Let us thus praise you in the way you love best,
by shining on those around us.
Let us preach you without preaching,
not by words but by example,
by the catching force,
the sympathetic influence of what we do,
the evident fullness of the love our hearts bear to you.
Amen.

Easter Song: Christ Is Risen from the Dead By Matt Maher (with lyrics)

Lourdes Basilica Webcam- Live view of the Basilica at the Lourdes sanctuary

A new sequence is transmitted every 15 minutes

England:Anglicans defect en masse to the Roman Catholic Church

The Sunday Telegraph carries an interesting article on this topic by Jonathan Wynne-Jones. It is titled "The faithful torn apart"
Here is an excerpt:

Holy Week will be marred by bitterness and despair as Anglicans defect en masse to the Roman Catholic Church
Dressed in their black cassocks, the three Anglican bishops had hoped to pass unnoticed as they emerged from the Vatican into the shadows lengthening across St Peter’s Square.

Having just assured one of the Pope’s key advisers of their momentous decision to defect to Rome, they walked along the cobbled streets fearful of being recognised, hoping to keep these discussions to themselves.

But they were betrayed even before they had returned to England, with word of their meeting spreading from one rectory to another, angering and alarming clergy loyal to the Archbishop of Canterbury, who feared he was being undermined by this papal gambit tempting disaffected Anglicans to join the Roman Catholic Church.

This week, the plots hatched behind closed doors in the Vatican last year will be played out in the open as the former bishops lead dozens of clergy and hundreds of worshippers in taking up this historic offer...

Read on Here

American Civil War-Missouri Confederate Song: Kelly's Irish Brigade

This is a Confederate Song about Irish Confederates fighting in Missouri.
The National Museum of Ireland marked the 150th anniversary of the commencement of the American civil war with a special exhibition this weekend at Collins Barracks. It is estimated that 140,000 Irish fought on the Union side and 40,000 on the Confederate side. This does not take into account the number of soldiers on both sides born in America of Irish parents. Involvement depended upon where Irish emigrants landed in the US.

Amazingly Beautiful Medjugorje Song: Medjugorje The Voice of Peace

This song comes from the very special Christian album Wings of Love. It has been used as soundtrack to a television documentary series on Medugorje called MEDUGORJE - "Come and See". The singer is Jim Keohan. Jim Keohan is supported by Italian soprano Giovanna Salvati. Sadly Jim, a native of Dungarvan, Co. Waterford, Ireland is no longer with us. He died in 2010.

New York Democratic Congresswoman Louise Slaughter's hypocrisy on abortion

New York Democratic Congresswoman Louise Slaughter used outrageous language- unbecoming of any Representative-while speaking to pro-abortion  supporters at a rally last Thursday. She was talking about the budget battle with Republicans and the debate over GOP proposals on abortion when she made the following statement:

This is probably one of the worst times that we've seen because the numbers of people who are elected to congress. I went through this as co-chair of the Arts Caucus. In '94, people were elected simply to come here to kill the National Endowment for the Arts. Now they're here to kill women.

This is the lady who decried the use of intemperate language in the aftermath of the shooting of Democrat Representative Gabrielle Giffords.

In a further smear:

She also likened Republican efforts to prohibit federal funding of abortion except in cases of rape, incest or where the life of the mother is endangered to actions taken by Nazis.(CNS)

So Republicans who wish to the defend the right to life of the unborn  are accused of being "here to kill women". Sadly logic is not one of Slaughter's strongest points. Ireland where abortion is illegal has the lowest rate of infant mortality in Europe. Abortion kills women and children. Women die in botched  legal abortions. Many more die from  the after effects of abortion. Ms Slaughter should investigate the high levels of breast cancer  in women who have undergone abortions.
Women who have their first pregnancy aborted have five times the chance of having ectopic pregnancies. (Gentles 1990, 77.There is also a greater risk of infertility. Ms Slaughter might care to take a look at Post-Abortion-Syndrome. Suicide rates are higher for women who have had abortions than for those who do not.

Now Ms Slaughter also introduced the Nazi smear. The Nazis murdered 6 million Jews. Abortion agencies in the US such as Planned Parenthood have murdered 52 million unborn babies since Roe V Wade. The abortion clinics are the modern day concentration camps where the unborn are murdered. She would do well also to remember that Hitler was a great rabble rouser. Her rabble-rousing comments have escaped censure in the liberal pro-abort media. Surprise,Surprise.

Really Ms Slaughter should  do the decent thing and resign.

Medjugorje Visionary Vicka meets Italian pilgrims (Italian with English)

Here I Am To Worship - Medjugorje Youth Festival August 3, 2010

Catholic Rock Group Katholicus: The Answer

This is a fine example of Catholic/Christian Power Rock.Its Christian lyrics are particularly appropriate for the season of Lent.
"Katholicus" is the ancient Greek word for "universal." This name was chosen to signify God's universal love, and that His revealed Word/Truth is universal for all men to believe and obey. Visit the band website at Katholicus

Ireland: Vincent Browne incorrect on FG policy on Senior Bondholders

Tonight Vincent Browne claimed that the FG Manifesto promised a unilateral  burning of Senior Bondholders.  He promised to produce the  relevant section of the Manifesto. Now of course he failed to do so as there is no such thing in the Manifesto. Here is the relevant section of the Manifesto:

Agreed Procedures for Restructuring the Debts of Troubled Banks: Fine Gael in Government will force certain classes of bond-holders to share in the cost of recapitalising troubled financial institutions. This will be done unilaterally for the most JUNIOR bondholders (owners of preference shares, sub-ordinated debt and similar instruments), but COULD be extended – as PART OF A EUROPEAN-WIDE FRAMEWORK –FOR SENIOR DEBT focusing on insolvent institutions like Anglo Irish and Irish Nationwide that have no systemic importance.

Sacramento Video: Our Lady of Medjugorje appears to Marija March 26, 2011

Our Lady of Medjugorje appears to Marija March 26, 2011 in Sacramento, California at a Medjugorje Conference. The day before she gave the following message to the world:

March 25, 2011"Dear children! In a special way today I desire to call you to conversion. As of today, may new life begin in your heart. Children, I desire to see your 'yes', and may your life be a joyful living of God's will at every moment of your life. In a special way today, I bless you with my motherly blessing of peace, love and unity in my heart and in the heart of my Son Jesus. Thank you for having responded to my call."

Video: Apparition to Mirjana on April 2, 2011 at Medjugorje

Medjugorje: Old Video from 1983 (40:09)

Ireland:The Dunphy Show- Economist Marc Coleman gets it horribly wrong AGAIN (3/3/2011)

Today's Dunphy Show was compered by Ger Colleran. On the panel were Leo Varadkar, Marc Coleman,Constantin Gurdgiev and Jennifer O'Connor.
Jennifer O'Connor made her points in a measured manner. However Marc Coleman and Constantin Gurdgiev adopted a hectoring, lecturing, "know all" tone.
Marc Coleman presumed to have all the answers. Unfortunately for him he got caught out BADLY in some of his pronouncements.
He argued for a referendum on the bailout on the basis that it was necessary to educate German taxpayers in relation to Ireland's problems. He then proceeded to state that Angela Merkel’s CDU lost Baden-Wuerttemberg in the state elections last Sunday mainly because of German voters perceptions on Ireland. This is pure and utter nonsense. Leo Varadkar CORRECTLY pointed out that the Greens made huge gains because of Merkel’s nuclear power policy. Coleman continued to bluff his way through the argument. Marc Coleman should read this article from the Washington Post on the Baden-Wuerttemberg elections and keep up to date on European politics.

BERLIN — Chancellor Angela Merkel pledged Monday to press ahead with a review of nuclear power’s future in Germany after her coalition suffered a “very painful” defeat in a weekend state election dominated by Japan’s nuclear crisis...

The nuclear issue determined the outcome. Period. So Mark learn to admit that you can be wrong. A little humble pie is in order.

Coleman also argued that there was a relatively easy way of cutting €12 billion from public expenditure. Once more he is talking through his hat.
He argued for cuts in public sector pay on those earning over the average
industrial wage. He proceeded to claim that this would insulate teachers nurses et al. Once more he displayed an astounding ignorance. Most teachers and nurses earn over the average industrial wage. Leo Varadkar pointed this out to him. Coleman failed to outline where the 12 billion in cuts would come from. Oh of course he spoke about the salaries of Irish professors being far in excess of those in other European countries. Cutting their salaries to European levels would at best save a couple of MILLION euros. This is a far remove from 12 BILLION euro.
The approach being advanced by Coleman would further crash the economy.
When challenged about the effects such cuts would have in relation to public sector mortgage holders Coleman’s only retort was to talk about the suffering of the private sector. He DID NOT address the fact that several hundred thousand mortgage holders (public servants and public servants married to those in the private sector) would default.
Coleman needs to wake up. Many public servants are married to people in the private sector.
In the discussion on the Croke Park deal one of panellists was heard to utter "bring it on" in relation to public sector strikes- if the Croke Park deal were torn up unilaterally. We need strikes like a hole in the head. Varadkar pointed this out.
Coleman should listen to a podcast of this programme. His comments on ESB workers were over the top. I will not dignify them by repeating them here. He should apologise.

A word of advice for Coleman: populist sound bytes will not solve the economic crisis.
Also I want to see a DETAILED plan from Coleman spelling out EXACTLY where the 12 billion in public expenditure cuts would come. Marc you FAILED ABYSMALLY to spell it out this morning. It is time for you to "put up or shut up"

Ireland: Bank Stress Tests Results-Time to drop the negativity.

Irish banks have undergone the most stringent stress tests of any banks in Europe. The results announced yesterday indicate that in a worst case scenario €24bn more will be required to recapitalise the banks.
The European Central Bank is expected soon to produce a new loan package specially designed for Ireland involving medium-term loans in excess of €60 billion fashioned to replace most short-term funding for Ireland.
Finance Minister Michael Noonan said he hopes to progress the plan at an EU finance ministers meeting in Hungary next week.

The decision of the government not to burn the senior bondholders has been greeted with hysteria in many quarters. FG and Labour in opposition certainly implied that in government they would take a hard line on this issue. Burning the senior bond holders MIGHT save €8 billion at best after intense negotiation and legal challenges. This would result in a maximum annual saving of approx €500 million in interest payments. This would not solve our economic crisis. In addition burning of senior bondholders in AIB and Bank of Ireland would stymie funding of the new pillar banks announced by the government yesterday. Certainly the country will be put to the pin of its collar to meet debt repayments(socialised bank debt and sovereign debt).

It is time to jettison the negativity. Some people are making a living spewing out negativity. The country has booming exports. It will come out of this.

I have listened to consumers quoting the prophets of doom and decide to cut spending based on this and for no other reason. I have listened to people complain who have taken their money out of Irish banks often based on stupid scare stories. This further exacerbates the banking problem. Wake up Ireland.

The constant negativity in some elements of the media is definitely causing consumer sentiment to nosedive thereby reducing economic activity and tax revenue.

There is no easy way out of this. The government bank guarantee of 2008 has socialised bank debt and placed it on the backs of Irish taxpayers. This now has the status of sovereign debt. Decoupling government debt from bank debt is no easy task. The Irish banks are almost totally reliant on the ECB for funding thanks to an outflow of bank deposits. I would love to see the senior bondholders burned but AT THIS JUNCTURE it would be unwise. I think the government has judged correctly on this for the present. The ECB has provided €150 billion in funding at 1% interest rate for Irish banks and is resolutely opposed to a burning of bond holders. It has promised maintain this funding.

The idea of two new strong pillar banks is fundamentally sound. Business is starved of finance. If lending to small businesses can be increased the country has a great future. The government is introducing a jobs budget. Hopefully it can come up with worthwhile ideas to help business.

Ireland must attempt to grow itself out of the crisis and with the right pro business policies it can. Now if the growth is insufficient a STRUCTURED DEFAULT is then an option not to be ruled out.

It is time to get on with it and drop the negativity. Perhaps if we lived in Japan we would have something to complain about. It is time to stop wallowing in self pity. Ratings Agency Standard and Poor's believes that the sharp contraction in Ireland's nominal GDP and gross national product since 2008 is at an end, and that the Irish economy will now gradually recover.

We believe that the Irish economy has stronger growth prospects than the Portuguese and Greek economies considering its openness (Ireland's exports are forecast at 107% of GDP for 2011 compared with Portugal's 30% of GDP), its flexibility, and its competitiveness. We anticipate that Ireland's current account will post a full-year surplus of more than 2% of GDP during 2011, for the first time since 2003, while net exports will continue to be the major contributor to headline GDP performance.

Finally the editorial in today's Irish Independent strikes the right note. It may be accessed here