Video: French President Nicolas Sarkozy Assaulted June 30, 2011

A man grabbed French President Nicolas Sarkozy and yanked him nearly to the ground on Thursday during an appearance in southwestern France.

As Mr. Sarkozy moved down a barricade greeting a small crowd in the town of Brax, about 70 miles from Toulouse, a hand reached out and grabbed Mr. Sarkozy hard by the lapel of his dark suit, throwing him against a metal barrier...(Continue reading at THE LEDE )

Ireland: JobBridge the new National Internship Scheme announced on June 29, 2011

JobBridge is a new National Internship Scheme that will provide work experience placements for interns for a 6 or 9 month period.
The scheme was launched today by the Taoiseach Enda Kenny and the Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton at Facebook's Dublin offices

The scheme will provide for up to 5,000 work experience placements in the private, public and voluntary sectors. This will be a time-limited scheme. Interns will receive an allowance of €50 per week on top of their existing social welfare entitlement. This will be payable for the period of the internship.
MORE DETAILS HERE

Videos: Michele Bachmann candidate for Presidency of the US

Michele Bachmann is running for president to bring a new voice to the White House - a voice of constitutional conservatism, limited government, and a safe and secure America.

Elected in 2006, Michele is the first Republican woman to be elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from Minnesota. From the beginning, she has demonstrated bold reform, pushing to fix Washington’s broken ways.

Michele is a leading advocate for tax reform, a staunch opponent of wasteful government spending, and a strong proponent of adherence to the Constitution, as intended by the Founding Fathers. She believes government has grown exponentially, with Obamacare being the most recent example of its uninhibited growth. Michele wants government to make the kind of serious spending decisions that many families and small businesses have been forced to make. She is a champion of free markets and she believes in the vitality of the family as the first unit of government. She is also a defender of the unborn and staunchly stands for religious liberties.  Continue reading here

Wonderful Article: Medjugorje Visions still bring joy for my mum decades later

In Medjugorje for the 30th anniversary of the claimed apparitions, Louise Hall reflects on its effect on her family

I would imagine there are very few places in the world that effortlessly possess a more revered and venerable ambiance than that of the village of Medjugorje, in Bosnia-Herzegovina. As our coach pulls into this sacred village, I am pleasantly surprised to see the incomparable authenticity, which can sometimes be ruined by commercialism, still intact. This place has invoked in me a familiar and comforting sense of peace, one I experienced 20 years ago when I came here as a naive but curious 15 year old.

I feel privileged and fortunate to be here for the 30th anniversary of the apparitions, as my family and I have long-standing connections with the place. Looking over at my mother, who is with me on this trip, pure joy evident in her face, I think back to what spurred her to come to Medjugorje more than 25 years ago.

When six young children claimed to have seen an apparition of Our Lady on a small hill called Podbrodo on June 24, 1981, it naturally sparked interest around the world. My mother had five young children at the time and was instantly curious about the alleged visions. My youngest sister, Nicky, was born with Down syndrome and it had a huge impact on my mother as she struggled to accept her daughter's disability. Although she loved her dearly, she wanted her to be "normal", just like her other four siblings...
CONTINUE READING at Sunday Independent

Medjugorje: Exclusive interview with Visionary Ivan on 30th Anniversary of Apparitions

 Translated from  an article in Oggie.it 

The article contains this introduction to the  interview :
After some time the young Ivan Dragicevic, one of the visionaries of Medjugorje, asked the following question of Our Lady during an apparition when dazzled by ecstasy he could no longer resist it: "Mother, how can You be so beautiful?"

And Our Lady replied: "I am beautiful because I love and you will be beautiful ... I love you too." Recalling the episode  now, Ivan is surprised again: "I do not know how I found the courage to address Her so, because at that time I was afraid of everything."

Ivan is one of the six visionaries of Medjugorje, one of three who says he still sees Our Lady every day, 30 years since the beginning of the apparitions. These are the longest in history dating back to June 24, 1981. You can believe or not believe, but certainly we are dealing with a phenomenon that is impressive - although not yet officially recognized by the Church - and that every year attracts millions of pilgrims to the shrine in Herzegovina (former Yugoslavia).

In 1993 Ivan  married the American Laureen Murphy-Miss Mass. in 1990-with whom he has four children, and divides his time between Boston and Medjugorje, where you can meet him from May to September.. He travels a lot, as far as Australia and New Zealand, to tell of his extraordinary experience. With great difficulty we managed to give him a series of questions. Here are his answers, which we offer as we have received, for what is an exclusive and exceptional interview face to face.
Vincenzo Sansonetti

Ivan, you say you see Our Lady every day since 1981. Has She has changed in those 30 years?
"Our Lady (Virgin Mary in Croatian, ed) is always the same: a girl in her prime, but really looks like a woman of great maturity. She has a grey coat and white veil, and at Christmas and Easter, wears robes of gold. Her eyes are blue and her cheeks are just shades of pink. Her head has a crown of twelve stars with her feet resting on a cloud that suspends from the ground, reminding us that She is a creature of Heaven and immaculate. But I cannot really communicate Her beauty fully"

What do you feel when you "see"? What are your emotions?

"I can hardly describe my emotions when I see what is in front of me ... every day something occurs that has no equal on earth. The Virgin herself is Paradise. Her presence gives you such a joy, pierces you with such a light! But also the context that surrounds it is sublime. Sometimes She shows me happy people in the background, or a place of shining angels in a beautiful place full of flowers... It ends when the apparition is over. It's difficult to readjust, because nothing in the world, in art or nature, has those colors, the smells, and reaches such a perfection of harmony ".

What is Lady to you: a friend, a sister ...?

She feels like Mother to me. My earthly mother took care of me until that day of Apparition [June 24, 1981, when the Virgin appeared the first time, Ed], then it was the Lady because of Her apparition.  Both are excellent mothers, because I was brought up with passion on what is true. But since I experienced the love of Our Lady, I realized that Her blessings, Her prayers, Her advice are nourishment and pivotal for me and my family. There is nothing sweeter and more shocking than when She addresses me, saying, "Dear child!". It is the first message: we are children of God, and loved. We are children of the Queen of Peace, Who bridges the way from heaven to earth because she loves us. And, loving, wants to lead us, because She knows what we really need. "


What does the Madonna say during your meetings?
"Above all, please pray. She show us the way to communicate with God and the prayer can be one of intercession, or even for the intentions and requests that I present or of thanksgiving or praise. Sometimes the discussion becomes personal in this case.  She gently shows me where I went wrong, and in so doing shows me how to pursue my spiritual growth. If the apparition assists other people, She prays over them, with particular attention to the sick, priests and consecrated persons. "


The period of Apparitions appears so long?
... Some say that Our Lady's messages are repetitive, and who will argue that the believer has no need of apparitions, because the truths of faith and what is necessary for salvation are already contained in the Bible, the sacraments and the Church. But the Lady responds with another question: "It's true: everything is already given, but do you really live the Scriptures, live the encounter with the living Jesus in the Eucharist?"... the problem is that we do not live the Gospel. She speaks a simple language which is accessible, and is repeated with boundless love. She makes it clear that She wants to reach everyone. She acts like a mother when the children do not study or who sees them get lost because of  bad company ... "You talk a lot, but do not live." Faith is not a good speech, but life incarnate, and the Virgin Mary tells us: "Be a living sign and pray for the realization of God's plans for the good of yourself and those you hold dear, for the whole world" . We are all called to be saints. "
Is there is a meeting with you to remember in a special way?
"When it is Christmas, and the Virgin visits my family, with St.Joseph and the baby Jesus in her arms. And then I'll never forget what happened on April 2, 2005. John Paul II had just died when he arrived beaming at the apparition in white robes and gold. "


How does your family live these your "appointments"?
"When I'm home, my family always participates in the apparitions. We look to our heavenly Mother reciting the Rosary or praying or meditating on the Scriptures. After the apparition.. I tell what  the Madonna has done and said. "


Should we be worried by the ten secrets announced by Mary? Expect a punishment?
"Signs of the times show that the world is troubled. And the secrets of Medjugorje certainly contain prophecies of painful events. However, for example, the seventh secret has been mitigated by prayers. It appears to me every time that you recognize the hope in Her eyes and the light of Paradise. The Madonna is not here to punish.. Why not make good use of freedom, resuming dialogue and a filial relationship with the Creator of everything. It is not by chance that She has presented itself as the Queen of Peace in Medjugorje and Her first words were: "Dear children, Let there be peace between man and God and among men".

Riccardo Caniato
Taken from Oggi.it

RTE Nationwide Programme on Medjugorje Apparitions 24/6/2011

Congratulations to the RTE Nationwide team for a superb programme on the Apparitions of the Virgin Mary at Medjugorje. It was presented by Mary Kennedy. It may be accessed at Nationwide
Visionary Mirjana was interviewed and described her experiences during apparitions. She also emphasised the necessity for people to be ready as we can come before the judgement seat of God at any moment. She  stressed how sad she was for unbelievers. Others interviewed included Fr Svet and Irish pilgrims. The programme also dealt with  the charity work undertaken in and around Medjugorje by Irish people. David Parkes spoke about his miraculous cure from Crohn's disease at Medjugorje through the intercession of Fr Peter Mary Rookey. An apparition to Ivan was shown in his beautiful church. The programme also showed pilgrims on Apparition Hill and Cross Mountain.
To view programme click Nationwide

Medjugorje Visionary Mirjana Details Mysterious Parchment

We just returned from a pilgrimage to the reputed apparition site of Medjugorje, which is currently under active investigation by the Vatican -- so active, in fact, that one seer, Ivanka Ivanković Elez, 45, recently was called to a three-hour session in Rome with the commission, which was composed of twenty members. At least in this first session, we are informed, the questioning was "gentle": not negative or hostile.

Next in line is seer Mirjana Dragicević Soldo, 46, who has not yet been given a date. It will be intriguing to see if the Vatican rules while apparitions are ongoing and if so whether it will be a blanket decision or if some seers will be approved, as at Kibeho in Rwanda, and others designated for further discernment. We will strictly adhere to any future decision. The seer Vicka Ivanković, soon to be 47 [left and toward bottom], has the strongest presence and a ministry that approaches that of mystic Maria Esperanza. All have a ministry. Two focus on the sick. One prays for families. Another is charged with praying for purgatorial souls. A fifth prays for priests, religious, and youth. Mirjana is assigned nonbelievers -- or to use Our Lady's expression for them, "those who do not yet know the love of God."

We sat down, as usual, for a private talk with Mirjana during our pilgrimage (it was my fifth interview with her), but before we get to what she said, we'd like to report on Medjugorje in general....Continue Reading at Spirit Daily

Ireland:UCC-Blasphemous exhibit "Our Lady and Other Queer Santas"

The blasphemous art exhibit "Our Lady and Other Queer Santas", by  Alma Lopez, will be on display at the University College Cork (Ireland) and is open to the general public.

The digital photo collage 'Our Lady' shows Our Lady of Guadalupe in a floral bikini, hands on hips, held up by a bare breasted angel. Shocking!!!

On June 24th, the university is hosting the blasphemous art exhibit "Our Lady and Other Queer Santas" as part of a conference on Hispanic Studies.

At the same conference on Hispanic Studies, Alma Lopez will talk about "Our Lady and Other Queer Santas."
She will also sign copies of her blasphemous book called "Our Lady of Controversy: Alma Lopez's 'Irreverent' Apparition," which has that same blasphemous and impure collage of Our Lady of Guadalupe on its cover.
The authorities  at UCC must take a stand on this issue. It is time to withdraw permission for the exhibition.
Petition  University College Cork to CANCEL this blasphemy now!

Tell the University College Cork (Ireland) how shocked you are by this.
(Source: America Needs Fatima)

More information:

Head of Events, University College Cork

Dara O'Shea

Tel: 011- 353 21 490 3676

e-mail: d.oshea@ucc.ie

Video: Blind Muslim Boy In Egypt Healed In Blessing From Coptic Christian Priest

Ireland: Video of Wildlife at the Cliffs of Moher Co. Clare

Video: Cow and Gate-Cow opens farm gate using tongue

Italy: Saint Lucia in Perugia, the church wanted by Our Lady of Medjugorje

The book  La firma del cielo (The signing of the sky)-written by Fr Ignatius Zaganelli- tells the fascinating story of the influence of Our Lady of Medjugorje  on the building of  the  new church dedicated to Our Lady Queen of Peace  in the  heart of the parish of Saint Lucia in Perugia in Italy .The church "Queen of Peace"  had in fact, since the beginning of the project, an unusual "director of business": the Virgin of Medjugorje, the "Lady", the "Kralijca Mira" .

It all began in 1983. In October of that year Father Ignatius went for the first time to Medjugorje in Bosnia-Herzegovina, where since June 1981,  the Virgin Mary  has been appearing
The first impact  was  negative with the priest apparently intending to never return to the place that was already establishing itself as a destination for pilgrimage. But the opposite then  happened, " The Madonna -  writes Zaganelli - made me feel a joy and  a peace. Since then, he says, prayer - which originally was burdensome  and tiring - "became a constant desire." The experience deeply marked the parish priest of Saint Lucia. It was the turning point. It was the conversion. It was the beginning of a new faith. Renewed, Don Ignatius begins to imagine the creation of a new church: the old parish structure had only one hundred seats and  no longer met the needs of a community of six thousand people.

During Easter 1985, they started to conceive what would become the church dedicated to Mary Queen of Peace. The inspiration came from reading the Gospel. The new temple would be in the form of "John Dory". There was the idea but  there was  also a lack of  will and everything else: the land, the engineers, the approval of the ecclesiastical authorities, the money.  It took a strong dose of unconsciousness when the idea began to take shape," writes the former journalist Paul Meattelli Rai in the preface to the volume.

In October 1988  there was a new crucial step. Vicka Ivanovic, one of the visionaries in Medjugorje, arrived in Perugia at the invitation of Don Zaganelli.  The  Madonna communicated to the priest through Vicka. Vicka said  "The Madonna  told me that you will do everything slowly and  you will move  move forward." Providence had intervened.
On June 3, 1990, in the presence of the bishop Antonelli, the first stone was laid. There was no lack of trouble - Our Lady, through the visionary Mirijana "scolded" the parish council for the lack of prayer.  A radical change occurred  the work continued and the site was closed in just two and a half years. The new church dedicated to Our Lady Queen of Peace was opened on Christmas Eve of 1993. A few months later (May 1994) the consecration was broadcast live by Radio Maria.

The building of the church was not the end of the project. Within a few years the other pieces of the grand project: the parish hall, theater, sports (football and volleyball) and the Via Crucis (2007) had seen the light of day. On July 2, in the presence of Monsignor Bassetti,  the  old church of the village-which  was saved from certain disintegration and was elegantly restored -will be inaugurated to start a new life as a centre of the  pro-life movement. The  former parish house will host ten apartments for children -suffering from leukaemia- and their families. All this with "the signature of the sky" and the blessing of the Virgin of Medjugorje.

Videos: Corncrakes Calling

Irish Corncrake numbers at critical levels

The Corn Crake, Corncrake or Landrail (Crex crex) is a bird which breeds across Europe and Asia to western China.It migrates to Africa in winter.
Sadly the corncrake has disappeared from most parts of Ireland with the advent of modern farming practices. It particularly likes to breed in hayfields. It is now confined to the core areas of Donegal, west Connacht and Shannon Callows. According to a Department of the Environment report, the numbers of corncrakes last year increased by five to 133. This was the first rise since 2005 when 162 were recorded.

Medjugorje Book- Full of Grace: Miraculous Stories of Healing and Conversion through Mary's Intercession ( Christine Watkins)

In her compelling debut book, Full of Grace: Miraculous Stories of Healing and Conversion through Mary's Intercession. Christine Watkins tells her dramatic story of a miraculous healing, along with the stories of five others:
• a nightclub stripper
• a Nobel Peace Prize nominee
• a homeless drug addict
• a lonely youth
• a cocaine abuser
All of these people share one thing in common: a visit to Medjugorje, where the Virgin Mary is appearing in our lifetime, played a pivotal role in their faith journeys.
The book is a must-read, page turner that is changing lives, bringing people back to faith, and getting fantastic reviews-- Wayne Weible, author of Medjugorje the Message, called the book, "direct, heart-rending, and miraculous." Denis Nolan, author of Medjugorje and the Church, says, "Start reading, and you'll find it hard to put down!
Teresa Burke, author of Forbidden Grief, says, "I cannot think of another book on Medjugorje so well done!"
After each story, Watkins offers a prayerful reflection and thought-provoking questions to enable her readers to delve into deep personal reflection, making Full of Grace an ideal resource for spiritual direction, parish retreats, and faith sharing groups.

Ireland: Brian Lenihan RIP June 10, 2011

Today broke the sad news of the death of former Finance Minister Brian Lenihan at the early age of 52. Brian fought pancreatic cancer with incredible fortitude whilst shouldering the burdens of the finance portfolio at a time of economic turmoil for the country. He certainly sacrificed himself for Ireland and was a man of the highest integrity with a brilliant legal mind.
I would like to extend my sincerest sympathy to Brian's immediate family and also to his extended family. Leaba i measc na naomh go raibh aige.

Prayer for Canonisation of Montserrat Grases of Barcelona

An account of the life of Montserrat Grases is available here

Prayer for Montse's intercession
Prayer for private devotion

O God, you granted your servant Montse the grace of serene and cheerful dedication to your will with admirable simplicity in everyday life. Grant that I may lovingly offer to you all my daily activity and convert it into Christian service for others. Deign to glorify your servant Montse and through her intercession grant me the favor I ask of you… (here make your request). Amen.

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be to the Father.

In conformity with the decrees of Pope Urban VIII, there is no intention of anticipating in any way the judgment of the Church. This prayer is not intended for public use.

Video: Hail Mary/Gentle Woman from the Sounds of Medjugorje

This video is from the Sounds of Medjugorje and the title is called Hail Mary/Gentle Woman and the music is sung by: Michael O'Brien.

Video: Shakespeare Was Catholic

Ireland: Newstalk-Michael Noonan and Income Tax, George Hook and Eddie Hobbs on Pensions

The seven pm news bulletin on Newstalk  lead with the claim by Fianna Fail TD Michael McGrath that FG was preparing the people for a u-turn on income tax. Michael McGrath was allowed to give full vent to his CLAIM  that the coalition intended to increase income tax in the next budget contrary to the programme for government. Yet  Michael Noonan's full statement on the issue  in the Dail was not carried. Actually  Noonan was quite measured on his comments in the Dail. No prudent Minister for  Finance will give hostages to fortune at this stage.

The Minister for Finance actually said that  he was not going to rule out any tax initiative, or any tax increase, or any tax reduction, in the light of the state of the country's finances. He also said "I have nothing in mind at present".  He also stressed that his approach to income tax would be in accord with the principles of the Programme for Government. Yet Newstalk ran with the FF interpretation.

George Hook has consistently attacked the government on the pension levy. Actually his attacks are ridiculous and over the top. If I interpret Hook correctly the old are being robbed by the government. What utter nonsense. This country has  generous tax relief on pension contributions. For higher tax earners like Hook it is 41%. Count your blessings  George.

Is it too much to expect a little in return  at a time when the country is on its knees?  Hook proceeded to lambast Michael Noonan on the issue based on comments he made in the Dail today.
Michael Noonan was actually replying to a question from  Laois- Offaly FF TD  Sean Fleming. Deputy Fleming  appealed to the minister to change the Bill imposing the levy on pension funds, to include ARFs. Hook used this to claim that Noonan was targeting pensions again. In actual fact  he stated that he WOULD CONSIDER  a  levy on the ARFs of the rich.

This is a point for Hook to ponder. The Fair  Deal for the old is underfunded  to the tune of €400 million. New Minister  James Reilly  has worked hard to sort out the mess. Yet the Hook viciously  and unfairly attacks the government  on the issue of the  pensions/old.

Turning to  Eddie  Hobbs:  A word of advice-Give a little  to save a lot.  Alternatively give nothing and lose the lot. Please remember that there is tax relief of 41% for higher earners making pension contributions.  There are generous commission rates for those working in the pensions industry. This state is more than generous to those saving for a pension. Most of the money contributed has been invested abroad depriving the country of badly need investment funds. The  Irish tax system is actually incentivising  investment overseas.  Maybe it is time to drop the levy, abolish the tax relief  for those earning over €90,000 and slash the tax relief to 30% for those earning less than €90,000. George and  Eddie might prefer that.  Finally there is no threat to peoples bank deposits.

Is Hook modelling himself on Rush Limbaugh. George you ain't no Rush Limbaugh..

Sarkozy bullies Ireland on Interest rate and shames France (Sarkozy est un tyran)

Sarkozy behaves more like a political pygmy than a statesman

IRELAND is being overcharged -to the tune of 3% -on the interest rate imposed by its European partners on its €85 billion bailout package negotiated by the outgoing FF government. The EU is profiting from Ireland’s misery. The new government has sought a modest 1% reduction in the interest rate. However it has run into strong opposition from Germany and France. German opposition appears to have softened somewhat.

However the behaviour of Sarkozy President of France is preposterous. The French are prepared to veto a 1% reduction unless Ireland increases its 12.5% corporation profits tax. To a certain extent this tax rate compensates for the fact that Ireland is an island on the periphery of Europe and thus has higher transport costs. The low tax rate has aided the attraction of foreign industrial investment to the country. Notwithstanding this Ireland has a 15% unemployment rate and a large debt burden. Sarkozy is endeavouring to bully a small country into submission all in the interests of political expediency. He faces the French electorate in a presidential election in 2012. So he seeks to impress the voters by trampling on a small nation’s rights. What a brave little man. Now of course Sarkozy will not pick a row with a large power like China . No he much prefers to bully a small country of 4.5 million people on its knees economically. Sarkozy is engaging in hypocritical posturing as France uses various strategies to reduce its real level of Corporation Profits Tax. He promised in the course of the Nice Treaty referendum re run that Ireland’s corporation profits tax would not be altered if the country passed the treaty. So Sarkozy is not alone a cynical political schemer but also untruthful. He has disgraced the French people by his antics on this issue. He is behaving more like a political pygmy than a statesman

FINANCE Minister Michael Noonan has warned France that our corporation tax rate is not up for negotiation. Under no circumstances can Ireland yield on this. To do so would be to commit economic suicide. If this were to occur foreign companies would pull out of Ireland. The EU could then whistle goodbye to its money. France would lose out. Indeed the Euro could collapse .

Sarkozy is threading on thin ice. He apparently wishes to sabotage the Irish economy. He is playing with fire all in the interests of his own reelection

Perhaps he might care to ponder on the following: If you owe the bank €100, that's your problem. If you owe the bank €100 million, that's the bank's problem. Bury the Irish economy Mr Sarkozy and the Irish debt becomes your problem.

Failure by Germany and France to treat Ireland fairly will ultimately cost both countries their economic prosperity as the Euro and some large German banks collapse. Malheureusement Sarkozy est un nain politique. Oh for the days of  a Helmut Kohl or a Willy Brandt or a Konrad Adenauer.

Pope John Paul II-New Book reveals his Mystical Side including a Transfigured Face

According to Monsignor Slawomir Oder, who has written an international bestseller, Why He Is A Saint (published in New York, London, and Milan), the late pontiff constantly helped the needy and as a priest literally gave shirts, jackets, and coats off his back, even in frigid weather. That generosity continued as he was promoted up through the hierarchy. On one occasion, the future saint gave a poor family in Brazil his very cardinal's ring -- which had been presented to him by Pope Paul VI! Blessed John Paul II even gave away his shoes -- his only pair, in another case (forcing him to ask for a pair before celebrating Mass).

That unselfishness and his mystical side drew even the most worldly to appreciate his unique presence. This is a Pope who would often upset travel schedules by halting to pray, at great length, in front of a tabernacle or at a Marian shrine. In fact, he promised the Madonna to visit a shrine for every vocation added to one particular monastery that suddenly boomed with new vocations. He walked five miles to one.

He readied for the morning services the night before, reciting the preparatory prayers in Latin. When he awoke, he remembered the intention for which he was to celebrate Mass. When he arrived in the sacristy, he would kneel and pray for fifteen to twenty minutes. The Pope once was heard to say, "They try to understand me from without. But I can only be understood from within." Continue reading at Spirit Daily

Video: Croatia-Pope Benedict Prayer service with young people

Apparition to Mirjana June 2, 2011 at Medjugorje

June 2, 2011 Message to Mirjana :
"Dear children; As I call you to prayer for those who have not come to know the love of God, if you were to look into your hearts you would comprehend that I am speaking about many of you. With an open heart, sincerely ask yourselves if you want the living God or do you want to eliminate Him and live as you want. Look around you, my children, and see where the world is going, the world that thinks of doing everything without the Father, and which wanders in the darkness of temptation. I am offering to you the light of the Truth and the Holy Spirit. According to God's plan I am with you to help you to have my Son, His Cross and Resurrection, triumph in your hearts. As a mother, I desire and pray for your unity with my Son and His works. I am with you; you decide. Thank you."

According to Mirjana, Our Lady looked sad during the apparition. When Our Lady spoke about "the light of the Truth and the Holy Spirit,” a unique light was visible behind her. Before the apparition was over, Our Lady blessed everyone present and their religious articles, and She especially blessed the priests.

Videos: Two-hour Medjugorje documentary transmitted this week on major Italian TV station Rete 4

The two-hour Medjugorje documentary was transmitted this week at prime time on  major Italian TV station Rete 4. Actress Claudia Koll who appears in the documentary experienced an amazing conversion at Medjugorje. Notwithstanding the fact that the programme is in Italian it is nevertheless possible to get a   good basic understanding of the documentary.

Russia: Abortion Crackdown as Parliament and Orthodox Church combine

Russian Lawmakers Prepare For Major Crackdown on Abortion
MOSCOW (AP) — Russia‘s Orthodox Church teamed with Conservative parliamentarians Monday to push legislation that would radically restrict abortions in a nation struggling to cope with one of the world’s lowest birthrates.

The legislation would ban free abortions at government-run clinics and prohibit the sale of the morning-after pill without a prescription, said Yelena Mizulina, who heads a parliamentary committee on families, women and children.

She added that abortion for a married woman would also require the permission of her spouse, while teenage girls would need their parents’ consent. If the legislation is passed, a week’s waiting period would also be introduced so women could consider their decision to terminate their pregnancy, Mizulina said. (Source:The  Blaze)

Ireland -Joe Duffy’s Liveline discusses Property Tax and Water Charges June 2, 2011

Much  of today’s programme was taken up with a discussion on the proposed introduction of water charges and property tax.
First of all lets look at the background to this discussion:
Minister for the Environment Phil Hogan has announced that an "interim household charge", will be introduced in next December’s budget as a precursor to a property tax.
The EU/IMF bailout programme signed by the outgoing Fianna Fail government obliges the Government to introduce a property tax next year and increase it the year after.

However the Government must put in place a comprehensive property valuation system before it can introduce the property tax.

The interim charge will be introduced on a "flat-rate basis", meaning all households will pay exactly the same amount until a comprehensive property tax is introduced. The money collected will be "ring-fenced" for local Government services, such as fire- fighting, libraries and other amenities.

Mr Hogan emphasised that there would be exemptions for those "who are on very low incomes, on social welfare or are under pressure in terms of their mortgages".
The IMF/EU bailout signed by the last FF government commits Ireland to introduce water charges by 2013.

 Mr Hogan said no water charges would be levied until the meter installation programme was complete, which could take up to three years.  Each person will have a free allowance. It is expected to be about 10 litres daily.
He said “ I see it as a very important water-conservation issue where there's a substantial amount of money being wasted through poor pipe networks but, equally, through individuals and businesses not engaging in water conservation to the extent that they should," he said. "There are too many people wasting water at the moment."
A state-run company, Irish Water will be set up by the end of the year to oversee the metering programme.
So in short under the IMF/EU deal Ireland is COMPELLED to introduce water charges and a property tax  if it is to draw down funds from the  deal

Now let's analyse the Liveline programme today:
Several speakers were practically hysterical on the issue. All with one exception were vehemently opposed to  water charges and property tax.  One contributor could not understand why he should not have free water  for his fish. Another saw no problem watering the lawn.  Several  stated that they would not  pay the taxes.This is of course illegal as far as I am aware.  This was not teased out

Now the provision of water is a costly business costing the taxpayer one billion euro annually. NO mention of this was made in the programme.  The impression was given  that taxes were  already paid to cover the cost of water provision. This is utter nonsense. Ireland is running a deficit of 19 billion euro. It is spending 19 billion euro  MORE on health, social welfare and general state services than it is taking in, in taxes. That is our structural deficit. Joe Duffy wished to place all  blame for  our problems on the bank bail out. That is factually incorrect. The  structural deficit would exist bailout or no bailout. It PREDATES  it.
Some callers were   concerned for sons/daughters who had  taken out mortgages and had run into difficulties. That is a legitimate concern.
Now lets look  again at what the minister actually  said in relation to these mortgage holders and the poor:

He  emphasised that there would be exemptions for those "who are on very low incomes, on social welfare or are under pressure in terms of their mortgages"
Again the programme failed to mention this.  

We are depending on foreigners to keep us afloat. If we refuse to introduce water rates and a property tax the IMF/EU will cut off funds. This would result in a 40% cut in wages, social welfare and closure of hospitals and a slashing of old age pensions. This is what happened in Latvia. We have Hobson’s choice.

Ireland: Dwarf Narcissi, Lilac and Roses -Co. Waterford May/June 2011

Click to enlarge photographs

Dwarf Narcissi

Lilac

Roses