Video: Waterford Captain Frankie Walsh Speaks about All Ireland Hurling Final Win in 1959

Sadly another member of the great 1959 team has passed away. RIP Frankie Walsh.

Medjugorje: Jesus appeared and spoke on Christmas Day

On Tuesday last Christmas day the baby Jesus reportedly spoke to Marija Pavlovic Lunetti one of the Medjugorje visionaries. It was the first time that it has been reported that Jesus spoke to someone at Medjugorje. Marija said: "Our Lady came with baby Jesus in her arms and did not give any message, but the baby Jesus spoke up and said, 'I am your peace, live my Commandments'. Then the baby Jesus and Our Lady made the sign of the cross and gave a blessing.

Also on Christmas day Our Lady appeared and spoke to Medjugorje visionary Jakov Colo. She gave Jakov the following message:

Dear children, give the gift of your life to me and completely surrender to me so that I may help you to comprehend my motherly love and the love of my Son for you. My children, I love you immeasurably and today, in a special way, on the day of the birth of my Son, I desire to receive each of you into my heart and to give a gift of your lives to my Son. My children, Jesus loves you and gives you the grace to live in His mercy, but sin has overtaken many of your hearts and you live in darkness. Therefore, my children, do not wait, say ‘no’ to sin and surrender your hearts to my Son, because only in this way will you be able to live God’s mercy and, with Jesus in your hearts, set out on the way of salvation” .

Huckabee Show video: Niamh Ui Bhriain of the Life Institute and Lila Rose discuss Savita Case

Death of Savita Halappanavar sparks abortion law controversy in Ireland

Niamh Ui Bhriain founder of the Life Institute in Ireland and Lila Rose of Live Action discuss the Savita case with Mike Huckabee and describe the efforts being made by pro-abortion groups to foist abortion on Ireland.

“Adore Him” - A new Christmas song by Kari Jobe

Video:Saints whose bodies have remained incorrupt

Medjugorje-Margaret Poole conversion to Catholicism, Rosie story and Franjo Zubacon Gospa Majka Moja

Unite For Life pro-life vigil in Dublin on 19th January 2013 at 4.30pm.

Video:Young Irish Women Oppose Legalisation Of Abortion

90 second video in which young Irish women talk about why they attended the massive Unite For Life pro-life vigil in Dublin on 4th December.

Ireland- Abortion:FG Backbench TDs Rebel on SUICIDE Issue if you wish to save your seats

The decision of the Irish government today to legalise abortion on the ground of suicide is a disgrace. It means that the unborn child can be deliberately targeted and killed. A promise was given in writing by Phil Hogan the FG director of elections- before the last general election- that FG in government would not legalise abortion. I have a copy of it. Now the party leadership has sold out the unborn. I did not vote for Labour Party/Workers Party/DL policy on abortion.

If the FG backbench TDs want to save the party, they had better rebel and stand up to Reilly/Shatter/Fitzgerald/Kenny clique who are seen even by many FG supporters as out and out bullies. I concur with that. This cannot go through if the backbenchers band together as a group and make it clear they are not voting for it. FG can't kick out thirty or forty TDs. A Dublin liberal clique has highjacked the FG party aided and abetted by a weak leader. Reilly speaks about this as a victory for the women of Ireland. It is no such thing. There was no mention from him -on RTE Six One News tonight- of the right to life of the unborn child. Backbench TDs must rebel against the Kenny, Shatter, Reilly clique that is leading the party to political destruction.

Backbenchers stand up for the unborn. Stand up for the traditions of a Christian Democratic Party. You are entitled to freedom of conscience. Block the suicide option. Bury this insane proposal. If the Labour Party wishes to walk out on this issue so be it. It will face wipe out in any snap general election. We did not vote for Labour's pro abortion policies. Labour will become an urban half party. If Kenny and Reilly and Shatter fail to listen, REPLACE them. Otherwise face wipe out in rural constituencies. If Kenny, Reilly, Fitzgerald and Shatter are not prepared to listen vote if necessary against the party whip on this issue. The arrogance of Shatter and Reilly knows no bounds. They are about to destroy the FG party. Rebel and remove Kenny, Shatter, Fitzgerald and Reilly if they are unprepared to listen. They do not represent 90% of FG voters. Shatter and Reilly preach about referendums and the X-Case. Seeing as they claim to be democrats no doubt they will put their proposals to the electorate in a referendum.

Reilly speaks about consensus. He has no intention of listening to those who proclaim the right to life of the unborn. He is cunningly seeking to weaken opposition to the proposal. I have news for him. He ain't seen nothing yet. Prolife supporters will fight tooth and nail to scuttle this proposal. Kenny is where he is as leader thanks to the liberal clique of Fitzgerald, Shatter and Reilly who supported him in the leadership campaign. He lacks the guts to face them down. I have lost all respect for him. Shame on you Mr Kenny. Mr Kenny your word counts for nothing any more.

2011 General Election Letter from Phil Hogan:“Fine Gael is opposed to the legislation of Abortion”

UN's Anand Grover in outrageous interference in Irish Abortion debate

The UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Health Anand Grover has said abortion should be an option for women where their health is affected and not only where the life of the mother is at risk. Speaking to RTÉ News, Mr. Grover said he is concerned about the health of women around the world, but in particular the health of women in Ireland following the death of Savita Halappanavar. Incidentally RTE FAILED to indicate that Mr. Grover has issued a radical pro-abortion report.

Really Mr. Grover!!. It is none of your business how Ireland regulates its health service. Your intervention is ill-timed, ill-judged and idiotic. Three inquiries are ongoing into Savita's death. You do not have the full facts in relation to this case. Yet you are pontificating in relation to it. Much of the coverage in the international media on this issue was and is deeply flawed and was/is influenced by Irish pro- aborts. You appear to be strongly influenced by pro- abortion lies in the international media. The UN is a deeply discredited organisation which has become a pro-abortion front. Where for instance is UN concern on gendercide? Yet for sometime it has been busy interfering in Irish internal affairs on the abortion issue. Essentially Mr.Anand Grover is arguing for abortion on demand in Ireland. Now of course he will not state that openly. That is the only conclusion that can be drawn from his injudicious intervention. Where is your concern for the unborn child Mr. Grover? The pro-life position is that a seriously ill mother is entitled to all treatment necessary to save her life even if the unborn child unintentionally dies in the course of the treatment. That is the situation in Ireland at present.

Now suicide should not be a grounds for abortion: Eleven top-level Irish consultant psychiatrists have sent a letter to FG TDs and Senators opposing suicide as a grounds for abortion. The letter states that "termination of pregnancy is not a psychiatric treatment for suicidality, nor is it mentioned as such in any of the major textbooks of psychiatry'. The letter also expresses the belief that "offering an abortion to a distressed person who is psychiatrically ill would be strongly ill-advised since the person's capacity to make important life decisions is frequently impaired". These are the experts not you Mr. Grover. Ireland does not need your concern. The maternal mortality rate in INDIA is 540 per 100,000. That is YOUR country Mr. Grover. It has legalised abortion. In IRELAND (without abortion) the maternal mortality rate is 6 per 100,000. Based on world wide statistics for maternal mortality Ireland is one of the safest countries in the world for pregnant women.

The UN has morphed into an organisation that denies the unborn the right to life. A so-called human rights organisation is now attacking the human rights of the unborn. Yet it fails to attack gendercide in China. It is a cowardly discredited body that increasingly promotes the CULTURE OF DEATH. Hopefully Irish politicians will have the good sense to ignore its moronic pronouncements on the unborn.

2011 General Election Letter from Phil Hogan:“Fine Gael is opposed to the legislation of Abortion”

11 top-level Irish consultant psychiatrists in letter oppose suicide as grounds for abortion.

11 top-level Irish consultant psychiatrists have sent a letter to FG TDs and Senators opposing suicide as a grounds for abortion.

The letter was signed by Jacqueline Montwill, consultant psychiatrist for Mayo Mental Health Services; Eugene Breen, CP Mater University Hospital; Alan Byrne, CP Naas; Patricia Casey, professor of psychiatry Mater/UCD; Ciaran Clarke, CP Barringtons Limerick; Brid Corkery, CP St Stephen's Hospital Cork; Brian Houlihan, consultant child psychiatrist at Children's University Hospital Temple St; Richelle Kirrane, CP John Connolly Hospital; Martin Mahon, CP John Connolly Hospital; Bernie McCabe, CP Navan Mental Health Services, and Geraldine Lyster, CP St Brigid's Hospital Louth.

Significantly, the letter claims that "termination of pregnancy is not a psychiatric treatment for suicidality, nor is it mentioned as such in any of the major textbooks of psychiatry'. The letter also expresses the belief that "offering an abortion to a distressed person who is psychiatrically ill would be strongly ill-advised since the person's capacity to make important life decisions is frequently impaired". Source:(JOHN DRENNAN-Sunday Independent )

I have already discussed the abortion issue in Ireland at length at
(1) Ireland: Reilly, Shatter and FG have NO Mandate to legalise abortion for suicide threat

AND

(2) Ireland: Reasons not to legalise Abortion

Gabriele Amorth Exorcist of Diocese of Rome and Catholic priest answers questions

Question: A young man of twenty-eight who suffers from panic attacks and anxiety, went to many doctors, but that did not solve the problem. It was recalled that when he was just ten years, together with friends, he participated as a joke in seances.

Father Amorth: And so by a joke you can ruin your whole life. However to this young man I recommend three tips that Jesus gives to heal the ills of evil, even without the need for exorcisms:(1) much faith (2)much prayer and (3) fasting. I remember the advice that Jesus gave to nine apostles who failed to release a young man from demons." "Why do not you have faith, it takes prayer and fasting to banish some demons."

Question: When I commit a mortal sin, can I ask forgiveness from God without having to confess to a priest?

Father Amorth: Two things: When you commit a mortal sin you should make an act of perfect repentance and this you can do yourself with God: "Lord, I ask your forgiveness because I have offended you, because I deserved hell, I offended you, I went against your commandment. "This has to be done right away, for fear of a sudden death, but it is not enough. The Lord was clear: "Whose sins you shall forgive they are forgiven whose sins you shall retain they are retained." So you must confess as soon as possible." Jesus wants priests to forgive sins, because sin is not just a personal matter, it is something that damages the whole of society, even if done in secret.

Question: Our Lady says that fasting today is really necessary, why does the Church does not speak?

Father Amorth: It 'a good question. I remember as a child that it was held to be enormously important not to eat meat on a Friday and also to fast on any particular day. Our Lady insists so much on fasting, then why does the Church not speak? It will be good if you go back to talk about it even just as an observation.

Question: If two gay people love each other why can they can not marry?

Father Amorth: Dear children, God has instituted marriage between a man and a woman. God created men and women complementary, but here you go against the most basic principles of reason. It's true that we are in a world so confused! At the time I was flabbergasted when, on the occasion of the referendum on divorce, I saw many Catholics vote for divorce. At that time I broke the friendship with my dear friend that maybe some of you have heard of -Carlo Carretto, Monaco. He publicly said: "I vote in favor of divorce." In my area in Emilia all the advocates of divorce went around with the speech of Carlo Carretto. Many Catholics voted for divorce, then, even worse, many Catholics voted for abortion. Jesus said, "What God has joined together let no man put asunder." Abortion is against the 5th commandment "Thou shalt not kill." I have seen many Catholics vote for abortion, and those who practice abortion are murderers who have a patron: King Herod, the author of the Massacre of the Innocents. Doctors should cure the disease and not kill. But you say it's crazy we live in a world so upset that if today a referendum were held on euthanasia it could be passed. If a referendum were held on adoption of children by homosexual couples it could pass. It is 'a shattered world , so here it is essential that a Christian who wants to live as a Christian, must be different from the others. Christians must stand up for their beliefs and not be shy.

Question: Why is there so much corruption in the Church and so much luxury? Why do not you sell many goods and give the money to the poor? The property of the church were made with the money of the poor?

Father Amorth: Look at these great cathedrals, these mosaics, these paintings, the statues, go to visit the Vatican Museums. Why should you shut down the Sistine Chapel, which is for the joy and faith of all? Did you know that the Sistine Chapel is visited by twenty thousand people a day at the height of the tourist season? Things are then given to God for the benefit and enjoyment of all. There was a pastor who I think you have all heard of. He was the Cure of Ars. He used to dress very poorly, but when it came to buying for the church, he wanted the most beautiful things, because they are for the Lord. There are people who can give money to the poor and the Church does its best. Look at Caritas worldwide, also think of the many cafeterias that Caritas has in Rome.

Question: Many people say many rosaries but then it seems they misbehave with others.

Father Amorth: We pray for Christian living. We pray to God for strength to live as Christians. What does it mean? To love God with all your strength and love your neighbor as Jesus has loved him. In that way Jesus loves us. St. John is so clear: "Jesus loved us by giving his life for us, this means that we must love our neighbor by giving our lives for others. The more you pray the more you can understand God and His goodness. Maybe we do not pray with the heart, ah this is possible!! We must pray in faith, not mechanically. Pray with faith and prayer increases faith and charity.

Question: Although I pray, my situation in the office is just desperate. My colleagues are bad for me, and even threaten to kill me, because I have heard bad things about them. I also know a high level employee who has been fired unjustly, because he came to know of the big flaws at the top. I have lost all hope. I wonder if the Lord does not see my situation? I can not quit my job because I do not know how to earn a living in any other way. I have to stay even if full of fear.

Father Amorth: Sometimes you are forced to live in an environment like that and just because a person is a Christian, who disapproves of certain things that others approve, it is likely he /she will be persecuted. The Christian must accept being persecuted. Christians must also agree to give their lives for the Lord. You see in the Middle East, many Christians were killed in the Church. A Christian must also agree to be frowned upon by others because the Church is different from the others and is in trouble if it conforms to the ideas of others.

Question: For eighteen years I have been trying to bring my daughter Paola to behave like a child of God, but this time things are getting worse to the point that she professes to be someone else. Now it's as if she no longer lives,. She spends all night and day on her computer and contacts horrible persons. She is no longer interested in anything, not even in her little daughter, or us parents. What should I do?

Father Amorth: When a person loses his head completely he loses out. So you just have to pray, and treat her with kindness, because goodness can conquer.If you are acerbic it is counterproductive. Yes, yes, disapprove but continue to love and submit to the mercy of God

Question: What are the causes of the spread of magical practices? What are the consequences of the spread of these practices?

Father Amorth: It is clear that the spread of these magical practices depends on the spread of the loss of faith. When you lose faith, you give in unerringly to superstition. That is the cause of the spread of magical practices. Here in Rome, one of the first years I was an exorcist, I was invited by a religion teacher to a high school, one of Rome's most famous. I asked the children: "Dear children, I want to know how many of you are playing a game where you speak with the dead. The Bible says, "He who speaks with the dead is an abomination to God." It is true Satanism and I asked: More than half raised their hands. And I asked them again. A large number of hands went up again. Present was the religion teacher who had invited me. The game of the glass is extremely dangerous. Unfortunately, many priests do not know about these things and think it is a harmless joke. Instead there are those who suffer flu or worse yet a demonic possession. You have to stay away from anything that can cause disorders of evil character, which sometimes can become very serious. About the worst case I can think of was where the Sicilian exorcist named Father Matteo La Grua, who died recently, was the first to make the diagnosis of a person possessed by Satan with twenty-seven legions. He is now well, having been healed(by exorcism) .

Medjugorje Visit helps Martin to return to God

"How I became a believer."- Martin tells his faith story.

Martin did not come to faith, but rather faith came to him. Born into a religious family he had thus started to rebel from the age of twelve. "I had got a lot of problems at this time, had a different way of life. I had become a bit of a rebel," says the 26-year-old. "The teachers wanted to fire me several times from school; I had problems with my parents. No, I did not really care. At 16 I then fell into a coma for several hours after I had drunk too much alcohol.

Then I came for the first time on the question of what exactly is the meaning of life? I knew I could not go on as I was, but I was aimless. I got the offer in the summer of 2002 to participate in a youth pilgrimage to Medjugorje. My mother paid for the trip for me. At first it was very difficult for me. I was on a bus with 30 people I did not know and they were just all so 'Christian' ... who were praying ... I remember that I got out at every rest stop and smoked two or three cigarettes. But I noticed that these people had something that I did not have. They had a joy, a purpose in life and presence. It is difficult to put into words, I'm not anybodys fool, never had a vision or a miracle, but somehow I felt deep in my heart, there was more to life and that I would have to stay tuned. I decided that summer that I would walk a path with God and that I wanted to be a good person. I have learned painfully that I was a selfish, a cold man. I have much to regret. For the last ten years, I have been on the road to God. Martin has found that again and again that he needs to renew his faith. (Source:erzdioezese-wien)

Ireland-Confidence Debate: Sinn Fein's Mary Lou McDonald in Nonsensical Comment on Debt Default

In the course of the Dail debate tonight on the Sinn Fein no confidence motion in the government Mary Lou McDonald chided the government on the issue of default. She ridiculed FG for its opposition to default. Really Mary Lou McDonald is totally confused if she believes that a unilateral default would provide a way forward. She seems blissfully unaware of the likely consequences. The ECB has provided funding to the tune of c130 billion euro for Irish banks. A unilateral default would have major repercussions for those banks. Does she really believe that the ECB would not retaliate? Who would fund the banks in the event of a unilateral default? Who would fund public service salaries and Social Welfare payments? Playing to the gallery is no substitute for a coherent economic policy. Neither is populist play acting. It may win a few cheers from the uninformed but it is not a way forward. Indeed it is the road to ruin. Perhaps Ms. McDonald and Sinn Fein might care to study the impact of a PARTIAL DEFAULT on Greece.

As a quid pro quo for debt restructuring

• Greece has promised to reduce its 750,000-strong broader public sector by 150,000 by the end of 2015,
• The minimum wage has been reduced to €2.20 per hour
• Savage pension cuts have been implemented.
• Large public sector pay cuts are being enforced.
• Massive rises in direct, indirect and property taxation have come into effect.

Mary Lou McDonald and Sinn Fein need to go back to the economic drawing board. They have not thought out the likely consequences of default.

Ireland needs concessions on the promissory notes and banking debt. At this juncture jaw-jaw is better than war-war. Hopefully a deal can be reached on the Anglo promissory notes by March. In addition Ireland is hoping that the ESM can be used to retroactively tackle some €30bn of bank debt relating to the recapitalisation of Bank of Ireland, AIB and Permanent TSB. This is a more rational approach than that advocated by Sinn Fein. Populist posturing does not an economic policy make. Sinn Fein is not alone in this. Shane Ross and Stephen Donnelly consistently surf the populist wave. Whilst Donnelly endeavours to come up with solutions, Ross engages in inane criticism devoid of answers.

Ireland-Abortion:Pastoral Letter on the Right to Life written by Bishop John Buckley of Cork

Here is the Pastoral Letter on the Right to Life written by Bishop John Buckley of Cork, Ireland (December 9,2012). 

My Dear People,

Human life is sacred and precious.  Every human being must be treated with the greatest respect.  This is true at every moment of life, from its first beginnings to its natural death.  In the womb we grow and develop as full human beings, not as potential human beings.  We read in the Old Testament:  “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I sanctified you” (Jeremiah 1:5).

The child in the womb must enjoy the same rights as all other people, among which is the unassailable right of an innocent person to life.  This includes our responsibility as a society to defend and promote the equal right to life of a pregnant mother and the innocent and defenceless child in her womb when the life of either of these persons is at risk.  They have an equal right to life.  The Catholic Church has never taught that the life of a child in the womb should be preferred to that of the mother.  In situations where a seriously ill pregnant woman needs medical treatment which may put the life of her baby at risk, such treatments are morally permissible, provided that every effort has been made to save the life of both the mother and her baby.

Abortion is the deliberate medical intervention to end the life of an unborn child and is gravely wrong in all circumstances.  This is different from medical treatments, such as those to save the mother, which do not directly and intentionally seek to end the life of the unborn baby.

Current law and medical guidelines in Ireland allow nurses and doctors in Irish hospitals to apply this vital distinction in practice.  International statistics confirm that Ireland, without abortion, remains one of the safest countries in the world in which to be pregnant and to give birth.

Contrary to what has been widely said, the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights does not oblige the Irish government to legislate for abortion.  The Lisbon Treaty was passed at the second attempt following assurances that Ireland had the right to determine its own policies on abortion.

The recent report of the government-appointed Expert Group has put forward four options.  Three of those options involve abortion i.e. the direct and intentional killing of the unborn child.  This can never be morally justified.  In no other situation in life do we suggest ending the life of a person as a solution to a problem.  The fourth option i.e. guidelines which can help ensure consistency in the delivery of medical treatment, could be a way forward provided the direct and intentional killing of either person continues to be excluded.  The Expert Group failed to consider the moral dimensions, even though it is was included in the terms of reference.

We must always extend our help to women who find themselves in crisis pregnancies, offering love and compassion.  The Church understands the anguish and distress of women in difficult situations who might wrongly feel that abortion is the only option open to them.  The Church has its agencies that are ready to assist those who find themselves in such a situation.  CURA Crisis Pregnancy Support Service offers support and counselling.  CURA itself, with its own confidential counselling service, can be contacted at its Cork centre (Tel: 021-4277544).

The pro-life commitment of the Church is also reflected in its compassion for those who often regret having an abortion.  Many women who had abortions would have been willing to carry their children to term if they had received support from the important people in their lives.  Addressing women who had abortions, Blessed Pope John Paul II wrote: “The Church is aware of the many factors which may have influenced your decision and she does not doubt that in many cases, it was a painful decision.  Do not give in to discouragement.  Believe in the mercy of the Lord.  The Lord is close to the broken-hearted”.

Finally, respect for life is deeply embedded in Irish society.  Respect for the unborn is widely acknowledged also and, hopefully, we will continue with this commendable tradition.  I am appealing for prayers at this particular time.  Take time to pray, it is the greatest power on earth.  May the Virgin Mary, who gave birth to Jesus, protect all mothers, all unborn babies, all medical and nursing hands and all who make the laws of our land.

Praying God’s blessing on you at this time,

+John Buckley,

Bishop of Cork and Ross

Italian Politician Umberto Bossi goes to Medjugorje to find himself

Umberto Bossi was the founder of the Italian Northern League party. Religion was not very high on his agenda. If you look at the polls at the beginning of 2012 the party for the independence of the Po region of Northern Italy (The Northern League) was at 10% in the polls. Now however its support is less than 5%. A decline started between March and May, as the party became mired in scandal. That led to the resignation of the leader and founder Umberto Bossi on April 5.

Umberto Bossi has decided to entrust his future and his redemption to Medjugorje. Bossi has decided to try to escape from the corrupt world of politics paying a visit to Our Lady. Similarly Italian actress and model Sara Tommasi has visited Medjugorje in a spiritual journey to escape the evils of film. Increasingly Medjugorje is therefore the destination of many Italian'VIPs'. Today, if you want to meet some famous Italian person you no longer have to go and find some chic restaurant in the capital but rather visit Medjugorje in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Umberto Bossi and his wife Manuela Marrone are ready to go to climb the Hill of the Apparitions and Cross Mountain. A family friend has convinced Bossi to visit Medjugorje. The real "conversion" of the former leader of the Northern League, was already accomplished in June when Bresso Bossi took a seat in the front row to see Pope Benedict XVI. Meanwhile Sara Tommasi is ready to start out for Bosnia and Herzegovina this month of December on a second voyage in search of spirituality.

Huckabee Show on December 15:Savita Halappanavar death to be discussed with Lila Rose and Niamh Ui Bhriain of the Irish organization The Life Institute

Don't miss the Huckabee show  on Fox News Saturday December 15th at 8pm EST (1am Irish time)!

Note date change to December 15 not December 8(Error in original communication from Live Action)

Savita Halappanavar was a young woman from India living in Ireland, who faced serious complications during her pregnancy, miscarried her child, and later died of septicemia. Abortion campaigners across the world are exploiting this young woman's death, in an attempt to push for abortion legislation in Ireland.
Ireland is one of the only countries in the world that constitutionally protects all unborn children and their mother's from the violence of abortion. Ireland's constitution protects unborn children from the moment of conception, and it should be noted that Ireland has the lowest maternal mortality rate in the world.
Appearing on the Huckabee show is Niamh Ui Bhriain, who is the Director and spokeswoman of the Irish organization The Life Institute. Lila Rose of Live Action and Niamh will be given the opportunity to lay out the facts of Savita's case and discuss the current tumultuous situation in Ireland, as abortion advocates continue to campaign for abortion legislation in the pro-life country.

Immaculate Conception Novena and Definition

[Image from catholictradition.org]

The Immaculate Conception is a dogma of the Catholic Church maintaining that from the moment when she was conceived in the womb of her mother St. Anne the Blessed Virgin Mary was kept free of original sin and was filled with the sanctifying grace normally conferred during baptism. Her father was St. Joachim.

In 1854 that Pope Pius IX promulgated the papal bull Ineffabilis Deus (Latin for "Ineffable God"), which defined ex cathedra the dogma of the Immaculate Conception: We declare, pronounce and define that the doctrine which holds that the Blessed Virgin Mary, at the first instant of her conception, by a singular privilege and grace of the Omnipotent God, in virtue of the merits of Jesus Christ, the Saviour of mankind, was preserved immaculate from all stain of original sin, has been revealed by God, and therefore should firmly and constantly be believed by all the faithful. —Pope Pius IX, Ineffabilis Deus, December 8, 1854. Details of Novena to the Immaculate Conception available HERE

Ireland-Budget 2013-RTE/FG/ Labour fail to explain economic background to austerity

RTE Budget Sensationalism Grievance Shopping out of Control

Scarcely if ever has a budget got as much publicity as budget 2013. RTE went into over drive in the lead up to the budget. Six One News on Monday and Tuesday nights lead with individuals attacking likely cuts. Was RTE attempting to stir up public opinion in advance of the budget? RTE has almost exclusively focused on the impact of cutbacks and tax rises. It seems to be the policy of the station to engage in grievance shopping. Six One News on Wednesday night and tonight(Thursday) provided evidence of this in abundance. It is inarguable that budget 2013 has imposed hardship on families and homeowners. How could it be any other way? The government introduced cuts/tax rises to the tune of €3.5 billion. Looking at and listening to RTE's superficial coverage one would be forgiven for thinking that a cold blooded government has declared war on its people. There was an absence of analysis of the economic realities.

Six One News failed spectacularly to outline the economic background to the budget. The government is spending c51 billion euro and borrowing 13 billion euro of that. This budget deficit of 13 billion euro is funded by the IMF/EU. The national debt is in the range of 160-170 billion euro. Six one News failed to dissect the harsh economic realities underpinning this severe budget. In so doing it has done a disservice to the Irish people many of whom are unaware of the real state of government finances. Similarly the anti house tax campaign when only in its infancy received huge publicity from RTE. The amount of coverage accorded to Joe Higgins in the course of that campaign was truly amazing. Budget 2013 contained many imaginative measures which will help drive the SME sector in the years to come. This got no mention tonight. But then that is a positive story. It does not suit the grievance shopping mania pervading RTE. Interestingly Six One News failed to carry a report on the George Osborne's Autumn statement. According to this the UK faces austerity budgets to 2018. Savage benefit cuts have been announced for 250,000 people in Northern Ireland. This merited no mention on RTE either. The reality is that the government had Hobson's choice in framing this budget. Incidentally government Ministers in many cases have failed to explain the implications of the debt and budget deficit figures to the voters. It is imperative that the message is driven home that failure to eradicate the budget deficit could place many social payments at risk in their entirety. Over to you Messrs Kenny, Gilmore and other government ministers!!! Please spell out the harsh economic realities in terms which voters can understand. This is sine qua non if you wish to secure acceptance of the budget. It means spelling out the figures on the debt and deficit in CONCRETE TERMS.

Today Joe Duffy's Liveline majored on sensationalism. Callers afflicted by the cuts gave vent to their rage. Nothing wrong with that!! Undoubtedly people will suffer. However Joe Dufy consistently stirred things up. He on several occasions set fire to their indignation. When callers raised the new house tax Joe consistently spoke about a 10 euro weekly charge. Now this is pure and utter nonsense in many cases. Damn well Duffy knows it. He is not thick. The Revenue Commissioners were injected into the discussions by the host with regularity. He consistently failed to outline the economic backgound which necessitated the harsh budget. No mention from him of the 160-170 billion euro National debt or the budget deficit of 13 billion euro!! This is a pre-requisite for any informed discussion on tax rises/cut backs. Joe Duffy is believed to earn c400,000 euro per annum. Joe loves populist claptrap. Is it too much to expect a little analysis from a man earning c400,000 euro per annum. Duffy failed to link the slow growth in Ireland to the current international economic uncertainty. As far as Ireland is concerned it's a case of running hard to stand still until the international economy picks up.

A little less populism and more realism from RTE would benefit the country. Certainly coverage of budget 2013 leaves much to be desired from a station which is funded by the viewers. The omens are not good. The station appears to be surfing a populist wave in its quest for viewers and listeners.

Ireland:Dublin- Video of Pro Life Vigil on 4th Dec 2012

10,000 people attended a prolife vigil in Dublin to day. This is all the more amazing considering that the vigil commenced at 4.30 pm- not exactly convenient for many people. This outnumbered by five to one the corresponding pro abortion vigil. The Irish people do not want the legalisation of abortion. Period.

In a powerful speech, Niamh Uí Bhrian, spokeswoman for the Life Institute, spelled out the reality:

“We are not for turning and we will not yield,” she said.“We are proud to be a pro-life nation, we are here to tell the politicians in Dáil Eireann that they may have destroyed our economy but we will never let them kill our children.” She said “The lives of our children are worth fighting for and the mothers who are driven to abortion in fear are worth fighting for and the pro life ethos in this country is worth fighting for.”

Caroline Simons, legal consultant with the Pro Life Campaign stated that there was no obligation on the State to legislate for abortion because of the European Court of Human Rights ABC case”

“All we are supposed to do is clarify our own position in relation to abortion here...We have one of the best maternal mortality rates in the world so abortion is never the answer. It is not going to save mothers lives and we don’t want to see it on our shores.”

Medjugorje: Apparition of Virgin Mary to Mirjana on December 2, 2012

"Dear children, with motherly love and motherly patience anew I call you to live according to my Son -- to spread his peace and his love -- so that as my apostles you may accept God's truth with all your heart and pray for the Holy Spirit to guide you. Then you will be able to faithfully serve my Son and show his love to others with your life. According to the love of my Son and my love, as a mother, I strive to bring all of my stray children into my motherly embrace and to show them the way of faith. My children, help me in my motherly battle and pray with me that sinners may become aware of their sins and repent sincerely. Pray also for those whom my Son has chosen and consecrated in his name. Thank you. "