The Faith, The Family, The Future
Torch of The Faith News on Monday 27 October 2008 - 13:43:55 | by admin
We've just returned from a blessed and uplifting weekend at The Faith, The Family and The Future conference held near St. Albans at the All Saints Pastoral Centre.
The Treloar family deserve special mention for all their enthusiasm, hard work, team effort and humility in pulling together this great work for the Lord. Many others gave of their time and gifts to make this both a very positive conference and deeply prayerful retreat. Clare Underwood and her family are also to be thanked for their sacrifice of time, for behind the scenes work and for organizing rooms, registration lists and getting name badges united to people!
The whole weekend provided a good opportunity to meet with couples, families, priests and religious who have accepted God's gift and offering to work with His Grace in trying to cooperate with His Universal Call to Holiness.Â
Goodness, beauty and truth flowed through the various aspects from the Source and Summit of the daily Holy Mass, through the majestic Benedictions and hours of Adoration, to the opportunities for Confession and private prayer, to the excellent speakers, the family fun activities and the many hope filled conversations and chats over tasty meals and piping cups of coffee.
Overall we were struck by the hope for the future supported by people whose experiences, social and cultural backgrounds, and ways of living out the Christian life were diverse and yet unified around a central desire to follow Christ and the authentic teachings of His Church and to re-evangelise Britain whilst building the Civilization of Love.
We thank the Lord that we could have been a small part of all of this and look forward to future events.
All We Like Sheep...
Torch of The Faith News on Friday 24 October 2008 - 00:02:58 | by admin
A great blessing about living here in Wales is the proximity of the Conway Valley and Snowdonia. A few days ago we were cruising through that beautiful region and we came across the above card in a Welsh gift shop!
In light of all the crazy things happening in post-modern Britain it seems to sum everything up quite well with the words of Mark Twain;
'Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority it's time to reform.'
And now that our society is about to embark on destroying human embryos to pursue so-called 'hybrid' human/animals - or what a priest we know calls The Beasts - then is it possible you'll one day have Dolly for a neighbour?Â
'Ewe' never know!'
Oh dear... it would be funny if it were not so grave.
Our Lady of Fatima, and Blessed Jacintha and Francisco Marto - Pray for us!
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Rather Odd!
Torch of The Faith News on Thursday 23 October 2008 - 23:48:51 | by admin
We've just read John Smeaton's Blog (see links) and he makes an interesting point about the enforcement of sex education on infants and juniors.
Mr. Smeaton notes that the Catholic Education Service seem to have made their press release about primary school sex and relationships education simultaneously with, and in a complimentary manner of, that of the British Government.
Isn't that rather odd - especially in light of our previous post?
And indeed, as Mr. Smeaton adds - should it not rather be their role to defend and uphold Catholic teaching on such matters in education against attempts 'to promote and entrench abortion culture on young people?'
It all seems rather odd...Â
Protecting the Little Ones
Torch of The Faith News on Thursday 23 October 2008 - 20:05:06 | by admin
Good parents everywhere will be worried to learn today that the British Government is now pressing ahead to make 'sex and relationships education' compulsory in primary schools! Â
Catholic parents should also be worried - very worried - that the 'Catholic' Education Service for England and Wales has found 'much to support' in the government's review. The CES has supported the priority which it is claimed will be given to establishing a 'values context' for all such education and that SRE in Catholic schools will be allowed to be shaped by Catholic teaching.
Oona Stannard, Chief Executive and Director of the CES says that;
'The statutory rights of parents to withdraw their children from sex education remain but it is our hope that parents will not find the need to exercise this right as children are likely to benefit from experiencing SRE amongst their friends and peers.'
Oona shows her policies to be in direct contradiction to the teachings of the Magisterium of the Catholic Church with that telling statement.
The Catholic Church teaches that;
'Each child is a unique and unrepeatable person and must receive individualized formation.' (Truth and Meaning of Human Sexuality - Para 65).
And indeed;
'The years of innocence from about five years of age until puberty... This period of tranquility and serenity must never be disturbed by unnecessary information about sex.' (Para 78).
Let us pray for all parents caught in the headlights of this latest anti-Christian and anti-family intitiative of the British Government. Let us also pray that our bishops, priests and communities will support them. Don't leave it up to the CES as this concerns your family - your innocent ones.
As we said in an earlier post - parents know your rights in this regard. Get a copy of The Truth and Meaning of Human Sexuality issued by the Pontifical Council for the Family and band together with other concerned parents. Make sure that you see all materials that the school intend to use with your children and do not be cowed by pressure. Know that the rights of the family come before the rights of government in a just and humane society.
And if you are so able we would strongly recommend that this is now the time to consider the home schooling of your children.
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St. Richard Gwyn, St. Maria Gorretti, St. Dominic Savio, St. Joseph the Worker and Our Lady of Fatima - pray for all children, parents and families in this matter!Â
Atheists Miss the Bus!
Torch of The Faith News on Thursday 23 October 2008 - 18:58:25 | by admin
Hat-Tip to Catholic Action UK for pointing this daft initiative out!
It seems that the British Humanist Society have raised £36,000 to have these childish posters pasted upon the sides of London buses for a month. They claim that there is 'Probably no God. Now Stop Worrying And Enjoy Your Life'...
Hmmm... We're actually enjoying ours just fine because we believe in God and His Holy Church. Indeed, because of our faith, we are much happier than without it. We have a hope in this life and beyond it! Imagine being consigned to the daily drudge and commute on such buses if there were no eternal purpose to it!
Perhaps that is why suicide is becoming one of the main reasons for death amongst the young in Western society? It seems that not having belief in God is actually making people unhappy. That is why He invites us to call out to Him in our quiet times and invite Him into our hearts - anyone can do this in the privacy of their own home. Then we can become open to His deep peace and rest of soul which the world cannot give. You see, for the faithful Catholic everything is loaded with meaning - even being stuck on a steamy and creaky bus full of tired commuters!
Is religion then a crutch? We would say it was more of a cross! That is, one has to suffer for one's faith in today's society because of just such myopic schemes. Imagine the case of the Christian, Jewish or Muslim bus driver who is forced to take out one of these buses with such a logo. (Or, as on Merseyside, other logos advertising so-called Adult shops). Obviously, such a driver could not drive such vehicles on conscience. Then they would be faced with disciplinary action - maybe even the sack. That won't bother your smug atheist, but it will have ramifications for the sincere believer who just wants to get on with an honest day's work... and it will effect his poor family.Â
Fortunately, such crosses lead to the Resurrection. Indeed, about a year ago tram drivers in Lithuania refused to drive their trams while homosexuality was being promoted on posters emblazoned down the sides of the trams. They won their case. Hopefully, more Christians will have the courage to stand up for their faith and convictions in our country too. When that happens they will suffer the cross - for a while - but they will eventually see the Resurrection and receive the choicest Graces for their faithfulness.
And, (as ever with martyrdoms), non-believers begin to see that people with such convictions would not act so for no reason. They would only do so for something that is true. Indeed, for someone who is Truth! Praise to Jesus Christ whose cross Christians are called to carry all the way up their own Calvary to the Resurrection!
We wonder if the bus corporations would be as quick to allow Christians to advertise - this being an 'inclusive' society after all... And if they did, wouldn't that be an idea to pursue!
A Tragic Day in British History
Torch of The Faith News on Thursday 23 October 2008 - 08:47:52 | by admin
To quote John Smeaton of SPUC;
'This is a tragic day in British history.'
Why?
Because the House of Commons voted 355 to 129 in favour of the evil HFE Bill.
However...there is some good news which could still save thousands of lives - Thanks in no small measure to the massive and unified efforts of the people of Northern Ireland to resist the amendment to the HFE Bill, which would have foisted abortion on them against their democratic will, the British Government found it more practical to prevent any of the other barbarous amendments from going through.
Thus we were spared the spectre of abortion in Northern Ireland, the threat of abortion being seen as 'on demand' (through only requiring one doctor to sign for abortion and the removal of the 'mental health' clause), the threat that nurses and midwives may have been allowed to commit abortions, the threat that abortions may have been carried out anywhere health services where offered, the grave danger that abortion drugs may have been allowed to be taken at home without supervision, and the threats against pro-life counselling groups.
These evils we have been spared. For this we must give thanks to God and to the people of Northern Ireland for their unified voice. Other voices consistently stood out also... including as ever the loyal Bishop Patrick O'Donoghue of Lancaster, Cardinal Keith O'Brien of Scotland and John Smeaton of SPUC.
Nevertheless our prayers must not cease now. As we know we already do have abortion on demand in the practical sense and now we are faced with the reality that a very evil law has been voted through the Commons which poses a grave threat to embryos and to the very dignity of the human person through allowing so called 'hybrid' animal-human cloning; an insult to humanity and to God who became Incarnate as man.
Friends in Christ, and all people of good will, let us continue to pray for the cause of life and for true peace. For as Pope John Paul II once stated;
'A great prayer for Life is urgently needed.'Â
St. Paul and Christian Hope
Torch of The Faith News on Tuesday 21 October 2008 - 11:10:34 | by admin
Alan's mum and dad recently gave us a copy of the new St. Paul Prayer Book by Family Publications.
This contains a selection of his inspired writings from Sacred Scripture, simple prayers invoking his assistance, and beautiful images largely taken from stained glass portraits of this great saint and pillar of the Church.Â
The opening page has a quotation from Pope Benedict XVI's talk given on 17th April 2008;
'Saint Paul speaks... of a kind of prayer which arises from the depths of our hearts in sighs too deep for words, in 'groanings' (Rom 8:26) inspired by the Spirit. This is a prayer which yearns in the midst of chastisement for the fulfillment of God's promises. It is a prayer of unfailing hope, but also one of patient endurance and, often accompanied by suffering for the truth. Through this prayer, we share in the mystery of Christ's own weakness and suffering, whilst trusting firmly in the victory of His Cross.'Â
These words of our Holy Father seem to sum up so well the experience of so many of those in our land who try in sincerity to follow Our Lord's command to 'Go therefore and make disciples of all nations' (Matt 28:19) whilst encountering all manner of obstacles and opposition. Â
St. Paul himself provides the impetus to further hope and encouragement;
'Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, 'For Thy sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.' No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all Creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.'Â
(Romans 8:35-39)Â
So be of good heart this day - if you are being persecuted, ostracized, or opposed for Jesus Christ and His Truth - then you are actually doing things right and in all these things are more than conquerors! Â
St. Paul - Pray for us!
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Rally for Life in Northern Ireland a Great Success!
Torch of The Faith News on Monday 20 October 2008 - 16:06:26 | by admin
Hat-tip to John Smeaton of SPUC from whose blog this picture and the quotes are taken.
1,000's turned up yesterday for the Rally for Life in Northern Ireland to protest against the undemocratic enforcement of abortion on the people there by the proposed amendment to the already gravely evil HFE Bill (which will be read in the Commons this week).
Jeffrey Donaldson, Chair of the All Party Pro-Life Group of the N.I. Assembly, and Deputy First Minister in the N.I. Executive said,
'Our opponents say this issue is about equality. Well, where is the equality for the people of Northern Ireland when they can have no say over legislation they don't want? The Good Friday Agreement, the Belfast Agreement says that all legislation in Northern Ireland must have public consultation. There must be an impact equality assessment. Where is the public consultation?
Iris Robins MP, MLA, Chair of the N.I. Assembly Health Committee proclaimed,
'Abortion in Northern Ireland? Never, never never. Ulster says no to abortion. We will not be silenced... I believe it is the duty of government to uphold God's Law. We need to fast and pray in the coming days... In 2006, 98% of abortions in England and Wales were for 'social reasons'... Stand with me. A majority of people must have the moral conviction to say ''Not in my name!''
If you have not contacted your MP yet - there is still time to protest against this and the other anti-life amendments. Call (020) 7219 3000 and ask for your MP. Or, find their e-mail from www.spuc.org.uk/mps.
Good to see Bernie Smyth, leader of Precious Life (of whom we have blogged on an earlier occasion) was speaking at the Rally which she also organised. Bernie held in her arms her granddaughter (!) who was born just 2 days beyond the time limit for 'social abortions' and who requires oxygen every day. Please pray for little Grace Kelly and her family and for Bernie and all the hard work she and her supporters are doing to keep Northern Ireland abortion free.
St. Patrick of Ireland - Pray for us!
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Welcome Little One!
Torch of The Faith News on Monday 20 October 2008 - 11:58:49 | by admin
How about a happy story to start off your week?
We received an update through the post at the weekend from The Good Counsel Network; who do remarkable work in the cause of protecting and saving the pre-born, and their mothers and families - body and soul.
The above picture shows a one month old baby girl who has been made very happy through their help! The father said that he wanted a picture taken of his family to demonstrate to the supporters of The Good Counsel Network that this wonderful little girl's life has been saved through their prayers and practical support. (We have reproduced here just the picture of the little girl).
 The update explains that the prayers and financial helps from supporters really do make a difference. It says;
Â
'You are ending abortion, one baby and one family at a time.'Â
The Good Counsel Network are asking supporters to pray the 9 Day Novena to St. Jude because many women feel quite hopeless in their situations. Folks are asked to pray for the intention that The Good Counsel Network may raise the funds needed to support the pregnant women who they are presently helping, and to reach as many others as possible.
The Good Counsel Network also reminds supporters that Tuesday 28th October marks the 5th National Day of Prayer and Fasting for Life. Because the HFE Bill is to be read in the Commons this Wednesday - 22nd Oct - we are asked to begin fasting now. If your health and circumstances permit, this can be done on bread and water. If not then one may fast from luxuries such as chocolate, alcohol, cigarettes, or TV.
The Good Counsel Network also ask that in the build up to the HFE Bill we say a daily Rosary - or an extra one if already in this worthy practice.
That novena is -Â
OÂ Glorious Apostle, Saint Jude Thaddeus,
true lover of Jesus and Mary,
I greet thee through the Sacred Heart of Jesus.Â
Through this Heart I praise and thank God for all theÂ
graces He has bestowed upon thee.
Humbly prostrate before thee, I implore thee,
through this Heart,
to look down upon me with compassion.
Despise not my poor prayers;
let not my trust be confounded;
to thee God has granted the privilege of aiding mankind in the most desperate cases.
O come to my aid,
that I may praise the mercies of God! Â
All my life I will be grateful to thee and will be thy
faithful client,
until I can thank thee in Heaven. Amen
(Followed by an Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be).
Let us thank the Lord for Stuart and Clare, the Good Counsel Network, and all their supporters. Please do check out their beautiful web-site on our 'Links' page.
And go on - have another look at that gorgeous little baby girl above who has been saved through the response of these people to Christ and His Love!
Blessed Louis and Blessed Zelie Martin!
Torch of The Faith News on Sunday 19 October 2008 - 00:24:08 | by admin
When we were in Chester yesterday, we picked up a copy of the new CTS booklet on the Martins after Holy Mass at St. Francis Church (which is also run by the Franciscan Capuchins).
The parish have a well stocked CTS lending library which seems a good idea for parishes to develop, especially as CTS have such a good quality, and ever developing, range of materials available.
Today is a great day for the Martins, and indeed for married couples and families, because they are being beatified this very day in Rome by His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI!
This saintly couple demonstrate to us how marriage and family life have such power and can lead us to embrace and live out the 'Universal Call to Holiness'. Both Louis and Zelie unsuccesfully attempted to join Religious Communities in their youth. Louis went on to become a watchmaker and Zelie a lace maker. They had 9 children; 7 girls and 2 boys. The boys and two of the girls died in childhood. The remaining 5 girls all became nuns; one of whom, of course, is St. Therese of Liseux.
The Martins are a great example of the lived vocation of marriage for our culture - within which this sacred institution is under such relentless attack today. They show us that holiness can indeed be attained by co-operating with the God of Love in the midst of ordinary, everyday life by consecrating to Him all of its sufferings, hard work, simple joys, hopes and goals.
St. Therese said of her parents;
'The Good Lord gave me a father and mother more worthy of Heaven than of the earth.'
Let us ask for their intercession as we strive on for the goal of heaven and as our government prepares for the final debates on the HFE Bill and its amendements this Wednesday.
Blessed Louis and Blessed Zelie Martin - Pray for us!
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