Last night I attended a procession that culminated with a mass concelebrated by our Archbishop and two priests. The Archbishop in his homily mentioned about the misconception that many people including Catholics have regarding our relationship with the Blessed Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ.
Some people especially those from other faith think we Catholics are idolaters because of the statues that we have in our churches, homes and/or altars.
The Catholic Church is not teaching its faithful to adore Mary. Rather, we honor her and give her special attention because she is the mother of our Lord Jesus, son of the Most High God. Thus, we Catholics only venerate Mary.
When we pray to Mary, we are simply asking her to intercede for us to her son Jesus. As the mother, we believe that the son almost often especially if he is an obedient son, will listen to what his mother would say or tell him. (Remember the story of the Wedding in Cana? Mary requested Jesus to turn the water into wine. Although Jesus said it was not yet his time, but he did turn the water into wine. I believe it was done because his mother requested him so.)
The prayer "Hail Mary, full of grace..." is found in the bible. It is the greeting that Elizabeth gave Mary when the latter visited the former after the annunciation.
WHY DO WE KEEP STATUES?
Statues are just representations of the persons. The statues are like pictures.
Let me give you an analogy.
The picture of my husband is not my husband himself, but it gives me a visual representation of him even when he is traveling thousands of miles away from me.
When I miss my husband when he is away for too long, especially when it is impossible to call him over long distance, I usually would grab a picture of him to ease my longing. Maybe like some of you, I also would talk to the picture as if he were there right in front of me, or may even kiss the picture.
Similarly, the statues that we Catholics keep of Mary and other saints, and even that of Jesus, are not the very thing that we idolize (in the case of Jesus) or venerate (in the case of the saints). They are just but visual representations of these persons.
I admit though that there are some Catholics who are not quite educated on this matter and therefore might have the tendency to believe and do contrary to the catholic official teaching.
It is my hope that they will soon realize the difference between the person and the statue or the picture; and the difference between idolizing and venerating.
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Abortion: The Silent Scream
I recently joined a mother's forum when one of the discussions caught my attention. It was about abortion.
I took a look at what other mothers/forum members have to say about the topic- ABORTION.
Back in the eighties while I was still in school, I remember watching a documentary video on abortion entitled "Silent Scream". The video left a lasting impression in my mind and in my heart.
Thus, I added my own comment to the discussion in that forum with a link to the SILENT SCREAM videos which I gladly found to be published in the web in this link here.
Later, I also found that the same video is in Youtube and I took the opportunity to republish it here.
As a mother, I wish to share to all women (and men) this information. If you are contemplating abortion at this very moment, I beg you to please watch the Silent Scream video first, then later, I encourage you to have an ultrasound of your baby in your womb before you make your final decision.
Source:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjNo_0cW-ek
ABORTION - THE SILENT SCREAM COMPLETE VERSION (with permission from APF). Republished with Permission from Roy Tidwell of American Portrait Films.
VHS/DVDs Available
American Portrait Films
Call 1-800-736-4567
www.amport.com
This has been performed as asked. This video is perfectly legal.
The Silent Scream Complete Version - Abortion as Infanticide
Dr. Bernard Nathanson's classic video that shocked the world. He explains the procedure of a suction abortion, followed by an actual first trimester abortion as seen through ultrasound. The viewer can see the child's pathetic attempts to escape the suction curette as her heart rate doubles, and a "silent scream" as her body is torn apart. A great tool to help people see why abortion is murder. The most important video on abortion ever made. This video changed opinion on abortion to many people.
Introduction by Dr. Bernard Nathanson, host. Describes the technology of ultrasound and how, for the first time ever, we can actually see inside the womb. Dr. Nathanson further describes the ultrasound technique and shows examples of babies in the womb. Three-dimensional depiction of the developing fetus, from 4 weeks through 28 weeks. Display and usage of the abortionists' tools, plus video of an abortionist performing a suction abortion. Dr. Nathanson discusses the abortionist who agreed to allow this abortion to be filmed with ultrasound. The abortionist was quite skilled, having performed more than 10,000 abortions. We discover that the resulting ultrasound of his abortion so appalled him that he never again performed another abortion. The clip begins with an ultrasound of the fetus (girl) who is about to be aborted. The girl is moving in the womb; displays a heartbeat of 140 per minute; and is at times sucking her thumb. As the abortionist's suction tip begins to invade the womb, the child rears and moves violently in an attempt to avoid the instrument. Her mouth is visibly open in a "silent scream." The child's heart rate speeds up dramatically (to 200 beats per minute) as she senses aggression. She moves violently away in a pathetic attempt to escape the instrument. The abortionist's suction tip begins to rip the baby's limbs from its body, ultimately leaving only her head in the uterus (too large to be pulled from the uterus in one piece). The abortionist attempts to crush her head with his forceps, allowing it to be removed. In an effort to "dehumanize" the procedure, the abortionist and anesthesiologist refer to the baby's head as "number 1." The abortionist crushes "number 1" with the forceps and removes it from the uterus. Abortion statistics are revealed, as well as who benefits from the enormously lucrative industry that has developed. Clinics are now franchised, and there is ample evidence that many are controlled by organized crime. Women are victims, too. They haven't been told about the true nature of the unborn child or the facts about abortion procedures. Their wombs have been perforated, infected, destroyed, and sterilized. All as a result of an operation about which they they have had no true knowledge. Films like this must be made part of "informed consent." NARAL (National Abortion Rights Action League) and Planned Parenthood are accused of a conspiracy of silence, of keeping women in the dark about the reality of abortion. Finally, Dr. Nathanson discusses his credentials. He is a former abortionist, having been the director of the largest clinic in the Western world.
I took a look at what other mothers/forum members have to say about the topic- ABORTION.
Back in the eighties while I was still in school, I remember watching a documentary video on abortion entitled "Silent Scream". The video left a lasting impression in my mind and in my heart.
Thus, I added my own comment to the discussion in that forum with a link to the SILENT SCREAM videos which I gladly found to be published in the web in this link here.
Later, I also found that the same video is in Youtube and I took the opportunity to republish it here.
As a mother, I wish to share to all women (and men) this information. If you are contemplating abortion at this very moment, I beg you to please watch the Silent Scream video first, then later, I encourage you to have an ultrasound of your baby in your womb before you make your final decision.
Source:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjNo_0cW-ek
ABORTION - THE SILENT SCREAM COMPLETE VERSION (with permission from APF). Republished with Permission from Roy Tidwell of American Portrait Films.
VHS/DVDs Available
American Portrait Films
Call 1-800-736-4567
www.amport.com
This has been performed as asked. This video is perfectly legal.
The Silent Scream Complete Version - Abortion as Infanticide
Dr. Bernard Nathanson's classic video that shocked the world. He explains the procedure of a suction abortion, followed by an actual first trimester abortion as seen through ultrasound. The viewer can see the child's pathetic attempts to escape the suction curette as her heart rate doubles, and a "silent scream" as her body is torn apart. A great tool to help people see why abortion is murder. The most important video on abortion ever made. This video changed opinion on abortion to many people.
Introduction by Dr. Bernard Nathanson, host. Describes the technology of ultrasound and how, for the first time ever, we can actually see inside the womb. Dr. Nathanson further describes the ultrasound technique and shows examples of babies in the womb. Three-dimensional depiction of the developing fetus, from 4 weeks through 28 weeks. Display and usage of the abortionists' tools, plus video of an abortionist performing a suction abortion. Dr. Nathanson discusses the abortionist who agreed to allow this abortion to be filmed with ultrasound. The abortionist was quite skilled, having performed more than 10,000 abortions. We discover that the resulting ultrasound of his abortion so appalled him that he never again performed another abortion. The clip begins with an ultrasound of the fetus (girl) who is about to be aborted. The girl is moving in the womb; displays a heartbeat of 140 per minute; and is at times sucking her thumb. As the abortionist's suction tip begins to invade the womb, the child rears and moves violently in an attempt to avoid the instrument. Her mouth is visibly open in a "silent scream." The child's heart rate speeds up dramatically (to 200 beats per minute) as she senses aggression. She moves violently away in a pathetic attempt to escape the instrument. The abortionist's suction tip begins to rip the baby's limbs from its body, ultimately leaving only her head in the uterus (too large to be pulled from the uterus in one piece). The abortionist attempts to crush her head with his forceps, allowing it to be removed. In an effort to "dehumanize" the procedure, the abortionist and anesthesiologist refer to the baby's head as "number 1." The abortionist crushes "number 1" with the forceps and removes it from the uterus. Abortion statistics are revealed, as well as who benefits from the enormously lucrative industry that has developed. Clinics are now franchised, and there is ample evidence that many are controlled by organized crime. Women are victims, too. They haven't been told about the true nature of the unborn child or the facts about abortion procedures. Their wombs have been perforated, infected, destroyed, and sterilized. All as a result of an operation about which they they have had no true knowledge. Films like this must be made part of "informed consent." NARAL (National Abortion Rights Action League) and Planned Parenthood are accused of a conspiracy of silence, of keeping women in the dark about the reality of abortion. Finally, Dr. Nathanson discusses his credentials. He is a former abortionist, having been the director of the largest clinic in the Western world.
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