Please take some time to vote for Catholic Podcasts on Podcast Alley and submit some reviews on Itunes. It really helps out.
Send your feedback, podcast, blog and website promos ideas etc… on the blog at http://catholicroundup.com by email at (catholicroundup@gmail.com) catholicroundup (at) gmail (dot) com or by calling 206-337-0611.
I wrote a new parody promo to ask other Catholic podcasters to send me their promos. I’m always happy to play them on the Catholic Roundup podcast. For the convenience of myself and other podcasters, I also keep a Promo Bank of Catholic podcast promos. Enjoy.
I would love to arrange an informal meetup group of Catholics using new media in Southern Ontario and Northern NY. Join me at Podcamp Toronto February 20, 21 if you can. It’s free to register.
Pope Benedict’s Messages for World Communications Day, January 24.
I would like to get a panel of Catholic bloggers, podcasters, clergy and laity together to discuss these two papal messages for the next Catholic Roundup Podcast. Contact me at catholicroundup (at) gmail (dot) com if you are interested.
Please take some time to vote for Catholic Podcasts on Podcast Alley and submit some reviews on Itunes. It really helps out.
Send your feedback, podcast, blog and website promos ideas etc… on the blog at http://catholicroundup.com by email at (catholicroundup@gmail.com) catholicroundup (at) gmail (dot) com or by calling 206-337-0611.
1. In which we look back on the Catholic Roundup for 2009 and looking ahead to 2010.
2. Sarah shares her 2009 Catholic highlights and her 2010 resolutions.
3. Baby Report
Catholic Musician, Michael James Mette and his wife are expecting their fifth child in 2010. Song: “Know, Love, Serve”.
Catholic Musician ,Joel Stein and his wife are expecting their second child in 2010.
Please take some time to vote for Catholic Podcasts on Podcast Alley and submit some reviews on Itunes. It really helps out.
Send your feedback, podcast, blog and website promos ideas etc… on the blog at http://catholicroundup.com by email at (catholicroundup@gmail.com) catholicroundup (at) gmail (dot) com or by calling 206-337-0611.
This episode marks the close of the 2009 Catholic Roundup Advent Calendar. Thanks to everyone who contributed or followed along with the Advent Calendar.
Send your feedback, podcast, blog and website promos ideas etc… on the blog at http://catholicroundup.com by email at (catholicroundup@gmail.com) catholicroundup (at) gmail (dot) com or by calling 206-337-0611.
Merry Christmas from our family at the Catholic Roundup to your family.
Deacon Tom Fox has made himself at home all over the Catholic Internet. His online base is www.deacontomonline.com and he also contributes to the Catholic Moments Podcast and the The Catholic Family Podcast and numerous other websites. Deacon Tom and his wife Dee host the Catholic Vitamins Podcast. Last year, on December 27, Deacon Tom reflected upon a practice at Madonna House of giving Epiphany gifts. I could not imagine hosting the Advent Calendar again without the participation of Tom and Dee, so I asked for their permission to host an abridged version of their Catholic Vitamins Episode N- Nativity. You can find the complete episode and many more like it at CatholicVitamins.com.
Join us tomorrow for the conclusion of the Catholic New Media Advent Calendar.
Send me your feedback on the blog at catholicroundup.com by email at (catholicroundup@gmail.com) catholicroundup (at) gmail (dot) com or by calling 206-337-0611.
Merry Chrismas. Our family has attended two Christmas masses today. We are now home and preparing for the arrival of Santa Claus later this evening. It has been quite some time since I recorded anything for Librivox.org . This week they are calling as many people who wish to record, A Visit from St. Nicholas by C.C. Moore. I could not resist such a classic. So here is my version.
Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;
And mamma in her kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap—
When out on the lawn there rose such a clatter,
I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter,
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
The moon, on the breast of the new-fallen snow,
Gave a lustre of mid-day to objects below;
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny rein-deer,
With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;
“Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On! Comet, on! Cupid, on! Dunder and Blitzen—
To the top of the porch, to the top of the wall!
Now, dash away, dash away, dash away all!”
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky,
So, up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With a sleigh full of toys—and St. Nicholas too.
And then in a twinkling I heard on the roof,
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.
He was dressed all in fur from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;
A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack;
His eyes how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry;
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard on his chin was as white as the snow;
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke, it encircled his head like a wreath.
He had a broad face, and a little round belly
That shook when he laughed, like a bowl full of jelly.
He was chubby and plump—a right jolly old elf;
And I laughed when I saw him in spite of myself.
A wink of his eye, and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose.
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle;
But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,
“Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!”
Check out the new Christmas album by one of my favorite bands: L’Angelus. It is also available on iTunes.
To leave feedback for the Catholic Foodie, call 985-635-4974 and leave a message. You can also leave feedback for Jeff at (catholicfoodie@gmail.com) catholicfoodie (at) gmail (dot) com.
Join us tomorrow and every day until December 26 for more reflections produced by great Catholic New Media personalities.
Send me your feedback on the blog at http://cc.ductapeguy.net by email at (catholicroundup@gmail.com) catholicroundup (at) gmail (dot) com or by calling 206-337-0611.
Stephanie week is a stalywart of the SQPN online community and can frequently be found in the chats on SQPNconnect or on plurk. She blogs at Steph’s Random Thoughts about… Well I’ll let her explain,
“I’m Catholic, a Catholic school music teacher, a Catholic church music director, and am in graduate school at Catholic Theological Union. I am a Mac, although I can’t afford to have one, and absolutely love everything in new media. I am an SQPN and GSPN groupie and love to listen to way too many podcasts and read way too many blogs. This is a blog of my random thoughts about life…”
With introductions dispensed, here is Stephanie with an Advent reflection for December 23.
The seventh O Antiphon which is celebrated today is “O Emmanuel,” God with Us. It is based on the reading Isaiah 7:14: “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign. Behold a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son and his name shall be called Emmanuel.”
Latin:
O Emmanuel, Rex et legifer noster,
exspectatio Gentium, et Salvator earum:
veni ad salvandum nos, Domine, Deus noster.
English:
O Emmanuel, our king and our lawgiver,
the hope of the nations and their Saviour:
Come and save us, O Lord our God.
Your browser may not support display of this image. Today is also the feast day of the patron saint of Saint John of Kanty. John was born in Kanty, Poland on June 23, 1390. At the age of 23, he enrolled at Jagellonian University in Cracow. He impressed his professors with his academic skills and pleasant personality. He received his doctorate in philosophy in 1418 and spent the next three years preparing for the priesthood. He was ordained in 1421 and appointed lecturer at Jagellonian University.
In 1431, at the age of 41, he was forced out of his position and assigned as a parish priest at Olkusz, Bohemia. This assignment was very difficult – he was not used to parish work and had to serve many. In 1438, after seven years in the parish, he returned to Jagellonian University to serve as a professor of scripture.
He was a distinguished professor and benefactor of the poor. He was modest, devout and truthful and had a great sense of charity. He gave his money and possessions to those in need and only kept what he needed to survive.
Your browser may not support display of this image. St. John Kanty church in Milwaukee was originally built to fill a need in the growing Polish population of Milwaukee’s south side. St. John Kanty as a parish and school were established in September of 1906 and construction began in 1907. It began with 125 parish members and 170 students when the church was dedicated in December. Over the years, enrollment grew causing necessary expansions and improvements and a new church to be built. As John Kanty entered the 21st century, they began to collaborate with two area parishes to address the changing needs of the neighborhood and the shortage of priests. Today, these three churches are one Tri-Parish community with one pastor and one associate pastor. The community has members of Polish descent mixed in with an ever-growing Hispanic population.
Join us tomorrow and every day until December 26 for more reflections produced by great Catholic New Media personalities.
Send me your feedback on the blog at http://cc.ductapeguy.net by email at (catholicroundup@gmail.com) catholicroundup (at) gmail (dot) com or by calling 206-337-0611.
Last year, Adam and Eric Hendey offered a Celtic version We 3 Kings for the Advent Calendar. Today they are back with more tunes and a new band name, North Wind. Lisa Hendey from CatholicMom.com and the Catholic Moments Podcast is their proud mother and videographer. She is working on finishing touches for her new book, The Handbook for Catholic Moms, due to be released in February.
Away in a Manger
Join us tomorrow and every day until December 26 for more reflections produced by great Catholic New Media personalities.
Send me your feedback on the blog at http://cc.ductapeguy.net by email at (catholicroundup@gmail.com) catholicroundup (at) gmail (dot) com or by calling 206-337-0611.
Tis the season to be jolly. Every good Christmas celebration needs music and there is a ton of great Christmas music available for free on the Internet. When I began compiling this post it was to showcase free Christmas music specifically by Catholic musicians, but I kept finding more great Christmas music all over the net. As I was finding more and more sources for ‘free Chrismas music’. I was also struck my the many motivations that artists have for releasing some (or all) of their music for free. For some it is a promotional tool, for others a gift to the world, for others a philosphical and political act. As I list the free music, I will also try to explain what the artist means when they say it is ‘free’.
The other day, I was thrilled to discover that True North Records, Borealis Records and Linus Entertainment, have teamed up to offer free music to help promote some legendary Canadian musicians. They offer selected free tracks from artists such as Bruce Cockburn, Ashley McIsaac, Downchild, Colin Linden and Stephen Fearing. I was thrilled to find Bruce Cockburn’s version of Silent Night from his wonderful Christmas album. Their terms for these tracks are: “All the Mp3s on this page contain no DRM and can be dowloaded for free and can be shared via p2p, blogs and social networks and used for any non commercial purpose on a royalty-free basis, including podcasting. Please share with your friends. Add to your ipod, website, blogs, social networks & playlists. Thank you for helping us spread the noise about these artists”. It is incredibly refreshing to see indie record companies who are using the internet and new media to find new promotional and business opportunities for musicians rather than railing against the new technologies.
Now on to the Catholic musicians…
Toronto blogger, musician, software developer and copyfighter Blaise Alleyne has released his arrangements and recordings of public domain Christmas Music back into the public domain under a CC0 dedication, waiving all his copyright claims to both the recordings and arrangements.
Karl Kohlhaseoffers several albums for free download on his website, including the Christmas album, He is Born. Here are Karl’s license restrictions from his website: “You may burn as many copies of the CDs as you like for family and friends. I only ask that you give them away free of charge. Freely you have received, so freely give…”
Bob Rice offers a number of free downloads on his website. Bob writes, ” Sometimes a 30 second sample doesn’t cut it. Here’s the full version of some of Bob’s most popular and favorite songs. If you want to save it, right click on the name of the song and choose “Save As”. And if you’d like to buy it, you can get it off iTunes or purchase the CD here.” The closest one to a Christmas song is HERALD OF THE GREAT KING from “Behold the Lamb” (web exclusive)
Poppleis pretty cool with people sharing their music with their friends if they have bought the CD. They also have some swell package deals on their website for people wishing to buy Popple CDs for their friends and family. Over the past two years, both Dan and Kyle from Popple have recorded original songs for the Catholic New Media Advent Calendar.
The following are posted as free downloads by the artists– I’m unsure of the licensing. It would be safe to assume that they are free for personal use and all other rights are reserved.
L’Angelus, an amazing Cajun family band from Louisiana is offering a free download of your choice from their Christmas album if you sign up for their mailing list.
If you know of other Catholic musicians offering free downloadable Christmas music, let me know and I will add them to the list.
Apples4theteacher appears to be a site designed for teachers and has coloring sheets, poems, songs and more. It looks like there is quite a bit here, but you have to hunt a little.
Coloring Book Fun has coloring pages for a lot of things, including religious Christmas pages.
Catechetical Resources, from the publishers of the Faith and Life religion books give us Christmas activities for the brain as well as fun things to do.
Check your child’s grade on Sadlier’s website and find a Christmas activity for his/her age group.
The ladies over at Catholic Cuisine are bound to have something good to cook for Christmas.
Christian Resources has a section on Christmas Activities for kids. Since the site isn’t Catholic, parents should review it before setting the little ones loose, but some are really cute.
Christian Crafters is another non-Catholic site. This one has active games with Christmas themes.
Of course the most necessary part of celebrating Christmas is celebrating Sunday mass with the community. The web gives us lots of resources to help children understand the weekly readings. The publishers of the Faith First religion texts have weekly summaries, discussion topics and activities based on the readings. Sadlierhas a similar site.
May you and yours enjoy a very merry Christmas and Blessed New Year.
Join us tomorrow and every day until December 26 for more reflections produced by great Catholic New Media personalities.
Send me your feedback on the blog at catholicroundup.com by email at (catholicroundup@gmail.com) catholicroundup (at) gmail (dot) com or by calling 206-337-0611.
It is a pleasure to have Joe McClane of the Catholic Hack blog and podcast back for again this year on the Catholic Roundup Advent Calendar. Last December 13, Joe discussed the Old Testament prophecies pointing toward the birth of Jesus . Today, we have a special Advent episode of his radio program, Behold The Man.
Today on “Behold The Man” we talk about Advent! When did it start, what does it mean, how do you prepare your heart! It’s really a mini “Carols & Lessons” allowing us to journey through Salvation History to discover how the Nativity of Our Lord fulfills all of human history, destiny, and prophesy! God, put all on a young girl in a small village in northern Israel… her YES turned the tide and brought forth our Salvation. Come journey with me for the next 30 min.!
Music used in this episode:
The single, “Six Choral Introits: Advent” from the album “Love Is His Word”
The single, “Prelude: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” from the album “Hope In The Lord” by Paul Tate (MyCatholicVoice.com)
Bing Crosby “Silent Night” (1947 Single Version) [Sample]
Join us tomorrow and every day until December 26 for more reflections produced by great Catholic New Media personalities.
Send me your feedback on the blog at http://cc.ductapeguy.net by email at (catholicroundup@gmail.com) catholicroundup (at) gmail (dot) com or by calling 206-337-0611.
Today on “Behold The Man” we talk about Advent! When did it start, what does it mean, how do you prepare your heart! It’s really a mini “Carrol’s & Lessons” allowing us to journey through Salvation History to discover how the Nativity of Our Lord fulfills all of human history, destiny, and prophesy! God, put all on a young girl in a small village in northern Israel… her YES turned the tide and brought forth our Salvation. Come journey with me for the next 30 min.!
Music used in this episode:
The single, “Six Choral Introits: Advent” from the album “Love Is His Word”
The single, “Prelude: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” from the album “Hope In The Lord” by Paul Tate (MyCatholicVoice.com)
Bing Crosby “Silent Night” (1947 Single Version) [Sample]
Just so you know that someone is really “listening”, I watched the Ustream show a few times this morning. I kept going back to about the 20 minute mark, and “listened” a number of times. Then, when I saw it was up here, and that you had 4 hours of work in it, I “listened yet again.(you are to hard on yourself)
Mr Hack, may I call you, Joe? Well, how about Bro? You see, Bro, my life is really a struggle right now and there are moments when I am feeling lost, confused, afraid…wondering if the last 25 years of my life has been a lie. Doubting my call to live different from the world. To live without the “security” that most Americans live for. To have listened to Fr Al Lauer, founder of Presentation Ministries and author of the One Bread, One Body Devotional, when I started; for the Kingdom Press, a pro-life Printing Company that has printed the Devotional since 1987. To start off not knowing one thing about printing, much less really running a business. Well, if we count the over 10 years as a drug smuggler as “on the job training”, yea, maybe had a little.
I am facing some of the same things again in my life.Moving into areas that I know very little. This time though, I really, REALLY, need that “sign”, that sense of the Lord has it all worked out. At 54 with 3 of my 7 still in school, and unlike when I was being mentored by Fr Al, I am feeling alone, not able to “hear” what the Lord wants me to do, circumstances have kept me paralyzed like never before in my life.
If no one else, gets one thing from this teaching, I have! What it has given me, Joe, is a little more hope. Some light in the Dark Night of the Soul that I have been living in.
Thank you for the hours of work! Thank you for your inspiration! You have a passion, a fire, that I have allowed to become almost extinguished in my life. I need prayer, that I can rekindle that, “fire of my first love”!
Lord, please give me that “sign” that my brother spoke of. A renewed passion to teach and preach to the ends of the earth. And bless Joe and his family with all of their needs! Give Joe that “sign” as well. So that he knows, that he knows, that he knows, what YOU Lord, would have him do at this time in his life!
I appreciate the feedback! Back in 2004 I attended a Cursillo weekend up in NH and it was a very powerful experience. One of the many things I fondly remember is how the rector, Wayne, encouraged us to pray boldly to God. He said “God has eternity… you do not… give God a time-line and pray boldly!”
This weekend was in October of that year and only a month away from the Presidential election. I was very nervous as I was afraid that John Kerry, who is a pro-abortion Catholic, was going to defeat George Bush who is pro-life. I am unashamedly pro-life and will not consider any other factors until the slaughter of countless millions of Americans is put to an end.
So… coming off this weekend I began to pray boldly to God. I didn’t tell anyone what I was doing however, every day I prayed and asked God to send his Mother to America. I wanted a sign.. to shore up my faith. I believed… but needed my Father in heaven to strengthen me. I gave God a time line… he had till election night to send his Mother to visit America. I prayed this because I wanted a pro-life culture to come to the USA and end the culture of death. Our Lady who gave birth to Life for the world is the remedy to culture gone bad.
Every day I prayed this prayer… boldly to God… giving the time line… asking for the specific sign… no wavering! I am a child of God… He is my Father… I can ask… he can choose to give or not… either way; Praise God!
So, on the night of the election, after days and days of praying this, I watched the TV and saw George Bush sitting in the White house, along with his wife, daughters, and parents, sitting on the couch, with George sitting in the chair, as they watched the results, on TV, come in from the election. Nothing… I never saw Our Lady and didn’t hear anyone else see her either. I was very discouraged by this.
The next day I was at my desk, with Fox News streaming over the internet so I could hear the results, and listening to the recap from the night before. They even played the same video of the President sitting in his chair watching the results come in. Then… I received an email from my wife. She asked me…. “Did you see it”? See what? I asked. “Did you see the image Our Lady in the White House?
What!?! I never told anyone what I had been praying for. Not even my wife! I went back to the video from election night… there She was! Sitting next to President Bush, on the coffee table, an Icon of our Lady. I didn’t notice it before but there she was! I sat in awe of the majesty of God. This was NOT an endorsement of Bush…. this was my Father speaking to his little boy… sending him the desired sign to shore up his faith! I have a picture of the icon from that night and it still amazes me.
Pray boldly! Ask God for a sign… he has one ready for you! I have told this to many people who have then asked and received their sign from God. Let me know when you receive yours!
Last year, on December 18, Steve Runner from the Phedippidations podcast took us along on his daily run as he reflected upon the Christmas Star and shared one of the O’ antiphons. Today, we again join Steve on his run through the same park in rural Massachusetts while he explains more about the O’ Antiphons and sings the O’ antiphon for today.
This is Steve Runner from a small town in New England, right in the center of rural Massachusetts. I’m a father, engineer, marathon runner, wine appreciation nut, baseball fan, podcaster, and of course a practicing Roman Catholic…which I’ve always thought was a kind of a strange term; sounds like I’m in training for Catholicism, and maybe I am: I mean, I’m always learning something new during the liturgy of the word.
Last year I talked to you about the Star of Bethlehem, and the importance of it’s light in finding our way to Christ. …and I probably scared you, your small children and many of the woodland creatures here in this park that I’m running through: when I sang for you the O Antiphon for December 18th, the one that names Christ as Lord of Might, who to his tribes on Sinai’s height, in ancient times did give the law, in cloud and majesty and awe…
Well, I’m going to scare you again I’m afraid; I might have some talent in being able to run the Boston Marathon or record my podcast…but singing? Ahhh, probably not…but I’m going to do it anyway because I think there’s something important to be learned from the words. I’ll ask you, upfront: to excuse my poor pronunciation of Latin, I have enough trouble with my own language, it’s a wonder that I’m able to produce a podcast each week.
I’m a huge fan of Catholic podcasting, especially those produced for SQPN; and I don’t know if he’s listening to this: but Father Seraphim Beshoner from Catholic under the hood: you’ve probably talked about the O Antiphons on one of your earlier episodes…so I hope I’m not covering some of your old material here, but I’ve always loved the Great O Antiphons as part of the Advent tradition.
In the Church’s Liturgy of the Hours, Evening Prayer, or Vespers, always includes the great prayer of Mary known as the Magnificat. Every night the Magnificat (mag-nih-fee-cat) is preceded by a short verse or “antiphon” that links the prayer to the feast of the day or the season of the year. In the last seven days of Advent (December 17th through the 24th), the antiphons before the Magnificat are very special. Each begins with the exclamation “O” and ends with a prayer for the Messiah to come. As Christmas approaches the cry becomes increasingly urgent.
These Great O Antiphons were written in the seventh or eighth century when monks put together texts from the Old Testament which looked forward to Christs birth and our salvation.
One of the really cool things about the O Antiphons is that the first letter of each verse, when read backwards, spells out a hidden message in latin….it’s kinda like a Dan Brown novel, except this one is based on fact and reality:
The O Antiphons, starts with Sapientia, which means wisdom, then there’s Adonai, which means Lord of Israel, Radix Jesse, or “Root of Jesse”, Clavis David, or “Key of David”, Oriens, “or Radiant Dawn”, Rex Gentium “which means “King of the Gentiles”, and Emmanuel “which of course means God with Us”
So if you take the first letter of each O Antiphon: Sapientia, Adonai, Radix, Clavis, Oriens, Rex and Emmanuel, you get S, A, R, C, O, R, E…which spells Sarcore…and means NOTHING!
But if you put them in reverse order; do you know what you get?
You get an answer…in fact, you get THE answer…the most important answer, the answer we all crave, the answer to our prayer for Christ to come into our lives and save us from death; the answer to the urgent cries of millions upon millions of faithful for a thousand years, all singing with one voice to ask God to be with us…and his answer is
E, R, O, C, R, A, S….Ero Cras….which is latin for “Tomorrow I will be there”.
Veni, Veni O Oriens,
Solare nos adveniens,
Noctis depelle nebulas,
Dirasque mortis tenebras.
O come, Thou Dayspring, come and cheer,
Our spirits by Thine advent here;
And drive away the shades of night,
And pierce the clouds, and bring us light!
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel
shall come to thee,
O Israel.
I’m Steve Runner from Oxford Massachusetts, host of the Podcast Phedippidations at SteveRunner.com wishing you a happy, holy and meaningful Christmas.
Join us tomorrow and every day in December for more reflections produced by great Catholic New media personalities.
Send me your feedback on the blog at http://cc.ductapeguy.net by email at (catholicroundup@gmail.com) catholicroundup (at) gmail (dot) com or by calling 206-337-0611.
Dan Harms is the other half of the amazing Catholic nerdcore band, Popple (Think– They Might be Giants with rosaries). Last month, Popple released their wonderful new album, Hip, Hip, Hooray. If you are still searching for the perfect Christmas gift for one of your loved ones, you could not go wrong with Popple’s CDs or T-Shirts.
Today Dan drops in again with a tasty acoustic recording of I Saw 3 Ships. Dan says, “It’s an old British carol – evidently written somewhere around the 17th century: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Saw_Three_Ships . Sting has some sweet versions of the song an I did a version of it in DADGAD tuning.”
Join us tomorrow and every day until December 26 for more reflections produced by great Catholic New Media personalities.
Send me your feedback on the blog at http://cc.ductapeguy.net by email at (catholicroundup@gmail.com) catholicroundup (at) gmail (dot) com or by calling 206-337-0611.
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Merry Chrismas. Our family has attended two Christmas masses today. We are now home and preparing for the arrival of Santa Claus later this evening. It has been quite some time since I recorded anything for 
Stephanie week is a stalywart of the SQPN online community and can frequently be found in the chats on SQPNconnect or on plurk. She blogs at 
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Last Year on Day 2 of A Catholic New Media Advent Calendar. RAnn from 
Last year, on 
Dan Harms is the other half of the amazing Catholic nerdcore band, 
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[...] This post was Twitted by Catholic_Hack [...]
Dear Mr Hack,
Just so you know that someone is really “listening”, I watched the Ustream show a few times this morning. I kept going back to about the 20 minute mark, and “listened” a number of times. Then, when I saw it was up here, and that you had 4 hours of work in it, I “listened yet again.(you are to hard on yourself)
Mr Hack, may I call you, Joe? Well, how about Bro?
You see, Bro, my life is really a struggle right now and there are moments when I am feeling lost, confused, afraid…wondering if the last 25 years of my life has been a lie. Doubting my call to live different from the world. To live without the “security” that most Americans live for. To have listened to Fr Al Lauer, founder of Presentation Ministries and author of the One Bread, One Body Devotional, when I started; for the Kingdom Press, a pro-life Printing Company that has printed the Devotional since 1987. To start off not knowing one thing about printing, much less really running a business. Well, if we count the over 10 years as a drug smuggler as “on the job training”, yea, maybe had a little.
I am facing some of the same things again in my life.Moving into areas that I know very little. This time though, I really, REALLY, need that “sign”, that sense of the Lord has it all worked out. At 54 with 3 of my 7 still in school, and unlike when I was being mentored by Fr Al, I am feeling alone, not able to “hear” what the Lord wants me to do, circumstances have kept me paralyzed like never before in my life.
If no one else, gets one thing from this teaching, I have! What it has given me, Joe, is a little more hope. Some light in the Dark Night of the Soul that I have been living in.
Thank you for the hours of work! Thank you for your inspiration! You have a passion, a fire, that I have allowed to become almost extinguished in my life. I need prayer, that I can rekindle that, “fire of my first love”!
Lord, please give me that “sign” that my brother spoke of. A renewed passion to teach and preach to the ends of the earth. And bless Joe and his family with all of their needs! Give Joe that “sign” as well. So that he knows, that he knows, that he knows, what YOU Lord, would have him do at this time in his life!
In Jesus Name, Amen
Bro Jer
.Acts 2:42 my brother!
thanks
Thanks Bro Jer!
I appreciate the feedback! Back in 2004 I attended a Cursillo weekend up in NH and it was a very powerful experience. One of the many things I fondly remember is how the rector, Wayne, encouraged us to pray boldly to God. He said “God has eternity… you do not… give God a time-line and pray boldly!”
This weekend was in October of that year and only a month away from the Presidential election. I was very nervous as I was afraid that John Kerry, who is a pro-abortion Catholic, was going to defeat George Bush who is pro-life. I am unashamedly pro-life and will not consider any other factors until the slaughter of countless millions of Americans is put to an end.
So… coming off this weekend I began to pray boldly to God. I didn’t tell anyone what I was doing however, every day I prayed and asked God to send his Mother to America. I wanted a sign.. to shore up my faith. I believed… but needed my Father in heaven to strengthen me. I gave God a time line… he had till election night to send his Mother to visit America. I prayed this because I wanted a pro-life culture to come to the USA and end the culture of death. Our Lady who gave birth to Life for the world is the remedy to culture gone bad.
Every day I prayed this prayer… boldly to God… giving the time line… asking for the specific sign… no wavering! I am a child of God… He is my Father… I can ask… he can choose to give or not… either way; Praise God!
So, on the night of the election, after days and days of praying this, I watched the TV and saw George Bush sitting in the White house, along with his wife, daughters, and parents, sitting on the couch, with George sitting in the chair, as they watched the results, on TV, come in from the election. Nothing… I never saw Our Lady and didn’t hear anyone else see her either. I was very discouraged by this.
The next day I was at my desk, with Fox News streaming over the internet so I could hear the results, and listening to the recap from the night before. They even played the same video of the President sitting in his chair watching the results come in. Then… I received an email from my wife. She asked me…. “Did you see it”? See what? I asked. “Did you see the image Our Lady in the White House?
What!?! I never told anyone what I had been praying for. Not even my wife! I went back to the video from election night… there She was! Sitting next to President Bush, on the coffee table, an Icon of our Lady. I didn’t notice it before but there she was! I sat in awe of the majesty of God. This was NOT an endorsement of Bush…. this was my Father speaking to his little boy… sending him the desired sign to shore up his faith! I have a picture of the icon from that night and it still amazes me.
Pray boldly! Ask God for a sign… he has one ready for you! I have told this to many people who have then asked and received their sign from God. Let me know when you receive yours!
God Bless You
Joe