Rantings of a Sandmonkey Done

I find this sad. (link)

I understand. He is in my prayers. You know, those of us who do not have persecution and these problems to face are going to have to be more active. I think, in honor of all the risks he has taken in these last few years...that is the only decent thing to do.

Feast of St. Mark

The Catholic Church celebrates the feast of St. Mark today. For my Coptic brothers and sisters, as Mark and Peter were together in the Lord. May our two Churches grow closer. Even if that is a single brother and sister at a time.

May the Lord draw us closer. And may the Church of Alexandria be held in the hand of God against all who strive to harm her.

Baby Emilio given until May 8th

The Story (link).

Judge gives baby Emilio 9 more days.

The story (link)

Emilo Gonzales has unitl Tuesday. His appeal for life denied don Good Friday

Emilio Gonzales is facing death again at the hands of the texas futile care law. He has until April 10th (link) and (link).

In my previous posts I have contact info to voice your opposition to this (link).

Please keep this child and his mother in your prayers and do all you can.

A disturbing thing from the lifesite report:

Pro-life advocates helping the Gonzales family are troubled that doctors are not certain in their diagnosis. They believe Emilio has Leigh’s Disease, a condition that is treated primarily through vitamin therapy. But on March 12, a hospital ethics committee voted behind closed doors to end Emilio’s treatment, deeming his life “futile.”

Under Texas law, a hospital is required to wait only 10 days before discontinuing treatment, to allow for a transfer to another hospital willing to admit the patient. Due to litigation, the 10-day window in Emilio’s case was extended until April 10; however, because of hospital bureaucracy and extensive paperwork, a successful transfer to another hospital is unlikely to occur in time to save Emilio’s life.

A state probate hearing on this case is scheduled to take place at the Travis County Courthouse on Tuesday--the same day the hospital plans to cease giving Emilio his treatments.

An outside nurse reviewing Emilio’s records noticed that the hospital had removed the boy’s vitamin treatments during the initial 10-day period, bringing up concerns among some that the hospital could be rushing to end the toddler’s life to avoid discovery of malpractice in the boy’s treatment.

“People who could profit from an innocent person’s death should not get to decide when it occurs. Whatever the hospital’s motives are for pushing to end Emilio’s treatment, a child's life outweighs all other concerns--whether it’s to cut costs, or for convenience, or something else,” said Carden. “And furthermore, the twisted state law that allows hospitals to exterminate disabled children over their parents’ wishes needs to be changed.”

May we all proclaim as one: Christ is Risen! Indeed He is Risen!

Christ is Risen!
Indeed He is Risen!




And most blessed and wonderful day to all.






No matter what our differences let us proclaim in one voice:

Christ is Risen!
Indeed He is Risen!

Pakistani Christians Could Face Death on Blasphemy Charges

Pakistani Christians Could Face Death on Blasphemy Charges

Apr. 4, 2007 (AsiaNews) - In Pakistan, an 11-year-old boy is one of 5 Christians who could face a death penalty after being charged with blasphemy against Islam, the AsiaNews service reports.

Police in the town of Toba Tek Singh are searching for 4 Christians who were charged with showing disrespect for Mohammed: a crime punishable by death under Pakistan's draconian law. One man has already been arrested, AsiaNews reports.

A local priest says that the blasphemy charges are being used to settle a family feud. "It is a totally fabricated case," he insists. Other Christian families in the region are frightened by the prospect of arbitrary accusation and arrest.

AsiaNews Story (link)

A Rosary Worldwide For Good Friday

I don't know who came up with the idea, but between noon and three on Good Friday let us all join in prayer for an end to Abortion and Christian Persecution and Terrorism. The suggested method is a Rosary. But for those readers who do not say the Rosary just join in prayer for these intentions.

Also on this unified Easter let us say a Rosary or make a special prayer intention for Christian Unity. That all may be one.

St. Francis of Paola

Who?

Xavier?
Assisi?

Nope Paola. Calabria Italy. The partron of Calabria. Some people departed that area long ago and so I am here.

Saint Francis of Paola founded the Order of Minims. He was born in 1416 in Paula in Calabria, Italy. His parents were remarkable for the holiness of their lives. Remaining childless for some years after their marriage they had recourse to prayer, especially commending themselves to the intercession of St. Francis of Assisi. Francis was the eldest of three children. He suffered from a swelling which endangered the sight of one of his eyes. His parents again had recourse to Francis of Assisi, and made a vow that their son should pass an entire year in the "little habit" of St Francis in one of the convents of his order, a not uncommon practice in the Middle Ages. The child was immediately cured. From his early years Francis showed signs of extraordinary sanctity, and at the age of thirteen, being admonished by a vision of a Franciscan friar, he entered a convent of the Franciscan Order in order to fulfil the vow made by his parents. Here he gave great edification by his love of prayer and mortification, his profound humility, and his prompt obedience. At the completion of the year he went with his parents on a pilgrimage to Assisi, Rome, and other places of devotion. Returning to Paula he selected a retired spot on his father's estate, and there lived in solitude; but later on he found a more retired dwelling in a cave on the sea coast. Here he remained alone for about six years giving himself to prayer and mortification.

In 1435 two companions joined him in his retreat, and to accommodate them Francis caused three cells and a chapel to be built: in this way the new order was begun. The number of his disciples gradually increased, and about 1454, with the permission of Pyrrhus, Archbishop of Cosenza, Francis built a large monastery and church. The building of this monastery was the occasion of a great outburst of enthusiasm and devotion on the part of the people towards Francis: even the nobles carried stones and joined in the work. Their devotion was increased by the many miracles which the saint wrought in answer to their prayers. The rule of life adopted by Francis and his religious was one of extraordinary severity.

They observed perpetual abstinence and lived in great poverty, but the distinguishing mark of the order was humility. They were to seek to live unknown and hidden from the world. To express this character which he would have his disciples cultivate, Francis eventually obtained from the Holy See that they should be styled Minims, the least of all religious. In 1474 Sixtus IV gave him permission to write a rule for his community, and to assume the title of Hermits of St. Francis: this rule was formally approved by Alexander VI, who, however, changed their title into that of Minims. After the approbation of the order, Francis founded several new monasteries in Calabria and Sicily. He also established convents of nuns, and a third order for people living in the world, after the example of St. Francis of Assisi.

The last three mouths of his life he spent in entire solitude, preparing for death. On Maundy Thursday he gathered his community around him and exhorted them especially to have mutual charity amongst themselves and to maintain the rigour of their life and in particular perpetual abstinence. The next day, Good Friday, he again called them together and gave them his last instructions and appointed a vicar-general. He then received the last sacraments and asked to have the Passion according to St. John read out to him, and whilst this was being read, his soul passed away. Leo X canonized him in 1519. In 1562 the Huguenots broke open his tomb and found his body incorrupt. They dragged it forth and burnt it, but some of the bones were preserved by the Catholics and enshrined in various churches of his order. The Order of Minims does not seem at any time to have been very extensive, but they had houses in many countries. The definitive rule was approved in 1506 by Julius II, who also approved a rule for the nuns of the order. The feast of St. Francis of Paula is kept by the universal Church on April 2, the day on which he died in 1507.

If I get some time in the next few days I'll write some of the stories about him.

As we enter Holy Week and Approach a shared Easter

Every once and awhile it happens. Though we are not unified...the most important day for us is.

And this year we will celebrate Easter on the same day. I'll try and get some posting in this week but I can't promise a lot since work is crazy.

But as we near this Sunday remember that all over the world as one.

Christos anesti
aléthos anesti

Christ is Risen.
Indeed He is Risen.

Al'Masiah qam
haqqan qam

Christo è risuscitato
in verità è resuscitato

And in many other languages (link)

My brothers and sisters who read this blog, I know I have not had a lot of time or posts lately but let us remember this Thursday. Holy Thursday. That through His Body and Blood we are one. And let us remember it not only this Easter Season, but let it go out with us from that day to all days.