St. Martha's Feast Day July 29

According to one legend, Martha left Judea after Jesus's death, around AD 48, and went to Provence with her sister Mary (potentially Mary Magdalene) and her brother Lazarus. Martha first settled in Avignon (now in France), then went to Tarascon, where a monster, the Tarasque, was a constant threat to the population. Martha managed to tame the monster and eventually died in Tarascon, where she was buried. Her tomb is located in the crypt of the local Collegiate Church.

Do you love St. Martha and rely on her intercession?

Prayer and Fasting

Prayer and fasting is sometimes all we can offer when we read about the horrors that occur daily in the world. Victims we don't know personally but only as God's children. Hopefully publishing articles about victim souls and the demented souls who harm them will bring about abundant prayer and fasting for the victims of sin.

May all souls be converted so hell and its occupants will receive no more assistance.

St. Jude, son of Cleophas (thought to be the brother of St. Joseph who was put to death for his fearless confession of the Resurrection of Christ), St. Jude, son of Mary of Cleophas (who stood with The Blessed Mother by the Cross of Jesus on Calvary), intercede for all victims of man's inhumanity to man. Through your profound humility and merit, servant and martyr of God, pray that Christ's Peace and consolation will be poured out upon all victim souls. Pray for the repose of the souls of all victims who have died. Continue in your prayers for all hearts broken, until all hearts are mended. Let the Mercy of God be adored and let it lead all souls to conversion.

Returning home from Poughkeepsie yesterday afternoon, from the Emmitsburg area (until we reached home) we viewed a beautiful rainbow for at least forty minutes. A holy reminder of God's justice and mercy.

When was the last time you saw a rainbow?

Pittsburgh's New Bishop David Zubik

Congratulations to the souls in Pittsburgh who will soon be led by their newly appointed Bishop David Zubik (to be installed as Bishop there September 28, 2007).

Our prayers are with him in his continuing service to God and His Holy Catholic Church in Pittsburgh.

Who will be the next Bishop of Birmingham?

Magical Thinking

How did JK Rowling become a billionaire through magical thinking?

For children who like to read fantasy, JK has an imagination that will continue to influence children and adults internationally.

Through magical thinking she manages to teach virtue and ethics. She inspires individuals to see that one doesn't always come out better by taking the easy path. Through exceptional writing and wit she fights against tyranny, and prejudice, and unfair control.

We have fun and find strenth by reading her books and find that through JK's opinions, truth and love still conquer and unite us.

Have you stayed with Harry Potter through book seven?

Congratulations!

Congratulations to the Diocese of Baltimore who will not have to wait for the appointment of a new Bishop.

May God's Will be done in Archbishop Edwin O'Brien: Shepherd In-Chief to the souls in Maryland as they await his installation on Oct. 1, 2007.




What is your opinion concerning this Vatican announcement?

Harry Potter

Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows is soon to be published.

My daughter Anna Patricia has been reading the Harry Potter collection since 2000. My daughter Sophie has been reading them since 2005. Currently they are reading them aloud to me while I read along. We should be finished with all the books in the collection before the last one is published.

So much controversy has surrounded the publication of the Harry Potter books. JK Rowling is very talented and has awakened and fed the imagination of children and adults worldwide.

The only possible harm I can see in these novels is the distraction and escape they bring from duty and responsibility. It is fun to stay in the world of fantasy and that can cause us to neglect our responsibilities.

The movies are fun too, but differ from the books quite often.

The books are a great character study. We can all learn what we want to be like and what we don't desire to be like from the author's characters.

What books are of interest to you lately?

Chiang Mai, Thailand

Adrienne arrived safely in Thailand. She sounds happy and exhausted and professionally busy. She is in Thailand working for Earthrights International and will also visit Burma during her visit there that will last until July 21, 2007.

Matthew Dylan Joseph Hersey's (Adrienne's husband's) birthday is today on the Feast of St. Thomas The Apostle. He will have lunch with his father James in Washington DC and then he will spend the afternoon with us. We are surprising him with tickets to see the Washington Nationals play the Chicago Cubs. Mike, Anna, Sophie and I saw the game last night and we will return to RFK tonight with Matt and Miranda's family to see them play again.

It was really good to see Alfonso Soriano play again. Last year he was playing for the Washington Nationals. Last night he was playing for the Chicago Cubs who also love to see him play.

Tomorrow the Fourth of July, our family will meet together along with Noemi and Phil and Gordon to celebrate our freedom! We will cook out and probably watch the National's game on TV, too.

What are you planning for the Fourth of July celebration?