An interesting lesson in traditional Catholic church architecture – and the Bible

They don’t make them like this anymore

Long before most people could read, the Church was preaching the Gospel. And to do so, she used the very structure of her buildings to preach.

Many of our older builds are a sermon in stone and stained glass.

The Scriptures come alive in our art, statues, paintings, and majestic stained glass windows that soar along the walls of our Churches like jewels of light.

Even the height and shape of our older churches preach the word.

The height draws our sights up to heaven as if to say, Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, seek the things that are above where Christ is seated at God’s right hand (Col 3:1).

And the shape of most of our older churches is the shape of a cross. As if to say, May I never glory in anything, save the Cross of my Lord Jesus Christ(Gal 6:14).

My own Parish Church is a sermon in stone and wood and glass.

Read more from Msgr. Charles Pope

A lesson in traditional Catholic church architecture – and the Bible

They don’t make them like this anymore

Long before most people could read, the Church was preaching the Gospel. And to do so, she used the very structure of her buildings to preach. Many of our older builds are a sermon in stone and stained glass.

The Scriptures come alive in our art, statues, paintings, and majestic stained glass windowsthat soar along the walls of our Churches like jewels of light. Even the height and shape of our older churches preach the word. The height draws our sights up to heaven as if to say, Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, seek the things that are above where Christ is seated at God’s right hand (Col 3:1). And the shape of most of our older churches is the shape of a cross. As if to say, May I never glory in anything, save the Cross of my Lord Jesus Christ(Gal 6:14).

My own Parish Church is a sermon in stone and wood and glass.

Read more from Msgr. Charles Pope

An estimated 20,000 people showed up in DC for MLK 50th. Media goes crazy. What about the 200,000+ pro-lifer’s who have showed up every January for the last 40 years?

The “crowd” in the grossly-over-reported 50th Anniversary observance of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I have a dream” speech has been eclipsed, by a factor of at least ten, every year for forty years by pro-lifers who have marched, since 1974, in annual remembrance of the mega-lethal Roe v Wade decision. Indeed, the annual headcount at any one of these marches would rival or beat the attendance at the original event of 1963 that was recalled this Aug. 28, 2013.

These regular, massive pro-life gatherings are scarcely ever recognized by the “information” media, let alone reported. Yet the victims of “discrimination” and “lynchings” from legalized abortion–in any given year–exceed the numbers who suffered from race-based discrimination and death in all of our country’s history.

Submitted by Mark H.

If quoting the Bible or the Catechism equals hate, then night has surely come to the West.

Homosexual activists and advocates often state that they merely want recognition and certain legal rights, and that churches and other objectors to their life style remain free to have their opinions and state them in a free culture. And any expressed fears regarding compulsory recognition or punitive measures directed against objectors are dismissed as fear mongering.

Never mind that these fears are based in real experiences in Canada and Europe where clergy have been arrested and fined for presenting the biblical case against homosexuality in the pulpits of their own churches or the pages of their bulletins.

More text and video

Live Action President Lila Rose calls on America’s “big three” news distributors – ABC, CBS, and CNN – to stop censoring the facts of the abortion debate.

More photos here!
Video here, here, and here!
Sign the petition today!

In God We Trust: A few other things worth remembering this Memorial Day.

  Watch the 3-minute video

There’s an extraordinary amount of Judeo-Christian religious tradition incorporated into the design elements of the Nation’s Capitol – especially for a nation that is often portrayed today as “secular”.

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Submitted by John Z.

93 photos of the 2013 Washington, D.C. March for Life

WASHINGTON, D.C., January 25, 2013, (LifeSiteNews.com) – Huddled under winter coats and hats and scarves, hundreds of thousands of pro-life activists gathered on the Mall in Washington D.C. this morning to send a clear message to politicians in the Capitol, and the whole country: 40 years is too long, abortion must end! But despite the frigid January temperatures, the crowd, made up largely of teens and young adults, was boisterous, with many groups chanting pro-life slogans and singing hymns as they walked.

This year’s March marked the 40th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, since which an estimated 55 million babies have been killed by abortion in America.

While accurate estimates of the number of attendees at the march are hard to come by, organizers had said in the days leading up to the event that all signs pointed to a record-breaking crowd. Hotels in the D.C area sold out far in advance of when they normally do, and organizers installed two jumbotrons just to ensure that all marchers could get a glimpse of what was happening on the stage.

Last year’s march was estimated at around 400,000 participants, likely putting this year’s at the half million mark, or even beyond.

Photos and text

Late term abortionist: I choose to focus on the important service I’m providing…

People feel morally justified to say “this is wrong” because they’re led to think it’s close to murder. I think that jeopardizes us, by conflating abortion with an issue that would cause moral outrage.

Link

Editor’s note: What is this guy smoking? Abortion is not close to murder. It is murder! Innocent human beings are being intentionally and systematically chopped up into little pieces and having their brains sucked out … right up until the moment of birth … for the sake of convenience.

This is nothing less than murder for hire! I am morally outraged … and rightly so!

As for Sarah Kliff, the alleged “journalist” who wrote this embarrassingly one-sided piece, for the Washington Post … shame on you!

What China and Washington D.C. have in common: Unrestricted late term abortion … right up to the baby’s due date.

Washington D.C. has been funding unrestricted abortions since President Obama signed an executive order in January of 2010, which is apparently a violation of Federal Law.

Rep. Trent Franks labeled D.C. late-term abortions “the greatest human rights atrocity in the United States today.”

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Writer responds to Cardinal Wuerl’s complaint

Go ahead and do damage to me in this city, Cardinal Wuerl. I don’t care. I will not surrender one inch to PC prelates like yourself who punish dutiful priests while pandering to the enemies of the Church.

This moronic controversy, triggered by a self-described practicing “lesbian Buddhist” who effortlessly mau-maued Cardinal Wuerl into a craven apology and trumped-up “administrative leave” order to Fr. Marcel Guarnizo, is a grotesque farce beyond the satirical imagination of Evelyn Waugh.

I petition the Holy See — if anyone happens to read TAS there — for urgent relief. This scandal is sickening. Cardinal Wuerl has damaged the reputation of a faithful priest, exposed the Holy Eucharist to sacrilege, scandalized confused congregants, and handed a propaganda victory to forces of secularism that seek to destroy the Church in America.

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Photo collection – 2012 March for Life – Washington, D.C.

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Video interview: Father Frank Pavone at the March for Life 2012

Watch the video

Steven D. Greydanus “live blogs” the 2012 Washington, DC March for Life

Visit the site for all the details

Seen on the web: Irrefutable logic

An interesting letter in the Canadian Shooter Magazine, which I quote:

If you consider that there has been an average of 160,000 troops in the Iraq Theater of operations during the past 22 months, and a total of 2,112 deaths, that gives a firearm death rate of 60 per 100,000 soldiers.

The firearm death rate in Washington, DC is 80.6 per 100,000 for the same period. That means you are about 25 per cent more likely to be shot and killed in the US capital, which has some of the strictest gun control laws in the U.S., than you are in Iraq.

Conclusion: The U.S. should pull out of Washington!

38th March for Life in Washington, DC: Spiritually energizing for Knights of the Van Nuys KofC Council and 400,000 others!

by John Costello, PGK

Huge numbers braved the cold of a Washington winter to celebrate life, save unborn children, and call for an end to Roe v. Wade.

For the third time I represented Knights of Columbus, Van Nuys Council 3148 and attended the 38^th annual March for Life in Washington, DC, held on January 24, 2011.

The whole journey from start to finish was made spiritually energizing and joyful by over 500 priests, seminarians and over 300 thousand children, teenagers and 20-year olds

This year I attended MFL with over 200 people on a 14-hour bus ride, and 4 buses from the Diocese of Joliet, near Chicago.  Our pilgrimage was led by Bishop Joseph Siegel and Father Thomas Milota, Diocese of Joliet.   My bus had 30 teens from age 14 to 19.

On Sunday, our 200 marchers had a wonderful hot breakfast and by luck I sat next to Bishop Siegel.  I gave Bishop Siegel a flyer for our 8th LA March for Life and told him I am with the Knights of Columbus, Van Nuys Council.  Bishop Siegel then told me he is a 4^th degree knight and is the current Illinois State Chaplain.  He is very warm and friendly.

After breakfast we walked to the Holocaust Museum and I was blessed to walk and talk again with the Bishop.  Then Sunday night we went to Mass for Life at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.  It is the largest Catholic Church in North America.  Mass started at 6:30 pm and it took 45 minutes for the over 500 priests, seminarians, bishops and cardinals to walk in before mass started.  Daniel Cardinal DiNardo, Archbishop of Galveston-Houston, was the Principal Celebrant and Homilist.

I was so spiritually energized and happy to see 500 priests and over 6 thousand youth and adults at this mass.   Cardinal DiNardo said, “Pope John Paul said we should be a luminous conscience.”  …”to the young people here –be Pro-Life witnesses to your families and friends.”

On Monday, January 24, it was a cold 19 degrees as our group braved the cold and walked from Holiday Inn to the March for Life Rally and 38^th March for Life.

Nellie Gray, Director of MFL for 38 years, led the 2-hour Rally and March. Fifty-two members of Congress and one Senator came to tell their concern for unborn and pledge their support to overturn Roe. V. Wade.  There were Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, Jews, Lutherans, Anglicans.  Silent No More had a huge crowd. SNM’s founder, Georgette Forney said, “Take our experience…it’s not a good solution…we’re here to tell you the product is not good.”

Georgette’s comment reminded me of my favorite quote from brother knight John Riordan, PGK who once said, “Abortion is not a good thing…it’s an ugly thing.”

Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) was the first to speak. He stated, “America got a wake-up call last week with arrest of abortionist in Philadelphia who was charged with killing a woman and seven babies who were aborted, briefly survived then killed with scissors. They know the only thing the multibillion abortion industry produces is victims and women deserve better than abortion.”

Rep. Randy Hultgren (R-IL) said, “We have 100 new freshman in Congress and 90 percent are Pro-Life.”

Bobby Schilling (R-IL): “We have 10 children.” Rep. Lee Terry (R-NE) SAID: “The greatest civilizations have a moral code that respects life from beginning to end.” Rep. Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE): “You know abortion is not healthcare.” Steve Chabot:  (R-OH): “I am the  author of bill against  Partial-birth abortion.” Mike Spence (R-OH): “We are going to end Title X.  We will deny funding to Planned Parenthood.” Phil Roe, MD (R-TN): “I have delivered over five thousand babies.”

Pastor Luke Robinson from Quinn Chapel AME Church, Frederick, MD spoke loud, and with passion: “72 percent of pregnancies of 17 year-old girls in U.S. end in the killing of unborn babies.  Where is Jesse Jackson?  Where is Al Sharpton?  Where is the African American church.  We must stop the lie.  We have killed over 53 million children since Roe v. Wade. May this Congress have the guts to de-fund Planned Parenthood.”

After the Rally I walked with 400,000 marchers down Constitution Avenue to the Supreme Court Building.  I met marchers from Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado, Florida,  New Orleans, New Jersey, New York and many other states.  Ninety percent of the 400 thousand were teenagers and 20 year-olds. I attended college football games at Rose Bowl with 100,000 fans.  This crowd was 3 to 4 times that size.

My take away memory for this 38^th MFL, after talking with many marchers, is that we are all energized by the huge number of youth, over 500 priests, religious, clergy and seminarians.  Back in California, Nebraska and Illinois when you pray the rosary with 3 or 4 others in front of abortion clinics, you wonder if anyone cares about Pro-Life.  After attending this 38^th MFL you know there are many Americans who are dedicated and who definitely do care.

During my stay in Washington, DC I was blessed to have a roommate, named Franklin, who is a third-year seminarian from Bolivia.   Thank you Nellie Gary, Bishop Siegel, Father Milota and all of our brother knights and family for being rescuers of unborn, innocent babies.

Please support our 2011 – 8^th Los Angeles March for Life – Saturday, March 12, 2011 – at St. Cyril’s Church, Encino, California.

www.lamarchforlife.org

Youth Mass at Verizon Center expanded to the Washington D.C. Armory. 27,000 attended.

The Youth Rally and Mass for Life, hosted by the Archdiocese of Washington, marked the 38th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion. Annual events tend to focus on mobilizing the young, and Catholic high schools, youth groups and colleges were out in force Monday in Washington.

For the first time, a morning Mass at Verizon Center was expanded to the D.C. Armory, where a parallel event was held. More than 27,000 young people attended the events, which began after dawn and included readings by youths in hooded sweatshirts and jeans, contemporary praise music and dozens of priests hearing confessions in the sports arena’s dining area.

The Rev. Mark Ivany of the Catholic Church of the Little Flower in Bethesda, who delivered the homily at Verizon Center, compared attendees to activists from previous eras who fought against slavery and for women’s right to vote.

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5 Cardinals, 39 Bishops, 10,000 faithful pack basilica for Vigil for Life Mass

WASHINGTON, DC, January 23, 2011 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Since early afternoon Sunday the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception had begun to fill for the 6:30 pm. National Prayer Vigil for Life Mass in anticipation of the March for Life.  By 6 pm. every nook and cranny of the giant basilica was packed with people.  The booming pipe organ and majestic choir signaled the commencement of the Mass, which began with a massive procession of hundreds of seminarians, deacons and priests followed by 39 bishops and five cardinals.

Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, Archbishop of Galveston-Houston and chairman of the U.S. bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities, was the principal celebrant and homilist, joined at the altar by Cardinals Donald Wuerl of Washington, Francis George of Chicago, Justin Rigali of Philadelphia, and Sean O’Malley of Boston.

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Networks Ignore 300,000+ Washington, DC Pro-Life Marchers (Again).

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Thousands heading to Washington, DC for annual March for Life

WASHINGTON, January 20, 2011 (LifeSiteNews.com) – With the National March for Life in Washington, D.C. just days away, pro-life groups, church parishes, colleges, and thousands of North Americans are preparing to head to the nation’s capital to demand that the government protect the lives of the unborn.

This year marks the 38th anniversary since the infamous Roe vs. Wade case that struck down laws restricting abortion in America.  Once again, hundreds of thousands are expected to descend on Washington, and reports are surfacing from across the country of local pro-life groups and individuals doing their part, whether large or small, to ensure that the crowd sizes are as massive as ever.

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Pro-life youth rally scheduled right after the DC March for Life

News Release

Just a quick note to let you know about the first pro-life youth rally for the March for Life in DC. It takes place immediately following the march just down the street (towards Union Station).

This FREE rally features Barlow Girl and national leaders like Eduardo Verastegui, actor and star of the award-winning movie, Bella; Dr. Alveda King, niece of Dr. Martin Luther King; Abby Johnson, former Director of Planned Parenthood; David Bereit, 40 Days for Life; Kristan Hawkins, Students for Life of America; Erik Whittington, Rock For Life; Lila Rose, Live Action, and Joe Langfeld, Deputy Director of Human Life Alliance.

Any pro-lifer can register for this FREE event. The National Pro-Life Youth Rally will take place after the annual pro-life March in Washington, D.C. on Monday, January 24, 2011. Shows will be from 2:00 to 3:20pm and 3:30 to 5:00pm.

Please note, space will be limited at the Rally. If you aren’t pre-registered, plan to get there early.

Free Action Kits stuffed with pro-life literature, music download cards, and action materials will be provided at the Rally to the first 5,000 participants.

Looking forward to seeing you in DC—God Bless!

MAP: http://tinyurl.com/5tcwko6

Joe Langfeld
Deputy Director

Human Life Alliance
2855 Anthony Lane S, B7
Minneapolis, MN 55418

www.humanlife.org

Submitted by John C.