"These honored dead shall not have died in vain..." Abraham Lincoln

Mary does not realize all the live that have been lost for the freedom and prosperity we enjoy in our country... as she learns more about history she might get a small idea of all the wars of the past. As her grandmother... I am still getting grips on the horror of all the young men lost in the World Wars... last night on the news a 90 something man was in tears remembering it all.  How do you ever forget that, and may we never take it for granted!?!

With Christ's suffering in the center of it all... how I pray that our country may come to a place of LIGHT.  There is so much of the lies of the devil that is accepted as truth.  It breaks my heart to think of all the innocent lives taken in abortion. 

A friend shared this today on Facebook and it is so true!  How much Truth these words hold when we consider how the freedom of LIFE has been deprived of those little ones that cannot speak for nor protect themselves.  How can this be tolerated in our God-fearing country? 

I believe President Lincoln summarized what Memorial Day is about in the Gettysburg Address, "But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate -- we can not consecrate -- we can not hallow -- this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here t...o the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth." May they rest in peace.

I see that they take many of my pictures and make them move together... enjoy and smile.  This is appropriate for today - the Feast of St Philip Neri.  Why?  Because he was a man who "was noted for his ability to be cheerful and to laugh from the depths of his burning love for the crucified Christ and to win other hearts for Christ by the quality of his joy."    Think about it - you certainly win more over with sugar than vinegar!
How I hope and pray that my grandchildren always hold dear their freedoms in America, yet be aware of the Truth compared to the lies of Satan.
"The Holy Spirit inflames everything he fills with the desire of invisible things.  And because worldly hearts love only visible things, the world does not receive him, because it does not rise to the love of what is invisible.  For worldly minds, the more they widen their desires, the more they narrow the core of their hearts to the Spirit." St Gregory the Great
"Worldly love does not have invisible eyes which alone can see the invisible Holy Spirit.'  St Augustine

I am quite certain that Abraham Lincoln was a man of Faith- evident in his words and his actions for freedom for ALL!  I think he would be mortified at all the morals and values that have been trampled under foot.  May our prayers join with his that "these honored dead shall not have died in vain."  The blatant taking of life by abortion, the embracing of homosexuality as a norm and lifestyle lived out, the thought that cohabitating is a part of approaching marriage, the use of artificial birth control preventing God's plan for LIFE... leading to the small families of this day and age... depriving children of siblings that show them how to give without counting the cost and suffer less with selfishness sinfulness.  There is so much darkness that is accepted as the truth... leading many down the path of destruction!

May our families be united in the Truth of Jesus and His Bride, The Church! 
Jesus, today in the Gospel you remind us that no matter what we face that the Spirit of Truth who proceeds from the Father... will show us the narrow path to take as we follow after You carrying Our Most Cherished Cross!  We are forever grateful for sharing your Truth without hesitation in the midst of our domestic Church/family.  How is that best shared?  With JOY!  May we joyfully reveal your unconditional LOVE for us with all those in our lives - especially those most close to us in our domestic Church/family.  Jesus, we trust in YOU, and honor all those that sacrificed their lives for all we take for granted - our freedom to love and follow YOU.  Amen and Hallelujah

My Most Cherished Cross, Patrick, doesn't have these two in his arms today, but he has two grandchildren on the 4 Wheeler with him watching for rocks on both sides so grandpa doesn't have to get off so much.  Happy Memorial day!  Bless-bless, Barbara Luke
"Persons who live in the world should persevere in coming to church to hear sermons, and remember to read spiritual books, especially the lives of the saints.... The things of this world do not remain constantly with us, for if we do not leave them before we actually die, in death at least we infallibly depart as empty handed as we came.
To pray well requires the whole man."  St Philip Neri, pray for us, and show us how to share the Truth with JOY!

Luke is not happy, so I am remembering this time!

Holy Now - Peter Mayer!