Meditation on the Annunciation

Bartolomo Esteban Murillo. Annunciation.
c.1660-65. Oil on canvas. Museo del Prado, Madrid, Spain. (Source)

A nice meditation on today's feast over at America Needs Fatima blog . . .
and also at Happy Catholic.

Luke 1: 26-35

26 And in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God into a city of Galilee, called Nazareth, 27 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. 28 And the angel being come in, said unto her: Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. 29 Who having heard, was troubled at his saying, and thought with herself what manner of salutation this should be. 30 And the angel said to her: Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found grace with God.

31 Behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and shalt bring forth a son; and thou shalt call his name Jesus. 32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the most High; and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of David his father; and he shall reign in the house of Jacob for ever. 33 And of his kingdom there shall be no end. 34 And Mary said to the angel: How shall this be done, because I know not man? 35 And the angel answering, said to her: The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the most High shall overshadow thee. And therefore also the Holy which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

Words of Wisdom - Archbishop Burke

Archbishop Raymond Burke, prefect of the Vatican’s highest court, says canon law requires that Communion be denied to pro-abortion politicians.

In a March 2 interview with Operation Rescue founder Randall Terry that was made public this morning, Archbishop Burke said Canon 915 specifies bishops, priests and extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion must withhold Communion when a pro-abortion politician presents himself or herself for reception of the sacrament.

Said Archbishop Burke, “The Canon is completely clear, it is not subject in my judgment to any other interpretations. When someone is publicly and obstinately in grave sin we may not administer Holy Communion to the person.”

Read more here at Lifesite News.

Abortion Chain Owner's Family Dies in MT Plane Crash

Abortion chain owner's family died in MT cemetery plane crash - near Tomb of the Unborn
Read more here.

As I live, says the Lord, I swear I take no pleasure in the death of the sinner, but rather in the sinner’s conversion, that he may live.

Ezek. 33:11

Ecce Homo

Antonio Ciseri (1821-91)

"Behold the man,"
The Governor, Pontius Pilate. (John 19.5)

The scene - The Praetorium, Jerusalem, 30CE

John 19

1 Then therefore, Pilate took Jesus, and scourged him. 2 And the soldiers platting a crown of thorns, put it upon his head; and they put on him a purple garment. 3 And they came to him, and said: Hail, king of the Jews; and they gave him blows. 4 Pilate therefore went forth again, and saith to them: Behold, I bring him forth unto you, that you may know that I find no cause in him. 5 (Jesus therefore came forth, bearing the crown of thorns and the purple garment.) And he saith to them: Behold the Man.

Alan Keyes in Full Force

See a man with passion . . . for truth, morals, and America.

The Crowning with Thorns

The Crowning with Thorns (1570)

Titian (TIZIANO VECELLI, called TITIAN)

The Scourging

"Christ after the Flagellation," by Diego Velazquez

Velazquez's Jesus is scourged, yet serene: The Spanish artist depicts the soul contemplating Christ -
Sr. Wendy Beckett's interpretation.

Novena to St. Joseph

March is the month traditionally dedicated to St. Joseph. One of his feast days is on March 19. To honor St. Joseph, I will be join Totus Tuus in beginnning today a novena to this great saint who exemplifies so many of the qualities I lack . . . Please join us, too!

Prayer to St. Joseph by Pope St. Pius X

Glorious St. Joseph, model of all who are devoted to labor, obtain for me the grace to work in the spirit of penance in expiation of my many sins; to work conscientiously by placing love of duty above my inclinations; to gratefully and joyously deem it an honor to employ and to develop by labor the gifts I have received from God, to work methodically, peacefully, and in moderation and patience, without ever shrinking from it through weariness or difficulty to work; above all, with purity of intention and unselfishness, having unceasingly before my eyes death and the account I have to render of time lost, talents unused, good not done, and vain complacency in success, so baneful to the work of God. All for Jesus, all for Mary, all to imitate thee, O patriarch St. Joseph! This shall be my motto for life and eternity.

New Blog - Alan Keyes

There is a new blog on the block, not homeschooling, nor even blatantly Catholic (although Mr. Keyes' Catholicism manifest itself frequently), but I expect it will be worth our time. It will be on my blog reader daily.

Check it out at Alan Keyes

Hi Everyone,
I'm writing to let you know that I've now developed a blog site that's available to the general public without the need to sign up for myspace.com or any other social networking service. You can find it at Loyal to Liberty . It is now my main outlet for sharing views and commenting on current events, updated daily. I will also be serializing longer works that will later be published as books or pamphlets.
Given Obama's push to overturn Constitutional government and make the U.S. a soviet style state, I think it's more important than ever that those of us who believe in liberty deliberate and work together. I hope you'll join me whenever you can at Loyal To Liberty.
Godspeed,
Alan Keyes

"Agony in the Garden" by Alessandro Botticelli

Luke 22:39-51

39 And going out, he went, according to his custom, to the mount of Olives. And his disciples also followed him. 40 And when he was come to the place, he said to them: Pray, lest ye enter into temptation.

41 And he was withdrawn away from them a stone's cast; and kneeling down, he prayed, 42 Saying: Father, if thou wilt, remove this chalice from me: but yet not my will, but thine be done. 43 And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. And being in an agony, he prayed the longer. 44 And his sweat became as drops of blood, trickling down upon the ground. 45 And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow.

46 And he said to them: Why sleep you? arise, pray, lest you enter into temptation. 47 As he was yet speaking, behold a multitude; and he that was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them, and drew near to Jesus, for to kiss him. 48 And Jesus said to him: Judas, dost thou betray the Son of man with a kiss? 49 And they that were about him, seeing what would follow, said to him: Lord, shall we strike with the sword? 50 And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear.

51 But Jesus answering, said: Suffer ye thus far. And when he had touched his ear, he healed him.