Franciscan Focus

Cmdr. Quinteros and Fr. Corapi: Twins separated at birth?

2010-01-13T23:03:00.001-06:00

Earlier tonight, Husband Mike and I watched a rerun of the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode, "11001001". When one of the guest characters, Commander Orfil Quinteros, strode onscreen, my first thought was, "OMG, it's Commander Father Corapi!"Judge for yourself:

On getting one's butt outta bed

2009-11-09T11:37:00.007-06:00

Awhile ago, I was thinking about how hard it is for me -- how it's always been hard -- to get out of bed in the morning. No matter what, I Always Hate Getting Up and do everything I can to delay it. I grumble, I gripe, I continually hit the snooze button. I have absolutely no motivation to pry myself from the sheets.I was feeling frustrated and angry at myself over this perpetual lack of

Josephology: List of Must-Read Books

2009-11-05T22:13:00.012-06:00

Happily, there are Lots And Tons Of Many Great Josephite Books out there, but occasionally, I'll come across one in which the author whines something like, "Poor Joseph, there's really not much written about him! Oh, well!" To that I reply: You are full of crap!There are loads of excellent books written about Joseph, ranging from devotional to scholarly and all shades in-between, and whenever an

Josephology: On Joseph's Fatherhood

2009-11-05T15:34:00.000-06:00

While chattin' with pals recently, I realized that it's been awhile since I've tossed out a Josephy post, which must be remedied forthwith! For this go-round, let's look at Joseph's unique and glorious fatherhood!"48. So what is the most exact title we should use to express Joseph's fatherhood?In reality, none of the terms suggested entirely expresses the totality of Joseph's relationship with

Place yer bets

2009-11-03T22:06:00.003-06:00

After years of searching, Husband Mike finally found a St. Michael the Archangel statue -- with devil-stompin' action! -- that he likes, which we happily brought home earlier this evening:So, how long d'ya think it'll take for somebody ...... to damage it, à la Mary?

The Sacred and the Silly

2009-11-01T13:07:00.003-06:00

In honor of All Saint's Day today, I'm resharing one of my fave sung renditions of the Litany of Saints:Our LitanyAnd in celebration of yesterday's Halloween fun, a comical critter family portrait (the looks of exasperated resignation on their faces sez it all):Halloween Kitties

Timely technological prayer

2009-08-24T15:56:00.010-05:00

A fellow Franciscan, Sr. Mary Kansier, MS, composed this wonderfully powerful -- and concise! -- prayer in relation to the proper use of technology. I'm happy to share it here, and hope it spreads 'round the Innertoobz! With proper citation for Sr. Mary (who retains all copyrights), of course!Prayer to St. Maximilan Kolbe on the Use of Technologyby Sr. Mary Kansier, MSHeavenly Father, Your loving

Abbott and Costello Pray the Rosary

2009-08-05T23:22:00.006-05:00

Ah, the Rosary. A fragrant offering of prayer, an oasis of contemplation, and a sacrifice of praises to God.Well, not always.Some time ago, while Husband Mike and I were praying the Rosary together 'afore bed, we had the following exchange. Background Note: I was suffering from a severe cold at the time that included coughing, a nonstop runny nose, and a Gigumbous Amount of postnasal drippage

Married bliss vignette #4,581

2009-05-10T19:57:00.004-05:00

Me: (walking into room where Husband Mike's on the computer) "OK, my saddlebags an' I are heading out for a run."Husband Mike: (eyeing said saddlebags) "Hey, are those like camel humps where they retain water for long periods of time?"No, I didn't hit him.* * *Hey, so it's been ages since I last posted, and as you may have picked up in the vignette above, I've finally gotten back into runnin' and

Everyone Against Abortion Please Raise Your Hand

2009-03-10T18:35:00.000-05:00

March for Life 2009

2009-01-22T13:35:00.006-06:00

I so wish things could've worked out for Husband Mike and me to attend this year's March for Life. While we can't be there, we can and are praying for those wonderful folks out marching right now.You definitely won't see the MSM reporting on this, and if they do, what they may say will misrepresent and downplay the march's magnitude. Thankfully, pro-lifers are stepping in to get the word out, and

Married bliss vignette #3,218

2009-01-03T21:59:00.004-06:00

Me: (entering a room from which Husband Mike had just left) "Ewww! Hey! Why didn't you warn me about the cat puke in here?! I just stepped in it!"Husband Mike: "What? What cat puke?" (wanders back into room and examines the puke, which is more like spittle) "Oh, that's nothing. It's just a prelude to a hairball." (moves around the room, looking in corners) "Ah! Here's the hairball, over by this

Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, & Joseph

2008-12-28T21:47:00.008-06:00

Oh, how I love this feast day! It reminds us that Jesus came to us from within a family, as the ultimate good of Mary and Joseph's marriage. With them, He formed a union of divine and human hearts, and established an earthly trinity to help us better comprehend the mystery of the heavenly Trinity.And He gave us not just a means of contemplating the heavenly Trinity, but a living example for us

What are your core prayer intentions?

2008-12-27T23:55:00.009-06:00

Years ago in a forum, I started a thread asking folks to share their core (things that you always pray for) prayer intentions. 'Twas fun and insightful, so I figured I'd do the same again here. (Hey, recycling's a good thing, right?)Mine are:Husband Mike, our cats, family, friends, and coworkers.All Franciscans -- First, Second, and Third Order (Secular and Religious).Priests and brothers of

Merry Christmas!

2008-12-26T18:36:00.006-06:00

Just a quick post wishing y'all a Blessed and Merry Christmas! And no, I'm not late in doing so -- the Christmas Season proper only just kicked off yesterday and lasts through the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord (this coming year on 11 January).So, Merry Christmas!

Spiffy: Friars setting up the creche

2008-12-23T16:56:00.005-06:00

Check out this neato time-lapse video of the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate as they set up their creche at Our Lady of Guadalupe Chapel. The friars reposted this from when AirMaria was just getting started.Fi News #1

Today's blog post is brought to you by Google

2008-12-11T20:24:00.004-06:00

I've seen my pal Maria do this from time to time, and I'm flat-out stealing her idea ...When going through my site's referrer logs, I'll occasionally find some really wacko keyword searches that somehow direct folks thisaway. So, for your reading enjoyment (and 'cause it's a lazy way to eke out a blog post), here are a few, with my comments added:"ancient hebrew label cousin" (Ummm ...)"

Sign the Fight FOCA petition

2008-11-06T16:51:00.004-06:00

While campaigning for the U.S. presidency, Barack Obama made a promise. In 2007 before the Planned Parenthood Action Fund, Barack Obama told pro-abortion activists:"The first thing I'd do as President is sign the Freedom of Choice Act."With a single stroke of the pen, the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA) would establish the right to abortion as a fundamental right (like the right to free speech) and

Watch this before you vote

2008-10-29T23:12:00.004-05:00

... and if you still insist on voting for Obama, know that you've played your part in making this even more -- not less -- common. Bravo for you!Oh, and btw? I was born at 28 week's gestation.

Ten years of marriage!

2008-10-10T23:36:00.009-05:00

[On the wedding night, Sarah] got up, and [she and Tobiah] started to pray and beg that deliverance might be theirs. He began with these words: "Blessed are you, O God of our fathers; praised be your name forever and ever. Let the heavens and all your creation praise you forever."You made Adam and you gave him his wife Eve to be his help and support; and from these two the human race descended.

Worldwide Rosary for the Unborn Oct. 18

2008-10-07T21:46:00.005-05:00

Please participate and pass it on: Saint Michael the Archangel Organization is coordinating a Worldwide Rosary for Unborn Babies on 18 October (Saturday).The idea is that everyone, according to their time zones, prays the Rosary sometime between 9-10 a.m. with the intention, "For an end to the surgical and non-surgical killing of unborn babies." Because participants will be praying the Rosary

Dissonance in action

2008-10-06T16:19:00.002-05:00

Yesterday, Husband Mike and I attended Mass at Back-Up Parish, which is where we go when we can't make Mass at Home Parish.While walking through the parking lot, we saw a car sporting pro-life license plate frames and ... a bumper sticker for a US Representative (Republican, if you're curious) whose re-election campaign material proudly boasts of his "commitment to women's right to choose" and

Abortion hurts men, too

2008-09-25T22:50:00.004-05:00

It's not just women who suffer. The fathers of aborted children do, too. Friar Augustine of the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate shares his abortion experience during a Silent No More rally held on 07 September at the Connecticut State House."I REGRET MY ABORTION."-friar AugustineH/T to Leticia of Causa Nostrae Laetitiae.

What part of "non-negotiable" don't you understand?

2008-09-24T23:28:00.005-05:00

Love it! H/T to Fr. Erik Richtsteig. :-)Expanding on the subject of non-negotiable issues vs. prudential judgment ones, see Fr. Dwight Longenecker's article, Why Abortion and the Iraq War Are Not Equivalent.

If the shoe fits ...

2008-09-23T13:38:00.004-05:00

Nearly busted a gut laughing over Jeff Miller's campaign sign satire; the following is especially spot-on:Go check out the rest; clever stuff (I'm still impressed that he worked "Albigensian" into a bumper sticker). And then go read Sheila Liaugminas' thoughtful post, Understand who Catholic Americans are.