First Leg Of My "Road Trip" Photos

I'm back! And I've got photographic evidence to prove I was away, LOL. My road trip photos will be posted in dribs and drabs. I had several photographic malfunctions - with my camera and then my cell phone as well - which I was relying on in lieu of my camera. So now I've got to sort photos from my husband as well and create a timeline of sorts.

Our Virginia/Alabama/Florida road trip was great fun - albeit rainy most of the time. But we made the best of it and a trip is always enjoyable :-)

ABINGDON, VIRGINIA

This is a lovely, quaint little town. I highly recommend it as a stopover if you are traveling South on I-81

Abingdon V.A. is rich in history. 

Many of the buildings/structures were constructed in the 1700's

My husband and I splurged: WE stayed at "The Martha Washington Hotel and Spa"

which was located in the heart of the historic district. Pictured here are our friends

Joe and Mary who are "In Love" LOL! Taken on the grounds of the hotel.

My Husband and I are "In Love" too, LOL.

It was getting dark out - so sorry for the lighting quality.

Many people visit Abingdon just to attend this Theater!

From what I understand, there are hotel/dinner/theater packages available.

This is the view from the wraparound porch of the Martha Washington.

Hubby relaxing with our friends on porch after a long day of driving.

Yours truly pictured here with a still working 150 year old clock at the Martha.

I hope you enjoyed the Abingdon photos! Next: EWTN and 

The Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Alabama! Be blessed :)

THIS ARTICLE IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN A PEDICURE

I only have a little spare time this morning - and the choice is either to spend it writing this blog or to get the planned pedicure. Considering what some Christians will face today a pedicure is ridiculously frivolous - and I am ashamed of even having to make this choice. A few minutes ago I was about to discard our small pile of newspapers in the kitchen when an article by Brian O'Neel in the National Catholic Register caught my eye - and my heart: 

"Anti-Christian violence during the first weekend in April marked an alarming acceleration of the centuries-old persecution carried out by the country’s dominant Muslim community."

"CAIRO — Tonight, an Egyptian Christian mother will lie awake, worrying if her kidnapped daughter was merely forced to marry a radical Islamist and convert or if her fate was much worse.

This Sunday, an Egyptian father will hitchhike more than 10 miles to the nearest church with his sons, not knowing whether the boys will be kidnapped by gunmen who don’t conceal their identities. Also uncertain is whether he and his fellow congregants will make it through Mass alive or whether extremists will set off explosives and shoot those inside.

Any day of any week, a priest in this ancient land will wonder how he can help his tiny flock survive against a system that basically says, “If you are not Muslim, you are not Egyptian. Therefore, you have no worth.” 
Read More Here: National Catholic Register 

I immediately dropped to my knees in front of my beloved Divine Mercy Image and begged Jesus to protect our fellow Christians from further harm and persecution. I begged Him to form a hedge of protection around them. I covered them in the Precious Blood of our Lord and I prayed not only for the extremists to desist - but for their conversion.

My heart breaks for these courageous and faithful men, women and children who live in this heightened state of fear and anxiety. We think we have "stress" in America? How blessed we are to attend our houses of worship freely and without fear - for now. (Things are rapidly changing and if we don't wake up - we will find ourselves in the same position.)  

For our brave Egyptian brothers and sisters in Christ - who cannot worship without fearing torture or death - there is no choice either. They risk their very lives for the love of God.

Very simply put - my purpose in writing this is to ask you to pray. Please - stop whatever you're doing at this moment - in the safety and comfort of your home, your workplace or wherever you are - and pray for our persecuted Egyptian brothers and sisters. Do it NOW. Thank you.

Your sister in Christ,
Deb

Jesus, I Trust In You 

Trip To Padre Pio Center And Most Blessed Sacrament Church, Barto, P.A.

Yesterday I took a bus trip here with my parish - and of course my camera battery went dead on the way there - and my cell phone batt halfway through the trip! I was lucky to get a few shots with my "dumb" phone though - and a few friends said they'll send me their photo's as well. 

We had a lovely day which began with our pastor Fr Charles leading us in prayer on the bus. First stop was to celebrate Mass at the amazing Church you will see below - we spent quite a bit of time there taking in all the beauty. The next stop was The Padre Pio Center where we were blessed to venerate a glove worn by St. Pio!! The woman who held it (pressed between glass) and gave it to each of us was so full of love, you felt it emanate from her. Between holding the saints glove and the things that she whispered to me I was moved beyond words. After a big hug from this holy woman I  received a blessing from Fr. Charles - with St. Pio Holy oil. Truly the Holy Spirit was moving - we all walked away with the gift of tears.

Rather than  post the few photos I managed to capture individually to twitter, I thought I'd share them here on my blog. They don't portray the true beauty of what I saw, but I think you'll enjoy them :)

 We met bright and EARLY this sunny day - at 7AM for the bus - 

not yet ready for closeup haha! (with my friends daughter.)

 The Church of The Most Blessed Sacrament was 

named "St Paul's Church when it was originally built.

 There weren't any lights or windows on the ceiling, 

but look at the rays of light coming down in this photo.

 

The Altar was just so beautiful to behold

 From back balcony

The Ceiling had beautiful paintings! This is one of them.

 Outside Most Blessed Sacrament Church

 

At The Padre Pio Center. This Image was enormous 

and is from his beatification ceremony!

 I LOVED this image of St. Michael hanging in the gallery

 Beautiful Painting with Fatima Statue

 Actual framed Apostolic Blessing signed by Blessed John Paul II!!!

 If you make this image of Padre Pio larger, you will see that it is 

made up of tiny images of the saints and our Blessed Lord. 

I hope to have a few more photo's to share with you - because 

at this point my phone battery went dead! I'll share 'em as I get 'em!

Have a blessed day everybody :)

Joy And Hope

Back in October now Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI proclaimed this to be "The Year of Faith" for all baptized Catholics. In the words of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, "The goal of The Year of Faith is to strengthen the faith of Catholics and draw the world to faith by their example."

Catholics are invited to draw nearer to our Blessed Lord Jesus Christ - to delve more deeply into our beautiful Faith which is rich in 2000 year old Tradition. We are encouraged read The Scriptures often, to learn about the lives of the saints and to read the catechism and some very beautiful Church documents.


The Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World 'Gaudium et Spes,' meaning "Joy and Hope" is one of the documents of Vatican II Council which Catholics are invited to read in this Year of Faith. I chose to mention this particular document because I love the way it expresses the relation of the Church to all mankind.

From Gaudium et Spes:

"The council brings to mankind light kindled from the Gospel, and puts at its disposal those saving resources with the Church herself, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, receives from her Founder." and "Inspired by no earthly ambition, the Church seeks but a solitary goal: to carry forward the work of Christ under the lead of the befriending Spirit."

I chose to mention this passage because for me it expresses two things of primary importance. First the role of the Church in the world: to enlighten mankind under the guidance of the Holy Spirit by way of the Good News of Jesus Christ. Secondly it expresses the reason I am loyal to the magisterium - because the Church is in fact led by the Holy Spirit of God.

What a beautiful Faith we have - how very blessed we are! There's so much Truth and beauty at our disposal to enrich and enlighten ourselves - and in turn the world around us! Gaudium et Spes is just one example of many beautiful documents and teachings of the Church which can aid us in our journey to grow ever nearer to Christ.

SHARE THE NEWS!
Now more than ever - there are many in need of the Good News of Jesus Christ.  We live in a culture which not only chooses to live in direct contrast with the ways of the Lord - it has been unceasingly striving to inflict it's secular lifestyle into the Holy Church. The Church cannot and will not waver from Truth and teachings which are based on Sacred Scripture and Apostolic Tradition - handed down by Christ Himself. A profound cultural lack of respect and understanding prevails- and it is our responsibility to enlighten.


As followers of Christ we are called to share the light of Truth with others so they can achieve salvation. To do this we must first develop our own relationship with The Lord so the Holy Spirit can work through us.

So please - as called by Benedict XVI - learn more about your beautiful Faith! Read a bit of Scripture every day and let the Lord speak to you, if only for a minute or two. Never forget to pray! Try to become familiar with the lives of the saints, the catechism and some beautiful Church documents. A treasure trove of Faith is there waiting for you. Christ Himself stands beside you always - His Hand always outstretched just waiting for you to take it - and then share The Good News with others.