Pope from 440 to 461 during the time of the invasion of Attila the Hun. When Attila marched on Rome, Leo went out to meet him and pleaded for leave. As Leo spoke, Attila saw the vision of a man in priestly robes, carrying a bare sword, and threatening to kill the invader if he did not obey Pope Leo. As Leo had a great devotion to Saint Peter, it is generally believed the first pope was the visionary opponent to the Huns. When Genseric invaded Rome, Leo's sanctity and eloquence saved the city again.
"Virtue is nothing without the trial of temptation, for there is no conflict without an enemy, no victory without strife."
Pope Saint Leo the Great
America the Beautiful
Words by Katharine Lee Bates,
Melody by Samuel Ward
O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!
O beautiful for pilgrim feet
Whose stern impassioned stress
A thoroughfare of freedom beat
Across the wilderness!
America! America!
God mend thine every flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self-control,
Thy liberty in law!
O beautiful for heroes proved
In liberating strife.
Who more than self their country loved
And mercy more than life!
America! America!
May God thy gold refine
Till all success be nobleness
And every gain divine!
O beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!
O beautiful for halcyon skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the enameled plain!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
Till souls wax fair as earth and air
And music-hearted sea!
O beautiful for pilgrims feet,
Whose stem impassioned stress
A thoroughfare for freedom beat
Across the wilderness!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
Till paths be wrought through
wilds of thought
By pilgrim foot and knee!
O beautiful for glory-tale
Of liberating strife
When once and twice,
for man's avail
Men lavished precious life!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
Till selfish gain no longer stain
The banner of the free!
O beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
Till nobler men keep once again
Thy whiter jubilee!
German scholars unveil "politically correct" BibleNov. 09 (CNA/CWNews.com) - A group of 52 biblical “specialists” have released a new version of the Bible in which inclusive language and “political correctness” have replaced some “divisive” teachings of Christianity in order to present a “more just language” for groups such as feminists and homosexuals.
According to the AFP news agency, the new version of the Sacred Scriptures was presented at a book fair in Frankfurt. Entitled, The Bible in a More Just Language, the translation has Jesus no longer referring to God as “Father,” but as “our Mother and Father who are in heaven.” Likewise, Jesus is no longer referred to as the “Son” but rather as the “child” of God. The title “Lord” is replaced with “God” or “the Eternal One.” The devil, however, is still referred to with masculine pronouns. “One of the great ideas of the Bible is justice. We have made a translation that does justice to women, Jews, and those who are disregarded,” said Pastor Hanne Koehler, who led the team of translators.
Last December, Matin Dreyer, pastor and founder of the sect “Jesus Freaks,” published the Volksbibel (The People’s Bible), in a supposed attempt to make the message of Christianity more “accessible.” Jesus “returns” instead of resurrects, and multiplies “hamburgers” instead of the fish and loaves. In the parable of the prodigal son, the younger son squanders his inheritance at dance clubs and ends up “cleaning bathrooms at McDonald’s.”
Some were asking, and No, Brant Luther didn't win the election for our district representative. But what a great guy and how great to know there are Brants out there. I feel kind of like Johnny-Nobody in his post on the Detroit Tigers: "an oh-so-close perfect, magical season...", yep, that was also the campaign of Brant Luther. There is still hope, because there is still Brant for the future. Amen to that.
Bl. John Duns Scotus (1266-1308)
Born a wealthy farmer, John was a Franciscan priest who lectured at Oxford and Cambridge for four years, and then traveled to Paris to teach and complete his doctorate. He is the founder of a school of scholastic thought called Scotism. His defense of the Immaculate Conception of Mary was so convincing that Pope Pius IX solemnly defined the dogma in 1854 largely due to his work. Learn more HERE.
As a warm-up to the holidays ahead, our daughter is currently reading this newest book in the Julie Andrews collection series: The Legend of Holly Claus. I'm hoping to read it also.
Leonard lived a life of austerity, sanctification, and preaching. Desiring more seclusion than a monastery could offer, he withdrew into the forest and lived on herbs, wild fruits, and spring water. There he built an oratory, which he left only for journeys to churches. He had great compassion for prisoners, many of whom he converted. (For more info go to: Catholic-Forum Patron Saint Index)
The second Catholic Homeschool Carnival is happening!
Head to Love2Learn blog, at this LINK.
I couldn't get my blog edited correctly to put the YouTube on to view this ad, but if you follow this LINK, you should find it -- very good, worth viewing.
Blessings!
Henry Van Dyke (1852-1933)
"AMERICA FOR ME"
'TIS fine to see the Old World, and travel up and down
Among the famous palaces and cities of renown,
To admire the crumbly castles and the statues of the kings,—
But now I think I've had enough of antiquated things.
So it's home again, and home again, America for me!
My heart is turning home again, and there I long to be,
In the land of youth and freedom beyond the ocean bars,
Where the air is full of sunlight and the flag is full of stars!
Oh, London is a man's town, there's power in the air;
And Paris is a woman's town, with flowers in her hair;
And it's sweet to dream in Venice, and it's great to study Rome;
But when it comes to living there is no place like home.
I like the German fir-woods, in green battalions drilled;
I like the gardens of Versailles with flashing fountains filled;
But, oh, to take your hand, my dear, and ramble for a day
In the friendly western woodland where Nature has her way!
I know that Europe's wonderful, yet something seems to lack:
The Past is too much with her, and the people looking back.
But the glory of the Present is to make the Future free,—
We love our land for what she is and what she is to be.
Oh, it's home again, and home again, America for me!
I want a ship that's westward bound to plough the rolling sea,
To the bléssed Land of Room Enough beyond the ocean bars,
Where the air is full of sunlight and the flag is full of stars
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A Presbyterian Minister, Henry Van Dyke is perhaps best known for The Story of the Other Wise Man and for the Hymn of Joy ("Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee, ..."). He was also a prolific poet, and the above poem can be found in:
Van Dyke, Henry. The Poems of Henry Van Dyke. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1911.
"America for Me" was written in June, 1909.
VATICAN CITY, OCT. 31, 2006 (Zenit.org).- During the month of November, Benedict XVI will pray especially "for an end to all forms of terrorism throughout the world."
The Apostleship of Prayer announced the general and missionary prayer intentions chosen by the Holy Father.
The Pontiff, along with thousands of faithful worldwide, offers his prayers and sacrifices for the intentions.
The Pope's missionary prayer intention for the month is: "For believers everywhere: may they work to remove old and new barriers to Africa's development."
Saint Anthony Abbot
