faith in the desert: September 2005 Archives

surfacing

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left my house at 0700 yesterday morning, don't expect to get home much before 10 PM tonight. call last night, mandatory training this AM, currently taking a break and blogging from the local Panera (free wireless!) before heading back to the hospital for a planning meeting followed by a CME with food. Wonder what "George's Banks Haddock" will turn out to be.
Please keep praying for all those in the path of the storms. God promised that he wouldn't totally wipe us out with floods again (after Noah) but this weather seems to be of close to Biblical proportions. We seem to be having a real jeroboam of weather events, not only here in the Western Hemisphere but elsewhere as well.
I finished reading The Preservationist last week. Review to follow. Does anyone around know why the author chose to use the Douai-Rheims translation for his chapter quotes?

volunteer opportunity

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Th following information is from DeeAnne Domnick, a CPM from Louisiana. She is working with the evacuation of pregnant women and families with small children from the devastated areas of Louisiana and Mississippi. She has asked to spread the word about what she is doing, and the help that is needed, to the midwives on the internet.

DeeAnne has a 501 C-3 non-profit organization called Barefoot Doctor’s Academy that has been around for many years and works to provide medical care to low income families in Louisiana and in South American and Hawaii. Her organization has teamed up with others to assist in the care offered to the evacuees.

She says that pregnant women in late pregnancy are being airlifted to medical centers in other states, and the pregnant women who are not near term are being taken by Amtrak to Illinois. They are looking for midwives who will volunteer to ride on these planes and trains to provide care during transport. It is not the intent to do births in transit, but it is likely to happen. On the longer train rides, she hopes that midwives will give prenatal care and provide childbirth education, and assist new mothers who are traveling with small babies. The same services could also be provided in some of the shelters before transit. Volunteers should bring their own supplies (births kits and prenatal bags) and provide their own transportation. It would be wise to bring a supply of personal food and water, and bedding in case it is needed. They prefer midwives with credentials and experience since few of these births will be low-risk, but will find a place for midwives of any background to help.

The central base DeeAnne is working from is Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The planes are flying out from there. The trains are beginning at various points in LA and MS, and are traveling up through Memphis toward Chicago on the Amtrak lines. Volunteers can come to Baton Rouge, or can meet trains at other stops to finish the ride.

In addition to volunteer work, they are accepting financial contributions through their 501 C-3 which are tax deductible to the giver. Donations may be sent to the Hurricane Disaster Project, Barefoot Doctor’s Academy, P.O. Box 371, Hawi, HI 96719. The funds kept there are accessible for their work in Louisiana.

There is a website for the non-profit organization, though they do not have much information up yet on the hurricane relief project.

To find out more about becoming a volunteer, you may call DeeAnne at 808-987-8213, or e-mail her.


the greatest of these is love

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One of the blessings of having a lectionary is that we come to learn pretty much the whole of scriptures if we but attend Mass regularly. I can't quote chapter and verse like many of my friends who grew up with memory verses, but I know what the Bible says and, given a decent concordance, I can usually find the verses I'm looking for.

Another blessing is that the pastor can't evade passages with which he is unfamiliar or unhappy. Granted, some pastors can get pretty creative with interpretation, but they can't ignore the existence of the more uncofortable of the scriptural teachings.

And yet a third blessing is that no matter what is going on in the world, there is always something in the appointed reading that can apply to it. There is not this struggle to try to find 'the perfect scripture' to teach on and to learn from. It is right there, often with a specificity that is almost eerie, and always a reminder that God is in charge, ultimately. For example, today's Epistle closes with the phrase, "love is the fulfillment of the law" - a perfect segue into the request that we all show our caring for the survivors and victims of Katrina by opening our heart to them, praying for them, and helping to meet their physical needs as well.

This morning, Father opened his homily with a quote from C.S. Lewis.
"God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world." He then went on to speak about a billboard he had seen on I-10, at the entrance to New Orleans. It is Jesus crucified, with the caption underneath: "It's your move".

It is indeed our move. We need to pray. We need to take physical action. I need to think what penance can I do, and turn the proceeds over to those who more need it. I can give up some of the simple luxuries - the fancy coffee drink, the extra trip in the car, name brand instead of store brand. It may not seem like much. Rather than get discouraged, I will try to remember the story of the starfish. I can't save every starfish, but even if I can only save one, I will have made a world of difference to that one. As Mother Teresa is often quoted, "God doesn't look at how much we do, but with how much love we do it." So let me try to do this with love, as commanded by our Heavenly Father.

LItany and prayer for New Orleans

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Our Lady of Prompt Succor Our Lady of Prompt Succor is known for protecting, by Her intercession, the city of New Orleans during the Great Fire of 1812 . On the Eve of the Battle of New Orleans (Jan 7, 1815) the Ursuline Sisters and the people of New Orleans gather to again ask the intercession of Our Lady of Prompt Succor for victory.

On December 31, 1810 the Statue was brought to New Orleans from France by Mother St. Michel Gensoul and several postulants came to join the Ursuline nuns in New Orleans. Mother Gensoul was only given permission from her bishop to go to New Orleans after a pray to Our Lady and permission from the Pope.


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Litany to Our Lady of Prompt Succor
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
God the Father of Heaven, have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us.

Holy Mary, ... pray for us.
Mother of the Infant Jesus, ...
Our Lady of Prompt Succor, ...
Our Lady of Prompt Succor of all who invoke you with confidence, ...
Our Lady of Prompt Succor of all who are devout toward the Infant Jesus, ...
Our Lady of Prompt Succor for obtaining a lively faith, ...
Our Lady of Prompt Succor for sustaining the hope of Christians, ...
Our Lady of Prompt Succor for obtaining and persevering in charity, ...
Our Lady of Prompt Succor for observing the law of God, ...
Our Lady of Prompt Succor for observing perseverance in virtue and good works, ...
Our Lady of Prompt Succor in every spiritual necessity, ...
Our Lady of Prompt Succor against the revolt of self-will, ...
Our Lady of Prompt Succor in the occasion of sin,...
Our Lady of Prompt Succor in every temptation, ...
Our Lady of Prompt Succor against the evil spirit, ...
Our Lady of Prompt Succor for obtaining contrition, ...
Our Lady of Prompt Succor of those wishing to re-enter the path of salvation, ...
Our Lady of Prompt Succor for the conversion of sinners, ...
Our Lady of Prompt Succor in every temporal necessity, ...
Our Lady of Prompt Succor in every affliction,...
Our Lady of Prompt Succor of afflicted families,...
Our Lady of Prompt Succor of the sick and the poor, ...
Our Lady of Prompt Succor against contagious diseases and epidemics, ...
Our Lady of Prompt Succor in every accident, ...
Our Lady of Prompt Succor against destruction by fire, ...
Our Lady of Prompt Succor against lightning and tempest, ...
Our Lady of Prompt Succor against destruction by flood, ...
Our Lady of Prompt Succor of travelers, ...
Our Lady of Prompt Succor of navigators,...
Our Lady of Prompt Succor of the shipwrecked, ...
Our Lady of Prompt Succor against the enemies of our country, ...
Our Lady of Prompt Succor in time of war, ...
Our Lady of Prompt Succor of those aspiring to the holy priesthood and the religious life, ...
Our Lady of Prompt Succor of laborers in the Lord's vineyard, ...
Our Lady of Prompt Succor of missionaries who spread the faith, ...
Our Lady of Prompt Succor of our Holy Father the Pope, ...
Our Lady of Prompt Succor for those searching for the faith, ...
Our Lady of Prompt Succor against the enemies of the Church,...
Our Lady of Prompt Succor at the hour of death, ...
Our Lady of Prompt Succor for the deliverance of the souls in purgatory,...

Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world, spare us, O Lord.

Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, O Lord.

Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.

V: Our Lady of Prompt Succor, pray for us.

R: That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

O Almighty and Eternal God, Who sees us surrounded by so many dangers and miseries, grant in Your infinite goodness that the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Your Divine Son, may defend us from the evil spirit and protect us against all adversities, that always and with prompt succor she may deliver us from every evil of soul and body, and safely guide us to the kingdom of heaven, through the merits of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, Who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.

Contemplation:
If our eyes are always on heaven and God, at the end of life we will find ourselves in His Presence.


Rosary follows


I'm not one to cry easily - actually I fight tears like crazy. But every time lately I have heard this, I come close to dissolving into tears. I need to get away from the radio, quit watching TV, quit surfing the net in a vain hope that by knowing what is going on I can somehow change it. Survivor guilt - I think that all of us have some degree of it. Looking down at my full plate, running my washer and dryer, I think of those who have nothing like this. Rationally, I know that my eating or showering isn't going to hurt anyone by taking resources away from them, but still the guilt sometimes descends.

Just need to keep praying, and doing what I can. I think that we are all doing likewise.
Louisiana 1927 - by Randy Newman

Louisiana
What has happened down here is the winds have changed
Clouds roll in from the north and it started to rain
Rained real hard and it rained for a real long time
Six feet of water in the streets of Evangeline
The river rose all day
The river rose all night
Some people got lost in the flood
Some people got away alright
The river have busted through clear down to Plaquemines
Six feet of water in the streets of Evangelne
Louisiana, Louisiana
They're tryin' to wash us away
They're tryin' to wash us away
Louisiana, Louisiana
They're tryin' to wash us away
They're tryin' to wash us away
President Coolidge came down in a railroad train
With a little fat man with a note-pad in his hand
The President say, "Little fat man isn't it a shame what the river has done
To this poor crackers land."
Louisiana, Louisiana
They're tryin' to wash us away
They're tryin' to wash us away
Louisiana, Louisiana
They're tryin' to wash us

a doctor blogs from ground zero

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Blogging for Katrina relief

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TTLB has organized today as a blog day to try to fund raise to help the charities help the survivors and victims of Katrina. I'm encouraging all the rest of St Blog's to join in as well. I've selected
catholic charities info.jpg
Catholic Charities USA
as my first choice.
I've been through natural disasters (Sylmar earthquake, 1971 - Northridge earthquake, 1994) and I have noticed that there is usually a big flurry of help right off the bat, but that the infrastructure repairs are often underfunded. So I am choosing to donate to a charity that concentrates on the long term help needed.
If you decide to donate, please consider registering your donation here.
If you decide to offer up a prayer contribution instead or as well, please put it in the comments box.
If you choose to also post this on your blog, the guidelines are at the TTLB page.
Instapundit also has a lot of suggestions.
Amy Welborn has been doing a heroic job trying to keep up with the Katrina blogging.
Another need that will become obvious in the next few weeks will be housing etc for all the refugees. Amy Welborn blogged it first, but it is clear that this will be a very long term issue. Does anyone have any suggestions of agencies to contact to volunteer space? Some of us may not be able to donate much in the way of $$ but do have space in our homes, and could feed and shelter a few extra people for a while as they get back on their feet. I'll post links to these agencies as I get them - if I get them.
I'm remembering the Gospel parable - the sheep and goats. Matthew 25 - I think it starts around verse 31. "Whatsoever you do for the least of these......."

Addendum - more links


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About this Archive

This page is a archive of entries in the faith in the desert category from September 2005.

faith in the desert: August 2005 is the previous archive.

faith in the desert: October 2005 is the next archive.

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