Brave Firefighters-Loss of Life And Global Warming

In an horrific loss of noble lives, 19 firefighters from an elite group of "hot shots" died while battling an Arizona forest fire. A sudden windstorm trapped the firefighters in an inferno, from which they couldn't escape. Such a tragic loss.  Prescott Fire Chief was quoted as saying, "We grieve for the family. We grieve for the department. We grieve for the city....We're devastated. We just lost 19 of the finest people you'll ever meet."
I recently stood in front of a firehouse in lower Manhattan and read the names on plaques and prayed for the deceased firefighters who lost their lives on 9/11 in New York City.  Twelve firefighters lost their lives from that one firehouse in lower Manhattan. There are many plaques with names of heroes, who raced into the burning towers,  throughout firehouses in Manhattan and the five boroughs.  I have the utmost respect for firefighters who risk their lives for strangers. Could they more fittingly answer the biblical call to "love your neighbor as yourself?".........
But getting back to this most recent tragedy in Arizona, I can't help but think that global warming and the record breaking hot temperatures that the western United States is experiencing is partly to blame for this tragedy. Arizona has become a tinderbox, because of severe drought conditions.
Floods of historic proportions in parts of the world (including Lourdes, France) and temperatures reaching into the triple digits in the West, breaking records, could just be the beginning, (according to climate scientists) of weather and climate out of control. And if an elite firefighting group was caught off guard, what does this mean? If they can't deal with erratic weather, who can?
I think it's frightening but what I think is more frightening than anything is human pride that keeps people from acting wisely and decisively when dealing with global warming. Pride is a deadly sin and for good reason, it clouds judgment and decision making.
Some politicians and government leaders think that future generations will have to deal with global warming and come up with solutions. But it seems to me, when I see what's happening, the future is now.
I experienced the effects of Hurricane Sandy. A tree fell on my house. I witnessed firsthand the hardship it caused in New York City and on Long Island.
Fires, floods, hurricanes, rising tides................. I wonder is the deadly sin of pride going to make the situation worse because of inaction, because people think there is nothing to be done now?
NJA

Shrine at Lourdes Damaged By Flooding

According to climate scientists, one of the effects of global warming will be that it will rain excessively in some places, while causing drought in others. Is global warming to blame for the damaging floods that have inundated the shrine at Lourdes, France and caused millions of dollars in damages as well as ruined pilgrimages? Perhaps that is the cause. It certainly is not because of lack of prayers because Lourdes is one of the holiest of Catholic shrines, drawing millions of prayerful visitors each year.
So it must be the out of control climate which is causing disruptive weather throughout the world. Is climate change to blame for wildfires in Colorado, drought in parts of the world and excessive rainfall and killer tornadoes and storms?  Alaska has been having record breaking temperatures, a heat wave which is shattering records and causing an extreme wildfire danger in that state.
What's scary is that perhaps all the prayers in the world won't help once we hit the tipping point.
I hope that's not the case.  We literally keep "playing with fire," damaging the earth's atmosphere, increasing greenhouse gases and believing that that damage we do, will not affect us. So much pride, is  dangerous, foolish and ultimately costly.
Flooding reached the second floor of some hotels in Lourdes and pilgrimages had to be cancelled.
Clean-up has begun and the shrine will certainly need donations to help restore it. But this happened on a smaller scale in October of 2012. This time it has been called a catastrophe.
If this can happen at such a holy site, one wonders if things are out of control already with weather patterns and if the severe effects of global warming are beginnng already. Seems like an ominous sign. The waters at Lourdes were always associated with healing but now in the "new normal" the waters are destructive. Something is not right. It doesn't take a climate scientist to see that.
NJA

Corpus Christi Processions-in Russia, Rome and in the U.S.A.

Hope Reigns! Jesus lives! In Rome, Pope Francis led a Corpus Christi procession, through the streets of Rome.  After an absence of 95 years the Russian people were permitted to take part in a Corpus Christi procession through St. Petersburg from the Catholic churches of Our Lady of Lourdes to St. Catherine of Alexandria. Praise God! And on the great solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ I spent it at the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception in Huntington, NY where I heard an excellent lecture by Scripture scholar, professor and author, Dr. Brant Pitre. At the Denzer Lecture at the Seminary, Msgr. Henning, the rector, introduced Dr. Pitre and told us that having heard him speak sometime ago, he was anxious for him to come to the Seminary to speak. I could see why. His topic was fascinating, "Jesus and the Jewish Roots of the Eucharist." He's an expert on this topic as he's written a book titled, "Jesus and the Jewish Roots of the Eucharist: Unlocking the Secrets of the Last Supper."
Quoting from the Hebrew Scriptures, the New Testament and ancient Hebrew texts (Midrash Rabbah) Dr. Pitre made the connection between the heavenly manna given to the Jewish people during the Exodus to the heavenly bread- the "bread of the age to come," given to us by Jesus. Holy Communion just like the manna given to the ancient Isrealites, is both "daily and supernatural," by which we are fed and nourish at the table of the Lord.
After the lecture, Msgr. Richard Henning planned a beautiful Eucharistic Procession through the grounds of the Seminary which are magnificent. After the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and prayer, in the main chapel,  we were led first to the Rose Garden (which is generously maintained by the "Friends of the Seminary,") then to the Loggia and finally to the Crypt Chapel for a triple benediction. The wind blew, the Spirit was present and it was a glorious procession, with beautiful music, prayers, adoration of God and the faithful. Most impressive!
So that is how I spent the feast of Corpus Christi. A day well spent, in prayer, with friends (Friends of the Seminary), surrounded by beauty.
NJA

Resurrection is the key--
The flesh of the Son of Man, given as food, is his body in its glorious state after the Resurrection. With the Eucharist we digest, as it were, the 'secret' of the resurrection." Pope John Paul II- "Ecclesia de Eucharistia 18)

Atheists: Redeemed Or Not? Saved By the Blood of Christ Or Not?

These are important questions, that only God can answer and God alone. Who can know the "mind" of God or the depths of God's mercy?

It seems that Pope Francis who tries to be inclusive and pastoral (which is good) opened "a can of worms" recently when he gave a homily to Vatican employees in the chapel of the Domus Santa Marta residence inside the Vatican grounds, where he chooses to live. These controversial remarks made headlines, "The Lord has redeemed all of us, all of us, with the blood of Christ, all of us, not just Catholics, Everyone! 'Father the atheists?' Even the atheists. And this blood makes us children of God of the first class. We are created children in the likeness of God and the blood of Christ has redeemed us all. And we all have a duty to do good".............This was not the first time I heard this idea. I heard it before and I believe the idea comes from Karl Rahner, that brilliant Jesuit theologian and it's called the "anonymous Christian." According to Rahner, we are all saved by the blood of Christ, by his redemptive act of love for humankind, whether we accept it or not, or profess it or not.  So Pope Francis obviously knows about the writings of Karl Rahner and was influenced by them in what he said.
The Vatican has tried to clarify the Pope's remarks. Pope Francis is doing such a good job, is much loved already and is so well liked but  he has to be careful what he says, after all he's the Pope and every word he says is scrutinized.
When I was in college I took a psychology course and I did a research paper on near death experiences. Even then there were thousands of accounts of people who were pronounced dead but were resuscitated and brought back to life.  Many had a story to tell. Their experiences vary but there are similarities. They tell of feeling their souls leave their bodies, seeing the doctors and nurses trying to bring them back to life, feeling themselves at total peace, seeing a bright light, a tunnel, deceased relatives.............some people hear soothing music, feel being drawn towards God. No one ever wants to come back to life, each person feels like they must live a more fulfilled and meaningful life after the near death experience. Of all the accounts I've read, not one person,  claimed to go to Hell, see or feel anything evil or have a negative, unpleasant experience.
So who knows? I'm sure hell exists for the very evil and our Church teaching says that it does. But will atheists go to hell, because they question God's existence, would a merciful God do that? You can answer that for yourself.
NJA

Tornado Alley Schools Need Safe Rooms

How many warnings are needed before responsible action is taken? How many lives have to be lost in Tornado Alley before people say enough is enough. We have been given human intelligence by God to use it wisely and yet it is incomprehensible to me that schools in "tornado alley" do not have safe rooms or shelters built beneath their schools to protect children and teachers in the event of a monster storm. I don't care what the consistency of the soil is, it is doable with modern equipment and it's absurd that the schools in Oklahoma that were destroyed or damaged during the recent horrific EF 5 tornado didn't have safe rooms or shelters.
We live in a fallen world and as beautiful as this world is, there are dangers from violent weather, why that is no one knows, but the reality is, we have to find ways to lessen dangers from storms. Many climate scientists believe that the future holds more violent and unpredictable weather because of global warming. The time to take action is now, in my opinion but the experts are saying that exact thing.
According to a HuffPost Green online article, "The two elementary schools leveled by the deadly tornado that swept through the Oklahoma City area Monday lacked designated safe rooms designed to protect children and teachers despite state warnings that the absence of such facilities imperils lives.
And what's more important than protecting the lives of children and teachers during a monster storm, especially in an area of the country that is prone to tornado activity. Children don't understand politics, school budgets, the bottom line, too expensive, too difficult or other excuses. They want to feel safe in school away from their parents. They deserve no less.
There has been enough tragic loss of life, enough trauma and now it's time to act.  Let's hope school budgets and politics don't get in the way of responsible action.
NJA

Latinos Switching to Evangelical Churches-Catholic Church Address This..

According to a recent online article I read at Fox News Latino, titled, "Switching Sides: Latinos Ditching Catholicism for Evangelical Churches," by Lauren Green, the situation of Hispanics leaving the Catholic Church for evangelical Churches is a more serious "problem"for the Church than I imagined. I knew it was happening in great numbers in Latin and South America, but I didn't realize it was also happening here in America too, in large numbers. What's the reason? I'm sure it's more than one reason, it's never one thing. An evangelical pastor whose own congregation has grown from 120 members in 2000 to over 17,000 today (on different campuses) believes that evangelical churches are doing a better job of putting people in relationship with Jesus. Now that should be a wake up call!
Pastor Alfredo de Jesus said, "It's the relationship between worshipper and God that each denomination affords its respective followers.....What I have seen, at least in my own experience is this encounter with God that we didn't experience in the Catholic Church....A system that was so rigid and God seemed so far."
God far? It doesn't make any sense to me. When I receive Holy Communion, when I pray God is very near to me. What's a more intimate union then receiving the Body and Blood of Jesus?
Maybe it's the charismatic type prayer and services that appeal to Hispanics but we offer that in the Catholic Church, so there is more to it.
Whenever I give a talk, I always tell the participants that according to Church documents, the bishops state that the "goal of all catechesis is to put adults (and children, of course) in communion with Jesus Christ." I explain that through intentional actions and a variety of prayer experiences this can be achieved, it's doable.
I love this quote from St. Teresa of Avila, "So many problems arise from imagining Jesus as far away when He is near." Jesus is near to us, in the Catholic Church, we have to convince people of that and give them prayer experiences and liturgies which help them to "feel"and experience that reality.  If any denomination can put people in close relationship with Jesus it should be the Catholic Church with our ancient liturgies and traditions, variety of prayers and devotions that are offered, the sacraments and most especially Holy Communion. So what's wrong and what can be done? I'm convinced, good music is crucial to uplifting liturgies. And inspiring homilies as well. But obviously this situation should be addressed by the New Evangelization-practical solutions that work are needed. Committees that get to the bottom of the problem and address it in a timely and realistic way.
NJA

Charles Ramsey-"I'm a Christian and an American"

I watched the interview that CNN's Anderson Cooper had with Charles Ramsey, who is one of the heroes who helped Amanda Berry and other women escape from a "hellish" imprisonment after being kidnapped over 10 years ago. The story is almost beyond belief. Charles Ramsey was eating his McDonald's when he heard yelling for help. He responded with quick action that probably saved their  lives. I read that the run-down, hellish house the girls were imprisoned in, was in foreclosure. I can't even think of the horrible things that the alleged kidnapper was thinking of, if he had to vacate that house.
Amanda Berry, it seems, acted at the right moment to save her child and the others.
And someone was listening, someone heard her pleas for help.  Someone was willing to interfere, to get involved, even though it might not have seemed the wise thing to do. But Charles Ramsey, a restaurant dishwasher from Cleveland, did the right thing. He's not a perfect human being, but hopefully he's growing into a better person and improving, as we should all strive to do. At that moment in time, he acted nobly. And he should be given credit for that. People always want to tear down heroes, but he deserves praise for what he did.
When Anderson Cooper asked him if he was a hero, he responded, "No, no, no. I'm a Christian, an American. I'm just like you. We bleed the same blood, put our pants on the same way. It's just that you got to put that-being a coward and I don't want to get in nobody's business. You got to put that away for a minute. You have to have cajones, bro."
I just loved that he was calling the famous Anderson Cooper, "bro" it was so real.
McDonald's got some free good press from Charles Ramsey so I think he should get free McDonald's, at least for a year or maybe longer. In a tweet McDonald's praised Charles Ramsey and said he would be hearing from them. Let's hope they give him some reward.
"Do unto others and you would have them do unto you." ....."Love your neighbor as yourself."The Golden Rule and the Great Commandment were acted out, on a street in Cleveland, Ohio saving lives of the innocent. Yes, that is a true mark of a Christian in action.
NJA

P.S. Accused Cleveland kidnapper and tormentor (and possible baby-killer) is eligible for bail?? How can that be?

UPDATE: Charles Ramsey will be getting free burgers for life in Cleveland, for his heroism, as reported below

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/22/charles-ramsey-burgers-for-life-free-chuck-card_n_3322413.html?ref=topbar