Decisions and Paulo VI in Fatima

On another trip to Fatima last Tuesday to prepare the 2013 TOB Symposium, I was hungry, had a headache and was a little stressed out for various reasons (with people and with a decision I had to make).

I was so amazed to learn that Pope Paul VI had visited Fatima on May 13, 1967 before publishing Humanae Vitae and had even talked to Sister Lucia (one of the three shepherd visionaries). I can just imagine the pressure he must have been facing not to publish this prophetic encyclical, even coming from a committee he had formed and that voted against it. Yet what does he do? Takes an express train (or flight I guess) to Fatima and prays for help. And what's the promise of Fatima? My Immaculate Heart will triumph.

I didn't see any apparitions or visions, but I was comforted in knowing that decisions are hard for everyone... they're messy and a lot is at stake. But if we get on our knees and let God guide us, His Immaculate Heart really will triumph!

Pepsi and skin creams

Who says that you just "can't compare" abortion to the holocaust? These two news stories are terrible. Just be careful what you drink and put on your face.

http://www.naturalnews.com/035276_Pepsi_fetal_cells_business_operations.html

http://www.wnd.com/2009/10/114251/

Spring picnic

My really nice and funny friend that I met in Taize came to visit Lisbon last week and was nice enough to agree to having a spring picnic with my friend Sofia and I in downtown Lisbon. It was a beautiful day!

Sunday, Sunday, Sunday

I'm back to listening to my favorite podcast ever...
This week's Sunday reading podcast:

http://lifeteen.com/sunday-sunday-sunday-032512/

My favorite thoughts:

• The more connected you and I are with Christ, ultimately the more we're going to be connected to God the Father and be able to hear his voice.
• The Greeks didn't know Jesus as well, but Phillip and Andrew did. So the Greeks went through people who knew Him well, to get to know Jesus. The same way it's through Christ that we know God the Father.
• We are able to consume Jesus and His blood runs through our veins.
• I will place my law within them... and Jesus Christ is the new law, the new covenant and God's going to put Jesus within us... the Eucharist, the sacraments.
• It's through that intimate relationship with Jesus that we're going to have that intimate relationship with the Father.
• Take time to thank God for all of those people that know Him well that God has put in your life, that have an intimate relationship with Him. And go seek them out, like the Greeks did to Phillip and to Andrew. Find out how they come to know Jesus.

Picture from Lifeteen.com

Portugal on strike again

For the sixteen-millionth time in the past few months, I have to get a ride to work because there isn't any public transportation. This time it isn't only public transportation workers that are on strike, it's anyone that gets paid by the government... so schools, hospitals, etc. As the sign says below: General strike; I do it; you do it; he does it; we do it; you all do it; they draw back ...

I can't help but wonder... who's they? And what are they drawing back from? Is it really the government's fault that our lives are a mess? All I know is... it's not the government's fault I don't have transportation to and from work today!

Ah, Portugal.