Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Medjugorje Visionary Marija at St. Agnes Church in Key Biscayne (Florida) on 24/10/11

Thousands of the faithful gathered Monday, October 24, 2011 at St. Agnes Church in Key Biscayne (Florida) with songs and prayers to welcome the appearance of Our Lady of Medjugorje. Whole families, children, old devotees, men and women had been waiting for the message of the Blessed Virgin, kneeling on the damp grass of a football field adjacent to the church of St. Agnes, while preparing the heart through meditation and prayer.

Rivers of people in a sea of faith came to hear what Marija one of the visionaries of Medjugorje had to say.
About three thousand faithful of all ages and from all parts of Miami met in search of prayer, signs and responses.
Children, elderly, adolescents, adults and young people prayed the rosary together, attended Mass, and listened in rapt attention to what Marija had to say.
Speaking in Italian, she said that in this time of change, when the economy and security depend on what seems to collapse, it is good to go for help to the Virgin in prayer, and ask for her intercession with God
Marija, with an air of cheerfulness pointed out that she is only a divine channel. She stressed the transient nature of our stay on earth and the importance of achieving a sense of our lives in an eternal dimension and not temporary. "With our behaviour we risk eternity, I am responsible for my actions but you are responsible for yours," said the visionary.
Marija stressed the importance of praying every day and the necessity to keep a Bible at home. At the end of the event medals blessed by the Virgin were distributed. Among those present most commented with amazement on the great participation at the event and on the spiritual thirst of the people.
( Click Source)

Ireland:David Gwynn Morgan argues for Referendum YES Vote-26/10/11

In an article titled Amendment on inquiries vital to better Constitution  in today's Irish Times,David Gwynn Morgan emeritus professor of law at University College Cork argues convincingly  that objectors to the change proposed fail to realise that  it will be interpreted in the context of the rest of the Constitution

EVERYONE WILL have noticed the House of Commons Culture and Media Committee’s inquiry into the phone-hacking at Rupert Murdoch’s News International, and many will recall the late Jim Mitchell’s Public Accounts Committee inquiry (assisted by the comptroller and auditor general) into the non-payment of Dirt.
Neither of these would be lawful in Ireland today. The reason is the landmark (or landmine) case of Abbeylara, which it is the object of the 30th amendment to modify.
Continue Reading HERE 

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Ireland: Dr Donal K Coffey: A ‘Yes’ vote on Oireachtas inquiries will bring us a vital democratic function

Dr Donal K Coffey is a lecturer in constitutional law in the University of Portsmouth, and recently completed his PhD on Irish constitutional history. In an articled titled: A ‘Yes’ vote on Oireachtas inquiries will bring us a vital democratic function he argues that on balance the government has got it right. Quite frankly I cannot understand the opposition to this amendment.

 Parliamentary investigative committees are  hugely effective in the UK, USA,  France, Holland,  Belgium, Brazil, Germany, Austria. They strengthen democracy rather than take from it. Parliamentary investigative committees obviate the necessity for costly tribunals in most cases. It is in the taxpayers interest that there is a YES vote.
Dr Coffeys article may be accessed here at:http://tiny.cc/qykzy

Saturday, October 22, 2011

Ireland: Matt Cooper on Late Late Show ploughs the populist furrow 21/10/11

Tonight Matt Cooper appeared on the Late Late Show with Ryan Tubridy to plug his new book. He spoke about the lead up to IMF/EU bailout. He criticised Sarkozy and Merkel for putting the squeeze on Ireland. However this would not have arisen Matt if the country were not practically bankrupt. He spoke about paying back the bondholders. Face facts Matt. Once Brian Lenihan gave the bank guarantee bank debts became part of sovereign debt. To refuse to pay the bondholders would amount to a SOVEREIGN DEFAULT.  Now he  failed to outline the implications of such a  default. It sounds all so simple but unfortunately it is not.

The ECB is funding Irish banks to the tune of 180 billion euro. It has warned that it would withdraw this funding if Ireland defaulted. This would result in the loss of all deposits and the closure of the banks. A sovereign default would make it impossible to go back to the bond markets. Nobody would lend to us. If Matt is in favour of default he should say so and should also spell out the implications. He should take a good hard look at Argentina in the wake of a default. The middle class was wiped out and thousands ended up rummaging in bins for scraps of food. Their savings were wiped out.

Matt criticises the austerity. Nobody likes austerity but once the last government signed up to the EU/ IMF deal it gave a legally binding guarantee to correct the public finances. Failure to honour the EU/IMF deal means that the government would be deprived of funding to bridge the 19 billion euro deficit. Cuts/Tax rises totalling 19 billion euro would have to be introduced immediately. Is that what Matt wants? Of course we all hate austerity. But what is the alternative? The Greek economic crisis already threatens to derail the Euro. If Ireland were now to go ahead and not pay bonholders( default) it is likely that the euro would topple as there would be a massive contagion. It would be the coup de grace for the Euro. Is that what  Matt wants?

We all know about the irresponsibility of some German banks. However at this juncture the Euro is on a knife-edge. It is a time for cool heads from our politicians who must seek  to defend our interests. Cooper really seems to have it in for Michael Noonan. Noonan is pursuing a cool calculated approach. Ireland will secure an amelioration of its plight at EU level INCREMENTALLY.

Matt Cooper spoke about the plight of  many mortgage holders. Certainly at least 70,000 people have distressed mortgages. The government must introduce measures to tackle this problem. However there is no crock of gold available.   Conservatively the cost would be at least  €6 billion. Where  exactly is  Matt suggesting that the money should come from ? He seems to be hinting at not paying bank bondholders. If so he is advocating default. It is populist but it is not a solution. It is the road to an economic cataclysm. Of course it is shameful that bank bondholders who gambled are being compensated. Unfortunately the bank guarantee has ensured that they now hold sovereign debt which, must be honoured to the detriment of mortgage holders.

Matt Cooper has not articulated a coherent solution to the problem.  How exactly would Matt Cooper decouple bank debt from sovereign debt seeing as the late Brian Lenihan on behalf of the taxpayer guaranteed such debt which ipso facto became sovereign debt.
Is he implying that the budget deficit can be cut without harsh measures? If he is he has a duty to outline the alternative. In relation to the bondholders the approach being advocated by  Matt amounts to default. How would he  protect the economy and the  Irish people from the total economic collapse that would ensue from a default?

There is no easy way out of this mess. Obama decided to ramp up public spending in the US. In short he has dodged the austerity measures required to tackle the US deficit. Has he solved the problems of the US economy by adopting a contrary approach to that adopted in Ireland? I think the answer is glaringly obvious.
No Matt there is no easy way out of this for Ireland, Europe and the US. It will be a long slow hard grind.

Friday, October 21, 2011

Medjugorje Apparitions And Strange Coincidences

24/25 June 1981 - June 25, 1991
On 24 June 1981, six young  children  Ivanka Ivankovic, Mirjana Dragicevic, Vicka Ivankovic, Ivan Dragicevic, Ivan Ivankovic and Milka Pavlovic   while walking on a rocky hill, called Apparition Hill, overlooking their homes saw from afar the Blessed Virgin.

 June 24 is the date on which the Church celebrates the Nativity of St. John the Baptist, the forerunner of Jesus . On June 25 the children returned once more. Two of the children who made up the previous group were missing:Ivan Ivankovic and Milka Pavlovic. They were replaced by two others; Maria Pavlovic and Jakov Colo . At Medjugorje Our Lady presented herself with the title of Queen of Peace and warned that only personal conversion, fasting and prayer can avert the wars. This was prescient.

On the tenth anniversary of the apparitions, war began in this region.  On  June 25, 1991, in fact, the parliaments of the Republics of Croatia and Slovenia proclaimed their independence from Yugoslavia. The same day the Yugoslav army began an armed attack on Slovenia, the first act of the bloody war that would involve Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Kosovo and then Serbia itself, the initiator of the conflict. This war caused thousands of deaths and injuries and immense destruction.

June 25, 1966
The apparent coincidences do not end there. On 25 June 1966 the Holy See and the Yugoslav government signed the Protocol which laid the groundwork for a modus vivendi with less conflict between the Yugoslav communist regime and the Catholic Church. One of the positive consequences of this agreement was that the government made it less difficult to build new Catholic churches, including the parish church of Medjugorje, which was completed in 1969.

August 5, 1995
June 25, is not the only coincidence of a Croatian national holiday with a feast of Medjugorje. In fact, on 5 August 1995 the Croatian Army liberated the city of Knin. August 5, has been proclaimed a national holiday under the name of the Homeland Thanksgiving (Dan domovinske zahvalnosti) national holiday.  The   Madonna at Medjugorje declared that August 5 was her real birthday. This has been confirmed by Marija and Jelena.

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Italian politician organises pilgrimage to Medjugorje

A councilor from the Municipality of Trent  and member  of Northern League, Claudio Villotti, organized under the auspices of the Northern League  political party a  pilgrimage to Medjugorje . He collected 45 signatures. "We hired a coach with 50 seats going to the shrine, explains the South-Villotti the newspaper and attended  Mass in Italian at 11 am in the church." The trip had the blessing of Mauritius Fugatti, secretary of the Lega Nord Trentino. The programme of the journey of faith also included  the final prayer on Apparition Hill and then a moment of silence on the mountain where stands the cross of Medjugorje. (Source: AGI.it)

The apparitions at Medjugorje are playing a major role in the revival of Catholicism in Italy. The visionaries are regular visitors to Italy and are often met by huge crowds. Italian pilgrims also have easy access to Medjugorje. In addition Medjugorje is receiving huge coverage in the Italian media.

Monday, October 17, 2011

Tasovcici Refugee Camp, Capljina, near Medjugorje: Donegal pensioner cycles to raise funds for church

Photo: Brian McDaid 1610BD07
A Donegal pensioner will take to the saddle for charity this coming Wednesday. He wants to raise funds to allow poor families in the Tasovcici Refugee Camp, Capljina, near Medjugorje, build a new church.

Alphonsus Surplus from Letterkenny estimates it will take until next Sunday to complete the 140 mile trip to Croagh Patrick in Co. Mayo. He will then link up with other pilgrims who will also be climbing the mountain the same day.

As a keen cyclist, Alphonus thrives on the physical challenge. A familiar sight on the roads with his fluorescent yellow jacket and safety helmet, he has already completed many trips on his bike to religious sites including Lough Derg.
Read the full story at Donegal Democrat

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Ireland: Finance Minister Noonan speaks about Mortgage Arrears Working Group report

Video: The Power Of The Rosary


Dr. Mark Miravalle explains the power of the Rosary and how it has even changed the course of history. As such it is very much needed today and all Catholics need to take up this powerful prayer. To ask questions regarding Mary, email Dr Mark Miravalle: marycast@airmaria.com . Also on http://airmaria.com?p=22197
Ave Maria!

Saturday, October 8, 2011

Countess Milona von Hapsburg speaks about Medjugorje

When June Keithley introduced me to Countess Milona von Hapsburg last Thursday, Oct. 6, I was struck by the great contrast between her storied royal lineage and her sweet simplicity of dress and demeanor.

Here, clearly, was a person who had succeeded in transcending the trappings of “royalty” to focus exclusively on the more important aspects of life that now mattered most to her.
They were mostly significantly led by the spiritual mission that had prompted her many years ago to uproot herself and her family and live in the Marian apparition site of Medjugorje, a small village in the former Yugoslavia.

Unexpected blessing
June had invited some religious and lay leaders to have lunch with Milona and listen to her sharing, not about her privileged life and lineage, but about her unique mission in Medjugorje, and the deeply transformative effect it has had on her and her loved ones...
Continue reading HERE