Monday, December 31, 2007

31, December 2007


Dear Ones,

How marvelous to be Catholic and to know that the wonders of Christmas do not end in a single day—the Octave of Christmas is this wonderful 8 days that encompass such beautiful days as St Stephen the Martyr, the Feast of the Holy Innocents, and the Feast of the Holy Family—and culminating on the first with our Feast of the Mother of God, Mary Most Holy and the Circumcision of our Lord.

And then of course extends to the 12 Days of Christmas which will culminate on January 6th for The Epiphany of our Lord. And then of course the Christmas season lasts for 40 Days—how wonderful to be Catholic.

Please do not miss this wonderful opportunity:
Two Plenary Indulgences are available as follows:

1. Reciting the Te Deum (privately) on December 31.
2. Reciting Veni Creator Spiritus on January 1st.


If you're confused about the Church's publications of several books on indulgences over the past 200 years, allow me to give a brief teaching:

The new 'Manual of Indulgences' or Enchiridion Indulgentiarum is a hardcover English edition of the 1999 Enchiridion Indulgentiarum published by the Holy See. It replaced the the 'Enchiridion of Indulgences' published by Liberia Editrice Vaticana, Vatican City in l968 and authorized by Pope Paul VI after Vatican II in the Apostolic Constitution on the 'Revision of Indulgences.' However, the Vatican's new l999 Enchiridon Indulgentiarum lists only 33 indulgences, instead of earlier 74, that one may gain.

Before the Enchiridion of 1968, there was 'The Raccolta' or original manual of indulgences. 'The Raccolta' was translated into English in l950 from the official l807 edition 'Enchiridion Indulgentarum' issued by the Sacred Penitentiary Apostolic, with the latest revision being done in l898 by the Sacred Congregation of the Indulgences. 'The Raccolta' contains prayers and pious exercises to which indulgences have been attached by the popes; also the decrees granting these indulgences and the conditions necessary for gaining them.

I have both of these indulgence books in my home Catholic library. All of the indulgences in each book have been approved by the Popes of the Church, so they are all still valid and licit to use. The new l999 edition, "Manual of Indulgences" is probably the one to use for general purposes for today; however, extra special occasions and prayers will be found in the older Raccolta book. I take the Raccolta with me to my Holy Hour. You can get a reprint easily on the Internet.

The current l999 edition, the 'Manual of Indulgences, ' rearranges the material in a more user-friendlier format while retaining, and sometimes expanding on, the grants of older indulgences. If one consults the earlier l991 'Handbook of Indulgences, ' one would still get a fairly accurate list of the indulgences, but would miss some of the more recent grants, such as the decree from Pope JPII that attached the plenary indulgence to the celebration of Divine Mercy Sunday.

The English translation of the new l999 'Manual of Indulgences' was done by the USCCB Secretariat for the Liturgy under the supervision of the Holy See, not ICEL, so every prayer is still the traditional prayer with the familiar traditional language.

Those who claim that indulgences are no longer a part of the Church's teachings today are msinformed. Indulgences are the enactment of the authority given to Peter and to the Church, which Christ established to extend the mercy of God to the Christian faithful. Temporal punishment due for sins is a Doctrine of the Church as explained in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, nos. 1471 thru 1479., and Code of Canon Law, c. 994.

Te Deum, also sometimes called the Ambrosian Hymn because if its association with St. Ambrose, is a traditional hymn of joy and thanksgiving. First attributed to Sts. Ambrose, Augustine, or Hilary, it is now accredited to Nicetas, Bishop of Remesiana (4th century). It is used at the conclusion of the Office of the Readings for the Liturgy of the Hours on Sundays outside Lent, daily during the Octaves of Christmas and Easter, and on Solemnities and Feast Days. The petitions at the end were added at a later time and are optional. A partial indulgence is granted to the faithful who recite it in thanksgiving and a plenary indulgence is granted if the hymn is recited publicly on the last day of the year.

TE DEUM laudamus: te Dominum confitemur.
O GOD, we praise Thee: we acknowledge Thee to be the Lord.
Te aeternum Patrem omnis terra veneratur.
Everlasting Father, all the earth doth worship Thee.
Tibi omnes Angeli; tibi Caeli et universae Potestates;
To Thee all the Angels, the Heavens and all the Powers,
Tibi Cherubim et Seraphim incessabili voce proclamant:
all the Cherubim and Seraphim, unceasingly proclaim:
Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus, Dominus Deus Sabaoth.
Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Hosts!
Pleni sunt caeli et terra maiestatis gloriae tuae.
Heaven and earth are full of the Majesty of Thy glory.
Te gloriosus Apostolorum chorus,
The glorious choir of the Apostles,
Te Prophetarum laudabilis numerus,
the wonderful company of Prophets,
Te Martyrum candidatus laudat exercitus.
the white-robed army of Martyrs, praise Thee.
Te per orbem terrarum sancta confitetur Ecclesia,
Holy Church throughout the world doth acknowledge Thee:
Patrem immensae maiestatis:
the Father of infinite Majesty;
Venerandum tuum verum et unicum Filium;
Thy adorable, true and only Son;
Sanctum quoque Paraclitum Spiritum.
and the Holy Spirit, the Comforter.
Tu Rex gloriae, Christe.
O Christ, Thou art the King of glory!
Tu Patris sempiternus es Filius.
Thou art the everlasting Son of the Father.
Tu ad liberandum suscepturus hominem, non horruisti Virginis uterum.
Thou, having taken it upon Thyself to deliver man, didst not disdain the Virgin's womb.
Tu, devicto mortis aculeo, aperuisti credentibus regna caelorum.
Thou overcame the sting of death and hast opened to believers the Kingdom of Heaven.
Tu ad dexteram Dei sedes, in gloria Patris.
Thou sitest at the right hand of God, in the glory of the Father.
Iudex crederis esse venturus.
We believe that Thou shalt come to be our Judge.
Te ergo quaesumus, tuis famulis subveni: quos pretioso sanguine redemisti.
We beseech Thee, therefore, to help Thy servants whom Thou hast redeemed with Thy Precious Blood.
Aeterna fac cum sanctis tuis in gloria numerari.
Make them to be numbered with Thy Saints in everlasting glory.
V. Salvum fac populum tuum, Domine, et benedic hereditati tuae.
V. Save Thy people, O Lord, and bless Thine inheritance!
R. Et rege eos, et extolle illos usque in aeternum.
R. Govern them, and raise them up forever.
V. Per singulos dies benedicimus te.
V. Every day we thank Thee.
R. Et laudamus nomen tuum in saeculum, et in saeculum saeculi.
R. And we praise Thy Name forever, yea, forever and ever.
V. Dignare, Domine, die isto sine peccato nos custodire.
V. O Lord, deign to keep us from sin this day.
R. Miserere nostri, Domine, miserere nostri.
R. Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us.
V. Fiat misericordia tua, Domine, super nos, quemadmodum speravimus in te.
V. Let Thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us, for we have hoped in Thee.
R. In te, Domine, speravi: non confundar in aeternum.
R. O Lord, in Thee I have hoped; let me never be put to shame.


Veni Creator Spiritus is a hymn normally sung in Gregorian Chant and is considered the "most famous of hymns." It was written by Rabanus Maurus in the 9th century. The hymn in normally associated with the Roman Catholic Church where it is often sung at occasions such as the entrance of Cardinals to the Sistine Chapel to elect a new pope, as well as the consecration of bishops, the ordination of priests, the dedication of churches, the celebration of synods or councils, the coronation of kings and other solemn events. It means "come Holy Spirit Creator" and commemorates the feast of Pentecost. The hymn was probably first assigned to Vespers. One eleventh century manuscript has it at both Lauds and Vespers. Its use at Terce is said to have begun at Cluny as it thus commemorates the descent of the Holy Ghost at the third hour of the day. Below is the original Latin and its English translation:


Latin
English
Veni, Creator Spiritus
mentes tuorum visita
Imple superna gratia
quae tu creasti pectora.
Qui Paraclitus diceris,
Donum Dei Altissimi,
fons vivus, ignis, caritas,
et spiritalis unctio.
Tu septiformis munere,
dextrae Dei tu digitus;
tu rite promissum Patris,
sermone ditans guttura.
Accende lumen sensibus,
infunde amorem cordibus,
infirma nostri corporis,
virtute firmans perpeti.
Hostem repellas longius,
pacemque duces protinus,
ductore sic te praevio,
vitemus omne noxium.
Per te sciamus da Patrem,
noscamus atque Filium,
te utriusque Spiritum
credamus omni tempore.
Sit laus Patri cum Filio,
Sancto simul Paraclito:
nobisque mittat Filius
charisma Sancti Spiritus.
Amen.

Come, Holy Ghost, Creator blest,
and in our souls take up Thy rest;
come with Thy grace and heavenly aid
to fill the hearts which Thou hast made.
O comforter, to Thee we cry,
O heavenly gift of God Most High,
O fount of life and fire of love,
and sweet anointing from above.
Thou in Thy sevenfold gifts are known;
Thou, finger of God's hand we own;
Thou, promise of the Father, Thou
Who dost the tongue with power imbue.
Kindle our senses from above,
and make our hearts o'erflow with love;
with patience firm and virtue high
the weakness of our flesh supply.
Far from us drive the foe we dread,
and grant us Thy peace instead;
so shall we not, with Thee for guide,
turn from the path of life aside.
Oh, may Thy grace on us bestow
the Father and the Son to know;
and Thee, through endless times confessed,
of both the eternal Spirit blest.
Now to the Father and the Son,
Who rose from death, be glory given,
with Thou, O Holy Comforter,
henceforth by all in earth and heaven.
Amen.


God bless you and yours and the very merriest of Christmas to you and all of yours. I look forward to many more stirring chats by the fire in 2008.

Daniel

Thursday, December 20, 2007


May you experience the Many Comings of Our Lord Jesus this Advent and during the Season of Christmas 2007
Prayers for a Blessed Advent for you and your family with personal greetings from D. in Coppell for HOPE in believing for you and yours.
Sometimes friends come from unexpected places, but they are life's most special gift! Have a wonderful day, my friend.

I pray for you and your family this Advent that you will truly experience the Many comings of Jesus in your lives
and that as we prepare to Adore Him at Midnight in bitter cold--we shall Adore Him Indeed as Christ the King.

God bless you and yours--you remain in my daily prayers as I sit before a warm fire with hot toddy in hand. Gazing around the room, my eyes are drawn from one to the next of the the nine different Creche sets and watch the progression of the Wise Men as they travel from afar to the baby in the Manger--angels and stockings hanging from the mantle, favorite mercury glass ornaments twinkling on the trees. Candy canes, gold balls, and red beads shimmer on the Norfolk in the kitchen,bowls of nutritionally appropriate goodies and nuts abound--the smell of holiday scented candles--Saint Nicholas and his band of merry Nutcrackers stand guard, and the Angel tree topper from the tree on the dining room bar look down in serene peace. Favorite story books of Christmas stacked high on the coffee table with a new favorite novel I cannot put down flung where left on the couch, Bible and Catechism lying within reach on the floor--and to date I have only made it through number six of the 24 Christmas CD's I listen to every year as the wonderful songs fill the house--the Monks of San Domingo Chants, an Irish Christmas, the Carpenters, Frank, Dino, Burl, Perry--all on first name basis--the Yellowjackets, Celtic,New Age,St John's, Oxford, Mananatha...Charlotte and Michael Crawford----and hope still springs that the stocking will find the newest Josh Groban Christmas CD on Christmas morning (we will see if one of the boys ever actually read these things? LOL).

Starting this Friday night and through the New Year the Glogg will be on the stove--ready to heat , with the drunken raisins at hand to coat the bottom of the cup. Already the tin of tea is at hand and the kettle is kept full of water for cups of hot tea with friends and family as they appear. By the weekend the shortbread and bisconti will be ready, waiting as special treats as well...If you are near by, ring the bell and if not cozy up in front of your own fire or creche as we settle ourselves before the Baby Jesus ourselves----Still, still, still--as we come into the Silence--the language of heaven.

Whether at my side on my very couch or at the feet of the manger in our hearts--you remain ever in my heart and in my Holy Hours--in my HOPE. God bless you everyone.

Love,
Daniel and the boys
Pray for the Vinzant's
517 Ashford
Coppell, Tx 75019
214-566-2298

Friday, November 02, 2007

Requiem Aeternam
Eternal rest grant unto them,
O Lord, and let perpetual light
shine upon them. May they rest in Peace, Amen.



God bless you and yours on the Feast of All Saints Day,
Dear Ones in Standing Just,


For years I sent out a monthly reflection of appropriate faith builders and prayer concerns--and then life got in the way and the years have flown by. Working with the two men's groups at St. Ann's has slowly drawn me out of a solitary life--and as we enter into this meaningful month of the Church, I want to take the opportunity to share some appropriate thoughts from our most ancient faith and perhaps a few from more recent happy memories. I do not know how often I will continue these jottings, but do let me know if you find them helpful.


Nov. 1 All Saints Day-- A Holy Day of Obligation

Nov. 2 All Soul’s Day--A Debt of Love Day for those who have gone before us

Nov. 1-8 an opportunity to gain Plenary Indulgences for Souls in Purgatory--you gain this by visiting a Cemetery and offer up prayers

Nov. 2 Devoutly visiting a Church--go to Mass, sign up your loved ones in the Book of Remembrance for the Alter , receive Communion, and Light a Candle for those who have gone before you--and you earn a Plenary Indulgence--you are reciting the required Credo and the Our Father by being on time to Mass and participating.


Pray the Requiem Aeternam daily during November--you join with the whole Church in praying for the Souls in Purgatory.

I have a good friend, Gerri who says, “Adam and Eve--it is their entire fault--look what they did to us..." Adam and Eve and David and Bathsheba are the two clearest examples of Holy Scripture that bring home to me so hauntingly Catholic theology that though God forgives sin, the worldly consequences of sin can continue to run its course. And these consequences do not happen alone in the prayer chapel like our confessions--they spill over into our very real lives and affect not just us, but those around us.

The Blood of Christ does remit sin. Oh, the Blood of Jesus, it washes white as Snow...Christ Jesus poured out His Blood completely for us--and in the unbloody sacrifice of the Mass, He still pours out fresh and anew His Blood on the Alter to forgive our sins. As Catholics we have the incredible privilege to partake of the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity or Our Dearly Beloved Lord Jesus. It is from this treasury of merit from which indulgenced works draw. The redemptive work of suffering--the purgative work of embracing the Cross of Christ in our daily lives causes the fountain of these graces to flow from the treasury of merit Christ created in the offering up of His Blood. Please--dear ones, who are new to me--let me be the first to say--this is much easier for me to put on paper in the comfort of my own private office and safety. Embracing the Cross is not easy, it is not fun, it is not without pain--but it is to what we are called. Most of us spend a lifetime trying to avoid the one thing that we are called to do--Embrace the Cross--love deeply the Cross of Christ, Glory in the Cross. "For I was born to be Your Dwelling place--a home for the presence of the Lord--so let my heart now be, Separated unto Thee--that I might be what I was born to be."

From an early age I have been a student of Holy Scriptures. When I was less than 5 a wise, old, godly woman taught me my first Bible verse--Luke 2: 52 "And Jesus increased in wisdom, in stature, and in favor with God and man." As Mrs. White rocked me and taught me that Scripture, she told me stories of King Jesus--hero stories--and then she said, "This is what I want you to do." It has been two steps forward and three steps backwards, but that has been a guide-star verse for my life. And those who look from a far think that I have been somewhat successful--those who know me close up know the real truth---even now there are moments where I shudder and turn from the Cross. But, Jesus did all these things well--and yet Scripture tells us there was something that even Jesus had to learn--did you know that? There is something that even Our Lord had to learn--Obedience--He learned it through suffering---His Suffering--is the Blessed Storehouse of Merited Grace and Mercy which He pours out for the purification of the whole world--unbounded LOVE, unmerited GRACE.

Read from Holy Scriptures:
Luke 2:51-52, Hebrews 5: 7-8, Colossians 1: 22, I John 2:2
Recommended Book:
The Confessions -- St. Augustine—this is a must read.


November is the month of Remembrance.
During this month, we remember those who have died and we do special acts of Metanoia--prayer, almsgiving and fasting to honor and assist those Christians who have gone before us....

What are Indulgences?

God sent us into the world to make the world a better place. But, thanks to Adam and Eve--sin entered the world--and every man through all of time has been a Sinner and sinned making the world not a better place--but worse.

When we sin, we take grace away from not only our own lives, but from the rest of the world. Sin takes away our power to be joyful—to accept graces—to let love flow from us to others—to have the power and desire to resist more sin… Confession restores me to a state of joyful grace, but the people I mistreated still suffer from my earlier lack of grace. How do I repair that damage? I must repair that damage –this is the Will of God. In fact, I cannot enter Heaven until I do His will--obey Him. As we were taught from a young age—to know God, to love Him, to obey Him, and to hope to live with Him forever… The world must be free from the suffering my sins have caused. The Maronite rite expresses beautifully that the blood of Jesus ran down from the cross and covers the whole world—offering the healing and forgiveness for sins. Through the redemptive power of His Blood—the sign of peace is extended from the priest and the Altar one by one to each and every Mass participant—illustrating our call to extend this work of peace and grace throughout the world.

I have two choices if I wish to heal the world: I can share in the healing work of the Cross r in Purgatory in the life to come—or in this life through indulgences. An indulgence is a prayerful act I can do today that restores part or all of the grace the world would have enjoyed if I had never sinned. Just as if I had never sinned—Protestants call this Justification and we call it a state of grace. We are called to share in the healing work of Christ

To be worthy of sharing in this healing work of Christ, I must first be in a state of grace.
To perform a partial indulgence, I need only be in a state of grace when doing the work.
To perform a plenary indulgence, I must be in a state of grace when doing the work, receive confession, receive the Eucharist, pray for the Pope’s intentions (an Our Father and a Hail Mary ), and make an act of the will to love God and despise all sin, even the most venial.


Plenary Indulgences for November

Feast of All Saints

Feast of All Souls

Visiting a cemetery and praying for the dead during the Octave of All Saints’ Day (November 1 through November 8) will win a plenary indulgence that can only be applied to those in purgatory.

At the Hour of Death: The Anointing of the Sick contains the apostolic pardon, a plenary indulgence which requires no other work. If no priest is available and the person is baptized, rightly disposed and has regularly prayed in some way during his life, prayer in the hour of death may earn a plenary indulgence.

Feast of Christ the King: Praying the Act of Dedication to Christ the King on the Feast of Christ the King (25th) may earn a plenary indulgence.



Act of Dedication to Christ the King

Most Sweet Jesus, Redeemer of the human race, we are Yours, and Yours we wish to be. To bind ourselves to You even more closely we kneel before You today and offer ourselves to Your Most Sacred Heart.

R. Praise to You, our Savior and our King. Have mercy on all who have never known You and on all who reject You and refuse to obey You: gentle Lord, draw them to Yourself.

R. Praise to You, our Savior and our King. Reign over the faithful who have never left You, reign over those who have squandered their inheritance, the prodigal children who now are starving: being them back to their Father's house.

R. Praise to You, our Savior and our King. Reign over those who are misled by error or divided by discord. Hasten the day when we shall be one in faith and truth, one flock with You, the one Shepherd. Give to Your Church freedom and peace, and to all nations justice and order. Make the earth resound from pole to pole with a single cry: Praise to the Divine Heart that gained our salvation; glory and honor be His forever and ever. Amen.

R. Praise to You, our Savior and our King. Amen.



Tantum Ergo

Down in adoration falling, To the Everlasting Father
Lo! The Sacred host we hail. And the Son Who reigns on high,
Lo! O’er ancient forms departing, With the Spirit blessed proceeding
Newer rites of Grace prevail; Forth, from Each eternally,
Faith for all defects supplying, Be salvation, honor, blessing,
Where the feeble senses fail. Might and endless majesty. Amen.



Today is the Thanksgiving of the Catholic Church—let us joyfully celebrate and pray for the Church:
The Church Militant—those still in this life
The Church Triumphant—those heroes of the faith in the Beatific Vision of Heaven
The Church suffering—those praying for us, and we praying for them still in the moment of purgation-Purgatory.


God bless you and your dear families—remember the Vinzant family on your Hope beads.

YBIC,

Daniel

Thursday, May 17, 2007

The Ascension of our Lord (A Holy Day of Obligation) which falls on Thursday, May 17, 2007 is suspended in USA dioceses till the following Sunday, and will be celebrated on Sunday, May 20, 2007.

Today, a Holy day of obligation, we celebrate the Ascension. Today’s readings from the Liturgy of the Hours includes a sermon from Saint Leo the Great. This sermon is powerful. It captures the significance and importance of the ascension to our faith.

Before you read the sermon, consider the author. Saint Leo the Great was Pope from 440 to 461 AD, and is one of the Fathers and Doctors of the Church. He was Pope when the barbarian, Attila the Hun sought to invade Rome . Attila was the fiercest and most ruthless of all barbarian invaders. When Attila arrived at the gates of Rome , Saint Leo, in a saintly white robe, went out to meet him with a little entourage of 100 priests, monks and bishops, chanting in Latin, burning incense, and carrying crosses and images of Jesus and Mary. Even though Attila, who feared no man, was flanked by thousands of barbarian troops, he feared this saintly man who was called Vicar of Christ. Attila feared not the power of man, but the unseen power of God. Worried that Saint Leo could call down the heavenly army of angels to fight for the Church, Attila agreed not to sack Rome and turned back ( Rome was lost 25 years later; different Pope, different barbarian).

Saint Leo the Great produced some of the finest writings and sermons in Church History. One of those sermons, about the Ascension, is as follows (the part that is chilling to me is to realize that women and children were brutally tortured for our faith):

“At Easter, beloved brethren, it was the Lord’s resurrection which was the cause of our joy; our present rejoicing is on account of his ascension into heaven. With all due solemnity we are commemorating that day on which our poor human nature was carried up, in Christ, above all the hosts in heaven, above all the ranks of angels, beyond the highest heavenly powers to the very throne of God the Father. It is upon this ordered structure of divine acts that we have been firmly established, so that the grace of God may show itself still more marvelous when, in spite of the withdrawal from men’s sight of everything that is rightly felt to command their reverence, faith does not fail, hope is not shaken, and charity does not grow cold.

“For such is the power of great minds, such the light of truly believing souls, that they put unhesitating faith in what is not seen with the bodily eye; they fix their desires on what is beyond sight. Such fidelity could never be born in our hearts, nor could anyone be justified by faith, if our salvation lay only in what was visible.

“And so our Redeemer’s visible presence has passed into the sacraments. Our faith is nobler and stronger because sight has been replaced by a doctrine whose authority is accepted by believing hearts, enlightened from on high. This faith was increased by the Lord’s ascension and strengthened by the gift of the Spirit; it would remain unshaken by fetters and imprisonment, exile and hunger, fire and ravaging beasts, and the most refined tortures ever devised by brutal persecutors. Throughout the world women no less than men, tender girls as well as boys, have given their life’s blood in the struggle for this faith. It is a faith that has driven out devils, healed the sick and raised the dead.

“Even the blessed apostles, though they had been strengthened by so many miracles and instructed by so much teaching, took fright at the cruel suffering of the Lord’s passion and could not accept his resurrection without hesitation. Yet, they made such progress through his ascension that they now found joy in what had terrified them before. They were able to fix their minds on Christ’s divinity as he sat at the right hand of his Father, since what was presented to their bodily eyes no longer hindered them from turning all of their attention to the realization that he had not left his Father when he came down to earth, nor had he abandoned his disciples when he ascended into heaven.

“The truth is that the Son of Man was revealed as Son of God in a more perfect and transcendent way once he had entered into his Father’s glory; he now began to be indescribably more present in his divinity to those from whom he was further removed in his humanity. A more mature faith enabled their minds to stretch upward to the Son in his equality with the Father; it no longer needed contact with Christ’s tangible body, in which as man he is inferior to the Father. For while his glorified body retained the same nature, the faith of those who believed in him was now summoned to the heights where, as the Father’s equal, the only-begotten Son is reached not by physical handling, but by spiritual discernment.”

Thursday, May 10, 2007

OK, it is that time again---I hate fund-raising by nature but it is something we have to do for some of these pro-life organizations

The Walk for Life funds one of my good friends in the work and she is very careful with every nickle and dime--she works with the Legislature in Texas to safeguard our rights which are constantly under attack such as the right to die issues being debated the next week in Austin.

It is so easy--just tell me the amount and your name and address and phone number and they will send you a reminder for payment later.

Please help me exercise and serve a greater good by helping you fund a wonderful pro-life organization--again one of my favorites. No amount is too big or too small.

And while we are raising awareness---love those wonderful wives and mothers of your children dearly and hold them near with special times this lovely weekend. And pray your HOPE bead for the Vinzant family. Lewis turns 22 on Friday and we start the weekend with a tremendous brisket--the best ever thanks to the BBQ for Life---you go GUYS--you ROCK!!!

Jan will be surprising Lewis at the diner party and staying the whole weekend so we can treat her to a special Mother's Day Weekend--maybe we will bump into some of you over the weekend .

God bless and call in those pledges so i can turn them in eh.

Your brother in Christ,

daniel

Monday, April 30, 2007


A little Monday humor.




Hope the pic comes out---you know what they say: "If you wants to be Impotent you gots to dress Impoent." hehehe




This is Daniel with Jennifer O'Neil of the Summer of 42 movie--you go boy.


Actually Jennifer was in town for the annual CPLC Bishop of Dallas Pro-Life Banquet 2007 as the Keynote Speaker and we were hanging out at the reception with the Bishop and his friends--good times had by all.

I do look forward to fishing with him at his lake and we wish him God's speed in spending lots of time in that boat down South--thanks be to God.
Hope some of you can make it again Wednesday for the Adult Ed--such a treat to have good friends in the audience. I am speaking on the Credo as a catechism for our faith.
God bless,
daniel

Monday, April 02, 2007


Dear Brothers,

Here are my prayers for you and your family as you have a very meaningful Holy Week. What a joy for so many of us to be able to participate in the CRHP 38 Lunch and Candle Mass on Saturday. We will have our new schdeule out soon after Holy Week and hope to see more and more of you we have been missing.

Each year I try to take a few speical friends to a very special event--Holy Thursday in Lewisville at our Lady of Lebanon--I figrue the numbers are great enough at our home church, that no one will miss us for one evening eh. Do try to come and call if you have any questions.


My former Spiritual Director, our beloved Father Pacwa from EWTN is do to be there for Holy Week and you will love meeting him and then they have Confessions till Midnight with him if you would like to do that. He stays to the very last penitant is done--always much after Midnight.

God bless,

daniel


see notes below
Brothers,A reminder and a some notes: Reminder, Holy Thursday at Our Lady of Lebanon in Lewisville at 7pm.http://www.ourladylebanon.com/You can find the address and a map at their website. I hope to see many of you there.Three main notes for those of you who have never attended a Maronite service:1. Communion is by Tincture. That means the Priest dips the Host in the wine and puts the Host in your mouth. So don't hold your hands up because you will look silly. :)2. The sign of peace starts at the Altar and then is spread to the congregation. Basically the Priest gives the sign of peace to the Altar servers and then the Altar servers go to the first person in each row and it spreads from there. Just don't sit in the first row and all you have to do is watch and do what everyone else does.3. The standing, sitting, kneeling is a little different. Again just watch and follow.I hope each of you has a blessed Holy week.


YBIC,

Saturday, March 24, 2007

Dear Ones in Standing Just,

I am late in the game on this one. I keep thinking I can live a quiet life in Coppell and not get drawn into the horrors around us, but even now when I hear of these horrors being done by agents of the Church--the largest Catholic health organization in the world--Ascension Health --Daughters of Charity...and the silence of yet another Catholic Bishop this time in Austin, Texas.

Ten years ago-when I was not yet fully Catholic in the midst of the horrors in Dallas, Texas a beloved priest told me that we were living in a time when it took the Courts to force a Bishop to do the right thing.... I call on good Catholics and believers everywhere to call on good Bishops and to raise a cry--a resounded cry against the willful killing of another human by neglect as they quibble on their "quality of life" debate. Did our beloved Pope John Paul II's end of life and natural death--faithful till the end, to the love and calling of God--teach us nothing?

This baby has been granted a reprieve until April 10 through the Courts--where are the Christian activist for LIFE? I have been told that Seaton refuses to allow a Doctor to perform a simple tracheotomy that would allow this baby to be able to be transported to another facility or even to home with his mother. Please read the blogs--Goggle the most recent news---reach out to Kyleen Wright, President Texans for Life Coalition www.texlife.org

MAKE PHONE CALLS
You can express your views in this case by calling Brackenridge Children's Hospital in Austin at 512-324-8000. Please let them know that you know they are Catholic and why are they not upholding Catholic teaching on offering ordinary care such as nutrition and hydration--trach,....

Flood the Austin Bishop's email and phone calls--he can do the right thing and get involved.

You Life advocates--hit the streets and media if you have to--even if it means in front of a Catholic hospital, order of nuns, and Bishops office. If you know Bishop Vann in Fort Worth or Archbishop Gomez in San Antonio....get them to talk to their brother Bishop...

WE must do something--so we Pray and then put your prayers to action as God leads,

For Life in His Sacred Heart,

daniel

Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Whether living or dying ... let's embrace baby Emilio
Emilio Gonzales is a 16 month old baby boy. He’s in has a degenerative neurological condition called Leigh’s disease. A Google search will reveal that Leigh’s disease --“is a rare inherited neurometabolic disorder characterized by degeneration of the central nervous system. Symptoms of Leigh's disease usually begin between the ages of 3 months to 2 years and progress rapidly. In most children, the first signs may be poor sucking ability and loss of head control and motor skills. These symptoms may be accompanied by loss of appetite, vomiting, irritability, continuous crying, and seizures. As the disorder progresses, symptoms may also include generalized weakness, lack of muscle tone, and episodes of lactic acidosis, which can lead to impairment of respiratory and kidney function. Heart problems may also occur.”“…The most common treatment for Leigh's disease is thiamine or Vitamin B1. In patients who have a deficiency of pyruvate dehydrogenase enzyme complex, a high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet may be recommended. Oral sodium bicarbonate or sodium citrate may also be prescribed to manage lactic acidosis. Experimental protocols are currently using dichloroacetate to treat patients with lactic acidosis.”“…The prognosis for individuals with Leigh's disease is poor. Individuals who lack mitochondrial complex IV activity and those with pyruvate dehydrogenase deficiency tend to have the worst prognosis and die within a few years. Those with partial deficiencies have a better prognosis, and may live to be 6 or 7 years of age. Some have survived to their mid-teenage years.” (Taken from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/leighsdisease/leighsdisease.htm .)”In short, little Emilio is a very sick baby boy.
Texas Futile Care LawHe is ventilator dependent and under the care of the Brackenridge Children’s Hospital in Austin, Texas – but not for long. Under a Texas Futile Care law, his doctor is able to override the family’s wishes and withdraw treatment if he deems it to be futile. That’s exactly what has happened. Emilio’s mother Catarina Gonzales (23) was served the mandatory 10 days notice by the hospital ethics committee that baby Emilio’s ventilator would be turned off on March 23rd 2007. A brave and tenacious Texas Lawyer, Jerri Ward, has been able to get that ominous date postponed until April 10th in order to assist the baby’s mother to find another facility that will accept Emilio.Surely there is another medical facility somewhere in America that will accept this baby boy. (?) Surely there is a physician who will step forward to treat Emilio. (?) Surely there is somebody who is prepared to underwrite the cost of a medical flight for Emilio and his mom out of Texas to wherever that medical facility might be. (?)This baby deserves whatever life has been given to him and nobody has the rob him of it. If he dies, let it be from natural causes, not because somebody pursued his death by denying care. If baby Emilio dies of natural causes, at least America does not stand under the moral indictment of deliberately killing another disabled citizen.

Christian response to Terri SchiavoIn 2003, the disability organization I founded (HumanLifeMatters) tried to persuade the Canadian government to offer asylum for Terri Schiavo. HumanLifeMatters assembled a team of volunteer Christian physicians, nurses, and other health care professionals in Edmonton, Alberta, to provide need care for her. The Good Samaritan Hospital guaranteed a bed for Terri. A wealthy Edmonton businessman offered to underwrite the costs of a medical flight.Unfortunately the Liberal government of former Prime Minister refused to offer asylum for her.Now futile care has raised its ugly head to threaten Emilio Gonzales. I will try once again to explore similar medical arrangements in Canada. We have a new Conservative government. Perhaps they will be open to showing mercy and allow entrance into my country.I ask readers of this blog to explore possibilities for Emilio in there communities. Is anyone prepared to cover costs of ring Emilio and his mother to Canada if it comes to that?

Baby Emilio deserves loving care, regardless of whether he lives or dies naturally. He needs to feel loved and valued through our collective embrace. I can be contacted at HumanLifeMatters@shaw.ca or my personal email MPickup@shaw.ca

Monday, March 19, 2007

Dear Brothers,

Happy St Joseph Feast Day!!!,

We will meet tonight at Wayne's house at 7:00 PM for Mass and fellowship with Fr Steven Sanchez. We hope to see you all there tonight.

March 19th 2007
Feast of St. Joseph
Patron of the Universal Church

JMJ

A Meditation on St. Joseph from Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen

As Joseph had a mind to put Mary away secretly, the Gospel lifts the veil of the mystery to him: "But hardly had the thought come to his mind, when an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, and said, 'Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take thy wife Mary to thyself, for it is by the power of the Holy Ghost that she has conceived this child; and she will bear a son, whom thou shalt call Jesus, for he is to save his people from their sins' " (Mt I:20-21).
Joseph's worries were overcome by a revelation of the dignity of Christ's Virgin Birth and of the nature of His mission-- namely, to save us from our sins. The very words of the angel: "Do not be afraid to take thy wife Mary to thyself" seem to support the view that Joseph already believed that miracle had taken place in Mary and that that was why he "feared" to bring her into his own house. It is unlikely that any man told of a Virgin Birth would ever have credited it if there had not already been in his heart a belief in the Messias, Christ, Who was to come. Joseph knew that the Messias would be born of the family of David, and he himself was of that family. He also knew of the prophecies concerning the Child, even the one of Isaias that He would be born of a Virgin. If Joseph had not already been described as a just man, the message of the angel and the honor that was to come to Mary would have been enough to have inspired great purity in him. For if a modern father were told that one day his son would be President of the United States, it would inspire a changed attitude toward his wife, the mother of the child. In like manner, all anxiety and anguish now leave Joseph, as his soul is filled with reverence and awe for the love of Mary's secret.

-From World's First Love (pages 90-91)

Protector of Holy Church, pray for us.
Light of Patriarchs, pray for us.
Pillar of families, pray for us.
Good Saint Joseph, your faithful love protected and nourished the Mother of God and Jesus Christ, her son.Your fatherly care led to maturity he through whom all creation began. Through your intercession, may God guide and protect all human life from conception to natural death, and lead this nation in the ways of truth and of love. Pray for us, good Saint Joseph, that joined with Christ Jesus, we might give praise to God forever. Amen.

Friday, February 23, 2007

Hi Brothers,

Team 30 will have Mass at Wayne's house at 7:00 PM for Mass and fellowship.
It is Fr Steven's 50th and we are celebrating--a bottle of wine, a Macy gift card--whatever you want to bring to honor him--and of course we will still do a cash stipend for Mt Carmel for the Mass.

Sunday--White Rose Open Hose--come and bring your family and then take a walk on the beautiful Katy Trail that runs behind it--kids can run wild--and finish up with a Wild about Harry ice cream custard--call me for details if you like--I will be there.

Our last CRHP meal will be the Saturday lunch for the upcoming weekend--which is March 31st--who can help ---Help!!!

Kevin Sadler, Dave Lukeman and I need your help---I am bringing three Form 100's and three of you are going to join the Knights of Columbus--do not do it under John Garcia as he already has his and the three of us need one each of you so we can win a coveted prize which we can not tell you about or else we would have to ___ you eh. I am serious--three of you will sign Forms 100 one for each of us before Wayne will let you leave his house. No excuses--your brothers and the Church needs you.

God bless,

YBIC,

daniel

Tuesday, February 06, 2007

This is a monthly event
2nd Tuesday Night Rosary
at Planned Parenthood abortion center, sponsored by TOPP (Texans Opposed to Planned Parenthood)
6:30 p.m., in front of Jason’s Deli at 7412 Greenville Ave., just south of Walnut Hill Lane. After the rosary, we will go into Jason’s Deli for food, Christian fellowship and pro-life discussion. Park in the Jason’s Deli parking lot. This is a monthly event. Contact Daniel Vinzant, 214-566-2298 We meet in one of the booths closest to the doors in the Glassed in Atrium--to the right as you enter Jason's

2nd Saturday Stand for Life at Planned Parenthood after 8:00 AM Mass at St Ann's--carpool and stand prayerfully praying the Rosary and singing--and then breakfast and fellowship afterwards for those who can stay...

Same address for meeting to pray the Rosary on Saturdays at Planned Parenthood--you can park at Jason's and we stand on the little sidewalk under the Presbyterian hospital crosswalk and hold rosarys and pray lovingly and prayerfully. Saddly i can not be there every Saturday--but will be there this Saturday--going to 8:00 AM Mass at St Ann's and then driving down--so being there between 9:00-9:30 and staying till 11:00 AM and then going for breakfast with whoever would like after. If you come this Saturday I can show you the ropes so to speak and take the mystery out of it and hopefully some of you and your groups can pick a Saturday and make it a monthly love gift to the FACE of LOVE.

We have had some wonderful heros there faithfully every Saturday for the last 6 years and they have all fallen ill with serious illnesses this last month--we need some loving, prayerful people to STAND Praying--there is no real contact with people--just a prayerful witness that causes the power of Heaven to show up and do wonders in many lives...

God bless--for Life I hope to see you Saturday,

daniel