We are currently in the midst of  “the week that changed the world”. Yes! It is Holy Week, most definitely the busiest week on the Church’s calendar.  And as we meditate on Christ’s suffering and crucifixion for our salvation, the Stations of the Cross proves to be a powerful tool in our contemplation Christ’s Passion.

Here are a couple of Stations of the Cross recordings I’ve come across while listening to some of my favorite podcasts:

• Catholic Music Express
  Jim O’Meara does a moving rendition of the Stations of the Cross as composed by St Alphonsus Ligouri, complete with beautiful contemporary Catholic music.
• iPadre
  A presentation of the Stations of the Cross, based on Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich by Father Jay Finelli.
• The Catholics Next Door
  Greg and Jennifer Willits does an audio version of the Stations of the Cross based on those celebrated by Pope John Paul II on Good Friday 1991.
• Divine Mercy Podcast
  Greg Keuter also has a recording of the Stations of the Cross on his site.
• What Does The Prayer Really Say?
  The great Father Z has a couple of these
  • 1st Passion Sunday
  • Palm Sunday – Passion of St. Matthew (sung)
  • Stations of the Cross – St. Alphonsus Liguori
  • Passion of St. John (Good Friday – 1962 Missale Romanum)
  • Stations of the Cross – Joseph Ratzinger (Good Friday – 2005)
• Pray-As-You-Go
  A series of 10 scripture-based meditations in the tradition of the Stations of the Cross.

Hope you’ll find the resources above inspiring and helpful in your Lenten meditation.

Tags: Catholic, devotions, Inspirational, prayers, scripture

A couple of days ago, I was watching some YouTube videos a friend of mine had posted. I came across a link to a video of a 4D ultrasound scan of a baby in the womb in the “Related Videos” sidebar. I clicked on it and was amazed! I continued looking up videos of similar nature, and as I watched, all I can say was “Wow!”. God is *SO* good! He gave us miracle of babies, and he gives us the technology to see the miracle of life as it unfolds in the mother’s womb. How can anyone say that *THAT* is just a blob of tissues, and not a baby?! How can anyone even *think* that it’s ok to kill that baby?!

Just at this moment, my mom walks into the room, looks at the video I was viewing on the computer, and says “What’s that?” I told her this is the latest in ultrasound technology, and now people can see their babies up close and personal. With this, we can now see their expressions and movements in 3D. Then I showed her this video:

She was as amazed as I was! For a long long time, she thought that babies in the womb do nothing but sleep. Of course, back in those days when she was pregnant with me, there wasn’t any such stuff as ultrasound scans. Thanks to modern technology and YouTube, now she knows that babies can also suck their thumb, smile, laugh, rub their eyes, kick their legs, and much more.. all that while they’re in the mother’s womb!

Isn’t comforting to know that ALL of us, including Jesus, was once a helpless baby in the warm womb of our mothers.

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father.

- John 1:14

Tags: Inspirational, pro-life, scripture, videos, youtube

H/T: Steve Ray

What biblical saint died and was buried twice?

Who was the first man that broke all Ten Commandments?

What biblical character killed one quarter of the population?

What prophet anointed two kings who lived simultaneously?

Born once, die twice; born twice, die once. What does it mean?

Tags: Inspirational, scripture

Here’s an interesting theological joke which The Ironic Catholic shared today:

A woman had just returned to her home from an evening of church services, when she was startled by an intruder.

She caught the man in the act of robbing her home of its valuables and yelled: ‘Stop! Acts 2:38!’
(“Repent and be Baptized, in the name of Jesus Christ , so that your sins may be forgiven.” )

The burglar stopped in his tracks. The woman calmly called the police and explained what she had done.

As the officer cuffed the man to take him in, he asked the burglar: ‘Why did you just stand there? All the old lady did was yell a scripture to you.’

‘Scripture?’ replied the burglar… ‘She said she had an ax and two 38s!’

Tags: Humor, Inspirational, scripture

I saw this on LOLCats blog and thought it was pretty humorous and inspirational at the same time. If you look into Scripture, you’ll find that not only was Jesus “on top of the bookcase the whole time“, he has also existed since the beginning of time.

Jesus said to them: Amen, amen I say to you, before Abraham was made, I am.

- John 8:58

Tags: cats, Humor, Inspirational, lolcats, scripture