Letter from Christchurch after the 7.2

We ask our readers to join us
in praying for the people of Christchurch who have been through a tremendous shock,
and especially in thanking God that there was nobody killed in the 7.2 earthquake
that struck the city in the early hours last Saturday morning.

The earthquake was the same magnitude as that which killed 200,000 people in Haiti
and left 2,000,000 homeless.

It is a great blessing that Christchurch escaped such a disaster
and that so many were saved from a sudden and unprovided death.

Here follows some homely news from Brother Xavier in Christchurch.
It was not intended for publication but it gives us a report of what he lived through.

Br. Xavier Maria, F.SS.R.
Reporting from Christchurch.

Laudetur Jesus et Maria semper Virgo!

Dear Rev.Father,

I hope you are all well at the Papa.

As for us here we are in one piece. The most damage to our property was the monastery chimney: some of the bricks fell off. Greg, Ben Price and Daniel came today and took the flue out, and some of the bricks that were still on the roof, and have covered the hole with a tarpaulin.

Most of the houses in St. Albans area had their brick chimneys damaged.

St. Alphonsus House sustained no damage except for a small statue of Our Lady of Mount Carmel that broke in three.

In the Oratory the angels, candles and crucifix fell. The altar moved about 30cm to the left. The tabernacle was still on altar with the gradines, and Our Lord was safely in the ciborium still standing. The Infant of Prague fell and broke His hand holding the world. Our Holy Father St. Alphonsus didn't move as he is blue tacked to his pillar. Our Lady of Fatima fell, pillar and all. The only thing that smashed were glass vases with flowers. Our Lady was found on tile floor in the corner untouched. St.Joseph, at the entry of the Oratory, and not tacked down, didn't move nor were the flowers that were in front of him. The little statue of St. Jude did not fall either.

There is no damage to the Oratory building so far.

A lot of other areas were worse than us with the earth opening up, brick buildings falling down, smashed windows, crushed cars,water pipes damaged and so on. In some areas people have to evacuate their homes. Some of the CBD area has been cordoned off.

The Catholic Cathedral has smashed windows and cracks in the walls and the Cathedral now is not in use; Masses are being said in the presbytery. As for us here, we still have Mass in our Oratory.............. tremors included.

We are expecting strong winds tonight and they say we could have another earthquake but are not sure. We have had over 20 tremors some reaching 4.9--5 on the scales.

Br. Paul Mary, F.SS.R. ...thinking it was only a tremour...

Fr. Clement and Br.Paul were in the monastery when the earthquake happened. I had just moved out, the day before, into the little hut across our "Little Tiber" river in the garden.

Fr. Clement Mary.
...like being on a ship in the rough seas...

Fr. Clement said it was like being on a ship in the rough seas, the monastery bell was ringing as well. Br.Paul woke from a deep sleep thinking it was only a tremor, as his sister had told him once of her experience in NZ during am earthquake, and how the people she had stayed with told her not to worry it's only a tremor and happens all the time!

I was on my bed saying a Hail Mary and if She didn't come to my aid I was in for a early morning swim, as there is nothing holding the little hut down. The night before as I was praying my night prayers I said my prayer to my gaurdian angel three or four times and I had wondered why?............

Father I hope and pray that your family are alright. I know they felt the shocks as far as Dunedin and to Wellington.

God bless Father, please pray for us.

Regards to Fr.Anthony and the Brothers,

Onwards from Pole to Pole!

Your devoted son Br. Xavier Maria, F.SS.R

P.S. Will email you some more when I can as power could cut out at anytime.

Good Evening Everyone

WOW! Last weekend was so amazing, and emotional. If you want to read about all of the results of the Makeover miracle party just click HERE and Kellee will tell you all the details.

We have some ~~EXCITING~~ news to share. Spiritual Sunday is going to kick it up a NOTCH~~ We have a new blog and it's just for prayer request. When ever someone ask for prayers we will be writing it on this blog.

Week# 119 ~ Sept 4th ~ Sponsored by Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps

Happy Saturday and thanks for stopping by! This is Jeanette and it is my turn to host the challenge and give our amazing Jo a wee break! I am delighted to have Kraftin Kimmie Stamps as my sponsor this week!

Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps is a brand spankin' new Canadian rubber stamp company whose adorable images have just a touch of whimsy.....and maybe a little edge too! Our artists include Annie Rodrigue, Steven Leary and Crissy Armstrong! With releases every month, you're sure to find unique rubber stamps for every occasion, plus some you hadn't thought of!

The winner of this week's challenge will receive 3 Kraftin Kimmie Stamps! Thanks so much Kimmie for your generosity!

Kimmie also joined us this week to make a stunning card...

I am also very excited that my dear friend Inge agreed to be our Guest Designer for the month of September. I am sure you all have seen her amazing and gorgeous creations. Her cards are always breathtaking and this one is no exception!

Here is my little sketch for you to follow this week. Please link your own card at the end of this post!

Here are the beautiful interpretations by by lovely fellow DT:

Cazza

Leonie

Catherine

Jo

Maya

San

Terry

Emma

Jeanette

Lisa

Simonne

Here's Mr Linky!

Winner of #118

The winner of last weeks challenge, who wins a £15.00 shopping spree at The Craft Barn is...

Julie! (Oh Well...)

Here is Julie's fabulous winning card...



Congratulations Julie! Please EMAIL ME so that I can pass this onto Sandy, so that she can let you know how to claim your prize :)

Jo xx

The bloody Protestant persecution of Catholics

Our Reading during meals at the moment is from the wonderful book by bishop Richard Chalonner concerning the lives and deaths of the English martyrs for the Faith during the so called "Reformation".


Brother reading from the lives of the English martyrs.

One of the pieces which I was very struck by was the account of the sufferings of St. Margaret Clitherow who was crushed to death by the Protestants. It is a little long, but really well worth the read if only for the great courage that this story inspires in one, to stand up for the True Faith of Jesus Christ even amidst the most trying persecutions:


Mr. Hallam, in his History of the English Constitution', had remarked, as an extenuating circumstance of [Queen] Elizabeth's persecution [of the Catholics], that no woman, so far as he remembered, was put to death. That his memory was in this instance at fault has been already pointed out by Dr. Lingard (vol. vi. p. 344, note). Three women were, in fact, executed, and others sentenced to death, and reprieved only to linger or die in prison. Margaret Ward was condemned to die for assisting a priest to escape from Bridewell. She was offered her liberty if she would go to the Protestant church, and on refusing these terms, was hanged at Tyburn. Mrs. Line was tried for her life before Chief-Justice Popham for entertaining a priest in her house, and was flogged and then hanged. Mrs. Wells, for the same cause, received sentence of death, but died in prison. Anne Tesse and Bridget Maskew were condemned to be burnt alive, but after lingering for several years in gaol, were set at liberty by James I. More famous, however, than any of these is the name of Margaret Margaret Clitherow, of whose charity, good works, and heroic death we fortunately possess a full contemporary account, drawn up by her director, the Rev. John Mush. Her history is but briefly told in the Memoirs of Bishop Challoner, who simply says she refused to plead, and was ‘pressed’ to death according to law. As, however, this barbarous mode of execution is now little understood or forgotten, the story shall be here given in the words of Mr. Mush, to whom Dr. Challoner himself refers us.
“About eight of the clock the Sheriffs came to her, and she being ready expecting them, having trimmed up her head with new inkle, and carrying on her arm the new habit of linen with inkle strings, which she had prepared to bind her hands, went cheerfully to her marriage, as she called it, dealing her alms in the street, which was so full of people that she could scarce pass by them. She went barefoot and barelegged, her gown loose about her. Fawcet, the Sheriff, made haste and said, ‘Come away, Mrs. Clitheroe.’ The martyr answered merrily, ‘Good Master Sheriff, let me deal my poor alms before I now go, for my time is but short.’ They marvelled all to see her joyful countenance. The place of execution was the Tolbooth, six or seven yards distance from the prison. There were present at her martyrdom the two Sheriffs of York, Fawcet and Gibson, Frost, a minister, Fox, Mr. Cheeke's kinsman, with another of his men, the four sergeants which had hired certain beggars to do the murther, three or four men, and four women.
The martyr coming to the place, kneeled her down, and prayed to herself. The tormentors bade her pray with them, and they would pray with her. The martyr denied, and said, ‘I will not pray with you, and you shall not pray with me; neither will I say Amen to your prayers, nor shall you to mine.’ Then they all willed her to pray for the Queen's Majesty. The martyr began in this order : First, in the hearing of them all, she prayed for the Catholic Church, then for the Pope's Holiness, Cardinals, and other Fathers which have charge of souls, and then for all Christian princes. At which words the tormentors interrupted her, and willed her not to put her Majesty among that company; yet the martyr proceeded in this order: ‘And especially for Elizabeth, Queen of England, that God move her to the Catholic Faith, and that after this mortal life she may receive the blessed joys of heaven; for I wish as much good,’ quoth she, ‘to her Majesty's soul as to mine own.’ Sheriff Gibson, abhorring the cruel fact, stood weeping at the door. Then said Fawcet, ‘Mrs. Clitheroe, you must remember and confess that you die for treason.’ The martyr answered, ‘No, no, Mr. Sheriff; I die for the love of my Lord Jesu;’ which last words she spake with a loud voice. Then Fawcet commanded her to put off her apparel, ‘For you must die,’ said he, ‘naked, as judgment was given and pronounced against you.’. . .
The women took off her clothes and put upon her the long habit of linen. Then very quietly she laid her down upon the ground, her face covered with a handkerchief, the linen habit being placed over her as far as it could reach, all the rest of her body being naked. The door was laid upon her, her hands she joined towards her face. Then the Sheriff said, ‘Nay, you must have your hands bound.’ The martyr put forth her hands over the door still joined. Then two sergeants parted them, and with the inkle strings which she had prepared for that purpose bound them to two posts, so that her body and her arms made a perfect cross. They willed her again to ask the Queen's Majesty's forgiveness and to pray for her. The martyr said she had prayed for her. They also willed her to ask her husband's forgiveness. The martyr said, ‘ If ever I have offended him, but for my conscience, I ask him forgiveness.’
After this they laid weight upon her, which, when she first felt, she said, ‘Jesu! Jesu! Jesu! have mercy upon me!’ which were the last words which she was heard to speak. She was in dying one quarter of an hour. A sharp stone, as much as a man's fist, was put under her back ; upon her was laid a quantity of seven or eight hundredweight at the least [406 Kgs/896 lbs], which breaking her ribs, caused them to burst forth of the skin.


St. Margaret Clitherow is "pressed" to death.

Thus most gloriously this gracious martyr overcame all her enemies, passing [from] this mortal life with marvelous triumph into the peaceable city of God, there to receive a worthy crown of endless immortality and joy.' *

*'Troubles of our Catholic Forefathers,' 3d series, p. 43o.

UPDATE ON THE MIRACLE PARTY

Kelee has posted the results of the Makeover Miracle party on her blog. You can click HERE to go to her blog to read all about it. We want to thank you again for being a part of this wonderful event.

We also have an update about this blog. Have you noticed the tabs under the header? We recently added these pages and hope you will check them out.

2 more lovely ladies have joined us!

I'm so happy to announce that we have 2 more new DT members here at Sketch Saturday :)

Please give a warm welcome to:





some of you may notice that Leonie is a past GD of ours way back in June 2009 :)

We are very happy that Cazza & Leonie have joined our little family.
They are both as excited as we are and are itching to get started straight away, their first DT cards will be shown this coming Saturday for our DT week challenge!

Please click on their names to stop by their personal blogs to see just how talented these 2 lovely ladies are.

Thank you xx