Comments on: 7 Quick Takes Friday (vol. 66)

By: Amber

Amber — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 18:22:10 +0000

We went to March for Life in San Francisco. It was great – I'm so glad we went. It was so wonderful to see thousands upon thousands of ordinary people of all ages and ethnicities gather together to peacefully and respectfully proclaim that life is important and that women deserve better than abortion.

By: jrbaab

jrbaab — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 13:22:39 +0000

I went to the March for Life in D.C. this past Friday and it was awesome! I highly recommend that everyone who is pro-life and able come to it next year. If we get a million people to descend on Washington, there will be no way for the media not to cover it and the gov't to listen.

Other than that, Jen, I've found that videos that are made up of still photos with audio can be very nice. It might be a good idea for your conversion video. It allows you to focus on a handful of good shots and the audio instead of developing a film. At the same time, you get a lot of the benefits of video.

Check these out. You can see videos about some of the great priest graduates from Catholic University of America, including my vocations vicar… Fr. Michael Renninger.

http://yearforpriests.cua.edu/

By: Kate

Kate — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 08:24:33 +0000

I went to the Walk for Life WC in San Francisco. And I have to say that I'm grateful for the rain. Because it showed how committed pro-lifers are to the cause. Some people came unprepared and got wet. Those who walked with children and babies in tow had the additional work of making sure that their children don't get wet. It was an amazing site to see. In spite of the bad weather condition, it seemed like more people participate this year compared to last year.

I'm also grateful that it rained because there were less counter-protesters who showed up.

And lastly, I'm grateful for the sunshine God provided us so we had a bit of reprieve from the rain.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 21:26:51 +0000

I wasn't actually at the March in Topeka, but every year my daughter and I purchase food and serve the marchers (with help from others!) after the mass and the March. This year I was on my way to Sam's to buy the food (our count was 400 for lunch, with probably 4x that at the other functions) and Focus on The Family had Abby Johnson on, the lady that worked in an abortion clinic and became prolife. I then walked in to the store, and there was a mom with a baby and a toddler, and tears started streaming down my cheeks.

By: Jenelle

Jenelle — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 17:52:34 +0000

I went to the March for Life in Washington D.C. It was amazing seeing how many people (and how many young people – under 25) were there. We peacefully walked from the mall to the supreme court and were told two things by police and other locals.

1. We are the most peaceful rally
2. Estimated 450,000 marchers

By: SHEAFmom

SHEAFmom — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 17:30:32 +0000

The videos are awesome. I am now looking forward to reading The Crucified Rabbi.

I had an wonderful opportunity several years ago to share my conversion/reversion, cradle catholic come home, story with our parish family. I was amazed at how many people were touched. I have always hoped to put it as an audio on my blog, but each time I have attempted to record it I have been interrupted or the sound quality is to terrible. If you do succeed in making a homemade recording I would love the, how you did it details.

By: Monica

Monica — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 05:24:18 +0000

Love the revised movie title! Sounds familiar. Thanks for hosting!

By: Flexo

Flexo — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 00:55:08 +0000

do a quick gut-check to ask myself if I'm moving closer to or further away from having these qualities

Well, they are qualities in a sense, they are things that you do, or not do. But to have your primary emphasis on you doing them misses the point or, rather, it makes it a whole lot harder than it needs to be.

Beyond being personal qualities, these are graces. They are something given to us by the Holy Spirit. They are a divine helping hand to make things easier for us. The trick is actually allowing the Holy Spirit to do these things, rather than trying to do them ourselves.

As for fortitude, the Apostles did not suddenly get brave by their own efforts when they came out of hiding and started preaching publicly after the Crucifixion. Rather, after nearly all of them ran away and hid after Jesus was arrested, and stayed in hiding even after the Resurrection, afraid that they too might be arrested and killed, it was not until Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit descended upon them, and BAM, in an instant, they had fortitude.

Whereas moments before they would have run away from the Cross in fear, upon receiving these graces from the Holy Spirit, and only because of those graces, were they suddenly eager to run toward the Cross in love of Christ.

Don't be so eager to do it yourself. Indeed, some things are impossible or near impossible for mere humans to find the courage to do them. It is the Holy Spirit, and only Him, who provides that courage, that fortitude.

By: Flexo

Flexo — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 00:45:23 +0000

Kathleen — there are many schools right next to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. But the one right next to it or, rather, the one on whose grounds the National Shrine sits on, is The Catholic University of America. They do still pack them in and let them camp out. Indeed, our parish across the river in Alexandria hosts many people from across the country, letting them sleep in the school gym and elsewhere.

By: TwoSquareMeals

TwoSquareMeals — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 21:20:12 +0000

I love the Flip! My father-in-law was on the board for the venture capital company that supported it, and he gave me the original three or four years ago. I am fighting the urge to buy one of the fancy new ones. I love having a video camera available when I need it for those important moments. I love the idea of using it for the kids to make a video for relatives!