If you can't walk, donate (please)

Tomorrow, a small group of stalwarts will march from Wandsworth to Wapping to raise funds for The Good Counsel Network to help them assist those who have had abortions and counsel those who are contemplating this awful act.

It is going to be very warm - around 30 degrees celsius, (that's 86 degrees in English and 'bloomin' hot' in Welsh).

Please, if you cannot join them, consider making a donation here https://www.justgiving.com/teams/WandsworthtoWapping

And, if you cannot make a donation, please pray for them and their cause....

"O Lord, Jesus Christ, You Who are the Way, the Truth, and the Life; 

grant graciously that by the intercession of Blessed Mary,

Your Virgin Mother, we, running in the way of Your commandments,

may attain to life-everlasting, Who lives and reigns,

 one God, world without end. Amen."

God has girded me with strength and set my way immaculate.

Our Lady of the Wayside, pray for us and guide us.

Then add three times — the ‘Our Father’, the ‘Hail Mary’, and the ‘Glory be . .... . 

....‘in Our Lady's honour.

Pray hard in Cardiff today

Trying for a conversion in St Mary's street

If you are travelling to Cardiff for the big game, England vs Wales at the Millenium Stadium, don't forget to pray - at the abortuary in St Mary's Street (106-107) where you will find a few stout souls supporting the right to life, the rights of the unborn child, the rights of women who should receive a complete counselling with regard to abortion and its horrendous after effects - if you are walking down St Mary's Street, stop for a few minutes to pray with those keeping watch.

After all, what sort of person could possibly object to prayers being offered on their behalf?

Remember, the 40 Days Vigil is not just about the child and the mother figure, we pray also for those engaged in the abortion industry, the medicos and nurses, administrators and caretakers and, of course, those largely overlooked figures, the fathers.

And, as five o'clock approaches, please spare another prayer for victory on the rugby field.

Is it licit to pray for the victory of one team over another?

I think so, although the Christ in the Don Camillo series always states that He is for all men.

My friend Gareth, from Catholic and Welsh will be praying for a Welsh victory whilst I (as a Sais) shall be praying for the most perfect outcome......

Wales to win.............


.................................by 6 points. Heh, heh!

Do the Unborn Children Know Its Christmas Time?

Do the unborn children know its Christimas time?

At Christmas time

We recall the night when all of Creation stood still

O Blessed Night

Creator meets Creation and all of Creation’s fulfilled

When the Virgin Mother gave birth in a stable to the Holy Child

We recall in her spotless womb for nine months dwelt Our Lord Jesus Christ

So spare a thought, say a prayer over Christmas time

For the pregnant and all the child-bearing

If they fear that their child will be a burden then tell them 

"This is a burden worth sharing"

Pray they’ll have the courage to bring into the World the children in their wombs now residing

‘Cos its is a darkened World where the Light of Christ

Is in clear, present danger of dying

Tell me does the unborn child?

Does the unborn child?

Do the unborn children know its Christmas time?

At Christmas time

We recall the night Our Lady gave birth to her Son

Wrapped her Child in swaddling clothes in a manger near the oxen

Shepherds saw and followed the bright night Star of Bethlehem

Heard a chorus of Angels shout "Peace, joy, goodwill to all men"

So say a prayer, say a prayer over Christmas time

For the schools our Shepherds should be protecting

Pray they’ll tell Connexions they’re bang out of line

Unborn children really are worth defending!

What good are good grades if they don’t know their Faith

Is the Catholic Faith now academic?

In Catholic schools, morning after pills, abortion referrals 

‘What no telling?’

Now tell me does the unborn child?

Now tell me does the unborn child?

Do the unborn children know its Christmas time?

At Christmas time

We recall the night when St Joseph was warned in a dream

To take Our Lady and the Child to another nearby country

So on a donkey they fled Bethlehem and found their way abroad

O Blessed Flight when St Joseph acted in accordance with the Lord

But just recall the reason why St Joseph took Our Lady and the Christ Child to Egypt

It wasn’t for a nice winter holiday or to look at some exotic pyramids

It was because the Angel of the Lord warned St Joseph of the Roman Emperor, Herod

He wanted Jesus dead, the true King he feared

Ordered the Massacre of the Innocents!

Every family’s first born child!

Every familiy’s first born child!

The children of Bethlehem

Slaughtered at Christmas time!

At Christmas time

We recall the night when the Virgin held the Christ in her arms

The teenage Mother adores the true Son of God

O Blessed Mother pray for all expectant mothers to your Son, the most High

And for all who didn’t expect a conception at this time

Let us recall one moment only months earlier

When Our Lady met her holy cousin

The child in Elizabeth’s womb St John the Baptist, Herald of the Messiah

When Elizabeth heard the sound of Our Lady’s voice

St John leapt for joy inside his mother

The unborn child knew the Unborn Child

Of Our Lady was his Saviour and Brother

Now tell me does the unborn child?

Does the unborn child?

When will the unborn children know that its Christmas time?

How can God be a child, how can a child be God?

How can the Lord of Lords become a zygote?

The Saviour of the World!

The Saviour of the World!

Our Lord Jesus Christ!

Was once ‘a clump of cells’!

So remember this December, at Christmas time

Remember this December the Unborn Child

If you don’t know where to turn

And you’re feeling desperate

Don’t let the BPAS kill your child

Don’t let the BPAS kill your child

Call the Good Counsel Network this Christmas time

If by some Miracle you like the song and want to show your appreciation, show your appreciation to Our Lady of Good Counsel and donate to the Good Counsel Network here.

In my head, this songs quite good but when I sing I think it it sounds appalling. I think it needs children to sing it. Preferably Catholic children. Preferably in front of an audience which includes the Bishops Conference of England and Wales. Well, we can dream!

David Aron to Complete His 184 Mile Walk for Good Counsel

This man deserves a beer and more, but donate to Good Counsel!

David Aron aims to complete his 184 mile along the Thames Path Walk to raise money for the work of the Good Counsel Network today.

David began his walk on Friday 7th October. He plans to attend the Old Rite mass for the Good Counsel Network this evening at Corpus Christi, Maiden Lane in Central London.


He has walked about 25 miles a day to complete the walk and has had to carry his sleeping bag, tent etc. Please sponsor David, and help the Good Counsel Network to protect more babies by giving support, friendship, food and housing to more expectant Mothers by clicking on to his JustGiving page.

Taking steps to save life in the womb

                                                                       
David Aron is a young man setting out on a solo walk along the historic River Thames, 184 miles in total from 7th to 14th October - and all to raise funds for The Good Counsel Network, an organisation that works hard on behalf of the unborn and those considering abortion. David needs our prayers and....
....our money.
It is a most worthy cause; at first thought, I envied David the route that he is taking, along the beautiful Thames Valley (being TV, that's Thames Valley, raised myself) but then I remembered that, at the seaward end of the river, it becomes a tad bleaker and the riverside pubs disappear. And then I thought...184 miles? Stone the crows!......where's the sponsor button!

Here is the link for donations www.justgiving.com/davidaron and here is a Thames verse to speed him on his way...

Twenty Bridges from Tower to Kew -                                         Wanted to know what the River knew,                                       Twenty Bridges or twenty-two,                                  For they were young and the Thames was old                                        And this is the tale that the River told:-                                      "I walk my beat before London Town,                                        Five hours up and seven down.                                   Up I go till I end my run                                           At Tide-end-town, which is Teddington.                                         Down I come with the mud in my hands                                                   And plaster it over the Maplin Sands.                                        But I'd have you know that these waters of mine                                        Were once a branch of the River Rhine,                                      When hundreds of miles to the East I went                                            And England was joined to the Continent.                                     "I remember the bat-winged lizard-birds,                                         The Age of Ice and the mammoth herds,                                         And the giant tigers that stalked them down                                        Through Regent's Park into Camden Town.                                        And I remember like yesterday                                     The earliest Cockney who came my way,                                 When he pushed through the forest                                                                         that lined the Strand,                                         With paint on his face and a club in his hand.                                              He was death to feather and fin and fur.                                              He trapped my beavers at Westminster.                                                 He netted my salmon, he hunted my deer,                                                 He killed my heron off Lambeth Pier.                                         He fought his neighbour with axes and swords,                                  Flint or bronze, at my upper fords,                                             While down at Greenwich, for slaves and tin,                        The tall Phoenician ships stole in,                                             And North Sea war-boats, painted and gay,                                         Flashed like dragon-flies, Erith way;                                         And Norseman and Negro and Gaul and Greek                                      Drank with the Britons in Barking Creek,                                  And life was gay, and the world was new,                                   And I was a mile across at Kew!                                       But the Roman came with a heavy hand,                                         And bridged and roaded and ruled the land,                                         And the Roman left and the Danes blew in -                                         And that's where your history-books begin!" Rudyard Kipling

Support a Catholic Man's Walk for Good Counsel Network

Auctions: Buy cheap, sell high

Well, that was a busy day. I received a call today and spent the day moving furniture and antiques bought by a young Israeli chap who owns a shop in Kemptown. He had invested in goods for his shop at Scarborough Fine Arts Auction House in Southwick and I was called to assist him in moving his new stock. He said he misses Israel everyday, describing it as paradise. I guess he must have lived in a nice part of it!

As well as paying me for my services, he was also kind enough to donate to me a TV, freeview box, video player, two mahogany cabinets and a huge wooden cabinet. I don't know what to do with them now, but there we go, perhaps I can sell them at a car boot sale that I am planning to do on Saturday in Shoreham, as there is still stuff from St Mary Magdalen's that needs to be sold which has rested in the garage for a long time.

Slowly, the van is coming into its own. We did two runs to the auction houses and managed to fill the van both times. He did make an offer to me to sell his stuff at car boot sales and split the profits 50/50, which I may take him up on in future. It is incredible how cheap he managed to pick up some great stuff. I'd love to buy stuff too but I have what they call a 'cash flow' problem at the moment, so am unable to actually buy stuff in order to sell it on, but in a little time, who knows. I have another job tomorrow. Anyway, enough of my wheeling and dealing business, here's someone who is doing something that is actually beautiful (if perhaps painful) and Christian. His name is David Aron and he is doing a walk for The Good Counsel Network that makes the LMS Walsingham Pilgrimage look like, er, a walk in the park...

Our Lady of Good Counsel

Walking to Defend Life

David is walking the entire length of the Thames Path Way (184 miles long) in eight days (Fri 07 Oct 11 - Fri 14 Oct 11) for The Good Counsel Network.

As we know, the Good Counsel Network is a pro-life charity that helps women in the most difficult and desperate situations with financial, moral and spiritual support, who would otherwise feel they have no other option than to have an abortion. Their work is founded on the beliefs and teachings of the Catholic Church. The centres are open to all women regardless of background or beliefs. If you want to find out more about them visit www.goodcounselnetwork.com or visit their blog.

The Thames Path Way Walk

The Thames Path Way (184 miles long) follows the course of the Thames River from the source (near Kemble, Gloucestershire) to the Thames Barrier (London). David will be walking the Thames Path Way solo and averaging 23 miles per day whilst carrying all his kit (tent, sleeping system and food etc), which will weigh approximately 28 lbs (12.7 kg), for eight days (Fri 07 Oct 11 – Fri 14 Oct 11).

On the first morning of his walk (Fri 07 Oct 11) he will hear the Traditional Latin Mass at St Dominic’s (Dursley, Gloucestershire). After completing his walk (Fri 14 Oct 11) he will hear the Traditional Latin Mass at Corpus Christi (Maiden Lane, Central London) in the evening, which the Latin Mass Society organises for the work of the Good Counsel Network.

Every donation, however small or large, is an essential contribution to the continuation of the great work that The Good Counsel Network does by saving thousands of unborn lives. 184 miles. Good grief. I hope he has a stick. I'll stick some money in his online tin. Come on, readers, be generous and give him some of your money. As it happens, David, I saw a beautiful icon of Our Lady of Good Counsel today and didn't know that it was her. She sold for apparently £190 at the auction. I couldn't have bought her anyway, but the painting had beautiful little gems around the outside on the frame. I wish I had my camera today. For those interested in the auction at Scarborough Fine Arts click here for their upcoming auction which should be in late October.

Support David and The Good Counsel Network today by clicking here. Our Lady of Good Counsel, ora pro nobis.

Good Counsel Network and Lanherne - 2 good causes

James over at Catholic and Loving it posts on a young man who is undertaking a sponsored walk on behalf of the Good Counsel Network - if you would like to read about it, click on the link...you may also make a contribution from James's post.

http://www.lovingit.co.uk/2011/09/184-miles-in-eight-days-for-the-good-counsel-network.html

And I have spoken to one of the friars at Lanherne who confirms that closure is on the cards.....they need money to stay in residence as it is the owners who are wanting to sell.

Again, if you wish to contribute,please send a cheque (made payable to The Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate) to:

Mother Superior
Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate
House of Contemplation of the Blessed Virgin of Mt Carmel
St Mawgan in Pydar
Cornwall
TR8 4ER

THE HOUSE OF HORRORS

BEHIND THESE SEEMINGLY INNOCENT DOORS, FOUL MURDER IS BOTH PLANNED AND CARRIED OUT. HERE IN A LEAFY, PLEASANT SQUARE IN THE CENTRE OF LONDON, BABIES ARE BEING SLAIN ON A DAILY BASIS.

    ONLY 50 PER CENT OF THE PATIENTS WHO   
        ENTER HERE WILL COME OUT ALIVE!


My wife and I joined the 40 Days for Life vigil outside the British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS) offices (26 Bedford Square) last Friday. They cannot even come clean with their name; it's not pregnancy advice, it's abortion advice, how to get rid of the infant in your womb.
There were not many of us. A total of six volunteers, including ourselves, came and went within the space of two hours. The organisation is in dire need of more cover from more volunteers so please, even if you only have 30 minutes to spare, sign on here and call by. It is always an unnerving experience standing up in public and proclaiming your beliefs. Praying the rosary and other prayers out loud for all to see and gawp at calls on our convictions. But, of course, that is part of the point, it is the Sacrament of Confirmation kicking in and giving us the moral courage to do such things and it is also seeing the courage of the 40 Days 'formal' volunteers and those from the Good Counsel Network that is so very inspirational. These people do this routinely but, I suspect, with the same difficulties that we 'informal' volunteers suffer.

Some 10 or 12 women entered the abortuary, none accompanied by husbands or boyfriends. A similar number of males came and went independently. Some took the leaflets offered by the volunteer at the door, others politely demurred. Meanwhile, we recited our decades, chanted our litanies and said the Angelus at 12 noon.
We left with a sense of relief (standing still on one spot for too long) and a modest sense of accomplishment; an ambition realised at last, a good cause supported.

I could not help but feel, however, that more Catholics should be taking part. Is abortion now such a by word that the man or woman in the pew no longer recoil from it? Has the destruction of life in the womb become totally socially acceptable? Where are the priests, the Bishops, the nuns and the brothers? Well, to be fair, some were at the alternative vigil outside the Marie Stopes abortuary in nearby Whitfield Street.

I hesitate to offer criticism when such a good cause is the subject but, why have two sessions running at the same time? I am at a bit of a loss as to comprehending just who the varying Catholic/Christian pro life groups are. SPUC of course is well known but how do Mary Stops Abortion, The Good Counsel Network and The 40 Days for Life initiative relate to on another? Could they, perhaps, work together more closely?

There is a Brighton based secular group who also do excellent work. They are confrontational in terms of displaying graphic images, the jury appears out on this delicate issue - are shock tactics (realism) good or bad?
But they do appear to be ultra organised, here is a snippet from their update email service:

We are planning to hold the first of our central London displays on Tuesday the 29th of March.  (Timings to be confirmed)

The abortion providers like to portray themselves as moderate, professional and caring organisations.  We want their neighbours to see what "Reproductive Health" looks like.  We will be taking large banners depicting the beauty of life and the brutality of abortion to their doors.  We can't do that without your help.

We need:
Someone who can drive the team to London from the Brighton area (fuel/parking and congestion will be paid for)
Camera person
Banner holders
Counsellors
Post-abortive women
Donors to help pay for fuel/parking and congestion charge as well as other expenses!!

Please let us know as soon as possible if you are able to help.

Ends/................

This is not meant as a sniping comment, I am a believer in learning from the success of others. One thing is absolutely crystal clear.......MORE VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! There are 34 more days to go...please do it!

One last point, when doctors or nurses who carry out abortions are at dinner parties or other social events and their neighbour leans across to ask:
"What do you do for a living?"
How do they frame their answer?