I could not let this beautiful day pass without acknowledging the 150 year anniversary of Abraham Lincoln’s famous Gettysburg Address. This took place at the dedication of the national cemetery on the Civil War battlefield of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania in 1863. Let us never forget his love for America and his words of wisdom for all generations to follow:

“Fourscore and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation or any nation so conceived and so dedicated can long endure. We are met on a great battlefield of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field as a final resting-place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this. But in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate, we cannot consecrate, we cannot hallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead who struggled here have consecrated it far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living rather to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us – that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion – that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain, that this nation under God shall have a new birth of freedom, and that government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the earth.”

God Bless America!

Today is the feast day of Blessed John Henry Newman a 19^th century English Theologian who was a convert to Catholicism in 1845 and ordained a Catholic priest two years later. He wrote many, many books, one of which I have tackled is “Apologia Pro Vita Sua” – his spiritual autobiography. It is an intense study! Below is a beautiful prayer he composed that is most appropriate for all:

 “God has created me to do Him some definite service. He has committed some work to me which he has not committed to another”.

 “I have a mission; I may never know it in this life, but I shall be told it in the next. I am a link in a chain, a bond of connection between persons; He has not created me for naught”.

  “I shall do good—I shall do his work. I shall be an angel of peace while not intending it if I do but keep his commandments. Therefore, I will trust him.”

I just finished reading ‘Captive in Iran’ by Maryam Rostampour and Marziyeh Amirizadeh which is an incredible story of faith and triumph in the brutal and horrible Evin prison in Tehran. I saw Maryam and Marziyeh interviewed on ‘Huckabee’ and knew I had to read more about their ordeal. They never doubted Jesus Christ and refused to deny him throughout continuous interrogations by the Iranian government in prison. They never succumbed to fear and continued to spread the message of the gospel to whoever wanted to hear about Christianity. The very prison system that tried to silence them was their megaphone as prisoner after prisoner sought them out to hear about Christianity. This is an incredible story of love and trust in God and His will for your life. Follow the gospel and trust in our loving God to do amazing things in your life. As St. Louis de Montforte said “By Jesus Christ, with Jesus Christ, in Jesus Christ, we can do all things”.

“The Liberty Amendments” by Mark R. Levin is a must read for all who love our country and want to further understand Article V of the Constitution. The book explains in very clear terms how to preserve our individual liberty as endowed by our Creator and restore the American Republic as it was intended by our framers. Our founding fathers were brilliant!

I just finished reading “Up from Slavery: An Autobiography” by Booker T. Washington. This book is a must read for everyone, young and old, all nationalities and ethnic groups as it speaks to the heart of every human being. I will read it over and over again as it has so many inspirational statements and thoughts by Mr. Washington. Some comments by Mr. Booker T. Washington that I found so important and inspiring are the following:

• I have learned that success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome while trying to succeed
• Every persecuted individual and race should get much consolation out of the great human law, which is universal and eternal, that merit, no matter under what skin found, is, in the long run, recognized and rewarded
• Those who are happiest are those who do the most for others
• I learned the lesson that great men cultivate love, and that only little men cherish a spirit of hatred
• I learned that assistance given to the weak makes the one who gives it strong; and that oppression of the unfortunate makes one weak
• I think I am learning more and more each year that all worry simply consumes, and to no purpose, just so much physical and mental strength that might otherwise be given to effective work
• Nothing ever comes to me, that is worth having, except as the result of hard work
• In meeting men, in many places, I have found that the happiest people are those who do the most for others; the most miserable are those who do the least
• I believe that any man’s life will be filled with constant, unexpected encouragements of this kind if he makes up his mind to do his level best each day of his life – that is, tries to make each day reach as nearly as possible the high-water mark of pure, unselfish, useful living. I pity the man, black or white, who has never experienced the joy and satisfaction that come to one by reason of an effort to assist in making someone else more useful and more happy

Many thanks to Booker T. Washington for this wonderful autobiography and all his contributions to the human family! What a treasure!

Today is the feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary and I just finished reading “Kisses from Katie” by Katie Davis. What an amazing story! Katie is a Saint. She is so ‘on fire’ with the Holy Spirit and speaks the truth so vividly and clearly. She is so wise and passionate in her beliefs and work at such a young age, very inspiring. I think if we all believed and lived as Katie does, this world would be such a different place. All that really matters is love and helping others know God in this life.