It is the soldier, not the reporter,
Who has given us freedom of the press.
It is the soldier, not the poet,
Who has given us freedom of speech.
It is the soldier, not the campus organizer,
Who has given us the freedom to demonstrate.
It is the soldier,
Who salutes the flag,
Who serves beneath the flag,
And whose coffin is draped by the flag,
Who allows the protester to burn the flag.

--Admiral Jeremiah Denton

Prayer to St. Jude

Most holy apostle, St. Jude, faithful servant and friend of Jesus, the Church honors and invokes you, universally, as the patron of hopeless cases, of things almost despaired of. Please pray for me, I am so helpless and alone. Please make use, I implore you, of that particular privilege given to you, to bring visible and speedy help where help is almost despaired of. Please come to my assistance in these great needs, that I may receive the consolation and help of heaven in all my necessities, tribulations, and sufferings, particularly ___________________________. And I promise, O Blessed St. Jude, to be ever mindful of these great favors, to always honor you as my special and powerful patron, and to gratefully encourage devotion to you.

Thank you, St. Jude, for favors granted.

Here's a picture of me and my dogs taken in May, 2006; the mastiff puppy in the photo is now several inches taller and 75 pounds heavier:

*We, the unwilling, led by the unknowing, are doing the impossible for the ungrateful. We have done so much, for so long, with so little, we are now qualified to do anything with nothing.

St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle, be thou our safeguard against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray. And do thou, O prince of the heavenly host, by the power of God, cast into hell satan, and all the evil spirits seeking the ruin of souls.

The face is the mirror of the mind; and eyes without speaking confess the secret of the heart." ~ Saint Jerome

Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life. ~ Berthold Auerbach

Love is stronger than death ~ Song of Solomon

RIP Robert, my love. (May 27, 1947-May 1, 2007)