Wednesday, January 06, 2010

Test for Stroke

from HSI:
Quick diagnosis of a stroke is essential. But this can be difficult because early signs are often subtle. If irregular behavior raises suspicions of a stroke, here's an easy four-step stroke test that can help you spot a problem:

1) Ask the suspected victim to smile
2) Ask him to repeat a simple sentence
3) Ask him to raise both arms
4) Ask him to stick out his tongue straight out

If any one of the four tests can't be completed, call 911 immediately and describe symptoms to the dispatcher.
Then be ready to move quickly. The quicker the better.

Sunday, January 03, 2010

Suffering

"Even suffering is part of the truth of our life. Thus, trying to
shield the youngest from every difficulty and experience of
suffering, we risk creating, despite our good intentions, fragile
persons of little generosity:
The capacity to love, in fact, corresponds to the capacity to suffer,
and to suffer together." Benedict XVI

Penance

"Penance is nothing more than accepting all our crosses daily willingly. No matter how small, accept them with love. "
---I forgot where I got this quote--possibly Grou

My Favorite Saint Quotes on the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God

from the blog Catholic Fire:

On this feast day of the Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God, I would like to share some of my favorite quotes from the saints on Mary.

* St. Josemaria Escriva: "Love our Lady. And she will obtain abundant grace to help you conquer in your daily struggle." "When you see the storm coming, if you seek safety in that firm refuge which is Mary, there will be no danger of your wavering or going down."
* St. Alphonsus Liguori: "Such is the will of God that we should have everything through Mary."
* Venerable Pope John Paul II: "From Mary we learn to surrender to God's will in all things. From Mary we learn to trust when all hope is gone. From Mary we learn to trust her Son and Christ the Son of God."
* St. Bonaventure: “It is the privilege of the glory of Mary, that after God, our greatest happiness is from her.”
* St. Teresa of Avila: “The devotions we practice in honor of the glorious Virgin Mary, however trifling they may be, are very pleasing to Her Divine Son, and He rewards them with eternal glory.”
* St. Philip Neri: “Believe me, there is no more powerful means to obtain God’s grace than to employ the intercessions of the Holy Virgin.”
* St. Louis de Montfort: “When the Holy Spirit finds Mary in a soul, He enters that soul completely and communicates Himself completely to that soul.”
* St. Catherine of Siena: “Mary is the most sweet bait, chosen, prepared, and ordained by God, to catch the hearts of men.”