This week: New Evangelists Monthly has been launched. A baby literally reaches out from the womb. Planned Parenthood values that baby at $449.15 (average net profit per baby aborted). Cistercian monks build chapel with stones they first used 800 years ago in Spain. Why was Jesus baptized? Loyal pets and their owners’ grave sites. A sweet dog interacts lovingly with a Down syndrome child.

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The inaugural issue of New Evangelists Monthly has launched! Over 30 Catholic bloggers have kindly contributed their best posts to the January issue of this new monthly “meta-magazine.”

In this edition: read about “Protestant jeopardy,” respite, tragedy, sola scriptura, faith and children, baptism, immaculate “misconception,” virginity, myths and God’s mercy. There is more! Art, love, poetry, book reviews, family life, reflections, peace and prayer.

New Evangelists Monthly is created fresh every first Saturday. Visit NewEvangelists.org anytime. More information is available here.

This New Evangelization initiative is powered by the same inlinkz technology that powers 7QTF. 7QTF readers will feel right at home!

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Baby Neveah (Heaven spelled backwards) was born recently by cesarean section. Just prior to being born however, she stuck her hand out of her mother’s womb and grabbed the finger of the doctor.

Some people still refuse to accept that life begins before birth. CNN has a report and video on the story.

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How much is human life worth? With the announcement of last year’s numbers, Planned Parenthood has empirically determined the amount to be $449.15. That is the net operating profit, on average, for killing a child in the womb.

That may not seem like much, but remember that Planned Parenthood is a VOLUME operation. Multiply that by the record 333,964 children that they killed in 2012 and they walk away with a cool $150,000,000. With our radically pro-abortion president, the future looks very bright (for Planned Parenthood, not so much for unborn children). More info on Planned Parenthood’s record abortions and resulting record profit are at LifeSiteNews.

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In 1190, Cistercian monks lived in a beautiful monastery at Santa Maria de Ovila in Spain. That is, until the Spanish government seized it in 1835 for use as barns. Almost 100 years later the property was acquired by William Randolph Hearst who had the chapter house dismantled and shipped to America. His good intentions were not fulfilled and the stones ended-up at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco for the next 60 years. Finally in 1992 they were returned to the Cistercians for use in a chapel at their Abbey of New Clairvaux.

More information about the stones is on the Sacred Stones website and blog (be sure to see the beautiful pictures in this piece).

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Why was Jesus, the sinless lamb of God, baptized? Jimmy Akin explains:

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Miguel Guzman died in 2006 and Captain ran away. Captain, his German Shepherd mix, was gone when the family returned from the funeral. When they later visited the grave site, there was Captain guarding his owner’s grave. He has remained there since, refusing to return home.

Similarly, Iozelli Renzo died in 2011. Toldo, his cat, visits his grave every day bringing little gifts.

Captain’s story is here and Toldo’s is here. This story spotted by my friend Tom.

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God doesn’t make mistakes…

Some random thoughts or bits of information are worthy of sharing but don’t warrant their own full post. This idea was started by Jennifer Fulwiler at Conversion Diary to address this blogging need. So, some Fridays I too participate when I have accumulated 7 worthy items. Thank you Jen for hosting this project!

This week: A Christmas classic update in memory of Sandy Hook children. Father Barron’s comments on the tragedy. An amazing, young pro-life activist. For those still confused, why marriage is between a man and a woman. Jesus vs. Santa. Linus’ Christmas monologue. A Christmas flash mob.

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Twas’ 11 days before Christmas, around 9:38,
when 20 beautiful children stormed through heaven’s gate.
Their smiles were contagious, their laughter filled the air.
They could hardly believe all the beauty they saw there.

They were filled with such joy, they didn’t know what to say.
They remembered nothing of what had happened earlier that day.
“Where are we?” asked a little girl, as quiet as a mouse.
“This is heaven.” declared a small boy. “We’re spending Christmas at God’s house.”

When what to their wondering eyes did appear,
but Jesus, their savior, the children gathered near.
He looked at them and smiled, and they smiled just the same.
Then, He opened His arms and He called them by name.

And in that moment was joy, that only heaven can bring
those children all flew into the arms of their King.
And as they lingered in the warmth of His embrace,
one small girl turned and looked at Jesus’ face.
And as if He could read all the questions she had
He gently whispered to her, “I’ll take care of mom and dad.”

Then He looked down on earth, the world far below
He saw all of the hurt, the sorrow, and woe.
Then He closed His eyes and He outstretched His hand,
“Let My power and presence re-enter this land!”
“May this country be delivered from the hands of fools.”
“I’m taking back my nation. I’m taking back my schools!”

Then He and the children stood up without a sound.
“Come now my children, let me show you around.”
Excitement filled the space, some skipped and some ran.
All displaying enthusiasm that only a small child can.
And I heard Him proclaim as He walked out of sight,
“In the midst of this darkness, I AM STILL THE LIGHT.”

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Father Barron on Sandy Hook:

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Lia Mills is an amazing pro-life activist. She has a solid grasp of the issues and effectively communicates them. Lia is a few years older now, but started her work in 7th grade. She took the pro-life side in a debate, fully supported by her Canadian public school teachers (I jest). This was her speech:

David Warren wrote about Lia for The Catholic Thing. He compares her (an apt comparison, IMHO) to Catherine of Siena. Lia continues to produce pro-life videos for her YouTube channel. I will continue to feature her here.

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Marriage – explaining the obvious – why it is between a man and a woman:

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Jesus and Santa: alike?

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“Isn’t there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?”

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This Christmas flash mob from 2 years ago has now received 40 million views on YouTube:

Some random thoughts or bits of information are worthy of sharing but don’t warrant their own full post. This idea was started by Jennifer Fulwiler at Conversion Diary to address this blogging need. So, some Fridays I too participate when I have accumulated 7 worthy items. Thank you Jen for hosting this project!

This week: An all-videos edition! Falling plates (you) and God. Young people making music with instruments built from trash. A very zombie holiday. A musical wedding flash mob. A Christmas flash mob. Andrew Klavan looks at the cronyism of the political class. Incredible computer generated animation and music.

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You (“falling plates“) and God…

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Landfill Harmonic is an upcoming documentary about an orchestra from a remote Paraguayan village, where young musicians play with instruments made from trash.

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A very zombie holiday…

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Susanne and Sune Vibæk Svanekier were given a nice surprise at their wedding reception in a Copenhagen museum last May:

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A (very good) Christmas flash mob (from 2 years ago)…

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As we allegedly head for a “fiscal cliff,” now is the perfect time for congress to pull together in a non-partisan rush to make some very bad decisions. At least we should be happy they are not deadlocked, right???

Andrew Klavan explains our most revered (by the political class) economic principle: cronyism.

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Animusic does some incredible computer generated animations driven by and timed to computer generated music.

Some random thoughts or bits of information are worthy of sharing but don’t warrant their own full post. This idea was started by Jennifer Fulwiler at Conversion Diary to address this blogging need. So, some Fridays I too participate when I have accumulated 7 worthy items. Thank you Jen for hosting this project!

This week: The Archdiocese of Washington is kicking-off Advent with a strong media program. Marcel has an excellent Advent resource page. Edwarda O’Bara has died. The Population Research Institute has another video addressing the population explosion myth. The CCHD continues to disappoint in the latest 2012 report. A new game like Angry Birds, but with nuns instead of birds? Brazilian elevator hi-jinks.

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The Archdiocese of Washington is jumping on Advent with their Find the Perfect Gift initiative. Cardinal Donald Wuerl observes “Christmas is all about that great and perfect gift that is Jesus Christ.” English and Spanish websites have been created, radio commercials prepared, several videos made (including for TV) along with 10,000 yard and window signs.

Of particular interest to me, conversion and reversion stories are also included.

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Speaking of Advent, Marcel LeJeune has put together an excellent page with a great information and links.

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Edwarda O’Bara died at age 59, just before Thanksgiving. She has been in a coma since age 16 and before losing consciousness, asked her mother to stay at her side. Kay O’Bara did that until passing away in 2008 when Edwarda’s sister Colleen continued her care. Kay said that she could feel the presence of the Virgin Mary in Edwarda’s bedroom.

This inspiring story was told by Dr. Wayne Dyer in his book A Promise is a Promise: An Almost Unbelievable Story of a Mother’s Unconditional Love and What It Can Teach Us. The family maintains a website for Edwarda.

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The Population Research Institute has produced another video on the myth of “over population”. See their website and YouTube channel for a lot of great content on this non-issue.

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The Catholic Campaign for Human Development continues to DISAPPOINT. I support many Catholic charities, but am always very careful to give nothing to the CCHD. Why? Continuing problems in funding organizations who act contrary to Catholic teaching. Proof? See the current report of Reform CCHD Now. Suggestion: redirect what you would have given to the CCHD to solidly moral charities instead.

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I don’t know what to make of this Android and iOS game. My first thought upon reading the title was that it had something to do with the infamous “Nuns on The Bus“. Alas, that couldn’t be as the artwork depicts them wearing habits. A game review notes similarity to Angry Birds. It seems too weird to be offensive – more baffling than anything else.

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From the Convert Journal Brazil desk: Wacky, fun-loving pranksters or just mean?

Some random thoughts or bits of information are worthy of sharing but don’t warrant their own full post. This idea was started by Jennifer Fulwiler at Conversion Diary to address this blogging need. So, some Fridays I too participate when I have accumulated 7 worthy items. Thank you Jen for hosting this project!

This week: Scott Hahn’s awesome video on the New Evangelization (and our faith in general). Father Barron addresses extreme secularism as illustrated by a Chicago Sun-Times columnist. A proposed documentary on same sex attraction and genuine Church teaching. An amazing image from hurricane Sandy. Another 90 second creation story. A recent surprise for one military family. Miracle invention – The Popinator (as in “popcorn”, not “pope”).

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Scott Hahn speaks here about the New Evangelization, but it is sooooo much more than that! He beautifully presents our faith, covering a lot of ground, in just a few minutes. I was expecting this to be interesting, but it is awesome.

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Father Barron is unimpressed with Chicago Sun-Times columnist Neil Steinberger’s uninformed, anti-religious, secular mind. “I think what we ought to do, we religious people, is engage in a kind of non-violent resistance to this very violent, very aggressive move. We should” …   “bring religious language very much into the public conversation.”

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How do we reach the masses (and for that matter, many Catholics) with genuine Church teaching? Projects like this. I donated (via this link).

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Only hurricane Sandy’s outer bands swept over NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, AL. A thin haze of ice crystals in cirrus clouds produced an interesting natural phenomenon:

We will see in it what we will. Some see a mouth receiving the Blessed Sacrament. Thanks to Elizabeth Scalia for spotting it.

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Another creation in 90 seconds video:

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The sound quality of the following video is horrible. Fortunately, you will not need it…

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Your hands are full, but you need a piece of popcorn. How can technology solve this problem?

(Don’t rush out to buy one – they don’t really exist.)

Some random thoughts or bits of information are worthy of sharing but don’t warrant their own full post. This idea was started by Jennifer Fulwiler at Conversion Diary to address this blogging need. So, some Fridays I too participate when I have accumulated 7 worthy items. Thank you Jen for hosting this project!