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The Nativity, Lorenzo Monaco (1414) In preparation for the coming of Christmas, we have been discussing some of St. Thomas Aquinas’ writings. In this last installment we’ll be looking at his commentary on the time and place of Jesus’ birth.We live in a culture that tends toward a kind of temporal pride. We think that we have come of age, that we are smarter and wiser than our forebears. Scientific, technical, and medical knowledge are more highly developed to be sure, but there is more to life than what falls into those realms.The religious version of temporal pride is expressed...

December 18th, 2021 Memorial of St. Peter Truat St. Peter's Church, Shanghai, People's Republic of China Readings at MassLiturgical Colour: Violet First readingJeremiah 23:5-8 ©I will raise a virtuous Branch for DavidSee, the days are coming – it is the Lord who speaks –when I will raise a virtuous Branch for David,who will reign as true king and be wise,practising honesty and integrity in the land.In his days Judah will be savedand Israel dwell in confidence.And this is the name he will be called:The-Lord-our-integrity.So, then, the days are coming – it is the Lord who speaks – when people will...

Poland’s parliament passed a media bill that detractors say aims to silence a news channel critical of the government, in an unexpected move that will stoke concern over media freedom and reopen a diplomatic dispute with the US. Critics say the legislation will affect the ability of news channel TVN24, owned by US media company Discovery Inc, to operate because it tightens the rules around foreign ownership of media in Poland. The vote sours relations with the US, Poland’s most powerful ally, at a time of heightened tension in eastern Europe over an increasingly assertive Russia. Lawmakers had not been...

Video here => Portable drone/missile concept

Los Angeles County reported 3,360 new cases of Covid-19 today. That’s up 1,085 cases (or 48%) over Thursday’s total of 2,275 new cases in the region. It’s the highest daily mark since 3,550 on August 18, which was among the peaks of the summer 2021 surge. The County identified eight more cases of the Omicron variant today for a total of 38. Yesterday saw 12 new cases related to Omicron, which brought the tally to 30. On Tuesday, the total was 15, meaning the number doubled in two days. Less than a week before that, on December 8, Los Angeles...

"Ukrainian President Zelensky: “We know what it’s like not to have our own state. We know what it means to defend one’s own state and land with weapons in hand, at the cost of our own lives.” Ukraine recognizes Jerusalem as “the one and only capital of Israel” and plans to open an embassy branch in the Holy City in the coming months, the Ukrainian envoy to Israel announced on Thursday. “My country recognizes the one and only capital of Israel, and that is Jerusalem,” Ukrainian Ambassador Yevhen Korniichuk said. Regarding the establishment of a diplomatic mission in Jerusalem, the...

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — A powerful typhoon left at least 19 people dead, knocked down power and communications in entire provinces and wrought widespread destruction mostly in the central Philippines, officials said Saturday. A governor said her island province has been “leveled to the ground.” Typhoon Rai blew away Friday night into the South China Sea after rampaging through southern and central island provinces, where more than 300,000 people in its path were evacuated to safety in advance in a pre-emptive move officials say may have saved a lot of lives. At its strongest, Rai packed sustained winds of 195...

This date in 1946 saw the largest mass execution in Alberta: five men all hanged for murder. One of these, Donald Sherman Staley, was a hated sex-murderer who had raped and killed boys in Calgary and Alberta that summer. But he is the undercard in this event.* The remaining four were all German prisoners of war from the lately concluded world war. They did not, as their onetime commanders in Europe, face judgment for war crimes: no, Bruno Perzonowsky, Walter Wolf, Heinrich Busch and Willi Mueller had while marking time in the Medicine Hat POW camp contrived to execute a...

"A U.S. federal judge ruled in favor of the relatives of former national security adviser Michael Flynn Thursday, allowing them to move forward with a lawsuit against CNN. The relatives, Flynn's brother and sister-in-law, allege that CNN wrongly portrayed them as QAnon conspiracy followers, according to a report. While U.S. District Court Judge Gregory Woods mostly upheld a magistrate judge's recommendation to throw out the pair's defamation case, he allowed the Flynns to proceed with accusations that CNN portrayed them in a "false light." ..."

Join with fellow FREEPERS across the world to pray for AMERICA: For those in Authority in Government, Family, Military, Business, Agri-Business, Healthcare, Education, Churches, Technology, and the Media. I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone: for kings and all those in authority that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. (1 Timothy 2:1-2) BECAUSE OF CHRIST, WE ARE NEVER WITHOUT FAMILY.

"(NEXSTAR) – With Christmas just a few days away, many are stocking up on holiday favorites, including eggnog. Unfortunately for some, the ‘nog shelf may be empty. A supply issue with butterfat, the fatty portion of milk and a key ingredient to eggnog, is keeping Organic Valley from putting its eggnog on store shelves this holiday season, a spokesperson told Nexstar. The Wisconsin-based company works with 1,800 farmers to supply dairy products – like milk, cream and butter – nationwide. Usually they also produce eggnog seasonally – but not this year. ..."

"More than 100 people who attended a Taylor Swift-themed party last Friday have since tested positive for COVID-19. The celebration of Swift’s “Red” album is now being considered a super spreader event, and even those attendees who have not yet tested positive for the coronavirus are being asked to isolate. ..."

Did you know that a Jewish Trump supporter saved a Black Trump supporter’s life from the DC Police on January 6th? The mainstream media ignored this for some reason? Political prisoner Jake Lang is serving time in Washington DC for his actions on January 6. Jake Lang, a Jewish Trump supporter, has been held without trial and abused in the DC Gitmo for over 330 days. Jake Lang was trampled when Capitol Police attacked and then without warning pushed Trump supporters down the stairs outside the US Capitol in Washington DC. Jake was buried under several people when the Capitol...

Biden is an unrepentant Grinch to the Nth degree:Firing American workers just before Christmas: GRINCH! Sending Covid infected Border Hoppers into our communities: GRINCH! Shutting down American Pipeline projects while approving them in Russia/Europe; GRINCH! Codifying illegal voting; GRINCH!

The World Health Organization has given emergency approval to a coronavirus vaccine made by U.S.-based Novavax and the Serum Institute of India, paving the way for its inclusion in the U.N.-backed program to get vaccines to poorer countries around the world. The vaccine, known as CovavaxTM, is the ninth to be granted an emergency use authorization from the U.N. health agency, marking a vote of confidence for Novavax that could also mean the shots will be accepted by some countries that only admit travelers vaccinated with WHO-backed jabs. The U.N.-backed COVAX program, which is shipping coronavirus vaccines to many poor...

"America's public (government-run) schools fail our kids. Here's how government suffocates even the best teachers."

"After 13 service members died, this is what they have to say."

Real-life quidditch, inspired by the magical game in "Harry Potter," is changing its name, citing author J.K. Rowling's "anti-trans positions in recent years." US Quidditch and Major League Quidditch announced in a joint news release Wednesday that they will conduct a series of surveys over the next few months to decide on a new name for the sport, which resembles soccer and field hockey, but as a contact sport with broomsticks. “For the last year or so, both leagues have been quietly collecting research to prepare for the move and been in extensive discussions with each other and trademark lawyers...

Remember, under Title IX and Biden rules to stop someone identifying as a woman from participating as a woman is a thought crime. AngelaLMorabito "Sorry you believe women's sports are for women; maybe try being less crazy?" UPenn directed its female swimmers to mental health services when they complained that a transgender athlete is out-competing them. Replying to @AngelaLMorabito so the answer UPenn had was to tell girls to stop crying quote: The university sent a short reply to the parents, telling them that Penn Athletics “is committed to being a welcoming and inclusive environment for all our student-athletes, coaches...

VIDEO of Chinese Propaganda We should “Kill the chicken to frighten the monkey,” So countries learn not to mess with China! After Lithuania decided to exchange diplomatic offices with Taiwan, the Chinese government started putting diplomatic and economic pressure on the Lithuanian government. Chinese media also started using increasingly aggressive language to describe the diplomatic conflict between the two countries. In a recent Weibo post from September 2, 2021, influential Chinese TV host and military reporter Tian Liu called Lithuania “a small rogue country with a population of less than 3 million”, and she called on China to use an...