nomen christi apostolate

“Coming Food Crisis”...

…Predicted in Financial Times Essay (UK)

From Hunger Notes, excerpt…

The contraction in exports from the Middle East is not just a short-term increase in price for agricutural inputs; it risks actual production shortfalls in upcoming harvests.  Rising energy prices always raise food prices.

sulfur, urrea, and ammonia from the Middle East are key components of farm inputs in China, India, Brazil, Morocco, Indonesia, Australia, the United States and other countries.

…The essay argues that this is a slow-moving yet systemic crisis as farmers plant less now, with resulting smaller harvests months ahead, leading to further increases in food prices later this year.  FT recognizes that poor countries will be hit harvest [hardest? both words work].  While wealthier countries will experience inflation, low income countries may face famine.

The Importance of California to Food Supply

From WisdomAnswer:

Is California the breadbasket of America?

California has often been referred to as the breadbasket of the world. Interestingly, California only possesses 4% of the total U.S. farms, but supplies the nation with the most agriculture products. California is the leading dairy state in the United States and is the leading producer of dairy products.

Where is the bread basket of California?

San Joaquin Valley. Additionally, the San Joaquin Valley in California has also been called the breadbasket of the world. The San Joaquin Valley produces the majority of the 12.8% of the United States’ agricultural production (as measured by dollar value) that comes from California.

Moral of the story: Bad for California = Bad for the United States

Saint Patty's Day is Coming!

My Aunt Mary Hamilton passed on to the Lord last Spring. May she rest in peace and may perpetual light shine upon her. She wrote a memoir 15 years ago, which is available at this link:

It Only Happens Now and Then

Here is the description:

“Remembrances of Mary P. Hamilton about growing up in an Irish emigrant family in Brooklyn, New York, during the 1940s and 1950s and her subsequent marriage and family life in Montclair, New Jersey.”

The title was from a poem my poet Uncle Jimmy (her husband) wrote. It is a charming book about growing up Irish Catholic and living life in the New York area. There is important history here, which I am so happy she took the time to record. Mary was always kind and elegant, with high standards. Her home was a joy to visit. If you read the book, please let me know and I would love to hear your comments.

In the back of the book, she gives her Irish Soda Bread recipe! I made it last year and it was superb, much better than store-bought. I plan to make it again on Tuesday. Aunt Mary got this recipe from her Aunt Peggy, born in Longford, Ireland, so it is traditional and authentic.  It is bready and lighter than usual soda breads, not too sweet. Here it is (note dough is sticky and a bit hard to work with, but worth the effort)…let me know if you make it!

Have a blessed Saint Patrick’s Day. Saint Patrick, ora pro nobis!

Aunt Mary Hamilton’s Irish Soda Bread PDF Printable

Thought for the Year From My Friend Chris Martenson...

“This is the year that reality intrudes.  And it’s going to hit like a freight train.”

Chris Martenson, Peak Prosperity

Click on link above for this article, posted today. Peak Prosperity is one on our highly recommended sources for news and preparedness advice.

Moral of the story: Prepare!

In This Month of Saint Joseph: A (relatively) New Prayer!

…As of 10 years ago, when I posted it on this blog…

O Saint Joseph

O Saint Joseph, Guardian of Our Lord and Our Lady, intercede for us before the Divine Majesty.  O holy and humble carpenter, pray for God's children in all our great need.  We pray this in the Name of the Christ Child, once held in your loving arms. 

Amen.

This prayer has been received well and it is about time for a PDF! Here it is…

O Saint Joseph” PDF Printable

Here is the original post, where I explain why I wrote it: A New Prayer to Saint Joseph!

BONUS PDF…not too late to start this for the month of March…

THIRTY DAYS PRAYER TO SAINT JOSEPH

The Most Holy Name of Jesus, the Month of January and the Feast

[Edited since posting.]

In case you haven’t noticed, this ministry is dedicated to the Holy Name of Jesus, “Nomen Christi” in Latin. So we always encourage honor and devotion to His Name. January is dedicated to the Holy Name of Jesus. The month begins with the feast of the Circumcision in the trad, which commemorates the moment Our Lord received His Holy Name and it was also the first shedding of His Blood. On the 3rd, we celebrate the feast of this Name in the post-con calendar and in the trad it is Sunday, the 4th. Let us find devotions this month which honor and glorify His Name and always defend it from profanation!

Here are some excerpts from the feast of the Holy Name Tridentine Mass:

“In the Name of Jesus let every knee bow, of those that are in heaven, on earth, and under the earth: and let every tongue confess that the Lord Jesus Christ is in the glory of God the Father.”

“O Lord our Lord: how admirable is Thy Name in the whole earth!”

“O God, Who didst constitute Thine only-begotten Son the Savior of mankind, and didst bid Him to be called Jesus: mercifully grant, that we who venerate His holy Name on earth, may fully enjoy also the vision of Him in heaven.”

“For there is no other Name under heaven given to man, whereby we must be saved.”

“Save us, O Lord our God, and gather us from among the nations: that we may give thanks to Thy holy Name, and may glory in Thy praise.”

“Thou, O Lord, our Father and our Redeemer: from everlasting is Thy Name.”

“Alleluia, alleluia. My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord, and let all flesh bless His holy Name. Alleluia.”

“I will praise Thee, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify Thy Name for ever: for Thou, O Lord, art sweet and mild: and plenteous in mercy to all that call upon Thee, alleluia.”

“May Thy blessing, O most merciful God, by which every creature lives, sanctify, we beseech Thee, this our Sacrifice, which we offer unto Thee to the glory of the Name of Thy Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, that it may be well-pleasing to Thy Majesty for Thy praise, and profit us unto salvation.”

“All the nations Thou hast made shall come and adore before Thee, O Lord, and they shall glorify Thy Name: for Thou art great; and dost wonderful things: Thou art God alone. Alleluia.”

“O almighty and everlasting God, who didst create and redeem us, look graciously upon our prayer, and with a favorable and benign countenance deign to accept the Sacrifice of the saving Victim, which we have offered to Thy Majesty in honor of the Name of Thy Son, our Lord Jesus Christ:

that through the infusion of Thy grace we may rejoice that our names are written in heaven, under the glorious Name of Jesus, the pledge of eternal predestination.”

3 Videos on Father Alfred Delp, the Martyr of Advent!

Fr. Alfred Delp: Advent of the Heart, 16:45 min.

This is a wonderful homily, unfortunately, it does not say who the priest is. He is incorrect about one point: he says Delp was shot in the head, in fact, he was hanged…and the very next day, the judge who sentenced him to death was killed by an Allied bomb on Berlin! Includes rare photos.

Advent Retreat Fr. Alfred Delp: First Wednesday of Advent with Cardinal Thomas Collins, 7:13 min.

Quick intro to Fr. Delp.

Resisting Fascism: Father Alfred Delp with Dr. Rudolf J. Siebert, 58 min.

Is this worth your 58 minutes? Absolutely! …If you want to really delve into details and German culture itself, which adds the whole backdrop to Delp’s life and times…from a 90 some-odd year-old German professor who was actually part of the same Catholic movement that Delp was involved with! Lots of great “inside info.” I don’t know much about Siebert and his faithfulness to authentic Catholicism. But it’s an incredible and very rare conversation about this great martyr.