World Congress of Families -Sydney-2013

Well the world Congress of Families, Sydney, Australia, 2013 has come and gone and indeed what an amazing event it was.  We know when something is amazing because on the final day there was a sense of sadness. A feeling of ending. A low feeling. A sense that we had to say goodbye to previously known friends from other nations and newly made friends also from other nations and from states within Australia.
I went to the Congress in Madrid in 2012 and it was so good that I wanted to repeat the experience however, after going to our own I definitely want to repeat it again in Russia in 2014.
The speakers were excellent each bringing an area of expertise in family issues, fatherhood, motherhood, family, its challenges, its joys and times its sorrows.  The keynote speakers held the listeners enthralled, the various religious denominations mingled happily together each with the health and well being of family in mind.
In Sydney over 600  delegates over three full days listened to a  authoritative speakers on family, marriage and related issues. Dr Carlson (Founder of Congress) and other international keynote speakers such as  Bradford Wilcox, Janice Shaw Crouse, Steve Mosher, Patrick Fagan, Miriam Grossman, Ian Grant, Larry Jacobs, Ted Baehr, and Bob McCoskrie. Fr "Jay" Szymczak (Poland) and others.
Australian keynote speakers included   His Eminence Cardinal George Pell,  Bishop Peter Elliott,  The Hon. John Anderson AO (former member of parliament) Ian Harper, Patrick Parkinson and others. A further large number of  Australian and other nation speakers were also included in conurrent sessions, Sharon Slater, William May, Warwick Marsh, Rabbi Shimon Cowen, Peter Westmore, Pat Byrne, Paige Patterson, David Phillips, Miranda Devine, David van Gend, John Ballantyne and Bob Day.Byron & Francine Pirola, Bill Muellenburg and many many more including yours truly.
Congratulations to Babette and the late Charles Francis for the Lifetime award for their work for the family and other life issues.
The theme of this WCF was “Happy Families, Healthy Economy: A New Vision for National Prosperity and Social Progress.” Each and every speaker in one way or another showed how the well-being and health of families leads directly to the well-being of nations. Healthy, functioning men and women creating happy families make for healthy, functioning societies, while broken dysfunctional  families result in volatile economies, volatile generations and  countries in decline.
Attending a congress of this nature helps to make clear our need to reclaim, relearn, and renew what we know as family.  It helps us to understand that the future always depends on the "now" and how the "now" is treated.
Congratulations to the organisers  headed by Mrs Mary Louise Fowler and her very able colleagues for bringing together  this  really spectacular Sydney 2013 World Congress of Families and best of luck and best wishes to the Russian delegates who took home to Russia the banner to prepare for the next congress in 2014 in the Kremlin.  Imagine! where once not so nice things came out of the Kremlin, next year the Kremlin will host World Congress of Families.
Indeed miracles do happen.
If possible please buy any of the talks which might be of interest to you.  They are really worth hearing.
as a PS: The entertainment was also distinct and magnificent. Meet and greet cocktail, formal dinner overlooking dalring harbour(with Ken Duncan putting on a display of his work) the screening of Return to the Hiding Place with producer and star there, singing by Tongan youth choir, singing of Congress theme song, fashion parade (beautiful) so there was something for all.
Anne

WILL YOU WAIT A WHILE?

“Will you walk into Gethsemane with me?  Will you wait a while?  It’s very cold tonight and I am so burdened. Will you wait a while?  It is lonely here-so desolate a feeling.  It feels like all around me is mourning.  I am weary.  The time has come and I am lonely.  Come sit by me. Don’t be afraid. I need your comfort tonight. This moment. I need your comfort. Rest a while-wait with me.

Can you see the blood on my face?  It’s falling down like drops of dew.  I’m lonely.  Rest a while.  Wait with me.  I have a weight, a burden on me and it’s so heavy.  This is a new feeling for me.  What can it be that is so heavy and dark?  Ah yes! Now I know-it’s sin.  Will you wait a while with me?  I’m so lonely.  Even the night has lost its stars.  Father where are you?  I’m lonely without you-My father where are you? I can’t see your face.

There is a faint light-Ah yes its coming closer-where are you my friend? Will you walk with me?  Will you accompany me? Where are my friends?  Where are those I healed and fed and touched and comforted and loved?  Will you run too?  Come walk with me, we’ll meet the approaching night together-walk with me-hold my hand and one day I will hold yours.

Can you stand by me during the hours of torment as I am accused and abused and tormented?  As I am denied and spat upon?  As I am ingloriously led by a leash, with no one to say a kind word on my behalf?  Will you speak for me? Will you speak words of comfort to me?

My thorns hurt so much they are pressing further down and piercing so deep that it feels like my brain is being pierced.  They can’t even touch it with their bare hands. That accursed crown and yet they press it harder to inflict more pain, and they feel no compassion for me.  How depraved has humanity become to feel no compassion for pain?  Will you ease my pain a little?  Your compassion and your love will suffice to help me endure.  Father I am weary and so lonely. I can’t see you.  Your image, your face is blurred.

Can you my little one rest a while with me?

I am mocked and I am scourged and tortured.  Father I came for this and I do your will but Father I am in pain-I travail with not even one little one to love me.  Wouldst that one of these had a little compassion then it would be worthwhile.  I am so lonely.  Would you rest a while with me.?

My blood is slowly being drained from my being.  I am giving my life’s blood for yours.  Will you at least stand and wait a while?  Even from a distance wait with me so that I can see a gentle face?  Wait a while.  You will see that you will not regret it for one day I too will wait for you.  I will stand by you and extend my hand in welcome.

Will you walk with me along the road to the top of the mound?  It will be very slow and arduous journey for I am very weak now.  Step by step we get closer, and I am beginning to fall more often.  The burden is getting heavier and heavier.  Will you carry my cross even for a short distance so that I may rest a while?  Ah yes! It’s a heavy burden my child it’s not possible for you to carry it alone-here I will help you.  See how easier it is when we share the load.  I wouldn’t let you carry it alone; you see if I did let you it would crush you.  Too heavy is the weight of the cross, so I will carry the heaviest part for you.  Rest a while.

We have reached the summit-walk the rest of the way.  Can you bear to come closer to watch while I am stripped of my garments? OH the humiliation!  My dearest ones have to endure the humiliation too.  OH Father this further indignity is unbearable.  Wait a while stand by me.  See this humiliation I also ask you to share.  Don’t be afraid I am with you.  Will you hold my hand one more time before the nails are hammered in?  Hold my hand tightly.  Give me some comfort-let me feel that all this suffering is not in vain.  That someone does love me.  That someone will know how great my sacrifice is.  Come stand by me.  Your presence is enough.

Oh my Father the searing pain as the nails are driven in.  OH Father how can they do this to me? Father how can they do this to you? OH My Father how far they have fallen. No compassion.  Little one come closer, look up at me.  Let me see your face-don’t cry.  I am assured of your love. Yes my Father this sacrifice is appropriate am loved at least by some and because of them it is worth all the pain humanity can inflict.

MY Father!! It’s getting dark.  All is a blur. I can’t see. My eyes are dimming. I can’t even see the faces of those who love me.  Father….. Have you gone too?  No, that cannot be.  You would not abandon me.  But Father there is a darkness that surrounds me.  There is shield and I cannot see your light anymore.  Father where are you I feel a loathsome burden.  How much longer Father will this earth’s sins cover me?  Father…if only they knew the barrier that sin erects.  Father every sin conceivable has been poured onto me and now it is so dark, I can’t see the light of my father’s love.

Father my spirit is trapped like a diamond in the heart of the mountain of charcoal.  It is hidden and darkness cannot allow your light to pierce through.  Father…I know your eyes are too pure to gaze upon iniquity, but father I cannot bear it much longer.  Help me Father because I am ready to come back to you.  INTO YOUR HANDS FATHER I COMMIT MY SPIRIT for now I have finished the work you entrusted to me.  Father I come to you. Wait a while little one, wait a while and soon you will be with us too.

 

Anne Good Friday,  2013

Welcome Holy Father Francis 1

"Go rebuild my Church" said Jesus to Francis of Assisi, we pray that HH Pope Francis 1
brings together the whole church in a chorus of praise.
We pray for his health and stamina and Holy Spirit guidance to lead the faithful in his care.
We pray that the spirit of St Francis is found in him.  We pray that in these times of troubles and dissention he stands resolutely in the footsteps of the "Fisherman from Galilee" whose ring he wears.We pray for the new Pope, Francis I,  may the Lord Bless and keep him, may the Light shine upon Him, may the Lord uncover His face and be gracious to Him.

Three News Items for my Friends

Dear Friends

For your Note books please.

LAUNCH OF MY BOOK
Redeeming Grief
Second Edition
With Foreword by His Grace Archbishop Barry J Hickey
Archbishop Emeritus....Perth.

COMING IN THE NEXT 3-4 WEEKS...will advise time and venue close as soon as firmed.

ANNUAL PRO LIFE DINNER.
This year to be held April 20th, 2013.
Moonlight Receptions,
622 Nicholson Street, North Fitzroy.
contact for phyllis@family.org.au  and please
ASK TO BE PLACED AT MY TABLE
WANT TO SEE ALL MY FRIENDS THERE WITH ME.

WORLD CONGRESS OF FAMILIES.
SYDNEY 15-18TH  MAY 2013.
7TH World Congress of Families and it's being held here in Australia.
Come Join in and let's show the world Australia and what we value..family.

Magnificent international speakers,  fabulous Australian speakers, 
(me too!!!!   yeah yeah yeah yeah).
Come and be part of the solution, be part of the talk, come and be part of what we mean by FAMILY.

Contact:  wcfsydney2013.org.au
Congress Office  Tel +61 (0) 2 8251 0097
email: wcf@thinkbusinessevents,com.au

Book early before end February and get 20% discount.
My Friends, and readers of Broken Branches Quote  VOAO1 and get  20% discount.

It"s the most fantastic event to come to our shores. Come and share it with me and others. Book Early the last Congress in Madrid May 2012 was Booked out.  So book quickly.

Beatitude

Blessed are the Poor In Spirit

To me the poor in spirit means humility. To be humble or truly gracious, and who do we know was truly humble, truly gracious? Except Him who left His natural home and life in order to assume a lesser condition.  He left His place of History, glory, to enter into our history and carve for us a road leading back to His own history.

 You know at Christmas I have often sorrowed over the fact that when He came and walked among us He couldn’t even find a place to stay in. A roof to cover His head, yet now I believe this to be a wrong thought.  Can you imagine He who created the universe couldn’t create a mansion if that is what He wanted?  No!  He knew and prepared that shelter, that cave from all eternity.  What earthly mansion could contain the glories of heaven?  None of course!  He was and is heaven’s glory.

“Blessed are the humble”  He who was all glory became lower than His own   creations even lower than His own angels in order that His own creation may aspire to the perfection of holiness and attain and see the same glories. God face to face.
For a period of time He became as a “pauper” (Him whom by nature is Lord and King) in order that He may teach and lead the pauper out of his shabby and dark world.
For a time He who was all became much less so that others might have much much more.  Surely that is not the way of men but the way of God.
Can you imagine, if He had been born in different circumstances, the human person being so fallen would have had no hesitation in telling (when He spoke of poverty of spirit and poverty of material goods) that He didn’t know what He spoke about and if He had been a palace born,  a palace dweller, how would non palace dwellers (which is most of humanity) be able to relate to Him?  Can you imagine someone speaking up and saying “you don’t know what you are talking about, you were born a King and you have never gone without? You cannot have any empathy with us.”  This could not be said of Him who is all but became lower so that He could have empathy.
 So it is important to see that from all time His Father had assessed and determined the place, manner and time of his birth.  It was no accidental birth which saw him born in so lowly a place.  He who was ALL had to be born the lowliest in order that rebellious mankind may learn.  No magnificent eloquence on His part would have convinced His listeners and us, but His example, bearing, lifestyle and words would.   This was the divine pedagogy  used to teach and show us that His love is so great, His compassion so limitless. His understanding so complete, that by following His ways will lead to that place where He will show Himself to us as He really is.

Humility means “be less” and aspire to great heights by His way.

 

Happy New Year -2013

Dear Friends,

I wish for you all a happy 2013. May it be filled with all the good things your heart desires. May all sickness be kept at bay. May all evil turn away from you, and may the Lord Bless and keep you,
May the Light of His face shine upon you. May He uncover His face and grant you His peace.
And may He hold you safely in the palm of His hands.

Anne

World Congress of Families 2013

Dear Friends,

Please look  at the link below and make this the place to go and the place to be
 May 15-18,  2013.

I went to the 2012 WCF in Madrid and it was spectacular, 2013 WCF in Sydney
 promises to be more  spectacular.  In a beautiful city, with speakers extraordinaire, during a time of the year which is beautiful in Australia, and the congress itself to defend family in its natural  formation and understanding.   Lets gather together.

Be early to book as it is expected that it will be booked out.

Hope to meet you there my friends .

Anne.

http://wcfsydney2013.org.au/

A Happy and Holy Christmas

Dear Friends,

I wish for you a Happy and Holy Christmas
And a New Year filled with graces, blessings and friendships
which last forever.

God Bless
Anne

Violence of Abortion.

Abortion by its very nature is a violent act. It is the intentional destruction of a very small child, by a so-called doctor and with the compliance/insistence of one or both of its parents or significant others. We now know that there are psychological sequelae to abortion. The woman experiences life long after effects whilst the male is also affected but differently, generally through his sense of impotence in the matter. For the male it is often the sense of helplessness at being unable to do anything to protect his child and this anger is then turned inwards to self punish or outwards also as a self punishment in type of violent behaviour.

 Prior to the birth of the baby, the father has absolutely no rights in respect of the child. He cannot do anything to protect the life of his child and if the mother of that child does not want to sustain, keep, or give birth to that child then there is no one who can prevent the abortion from happening. No-one, including the state, because the state has purchased into the argument by legislating that the life of that new individual whilst in utero is a nonentity, and therefore dependent upon the whim of the host body.  Legislation has not decreed that the relationship between woman and infant is symbiotic but at the same time the infant is independent and deserving of the utmost respect.  It has in fact decreed that the life or death of that infant is dependent upon the vagaries of the stronger of the two parties.

The violence we are daily seeing through all forms of media is symptomatic of the “just below the surface” violence within the community. There is a tension, which must be released and will not evaporate without leaving in its wake a disaster.

Perhaps an explanation of the unconscious response to abortion and the violence inherent in it, may shed some light on this era of violence. Since the onset of the culture of the “pill” and “self-ism” the woman has progressively taken control of her fertility and her body. And indeed to be able to understand her body and to guard and protect her body as inviolate is a good thing.  However, this is not what has happened. The woman has demanded control over her body in as far as her fertility is concerned, and has removed from her husband/partner any rights and responsibility towards an act which has resulted in a conception. This has led to decisions to end the life within her.

This,  taking control, "its my body I will do with it what I want" whilst ostensibly “good” as far as some men and women are concerned has ultimately failed all.

Today, whether he chooses or not, a man can walk away from his responsibility towards a child he has engendered. Conversely should he choose not to walk away from the responsibility it can be forcibly wrenched from him so that he cannot do anything to change the situation. The removal of responsibility has not spelled equal rights, as has been suggested, but indeed unequal suffering. The woman suffers lifelong anguish. Yes it’s real. It happens even for those who blithely believe that it hasn’t affected them. The man suffers loss of something of his essence, of his fatherhood, of his fathering, of his manhood.

 For the woman,   in her very being there is a rupture unlike any other. There is a grief quite unlike any other. The kind of wrenching grief which is the result of guilt. The kind of grief which is the result of the intent behind the loss.   The kind of grief which says, powerlessness, hopelessness, utter despair.  That is the kind of grief which abortion leaves in its wake and is the legacy for the woman and man (either short term or long term) who have acceded to the abortion experience.

For the state and nation which has decreed that the killing of its future citizens is lawful, there is to be other losses which cannot ever be recouped. 

All citizens begin their life as zygotes, embryos, fetuses, babies, young ones, adolescents, youth, and mature individuals.  Citizens of a nation have not just been deposited there from outer space. They have been conceived and permitted to be born and to be members of the state, nation, and above all humanity. Abortion of an in utero infant must lead to death at other end of life because not enough citizens born to maintain the other end of life.

Sadly what the state of Victoria and following all states (as is the intention) has now  done is enshrined into its statutes, a law which says that infants are not really wanted.  The death of pre born infants to 40 weeks. Full mature babies.

What a great tragedy that the women themselves have demanded their own extinction because at least 50% of infants killed are little baby girls.

Reflection on the Year of Grace, Year of Faith.

Sir, we wish to see Jesus (Jn 12:21)

In this Year of Grace we are invited by the Australian Bishops to make a pilgrimage into the inner sanctum of our being.   A journey of faith having before our eyes an icon or as an entry point into the inner sanctum, the face of Jesus. Not only His face as the human face of God, enfleshed, but the image of the invisible God. Jesus, the Icon which shows us the truth and reality of God.  To experience “charis” and discover the divine truth of who God is in the person of Jesus, the first born of all creation and the first born from death (Col. 1:18).  To discover the truth of the human person, whose blueprint is in the likeness of Jesus. The prototype of all creation.

This journey of faith in a year or moment designated “grace” is to stop and to find and contemplate Jesus, who then shows us the real human being. The image which God  had envisioned for the human beings  from before time began and before sin brought a forgetting of that image.  A forgetting that we have been designed in His own beautiful image, and in the seeing this then it is to recognize and see more clearly, Jesus.  The principal task of all “life” is to mirror Jesus, so that those who see “me” might see clearly ...Jesus.
“Sir, we wish to see Jesus”  (Jn. 12:21) is the soul’s yearning  to  recognise Jesus or His icon made visible in the other.  To seek Him in daily life and in every one who has “life” breathed into them. “Sir, we want to see Jesus” It’s you whom my soul longs for and desires.
We seek Jesus in the noise of life but also He can be found in turmoil of life and He comes in moments of graced silence where words are not needed but the effect of true humanity is seen and felt, because Jesus opens up the panorama which clearly shows what the human being can be and is in the mind of God. The vision shows the design and possibilities of grace. A divine bequest.  An ecstasy overflowing and uncontainable which overflowed into life and allowing the human a share of God’s own inexpressible life. Life is the result of an overflow of the love of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, and the home designed for life is heaven with a vision of the face of divinity forever.
This year of Grace gives us the opportunity to live so that development of divine manners maybe accomplished in order that we may not be found wanting like the unprepared virgins (Mt. 25:1-13).  Those manners lost in the eons past may during these moments of Grace  be relearned so that at the  end of life we stand before God not as strangers and  homeless in what should be our natural homeland,  Paradise, but as sons and daughters who have been on a journey and are returning home to their Father. This year of Grace opens the vista for a vision of glory to be seen as a sign post towards home.
Nothing of the life journey’s effects is lost but all is retained, though it is  re organised in a manner which grace has purified .   Indeed preserved are all of life’s imprints, triumphs, sorrows, which grace then purifies. Thus re-established, grace, together with all its valuable gifts leads to transfiguration and finally ascension; Life with its grace filled purification is raised higher into the grace of God and ultimate union with Him.  
Jesus has opened the portals for us to enter. He leads the procession of those going home to the Father who engendered them through His ecstatic love.  Now they are returning home with Him as the Shepherd who has not left one of those given to Him behind (Jn 17:12)  He leads and they joyfully follow.  “Come let us go towards the light of my father’s love, I am your shepherd I will lead you, I will not leave one of you behind. Come follow me.”   Be at home here in the high places (Hk.3:19).
When on this lofty ground we encounter the Messiah. “We have found the Messiah” (Jn1:42).  What joy to finally encounter the Messiah who has silently accompanied and led  us on the journey to the high places (Hk.3:19)  To finally see his face. (Mt.17:1-9)  I have done the journey of Grace with Jesus who has done for me Il Camino.  Who has been for me the prayer itself and I have been the pilgrim prayer, bringing with Me Jesus to  those loftier grounds .

The Year of Grace, a gracious moment, a moment of abundant faith.