Chicago Pro-Lifers- At It Again!

Giant LIFE Balloon Rosary seen by Thousands over Chicago's Downtown

CHICAGO (August 15, 2011) - Just in time for the Feast of the Assumption of Our Lady, a 75-foot rosary floats skyward from Chicago's Michigan Avenue Bridge claiming the Magnificent Mile for Mary.

A giant rosary floated gracefully over Chicago's busy tourism district on Friday as thousands looked on. The six-foot gold cross hanging from the rosary sparkled in the sunlight as it very slowly ascended between the Tribune tower and the Wrigley building. The rosary of helium-filled yellow balloons bearing the word LIFE then floated down Michigan Avenue over the Hancock Tower and past North Ave Beach. Cameras and cellphones flew into action as people responded to the unexpected sight.

"There was an excitement all around us and there were people in tears at the sight of the rosary. I think we often take it for granted the power of a simple witness to the faith," said a camp counselor.

A passerby tweeted, "A balloon rosary in the air. My faith confirmed :)", while another surprised Chicagoan wrote, "what the... giant balloon rosary, with cross, just floated heavenward from the Michigan Avenue bridge."

The rosary was the craft of 20 imaginative elementary-school-aged girls and their counselors participating in a summer camp at a Chicago Catholic Parish. The girls prayed the rosary in front of the Washington Blvd. Family Planning Associates asking Our Lady for an end to abortion. They then carried the rosary, cross-first, through downtown Chicago's peak traffic to the cheers, and sometimes jeers, of pedestrians and motorists. Homeless people gave high fives, street preachers started singing Gospel songs, and semi-truck drivers shook the streets sounding their truck horns in approval. "I was completely ecstatic the whole time. I loved seeing how many people on a random street corner were thrilled. It is a lot more than we tend to think," said one participant.

One of the girls said, "It was the prettiest rosary I have ever seen. I liked how it would float up and sit and then float up and sit. It looked really pretty against the buildings and the sky." Another camper said, "The best way to describe it was 'beautiful'. I didn't see one frowning face. It evangelized everyone who saw it."

This is the latest of a series of spontaneous acts of joy across the United States involving the yellow LIFE balloons. Sightings of LIFE balloons at prayer vigils, county fairs and flash mobs leave many wondering if the trend will impact this year's March for Life in Washington DC.

See photo post here: https://picasaweb.google.com/104310456403281787387/GiantLIFEBalloonRosarySeenByThousandsOverChicagoSDowntown

Story by Nathan Joel, Photos by Rebekah Smith.

A Modern Mockery

I saw a rainbow a few days ago, which was strange, because it hadn't rained. It was beautifully sunny out, and the rainbow was only visible on one tiny, wispy, insignificant cloud. I reveled in its beauty, and wondering at how good God is to give us so many lovely little things, even when we are horribly ungrateful to Him in return.

My thoughts turned to the origin of the rainbow...

"I will establish my covenant with you, and all flesh shall be no more destroyed by waters of a flood, neither shall there be from henceforth a flood to waste the earth. And God said: This is the sign of the covenant which I give between Me and you, and to every living soul that is with you, for perpetual generations. I will set My bow in the clouds,and it shall be a sign of a covenant between Me, and between the earth. And when I shall cover the sky with clouds, My bow shall appear in the clouds, and I will remember My covenant with you, and with every living soul that beareth flesh: and there shall no more be waters of a flood to destroy all flesh." (Genesis 9:11-15)

It is such a comforting thought that God is always ready to renew His covenants with us, even after we have fallen a hundred million times and more.

My happy little reverie was abruptly interrupted as I recalled what the rainbow means to men today. The gay colors of the rainbow have now been usurped for just that purpose: to symbolize gay, lesbian, trans- and bi- sexual lifestyles. The sins which incited God's wrath to send the Great Deluge are the very same as those that are rampant today.

"And God, seeing that the wickedness of men was great on the earth, and that all the thought of their heart was bent upon evil at all times, it repented Him that He had made man upon earth." (Genesis 6:5-6)

After the flood, God placed a rainbow in the sky as a reminder that He would never again send such a punishment, and it is now used as a standard for debauchery. There can be no doubt that satan is behind this modern mockery.

Note to Self: Don't Complain!

Complaining. What an awful, whining sound it is to say that word...

To complain is to refuse God's gift of hardship to us. If He never gave us difficulties, we would have much fewer opportunities for penance! We should thank Him for giving us the means by which we can save our souls, and eagerly take action upon it. How satisfied the devil must be when he sees these gifts turned into more venial sins instead.

Complaining takes away the challenges and lessens the sweetness of life. The things that we don't like, that make us uncomfortable, present to us a challenge to overcome our pitiful, shrunken, selfish souls with courage, selflessness, nobility, sacrifice. To bear unpleasant things well, even small ones, is actually quite a noble thing. Even a small sacrifice has its measure of nobility.

Complaining immediately drags the soul downward, and makes us believe we really aren't capable of bearing any kind of suffering at all. But if we simply hold our tongues and endeavor to make the best of a situation, we find that we really can endure quite a lot, and perhaps even enjoy ourselves in the midst of it all.

One of the things most complained about, I believe, is the weather. It's too hot, it's too cold, there's too much rain, too much snow, it's too windy, "it's nice, but I prefer it a touch cooler"... One would think we could never be satisfied. God chooses the weather every day-- I don't think we should feel too comfortable criticizing His judgment!    

A final word about complaints and rationalizations for not doing chores: One is hardly ever so tired as one believes himself to be.