Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton And Mysticism?

We haven't spoken in this account of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton about any visions, locutions or mysticism. Quite honestly, that's because we haven't come across anything of that nature. And Mother Seton had always been a very down-to-earth, practical woman. However, the time was to come when the Lord would decide when the community would be built, where it would be built, and how it would be financed. And that information had to be projected to Mother Seton.

 This question had been rolling around for some time in Elizabeth's mind. She even wrote to Antonio Filicchi in Italy, in an attempt borrow money for the building of the convent, but although her letter reached him, his reply never reached her. She took this as rejection at first, until a year later when his letter arrived, long after the fact. But it is obvious that she was throwing out feelers. Whoever the Lord wanted to be involved, would respond in a positive way. That was Elizabeth's thinking. However, the Lord unfolded another plan, His plan.

 One day, Elizabeth ran into the office of Fr. Dubourg to tell him what the Lord had clearly said to her during Communion at Mass that day. "Go and address yourself to Mr. Cooper; he will give you what is necessary to commence the establishment." Now, this could be considered by some as being out of left field. Mr. Samuel Cooper was a well-to-do young man from Philadelphia who had converted to Catholicism, and was discerning if the priesthood was where the Lord wanted him. He met Elizabeth when Fr. Hurley brought him to Baltimore for the consecration of St. Mary's Chapel. They had become close friends for a while, because they had so much in common. They went their separate ways in their search for God's Will in their lives, but remained friends and were in communication with each other from time to time. They had not seen each other for a while, and so the suggestion had to come from the Lord; it didn't come from Elizabeth.

 Fr. Dubourg agreed that this might be the Word of the Lord, but didn't want Elizabeth to pursue it any farther until the Lord had an opportunity to speak to Mr. Cooper's heart. By the Lord's coincidence, Mr. Cooper dropped in on Fr. Dubourg that same evening, asking what was happening with the convent for the ladies who wanted to embrace the religious life. Without mentioning anything about Elizabeth Seton to Mr. Cooper, he shared that there were many who wanted to proceed with this project, but they couldn't for lack of money. Mr. Cooper said to him quite calmly, "I have ten thousand dollars which I can give you for this purpose."

 Fr. Dubourg, who believed in Divine Intervention as well as the next man, was knocked from his seat. He asked, in an effort at calmness, "Have you been speaking to Elizabeth Ann Seton?" Mr. Cooper said he had not, but then asked if she would be considered as heading up the project. When Fr. Dubourg confirmed that, Mr. Cooper seemed very happy with the idea. Fr. Dubourg held him off for two months, in the event he wanted to change his mind. To the contrary, he was chomping at the bit to begin. He immediately became involved with the project of building a convent for the Sisters. He even prophesied where it would be located. When he brought the money to Fr. Dubourg, he said, "Sir, this establishment will be made at Emmitsburg, a village eighteen leagues from Baltimore; and then it will extend throughout the United States."

 At the mention of Emmitsburg, the priest was taken aback. He did not really approve of the idea of being out of Baltimore. Neither did Elizabeth Seton; neither did the archbishop. Of all the people involved, only Mr. Cooper saw the vision of Emmitsburg, and while he vowed he would not exert any influence in choosing the location, Emmitsburg was the final choice.

 Elizabeth wrote to Filippo Filicchi, apprising him what had happened, and now, rather than asking him for money to build the project, she invited him to be involved in any way he could with Fr. Dubourg and Mr. Cooper. In this letter to Filippo, she made an unusual revelation. The final proof for them that this was being done directly by the Lord was given to Elizabeth by Fr. Matignon, from Boston, who had befriended Elizabeth some years before. Elizabeth confided to Filippo Filicchi the following in a letter: "Fr. Matignon had suggested Cooper's plan to Elizabeth long before Cooper himself had ever thought of it. It is no wonder that everyone concerned in the matter was profoundly convinced that the hand of God was writing on the wall."

 Copyright (c) 2011 Bob and Penny Lord's Site

The History of Gospel Music

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At churches all across the United States, Gospel Choir’s have spread Joy and inspiration for Hundreds of years. Each Sunday people are clapping hands and dancing to the sound of Gospel lyrics, but why? What is it about the Gospel Song lyrics that moves people to such levels of ecstasy? Is it the words? Is it the surrounding? And where does it all come from?

 Although the the church and worship are over 2000 years old, we can only trace Gospel music to the 18th century. Gospel Song Lyrics are very repetitive. Many believe this comes from the slave times when blacks were not able to read, this allowed them also to take part in the worship. The worship services also played a big role in reinforcing the slavery indoctrination, as the sermons were often taken from St. Paul which talked about: good servants, loving, obeying and trusting one’s master. The hymns of the white master became the backdrop for the music of the enslaved Africans which later they used in worship meetings.

 The Beginnings

 The person who many consider to be the father of Gospel Music, Thomas A. Dorsey (1899-1993) was fittingly the son of a Baptist minister, and played with the most famous blues singers of all time-specifically, Bessie Smith (1894-1937) and Ma Rainey (1886-1939). Ironically his fist love was Blues and Ragtime. After two nevervous breakdowns in 1928, He decided to take a break from the music business and that is where he began to change his direction to religious composing. 1932 Dorsey organized one of the fist Gospel Choirs in Chicago at the Pilgrim Baptist Church. It was here that Dorsey began to write religious music, although he did abandon his style of bright or gaudy lyrics, the rhythmic style of jazz and his love of the blues flavor stayed. But not everyone was overjoyed with the new style of the gospel music, some of the “old guard” conservatives labeled it “the devil’s music” and shunned it. But, he stayed true to his music and lived long enough to write over 800 songs and hear his musics ascend from the first row pews to the choir stand, where it previously had been banned. To insure this, Dorsey founded The National Convention of Gospel Choirs and Choruses in 1932, an organization still in existence today.

 A 1994 Score magazine article titled “The Father of Gospel Music” quoted Dorsey as saying, “When I realized how hard some folks were fighting the gospel idea, I was determined to carry the banner.”

 Carry it he did. “I borrowed five dollars and sent out 500 copies of my song, ‘If You See My Savior,’ to churches throughout the country…. It was three years before I got a single order. I felt like going back to the blues.”

 Many Famous Singers have their roots in Gospel Music

 Once Gospel music was defined as religious, but gospel has moved to the mainstream and has its mark on all other types of music and popular culture. The list of singers who got their start in music from singing in the choir is way to long to even begin to write down in this small space but just to get an idea of what legends started out with the gospel song lyrics before moving on to other genres of music are Superstars in pop and soul such as Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston or Mary J. Blidge. Also Country stars like Tennessee-Ernie-Williams and Glen Camble and yes even the king himself Elvis Presley started with gospel music.

 The Most Famous Gospel Choir

 Probably the most famous Gospel choir is the „Harlem Gospel Choir“ It was founded in 1986 and has spent the better part of the last 25 years touring the country raising money for children charities and spreading the love of gospel music to millions of people. Allen Baily was the founder and he got the idea while attending a celebration to honor Dr. Martin Luther King, JR. At the Cotton Club in Harlem.The Choir includes some of the best singers and musians from black churches in Harlem and the Greater New York area. The choirs main goal is to create a better understanding of the African-American culture & the inspirational music called Gospel as it relates to the Black Church. But, certainly the music is for everyone. If you see a concert in your area its always a good recommendation to attend this gospel celebration of singing and dancing!.

 Todays Gospel Music

 Gospel Music has branched out in so many directions over the years. Now Christian rock is the new age of music and the singers are listed weekly on the bill board gospel charts. There is a GMA (Gospel Music association) it has become a multi million dollar business as well. But no mater how the sound changes over the years, the roots will always be from heart and soul of the black American slaves that started this wonderful sound.

Christian Jewelry and Its Relevance Toda

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Dating back to the ancient Greek and Roman times, man has often worn amulets for good luck, to ward off evil spirits as well as to pay homage to deity. It's no surprise that this tradition would be passed down in our lives today in the form of modern Christian jewelry.

 We trace the origin of the first Christian symbol, the fish, back to around 54 A.D. during the days of Christian persecution. The fish was an inconspicuous sign that was easy to use as strangers meeting would draw the first crescent of the fish shape and the other would complete the symbol; thus, showing that they were also Christians. Today, we see a resurgence of this figure on bumper stickers, tee shirts and Christian jewelry. Styles like rings, bracelets, anklets even toe rings and spinner rings are all styled with the fish. Its design is widely popular with the younger generation.

 Around the 4th century, we begin to see identification with a cross as a Christian icon. Crude crosses were fashioned out of sticks and leather to be worn around the neck as early signs of Christian jewelry made from this image.

 Today, modern Christian jewelry offers a huge selection to appeal to every lifestyle. Diamond encrusted crosses are sometimes used as status symbols for the wealthy as well as fashion statements. Sometimes, a simple silver cross pendant can become so much more as in the case of Gemstones of the Holy Bible.

 Christian Jewelry: A Gift for All Time

 Special gifts of Christian jewelry are always well received as they are generally given by an important family member or friend to a child on an important red letter day.

 While trinkets and bibles are often given as a special gift, an engraved cross pendant crafted from fine silver, gold or other metal is usually the first choice for the youngster who is newly confirmed or has just received the first communion. This type of gift is appropriate for both girls and boys and usually has a lasting impression because of the occasion in marks.

 Baptism is also another special time for giving and receiving the gift of Christian jewelry. People of all ages enjoy both giving and receiving gifts of this magnitude as it truly is a gift that keeps on giving. The message for the receiver is that the giver supports their beliefs in the hope for a new life.

 Sometimes, Christian jewelry is a "me gift" showing a quiet display of ones faith. Some choose to wear jewels with Christian images because they need a reminder that there is a better life that's everlasting. Finally, crosses, fish, medallions of saints and other religious icons are self given because they are popular fashion statements. You can see today's celebrities wearing large, showy cross pendants in magazines giving this symbol prominence in other areas besides just faith.

 Christian Jewelry: Notable Jewels

 Throughout recorded history, Christian jewelry has been an important display of mankind's strong belief in a better life that's everlasting in Heaven.

 The Jerusalem cross pendant said to be worn by Godfrey de Bouillon, who lead the Christians to victory by capturing Jerusalem in 1099. It later became the symbol of the Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem, which was established after the first Crusade until 1291 when the last remaining territory of the kingdom was taken from the Christians.

 Charlemagne, the Holy Roman Emperor, had one of the most famous pieces of Christian jewelry. His notable pendant was said to include pieces from the True Cross and the crown of thorns under a sapphire set with gold. It was said that he referred to his pendant as "Warrior" because he often wore it into battle.

 Christian jewelry is found today in one of the finest collections in the world...the Crown Jewels. The image of the cross is found repeatedly in royal jewelry collections because it symbolizes the monarchy's power and connection with God for over a thousand years. Historically, the Sovereigns who sat on the throne believed wholly that they are anointed by God's own hand and are given the divine right of kings to rule their people.

Life Is About Evolution

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If you truly want to be a person of influence you first have to embrace evolution. Wisdom will always let you know that fighting change is definitely a losing battle so it is imperative that you move towards being a more evolved enlightened human being. One of the great principle of life is stated this way; "Freedom and happiness are found in the flexibility and ease with which we move through change."

 If you truly want to transition or transform from someone who moves through life unconsciously to a person who becomes the wealthy individual who's completely aware of and completely at ease with all things around him or her then you must embrace change. It doesn't matter at all where you are from or what you've done in the past, you're never trapped in any circumstance, relationship, cycle, or situation unless you say and/or believe you are. It's always better to take each and everyday and treat it just as it is; a new day with new opportunities to do what's right.

 If you're at a point in your life where you realize you're going in the wrong direction which means you're producing the wrong results then simply in most cases do the opposite of what you're doing right now. Trust me this will make a world of difference and you'll almost see small and/or big result quickly. I know this is easier said then done but when you add courage and persistent practice to your constant thought pattern that's saying "it's time to make the necessary changes" then I'm absolutely sure you'll make great progress in living a more happy and fulfilled life.