Zenit's has a book review of: "Neonatal Pain: Suffering, Pain and the Risk of Brain Damage in the Fetus and Unborn" (Springer) edited by Giuseppe Buonocore and Carlo Bellieni, who are both members of the department of pediatrics, obstetrics and reproductive medicine at the University of Siena.
Monday, May 26, 2008
A Memorial Day Tribute
Poem: "These Heroes All" by Kelly Kirkpatrick
Standing guard o'ver Heaven's bounds, to duty called by God,
Harkening when the trumpets sound Saint Michael's call aloud,
Is a holy, brave brigade of men and women bold,
Though their earthly life they've paid, o'er none has death a hold.
Heroes all, in virtue steeped, immune to evil's touch,
They now with angels vigil keep and still watch over us.
Partnered with Almighty God, alive for evermore,
Members of His Honor Squad and free on wings to soar.
Each fell in bloody battle hard that we might e'er live free,
Sacrificed on razored shards of cruel destiny.
Let not the banner they held proud, their caskets now which grace,
Lie in tatters as a shroud: forgotten, soiled, disgraced.
Raise it high and in their names join those who carry on,
Those still battling Satan's flames, their numbers few but strong.
Keep alive their legacy as they would wish it done,
Their sacrifice to keep us free uniting us as one.
Fight on for them, these heroes all, and with each setting sun,
Pray for those who still stand tall and from no evil run.
Remember as Taps softly plays and peaceful evening comes,
The price so many dearly paid, as many will to come.
Let we for whom they shed their blood e'er hold their memory dear,
Champion well their fight for good and keep them ever near,
Comfort those who brave their tears, protect their sacred cause,
In their darkest hours draw near and to their foes give pause.
Each time a comrade in their ranks is torn from earth's safe keep,
Pay full your debt of lasting thanks as for each loss they weep.
And for the soldiers left behind to carry bravely on,
Let us honor each in kind until the final down,
Until the fight in victory ends and they may finally rest,
To each your sworn support extend: these finest, bravest, best.
A Prayer for Memorial Day
Remember, Lord, the fallen
Who died in fields of war,
In flaming clouds,
in screaming crowds,
On streets that are no more,
That we today might waken
And greet this day in peace
With grateful prayer for those who bear
The storms that never cease.
Remember friends and strangers,
And those forgotten now,
Whose names are known to you alone,
Before whose love we bow
And ask that you surround them
With mercy’s endless light
That they may live,
and we forgive
The foe they went to fight.
Remember, Lord, the living,
Who bear the pain of loss-
A death she died who stood beside
Her Son upon the cross.
Remember all your children
The dead and those who weep,
And make us one beneath the sun
Where love will never sleep.
Text: 7686D; Genevieve Glen, OSB; © 2005, Abbey of St. Walburga, Virginia Dale, CO. Published by OCP Publications.
This post is dedicated to those military heroes in my own family -- my dad, my brother, Michael, and my sister, Susan.
St. Phillip Neri, Priest, 'The Humorous Saint', 'The Apostle of Rome'
The Virgin Appearing to Saint Philip Neri
Giovanni Battista Tiepolo
1740
Oil on canvas, 360 x 182 cm
Museo Diocesano, Camerino
St. Philip Neri was born in Florence, Italy on July 22, 1515. He was one of four children of the notary Francesco Neri. His mother died when he was very young, but a very capable and competent stepmother filled her place. Although they were related to Italian nobility, the family was quite poor. Philip was a cheerful and friendly boy, and was popular with all who knew him.
At eighteen, Philip was sent to the town of San Germano, where he lived with a childless relative who had a business there to train as an apprentice and heir. Philip had a strong aptitude for business. Soon after his arrival, Philip began speaking of his conversion, which dramatically changed his life. He left his relative’s home and set out for Rome, as he had a vision that he had a mission to fulfill there. He left without money or a specific plan, trusting in God’s providence.
In Rome, he found shelter in the home of Galeotto Caccia who offered him an attic and a few basic necessities in exchange for tutoring his two sons. During his first two years there, he lived as a recluse, spending time in prayer and eating small meals. Then, for the next three years, he studied philosophy and theology at the Sapienza and St. Augustine’s Monastery, where he was a brilliant student. Quite suddenly, he stopped taking classes, sold all his books and gave his money to the poor. Philip now set about on a new venture – to evangelize the people of Rome.
He started out in a very direct manner, making friends with people on street corners and in the public squares. His warm, friendly manner, his cheerfulness, and his wonderful sense of humor would catch the attention of passersby, and once caught, they found it difficult to escape. He had a magnetic personality and an appeal that drew others to him and held their interest. His usual question, “Well brothers, when shall we begin to do some good?” frequently brought a positive response. Without hesitation, he would take them with him to visit and care for the poor in the hospitals or to pray in the Seven Churches. His days were given up totally for others, but his nights were filled with solitude as he spent them either in a church porch or in the catacombs along the Appian Way.
During the Easter season of 1544, while praying in one of the grottos along the Appian Way, he received a vision of a globe of fire, which first entered his mouth and then his chest. He felt a dilation of the chest. He was filled with such strong divine love, that he fell to the ground, crying out in joy, “Enough, enough, Lord, I can bear no more!” When he stood up, he discovered a swelling over his heart, which gave him no pain.In the year 1548, when Philip had been carrying on his mission for ten years, he founded the Confraternity of the Most Holy Trinity – a group of laymen who met regularly for spiritual growth. He also popularized the devotion of the forty hours – exposing the Blessed Sacrament for forty hours, on three successive days, in honor of the forty hours Christ spent in the tomb. Philip had accomplished much by the time he was thirty-four, but his spiritual director felt he could be even more effective as a priest.
On May 23, 1551, he was ordained. He carried on his mission mainly through the confessional. He started hearing confessions before dawn and continued for hours, while men of women of all ages and social rank flocked to him. In his later years, Philip became weak and suffered from many illnesses, each of which was cured through prayer.
On the feast of Corpus Christi, May 25, 1595, Philip was in a radiantly happy mood. All day he had heard confessions and met with visitors. About midnight, he had a severe hemorrhage and the other priests were called to his bedside. They prayed over him and then he raised his hand in Benediction to bless them one last time. As he raised his hand, he passed to his eternal reward.
Six years later, he was beatified and Pope Gregory XV canonized him in 1622. He was known not only as “The Humorous Saint”, but also as the “Apostle of Rome.”
Quotes From St. Philip Neri
“Bear the cross and do not make the cross bear you.”
“There is no purgatory in this world. Nothing but heaven or hell.”
“Sufferings are a kind of paradise to him who suffers them with patience, while they are a hell to him who has no patience.”
“The greatness of our love for God may be tested by the desire we have of suffering for His sake.”
"Cheerfulness strengthens the heart and makes us persevere in a good life. Therefore the servant of God ought always to be in good spirits."
~ Excerpted from Gold in the Furnace, Jean M. Heimann, copyright 2004
Sunday, May 25, 2008
TV Picks for Memorial Day Weekend
I'm not a big TV watcher, but with the price of gas as high as it is, TV seems like a good option if you can find something worthwhile to watch. And, there are some good movies and special programs scheduled for this weekend.
Sunday: 7:00 PM CST--SPIKE Star Wars VI: Return of the Jedi (1983, Science Fiction, trailer)
Monday: 4:00 PM CST --TCM The Best Years of Our Lives (1946, Romance) trailer
Monday: 7:00 PM CST --AMC The Longest Day (1962, War) John Wayne, Robert Mitchum, trailer
EWTN:
ARCHDIOCESE FOR THE MILITARY SERVICES MEMORIAL MASS 2 hrs.
Mass in honor of Memorial Day, celebrated by the Most Reverend Timothy Broglio, Archdiocese for the Military Services USA.
Mon 05/26/08 12:00 PM ET & 9 AM PT
FRONTLINE FAMILIES: CAPTAIN & MRS. GUY GRUTERS, VIETNAM 1 hr
Captain Guy Gruters talks about his experience in a POW camp in Vietnam, and his wife talks about what it was like for her, waiting back home.
Mon 5/26/08 5:30 PM ET & 2:30 PM PT
My Favorite Eucharistic Quotes
For every Christian generation, the Eucharist is indispensable food that sustains us as we cross the desert of this world, dried by ideological and economic systems that do not promote life, but repress it. A world in which the logic of power and possession dominates, instead of the logic of service and love; a world in which the culture of violence and death often triumphs."
~ Pope Benedict XVI, in his homily on the feast of Corpus Christi
"Every time we celebrate the Eucharist in the Church, we recall the death of the Savior, we proclaim his Resurrection as we await his return. Thus no sacrament is greater or more precious than that of the Eucharist; and when we receive Communion, we are incorporated into Christ. Our life is transformed and taken up by the Lord."
"The Eucharistic mystery is in fact the "summit of evangelization" (Lumen gentium, n. 28), for it is the most eminent testimony to Christ's Resurrection. "
~ Pope John Paul II, May 28, 1996
"God is as really present in the consecrated Host as He is in the glory of Heaven."
~ St. Paschal Baylon, the Saint of the Holy Eucharist
"What wonderful majesty! What stupendous condescension! O sublime humility! That the Lord of the whole universe, God and the Son of God, should humble Himself like this under the form of a little bread, for our salvation."
~ St. Francis of Assisi
"Each time we look upon Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, He raises us up into deeper union with Himself, opens up the floodgates of His merciful love to the whole world, and brings us closer to the day of His final victory "where every knee will bend and proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord".
"The reign of God is already in your midst." The coming of Jesus to us in the Eucharist is assurance of His promise of final victory: "BEHOLD, I COME TO MAKE ALL THINGS NEW."
~Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta
"When the Sisters are exhausted, up to their eyes in work; when all seems to go awry, they spend an hour in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament. This practice has never failed to bear fruit: they experience peace and strength."
~Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta
"Neither theological knowledge nor social action alone is enough to keep us in love with Christ unless both are proceeded by a personal encounter with Him. Theological insights are gained not only from between two covers of a book, but from two bent knees before an altar. The Holy Hour becomes like an oxygen tank to revive the breath of the Holy Spirit in the midst of the foul and fetid atmosphere of the world."
~Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen
Find more of my favorite Eucharistic Quotes here.
For more information on the Holy Eucharist and the Real Presence, go here.
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull – A Movie Review
Rated: PG-13 for adventure, violence, and scary images
This is the fun film of the summer – one that you won’t want to miss. It has been nineteen years since we last saw him, but Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) hasn’t lost his touch – a bit grayer – he is as handsome, daring, and as adventurous as he ever was.
When we last saw Indiana Jones on screen, it was 1938, and the world stood on the brink of war as Dr. Jones chased down evildoers to find the Holy Grail. Nineteen years have passed -- Indy's enemies are now the Communists and his struggle is once again to ensure that a precious, mysterious object remains safe from those bent on destroying humanity. Set in 1957, during the peak of the Cold War, this fourth film in the Indiana Jones film series pits an older and wiser Indiana Jones against Soviet agents in the search for a crystal skull.
Indiana and his sidekick Mac McHale (Ray Winstone) are taken to a huge warehouse by the Soviet villainess Irina Spalko (Cate Blanchett) to find a crate he viewed years ago. The contents of the crate are hyper-magnetic and the crate reveals itself after Indy throws handfuls of gun powder into the air.
Managing to escape from the Russians, Indy meets up with Mutt Williams (Shia LaBeouf), a handsome young biker whose mother and surrogate father have been kidnapped by the Communists. The surrogate father is Professor Oxley (John Hurt), a professional colleague of Indy's and Mutt's mother is Marion, whom Indy later discovers is Marion Ravenwood (Karen Allen), his former flame from "Raiders of the Lost Ark”.
In the quest for the crystal skull, Mutt and Indy end up traveling to South America where they experience the most incredible adventures involving: man-eating red ants, sword fights between two people on the back of speeding jeeps, cliff diving in a car, and more. If you’re like me, you love this kind of action – it is so utterly ridiculous and so much fun!
This film exhilarated and exhausted me at the same time. If you want your spirits lifted and want to laugh out loud, see this film. It will certainly do the trick.
My Rating: A -
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Feast of Corpus Christi - "We cannot live without Sunday"
A reflection by Fr. Tom Rosica, csb, on the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ - Corpus Christi.
God Lives Under the Bed
I envy Kevin. My brother Kevin thinks God lives under his bed. At least that's what I heard him say one night.
He was praying out loud in his dark bedroom, and I stopped to listen, 'Are you there, God?' he said. 'Where are you? Oh, I see. Under the bed...'
I giggled softly and tiptoed off to my own room. Kevin's unique perspectives are often a source of amusement. But that night something else lingered long after the humor. I realized for the first time the very different world Kevin lives in.
He was born 30 years ago, mentally disabled as a result of difficulties during labor. Apart from his size (he's 6-foot-2), there are few ways in which he is an adult.
He reasons and communicates with the capabilities of a 7-year-old, and he always will. He will probably always believe that God lives under his bed, that Santa Claus is the one who fills the space under our tree every Christmas and that airplanes stay up in the sky because angels carry them.
I remember wondering if Kevin realizes he is different. Is he ever dissatisfied with his monotonous life?
Up before dawn each day, off to work at a workshop for the disabled, home to walk our cocker spaniel, return to eat his favorite macaroni-and-cheese for dinner, and later to bed.
The only variation in the entire scheme is laundry, when he hovers excitedly over the washing machine like a mother with her newborn child.
He does not seem dissatisfied.
He lopes out to the bus every morning at 7:05, eager for a day of simple work. He wrings his hands excitedly while the water boils on the stove before dinner, and he stays up late twice a week to gather our dirty laundry for his next day's laundry chores.
And Saturdays-oh, the bliss of Saturdays! That's the day my Dad takes Kevin to the airport to have a soft drink, watch the planes land, and speculate loudly on the destination of each passenger inside. 'That one's goin' to Chi-car-go!' Kevin shouts as he claps his hands.
His anticipation is so great he can hardly sleep on Friday nights.
And so goes his world of daily rituals and weekend field trips.
He doesn't know what it means to be discontent.
His life is simple.
He will never know the entanglements of wealth of power, and he does not care what brand of clothing he wears or what kind of food he eats. His needs have always been met, and he never worries that one day they may not be. His hands are diligent. Kevin is never so happy as when he is working. When he unloads the dishwasher or vacuums the carpet, his heart is completely in it. He does not shrink from a job when it is begun, and he does not leave a job until it is finished But when his tasks are done, Kevin knows how to relax.
He is not obsessed with his work or the work of others. His heart is pure..
He still believes everyone tells the truth, promises must be kept, and when you are wrong, you apologize instead of argue.
Free from pride and unconcerned with appearances, Kevin is not afraid to cry when he is hurt, angry or sorry. He is always transparent, always sincere. And he trusts God.
Not confined by intellectual reasoning, when he comes to Christ, he comes as a child. Kevin seems to know God - to really be friends with Him in a way that is difficult for an 'educated' person to grasp. God seems like his closest companion.
In my moments of doubt and frustrations with my Christianity I envy the security Kevin has in his simple faith.
It is then that I am most willing to admit that he has some divine knowledge that rises above my mortal questions.
It is then I realize that perhaps he is not the one with the handicap -- I am. My obligations, my fear, my pride, my circumstances - they all become disabilities when I do not trust them to God's care.
Who knows if Kevin comprehends things I can never learn? After all, he has spent his whole life in that kind of innocence, praying after dark and soaking up the goodness and love of God.
And one day, when the mysteries of heaven are opened, and we are all amazed at how close God really is to our hearts, I'll realize that God heard the simple prayers of a boy who believed that God lived under his bed.
Kevin won't be surprised at all!
~ Author Unknown
This touched my heart -- thanks, Bill!
Friday, May 23, 2008
The Cost of Abortion
St. Michael's Media: Some promo clips from our excting new show "The Cost of Abortion". For more details, visit http://www.thecostofabortion.com/
Via Catholic Tube.
St. John Baptist de Rossi, Confessor, 'The Apostle of the Abandoned'
John was born in Voltaggio, diocese of Genoa, Italy, in 1698. He was one of four children of Carlo de Rossi and Francesca Anfosi, who were poor, but pious parents. At the age of ten, he was taken in by wealthy friends of the family who saw to it that he was well-educated.
At the suggestion of his uncle, Lorenzo de Rossi, a Church Canon, John travelled to Rome to study at the Collegium Romanum, under the Jesuits. He entered the Roman College at 13 and completed the classical course of studies but began practicing severe mortification. This practice, combined with a heavy course load and a bout of epilepsy, led to a breakdown, and he was forced to leave the college. He recuperated and completed his training at Minerva but never fully regained his former strength.
At the age of 23 he was ordained (with dispensation, due to his poor health),and celebrated his first Mass in the Roman College. He was assigned to Rome, where he worked with the poor and the sick. He concentrated especially on the hospice of Saint Galla, an overnight shelter for paupers that had been founded by Pope Celestine III. John also helped start a nearby hospice for homeless women, which he placed under the protection of St. Aloysius Gonzaga - one of his favorite saints.
For many years, John avoided hearing confessions for fear he would have a seizure in the confessional, but the bishop of Civitá Castellana convinced him it was part of his vocation; he relented, and soon became one of the most sought after confessors in Rome. He worked tirelessly, spending many hours a day hearing confessions, particularly those of prisoners, the poor and illiterate in the hospitals or in their homes. He preached to them five and six times a day in churches, chapels convents, hospitals, barracks, and prison cells, so that he became known as "the apostle of the abandoned", a second Philip Neri.
John's frail health compelled him in 1763 to move to the Trinita dei Pellegrini, where he suffered a stroke that same year and received the last sacraments. He recovered enough to resume celebrating Mass, but, in 1764, he had another stroke and died at the age of 66. He was buried at the altar of the Blessed Virgin in the Church of Trinita de Pelleghrini. He was canonized by Pope Leo XIII on December 8,1881.
Thursday, May 22, 2008
The Last Lion of Abortion
By Father Thomas J. Enteneur, President of Human Life International
Sen. John McCain responded to the news of Sen. Edward Kennedy’s brain tumor saying that Ted Kennedy was the “last lion of the Senate.” Nice words, but hollow. Clearly Kennedy has been a forty year force to reckon with in the US Senate, but lionizing him for his headstrong political partisanship over four decades is a little like saying that sticking around for a long time and being opinionated qualifies as a “legacy.” That very record of anti-life advocacy is the measure by which his soul will be judged.
While I pray for Sen. Kennedy’s recovery from a brain tumor, I pray more for his recovery from the cancerous metastasis of abortion ideology in his soul. MORE
One of My Favorites From JMT
John Michael Talbot Live in Concert performing one of his best-known songs, "Holy is His Name".
John Michael Talbott Speaks About Fire at Little Portion
A video message from John Michael about the recent fire at Little Portion Hermitage. http://www.johnmichaeltalbot.com
Grace Before Meals - Green Pesto Sauce
I hope that he is using whole grain pasta -- brown rice, whole wheat, kamut, or corn -- which is much healthier and more nutritious for you. The green sauce is perfect for Ordinary time.
The Flip Flop Test
What Your Flip Flops Say About You |
 You are an outdoorsy person. You feel most comfortable in nature. Beautiful scenery and good weather always brighten up your day. Being outside allows you to feel calm and connected to the world. Problems don't seem so big when you realize how small you are in the scheme of things. Your ideal warm weather place: Costa Rica |
What Your Taste in Music Says About You
What Your Taste in Music Says About You |
 Your musical tastes are upbeat and conventional. You are an easy going, optimistic person. Family and friends are very important to you. You enjoy caring for and helping other people. You thrive in a tranquil environment, and you do your best to keep things peaceful. You enjoy your life. You have your priorities straight. |
What Your Fridge Says About You
What Your Fridge Says About You |
 You aren't greedy, but you don't really deprive yourself either. You strike a good balance with the stuff you buy. You tend to be a fairly thrifty person. You splurge occasionally, but you're mostly a saver. You are a very adventurous person. You love to try new things, and you get bored very easily. You are responsible, together, and mature. You act like an adult, even when you don't feel like it. You are likely to be married - and very busy. |
What Obama Supports
Jill Stanek tells us: As we've been discussing the past couple days, Barack and Michelle Obama fully support partial birth abortion.
In fact, they've gone so far as to attempt to raise money by fear-mongering about the Partial Birth Abortion Ban, calling it a "legitimate medical procedure." Read More here. (Graphic Image contained in this link.)
If you are unfamiliar with this procedure, please refer to this video demonstration (warning: graphic images) for further information.
President Bush Signs Genetic Nondiscrimination Act Protecting Both Born and Unborn
Act protects women from financial pressure to abort children with genetic disorders
- In an important blow to the eugenics movement, President George Bush yesterday signed into law a bill preventing health insurance companies and employers from discriminating against born or unborn individuals on the basis of genetic information.
"It protects our citizens from having genetic information misused, and this bill does so without undermining the basic premise of the insurance industry," said Bush of the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA).
Proponents of the GINA have expressed fears that healthy individuals with genetic dispositions toward certain diseases could end up paying more for insurance. They also fear that employers would only hire or retain individuals without genetic dispositions towards disease in order to avoid future instances of an unhealthy workforce.
The version of the GINA signed yesterday included important language protecting families from discrimination based upon genetic abnormalities found in their unborn children or in those they were about to adopt. MORE from LifeSiteNews.
I'm happy to see this finally passed. Those who have genetic abnormalities have been discriminated against in the worst ways.
Today's Saint: St. Rita of Cascia, Religious, Patron Saint of Desperate Causes
St. Rita was born at Rocca Porena in the Diocese of Spoleto in 1386 to Antonio and Amata Lotti, who were quite advanced in years. Rita’s birth was an answer to their prayers. The family was well-known for their charity, which merited them the surname of "Peacemakers of Jesus Christ".
Rita brought much joy to her parents. She was a cheerful, amiable, pious and devout child who spent much of her time in prayer. At the age of twelve, she desired to consecrate herself to God in the religious state. Pious though her parents were, they refused her pleas, but instead gave her away in marriage, at the age of eighteen, to an ill-tempered young man who was the town watchman. The couple had two sons, who inherited their father's temperament.
After 18 years of marriage, Rita’s husband was murdered by an old enemy. Her sons swore vengeance on their father’s killers, but through Rita's intercessory prayers, they forgave the offenders. Both of her sons died shortly afterwards.
Rita's former desire to consecrate herself to God in the religious life returned. On three separate occasions, she asked to be admitted to the Augustinian Nuns, but her request was refused each time, and she returned home to Rocca Porrena.
One night, as Rita was praying, she heard someone call her name and a knock on the door. Miraculously she was instantly transported to the Augustinian monastery. Astonished at the miracle, the Nuns received Rita, and accepted her as one of their own.
St. Rita lived a very austere life and performed many severe penances. After hearing a homily on the Passion of Christ she returned to her cell; kneeling before her crucifix, she prayed: "Let me, my Jesus share in Thy suffering, at least of one of Thy thorns". Her prayer was answered. Suddenly one of the thorns detached itself from Christ’s crown of thorns and fastened itself on her forehead so deeply that she could not remove it. The wound became worse, and gangrene set in. Because of the foul odor emanating from the wound, she was denied the companionship of the other Sisters for fifteen years.
As St. Rita was dying, she requested a relative to bring her a rose from her old home at Rocca Porrena. Although it was not the season for roses, the relative went and found a rose in full bloom. For this reason roses are blessed in the Saint's honor. She died May 22, 1456, and both in life and after death has worked many miracles.
After St. Rita's death, her face became beautifully radiant, while the odor from her wound was as fragrant as that of the roses she loved so much. The sweet odor spread through the convent and into the church, where it has continued ever since. Her body has remained incorrupt to this day; the face is beautiful and well preserved.
When St. Rita died her cell was aglow with heavenly light, while the great bell of the monastery rang of itself. A relative with a paralyzed arm, upon touching her sacred remains, was cured. A carpenter, who had known the Saint, offered to make the coffin. Immediately, he recovered the use of his long stiffened hands.St. Rita of Cascia was the first woman to be canonized in the Great Jubilee at the beginning of the 20th century, on May 24, 1900.
Rita is well-known as a patron of desperate, seemingly impossible causes and situations. She is also the patron saint of abuse victims, difficult marriages, infertility, impossible causes, parenthood, sterility, and widows.
Quote:
The saint of Cascia belongs to the great host of Christian women who "have had a significant impact on the life of the Church as well as of society" (Apostolic Letter Mulieris dignitatem, n. 27). Rita well interpreted the "feminine genius" by living it intensely in both physical and spiritual motherhood.
~ Pope John Paul II
Prayer to Saint Rita
Holy Patroness of those in need, Saint Rita, you were humble, pure and patient. Your pleadings with your divine Spouse are irresistible, so please obtain for me from our risen Jesus the request I make of you: {mention your petition}. Be kind to me for the greater glory of God, and I shall honor you and sing your praises forever. Glorious Saint Rita, you miraculously participated in the sorrowful passion of our Lord Jesus Christ. Obtain for me now the grace to suffer with resignation the troubles of this life, and protect me in all my needs. Amen.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Fr. Frank Pavone: Through the Church
Abortion will end.
The premise of Priests for Life is that abortion will end through the Church, because Christ has conquered death, and it is He who works through each of us to bring this victory to every segment of our society.
By the “Church,” I mean the entire Body of Christ. Pope John Paul II, in The Gospel of Life, told us, “No single person or group has a monopoly on the defense and promotion of life. These are everyone’s task and responsibility” (EV 91). He says this after asserting that the effort must be ecumenical and, in fact, must include the involvement of all people of good will.
The United States Catholic Bishops have provided marvelous guidance on how the pro-life effort of the Catholic Church should be undertaken, and at the conclusion of their national Pastoral Plan for Pro-life Activities, they echo what John Paul II said in the quote above. They write, “We hold in high esteem all who proclaim and serve the Gospel of life. Through their peaceful activism, education, prayer, and service, they witness to God’s truth and embody our Lord’s command to love one another as he loves us. We assure them of our continuing prayers. And we renew our appeal to all in the Catholic community to join with them and with us in building a ‘culture of life.’”
That openness to others, that esteem for those who work for life in every denomination, and even outside the realm of Christianity, is essential for success - and that attitude is inherently a Catholic attitude. The word “Catholic,” after all, means “universal.”
Those of you who follow my work know that we begin by energizing and activating the priests, who are called, by their ordination, to reach out well beyond the boundaries of the Catholic Church, and in fact to be spiritual fathers.
Back in 1994, I gave a talk to priests and lay leaders in the Philippines at the invitation of the local bishops. In that talk I said the following:
“It’s not any easier to raise up a spiritual family than a physical family. Some people say: “Priests don’t have any children, their lives must be easier.” But that thinking tends toward materialism, which sees physical realities as the only realities. Spiritual realities are real ones too, and priests have spiritual children! Think of those who hear the preaching and embrace Christ and His Church, or receive new life by the sacraments. These are our spiritual children! If we are not of the mind that we are to be generative, that we are to bring spiritual children into the world, then we are practicing what might be called a clerical contraception. We are ordained to bring forth life and to do so generously.” (For the full talk, see www.priestsforlife.org/articles/Role.html)
That’s where we need to start. Let’s pray that our priests be spiritual fathers bringing forth many children who will work hand in hand with all people to build the culture of life!
This column can be found online here.
Praise for our Work!
In Jan 07 I found out I was pregnant with my second child...I lost my first to miscarriage...well I wasn't prepared at all for being a single parent...so I was 8 weeks pregnant looking up things on abortion....and I came across this site...and saw what would happen to the child inside me....because of your site, the pictures the information and everything..On September 5, 2007 I had a beautiful little girl...healthy as could be! She is now 8 months old...and she has beautiful blue eyes...brown hair with blond and red highlights...and the sweetest grin ever...thank you for making this site and putting the pictures up....I will be spreading the word about what good you do for the aborted babies.... Thank you so much again!
-- Amanda and Graclyn
PTL! Another Human Life Saved! Ongoing Prayers Needed
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
At about 10:10 am, when C.S., and her son, were on-site at the gate of the Tiller Abortion Facility, a young black lady in her 20's came walking across Bleckley Street toward Tiller's gate, intending to go into his facility.
C.S. approached her before she got to Tiller's gate, and encouraged her to talk. She is six weeks pregnant, and she told C.S. that her boyfriend, (who was not with her) wants her to have an abortion… because he does not want a baby.
C.S. was able to re-direct her to the ProLife Choices Medical Clinic, next door to Tiller's for a free sonogram, and she kept her from going into Tillers. C.S. walked with her to Choices' door, and introduced her to the receptionist at Choices Medical Clinic. She remained there at Choices beyond the end of C.S.'s shift.
C.S. describes her as a beautiful black lady in her early 20's, well dressed, alone, and in an emotionally distressed mood. C.S. shared this event with J. D., when J.D. replaced C.S. and her son on-site. Then J.D. shared the events with R. M., when he showed up on-site for his shift at about noon.
Then at approximately 12:40 pm, when R.M. was the volunteer on-site, the pregnant young black lady came back to the gate again, and began talking to R.M. According to R.M., she seemed scared and agitated, and she was holding information from Choices Medical clinic in her hand. However, she was very willing to talk to R.M. and to let him know what was going on.
She told R.M. that she wanted to keep the baby, and that it was her boyfriend who did not want the child. She now intends to keep this baby. She also told R.M., that her car was in the shop, that she needed a ride to the SRS office, to apply for benefits, as the counselor at Choices Medical Clinic advised her to do. Unfortunately, R.M. was the only volunteer on-site at that time, and he explained to her that he could not leave until his replacement showed up at 1:30 pm.
Providentially, at about that time, F. K. showed up on-site unexpectedly, and she offered to help. At the time of this posting, this young would-be abortion client is with F. K. at the SRS Office in Wichita, making arrangements to keep her child.
Prayers of thanksgiving for the chain of events that led to this successful outcome, and on-going prayers for this young lady are requested.
~Via The Kansas Coalition for Life.
Wednesday's Fuel for the Fire
Today's Mass Readings
Saint of the Day: Sts. Christopher Magallanes, priest, and companions, martyrs
Today in Catholic History:
996 Pope Gregory V (ca. 970–999; reigned 996–999) crowned Otto III (980–1002) as emperor.
1864 Joseph de Veuster (better known as Father Damien, 1840–1889) was ordained priest in Honolulu. In 1873 at his own request he was sent to a settlement of lepers on the island of Molokai, where he later contracted the disease and died.
1972 Wielding a hammer, Laszlo Toth damaged one of the world's most celebrated sculptures, Michelangelo's Pietà, in the Vatican at Rome.
Birthday:
Giuseppe Mercalli, an Italian volcanologist, was born on May 21, 1850 in the Italian city of Milan. He was ordained a Roman Catholic priest and soon became a professor of the Natural Sciences at the seminary of Milan. He is best remembered today for his Mercalli scale for measuring earthquakes which is still used today.
Today's Prayer Intentions/Requests
Today's Prayer Intentions
Today I am praying for the following intentions:
For Senator Kennedy, who has a malignant brain tumor. I am praying for total healing of his mind, body, and soul. To send a prayer to him, go here.
For a young man who is going through a painful divorce.
For all those with cancer who have requested prayer: Bob, John, A.D., Fr. L., and C.F.
For Adam K., who will be ordained this coming weekend.
For Lindsay and her baby, who has been very ill.
For an end to the culture of death and the closing of all abortion mills.
For all previous prayer requests mentioned here.
For my two businesses -- that they run smoothly and generate some needed income soon. (St. Joseph, pray for us!)
For all the prayer requests at One Came Back.
Catholic Carnival: Rosary for Mother Mary
Image Source: Praying & Sending the Rosary Around the World
This week's Catholic Carnival is up and is being hosted by Sarah at Just Another Day of Catholic Pondering. It has a beautiful rosary theme and a wide variety of great posts.
Here are a few of my favorite posts there:
Alexa's post "Blessed are the Pure of Heart," in which is she bares her heart and testifies to Our Heavenly Father’s infinite mercy and compassion. You'll learn about her late husband and how prayer played a part in the struggle that she holds up to us as a gift, one she shares with grace.
Elizabeth's "Playing Elizabeth to Their Mary, in which she shares a view of the Visitation from within. As an "aged Elizabeth," she found herself ministered to by many women, and it felt, she says, as though "I'd been mothered by the Blessed Mother herself."
Kate's I'll Never Walk Alone. When God designed marriage, he knew what