Thursday, March 20, 2008
Christians in Iraq
By listening to TV news and comentary as well as most newspapers, you would never know that most of the Christians in Iraq have left, become homeless or died. The Archbishop was killed a week ago. The persecution is carried out by the same folks our President expects to create a "peaceful, democratic" country. Pray for their safety.
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Actor Martin Sheen named recipient of Notre Dame's Laetare Medal - Catholic Online
Actor Martin Sheen named recipient of Notre Dame's Laetare Medal - Catholic Online
It is always uplifting to know that even a celebrity like Sheen is recognized for actions of the heart.
It is always uplifting to know that even a celebrity like Sheen is recognized for actions of the heart.
Monday, December 3, 2007
The First Monday of Advent
A letter from St Francis Xavier to St Ignatius
Woe to me if I do not preach the Gospel
We have visited the villages of the new converts who accepted the Christian religion a few years ago. No Portuguese live here the country is so utterly barren and poor. The native Christians have no priests. They know only that they are Christians. There is nobody to say Mass for them; nobody to teach them the Creed, the Our Father, the Hail Mary and the Commandments of God’s Law.
I have not stopped since the day I arrived. I conscientiously made the rounds of the villages. I bathed in the sacred waters all the children who had not yet been baptised. This means that I have purified a very large number of children so young that, as the saying goes, they could not tell their right hand from their left. The older children would not let me say my Office or eat or sleep until I taught them one prayer or another.
Then I began to understand: “The kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these”. I could not refuse so devout a request without failing in devotion myself. I taught them, first the confession of faith in the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, then the Apostles’ Creed, the Our Father and Hail Mary.
I noticed among them persons of great intelligence. If only someone could educate them in the Christian way of life, I have no doubt that they would make excellent Christians. Many, many people hereabouts are not becoming Christians for one reason only: there is nobody to make them Christians. Again and again I have thought of going round the universities of Europe, especially Paris, and everywhere crying out like a madman, riveting the attention of those with more learning than charity: “What a tragedy: how many souls are being shut out of heaven and falling into hell, thanks to you!”I wish they would work as hard at this as they do at their books, and so settle their account with God for their learning and the talents entrusted to them.This thought would certainly stir most of them to meditate on spiritual realities, to listen actively to what God is saying to them. They would forget their own desires, their human affairs, and give themselves over entirely to God’s will and his choice. They would cry out with all their heart: Lord, I am here! What do you want me to do? Send me anywhere you like – even to India.
Woe to me if I do not preach the Gospel
We have visited the villages of the new converts who accepted the Christian religion a few years ago. No Portuguese live here the country is so utterly barren and poor. The native Christians have no priests. They know only that they are Christians. There is nobody to say Mass for them; nobody to teach them the Creed, the Our Father, the Hail Mary and the Commandments of God’s Law.
I have not stopped since the day I arrived. I conscientiously made the rounds of the villages. I bathed in the sacred waters all the children who had not yet been baptised. This means that I have purified a very large number of children so young that, as the saying goes, they could not tell their right hand from their left. The older children would not let me say my Office or eat or sleep until I taught them one prayer or another.
Then I began to understand: “The kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these”. I could not refuse so devout a request without failing in devotion myself. I taught them, first the confession of faith in the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, then the Apostles’ Creed, the Our Father and Hail Mary.
I noticed among them persons of great intelligence. If only someone could educate them in the Christian way of life, I have no doubt that they would make excellent Christians. Many, many people hereabouts are not becoming Christians for one reason only: there is nobody to make them Christians. Again and again I have thought of going round the universities of Europe, especially Paris, and everywhere crying out like a madman, riveting the attention of those with more learning than charity: “What a tragedy: how many souls are being shut out of heaven and falling into hell, thanks to you!”I wish they would work as hard at this as they do at their books, and so settle their account with God for their learning and the talents entrusted to them.This thought would certainly stir most of them to meditate on spiritual realities, to listen actively to what God is saying to them. They would forget their own desires, their human affairs, and give themselves over entirely to God’s will and his choice. They would cry out with all their heart: Lord, I am here! What do you want me to do? Send me anywhere you like – even to India.
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Benedict Will Visit
Pope Benedict XVI will visit the US in April 2008, stopping in Washington and New York, the apostolic nuncio to the US has confirmed.
Speaking on November 12 to the US bishops, who are gathered in Baltimore this week for their annual meeting, Archbishop Pietro Sambi discussed plans for a papal visit on April 15- 20.
"He will not travel much, but will address himself to the whole people of the United States," the nuncio said. The Pope will visit the White House and speak at Catholic University during his stay in Washington.
The highlight of the papal visit is expected to be an address to the United Nations on April 18. He will also visit Ground Zero-- the site of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001-- and celebrate Mass at St. Patrick's cathedral.
During his trip the Pope is scheduled to preside at two outdoor Masses, held at baseball stadiums in New York and Washington.
The tentative schedule for the papal trip does not include visits to Boston or Philadelphia, two other cities that had lobbied for inclusion on the papal itinerary. (Earlier plans for the papal tour had included a stop in Boston, according to informed officials.)
Although the Vatican has not yet announced official plans for the trip, and Church spokesmen say that details could be altered, the public statement by Archbishop Sambi, the Pope's official representative in Washington, indicates that the plans are well established.
Courtesy of Catholic World News
Speaking on November 12 to the US bishops, who are gathered in Baltimore this week for their annual meeting, Archbishop Pietro Sambi discussed plans for a papal visit on April 15- 20.
"He will not travel much, but will address himself to the whole people of the United States," the nuncio said. The Pope will visit the White House and speak at Catholic University during his stay in Washington.
The highlight of the papal visit is expected to be an address to the United Nations on April 18. He will also visit Ground Zero-- the site of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001-- and celebrate Mass at St. Patrick's cathedral.
During his trip the Pope is scheduled to preside at two outdoor Masses, held at baseball stadiums in New York and Washington.
The tentative schedule for the papal trip does not include visits to Boston or Philadelphia, two other cities that had lobbied for inclusion on the papal itinerary. (Earlier plans for the papal tour had included a stop in Boston, according to informed officials.)
Although the Vatican has not yet announced official plans for the trip, and Church spokesmen say that details could be altered, the public statement by Archbishop Sambi, the Pope's official representative in Washington, indicates that the plans are well established.
Courtesy of Catholic World News
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
Guardian Angels
One of the many gifts given to me by God are Guardian Angels. Today, Oct. 2, we celebrate that gift. Read the entry in the Catholic Encyclopedia.
The angels are represented throughout the Bible as a body of spiritual beings intermediate between God and men: "You have made him (man) a little less than the angels" (Psalm 8:6). They, equally with man, are created beings; "praise ye Him, all His angels: praise ye Him, all His hosts . . . for He spoke and they were made. He commanded and they were created" (Psalm 148:2, 5; Colossians 1:16-17). That the angels were created was laid down in the Fourth Lateran Council (1215). The decree "Firmiter" against the Albigenses declared both the fact that they were created and that men were created after them. This decree was repeated by the Vatican Council, "Dei Filius". We mention it here because the words: "He that liveth for ever created all things together" (Ecclesiasticus 18:1) have been held to prove a simultaneous creation of all things; but it is generally conceded that "together" (simul) may here mean "equally", in the sense that all things were "alike" created. They are spirits; the writer of the Epistle to the Hebrews says: "Are they not all ministering spirits, sent to minister to them who shall receive the inheritance of salvation?" (Hebrews 1:14).
The angels are represented throughout the Bible as a body of spiritual beings intermediate between God and men: "You have made him (man) a little less than the angels" (Psalm 8:6). They, equally with man, are created beings; "praise ye Him, all His angels: praise ye Him, all His hosts . . . for He spoke and they were made. He commanded and they were created" (Psalm 148:2, 5; Colossians 1:16-17). That the angels were created was laid down in the Fourth Lateran Council (1215). The decree "Firmiter" against the Albigenses declared both the fact that they were created and that men were created after them. This decree was repeated by the Vatican Council, "Dei Filius". We mention it here because the words: "He that liveth for ever created all things together" (Ecclesiasticus 18:1) have been held to prove a simultaneous creation of all things; but it is generally conceded that "together" (simul) may here mean "equally", in the sense that all things were "alike" created. They are spirits; the writer of the Epistle to the Hebrews says: "Are they not all ministering spirits, sent to minister to them who shall receive the inheritance of salvation?" (Hebrews 1:14).
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
What Happened to the First Amendment
The Daily Dispatch
TUCSON - Two priests who wanted to put alleged torture training at Fort Huachuca on trial have been blocked from that defense strategy by a Tucson-based federal magistrate.On Wednesday, U.S. Magistrate Héctor Estrada told the Rev. Stephen Kelly and the Rev. Louis Vitale that he was granting the government's motion not to allow the defendants to use what they contend is torture training on the Southern Arizona Army post.He also denied the priests' request for a jury trial.But the judge also denied the government's attempt to have Vitale's prior arrests and convictions as prima facie evidence of trespass.Both priests have been charged with trespassing on Fort Huachuca on Nov. 19, as well as failure to comply with a Sierra Vista police officer.Defense attorney William Quigley said his clients believe that by putting torture on trial they will be able to prove they were acting on a higher moral ground to stop the practice and they were denied some of their First Amendment rights, primarily the right to assemble, petition the government and practice free speech.Army Capt. Evan Seamone, who is prosecuting the case as a special assistant U.S. attorney, argued the issue is simply one of trespass and refusing to obey a civilian law officer.On Aug. 13, both attorneys presented their points to Estrada at the federal courthouse in Tucson.In granting the government's motion to exclude certain evidence, supporters of the priests said the two men and their attorney have had a gag order put on them.
This is one time I wish my legs worked better. I would like to join them physically. But I am with them in Spirit.
TUCSON - Two priests who wanted to put alleged torture training at Fort Huachuca on trial have been blocked from that defense strategy by a Tucson-based federal magistrate.On Wednesday, U.S. Magistrate Héctor Estrada told the Rev. Stephen Kelly and the Rev. Louis Vitale that he was granting the government's motion not to allow the defendants to use what they contend is torture training on the Southern Arizona Army post.He also denied the priests' request for a jury trial.But the judge also denied the government's attempt to have Vitale's prior arrests and convictions as prima facie evidence of trespass.Both priests have been charged with trespassing on Fort Huachuca on Nov. 19, as well as failure to comply with a Sierra Vista police officer.Defense attorney William Quigley said his clients believe that by putting torture on trial they will be able to prove they were acting on a higher moral ground to stop the practice and they were denied some of their First Amendment rights, primarily the right to assemble, petition the government and practice free speech.Army Capt. Evan Seamone, who is prosecuting the case as a special assistant U.S. attorney, argued the issue is simply one of trespass and refusing to obey a civilian law officer.On Aug. 13, both attorneys presented their points to Estrada at the federal courthouse in Tucson.In granting the government's motion to exclude certain evidence, supporters of the priests said the two men and their attorney have had a gag order put on them.
This is one time I wish my legs worked better. I would like to join them physically. But I am with them in Spirit.
Sunday, September 16, 2007
Always Room at the Top
BBC NEWS South Asia Gods row minister offers to quit
It would be easy to react with the idea of "How can this be" and dismiss the millions who believe RAM made this a holy place. Each of us comes to God in their own way.
It would be easy to react with the idea of "How can this be" and dismiss the millions who believe RAM made this a holy place. Each of us comes to God in their own way.
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