From the Knights of Columbus:
From Fathers for Good
I also want to take the opportunity to wish all the fathers, dads, daddies, grandpas and also all our priests, a very happy and blessed Father's Day.
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Quiz for the Fathers - Happy Father's Day
From the Knights of Columbus:
From Fathers for Good
I also want to take the opportunity to wish all the fathers, dads, daddies, grandpas and also all our priests, a very happy and blessed Father's Day.
Seminarian John's Summer Update
My regular readers/visitors may have become familiar with the updates I occasionally share by John, a seminarian with the Marians of the Immaculate Conception. The following is his most recent update which he as given me permission to share here. As you will read, he is scheduled to be a guest on EWTN's the Journey Home in early July. Make sure to watch!
Please remember to keep all our seminarians and priests in your daily prayers.
Please remember to keep all our seminarians and priests in your daily prayers.
Dear friends,
Greetings from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy in Stockbridge, MA! I just want to share with you a couple of things that have happened to me recently and ask for your prayers because I need your help!
The first is that I've been asked to translate Father Don Calloway's most recent book, No Turning Back, into Spanish. This wouldn't be my first big Spanish translation project but my timeline is tight (August 1st is the due date). I need to move fast without sacrificing quality and being faithful to his literary voice. So far my pace is on target but I could still use your prayers! :) I believe strongly that this book will also impact many souls of Spanish-speaking Catholics. I volunteered here during Divine Mercy Sunday and was selling Father Don's book. Many Spanish-speaking pilgrims came up and asked when it would be available in Spanish. The way things are shaping up it looks as though the Spanish edition will be ready in time for next Divine Mercy Sunday. Thanks be to God!
The second thing I'm very excited about but am still working through some nerves. Earlier this year, Father Don invited me to tag along with him while he did a taping of The Journey Home with Marcus Grodi, which as many of you know is a show on EWTN where converts to Catholicism are interviewed. Father Don introduced me to Marcus and his producers and they expressed interest in hearing my own conversion story. I emailed it to them and didn't hear back for months so I assumed they weren't interested. Well, right before I left for DC they emailed me and asked me to do a taping. They are flying me out to do a show with Marcus on the 22nd. If it's approved by EWTN producers in Irondale, it will air on July 5th.
I intend to share some personal things regarding my conversion that involve my historical struggle with depression and how Jesus simply eradicated it. Most of you don't know that I struggled for about 8 or 9 years with depression. I've now been free of all symptoms of depression for the last 3 years, and Jesus is the reason. I'm somewhat nervous about speaking very openly about it but I've been praying a lot about it and I feel it's what God is asking me to do. I'm hoping that by hearing my story that young people struggling with depression will turn to Jesus to ask for help, specifically through receiving the Eucharist, Eucharistic adoration and the rosary. Jesus acting through these three things simply took it away from me. He is now the only counselor and medication I will need for the rest of my life.
So far Jesus and this holy place I'm living at for the summer have been sustaining me. I'm at peace most of the day and joyful but now and again get hit with a major bout of nervousness and uncertainty. If you could say a prayer for me regarding these two things, I would most appreciate it! I feel God is stretching me with both of them but I'm very hopeful that some very good things can come from both of them as well!
Thank you so very much and God bless you!
Hail Mary,
--
John N
Rosary Rally - Ending the Year of the Priests
We used Cardinal Carberry's Rosary for priests to pray for priests' special intentions. That very beautiful rosary can be found here.
Following the Rosary recitation, Father Vince Inghilterra, graciously thanked us on behalf of all the priests, for remembering them and for praying for them. He asked us to continue praying for all priests.
Father gave us a beautiful blessing and thus ended the Year for Priests in the Diocese of Honolulu.
I do want to thank everyone who attended and especially Cami for making this possible. She really worked fast in organizing considering the late notice.
Remember: Pray for our Priests!!
Friday, June 18, 2010
The Gospel Message of Today and Daily Resolution
Matthew 6: 19-23
Jesus said to his disciples: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. "The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light; but if your eye is unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!”
Father Paul brief homily based on the above Gospel reading was very profound. He said that people have a tendency to love things and use people. They should instead use things and love people.
I will do everything this day out of love for Christ and to help establish his Kingdom, renewing my conscious efforts to store up treasures in heaven.
Regnum Christi Daily Meditation
Marriage
1. Vivicat's Rules for Married Dialog
2. A number of articles that appeared in the June Issue of the Word Among Us.
- From Water to Wine: What is the key to a good marriage? Sacramental grace!
- Nothing is More Precious: St. John Chrysostom on the Beauty of Married Love
- A Family United: Keys to Building a Mini Church
- Marriage Matters: An ages-old institution faces new challenges.
- Caught Up in Divine Love: Vatican II on the beauty of married love
New Site Added to the Sidebar - Courageous Priest
Thanks to John Michael of St. Robert Bellarmine's Blog for Courageous Priest
Chef to Enter Seminary
Anyone who has tried Smith's food at the Upperline -- the dark, dense gumbo, the nostril-flaring Gulf shrimp piquant, the duck-andouille etouffee that is filling in more ways than one -- should not be surprised to discover there is a spiritual component to his cooking. Upperline owner JoAnn Clevenger, who has worked with Smith for nearly 20 years, was still shocked late last month when Smith told her he was leaving the kitchen behind to become a priest.Read it here.
Thanks MJ for sharing.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Rosary Rallies for Priests Give Final Flourish to Their Special Year
Have you heard about the Rosary for Priests? People will be gathering on the steps of Cathedrals in many dioceses on June 19 at 10am, to offer a Rosary for priests to commemorate the last day of the Year for Priests. While last Friday was the ceremonial ending, the indulgences are available until June 19. And on top of that, it is Father’s Day weekend — what more fitting time could there be to pray for our spiritual Fathers?Read the rest here
Pontiff: Love of neighbor flows from closeness to Eucharist
Photo of Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament taken in a Church in NYC midday.
Addressing the Roman diocesan congress, which began June 15 in the Lateran Basilica, Pope Benedict reflected on the congress’s theme: the Sunday Eucharist and the witness of charity.Read the rest here.
Catholic teaching on the Holy Eucharist “is insufficiently understood in its profound significance and in the relevance it has for believers' lives,” he said. Calling for a rediscovery of Eucharistic adoration and fidelity to liturgical norms, which “favors and promotes the growth of Eucharistic faith,” the Pope noted that “when we receive Christ, the love of God expands inside us, radically modifying our hearts and making us capable of gestures which, by the contagious power of goodness, can transform the lives of people around us.”
Spiritual Guidance: On Guarding Our Speech
In his book Spiritual Combat, Father Lorenzo Scupoli writes in detail on controlling one's speech. From the beginning of time, it is that small part of the body that causes the greatest harm when ill used. I have made a sort of Do's and Don't List from the counsel given by Dom Scupoli:
- Do not engage in lengthy conversation.
- Do not speak loudly.
- Do not speak in a dictatorial manner.
- Do not speak of yourself or of your doings.
- Do not speak of your family (unless it is absolutely necessary).
- DO speak of God, especially of His love and goodness.
Better still,
- DO listen to others speak of Him.
- DO ponder well in your heart, the thoughts that enter into your mind, BEFORE speaking.
- DO think frequently about the evils and dangers of talkativeness.
- Do keep silence even when you may lawfully speak. ("provided that no prejudice arises from it to your neighbor or to yourself.)
On Silence:
- it is a safe stronghold in the spiritual battle and a sure pledge of victory.
- it is a friend of him who distrusts self and trusts in God.
- it is the guardian of the spirit of prayer and a wonderful help in the attainment of virtues.
"...to keep aloof from conversation will be more helpful, because, instead of men, you will have for your companions the angels, the saints, and God Himself..."
Spiritual Combat available at Sophia Press.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Year for Priests. "It was to be expected that the 'enemy' wouldn't like it"
A tally of twelve months under constant fire. What the pope wanted, and what happened instead, with the explosion of the scandal of pedophilia. In the concluding homily, Joseph Ratzinger teaches Catholic priests how to walk towards the light in the "dark valley"Read the rest of Sandro Magister's post here
Writer tells story of love and compassion after murder of pastor
Last October, the parishioners at St. Patrick's Church in Chatham, N.J., were horrified when their pastor, Father Edward Hinds, was found murdered in the rectory. Tuesday, in an article appearing in The Wall Street Journal, former presidential speech writer William McGurn described his experiences “as a guest” in the St. Patrick's community, where he has seen firsthand over the past months the love and compassion of a community struck by tragedy.You can read the rest of this beautiful story here
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Prayer for Innocent, Falsely Accused Priests
Father Vince I. asked if I could share the following with you. It is so important that we pray for our falsely accused priests.
Could you post this ... asking for prayers for our innocent priests? What a tragedy it is .... when we never hear a call for prayer from our leaders or even a petition or a prayer during Holy Mass for these these who are perhaps the priests closest to Our Lord in their suffering. The prayer was composed by Father Mychal Judge OFM who truly understood in his life what it was to suffer for Christ and who gave his life for those entrusted to his care on September 11th at ground zero.
They cried out, "Crucify him! Crucify him!"
Pilate said to them, "I find no guilt in him.
Take him yourselves and crucify him." (John 19)
Jesus Christ, Lamb of God,
falsely and maliciously accused by the mob,
have mercy on us.
Jesus Christ, Lamb of God,
handed over to death by cowardly authority,
have mercy on us.
Jesus Christ, Sun of Justice,
vindicated by your Resurrection,
grant us justice.
Father of Truth,
send the light of your Holy Spirit into the darkness
of every false accusation and unjust condemnation.
Give strength to the innocent to stand firmly in truth,
as you gave to Jesus, in the face of torture and death.
Give courage to church and civil authorities
to grant justice and due process to the innocent,
in the face of the mob.
Father of Mercy,
deliver your innocent ones from evil;
grant them speedy justice and vindication,
in the name of Jesus Christ, our Victim and Savior.
Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on all
innocent victims: the abused and the falsely accused.
(Follow with Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be)
* NOTE: Fr. Mychal Judge OFM fought for the vigorous defense of a falsely accused priest in 1988-89. The priest was acquitted when it was shown he'd been framed, and the evidence fabricated. (Ford biography: pp. 120-123).
Public Relations for Catholic Priests? Unique Website to Be Discussed on Live CatholicTV Talk Show
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Public Relations for Catholic Priests? Unique Website to Be Discussed on Live CatholicTV Talk Show
BOSTON-On June 25th, a unique website which posts thank you letters to priests will be discussed on the live CatholicTV talk show "This is the Day".
The creators of the website (letterstopriests.com) write that the purpose of the site is to "promote positive public relations of Catholic Priests." The website publishes stories written by average citizens (anyone can submit stories) who want to thank the priests who have affected their lives in positive ways. The stories range from a heroic, civil rights activist priest, to a priest who expressed tremendous joy even after being imprisoned and tortured in a Nazi concentration camp.
Matthew Warner, a contributing writer at the National Catholic Register wrote a positive review about the site saying that he liked the idea "Since it involves such a diversity of perspectives it has the potential to be a comprehensive collection of unique insights into the various ways priests benefit the community." Warner also mentioned the tragedy "that a very small percentage of bad priests have given a bad name to so many good ones."
This is the Day airs at 10:30AM ET at CatholicTV.com and on CatholicTV. The show is rebroadcast at 7:30PM.
Anne Hughes will be interviewed on This is the Day on June 25th. She helped to organize Letters to Priests and plans to publish a book which will be a collection of the letters submitted to the website.
Also to be interviewed on This is the Day, will be Liz Abramo, a high school junior from Massachusetts. She will talk about being a Catholic leader amongst her peer group.
Episodes of This is the Day are posted on the site's archives starting the same night of the broadcast day. All videos at the website are viewable in full-screen. Paste this URL into your browser in order to access the "This is the Day" video archives. http://www.CatholicTV.com/shows/default.aspx?seriesID=72
CatholicTV broadcasts across the US on Sky Angel channel 142, and selected cable outlets in New England and in Chattanooga (TN) where CatholicTV is available on FiTV channel 153. To find out where to watch CatholicTV visit: http://www.CatholicTV.com/schedule/where-to-watch.aspx
CatholicTV is a nationally-broadcasted television network streaming a live feed 24 hours a day at CatholicTV.com. Heeding Pope Benedict XVI's call to greater utilize the power of television and new media, the CatholicTV Network features its cable TV station, Catholic web site, mobile apps and widget. Celebrate Mass online; pray The Rosary; enjoy programs on prayer, the saints, the Scriptures and the Catholic Church on America's Catholic Television Network.
"This is the Day" can also be seen on demand at www.CatholicTV.com or downloaded via iTunes.com.and SQPN.com The hosts, Director of CatholicTV, Father Robert Reed, and General Manager, Jay Fadden discuss various topics of the week and respond to viewer mail (you may email the show at thisistheday@CatholicTV.com)
Monday, June 14, 2010
Flag Day
From our friends at Patriotic Resistance:
Properly Display Our Flag
There is a right way and a wrong way to display the flag. The American
flag should be held in the highest of regards. It represents our nation and
the many people who gave their lives for our country and our flag. Here are
the basics on displaying the American flag:
* The flag is normally flown from sunrise to sunset.
* In the morning, raise the flag briskly. At sunset, lower it slowly. Always, raise and lower it ceremoniously.
* The flag should not be flown at night without a light on it.
* The flag should not be flown in the rain or inclement weather.
* After a tragedy or death, the flag is flown at half staff for 30 days. It's called "half staff" on land ,and "half mast" on a ship.
* When flown vertically on a pole, the stars and blue field , or "union",
is at the top and at the end of the pole (away from your house).
* The American flag is always flown at the top of the pole. Your state flag and other flags fly below it.
* The union is always on top. When displayed in print, the stars and blue
field are always on the left.
* Never let your flag touch the ground, never...period.
* Fold your flag when storing. Don't just stuff it in a drawer or box.
* When your flag is old and has seen better days, it is time
to retire it. Old flags should be burned or buried. Please do not throw it in the trash.
The Colors
There is no official assignment of meaning or symbolism to the colors of the flag. However, Charles Thomson, secretary of the Continental Congress, in describing the Great Seal, related its
colors to those of the flag.
According to Thomson,
"White signifies purity and innocence,
Red, hardiness & valor,
and Blue . . . vigilance, perseverance & justice."
Vigilance, perseverance &
justice
Purity and
innocence
Hardiness &
valor
So the Red and White stripes of 13 represent the link to the original ground of 13 states on which the nation has been built up. And the stars, representing the union of now 50 states, have been laid on the blue canton to bind all of them with the bond of vigilance, perseverance and justice.
Father John Randall - On Eucharistic Adoration
Fr. Randall encourages every parish to develop a Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration program.Read the rest over at Ed's Blog here
In his usual exhilaration when speaking about the “Host exposed,”Fr. Randall exhorts “How I wish our Church were more obedient to Pope John Paul II! Did you know that he, at the Eucharistic Congress in Seville, Spain in 1993, requested that every parish in the world inaugurate perpetual adoration? He started it himself at that time in St. Peter’s in Rome. What fantastic graces await us if we only step out and do this! I believe that if it can bedone in an inner city parish, it can be done everywhere. Don’t be afraid. ‘Ducin altum,’ (‘set out into the deep’) as John Paul urges us at the beginning of this new millennium. The Eucharistic reign of Christ will do the rest!”