May 2013
93 posts
“To educate a man in mind and not in morals is to educate a menace to society.”
– Theodore Roosevelt
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Surrogacy fractures bond between parents and... →
By Ann Carey
Marie Hilliard is the director of bioethics and public policy for the National Catholic Bioethics Center. She holds a licentiate in canon law, as well as advanced degrees in religious studies and nursing education administration. She and her colleagues at the center write, speak and consult widely on bioethics. She recently spoke to Our Sunday Visitor about the ethical-moral issues...
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“We tend to shy away from evangelizing because what we’re offering...”
– Matthew Leonard, “Louder Than Words: The Art of Catholic Living”
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My Daily Visitor 5/21 (Tuesday Weekday) →
Commit your life to the Lord, and he will help you. — Psalm 37 (see 5)
Mass Readings: Sirach 2:1-11/Mark 9:30-37
Huddle Up
Before the Big Game, the coach has the team huddle up. He goes over strategy and gives last-minute instructions and encouragement. They listen, they jump up and cheer, and then they’re off into the game.
Read entire reflection.
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“Holiness is not an ethereal pursuit, or one reserved only for certain citizens...”
– Eric Sammons, “Holiness for Everyone: The Practical Spirituality of St. Josemaría Escrivá”
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Pentecost Sunday celebrates unity brought by Holy... →
By Carl E. Olson
“Spirit and fire are united — a true miracle, air and fire are joined together — awesome sight!”
So wrote the sixth-century Church Father, St. Romanus the Melodist, in a kontakion, or hymn, celebrating Pentecost. In another verse, he wrote, “Do you, then, dearly beloved, stand and simply observe the fire, which the One who is in heaven has sent from on high.”
Read entire...
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“It seems to me to engage the sinner and invite that one to conversion is at the...”
– Fr. Michael Crosy on how to respond to the Bangladesh factory collapse, as quoted in “Consumers play role in workplace injustices”
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“The newness which God brings into our life is something that actually brings...”
– Pope Francis, homily at Pentecost
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My Daily Visitor 5/20 (Monday Weekday) →
The Lord is king; he is robed in majesty. — Psalm 93:1
Mass Readings: Sirach 1:1-10/Mark 9:14-29
Help My Unbelief!
Theologically, doubt and unbelief are poles apart. Unbelief says I won’t believe because I don’t want to; doubt says I can’t believe although I want to. Unbelievers don’t doubt God — they simply leave God out of the equation altogether. But believers who take their faith...
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My Daily Visitor 5/19 (Pentecost Sunday) →
Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth. — Psalm 104 (cf. 30)
Mass Readings: Acts 2:1-11/1 Corinthians 12:3b-7, 12-13 or Romans 8:8-17/John 20:19-23 or John 14:15-16, 23b-26
Babel Redeemed
On the Jewish Feast of Pentecost, Jews (and some Gentile converts) had gathered at Jerusalem from various parts of the Roman Empire to worship God. Hebrew was the language of the Jews,...
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My Daily Visitor 5/18 (Saturday Easter Weekday) →
The just will gaze on your face, O Lord. — Psalm 11 (see 7)
Mass Readings: Acts 28:16-20, 30-31/John 21:20-25
Minding Our Business
Whether it’s a question of privileges or punishments, kids frequently want to know what will happen to a sibling: “How come he doesn’t have to go to bed?” “Is she grounded, too?” Today’s Gospel describes Peter’s...
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My Daily Visitor 5/17 (Friday Easter Weekday) →
The Lord has established his throne in heaven. — Psalm 103:19
Mass Readings: Acts 25:13b-21/John 21:15-19
Restored
Painful though it is to be let down, I think it’s much tougher to be the one who’s failed. Apart from remorse and guilt over having hurt a loved one, there are fears and anxieties to deal with: “Does she still love me?” or “Will he ever trust me again?”
Read entire reflection.
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“Prayer requires trust, nearness, almost a hand-to-hand contact that is symbolic...”
– Pope Benedict XVI, Prayer
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My Daily Visitor 5/16 (Thursday Easter Weekday) →
Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope. — Psalm 16:1
Mass Readings: Acts 22:30; 23:6-11/John 17:20-26
Divided We Fall
Today’s first reading is an example of “united we stand, divided we fall.” The Sadducees didn’t believe in the resurrection; the Pharisees did. Whether intentionally or otherwise, Paul is able to capitalize on this difference to create division within the Sanhedrin, resulting...
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“Ironically, after the verdicts were announced, Planned Parenthood tweeted:...”
– OSV Editorial Board, “Tempered relief”
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My Daily Visitor 5/15 (Isadore) →
Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth. — Psalm 68:33
Mass Readings: Acts 20:28-38/John 17:11b-19
Contact Without Contamination
Playing it safe isn’t an option for a Christian. Jesus never molly-coddled His disciples. In today’s Gospel, His prayer is not that they be conveniently air-lifted out of a hostile world, but that they stay within the world, yet remain untainted by evil.
Read entire...
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“The closed door is a perfect symbol of today’s world. It is something more...”
– Pope Francis (then Cardinal Bergoglio) in Pope Francis by Dr. Matthew bunson
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OSV Editor: The powerful witness of the... →
By Gretchen R. Crowe
A touching story out of Pennsylvania accompanies the sad news of the May 2 death of Harrisburg Bishop Joseph McFadden.
As reported by Lou Baldwin of CatholicPhilly.com, Bishop McFadden called Msgr. Joseph Garvin, with whom the bishop was staying during a trip to Philadelphia, told him he was having a heart attack and asked him for a ride to the hospital.
Read entire...
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My Daily Visitor 5/14 (St. Matthias, Apostle) →
The Lord will give him a seat with the leaders of his people. — Psalm 113:8
Mass Readings: Acts 1:15-17,20-26/John 15:9-17
Guided by God
God guides us in various ways: through the Scriptures, conviction of heart as we pray, common sense, counsel from fellow-Christians, signs. … An intriguing blend of all these methods is evident in today’s first reading, where Peter addresses the need...
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Mary's peace plan →
Consecration asked at Fatima is fulfilled, but ongoing devotion will keep us on track
By Fr. Christopher Rengers, O.F.M. Cap.
The examples of popes reveal a continuing call for consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary by individuals, parishes and dioceses. This consecration is the culmination of a peace plan involving reform of life, praying the Rosary and making the first Saturdays...
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Our Lady of Fátima
A Marian title and image based on six apparitions seen by three children in Fátima, Portugal, between May 13 and October 13, 1917.
During her final visit to Lucia dos Santos and her cousins Francisco and Jacinta Marto, “the Lady” revealed she was Our Lady of the Rosary.
The children reported that Mary requested frequent recitation of the Rosary, penance, increased devotion to her...
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“The function of advising should be interpreted from a theological perspective....”
– “Vatican prelate’s insights on reform,” OSV Newsweekly
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“Before the Blessed Sacrament
Prayer from the Fátima Children
O most Holy...”
– Catholic Family Prayer Book
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My Daily Visitor 5/13 (Our Lady of Fatima) →
Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth. — Psalm 68:33
Mass Readings: Acts 19:1-8/John 16:29-33
Never Alone
Jesus was fully human. He felt hunger, thirst and fatigue. He experienced anger, sorrow, and loneliness, He looked for and enjoyed companionship and friendship. In His last hours on earth, Jesus shared a farewell meal with His closest friends. In those last precious moments of life, He...
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My Daily Visitor 5/12 (Seventh Sunday of Easter) →
The Lord is king, the most high over all the earth. — Psalm 97:1 and 9
Mass Readings: Acts 7:55-60/Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20/John 17:20-26
Prayer for You
Did you know that just hours before He died, Jesus prayed for you? He really did! Jesus prayed for all who would believe in Him through the disciples’ message (v. 20) — and that includes you and me, 20 centuries later.
Read entire...
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My Daily Visitor 5/11 (Saturday Easter Weekday) →
God is king of all the earth. — Psalm 47:8
Mass Readings: Acts 18:23-28/John 16:23b-28
‘Carefronting’
Carefronting is a term coined by David Augsburg some 40 years ago; but this concept was practiced by a Christian couple in Corinth almost 2,000 years ago! Carefronting — a combination of caring and confronting — is exemplified to perfection by Priscilla and Aquila in today’s...
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“We never want to become a ‘parody of the parody.’ The Church has the original...”
– Cory Heimann, “Catechesis, faith formation goes high-tech,” OSV Newsweekly
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My Daily Visitor 5/10 (St. Damien de Veuster) →
God is king of all the earth. — Psalm 47:8
Mass Readings: Acts 18:9-18/John 16:20-23
Bridges of Hope
The Psalmist mused, “You understand my thoughts from afar” (Ps 139:2). Jesus was sensitive to the disciples’ anxiety even though they hadn’t verbalized their worries (Jn 16:18-19). While Jesus doesn’t sugarcoat harsh realities — today’s Gospel passage is liberally sprinkled with words like...
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