OSV Newsweekly

My Daily Visitor 5/19 (Pentecost Sunday)

Sun, 19 May 2013 07:45:17 -0400

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, Latin the official language of the Empire, and Greek the lingua franca (commonly-used language). Yet, when the Holy Spirit empowered the disciples to preach and praise God, it wasn’t in Hebrew, Latin or Greek, but in the native languages of each of the people gathered in the city that day.

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My Daily Visitor 5/18 (Saturday Easter Weekday)

Sat, 18 May 2013 08:14:19 -0400

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 response to Jesus’ warning about the kind of fate that would befall Peter (Jn 21:18-19), who promptly inquires about the beloved disciple, John: “Lord, what about him?”

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The emptiness of the hookup culture By Jennifer Rey Young people...

Fri, 17 May 2013 10:42:01 -0400

The emptiness of the hookup culture

By Jennifer Rey

Young people don’t have time for relationships anymore, says a sex and relationships researcher in a recent article from CNN’s Ian Kerner. It is just one contributor to a growing hookup culture in colleges.

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Editorial: Tempered relief in Gosnell verdict By OSV Editorial...

Fri, 17 May 2013 09:17:24 -0400

Editorial: Tempered relief in Gosnell verdict

By OSV Editorial Board

When a Philadelphia jury found abortionist Kermit Gosnell guilty of three first-degree murders and involuntary manslaughter May 13, the pro-life community breathed a collective sigh of relief that such appalling crimes were not whitewashed. Twitter rejoiced with cries of “justice” and “murderer” and “guilty.” The conventional wisdom, many journalists had believed, was that after deliberating for 10 days, the jury wouldn’t deliver anything worse than a third-degree murder charge on the 250-plus counts at Gosnell’s door. Many thought the jury even might be hung.

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My Daily Visitor 5/17 (Friday Easter Weekday)

Fri, 17 May 2013 08:10:28 -0400

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?”

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"Prayer requires trust, nearness, almost a hand-to-hand contact that is symbolic not of a God who is..."

Thu, 16 May 2013 14:31:21 -0400

“Prayer requires trust, nearness, almost a hand-to-hand contact that is symbolic not of a God who is an enemy, an adversary, but a Lord of blessing who always remains mysterious, who seems beyond reach.”

- Pope Benedict XVI, Prayer

Choosing Joy

Thu, 16 May 2013 09:52:24 -0400

Choosing Joy

Consumers play role in workplace injustices They determine...

Thu, 16 May 2013 09:02:26 -0400

Consumers play role in workplace injustices

They determine whether their spending contributes to or undermines the common good, ethicists say

By Brian Fraga

A society built on an economy that values profits and cheap products over fair wages and safe conditions for workers is unjust, Pope Francis said during a May 1 homily.

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My Daily Visitor 5/16 (Thursday Easter Weekday)

Thu, 16 May 2013 07:41:18 -0400

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 in the Pharisees themselves proclaiming Paul’s innocence!

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Gosnell is not alone By Jennifer Rey Abortionist Kermit Gosnell...

Wed, 15 May 2013 13:38:57 -0400

Gosnell is not alone

By Jennifer Rey

Abortionist Kermit Gosnell was convicted by a Philadelphia jury on May 13, found guilty of three accounts of first-degree murder of newborns, involuntary manslaughter of Karnamaya Mongar during an abortion and more than 250 other charges for violating Pennsylvania’s abortion laws. In order to avoid the death penalty, Gosnell chose not to appeal and instead will serve a life sentence in prison without parole.

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"Ironically, after the verdicts were announced, Planned Parenthood tweeted: ‘A just verdict...."

Wed, 15 May 2013 10:49:21 -0400

“Ironically, after the verdicts were announced, Planned Parenthood tweeted: ‘A just verdict. The jury has rightly convicted #Gosnell for his appalling crimes, ensuring no woman is victimized by him ever again.’ That statement so clearly outlines what proponents of abortion simply don’t comprehend: that abortion is a crime at any stage. Babies, in utero or out, can’t be subjected to a ‘viability checklist.’ They are alive from the moment of conception onward. The same baby who was born in the toilet and struggled to survive is the same baby who is extracted from its mother at 6 weeks or 8 weeks or 10 weeks.”

- OSV Editorial Board, “Tempered relief”

Pro-lifers: Gosnell case the abortion industry norm Brutal...

Wed, 15 May 2013 09:43:59 -0400

Pro-lifers: Gosnell case the abortion industry norm

Brutal practices take place not just in Philadelphia, but at facilities throughout the country, they say

By Peter Jesserer Smith

The trial of convicted murderer Kermit Gosnell over crimes committed at his “house of horrors” in Philadelphia highlighted how the abortionist made post-birth infanticide a key part of his late-term abortion business. But many people in the pro-life movement say Gosnell is not an outlier, but a representative of the abortion industry’s brutal practices.

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Sneak peek at the 5/26 issue of OSV Newsweekly. Online later...

Wed, 15 May 2013 09:23:00 -0400

Sneak peek at the 5/26 issue of OSV Newsweekly. Online later today at osv.com!

My Daily Visitor 5/15 (Isadore)

Wed, 15 May 2013 08:09:56 -0400

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.

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Artwork: Is it worth the price? By Jennifer Rey According to BBC...

Tue, 14 May 2013 12:19:23 -0400

Artwork: Is it worth the price?

By Jennifer Rey

According to BBC News, Durham University in England is catching some backlash for spending £1.4m on artwork that includes pieces by Pablo Picasso and Andy Warhol. The purchase is part of the larger £60m Gateway development, which consists of a major expansion to the Bill Bryson Library, a new Law School and a new building for student facing services.

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"The closed door is a perfect symbol of today’s world. It is something more than a simple..."

Tue, 14 May 2013 10:49:18 -0400

“The closed door is a perfect symbol of today’s world. It is something more than a simple sociological fact; it is an existential reality that characterizes a lifestyle, a way to stop confronting reality, dealing with others, and facing the future.”

- Pope Francis (then Cardinal Bergoglio) in Pope Francis by Dr. Matthew bunson

I am totally yours. http://osv.cm/VnXCz6

Tue, 14 May 2013 09:35:03 -0400

I am totally yours. http://osv.cm/VnXCz6

OSV Editor: The powerful witness of the priesthood

Tue, 14 May 2013 08:17:20 -0400

OSV Editor: The powerful witness of the priesthood:

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.

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My Daily Visitor 5/14 (St. Matthias, Apostle)

Tue, 14 May 2013 07:44:13 -0400

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 to replace Judas.

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Shaw: Making matters worse in morning-after debate By Russell...

Mon, 13 May 2013 14:13:00 -0400

Shaw: Making matters worse in morning-after debate

By Russell Shaw

“Is traditional marriage toast?” That question recently caught my attention as the heading of an article in the neo-conservative Weekly Standard. The answer was either “very possibly” (a subhead attached to the piece) or “probably not” (an objective reading would suggest that). Take your pick.

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