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Months after national charity, Susan G. Komen for the Cure (SGK), flip-flopped on its decision to cut funds to Planned Parenthood, the organization is still suffering from the fallout.

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Christ she saw, for our salvation, Scourged with cruel acclamation, Bruised and beaten by the rod.

For Reflection:             

Henri Nouwen also tells us that waiting is active, not passive. It requires the gift of receptivity, an openess to that which God is doing in the midst of the waiting.

Meditate on the words “Christ she saw…” As this verse says, Mary’s eyes surely saw her Son’s physical condition while she gazed upon Him. But what else might Mary have been seeing as she held vigil at the foot of the Cross? What might she have seen God doing in the midst of this holocaust? What might He be doing as you “hold vigil” in your current waiting period?

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As we sojourn together with Mary through the Stabat Mater, may we faithfully appropriate the gift of redemption, exalt and praise God for His paternal benevolence for us, and enter more deeply into the hearts of Jesus and Mary finding there our hope and our joy.

                                                                -Johnnette S. Benkovic

Who, that sorrow contemplating, On that passion meditating, Would not share the Virgin's grief?

For Reflection:        

Henri Nouwen says that waiting is patient. He tells us that “The word ‘patience’ means the willingness to stay where we are and live the situation out to the full in the belief that something hidden there will manifest itself to us…Patient living means to live actively in the present and wait there.”

 With comprehension and concentration, slowly read today’s GraceLine a second time. It is an invitation into Mary’s suffering – to share the Virgin’s grief. Ask Our Lady to take you into her Immaculate Heart and wait there with her. Wait with patience until what is hidden there manifests itself to you. Then journal about your insights.

 

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Pope Benedict XVI turns 85 today and celebrates the seventh anniversary of his election to the papacy.

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Commentary by Susan Brinkmann, OCDS

Instead of doing an authentic remake of the beloved 1930's comedy hit, The Three Stooges, Hollywood has used the new version to promote its anti-religion ideology by mocking the Catholic Church.

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A powerful new YouTube video created by Catholics Called to Witness is urging Catholics to remember the non-negotiables of life, marriage and freedom on election day.

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In spite of the fact that traditional Chinese medicines (TCM) are all the rage in the alternative medicine marketplace these days, a new study has found that so many of these concoctions contain illegal and toxic ingredients that experts say they should be avoided entirely.

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Well-known psychiatrist Dr. Keith Ablow applied his professional skills to the dust-up between lesbian Democratic strategist Hilary Rosen and the wife of GOP presidential candidate and stay-at-home-mom Ann Romney, and made some fascinating observations about the hostility liberal women direct toward their conservative peers. 

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 The Feast of Mercy emerged from My very depths of tenderness.  It is My desire that it be solemnly celebrated on the first Sunday after Easter.  Mankind will not have peace until it turns to the Fount of My Mercy.  I desire that the Feast of Mercy be a refuge and shelter for all souls, and especially for poor sinners.  On that day the very depths of My tender mercy are open.  I pour out a whole ocean of graces upon those souls who approach the Fount of My Mercy.  The soul that will go to Confession and receive Holy Communion shall obtain complete forgiveness of sins and punishment.(699)  Do all you possibly can for this work of My mercy.  I desire that My mercy be worshipped, and I am giving mankind the last hope of salvation; that is, recourse to My Mercy.  My Heart rejoices in this feast (998).  Say unceasingly the chaplet that I have taught you*...Even if there were a sinner most hardened, if he were to recite this chaplet only once, he would receive grace from My infinite mercy (687)...Through the chaplet you will obtain everything, if what you ask for will be compatible with My will (1731).  I am offering people a vessel with which they are to keep coming for graces to the fountain of mercy.  That vessel is the image with the signature:  "Jesus, I trust in You" (327).  I want the image to be solemnly blessed on the first Sunday after Easter, and I want it to be venerated publicly so that every soul may know about it(341)." *(www.thedivinemercy.org)

For Reflection:

"Who can say he is free from sin and does not need God's mercy?  As people of this restless time of ours, wavering between the emptiness of self-exaltation and the humiliation of despair, we have a greater need than ever for a regenerating experience of mercy."-John Paul II in a homily on Divine Mercy Sunday in 1994.  With the above Holy Words of Love and Mercy how can we not, ourselves, show mercy to all sinners by following His directives?

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"Today bring to Me the Souls who have become Lukewarm, and immerse them in the abyss of My mercy. These souls wound My Heart most painfully. My soul suffered the most  dreadful loathing in the Garden of Olives because of lukewarm souls. They were the reason I cried out: 'Father, take this cup away from Me, if it be Your will.' For them, the last hope of salvation is to run to My mercy." 

Most compassionate Jesus, You are Compassion Itself. I bring lukewarm souls into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart. In this fire of Your pure love, let these tepid souls who, like corpses, filled You with such deep loathing, be once again set aflame. O Most Compassionate Jesus, exercise the omnipotence of Your mercy and draw them into the very ardor of Your love, and bestow upon them the gift of holy love, for nothing is beyond Your power.

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon lukewarm souls who are nonetheless enfolded in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. Father of Mercy, I beg You by the bitter Passion of Your Son and by His three-hour agony on the Cross: Let them, too, glorify the abyss of Your mercy.   -Amen

For Reflection:             

Jesus tells us He will vomit the lukewarm out of His mouth (Rev. 3:16). While we can never judge the condition of a person’s soul, we can evaluate his/her actions. Pray for those whom you know whose faith may be tepid.

 

Diary, Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska, Divine Mercy in My Soul (c) 1987 Congregation of Marians of the Immaculate Conception, Stockbridge, MA

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