By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Journalist
When parishioners of St. Peter Chanel Catholic Church in Roswell, Georgia arrived for Mass on Easter Sunday morning, they discovered grotesque Satanic and obscene symbols spray painted on a new statue of Jesus Christ that had just been gifted to the parish.
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By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Journalist
President Barack Obama is facing criticism over his failure to issue the traditional Easter proclamation this year even though he was careful to release several statements in the past year marking Muslim holidays and Earth Day.
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"If our hopes in Christ are limited to this life only, we are the most pitiable of men."
I Cor. 15:19
For Reflection:
Hope is the theological virtue that directs us toward eternal life. Why do you think seeking Christ only for temporal needs make us "pitiable?"
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"Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose hope is the Lord. He is like a tree planted beside the water that stretches out its roots to the stream: It fears not the heat when it comes, its leaves stay green; in the year of the drought it shows no distress, but still bears fruit."
Jeremiah 17: 7- 8
For Reflection:
What are the benefits to placing our trust in God? Paraphrase the Scripture passage above to reflect your insights and write it in your journal so you will have it there when needed.
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"Consider seriously how quickly people change, and how little trust is to be had in them; and hold fast to God, who does not change."
St. Teresa of Avila
For Reflection:
Many people today place their hope in pop psychology and self-help books. While good counsel is always beneficial in a time of need, it must be counsel that is rooted in Christ. See tomorrow's Grace Line to find out why.
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"The most beautiful Credo is the one we pronounce in our hour of darkness."
St. Pio of Pietrelcina
For Reflection:
How does our Credo pronounced in an hour of darkness attach us to the Cross of Christ? How does this make it beautiful?
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"All things upon which you set your trust are yours. Do but expect much of God, and He will do much for you. Expect but little, and He will do little."
St. Bernard
For Reflection:
What is the word of wisdom that St. Bernard offers us in this quote? How does this correspond to these words from St. James, "You do not obtain because you do not ask?" Read James 4: 1-10 to discover what attitude of heart should accompany our request of God.
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"The heart of God invited all to put it to the proof. The more He gives, the more He desires to give. He loves to see the trust that makes us persist in knocking unceasingly."
Blessed Placid Riccardi
For Reflection:
Trust in God yields hope. Hope in God yields confidence. Confidence in God yields assurance that He will meet our every need. Read Matthew 7: 7-11. How does Blessed Placid's quote reflect the wisdom of Scripture?
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By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Journalist
A suspicious fire that destroyed a Catholic Church in California last weekend became the latest on a growing list of hate-crimes committed against the Church in that state in recent years.
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By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Journalist
A young adult raised in communist Cuba, an African woman who grew up as a Muslim, a marine being deployed in June, and a former abortion clinic administrator, along with tens of thousands others around the country, are joining the Catholic Church in the United States at Easter.
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