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By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS Staff Journalist Two U.S. high schools allowed their student body to elect boys as their prom queens this past weekend.

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By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS Staff Journalist Professor Carl Djerassi, the 86 year-old Austrian-born chemist who is credited with inventing the birth control pill, says women of the future will resort to having their eggs withdrawn and frozen for future use, then undergo sterilization to eliminate the need for contraception.

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By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS Staff Journalist The U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled on Thursday that the city of Dearborn and its police department violated the free-speech rights of a Christian evangelist who was barred from handing out leaflets at an Arab-American street festival last year.

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By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS Staff Journalist A new bill introduced in the U.S. House aimed at stifling "homophobic opposition" to same-sex adoptions could lead to a shut-down of all religiously affiliated adoption agencies in the U.S.

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"God did not tell us follow Him because He needed our help, but because He knew that loving him would make us whole." St. Irenaeus of Lyons For Reflection: Hidden in this quote by St. Irenaeus is several truths. What do I think is the connection between loving God and following His will? Think about this in terms of love and obedience in all relationships. What do I think is the connection between wholeness and loving God? In light of this, what one concrete resolution am I willing to make today regarding obedience to God?

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Prayer for Peace To Mary, then, who is the Mother of Mercy and omnipotent by Grace, let loving and devout appeal go up from every corner of the Earth - from noble temples and tiniest chapels, from royal palaces and mansions of the rich as from the poorest hut - from every place wherein a faithful soul finds shelter - from blood-drenched plains and seas. Let it bear to her the anguished cry of mothers and wives, the wailing of innocent little ones, the sighs of every generous heart: that her most tender and benign solicitude may be moved and the peace we ask for be obtained for our agitated world. Pope Benedict XV, May 5, 1917 Eight days later, Mary appeared To three children at Fatima, Portugal For Reflection: Given the condition of the world today, formulate a prayer in which you entrust to Our Lady those situations, events, or needs that you feel most need her maternal care, love, and intercession.

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Her Feet Shod with Holiness And, if our faith had given us nothing more Than this Example, of all Womanhood, So mild, so merciful, so strong, so good, So patient, so peaceful, loyal, loving, pure - This were enough to prove it higher and truer Than all the creeds the world had known before. Virgin, who lovest the poor and lonely, If the loud cry of a mother's heart Can ever ascend to where thou art, Into thy blessed hands and holy Receive my prayer of praise and thanksgiving Let the hands that bore our Savior bear it Into the awful presence of God; For thy feet with holiness are shod, And, if thou bearest it, he will hear it. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow For Reflection: What qualities does Longfellow cite that underscore for him why Mary is the "Example of all Womanhood?" Which of these virtues do I most need to acquire? Why does Longfellow say Mary's prayers are efficacious? Offer a prayer to her for the virtue you have said you need the most. 

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"The Immaculata must conquer the whole world for herself, and each individual soul as well, so that she can bring all back to God. This is why we must acknowledge her for what she is, and submit to her reign, which is all gentleness." St. Maximilian Kolbe For Reflection: To what extent has the Immaculata conquered me? Am I willing to "acknowledge her for what she is," and submit to her gentle reign?

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"The Immaculata must conquer the whole world for herself, and each individual soul as well, so that she can bring all back to God. This is why we must acknowledge her for what she is, and submit to her reign, which is all gentleness." St. Maximilian Kolbe For Reflection: To what extent has the Immaculata conquered me? Am I willing to "acknowledge her for what she is," and submit to her gentle reign?

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"God sends to us the one who personifies his love: Mary, the spouse of the Spirit - a spirit of maternal love - immaculate, all beautiful, spotless, even though she is our sister, a true daughter of the human race." St. Maximilian Kolbe For Reflection: How have I experienced an increase in Mary's maternal love through my meditations of the Grace Lines this month? Have I experienced an increase of God's love? In what specific ways?

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