Commentary by Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Although he was invited to give the usual opening prayer at the beginning of a session of the Kansas House of Representatives, Father James Gordon of St. John Vianney Catholic school of Maple Hills, Kansas used the occasion to call for a return to the moral values that made this nation great.
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While addressing pilgrims yesterday from his studio window overlooking St. Peter's Square, Pope Benedict XVI asked for prayers for his six day trip to Mexico and Cuba, which will begin on Friday of this week.
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In an effort to quell the uprising against the administration's imposition of mandated contraception coverage for all, the Obama administration has offered what it calls several new options for how to cover these plans, supposedly without infringing on religious freedom. At the same time, it expanded the mandate to include forcing universities and colleges, including Catholic institutions, to provide the free coverage for all students in addition to their employees.
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“In the trials most repugnant to our natural selves, when we are misunderstood, misrepresented, or calumniated, let us be silent and, like Jesus and Mary, make no attempt at justification… The soul that is dead to itself has mastered the fine art of living.”
For Reflection:
How hard is this virtue to practice! And how imperfectly I live it. Perhaps the key is to die to self in the small affronts I experience each day so that when greater persecutions come I will be spiritually prepared. What are my thoughts about this?
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“When, through the reception of God’s favors, we are placed in a false light, we should rejoice that God has enabled us to overturn the idol of our self-love and thus to love Him above all things for His own love-worthy sake.”
For Reflection:
Read John 15: 18-21. What parallels do you see between this quote and the scripture passage? Think of a time when you have been misunderstood. How did you respond? In light of these quotes and in light of your increase of wisdom, what would be your response now? Make a promise to try to remember this lesson of Our Lady the next time you are misunderstood.
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“The house of Elizabeth, under the blessed influence of Mary, became a school of perfect sanctity in which everything was said and done from religious principle, thus enabling the mother of the Baptist to progress in holiness and allowing the virtues of Christ’s precursor to develop…”
For Reflection:
Holy Mother Church tells us our homes are to be domestic churches. Am I a blessed influence in my home? To what extent could my home be called a school of perfect sanctity? In what ways am I succeeding in this regard? In what ways can I improve?
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In spite of pundits who claim the HHS mandate debate will drive women voters in fear of losing their "rights" to President Barack Obama, new polls show the exact opposite is happening.
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Parents of seventh graders at an all-girls Catholic middle school in Ontario were outraged to discover that their daughters had been given pamphlets containing explicit details about how to give and receive oral sex.
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After a meeting of the Administrative Committee of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, the bishops came out swinging with a bold new statement on the HHS Mandate, saying they are "united for religious freedom" and will not allow the administration to divide them or the media to distort the issue.
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“Who can estimate the degree of grace conferred on Elizabeth through daily contact with the Mother of God? Bearing in her chaste womb the Creator of men and the lord of angels, she infused blessings of the highest spiritual order into the soul of her virtuous relative, not only by her words and actions, but, by her mere presence.”
For Reflection:
In what situations have I imitated Our Blessed Mother by blessing others by my presence. Is there a situation where I can do so today? Am I willing – why or why not?
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