Although they have not yet rescinded an invitation to HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius to speak at a graduation ceremony later this month, Georgetown University is feeling the pressure of thousands of letters of protest and has amended its statement to downplay Sebelius' participation in their graduation festivities.
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The story behind this title of the Blessed Mother seems to prove true the maxim, “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.” Jules Chevalier, an assistant priest at Issoudun, France, had a burden on his heart. He desired to start a new religious order of missionaries who would make known and inspire devotion to the loving compassion of the Sacred Heart of Jesus by exhibiting that love through acts of compassion, understanding and respect toward others. John 13:34 was his inspiration. When Jules shared his dream with another priest, they prayed a novena asking God to give them a sign that they should move forward. The novena closed on December 8, 1854, and their prayer was soon answered. They received word that a person of good intention had donated twenty thousand francs for them to begin a charitable work. With this confirmation, Jules and his priest friend sought approval of the new Order from the Archbishop who denied their request. He told the priests he would withhold approval until the priests were able to show they would have a continuing income. Undaunted, the priests sought the intercession of the Blessed Mother whose feast of her Immaculate Heart was nine days away. They promised her they would dedicate the new Order to the Heart of Jesus and to the Immaculate Heart of Mary and make them known throughout the world. Our Lady responded. At the end of the nine days, a charitable person pledged to give the priests one thousand francs per year for them to live on. Once again Jules and his priest friend approached the Archbishop. He was satisfied, but his Council was not. The Council said the two priests were too young to start such an Order and doubted they could make a go of it. Though he was told to drop the idea, Jules continued to seek the intercession of the Blessed Mother. And again, she responded. The Archbishop decided to reject the advice of his Council and authorized the two priests to begin the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart. In gratitude to Our Lady, Father Jules developed a devotion tying together the Sacred Heart of Jesus and our Blessed Lady under the title of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart.
For Reflection:
How do I respond to disappointment? Do I demonstrate perseverance and hope or do I give in to discouragement and doubt? Why do you think God sometimes makes us wait for a desire to be fulfilled? Think of a time from your own history when something you felt you were called to do didn’t happen as quickly as you would have liked. What did you learn from the experience? How can this help you in the future?
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While addressing a group of U.S. Bishops on Saturday during their ad limina visit to Rome, Pope Benedict XVI said "providing young people with a sound education in the faith represents the most urgent internal challenge facing the Catholic community in your country."
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The latest traditional Chinese medical treatment, a "cure-all" pill that contains the powdered remains of aborted fetuses, was intercepted by customs officials in South Korea this week.
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In the most comprehensive study of its kind, researchers have compared the risks of major birth defects to the different types of assisted reproductive therapies used, as well as for those resulting from frozen embryos the fertility drugs.
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As we have seen, Our Blessed Mother is concerned with the spiritual and temporal well-being of her children. Her many titles and apparitions indicate that she desires the ultimate good for each of us – eternal salvation. And so, on September 19, 1846, she appeared to 14 year old Melanie Mathieu and 11 year old Maximin Giraud, two young cowherds from the parish of La Salette in the French Alps. Our Lady appeared to them in a bright light, seated, with her head in her hands, and spoke to them beseechingly. She told them that if unless people repented, crops would fail, there would be a famine and much misery would enter the world. She beseeched the children to tell the people that she could not hold back the hand of her Son much longer. She appealed to all the people of God and delivered this message:
"I make an urgent appeal to the earth. I call on the true disciples of the living God who reigns in Heaven; I call on the true followers of Christ made man, the only true Saviour of men; I call on my children, the true faithful, those who have given themselves to me so that I may lead them to my divine Son, those whom I carry in my arms, so to speak, those who have lived on my spirit. Finally, I call on the Apostles of the Last Days, the faithful disciples of Jesus Christ who have lived in scorn for the world and for themselves, in poverty and in humility, in scorn and in silence, in prayer and in mortification, in chastity and in union with God, in suffering and unknown to the world. It is time they came out and filled the world with light. Go and reveal yourselves to be my cherished children. I am at your side and within you, provided that your faith is the light which shines upon you in these unhappy days. May your zeal make you famished for the glory and the honor of Jesus Christ. Fight, children of light, you, the few who can see. For now is the time of all times, the end of all ends."
The Basilica of La Salette was built on the site of Mary’s apparition in 1879.
For Reflection:
Reread Mary’s message to the children. What suggests that it is a prophetic word? Do you consider yourself to be a “true follower of Christ,” and a child of Mary? If so, what instruction is Our Lady giving to you through these words? How can you begin to follow through? Ask the Holy Spirit to illuminate your heart and mind and journal your insights.
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A new study by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has found that a majority of teens now say they are choosing to abstain from or delay sexual activity.
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In a move that many are calling a direct challenge to the U.S. Bishops, Georgetown University has chosen the author of the HHS mandate as commencement speaker for its Public Policy Institute.
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In a groundbreaking move, the editors of
Vogue Magazine have issued a new pledge to no longer use models under the age of 16 or those who they suspect have eating disorders.
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The story of Our Lady of the Snows dates back to the city of Rome in 352 A.D. A generous nobleman and his wife, blessed with much wealth but childless, chose to leave their wealth to the Mother of God. Though the sentiment of their heart was lively, their desire was difficult to achieve. How would they do such a thing? They prayed to the Blessed Mother asking for her to make known to them some means by which they could leave their wealth to her. They even asked her for a sign so they could be certain she had heard their prayers. In answer to their petition, during the night of August 5, Our Lady appeared to the nobleman, his wife, and also to the Holy Father, Pope Liberius. She had a solution for their dilemma. She instructed them to build a church in her honor on the top of Esquiline Hill. As an extra means of confirmation, she told them snow would cover the hill’s crest. And snow it did! Snow in Rome in August! Flakes fell steadily through the night covering the hill in a blanket of white. When the townspeople found out that the snow was a sign from the Blessed Mother, they named her “Our Lady of the Snows.” Per Our Lady’s instructions, the nobleman and his wife built the Church and it became known as the Basilica of Liberius as well as Our Lady of the Snows. In time, the basilica was given another name to distinguish it from the many other churches in Rome dedicated to the Mother of God which had been established. It became known as St. Mary Major, the first and greatest of all church’s under the patronage of Our Lady.
Queen St. Helena and her son, Emperor St. Constantine, brought to the Basilica from the Holy Land a great Marian treasure – an image of the Madonna and Child known as the “Salus Populi, Romani” (The Protectress of the People of Rome) . It is attributed to St. Luke, the apostle and evangelist. Many healings and deliverances from oppressors have been credited to its miraculous intervention. The Basilica of St. Mary Major has celebrated the Divine Motherhood of Mary since the Council of Ephesus in 432 A.D. when Mary was first proclaimed “Theotokos,” Mother of God. On the Feast Day, August 5, beautiful white roses are released from the ceiling in the Basilica showering the sanctuary in remembrance of the snowfall that led to the building of Our Lady’s first church.
For Reflection:
Our Blessed Mother has a beautiful way of making her intentions known. Read the account of the Wedding Feast at Cana (John 2:1-11). How did she make her desires known to Jesus? To the servants? Why did she make these requests? In light of this, why do you think Mary would ask that a church be built in her honor? What is she asking of you today? For what purpose?
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