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Today we honor all of the men and women who valiantly gave their lives for the freedom and privileges we enjoy as citizens of the United States of America. We honor as well, all of those men and women who served us without falling victim to the battlefield, and those who continue to serve our nation here at home and abroad. I especially remember my two vets: my son, Simon Benkovic, who served in both Korea and Iraq, and my husband, Anthony, who served during the Vietnam era. Both were proud to be veterans of the United States Army. May those who gave their lives for the principles and truths expressed in the Constitution of the United States be at peace, and may they be experiencing the joy of eternal happiness in the presence of the Triune God. Thank you for your service. Thank you for your lives. Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord. And may the perpetual light shine upon them. May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed rest in peace. Amen. Note: The above image is a photograph of the six American soldiers who hoisted our nation's flag on Mount Suribachi, the highest point on the Japanese island of Iwo Jima and the key battleground in the Pacific War. This historic photo renewed national morale and rapidly became the public symbol of the US WWII war effort. It remains a symbol of hope, freedom, inspiration, and national sovereignty.

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It is rare that the last one to arrive for Mass on Sunday is the priest, but such was the case at my church today. Father's tardiness was a simple human error that many of us have done at one time or another-- he set his alarm for the wrong time.  However, the fact that we were all gathered together waiting for our priest to arrive stirred a deep reflection in my soul. What if Father didn't arrive? What if there wasn't a priest to arrive? What if our priest was legally prevented from arriving? The fact of the matter is, in countries throughout the world -- including our own -- one or all of these circumstances do happen. How much gratitude do we express for the priesthood? To what extent do we pray for vocations? If we have sons, do we pray that one of them, or all of them, will respond to God's call should He invite? Have we taken seriously the blessing of freedom of religion? Do we actively engage in the cultural and political events of our day to preserve this privilege? Remember: no priest, no Mass. No Mass, no Eucharist. No Eucharist, no Church. Satan knows this. Do we? When Father arrived and the processional hymn began, gratitude filled my heart. First, for Father and his vocation. Second, that he was well and with us. Third, for the gift that is the Mass and the privilege to celebrate it. May none of us take for granted the priest, the gift, the privilege.  

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By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS Staff Writer Two pro-life congressmen are challenging President Barack Obama on the statement he made at Notre Dame on Sunday to “draft a sensible conscience clause.”

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by Susan Brinkmann, OCDS Staff Writer The Judicial Confirmation Network is launching a series of national ads exposing the radical records of President Obama’s potential nominees to the Supreme Court to the American public.

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By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS Staff Writer One of the nation’s leading adult stem cell therapy organizations is warning the public that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is teaming up with the nation’s pharmaceutical industry to declare a person’s own stem cells to be a “drug” which can be regulated, thus slowing down the use of these therapies by requiring years of clinical trials before they can be used.

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By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS Staff Writer In the wake of the Notre Dame scandal, Francis Cardinal Arinze delivered a commencement speech at The Thomas More College of Liberal Arts in New Hampshire on May 10 in which he stressed the need for authentic Catholic education, asking, “ . . . what does it profit us if a student is an intellectual giant but a moral baby?”

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By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS Staff Writer Declining moral standards in the West continue to produce bizarre family situations, but few are as shocking as the Texas woman who learned that her 11 month-old twins do not have the same father.

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By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS Staff Writer On the heels of a Gallup poll revealing a pro-life majority in the U.S. for the first time since 1995, another poll by Fox News which found a majority of voters believing judicial experience rather than ideology is the "single most important factor” in picking the next Supreme Court justice, is proving the Obama administration to be out of touch with the American mainstream.  

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Not long ago, my granddaughter of four came and nuzzled up close to me. "Good morning, Julia, " I said. No answer. "Julia?" Still no answer. "Something wrong?" I asked. "Yes," came the quiet response. "What's the matter?" "I'm grumpy and I'm mad." "Why are you grumpy and mad, sweet lady?" I asked. "Because I didn't want to get up. I want to sleep some more," came the little response. Not being a morning person myself, I could certainly relate to her displeasure. "Well, Julia" said I, "you have a whole day in front of you with lots of blessings and surprises. Let's ask Jesus to help you feel better and fill you with zip so you can enjoy it," I offered. "Okay," came the less than enthusiatic response. And so we did. I don't know if Julia felt better, but that little prayer sure helped me get my day going.

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By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS Staff Writer Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm, a pro-abortion “Catholic” politician who is on the Obama Administration’s "short list" of possible replacements for retiring Supreme Court Justice David Souter, will be in Washington today, raising speculation about whether or not she will meet with the president about the vacancy.

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