"Deign, O Immaculate Virgin, Mother most pure, to accept the loving cry of praise which we send up to thee from the depths of our hearts. Though they can but add little to thy glory, O Queen of Angels, thou dost not despise, in thy love, the praises of the humble and the poor.
Cast down upon us a glance of mercy, O most glorious Queen: graciously receive our petitions. Through thy immaculate purity of body and mind, which rendered thee so pleasing to God, inspire us with a love of innocence and purity.
Teach us to guard carefully the gifts of grace, striving ever after sanctity, so that, being made like unto the image of thy beauty, we may be worthy to become the sharers of thy eternal happiness. Amen."
St. Paschasius
For Reflection:
Dear Mother, I make this prayer with heartfelt sincerity. Please bring everything in me into conformity with your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.
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Commentary by Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Journalist
A high school health teacher in California deducted 25 points from a student's grade because he caused an "interruption of class time" by saying "bless you" to a fellow student.
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By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Journalist
In what many consider to be a risky political move, lawyers for the Obama Administration have officially petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to review a case challenging the constitutionality of portions of the president's health care reform law, which means a decision could come in the middle of the 2012 presidential election.
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By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Journalist
Although it is receiving little attention in the mainstream media, a groundbreaking new study published in a respected scientific journal has found that for some persons, a change in sexual orientation is possible, and without the harmful effects believed by many mental health experts.
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"We must be pure. I do not speak merely of purity of the sense. We must observe great purity in our will, in our intentions, in all our actions. To possess purity of life - in this, all consists."
St. Peter Julian Eymard
For Reflection:
How does purity of will, of intention, of action lead to purity of life in all things?
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AW writes:
"My sister is seeing a Maximized Living Doctor and is getting other members of the family in for 'adjustments.' Do you know anything about this philosophy and is there anything we should be concerned about as practicing Catholics?"
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By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Journalist
BabyJoseph Maraachli, the terminally ill baby caught in a high-profile battle between the hospital that wanted to end his life and the parents who wanted to bring him home to die, passed away peacefully at home yesterday.
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By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Journalist
A proposed new rule by Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) which would give the government unfettered access to health records on every single citizen is being called as an excessive power grab that will result in giving the government "undue power over life-and-death medical decisions."
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By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Journalist
Princeton law professor Robert P. George says that the conflict between religious liberty and same-sex marriage is fast becoming the predicted legal "trainwreck" in states where the unions have been sanctioned.
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By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Journalist
Planned Parenthood president Cecile Richards could not have been happy on September 15 when she was served with a letter from the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce announcing the opening of an official investigation and demanding financial and other documentation dating back 20 years in an effort to ascertain if the company is misusing federal funds and violating the law regarding the reporting of suspected sexual abuse and the aiding and abetting of sex traffickers.
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