Pope Benedict XVI’s message for World Communications Day calls upon the faithful to take a break from constant tweeting, Googling and Facebooking in order to listen to others and understand ourselves better.
Monthly Archives: January 2012
Fact Checking Last Night’s SOTU Address
Last night’s State of the Union address contained a few glaring inaccuracies, and even when the president’s facts and figures were accurate, he often left out the rest of the story.
Love Jesus and Mary
“I am all aflame though there is no fire. I feel myself held fast and bound to the Son by means of this Mother…. I’d like to fly off to invite all creatures to love Jesus and Mary.”
St. Pio of Pietrelcina
For Reflection:
Have you ever felt so full of love for Jesus and Mary? When? Describe that moment in a journal. Do you think it is an example of mysticism? Why or why not? How does this quote of St Pio identify the role of Our Lady and her fulfillment of it?
More Backlash From HHS Mandate
Even the politically savvy Obama Administration seems to have miscalculated the risks of threatening religious liberty as tempers flare over its decision to allow the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to give religious employers a mere one-year extension before forcing them to comply with a mandate to provide coverage for practices that violate their conscience rights.
Tonight’s SOTU: More Unfulfilled Promises?
Commentary by Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
As President Barack Obama prepares to deliver another State of the Union address, questions are being raised about whether or not the promises he makes tonight will end up like so many of his past pledges – unfulfilled.
The Culture of Life Descends upon the Capital
Hundreds of thousands of people gathered in Washington DC yesterday for the annual March for Life, with the cold and a constant freezing drizzle unable to dampen their spirits.
United With the Immaculate Mother
“To give worthy praise to the Lord’s mercy, we unite ourselves with Your Immaculate Mother, for then our hymn will be more pleasing to You, because She is chosen from among men and angels. Through Her, as through a pure crystal, Your mercy was passed on to us. Through Her, man becomes pleasing to God; Through Her, streams of grace flowed down upon us.”
St. Faustina Kowalska, #1746
For Reflection:
Go to your Catechism of the Catholic Church and read paragraphs 490-493. Consider the Saints comparison of Mary to a “pure crystal” in light of the Immaculate Conception. Consider all of the above in light of Mary’s role of Mediatrix (CCC 967-970).
Woman of Grace: Venerable Thecla Merlo
Ven. Thecla Merlo (1894-1964)
Venerated January 22, 1991 by Pope John Paul II
Meditation on Sacred Scripture and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament have been the foundation of prayer for many women destined to be great spiritual mothers. Such was the case with Maestra Thecla, first Superior General of the Daughters of St. Paul founded by Father James Alberione. Teresa Merlo was a pious young Italian woman whose family was alive with Catholic piety and devotion. She had been trained as a seamstress but desired to enter religious life. Her brother, a seminarian, introduced her to Father Alberione who was looking to form a feminine congregation dedicated to spreading the Gospel through the press. With faith and trust in God, Teresa said “yes” to Father Alberione’s suggestion that she join the group of women he was forming. In 1922 she was consecrated to serving the Lord along with nine other women. This new order, called the Daughters of St. Paul, was forging new apostolic ground in the area of mass communications and women religious. Teresa chose the name “Thecla” in honor of St. Thecla, the early follower of St. Paul. Read the rest…
Harrisburg Bishop Says Hitler Would Love our Public Schools
Bishop Joseph P. McFadden of the diocese of Harrisburg criticized the monopolistic American public school system, saying that “totalitarian governments would love our system” in an interview with ABC.
Obama Administration Bows to Abortion Lobby
Kathleen Sebelius, U.S. Secretary for Health and Human Services (HHS), issued an announcement late Friday afternoon indicating that her department will ignore the concerns of religious employers regarding HHS rules mandating health insurance coverage for sterilizations and contraception, including some that cause abortion, except to allow religious groups a year to comply with the law.
