Former Planned Parenthood Prez Pens Brutally Honest Op-Ed

Commentary by Susan Brinkmann, OCDS

In a hard-hitting opinion piece that appeared in The New York Times, former Planned Parenthood president and chief executive, Leana Wen, MD, made it clear that the reason she was fired from her position was because she was trying to make abortion about health care, not politics. Unfortunately, her colleagues disagreed.

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The soul of woman

July 31
“The soul of woman must be expansive and open to all human beings, it must be quiet so that no small weak flame will be extinguished by stormy winds; warm so as not to benumb fragile buds … empty of itself, in order that extraneous life may have room in it; finally, mistress of itself and also of its body, so that the entire person is readily at the disposal of every call.
-St. Edith Stein
Today’s Reflection:
Will I say “yes” to my call to be a spiritual mother?

Shine like brilliant chandeliers

July 30
“Good example is the most efficacious apostolate; you must be lighted lanterns and shine like brilliant chandeliers among men. By your good example and your words, animate others to know and love God.”
-St. Mary Joseph Rossello
Today’s Reflection:
In what ways am I a “light” for others?

What’s the Difference Between a Prophet and a Psychic?

Mosaic of the Prophet Isaiah by Michelangelo (courtesy of WikiCommons Jorg Bittner Unna)

AH writes: “My friend asked: ‘As far as psychic work the Gifts of the Holy Spirit included the gift of Prophecy… isn’t that psychic ability. Just a different name’?”

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Why Mary in My Apostolate?

I understand that as a loyal Catholic I should honor the Blessed Virgin. Perhaps I should pray to her more frequently. I firmly believe that I ought to give her a more prominent place in my piety. I realize that with her help it would be easier for me to resist certain temptation. If I were more intimate with her, undoubtedly I should also be more intimate with Christ. I am ready to follow the directives of Pius X more faithfully and to seek the Son at the side of the Mother.

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Supreme Court to Take Up Critical Gender Identity Cases

The next Supreme Court term could prove to be one of the most pivotal terms since the 2015 decision that legalized same-sex marriage as it takes on three cases that will determine whether or not the word “sex” in the Civil Rights Act of 1964 can be stretched to include a persons “gender identity.”

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Martha, Martha: A Question of Priorities

[Jesus] entered a village where a woman whose name was Martha welcomed him. She had a sister named Mary [who] sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak. Martha, burdened with much serving, came to him and said, ‘Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving? Tell her to help me.’ The Lord said to her in reply, ‘Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her’” (Lk 10:38-42).

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Great souls

July 28
“Far from being like to those great souls who from their childhood practice all sorts of macerations, I made my mortification consist solely in the breaking of my will, restraining a hasty word, rendering little services to those around me without making anything of it, and a thousand other things of this kind.”
-Saint Thérèse of Lisieux
Today’s Reflection:
How do I practice generosity of spirit through mortification? How can this aid my mission as spiritual mother?