As our Sunday celebration continues, I offer this version of “God Has Spoken By His Prophets”:
30 September 2012
Happy Birthday, Myrna!!!
Happy Birthday, Myrna!!!
The celebration of a person’s birthday celebrates that person and his/her life. Each such person is a gift of God to the world, and each brings his/her own special touch to this world that He made.
You are a truly blessed person, and I am grateful to have you in my life. The gift that you are has touched me (and a multitude of others) in a variety of good ways. Thank you.
May this day and the upcoming year be filled with an outpouring of the Lord’s choicest blessings!
Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Today the Church celebrates the Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time. The assigned readings are Numbers 11:25-29; James 5:1-6; and Matthew 9:38-43, 45, 47-48. The Responsorial Psalm is Psalm 19 (Psalm 19:8, 10, 12-14).
For one version of the Responsorial Psalm set to music, please visit:
YouTube: Responsorial Psalm - Psalm 19 The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart
The Gospel reading is as follows:
At that time, John said to Jesus, “Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name, and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow us.”
Jesus replied, “Do not prevent him. There is no one who performs a mighty deed in my name who can at the same time speak ill of me. For whoever is not against us is for us. Anyone who gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ, amen, I say to you, will surely not lose his reward. Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were put around his neck and he were thrown into the sea.
“If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed than with two hands to go into Gehenna, into the unquenchable fire. And if your foot causes you to sin, cut if off. It is better for you to enter into life crippled than with two feet to be thrown into Gehenna. And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. Better for you to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into Gehenna, where ‘their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.’”
Reflections on these readings:
Oblates of St. Francis de Sales: Sundays Salesian: 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time (September 30, 2012)
Dr. Marcellino D'Ambrosio: Taking Aggressive Action
The Deacon’s Bench: Homily for September 30, 2012: 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time (29 SEP 12)
Father James | Pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe and Author: Professional Catholic (28 SEP 12)
Dr. Scott Hahn: To Belong to Christ (September 30th 2012 - Twenty-sixth Sunday Ordinary Time)
The Lectionary: Avoid jealousy, rejoice in God’s spirit (27 SEP 12)
The Word Encountered: Perils of Wealth (Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time B)
Lumen Gentium: The Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God in the Mystery of Christ and the Church (61)
Chapter VIII of Lumen Gentium, the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, is entitled “The Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God in the Mystery of Christ and the Church.” It continues as follows:
“61. Predestined from eternity by that decree of divine providence which determined the incarnation of the Word to be the Mother of God, the Blessed Virgin was on this earth the virgin Mother of the Redeemer, and above all others and in a singular way the generous associate and humble handmaid of the Lord. She conceived, brought forth and nourished Christ. She presented Him to the Father in the temple, and was united with Him by compassion as He died on the Cross. In this singular way she cooperated by her obedience, faith, hope and burning charity in the work of the Savior in giving back supernatural life to souls. Wherefore she is our mother in the order of grace.”
To access the complete document, please visit:
Thank You, Lord
Thank you, Lord, for creating Your angels and for the many ways in which You work through them.
On Angels
This is the time of the year when the Church celebrates angels. Yesterday (29 September) was the Feast of Saint Michael, Saint Gabriel and Saint Raphael, archangels; and Tuesday (2 October) is the Memorial of the Guardian Angels.
With this in mind, I offer these reflections on angels:
Peter Kreeft: Angels - The Twelve Most Important Things to Know About Them
Fr. Z's Blog: Feast of Angels (29 SEP 12)
Peter Kreeft: Aquinas and the Angels (Lecture at ChristiFideles, April 1999)
Reflection Starter from Saint Jerome
“Ignorance of scripture is ignorance of Christ.” – Saint Jerome
29 September 2012
The Statler Brothers: “Small, Small World”
It’s time for something from the Statler Brothers. In this video, they are singing “Small, Small World”:
CPSC Warns of Children Drowning in Bathtubs, Bath Seats, and Buckets
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is urging parents and caregivers to look for and protect against drowning risks inside and around their homes. A recently released CPSC report on in-home drownings and non-fatal submersions in products such as bathtubs, buckets, bath seats, toilets, and landscaping features indicates that, from 2006 to 2010, there were 684 incidents involving children younger than five-years-old. This figure includes 434 fatalities (an average of 87 per year), 233 injuries, and 17 incidents with no known injuries.
Eighty-two percent of the victims were younger than the age of two and 81 percent of the incidents involved bathtubs or bath related products. After pools, bathtubs are the second leading location where young children drown. CPSC’s analysis of the fatalities found that 92 percent of the incidents occurred in residential settings.
Of the reported fatalities, 28 percent involved a lapse in supervision, such as a parent or caregiver leaving the bathroom while the child was in the bathtub to answer the phone or door or to retrieve a towel; in 23 percent, the child was left with another child, usually older; in 10 percent, the child was found in a product outside the home, such as decorative yard equipment or a bucket; and another 3 percent were found inside the home in a bucket/container or trash basket that was being used for cleaning.
CPSC is offering a number of drowning prevention safety tips, including:
- Never leave young children alone near any water or tub or basin with fluid. Young children can drown in even small amounts of liquid.
- Always keep a young child within arm’s reach in a bathtub. If you must leave, take the child with you.
- Don’t leave a baby or young child in a bathtub under the care of another child.
- Never leave a bucket containing even a small amount of liquid unattended. Toddlers are top heavy and they can fall headfirst into buckets and drown. After using a bucket, always empty and store it where young children cannot reach it. Don’t leave buckets outside where they can collect rainwater.
- Consider placing locks on toilet seat covers in case a young child wanders into the bathroom.
To access a copy of this CPSC report, please visit:
CPSC: Submersion Related to Non-Pool and Non-Spa Products, 2012 Report (September 2012)
Background information:
Lumen Gentium: The Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God in the Mystery of Christ and the Church (60)
Chapter VIII of Lumen Gentium, the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, is entitled “The Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God in the Mystery of Christ and the Church.” It continues as follows:
“60. There is but one Mediator as we know from the words of the apostle, ‘for there is one God and one mediator of God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself a redemption for all’.(298) The maternal duty of Mary toward men in no wise obscures or diminishes this unique mediation of Christ, but rather shows His power. For all the salvific influence of the Blessed Virgin on men originates, not from some inner necessity, but from the divine pleasure. It flows forth from the superabundance of the merits of Christ, rests on His mediation, depends entirely on it and draws all its power from it. In no way does it impede, but rather does it foster the immediate union of the faithful with Christ.”
(298) 1 Timothy 2:5-6.
To access the complete document, please visit:
Thank You, Lord
Thank you, Lord, for those who minister to senior citizens and for the many ways You work through them.
Fr. Longenecker on Service and Sacrifice in Our Lives
“Some time ago I received an email from an older Englishman who told me this story. He said, ‘When I started working at the bank in the 1960s, every Monday morning at the start of work my team leader would gather us in the conference room for a team meeting and he would close the meetings with this reminder, ‘Gentlemen, remember that your job here is simple. You are here to serve our customers and our shareholders. You are to good and wise stewards of their money. For this you will receive fair pay and benefits, but remember you are here to serve them, and not yourselves.’ Then he would lead them in the Lord’s prayer.’
“What would our world be like if the standards of sacrifice and service were universal? . . .”
In a recent commentary, Father Dwight Longenecker (parish priest at Our Lady of the Rosary Parish, Greenville, SC) reflected on our need to take up the cross and follow Christ in the way of service and sacrifice.
To access Fr. Longenecker’s complete post, please visit:
Standing on My Head: Service and Sacrifice (27 SEP 12)
Background information:
Reflection Starter from Alan Alda
“Begin challenging your own assumptions. Your assumptions are your windows on the world. Scrub them off every once in awhile, or the light won’t come in.” – Alan Alda
28 September 2012
San Miguel Master Chorale: “Prayer To St. Michael”
Tomorrow (29 September), the Church celebrates the feast of Saint Michael, Saint Gabriel and Saint Raphael, archangels. With that in mind, I offer the San Miguel Master Chorale singing “Prayer to St. Michael”:
Saturday Is National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day
On Saturday (29 September), the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration will again be coordinating a collaborative effort with state and local law enforcement agencies (including many agencies throughout New England) to remove potentially dangerous controlled substances from medicine cabinets. The free event will be held from 10:00 AM until 2:00 PM. These sites include (as of this writing) 70 in Connecticut, 161 in Maine, 144 in Massachusetts, 72 in New Hampshire, 39 in Rhode Island, and 52 in Vermont.
This Fifth National Take-Back Day is designed to provide an opportunity for the public to surrender expired, unwanted, or unused pharmaceutical controlled substances and other medications for destruction. These drugs are a potential source of supply for illegal use and are considered an unacceptable risk to public health and safety.
This one-day effort is designed to bring national focus to the issue of increasing pharmaceutical controlled substance abuse. The program is anonymous, and it focuses on prescription and over the counter solid dosage medications (i.e., tablets and capsules). Intravenous solutions, injectables, and needles will not be accepted. In addition, illicit substances such as marijuana or methamphetamine are not a part of this initiative.
To view a list of collection sites in a specific state, please click on the following link:
US DEA: National Take Back Initiative Collection Site Search
National Blue Ribbon Schools
The U.S. Department of Education recently recognized 269 schools, including seventeen from New England, as 2012 National Blue Ribbon Schools. The National Blue Ribbon Schools Program is an initiative designed to recognize public and private elementary, middle, and high schools where students perform at very high levels or where significant improvements are being made in students' levels of academic achievement.
The 219 public and 50 private schools are to be honored at a recognition ceremony on 12-13 November in Washington, D.C. In its 30-year history, the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program has bestowed this award on nearly 7,000 of America's schools.
The program recognizes schools in one of two performance categories. The first category is “Exemplary High Performing,” in which schools are recognized among their state's highest performing schools, as measured by state assessments or nationally-normed tests. The second category is “Exemplary Improving,” in which schools that have at least 40 percent of their students from disadvantaged backgrounds demonstrate the most progress in improving student achievement levels as measured by state assessments or nationally-normed tests.
New England Honorees
Connecticut Public Schools
- STEM Magnet School at Annie Fisher, Hartford
- Hindley Elementary School, Darien
- John Read Middle School, Redding
- Timothy Dwight Elementary School, Fairfield
Connecticut Private Schools:
- Corpus Christi School, Wethersfield
- Our Lady of Mercy School, Madison
- Saint Dominic School, Southington
- Saint Joseph School, Danbury
Maine Public Schools:
- Hope Elementary School, Hope (RSU 69)
- Solon Elementary School, Solon (RSU 74)
Massachusetts Public Schools:
- City On A Hill Charter Public School, Roxbury (Boston)
- Fenway High School, Boston
- Hull High School, Hull
- Westwood High School, Westwood
New Hampshire Public Schools:
- Memorial Elementary School, Bedford
- Canterbury Elementary School, Canterbury (Shaker Regional School District)
- Lisbon Regional Middle School, Lisbon ( Lisbon Regional School District)
For additional information about this program, please visit:
U.S. Department of Education: National Blue Ribbon Schools Program
Background information:
Hindley Elementary School, Darien, CT
Timothy Dwight Elementary School, Fairfield, CT
Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Magnet School at Annie Fisher, Hartford, CT
John Read Middle School, Redding, CT
Easton, Redding, and Region 9 School Districts, CT
Saint Joseph School, Danbury, CT
Catholic Schools of Fairfield County (Diocese of Bridgeport)
Our Lady of Mercy School, Madison, CT
Saint Dominic School, Southington, CT
Corpus Christi School, Wethersfield, CT
Archdiocese of Hartford: Office of Catholic Schools
Hope Elementary School, Hope, ME
Solon Elementary School, Solon, ME
Maine School Administrative District Number 74 (Anson, Embden, New Portland, North Anson, & Solon)
City on a Hill Charter Public School, Roxbury, MA
Fenway High School, Boston, MA
Westwood High School, Westwood, MA
Memorial Elementary School, Bedford, NH
Bedford, NH, School District (School Administrative Unit 25)
Canterbury Elementary School, Canterbury, NH
Shaker Regional School District, NH (Belmont and Canterbury)
Lisbon Regional School, Lisbon, NH
Wikipedia: Danbury, Connecticut
Wikipedia: Darien, Connecticut
Wikipedia: Fairfield, Connecticut
Wikipedia: Hartford, Connecticut
Wikipedia: Madison, Connecticut
Wikipedia: Redding, Connecticut
Wikipedia: Southington, Connecticut
Wikipedia: Wethersfield, Connecticut
Wikipedia: Hull, Massachusetts
Wikipedia: Westwood, Massachusetts
Wikipedia: Bedford, New Hampshire
Lumen Gentium: The Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God in the Mystery of Christ and the Church (59)
Chapter VIII of Lumen Gentium, the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, is entitled “The Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God in the Mystery of Christ and the Church.” It continues as follows:
“59. But since it has pleased God not to manifest solemnly the mystery of the salvation of the human race before He would pour forth the Spirit promised by Christ, we see the apostles before the day of Pentecost ‘persevering with one mind in prayer with the women and Mary the Mother of Jesus, and with His brethren’,(296) and Mary by her prayers imploring the gift of the Spirit, who had already overshadowed her in the Annunciation. Finally, the Immaculate Virgin, preserved free from all guilt of original sin,(12*) on the completion of her earthly sojourn, was taken up body and soul into heavenly glory,(13*) and exalted by the Lord as Queen of the universe, that she might be the more fully conformed to her Son, the Lord of lords(297) and the conqueror of sin and death.(14*)”
(296) Acts 1:14.
(297) Cf. Revelation 19:16.
(12*) Cf. Pius IX, Bulla Ineffabilis 8 dec. 1854: acta Pii IX, I, I, p. 616; Denz. 1641 (2803).
(13*) Cf. Pius XII, Const. Apost. Munificensissimus, 1 no. 1950: AAS 42 (1950) ú Denz. 2333 (3903). Cf. S. Io. Damascenus, Enc. in dorm. Dei gcnitricis, Hom. 2 et 3: PG 96, 721-761, speciatim col. 728 B. - S. Germanus Constantinop., in S. Dei gen. dorm. Serm. 1: PG 98 (6), 340-348; Serm. 3: col. 361. - S. Modestus Hier., In dorm. SS. Deiparae: PG 86 (2), 3277-3312.
(14*) Cf. Pius XII Litt. Encycl. Ad coeli Reginam, 11 Oct. 1954: AAS 46 (1954), pp. 633-636; Denz. 3913 ss. Cf. S. Andreas Cret., Hom. 3 in dorm. SS. Deiparae: PG 97, 1089-1109. - S. Io. Damascenus, De fide orth., IV, 14: PG 94, 1153-1161.
To access the complete document, please visit:
Cardinal Dolan on “God’s Work of Art”
“A year-or-so-ago, on Pentecost Sunday, appropriately, I had one of those rare-but-dramatic moments of divine illumination.
“I had just finished celebrating the Sacrament of Confirmation for about two-dozen of our special needs children.
“None other than the President of Ireland, Mary McAleese, had attended that 10:15 Mass at St. Patrick’s that morning, and was very moved by the ceremony. She graciously asked to meet each of the children and their beaming families.
“As I began the introductions, I bought her to our first child. ‘Madam President’ I began, ‘this is a wonderful Down Syndrome young man.’
“The proud parents, with all the courtesy and respect possible, wisely and properly corrected me. ‘Oh, no, Archbishop Dolan and Madam President! This is Mark, who happens to have Down Syndrome.’
“That was a moment of inspiration for me! I am eternally grateful to those parents.”
In a recent entry in his blog (The Gospel in the Digital Age),Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Archbishop of New York, reflected on how each of us has an inherent identity, a dignity, from God and how who we are is infinitely more important than what we have or do.
To access Cardinal Dolan’s post, please visit:
The Gospel in the Digital Age: God’s Work of Art (29 AUG 12)
Reflection Starter from Ecclesiastes
“I have considered the task that God has appointed for the sons of men to be busied about. He has made everything appropriate to its time, and has put the timeless into their hearts, without man's ever discovering, from beginning to end, the work which God has done.” – Ecclesiastes 3:10-11
27 September 2012
R.I.P. Andy Williams
Singing legend Andy Williams has passed away after a long illness.
I was somewhat of a fan and had a number of his recordings. I also enjoyed a number of his television shows (weekly series and specials) over the years.
May he rest in peace.
Media reports:
Sun Journal: 'Moon River' crooner Andy Williams dies at age 84 (26 sep 12)
Time: Andy Williams: A Farewell Song for the "Moon River" Man (26 SEP 12)
In this video, Any is singing what may be considered his signature song, “Moon River”:
Funds Awarded for Connecticut Community-Based Projects to Improve Long Island Sound
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and other federal and state agencies recently announced that 35 grants totaling $1.6 million were awarded to state and local government and community groups in New York and Connecticut under the Long Island Sound Futures Fund. When leveraged by an additional $3 million contributed by the recipients themselves, a total of $4.6 million will support conservation projects in both states. When completed, the projects in both states will open up fifty river miles for fish passage and restore 390 acres of critical fish and wildlife habitat. This habitat includes lakes, underwater grasses, woodlands, meadows, wetlands, beaches, and river and park frontage. Twenty grants totaling $757,922 will be awarded to groups in Connecticut leveraged by $1,419,903 in recipient contributions providing for $2.1 million in local conservation.
This public-private grant program pools funds from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), and Wells Fargo.
”Protecting and restoring Long Island Sound have long been priorities for EPA,” said EPA Regional Administrator for New England Curt Spalding in a prepared statement. “These grants will support vital and diverse projects throughout the region to improve water quality and remove pollution from the Long Island Sound watershed, and involve the public in the protection of one of the nation's most important natural treasures.”
The Long Island Sound Study initiated the Long Island Sound Futures Fund in 2005 through the EPA’s Long Island Sound Office and NFWF. To date, the program has invested $10.5 million in 261 projects in communities surrounding the Sound. With grantee match of $23 million, the Long Island Sound Futures Fund has generated a total of almost $33.5 million for projects in both states.
For more information about the twenty individual grants in Connecticut, please visit:
Background information:
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 1
Long Island Sound Futures Fund
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
Randall Smith on Moral Issues in Politics
“The Lincoln-Douglas debates of 1858 prepared voters for an election, which Abraham Lincoln, as is sometimes forgotten, lost. The debates covered a range of important political issues of the day, but one issue clearly dominated: slavery. Indeed, no one today really cares what Stephen A. Douglas’s positions were on, say, the economy: what he thought, for example, about the money supply or taxes. The only thing we care about is that he voted for slavery.”
In a recent commentary, Dr. Randall Smith (associate professor of theology at the University of St. Thomas, Houston) reflected on voting for candidates based on the views they propound on moral issues.
To access Dr. Smith's complete post, please visit:
The Catholic Thing: A Cautionary Tale (21 SEP 12)
Background information:
Lumen Gentium: The Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God in the Mystery of Christ and the Church (58)
Chapter VIII of Lumen Gentium, the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, is entitled “The Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God in the Mystery of Christ and the Church.” It continues as follows:
“58. In the public life of Jesus, Mary makes significant appearances. This is so even at the very beginning, when at the marriage feast of Cana, moved with pity, she brought about by her intercession the beginning of miracles of Jesus the Messiah.(291) In the course of her Son’s preaching she received the words whereby in extolling a kingdom beyond the calculations and bonds of flesh and blood, He declared blessed(292) those who heard and kept the word of God, as she was faithfully doing.(293) After this manner the Blessed Virgin advanced in her pilgrimage of faith, and faithfully persevered in her union with her Son unto the cross, where she stood, in keeping with the divine plan,(294) grieving exceedingly with her only begotten Son, uniting herself with a maternal heart with His sacrifice, and lovingly consenting to the immolation of this Victim which she herself had brought forth. Finally, she was given by the same Christ Jesus dying on the cross as a mother to His disciple with these words: ‘Woman, behold thy son’.(295) (11*)”
(291) Cf. John 2:1-11.
(292) Cf. Mark 3:35; Luke 11:27-28.
(293) Cf. Luke 2:19, 51.
(294) Cf. John 19:25.
(295) Cf. John 19:26-27.
(11*) Cfr. Pius XII, Litt. Encycl. Mystici Corporis, 29 iun. 1943: AAS 35 (1943) pp. 247-248.
To access the complete document, please visit:
Thank You, Lord
Thank you, Lord, for all you do through the ministry of the Saint Vincent de Paul Society.
On Helping One’s Prayer Life
The blog, Aggie Catholic, recently offered a list of suggestions designed to help improve one’s prayer life.
To access the complete post, please visit:
Aggie Catholics: 15 Tips To Help Your Prayer Life (21 SEP 12)
Reflection Starter from Dwight D. Eisenhower
“In the swift rush of great events, we find ourselves groping to know the full sense and meaning of these times in which we live. In our quest of understanding, we beseech God’s guidance. . . . At such a time in history, we who are free must proclaim anew our faith. . . . This faith defines our full view of life. It establishes beyond debate, those gifts of the Creator that are man’s inalienable rights, and that makes all men equal in His sight. . . . This faith rules our whole way of life. It decrees that we, the people, elect leaders not to rule but to serve. . . . This is the hope that beckons us onward in this century of trial. This is the work that awaits us all, to be done with bravery, with charity, and with prayer to Almighty God.” – Dwight D. Eisenhower (in his inaugural address on 20 January 1953, the first televised Presidential inaugural address)
26 September 2012
SAT Report: Only 43 Percent of 2012 College-Bound Seniors Are College Ready
The College Board’s recently released SAT Report on College & Career Readiness reported that only 43 percent of SAT® takers in the class of 2012 graduated from high school with the level of academic preparedness associated with a high likelihood of college success. These findings are based on the percentage of students in the class of 2012 who met the SAT College & Career Readiness Benchmark, which research shows is associated with higher rates of enrollment in four-year colleges, higher first-year college GPAs and higher rates of retention beyond the first year.
Among the high school class of 2012, 43 percent of all SAT takers met the SAT College & Career Readiness Benchmark. This percentage is consistent with that of the class of 2011, which also met the benchmark at a rate of 43 percent. The SAT Benchmark score of 1550 indicates a 65 percent likelihood of achieving a B- average or higher during the first year of study at a four-year college.
The College Board is advising that the SAT performance of students in the high school class of 2012 continues to reinforce the importance of a rigorous high school education. According to the board, data confirm that students who complete a core curriculum and enroll in honors and/or Advanced Placement Program courses perform better on the SAT.
To access the complete report, please visit:
College Board: The SAT Report on College & Career Readiness: 2012
Media report:
USA Today: SAT, ACT: Most high school kids lack skills for college (24 SEP 12)
Background information:
Lumen Gentium: The Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God in the Mystery of Christ and the Church (57)
Chapter VIII of Lumen Gentium, the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, is entitled “The Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God in the Mystery of Christ and the Church.” It continues as follows:
“57. This union of the Mother with the Son in the work of salvation is made manifest from the time of Christ’s virginal conception up to His death it is shown first of all when Mary, arising in haste to go to visit Elizabeth, is greeted by her as blessed because of her belief in the promise of salvation and the precursor leaped with joy in the womb of his mother.(288) This union is manifest also at the birth of Our Lord, who did not diminish His mother’s virginal integrity but sanctified it,(10*) when the Mother of God joyfully showed her firstborn Son to the shepherds and Magi. When she presented Him to the Lord in the temple, making the offering of the poor, she heard Simeon foretelling at the same time that her Son would be a sign of contradiction and that a sword would pierce the mother’s soul, that out of many hearts thoughts might be revealed.(289) When the Child Jesus was lost and they had sought Him sorrowing, His parents found Him in the temple, taken up with the things that were His Father’s business; and they did not understand the word of their Son. His Mother indeed kept these things to be pondered over in her heart.(290).”
(288) Cf. Luke 1:41-45.
(289) Cf. Luke 2:34-35.
(290) Cf. Luke 2:41-51.
(10*) Cf. Conc. Lateranense anni 649, Can. 3: Mansi 10, 1151. S. Leo M., Epist. ad Flav.: PL S4, 7S9. - Conc. Chalcedonense: Mansi 7, 462. - S. Ambrosius, De inst. virg.: PL 16, 320.
To access the complete document, please visit:
Thank You, Lord
Thank you, Lord, for the various employment opportunities You placed before me over the years.
Msgr. Pope on the Problem of Evil
“The problem of evil and suffering is probably the most serious challenge to the faith there is. Most other objections to the existence of God seem, at least in the view of this priest, to be more rooted in the fact that the existence of God is not convenient to the moral life or worldview of the ‘non-believer.’ But the problem of evil and suffering is a significant and worthy challenge that ought to be seriously engaged.”
In a recent commentary, Monsignor Charles Pope (pastor of Holy Comforter-Saint Cyprian Parish, Washington, DC) reflected on the presence of evil in our lives and in the world.
To access Msgr. Pope’s complete post, please visit:
Reflection Starter from Blessed Pope John Paul II
“The time has come . . . It is essential for every baptized person to pass from a faith of custom to a mature faith, that is expressed in clear, convinced and courageous personal choices.” – Blessed Pope John Paul II (June 2004)
25 September 2012
US Fire Administration Releases Report on Heating Fires in Residential Buildings
With the beginning of fall and its cooler temperatures and the resulting seasonal increase in the number of home heating fires, the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) recently issued a special report: Heating Fires in Residential Buildings (2008-2010). Developed by USFA’s National Fire Data Center, the report is based on data from the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS).
According to the report:
- An estimated average of 50,100 heating fires in residential buildings occurred in the United States each year and resulted in an annual average of approximately 150 deaths, 575 injuries, and $326 million in property loss.
- Heating was the second leading cause of all residential building fires following cooking.
- Residential building heating fires peaked in the early evening hours between 5:00 and 9:00 PM with the highest peak between 6:00 and 8:00 PM. This four-hour period accounted for 30 percent of all residential building heating fires.
- Residential building heating fires peaked in January (21 percent) and declined to the lowest point during the summer months from June to August.
- Confined fires, those fires confined to chimneys, flues, or fuel burners, accounted for 87 percent of residential building heating fires.
- Thirty percent of the non-confined residential building heating fires occurred because the heat source was too close to combustibles.
The Fire Administration is also offering a reminder that home heating fires are preventable. As heating season gets underway in many parts of the country, the USFA is offering the following safety tips:
- Maintain heating equipment and chimneys by having them cleaned and inspected annually by a qualified professional.
- Use heating equipment that has the label of a recognized testing laboratory.
- All heaters need space. Keep anything that can burn at least three feet away from heating equipment.
- Plug space heaters directly into outlets and never into an extension cord or power strip.
- Install and maintain carbon monoxide (CO) alarms inside your home to provide early warning of CO.
To access the complete report, please visit:
USFA: Heating Fires in Residential Buildings (2008-2010)
Background information:
Lumen Gentium: The Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God in the Mystery of Christ and the Church (56)
Chapter VIII of Lumen Gentium, the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, is entitled “The Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God in the Mystery of Christ and the Church.” It continues as follows:
“56. The Father of mercies willed that the incarnation should be preceded by the acceptance of her who was predestined to be the mother of His Son, so that just as a woman contributed to death, so also a woman should contribute to life. That is true in outstanding fashion of the mother of Jesus, who gave to the world Him who is Life itself and who renews all things, and who was enriched by God with the gifts which befit such a role. It is no wonder therefore that the usage prevailed among the Fathers whereby they called the mother of God entirely holy and free from all stain of sin, as though fashioned by the Holy Spirit and formed as a new creature.(5*) Adorned from the first instant of her conception with the radiance of an entirely unique holiness, the Virgin of Nazareth is greeted, on God's command, by an angel messenger as ‘full of grace’,(286) and to the heavenly messenger she replies: ‘Behold the handmaid of the Lord, be it done unto me according to thy word’.(287) Thus Mary, a daughter of Adam, consenting to the divine Word, became the mother of Jesus, the one and only Mediator. Embracing God’s salvific will with a full heart and impeded by no sin, she devoted herself totally as a handmaid of the Lord to the person and work of her Son, under Him and with Him, by the grace of almighty God, serving the mystery of redemption. Rightly therefore the holy Fathers see her as used by God not merely in a passive way, but as freely cooperating in the work of human salvation through faith and obedience. For, as St. Irenaeus says, she ‘being obedient, became the cause of salvation for herself and for the whole human race.’(6*) Hence not a few of the early Fathers gladly assert in their preaching, ‘The knot of Eve’s disobedience was untied by Mary’s obedience; what the virgin Eve bound through her unbelief, the Virgin Mary loosened by her faith'.’(7*) Comparing Mary with Eve, they call her ‘the Mother of the living,’(8*) and still more often they say: ‘death through Eve, life through Mary.’(9*)”
(286) Cf. Luke 1:28.
(287) Luke 1:38.
(5*) Cfr. S. Germanus Const., Nom. in annunt. Deiparae: PG 98, 328 A; In Dorm. 2: col. 357. Anastasius Antioch., Serm. 2 de Annunt., 2: PG 89, 1377 AB; Serm. 3, 2: col. 1388 C. S. Andrcas Cret. Can. in B. V. Nat. 4: PG 97, 1321 B. In B. V. Nat., 1: col. 812 A. Hom. in dorm. 1: col. 1068 C. - S. Sophronius, Or. 2 in Annunt., 18: PG 87 (3), 3237 BD.
(6*) S. Irenaeus, Adv. Hacr. III, 22, 4: PG 7, 9S9 A; Harvey, 2, 123.
(7*) S. Irenaeus, ib.; Harvey, 2, 124.
(8*) S. Epiphanius, Nacr. 78, 18: PG 42, 728 CD; 729 AB.
(9) S. Hieronymus, Epist. 22, 21: PL 22, 408. Cf. S. Augwtinus, Serm. Sl, 2, 3: PL 38, 33S; Serm. 232, 2: col. 1108. - S. Cyrillus Hieros., Catech. 12, 15: PG 33, 741 AB. - S. Io. Chrysostomus, In Ps. 44, 7: PG SS, 193. - S. Io. Damasccnus, Nom. 2 in dorm. B.M.V., 3: PG 96, 728.
To access the complete document, please visit:
Brother Thomas, O.P., on Presuming the Best
“Nobody likes to look like a fool, especially not a Dominican. Sure, it can be fun to play the buffoon for a bit to get a laugh or to make a point as long as when the dust settles it’s perfectly clear that our ignorance was feigned. Those unfortunate situations when we get caught with our proverbial pants down usually lead to intense brooding and a frantic review of what mistake could possibly have left us looking so naïve. These moments can be educational and formative in many respects, sharpening our mental acuity and keeping us on guard against making the same mistake in the future. When applied to intellectual pursuits, this discriminating eye can help us obtain a clearer vision of the truth. A danger arises, however, when we turn such a sharp instrument on our brothers.”
In a recent commentary, Brother Thomas Davenport, O.P., reflected on presuming the best regarding the actions of others.
To access Brother Thomas' complete post, please visit:
Reflection Starter from Emile Zola
“The artist is nothing without the gift, but the gift is nothing without work.” – Emile Zola
24 September 2012
Lumen Gentium: The Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God in the Mystery of Christ and the Church (55)
Chapter VIII of Lumen Gentium, the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, is entitled “The Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God in the Mystery of Christ and the Church.” It continues as follows:
“55. The Sacred Scriptures of both the Old and the New Testament, as well as ancient Tradition show the role of the Mother of the Savior in the economy of salvation in an ever clearer light and draw attention to it. The books of the Old Testament describe the history of salvation, by which the coming of Christ into the world was slowly prepared. These earliest documents, as they are read in the Church and are understood in the light of a further and full revelation, bring the figure of the woman, Mother of the Redeemer, into a gradually clearer light. When it is looked at in this way, she is already prophetically foreshadowed in the promise of victory over the serpent which was given to our first parents after their fall into sin.(284) Likewise she is the Virgin who shall conceive and bear a son, whose name will be called Emmanuel.(285) She stands out among the poor and humble of the Lord, who confidently hope for and receive salvation from Him. With her the exalted Daughter of Sion, and after a long expectation of the promise, the times are fulfilled and the new Economy established, when the Son of God took a human nature from her, that He might in the mysteries of His flesh free man from sin.”
(284) Cf. Genesis 3:15.
(285) Cf. Isaiah 7:14; cf. Micah 5:2-3; Matthew 1:22-23.
To access the complete document, please visit:
Thank You, Lord
Thank you, Lord, for the many ways in which You encourage us to be faithful to our commitment to You.
On Living Our Faith at Work
“One of the most head-spinning times in my life was right around my 40th birthday. First came the birthday itself, complete with far too much hand-wringing on my part. Then I was offered a terrific promotion to Senior Vice President of my employer. A few days later, I officially graduated with the MBA. Finally, a couple days after that, our eighth child was born. This all happened within a ten day period. It was an incredible time, full of excitement and high expectations.
“Several years later, I continue to be fascinated with leadership and its application. In a sense, my book Faith at Work: Finding Purpose Beyond the Paycheck is a reflection on Christian leadership and how we can grow in our faith and our work acumen simultaneously by living the virtues in the workplace. As a result, I’m grateful for the Church’s efforts to better articulate the essence of leadership in timeless terms.”
In a recent commentary, writer Kevin Lowry reflected on living the virtues and being faithful to God in our daily work.
To access Mr. Lowry’s complete post, please visit:
Reflection Starter from William Arthur Ward
“Opportunity is often difficult to recognize; we usually expect it to beckon us with beepers and billboards.” – William Arthur Ward
23 September 2012
“The Servant Song”
As our Sunday celebration continues, I offer this version of “The Servant Song” by Bukas Palad Ministries:
Rolling Thunder
A couple of weeks ago, the Rhode Island chapter of Rolling Thunder held its first memorial ride to remember the nation’s POW/MIA’s, as well as honor the Rhode Island military personnel killed in action in both Iraq and Afghanistan.
On the national level, Rolling Thunder was established in 1995 to bring full accountability for Prisoners Of War (POW) and Missing In Action (MIA) of all wars. The members of this organization strive to remind the government, the media, and the public of this cause by their watchwords: “We Will Not Forget.”
Media report:
Valley Breeze: Rolling Thunder plans Sept. 9 'Never Forgotten' fund-raiser; all welcome (14 AUG 12)
Background information:
Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Today the Church celebrates the Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time. The assigned readings are Wisdom 2:12, 17-20; James 3:16-4:3; and Mark 9:30-37. The Responsorial Psalm is Psalm 54 (Psalm 54:3-6, 8).
The Gospel reading is as follows:
Jesus and his disciples left from there and began a journey through Galilee, but he did not wish anyone to know about it. He was teaching his disciples and telling them, “The Son of Man is to be handed over to men and they will kill him, and three days after his death the Son of Man will rise.” But they did not understand the saying, and they were afraid to question him.
They came to Capernaum and, once inside the house, he began to ask them, “What were you arguing about on the way?” But they remained silent. They had been discussing among themselves on the way who was the greatest.
Then he sat down, called the Twelve, and said to them, “If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all.” Taking a child, he placed it in the their midst, and putting his arms around it, he said to them, “Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me; and whoever receives me, receives not me but the One who sent me.”
Reflections on these readings:
Oblates of St. Francis de Sales: Sundays Salesian: 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time (September 23, 2012)
Dr. Marcellino D'Ambrosio: Anatomy of Envy
The Deacon’s Bench:Homily for September 23, 2012: 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time (22 SEP 12)
Father James | Pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe and Author: The Envy Trap (20 SEP 12)
Dr. Scott Hahn: Servant of All (September 23rd 2012 - Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time)
The Lectionary: When we serve others, we serve God (20 SEP 12)
The Word Encountered: Perils of Power (Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time B)
Lumen Gentium: The Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God in the Mystery of Christ and the Church (54)
Chapter VIII of Lumen Gentium, the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, is entitled “The Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God in the Mystery of Christ and the Church.” It continues as follows:
“54. Wherefore this Holy Synod, in expounding the doctrine on the Church, in which the divine Redeemer works salvation, intends to describe with diligence both the role of the Blessed Virgin in the mystery of the Incarnate Word and the Mystical Body, and the duties of redeemed mankind toward the Mother of God, who is mother of Christ and mother of men, particularly of the faithful. It does not, however, have it in mind to give a complete doctrine on Mary, nor does it wish to decide those questions which the work of theologians has not yet fully clarified. Those opinions therefore may be lawfully retained which are propounded in Catholic schools concerning her, who occupies a place in the Church which is the highest after Christ and yet very close to us.(4*)”
(4*) Cf. Paulus Pp. VI, allocutio in Concilio, die 4 dec. 1963: AAS 56 (1964) p. 37.
To access the complete document, please visit:
Thank You, Lord
Thank you, Lord, for the beauty of lighthouses, for the services they provide, and those who design, build, and maintain them.
Restrictions on Religion Increasing in the U.S. and Around the World
“Beyond any doubt, religious freedom has emerged as the premier social and political concern of the Catholic church in the early 21st century. Pope Benedict XVI offered confirmation as recently as last Saturday, during his trip to Lebanon.
“Speaking to politicians, diplomats and religious leaders (including representatives of all four major branches of Islam in Lebanon -- Sunni, Shi'ite, Druze and Alawite), the pope insisted that ‘religious freedom is the basic right on which many others depend.’”
“A new report released Thursday by the Pew Forum illustrates why, at least in this case, it's impossible to argue that the concern is misplaced.”
A recent article in the National Catholic Reporter reviewed this Pew Forum report, which stated “Restrictions on religion rose in each of the five major regions of the world – including in the Americas and sub-Saharan Africa, the two regions where overall restrictions previously had been declining.”
To access this National Catholic Reporter article, please visit:
National Catholic Reporter: Pondering a 'rising tide' of threats to religious freedom (21 SEP 12)
To access the Pew Report, please visit:
Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life: Rising Tide of Restrictions on Religion (20 SEP 12)
Reflection Starter from Saint Ephrem
“Virtues are formed by prayer. Prayer preserves temperance. Prayer suppresses anger. Prayer prevents emotions of pride and envy. Prayer draws into the soul the Holy Spirit, and raises man to Heaven.” – Saint Ephrem
22 September 2012
IAFC Adopts Updated Drug and Alcohol-Free Position
The International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) recently adopted a position statement on Drug and Alcohol-Free Awareness.
"Drugs and alcohol should never be a part of our fire and emergency service," said Chief Hank Clemmensen, IAFC president and chairman of the board. "Just as we would never tolerate such irresponsible behavior from those whose hands into which we place our lives, so should the public demand the same from us."
The position supersedes the organization’s 2003 Zero-Tolerance for Alcohol & Drinking in the Fire & Emergency Service, mirroring much of the content from the older alcohol-specific position and adding new guidance on illegal substances, legal prescriptions, and over-the-counter medication. It also encourages department support of assistance programs that can help responders avoid or address substance abuse.
According to the IAFC Safety, Health and Survival Section, the negative effects on judgment, decision-making, and reaction time while under the influence of drugs or alcohol are well-documented. Ignoring and failing to address signs of drug and alcohol impairment put the user, his or her fellow firefighters, the fire department, and the entire community at very high risk.
To access a copy of the statement, please visit:
IAFC Position Statement: Drug and Alcohol-Free Awareness
Background information:
Lumen Gentium: The Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God in the Mystery of Christ and the Church (53)
Chapter VIII of Lumen Gentium, the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, is entitled “The Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God in the Mystery of Christ and the Church.” It continues as follows:
“53. The Virgin Mary, who at the message of the angel received the Word of God in her heart and in her body and gave Life to the world, is acknowledged and honored as being truly the Mother of God and Mother of the Redeemer. Redeemed by reason of the merits of her Son and united to Him by a close and indissoluble tie, she is endowed with the high office and dignity of being the Mother of the Son of God, by which account she is also the beloved daughter of the Father and the temple of the Holy Spirit. Because of this gift of sublime grace she far surpasses all creatures, both in heaven and on earth. At the same time, however, because she belongs to the offspring of Adam she is one with all those who are to be saved. She is ‘the mother of the members of Christ . . . having cooperated by charity that faithful might be born in the Church, who are members of that Head.’(3*) Wherefore she is hailed as a pre-eminent and singular member of the Church, and as its type and excellent exemplar in faith and charity. The Catholic Church, taught by the Holy Spirit, honors her with filial affection and piety as a most beloved mother.”
(3*) S. Augustine, De S. Virginitate. 6: PL 40, 399.
To access the complete document, please visit:
Thank You, Lord
Thank you, Lord, for the gift of the season of autumn and all that it brings with it.
On Priestly Service to Young Catholics
“Dear Fathers,
“We are writing this letter to you today because we have some things we want to say to you. Some things are easier to say than others, but here you go.
“Before that, though, a HUGE thank you. Thank you for having the courage to say yes to your counter-cultural vocation. We are forever grateful and will never be able to repay you. We’re also grateful for your energy and enthusiasm you have for us as young Catholics. There are few people that value us for who we are and encourage us toward greatness and holiness as you do.”
In a recent commentary, Ryan Eggenberger offered a few suggestions on how priests may be better able to serve young Catholics.
To access Ryan’s complete post, please visit:
Ignitum Today: Open Letter to Priests by Young Catholics (21 SEP 112)
Reflection Starter from Swami Sivananda
“Put your heart, mind, intellect and soul even to your smallest acts. This is the secret of success.” – Swami Sivananda
21 September 2012
National Fall Prevention Awareness Day
Saturday, 22 September, is the first day of fall, and, as such, is being observed as the fifth annual National Falls Prevention Awareness Day. This observance is sponsored by the National Council on Aging (NCOA) because falls are the leading cause of injury related emergency department visits for older adults, the major cause of hip fractures, and responsible for more than half of fatal head injuries.
This year’s theme is Standing Together to Prevent Falls. It is designed to encourage professionals, older adults, caregivers, and family members to work together in raising awareness and preventing falls in the older adult population.
For more information related to, please visit:
NCOA: Center for Healthy Aging: Falls Prevention Awareness Day
American Occupational Therapy Association: National Falls Prevention Awareness Day
NCOA: Falls Prevention Fact Sheet
NCOA: Center for Healthy Aging: Falls Free© Initiative
NCOA/Home Safety Council/Archstone Foundation: Falls Free National Action Plan
NCOA/IlluminAge Aging Briefings Series: Fall Prevention Resources and Strategies
Background information:
Lumen Gentium: The Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God in the Mystery of Christ and the Church (52)
Chapter VIII of Lumen Gentium, the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, is entitled “The Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God in the Mystery of Christ and the Church.” It begins as follows:
“52. Wishing in His supreme goodness and wisdom to effect the redemption of the world, ‘when the fullness of time came, God sent His Son, born of a woman...that we might receive the adoption of sons’.(283) ‘He for us men, and for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit from the Virgin Mary.’(1*) This divine mystery of salvation is revealed to us and continued in the Church, which the Lord established as His body. Joined to Christ the Head and in the unity of fellowship with all His saints, the faithful must in the first place reverence the memory ‘of the glorious ever Virgin Mary, Mother of our God and Lord Jesus Christ’.(2*)”
(283) Galatians 4:4-5.
(1*) Credo in Missa Romana: Symbolum Constantinopolitanum: Mansi 3, 566. Cf. Conc. Ephesinum, ib. 4, 1130 (necnon ib. 2, 665 et 4, 1071); Conc. Chalcedonense, ib. 7, 111-116; Cow. Constantinopolitanum II, ib. 9, 375-396.
(2*) Canon Missae Romanae.
To access the complete document, please visit:
Thank You, Lord
Thank you, Lord, for the changes that come with each season (and which are enhanced in a special way in this region).
Bishop Tobin on the Changes of Seasons in Nature and in Life
“Summer’s almost over, about to give way to fall. I mourn the passing of summer. For lots of reasons it’s my favorite season. I enjoy the longer, brighter days, the warm, even hot and humid weather, the opportunity to be outside more often, the casual clothes and the relaxed schedule. Summer . . . what’s there not to like?
“Every season has its own charms though; there’s something to like at every time of the year.”
In a recent commentary, Bishop Thomas J. Tobin, of the Diocese of Providence (RI), reflected on the four seasons and how their changes give us an opportunity to reflect upon the changes we encounter in life.
To access Bishop Tobin’s complete essay, please visit:
Without A Doubt: Finding God in the Seasons of Life (20 SEP 12)
Reflection Starter from Matthew
“Do to others whatever you would have them do to you. This is the law and the prophets.” – Matthew 7:12 (Today the Church celebrates the Feast of Saint Matthew.)
20 September 2012
National Farm Safety and Health Week
This week, the week of 16-22 September, is being observed as National Farm Safety and Health Week. This year’s theme is Agricultural Safety & Health . . . A Family Affair.”
This year’s theme for National Farm Safety & Health Week (NFSHW) has a focus on the foundation of agriculture throughout the world (including this region) – the farm family. Although farming in many regions is moving toward large operations and corporate endeavors, a great percentage of the agrarian industry is still based in the family unit. Agriculture continues to rank as one of the most dangerous occupations in North America. According to the National Education Center for Agricultural Safety, there were 596 deaths and 70,000 disabling injuries attributed to agriculture in 2010.
Presidential Proclamation - National Farm Safety and Health Week, 2012
Background information:
Petra: "The Battle Belongs to the Lord"
A reminder during these challenging time: in this video, Petra sings "The Battle Belongs to the Lord":
Lumen Gentium: The Eschatological Nature of the Pilgrim Church and Its Union with the Church in Heaven (51, continued)
Chapter VII of Lumen Gentium, the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, is entitled “The Eschatological Nature of the Pilgrim Church and Its Union with the Church in Heaven.” It continues as follows:
“51. . . . For all of us, who are sons of God and constitute one family in Christ,(279) as long as we remain in communion with one another in mutual charity and in one praise of the most holy Trinity, are corresponding with the intimate vocation of the Church and partaking in foretaste the liturgy of consummate glory.(25*) For when Christ shall appear and the glorious resurrection of the dead will take place, the glory of God will light up the heavenly City and the Lamb will be the lamp thereof.(280) Then the whole Church of the saints in the supreme happiness of charity will adore God and ‘the Lamb who was slain’,(281) proclaiming with one voice: ‘To Him who sits upon the throne, and to the Lamb blessing, and honor, and glory, and dominion forever and ever’.(282)”
(279) Cf. Hebrews 3:6.
(280) Cf. Revelation 21:24.
(281) Revelation 5:12.
(282) Revelation 5:13-14.
(25*) Cf. Conc. Vaticanum II Const. De Sacra Liturgia, cap. 1 n. 8.
To access the complete document, please visit:
“Catholic? Where’s the evidence?”
“What makes you Catholic? The clothes or jewelry you wear? Going to Mass on Sundays? Being raised a Catholic? If you were put on trial for your faith, would there be enough evidence to convict you of being a Catholic?”
In a recent post, Edmund Mitchell, Director of Youth Ministry at a Toledo, OH, parish, offers a video, written by Bob Rice and produced by Outside da Box, that is designed to challenge us to think about what really makes us a Catholic.
To access this post, please visit:
The Blog of Edmund Mitchell: Catholic? Where’s the evidence? (11 SEP 12)
Reflection Starter from Mother Teresa
“To keep a lamp burning we have to keep putting oil in it.” – Blessed Teresa of Calcutta (Mother Teresa)
19 September 2012
National Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Week
This week, the week of 16-22 September, is being observed as National Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Week. Many communities in this region have staff members serving in one of the branches of the Armed Forces Reserves and in the National Guard, and the support by their communities makes it easier for these service members to carry out their commitment to the nation. Thank you for your support.
For more information about National Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Week, please visit:
U.S. Department of Defense: Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve
Presidential Proclamation - National Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Week, 2012
Lumen Gentium: The Eschatological Nature of the Pilgrim Church and Its Union with the Church in Heaven (51)
Chapter VII of Lumen Gentium, the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, is entitled “The Eschatological Nature of the Pilgrim Church and Its Union with the Church in Heaven.” It continues as follows:
“51. This Sacred Council accepts with great devotion this venerable faith of our ancestors regarding this vital fellowship with our brethren who are in heavenly glory or who having died are still being purified; and it proposes again the decrees of the Second Council of Nicea,(20*) the Council of Florence (21*) and the Council of Trent.(22*) And at the same time, in conformity with our own pastoral interests, we urge all concerned, if any abuses, excesses or defects have crept in here or there, to do what is in their power to remove or correct them, and to restore all things to a fuller praise of Christ and of God. Let them therefore teach the faithful that the authentic cult of the saints consists not so much in the multiplying of external acts, but rather in the greater intensity of our love, whereby, for our own greater good and that of the whole Church, we seek from the saints "example in their way of life, fellowship in their communion, and aid by their intercession."(23*) On the other hand, let them teach the faithful that our communion with those in heaven, provided that it is understood in the fuller light of faith according to its genuine nature, in no way weakens, but conversely, more thoroughly enriches the latreutic worship we give to God the Father, through Christ, in the Spirit.(24*)”
(20*) Conc. Nicaenum II, Act. VII: Denz. 302 (600).
(21*) Conc. Florentinum, Decretum pro Graecis: Denz. 693 (1304).
(22*) Conc. Tridentinum Sess. 35, De invocatione, veneratione et reliquiis Sanctorum et sacris imaginibus: Denz. 984-988 (1821-1824); Sess. 25, Decretum de Purgatorio: Denz. 983 (1820); Sess. 6, Decretum de iustificatione, can. 30: Denz. 840 (1580).
(23*) Ex Praefatione, aliquious dioecesibus concessa.
(24*) Cf. S. Petrus Canisius, Catechismus Maior seu Summa Doctrinae christianae, cap. III (ed. crit. F. Streicher) pas I, pp. 15-16, n. 44 et pp. 100-1O1, n. 49.
To access the complete document, please visit:
Thank You, Lord
Thank you, Lord, for the gift refrigeration and for the ways in which You have guided the development of refrigeration technology.
Msgr. Pope on Complete Freedom
“There is a saying that you cannot steal from a man who has nothing, and you cannot threaten a man who has nothing to lose. Of Jesus, the Son of Man who had no where to lay his head (Matt 8:20), this was surely true. The world had no claim on him, nothing to hook him or claim his loyalty. Even his life could not be taken from him for he had already laid it down freely (cf Jn 10:18).”
In a recent commentary, Monsignor Charles Pope (pastor of Holy Comforter-Saint Cyprian Parish, Washington, DC) reflected on complete freedom, with special reference to a homily from Saint John Chrysostom.
To access Msgr. Pope’s complete post, please visit:
Reflection Starter from Johann Friedrich Schiller
“Enthusiasm is that kindling spark which marks the difference between the leaders in every activity and the laggards who put in just enough to get by.” – Johann Friedrich Schiller
18 September 2012
Library Card Sign-up Month
September is Library Card Sign-up Month. The American Library Association has designated this as a time to remind parents and children that a library card is the most important school supply of all.
For more information related to Library Card Sign-up Month, please visit:
ALA: September is Library Card Sign-up Month
@ your library: Library Card Sign-up Month
@ your library: Sixty Ways to Use Your Library Card (slide show)
To access an audio PSA for Library Card Sign-up Month, please visit:
ALA PSA: “Sign up for the smartest card” (Audio)
Background information:
Facebook: @ your librarySaint Joseph of Cupertino
Today the Church celebrates the memory of Saint Joseph of Cupertino.
For an interesting reflection on this saint by Father John Bartunek, L.C., please visit:
Lumen Gentium: The Eschatological Nature of the Pilgrim Church and Its Union with the Church in Heaven (50, continued)
Chapter VII of Lumen Gentium, the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, is entitled “The Eschatological Nature of the Pilgrim Church and Its Union with the Church in Heaven.” It continues as follows:
“50. . . . Our union with the Church in heaven is put into effect in its noblest manner especially in the sacred Liturgy, wherein the power of the Holy Spirit acts upon us through sacramental signs. Then, with combined rejoicing we celebrate together the praise of the divine majesty;(18*) then all those from every tribe and tongue and people and nation (278) who have been redeemed by the blood of Christ and gathered together into one Church, with one song of praise magnify the one and triune God. Celebrating the Eucharistic sacrifice therefore, we are most closely united to the Church in heaven in communion with and venerating the memory first of all of the glorious ever-Virgin Mary, of Blessed Joseph and the blessed apostles and martyrs and of all the saints.(19*)”
(278) Cf. Revelation 5:9.
(18*) Conc. Vaticanum II, Const. De Sacra Liturgia, cap. 5, n. 104.
(19*) Canon Missae Romanae.
To access the complete document, please visit:
Thank You, Lord
Thank you, Lord, for the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and for the many ways in which You work through it.
On Cardinal Dolan’s Convention Prayers
“Over the past . . . weeks, Americans were treated to the quadrennial spectacle of the two major political parties’ national conventions. Each party graced us with an endless parade of speakers making the very clear point that their party represents all that is good and true, while the other party would heap unmitigated disaster upon the heads of the poor, the elderly, small business owners, or any other key demographic one could imagine.
“On the final night of each convention, after the rhetoric, the biographical videos, and the applause, Timothy Cardinal Dolan, Archbishop of New York, approached the microphone to offer his blessing and his prayer. No non-Catholic news source featured his remarks in their coverage, but his firm and clear voice delivered the most powerful words uttered at either gathering.”
In a recent commentary, writer Jason Hall reflected on the prayers that Cardinal Dolan offered at each convention and on the true good of every individual, the dignity of each and every human person, as the proper goal of every law and government policy.
To access Mr. Hall’s complete post, please visit:
Ignitum Today: A Prayer for Political Conversion (12 SEP 12)
Reflection Starter from Mahatma Gandhi
“It’s the action, not the fruit of the action that’s important. You have to do the right thing. It may not be in your power, may not be in your time, that there’ll be any fruit. But that does not mean you stop doing the right thing. You may never know what results come from your action. But if you do nothing, there will be no results.” –Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (Mahatma Gandhi)
17 September 2012
Constitution Day and Constitution Week
On 17 September 1787, 39 Constitutional Convention (also known as the American Congress of the Confederation) delegates at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, PA, signed the United States Constitution. This year is the 225th anniversary of the Constitution’s signing.
Constitution Day, the anniversary date of the signing, became a national observance in 2004, when Congress passed a bill designating 17 September as the day for citizens to commemorate the signing of the U.S. Constitution and to learn more about the nation’s founding document. In honor of Constitution Day, all educational institutions receiving federal funding are required to hold an educational program pertaining to the U.S. Constitution. This year, Constitution Week is being observed during the week of 17-23 September.
For more information about Constitution Day, please visit:
National Constitution Center: Constitution Day
Presidential Proclamation -- Constitution Day and Citizenship Day, Constitution Week, 2012
Background information:
The Center for Civic Education
Boston’s IMPACT II – Resources
Apples4theteacher: About U.S. Constitution Day | Constitution Week
Lumen Gentium: The Eschatological Nature of the Pilgrim Church and Its Union with the Church in Heaven (50, continued)
Chapter VII of Lumen Gentium, the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, is entitled “The Eschatological Nature of the Pilgrim Church and Its Union with the Church in Heaven.” It continues as follows:
“50. . . . Nor is it by the title of example only that we cherish the memory of those in heaven, but still more in order that the union of the whole Church may be strengthened in the Spirit by the practice of fraternal charity.(277) For just as Christian communion among wayfarers brings us closer to Christ, so our companionship with the saints joins us to Christ, from Whom as from its Fountain and Head issues every grace and the very life of the people of God.(13*) It is supremely fitting, therefore, that we love those friends and coheirs of Jesus Christ, who are also our brothers and extraordinary benefactors, that we render due thanks to God for them (14*) and ‘suppliantly invoke them and have recourse to their prayers, their power and help in obtaining benefits from God through His Son, Jesus Christ, who is our Redeemer and Savior.’(15*) For every genuine testimony of love shown by us to those in heaven, by its very nature tends toward and terminates in Christ who is the ‘crown of all saints,’(16*) and through Him, in God Who is wonderful in his saints and is magnified in them.(17*)”
(277) Cf. Ephesians 4:1-6.
(13*) Cf. Pius XII, Litt. Encycl. Mystici Corporis: AAS 35 (1943) p. 216.
(14*) Quoad gratitudinem erga ipsos Sanctos, cfr. E. Diehl, Inscriptiones latinae christianae vereres, 1, Berolini, 1925, nn. 2008 2382 et passim.
(15*) Conc. Tridentinum, Sess. 25, De invocatione... Sanctorum: Denz. 984 (1821).
(16*) Breviarium Romanum, Invitatorium infesto Sanctorum Omnium.
(17*) Cf. v. g., 2 Thessalonians 1, 10.
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