As our Sunday celebration continues, I offer this version of Be Thou My Vision, as sung by Alison Krauss:
30 June 2013
Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Today the Church celebrates the Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. The assigned readings are 1 Kings 19:16, 19-21; Galatians 5:1, 13-18; and Luke 9:51-62. The Responsorial Psalm is Psalm 16 (Psalm 16:2-6, 8-9).
The Gospel reading is as follows:When the days for Jesus’ being taken up were fulfilled, he resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem, and he sent messengers ahead of him. On the way they entered a Samaritan village to prepare for his reception there, but they would not welcome him because the destination of his journey was Jerusalem.
When the disciples James and John saw this they asked, “Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to consume them?” Jesus turned and rebuked them, and they journeyed to another village.
As they were proceeding on their journey someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.”
Jesus answered him, “Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head.”
And to another he said, “Follow me.”
But he replied, “Lord, let me go first and bury my father.”
But he answered him, “Let the dead bury their dead. But you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”
And another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but first let me say farewell to my family at home.”
To him Jesus said, “No one who sets a hand to the plow and looks to what was left behind is fit for the kingdom of God.”
Reflections on this day and on these readings:
Dr. Marcellino D’Ambrosio: Theology of the Body - Spirit vs. Flesh?
Word on Fire: Sermon 651: Elisha and the Path of True Freedom: 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time
The Sacred Page: The Radical Call to Discipleship: The 13th Sunday of Ordinary Time (26 JUN 13)
Dr. Scott Hahn: Taking the Call (June 30th 2013 - 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time)
The Word Engaged: Holy Commitment (13th Sunday of Ordinary Time C)
Thank You, Lord
Thank you, Lord, for the many gifts You have given us and the many ways You call us to use these gifts in the service of others.
Br. John Baptist Hoang, O.P., on the Hawthorne Dominicans
“. . . The film [How to Die in Oregon (2011)] inspired the [Dominican] friars to discuss ways in which we could preach the Gospel to people so intent on having the power to control their lives, to use the words constantly repeated by those interviewed in the film. I was truly inspired by my brothers, Gospel men wanting to faithfully follow in the footsteps of our Holy Father St. Dominic in the twenty-first century. One brother brought up the idea of a response film, or at least a documentary on Catholic end-of-life care.
“Following this suggestion, the work of the Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne immediately came to mind. I had heard so many good things about the wonderful work of our sisters from some of the brethren who had worked with them before, and now I have been blessed to be with them this summer at their home on Rosary Hill in Hawthorne, New York.”
In a recent commentary, Brother John Baptist Hoang, O.P., offered a reflection on the Hawthorne Dominicans and their ministry.
To access Br. John Baptist’s complete reflection, please visit:
Dominica: How to Live at Hawthorne (28 JUN 13)
Background information:
Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne
TJL Note: My aunt (and godmother), Sister Mary Teresita, O.P., was a Hawthorne Dominican. She passed away on Saint Dominic’s feast day in 2001, a few weeks short of her golden jubilee.
Reflection Starter from Fulton Sheen
“No one has ever laughed at a pun who did not see in the one word a twofold meaning. To materialists this world is opaque like a curtain; nothing can be seen through it. A mountain is just a mountain, a sunset just a sunset; but to poets, artists, and saints, the world is transparent like a window pane – it tells of something beyond . . . a mountain tells of the Power of God, the sunset of His Beauty, and the snowflake of His Purity.” – Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen
29 June 2013
The Theme from “The Third Man”
It’s time for some music from André Rieu. In this video, André and his Johann Strauss Orchestra performs, with Frédéric Jenniges on the zither, the theme from “The Third Man”:
CPSC Report Shows 60% of All Fireworks Injuries Occur Around July 4th
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recently issued its annual report of deaths and injuries involving legal and illegal fireworks for calendar year 2012. As noted in other reports, fireworks can have a life-altering impact on consumers, including severe eye injuries, loss of limbs, and even death. CPSC works closely with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CPB), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Fireworks, and Explosives; the Department of Transportation; and the Department of Justice to enforce federal safety standards and raise awareness about the dangers of fireworks.
Last year, CPSC received reports of six men who were killed by professional-grade, homemade or banned firework devices. In addition, an estimated 8,700 consumers were treated in U.S. hospital emergency departments for fireworks-related injuries.
Between June 22, 2012 and July 22, 2012, more than 5,000 consumers were treated in hospital emergency rooms due to fireworks-related injuries. Sixty percent of all fireworks injuries occur during the 30 days surrounding the July 4 holiday. More than half of these reported injuries involved burns to the hands, head and face. About 1,000 reported injuries involved sparklers and bottle rockets, fireworks that are frequently and incorrectly considered safe for young children.
Follow-up investigations of incidents showed that most injuries were associated with malfunctioning fireworks or improper use. Malfunctioning fireworks often resulted in unexpected flight paths and dangerous debris. Improper use included igniting fireworks too close to someone, lighting fireworks in one’s hand and playing with lit or used fireworks. Most victims recovered from their injuries or were expected to recover completely; however, several victims reported that their injuries might be long term.
Working with CBP, CPSC conducts surveillance on imported fireworks. During 2012, the agencies collected and tested shipments of imported fireworks for compliance with the Federal Hazardous Substance Act (FHSA). About 30 percent of the tested products were found to be in violation of the law and were immediately stopped at the U.S. port. This import surveillance program strives to keep violative and dangerous fireworks off of U.S. store shelves and roadside stands.
To access the complete CPSC report, please visit:
CPSC: 2012 Fireworks Annual Report (June 2013)
Background information:
On the Value of Cursive Writing
“I found it excruciatingly painful to watch this video clip,. Excruciating because I love and value cursive writing, and I felt really bad for this young woman, and for what is apparently a whole generation (or two) that has been denied the experience of learning to use it. Cursive enhances brain function, helps to develop fine motor skills and gives a student a daily dose of something that is both an art and a discipline.”
In a recent commentary, writer Elizabeth Scalia reflected on the value of cursive writing.
To access Ms. Scalia’s complete post, please visit:
The Anchoress: Ranting on the Loss of Cursive Writing (27 JUN 13)
Related posts/commentary:
Psychology Today: Blog: Memory Medic: What Learning Cursive Does for Your Brain (4 MAR 13)
New York Times: Room for Debate: Is Cursive Dead? (30 APR 13)
Mashable: Has Technology Killed Cursive Handwriting? (11 JUN 13)
Solemnity of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, Apostles
Today the Church celebrates the Solemnity of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, Apostles. The assigned readings are Acts 12:1-11; 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 17-18; and Matthew 16:13-19. The Responsorial Psalm is Psalm 34 (Psalm 34:2-9).
The Gospel reading is as follows:
When Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”
They replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
Simon Peter said in reply, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Jesus said to him in reply, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
Reflections related to this feast day:
Catholic Digest: St. Peter and St. Paul, Apostles
American Catholic: Saint of the Day: Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul
Thank You, Lord
Thank you, Lord, for Your personal call to me and to each of Your people and for the many graces You give us related to Your call.
Pope Francis on God’s Personal Call to Each Christian
“Just as God called Abraham by name to receive a promise, so does he continue to call each Christian personally to enter into relationship with him, Pope Francis said at [a recent daily Mass].
“‘We Christians have been called one-by-one: none of us is Christian by pure chance. No one,’ he said during his homily at the chapel of Saint Martha House in the Vatican.”
In a recent homily on the readings for the Tuesday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time, Pope Francis reflected on God’s call to each Christian and how He God accompanies each one and calls each one by name. He concluded his homily with a prayer the Lord give us, all of us, a desire to move forward, in the midst of all our problems, with the confidence that He who called us, who promised us so many beautiful things, is with us.
To access a news report on the Pope’s homily, please visit:
Catholic News Agency: God calls each Christian personally, Pope says (25 JUN 13)
Reflection Starter from William Foster
“Quality is never an accident; it is always the result of high intention, sincere effort, intelligent direction and skillful execution; it represents the wise choice of many alternatives.” – William A. Foster
28 June 2013
Msgr. Pope on Proclaiming the Whole Counsel of God
“One of the more powerful moments in pastoral ministry as described in Scripture is Paul’s farewell speech to the presbyters (priests) of the early Church. Here is a skilled bishop and pastor, exhorting others who have pastoral roles in the Church.”
In a recent commentary, Monsignor Charles Pope (pastor of Holy Comforter-Saint Cyprian Parish, Washington, DC) reflected on this passage from the Acts of the Apostles and how its wisdom applies to Bishops, priests, parents, and other leaders in the Church.
To access Msgr. Pope’s complete post, please visit:
Reflection Starter from Mother Teresa
“We are at Jesus’ disposal. If he wants you to be sick in bed, if he wants you to proclaim His work in the street, if he wants you to clean the toilets all day, that’s all right, everything is all right. We must say, ‘I belong to you. You can do whatever you like.’ And this . . . is our strength, and this is the joy of the Lord.” – Mother Teresa (Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, M.C.)
27 June 2013
NFPA: Use of Consumer Fireworks Dramatically Increases Risk of Fire and Injury
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) released its 2013 Fireworks report, an initiative that explores fire and injury dangers related to consumer fireworks. The report shows that in 2011 alone, an estimated 17,800 reported fires were started by fireworks and 9,600 fireworks-related injuries were treated in U.S. hospital emergency rooms.
In 2011, eight out of nine (89%) emergency room fireworks injuries involved fireworks that Federal regulations permit consumers to use. Sparklers, fountains, and novelties alone accounted for one-third (34%) of emergency room fireworks injuries.
The Fireworks report outlines specific statistics regarding how the use of consumer fireworks relates to fire danger including:
- In 2010, fireworks caused an estimated 17,800 reported fires.
- These fires resulted in an estimated 40 civilian injuries and $32 million in direct property damage, with no reported fire deaths.
To access the complete report, please visit:
Background information:
YouTube: NH Fire Officials and Injured Family Recount Fireworks Incident
Thank You, Lord
Thank you, Lord, for well wishes that are offered by Your people and for the many ways in which these well wishes encourage others and brighten their day.
Anthony Esolen on the Purpose of Law
“Consider two towns, of about the same population. One is named Coventry, the other Chester. Coventry hasn’t had a murder this year. Neither has Chester. Coventry hasn’t had a break-in this year. Neither has Chester. No felonies have been committed in Coventry this year. None in Chester, either.
“There were drunken and disorderly incidents in both towns. In Coventry, a couple of teenagers threw a rock through a drug store window, apparently on a dare. In Chester, a couple of teenagers were rounded up for setting up a corn-mash still up by the dam.
“So far, we could say that Coventry is a safe place to live, and so is Chester. The crime rate is about the same, and is negligible. Law and order reign in both towns. Or do they?”
In a recent commentary, Anthony Esolen (a writer and lecturer at Providence College) reflected on law as a deterrence from crime and as a teaching tool.
To access Professor Esolen’s complete post, please visit:
Reflection Starter from George Eliot
“The important work of moving the world forward does not wait to be done by perfect men.” – George Eliot
26 June 2013
Antonio Vivaldi: “The Four Seasons”
It’s time for some classical music. This is a presentation of Antonio Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons (Le quattro stagioni), as played by the English Chamber Orchestra:
Annie E. Casey Foundation Releases 2013 KIDS COUNT Data Book
The Annie E. Casey Foundation recently published the 2013 KIDS COUNT Data Book, which is provide a detailed picture of how children are faring in the United States. In addition to ranking states on overall child well-being, the Data Book ranks states in four domains: Economic Well-Being, Education, Health, and Family and Community.
To access the complete report, please visit:
Annie E. Casey Foundation: 2013 KIDS COUNT Data Book
2013 Data Book Profiles on Key Indicators of Child Well-being (New England States):
2013 KIDS COUNT Data Book: Connecticut
2013 KIDS COUNT Data Book: Maine
2013 KIDS COUNT Data Book: Massachusetts
2013 KIDS COUNT Data Book: New Hampshire
2013 KIDS COUNT Data Book: Rhode Island
2013 KIDS COUNT Data Book: Vermont
Background information:
Saint Josemaría Escrivá
Today the Church celebrates the memory of Saint Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer, founder of Opus Dei, a lay movement through which Catholics are encouraged to sanctify themselves through their (secular) work.
Previous post:
Lop Notes: Saint Josemaria Escriva (26 JUN 10)
For information on St. Josemaría’s writings, please visit:
Thank You, Lord
Thank you, Lord, for each person You have placed in my life – family members, friends, associates, and others – and for the many prayers, good works, and kind words (including encouragement, instruction, and constructive criticism) they have offered to/for me.
Deacon Greg Kandra on a Life-filled Parish
In a recent post, Deacon Greg Kanda offered a look at a “vibrant parish” in Centennial, Colorado.
To access Deacon Greg’s complete post, please visit:
The Deacon's Bench: Wow. How’s THIS for a Vibrant Parish? (19 JUN 13)
Reflection Starter from St. Josemaría Escrivá
“If we let Christ reign in our soul, we will not become authoritarian. Rather we will serve everyone. How I like that word: service! To serve my king and, through him, all those who have been redeemed by his blood. I really wish we Christians knew how to serve, for only by serving can we know and love Christ and make him known and loved.” – Saint Josemaría Escrivá
25 June 2013
National Mosquito Control Awareness Week
This week, the week of 23-29 June, is being observed as National Mosquito Control Awareness Week. An initiative sponsored by the American Mosquito Control Association, this is the week’s seventeenth annual observance.
The week was initiated to educate the general public about the significance of mosquitoes in their daily lives and about the important service provided by mosquito control workers throughout the United States and the rest of the world.
During this week, displays, lectures, demonstrations, and educational programs are being held to focus on mosquitoes as disease carriers and pests. Included in these presentations are information on the mosquito life cycle and tips on how to eliminate mosquito egg-laying sites around homes in order to help citizens reduce the numbers of mosquitoes in their own neighborhoods.
Background information:
Sissel and the Oslo Gospel Choir: “To God Be the Glory”
As we continue to live this week, I offer this version of Andrae Crouch’s “To God Be the Glory,” as sung by Sissel Kyrkjebø and the Oslo Gospel Choir:
Thank You, Lord
Thank you, Lord, for the many attributes You have instilled and/or guided the development of in me and in each of Your people.
Papal Message Reaffirms Support for Abolition of Death Penalty
In a message to the participants in the Fifth World Congress against the Death Penalty recently held in Madrid, Spain, Pope Francis reaffirmed the Holy See’s support for the abolition of the death penalty.
Media report:
National Catholic Register: Papal Message Reaffirms Call to Abolish Death Penalty (19 JUN 13)
Background information:
Reflection Starter from St. Mary Joseph Rossello
“Good example is the most efficacious apostolate. You must be as lighted lanterns and shine like brilliant chandeliers among men. By your good example and your words, animate others to know and love God.” - Saint Mary Joseph Rossello
24 June 2013
Fortnight for Freedom Begins
The U.S. bishops have called for a Fortnight for Freedom, a two-week period of prayer and action (21 June-4 July), to address many current challenges to religious liberty, including the 1 August 2013 deadline for religious organizations to comply with the HHS mandate, Supreme Court rulings that could attempt to redefine marriage in June, and religious liberty concerns in areas such as immigration and humanitarian services.
For additional information related to this initiative, please visit:
Facebook: Fortnight for Freedom 2013
USCCB: 2013 Fortnight for Freedom: June 21 to July 4
Media commentary:
Washington Post: On Faith: Religious freedom is not a ‘second-class right’
Seek First the Kingdom (A Blog by Cardinal Donald Wuerl): Fortnight for Freedom
Timothy Cardinal Dolan's Blog: Fortnight For Freedom
“We should be free to preach the gospel, we should be free to help the poor in Christ’s name, we should be free to heal the sick in Christ’s name, we should be free to educate in Christ’s name, and now we are being told for the first time that the government has the right to tell us that our ministries are now public services without religious reference . . . . It’s chilling and difficult for me to live with that my own government is now saying that what you thought you could do, namely exercise your religion freely as you define it, now depends upon how we define what you do. This isn’t just the bishops, we have Catholic University, Notre Dame University, and many others who are saying “You are robbing of us of our identity as Catholics.” - Francis Cardinal George, Archbishop of Chicago
Reflection Starter from Fulton Sheen
“Believe the incredible, and you can do the impossible. It is our want of faith that holds us back, even as Peter.
When did he begin to sink? The Gospel gives us the reason. He took account of the winds, he began reading some surveys; it was established statistically that 99.44% of mankind cannot walk on water. All of the incredulities were in the winds. When he took his eyes off Christ, Peter began to sink.” – Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen
23 June 2013
“Praise to the Lord, the Almighty”
As our Sunday celebration continues, I offer this version of “Praise to the Lord, the Almighty,” as sung by Fernando Ortega:
Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Today the Church celebrates the Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time. The assigned readings are Zechariah 12:10-11, 13:1; Galatians 3:26-29; and Luke 9:18-24. The Responsorial Psalm is Psalm 63 (Psalm 63:2-6, 8-9).
To access one version of the Responsorial Psalm set to music, please visit:
YouTube: Responsorial Psalm - Psalm 63 Our Souls Yearn for God
The Gospel reading is as follows:
Once when Jesus was praying in solitude, and the disciples were with him, he asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?”
They said in reply, “John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, ‘One of the ancient prophets has arisen.’”
Then he said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
Peter said in reply, “The Christ of God.”
He rebuked them and directed them not to tell this to anyone. He said, “The Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised.”
Then he said to all, “If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.”
Reflections on this day and on these readings:
Oblates of St. Francis de Sales: Sundays Salesian: Twelfth Sunday of Ordinary Time (June 23, 2013)
Dr. Marcellino D’Ambrosio: Messianic Secret - the Meaning of the Cross
The Quiet Corner: St. Peter protects authentic Christian faith (20 JUN 13)
Word on Fire: Sermon 650: Zechariah’s Story: 12th Sunday in Ordinary Time
The Sacred Page: A Turn Toward the Passion: The 12th Sunday of Ordinary Time (21 JUN 13)
Dr. Scott Hahn: Children of the Promise (12th Sunday in Ordinary Time)
The Catholic World Report Blog: Thirsting, Seeing, and Believing (22 JUN 13)
The Word Engaged: Prayer of Faith (12th Sunday of Ordinary Time C)
Thank You, Lord
Thank you, Lord, for the season of summer and for the many blessings You offer us during it.
Pope Francis on Unity in the Body of Christ
“‘The Church is not an charitable, cultural or political association, but a living Body, that walks and acts in history. And this Body has a head, Jesus, who guides, nourishes and supports it’, said Pope Francis [recently] as he continued his series of lessons on the Creed . . . .”
A recent Vatican Radio broadcast reported on this reflection of Pope Francis on the Body of Christ, including how the Church must remain bound ever more deeply to Jesus and how, in the Church, there is a variety, a diversity of tasks and functions, and the richness of the gifts that the Holy Spirit distributes – and, also, communion and unity with all coming together to form one living body, deeply connected to Christ.
To access this Vatican Radio report, please visit:
Reflection Starter from St. Peter Damian
“Do not be depressed. Do not let your weakness make you impatient. Instead, let the serenity of your spirit shine through your face. Let the joy of your mind burst forth.” – Saint Peter Damian
22 June 2013
Sha Na Na: Mr. Bass Man
It’s time for some Sha Na Na: in this video, they are singing “Mr. Bass Man”:
A Haircut Ministry to the Homeless
“Bushnell Park in Hartford, Connecticut, has all the typical city park sights, all the typical city park sounds.
“But there’s one sight, one sound, one story here that is truly unique. . . .
“Every Wednesday afternoon, 82-year-old Joe Cymerys sets up a folding chair in the shade of an old oak tree, hooks his clippers to a car battery and begins preening his exclusive clientele, Connecticut’s homeless.”
A recent CBS Evening News “On the Road” report profiled Joe the Barber’s haircut ministry to homeless people in Hartford.
To access the complete CBS Evening News report, please visit:
CBS Evening News: On the Road: Homeless pay for haircuts with hugs in Conn. town (21 JUN 13)
Related media reports:
USA Today: Barber kicked out of Conn. park granted reprieve (14 JUN 13)
Background information:
Partnership for Strong Communities
Wikipedia: Hartford, Connecticut
Bushnell Park is considered to be the oldest oldest publicly funded park in the United States.
New Hampshire Celebrates 225th Birthday
On this date 21 June 1788, New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify the Constitution of the United States. This ratification enabled the Constitution to take effect as the governing document for the states that ratified it, and it has remained in place, with a number of amendments, ever since. This ratification also led to one of the State’s nicknames, “the state that made us a nation.”
In observance of the 225th anniversary of this signing, which officially made New Hampshire one of the United States, the State is celebrating in a variety of ways (including a weeklong celebration at Strawbery Banke Museum).
Media report:
New Hampshire Union Leader: Portsmouth’s Strawbery Banke marks NH’s 225th birthday
NECN: NH gov marks state's 225th birthday (21 JUN 13)
Background information:
Thank You, Lord
Thank you, Lord, that “not even Solomon in all his splendor was clothed like one” of the wild flowers You created.
Msgr. Pope on the Importance of Praying for Priests
“Last week I blogged on how priests pray for God’s people. indeed, such prayers are built into our daily schedule.
“And this post is the other side of the equation, the need that priests have for your prayers. Indeed, I will say, pray, pray, pray for priests. We need your prayers!”
In a recent commentary, Monsignor Charles Pope (pastor of Holy Comforter-Saint Cyprian Parish, Washington, DC) reflected on the great importance of praying for priests.
To access Msgr. Pope’s complete post, please visit:
Reflection Starter from St. John Chrysostom
“What the soul is in the body, let Christians be in the world.” – St. John Chrysostom
21 June 2013
Fr. Longenecker on the Mass as Sacrifice
“One of the universal practices of humanity around the world in ancient times is the ritual of sacrifice. The reasons and methods of sacrifice are complex and varied, but what remains is that in virtually every religion in every part of the world in one way or another a sacrifice was offered. . . .
“As I celebrated Mass today what hit me was how amazingly unusual it is that the one religion in the modern world today that still offers a sacrifice is the Catholic faith. I believe Hindus still offer sacrifices at a low level of making offerings, but the Catholic Church is the only religion that still maintains a full sacrificial system through the mystery of the Mass.”
In a recent commentary, Father Dwight Longenecker (parish priest at Our Lady of the Rosary Parish, Greenville, SC) reflected on the Mass as a sacred sacrifice.
To access Fr. Longenecker’s complete post, please visit:
Standing on My Head: The Sacred Sacrifice (12 JUN 13)
Background information:
Reflection Starter from Henry David Thoreau
“Success usually comes to those who are too busy to be looking for it.” – Henry David Thoreau
20 June 2013
Steve Bell: "The Lorica"
As we continue living this week, I offer this version of Steve Bell singing “The Lorica”:
Public Service Day
On Sunday, 23 June, the United Nations observes Public Service Day, an observance designed to celebrate the value and virtue of public service to the community, highlight the contribution of public service in the development process, recognize the work of public servants, and encourage young people to pursue careers in the public sector.
“On the annual observance of Public Service Day, we honor those who accept the responsibilities of service to humanity and who contribute to excellence and innovation in public service institutions.” – Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
For more information about this observance, please visit:
Maine Lobster Boat Racing
“During the height of the busy summer fishing season, lobstermen’s lives can get busy, stressful and competitive.
“Which is all the more reason why Maine Lobster Boat Racing attracts a crowd. Saturday marked the first day out of the blocks for the 2013 racing season, with a well-attended event in Boothbay Harbor that drew boats from up and down the coast.”
A recent Sun Journal article offered a look at the 2013 Maine Lobster Boat Races.
To access this Sun Journal article, please visit:
Sun Journal: Lobster boat racing season begins (16 JUN 13)
Background information:
Great Maine Vacations: Maine Lobster Boat Races 2013 Schedule
Thank You, Lord
Thank you, Lord, for the many ways in which You reach out to us through Your Scriptures to teach us, comfort us, encourage us, guide us.
On Our Idols and Ourselves
“In ‘those rare moments when we find ourselves alone and the gadgetry silent, we feel we are at a loss,’ Elizabeth Scalia writes in Strange Gods: Unmasking the Idols in Everyday Life. ‘With nothing to distract us, we come face to face with a keening emptiness.’ Scalia, known on the Internet as ‘The Anchoress,’ says that ‘silence’ can be ‘terrifying’ then. ‘But only because it lays bare our loneliness, our self-recriminations, and our doubts. Possessing nothing that is equal to those depths, we sense the need to distract ourselves and the cycle begins to churn again.’”
Kathryn Jean Lopez, editor at large of National Review Online and nationally syndicated columnist, recently interviewed Elizabeth Scalia about this book.
To access the complete published interview, please visit:
Reflection Starter from St. Gregory the Great
“The Holy Bible is like a mirror before our mind’s eye. In it we see our inner face. From the Scriptures we can learn our spiritual deformities and beauties. And there too we discover the progress we are making and how far we are from perfection.” – Pope Saint Gregory the Great
19 June 2013
Johann Christian Bach: 6 Symphonies (Op. 18)
It’s time for some classical music. This is a presentation of Johann Christian Bach’s Symphonies (Op. 18), as played by The Hanover Band:
EPA Report Examines How Development Can Impact Public Health, Environment
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently issued a report, Our Built and Natural Environments: A Technical Review of the Interactions among Land Use, Transportation, and Environmental Quality, that examines how certain kinds of land use and transportation strategies – where and how communities are built – may reduce the environmental and human health impacts of development.
“This report will be useful for communities across the country looking to make smart development decisions,” said EPA Acting Administrator Bob Perciasepe in a prepared statement. “Whether it’s housing, transportation, or environmental issues, this report can help communities protect public health and the environment by avoiding harmful development strategies.”
The report, the second edition of a document published in 2001, summarizes trends in land use, buildings, travel behavior, population growth, and the expansion of developed land. It then discusses the environmental consequences of these trends, such as habitat loss, degradation of water resources and air quality, urban heat islands, greenhouse gas emissions and global climate change, and other health and safety effects. Environmental impacts linked to building and development patterns include:
- At least 850,000 acres of lakes, reservoirs, and ponds and 50,000 miles of rivers and streams are thought to be impaired by stormwater runoff.
- Although technology has reduced per-car vehicle emissions, an approximate 250-percent increase in vehicle miles travelled since 1970 has offset potential gains.
- Transportation is responsible for 27 percent of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions; residential and commercial buildings contribute 18 percent and 17 percent, respectively.
- The report concludes by describing ways to reduce such effects. Strategies include safeguarding sensitive areas; focusing development in built-up areas and around existing transit stations; building compact; mixed-use developments; designing streets that are safe for all users, including walkers and bikers; and using green building techniques.
To access a copy of the report, please visit:
Background information:
Thank You, Lord
Thank you, Lord, for the many ways in which You enrich Your people for their generosity.
Fr. John Zuhlsdorf on One Priest’s Availability for Confession
In a recent commentary, Father John Zuhlsdorf reflected on Father Richard Heilman, pastor of Saint Mary of Pine Bluff Parish, Pine Bluff, WI, and on how he provides opportunities for people to go to confession.
To access
Fr. Z’s Blog: VERY COOL PRIEST with a SUPER COOL IDEA for HARD IDENTITY Catholicism (10 JUN 13)
Reflection Starter from Vince Lombardi
“The quality of a person’s life is in direct proportion to their commitment to excellence, regardless of their chosen field of endeavor.” – Vince Lombardi
18 June 2013
NFPA: Annual Firefighter Fatality Report Shows Low Number of On-duty Deaths for Second Consecutive Year
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recently released its annual Firefighter Fatality Report. There were a total of 64 on-duty firefighter deaths in the U.S. in 2012, making 2012 the second consecutive year that the total has been below 65 deaths. For the past four years, now, the annual total has been well below 100, dropping the annual average over the past 10 years to 88 deaths. NFPA released the results during a special session at the NFPA Conference & Expo in Chicago.
“NFPA has been tracking this data since 1977 and it is certainly good news that the number of firefighter deaths has continued to decrease over the years,” says Dr. Rita Fahy, NFPA’s manager of fire databases and systems, in a prepared statement. “We are grateful for the sacrifices of these brave individuals and are hopeful that with expanded use of codes and standards and other safety initiatives the downward trend in the number of firefighters dying on duty will continue.”
Of the 64 firefighters who died while on duty in 2012, 30 were volunteer firefighters, 23 were career firefighters, four were members of the military, three were federal contractors, two were employees of federal land management agencies, and two were prison inmates. The largest share of deaths occurred while firefighters were operating on the fire ground (21 deaths). This is the lowest number of fire ground deaths since this study began.
The decline of firefighter deaths occurred in the following areas:
- lowest number of sudden cardiac deaths,
- lowest number of deaths at structure fires,
- lowest number of volunteer firefighter deaths,
- fourth consecutive year the total number of road vehicle crash deaths has been 10 or lower, and
- fifth consecutive year of decreasing on-duty cardiac-related deaths.
To access a copy of the complete report, please visit:
NFPA: Firefighter Fatalities in the United States - 2012 (June 2013)
Background information:
Thank You, Lord
Thank you, Lord, for the gift of a calm spirit, of inner peace, that You offer to us.
Cardinal Pell on Anger
“‘Don’t get angry, get even’ is a pagan, not a Christian saying.
“Poets have spoken in different ways about this all too human emotion. The ancient Roman Horace spoke of anger as a ‘brief madness’ and about nineteen hundred years later the greatest poet of the First World War, the Englishman Wilfred Owen, wrote of the ‘monstrous anger of the guns’ slaughtering the tens of thousands of young men ‘who die(d) as cattle’.”
In a recent commentary, Cardinal George Pell (Archbishop of Sydney, Australia) reflected on anger and its consequences.
To access Cardinal Pell’s complete reflection, please visit:
Reflection Starter from St. Thérèse of Lisieux
“Above the clouds the sky is always blue.” – Saint Thérèse of Lisieux
17 June 2013
Thank You, Lord
Thank you, Lord, for the many ways in which we are enlivened by the sacraments through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Pope Francis on Keeping Our Tongues in Check
“May the Lord grant us the grace to watch our tongues and be careful of what we say of others, because through our weakness and sin, we often find it easier to insult and denigrate than say or do good. This was the lesson at the heart of Pope Francis’ homily Thursday morning at Mass. . . .”
A recent Vatican Radio broadcast reported on this homily of Pope Francis in which he called on Christians to “‘prune’ our tongues a little, ‘prune’ the comments that we make of others and outbursts that lead us to an easy anger or insult.”
To access this Vatican Radio report, please visit:
Vatican Radio: Pope at Mass: The grace not to speak ill of others (13 JUN 13)
Reflection Starter from Theodore Roosevelt
If you could kick the person in the pants responsible for most of your trouble, you wouldn’t sit for a month.” – Theodore Roosevelt
16 June 2013
Irish Philharmonic Chorus: “God of Mercy and Compassion”
As our Sunday celebration continues, I offer this version of the Irish Philharmonic Chorus singing “God of Mercy and Compassion”:
Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time
Today the Church celebrates the Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time. The assigned readings are 2 Samuel 12:7-10, 13; Galatians 2:16, 19-21; and Luke 7:11-17. The Responsorial Psalm is Psalm 32 (Psalm 32:1-2, 5, 7, 11).
To access one version of the Responsorial Psalm set to music, please visit:
YouTube: Responsorial Psalm - Psalm 32 Lord forgive the wrong I have done
The Gospel reading is as follows:
A Pharisee invited Jesus to dine with him, and he entered the Pharisee’s house and reclined at table. Now there was a sinful woman in the city who learned that he was at table in the house of the Pharisee. Bringing an alabaster flask of ointment, she stood behind him at his feet weeping and began to bathe his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them, and anointed them with the ointment. When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, that she is a sinner.”
Jesus said to him in reply, “Simon, I have something to say to you.”
“Tell me, teacher,” he said.
“Two people were in debt to a certain creditor; one owed five hundred days’ wages and the other owed fifty. Since they were unable to repay the debt, he forgave it for both. Which of them will love him more?”
Simon said in reply, “The one, I suppose, whose larger debt was forgiven.”
He said to him, “You have judged rightly.”
Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? When I entered your house, you did not give me water for my feet, but she has bathed them with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but she has not ceased kissing my feet since the time I entered. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she anointed my feet with ointment. So I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven because she has shown great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little.”
He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”
The others at table said to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”
But he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
Afterward he journeyed from one town and village to another, preaching and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. Accompanying him were the Twelve and some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, Joanna, the wife of Herod’s steward Chuza, Susanna, and many others who provided for them out of their resources.
Reflections on this day and on these readings:
Oblates of St. Francis de Sales: Sundays Salesian: Eleventh Sunday of Ordinary Time (June 16, 2013)
Msgr. Charles Pope: Always Remember: A Homily for the 11th Sunday of the Year (15 JUN 13)
The Deacon’s Bench: Homily for June 16, 2013: 11th Sunday in Ordinary Time (15 JUN 13)
Word on Fire: Sermon 649: The Sin of David: 11th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Dr. Scott Hahn: Many Sins, Great Love (June 16th 2013 - 11th Sunday in Ordinary Time)
The Sacred Page: Faith, Love, and Forgiveness: The 11th Sunday of Ordinary Time C (12 JUN 13)
The Word Engaged: Prayer of Faith (11th Sunday of Ordinary Time C)
Thank You, Lord
Thank you, Lord, for priests and others who pray for us and for the many ways in which You answer these prayers.
Msgr. Pope on Priests Praying for Those Entrusted to Them
“Ordination season is upon us now and a new group of men are being ordained all over the country. Never forget how necessary priests are not just in the obvious and external ways but also in more hidden ways. . . .
“Surely we sanctify the faithful in a unique way through the celebration of the Sacraments and the proclamation of God’s Word. But another way we do this, a way perhaps more hidden and ordinary, is to pray for our people. The Church both commends us to pray for the faithful under our care and also commands it.”
In a recent commentary, Monsignor Charles Pope (pastor of Holy Comforter-Saint Cyprian Parish, Washington, DC) reflected on the duty and privilege of priests to prayer for their parishioners and others entrusted to their care.
To access Msgr. Pope’s complete post, please visit:
Msgr. Charles Pope: Somebody is praying for you! Priests and the ministry of prayer (12 JUN 13)
Reflection Starter from Archbishop Fulton Sheen
“The greatest love story of all time is contained in a tiny white host.” – Archbishop Fulton Sheen
15 June 2013
André Rieu: “The Rose”
It’s time for some music from André Rieu. In this video, André and his Johann Strauss Orchestra performs, with three sopranos, “The Rose”:
Fr. McCloskey on the Gospel of Life in America
“The Holy See is celebrating Blessed John Paul’s landmark encyclical Evangelium vitae (The Gospel of Life) June 15-16. Issued in 1995 and dated March 25 to coincide with the Feast of the Annunciation, The Gospel of Life is considered by many to be the best of an impressive set of 16 encyclical letters from his papacy, and perhaps his most heartfelt.
“It makes sense – does it not? – when we consider his own life experiences in twentieth-century Europe. His father had fought in a senseless world war that produced tens of millions of casualties. Besides toppling the Czar and establishing atheistic communism in Russia, that war set the scene for an even bloodier one a mere 20 years later, which mowed down millions throughout the world.”
In a recent commentary, Father C. J. McCloskey III, a Research Fellow at the Faith and Reason Institute in Washington, DC, reflected on what progress the United States has made in creating or recovering a “Culture of Life” since Blessed John Paul issued his encyclical.
To access Fr. McCloskey’s complete post, please visit:
Truth and Charity: Hope for the Gospel of Life in America (12 JUN 13)
Background information:
Reflection Starter from Walt Disney
“I can’t believe that there are any heights that can’t be scaled by a man who knows the secrets of making dreams come true. This special secret, it seems to me, can be summarized in four Cs. They are curiosity, confidence, courage, and constancy, and the greatest of all is confidence.” – Walt Disney
14 June 2013
Lightning Safety Awareness Week
Next week, the week of 23-29 June, is being observed as Lightning Safety Awareness Week. Its theme is “When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors!”
Summer is the peak season for what is considered one of the nation’s deadliest weather phenomena – lightning. However, lightning strikes year round. In the United States, an average of 54 people are killed each year by lightning. To date, there has been seven deaths in 2013.
In addition, hundreds of people are permanently injured each year. People struck by lightning suffer from a variety of long-term, debilitating symptoms, including (but not limited to) memory loss, attention deficits, sleep disorders, chronic pain, numbness, dizziness, stiffness in joints, irritability, fatigue, weakness, muscle spasms, and depression.
For more information related to lightning safety, please visit:
National Weather Service: Lightning Safety
National Weather Service: Lightning Safety Resources
Insurance Information Institute: YouTube: Beyond Thunder Dumb: When Lightning Strikes...
Pope Francis on Christian Speech
“Let us think closely today: What is our language? Do we speak in truth, with love, or do we speak with that social language to be polite, even say nice things, which we do not feel?”
In a recent homily on the readings for the Tuesday of the Ninth Week in Ordinary Time, Pope Francis reflected on the role of speech in the lives of Christians, and he emphasized that the truth we speak must always be accompanied by love.
To access a news report on the Pope’s homily, please visit:
Catholic News Service: Pope: Christian speech is genuine, not self-serving (4 JUN 13)
Reflection Starter from St. John Vianney
“All the good works in the world are not equal to the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass because they are the works of men; but the Mass is the work of God. Martyrdom is nothing in comparison for it is but the sacrifice of man to God; but the Mass is the sacrifice of God for man.” - Saint John Vianney (also known as the “Cure of Ars”)
13 June 2013
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day
Saturday, 15 June, is being observed as World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, an observance initiated in 2006 by the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse and the World Health Organization at the United Nations. The purpose of WEAAD is to provide an opportunity for communities around the world to promote a better understanding of abuse and neglect of older persons by raising awareness of the cultural, social, economic, and demographic processes affecting elder abuse and neglect.
For more information on this observance, please visit:
Background information:
National Center on Elder Abuse
International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse
Thank You, Lord
Thank you, Lord, for “Godincidences” that touch our hearts, that draw us closer to You.
Kathryn Jean Lopez on Our Being The Light of Christ in the World
“Last night, a man at a checkout counter started telling me some alarming stories. About a crime around the corner earlier in the day, about crimes in his apartment building. It was all a bit jarring — and graphic. He obviously needed to talk. And when it was over, I simply said ‘God bless you.’ I really didn’t have anything better. He’s got a job and is moving into a new place. I will be praying for him.
“And so then he started telling me about his church a few blocks away. I was delighted he had a faith family and thanked him.
“Why didn’t I tell him about the Catholic Church around the block from where we were standing? He shared. We must share!
“Catholics, bring people to the Eucharist, already.”
In a recent commentary, Kathryn Jean Lopez, editor at large of National Review Online and nationally syndicated columnist, reflected on our need to go to Jesus and let Him transform us — nourished in the Sacraments and the Word — so that we might “be His radiating light that is full of compassion, love, and fearlessness in the world.”
To access her complete essay, please visit:
K-Lo @ Large: Don’t Be Trapped by the Spirit of the World (1 JUN 13)
Reflection Starter from Calvin Coolidge
“We cannot do everything at once, but we can do something at once.” – Calvin Coolidge
12 June 2013
Beethoven: Symphony No.1
It’s time for some classical music. This is a presentation of Ludwig van Beethoven’s “Symphony No. 1, in C major, op. 21”, as played by the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen (located in Bremen, Germany):
Fire/EMS Safety and Health Week
Next week, the week of 16-22 June, is being observed as Fire/EMS Safety and Health Week. This year’s theme is “Saving our Own… An Inside Job.” International Fire/EMS Safety and Health Week is a joint initiative of the International Association of Fire Chiefs and the National Volunteer Fire Council. The event is coordinated by the IAFC Safety, Health and Survival Section and the NVFC Heart-Healthy Firefighter Program; it is supported by national and international fire and emergency service organizations as well as health and safety-related organizations and agencies.
Fire departments throughout the U.S. are encouraged to suspend all non-emergency activity during Safety Week and to focus entirely on survival training and education until all shifts and personnel have participated.
For additional information related to Fire/EMS Safety and Health Week, please visit:
Fire/EMS Safety and Health Week
IAFC Safety, Health and Survival Section
NVFC Heart-Healthy Firefighter Program
International Fire/EMS Safety and Health Week: Safety Resources
International Fire/EMS Safety and Health Week: Behavioral Health Resources
International Fire/EMS Safety and Health Week: Physical Health Resources
Background information:
Thank You, Lord
Thank you, Lord. for the gift of curiosity You have instilled in us and the many ways in which You work through this gift to guide us in discerning Truth.
A Secret Hero of the Italian Holocaust
In Florence, Italy, July 1944, Tour de France champion Gino Bartali faced possible torture and death at the hands of Italian military officer Major Mario Carita, whose idol was Heinrich Himmler, the Nazi leader in charge of Hitler’s Gestapo and SS. Why was Bartali, a major celebrity, being interrogated?
As revealed in Aili and Andres McConnon’s Christopher Award-winning biography Road to Valor, the devout Catholic led a secret life helping to save Jews from the Italian holocaust.
During an interview on Christopher Closeup, Andres McConnon shared that Bartali was picked on as a child because he was small for his age, causing him to identify with underdogs. He soon befriended another underdog, Giacomo Goldenberg, a Jewish emigre from Russia who fled to Italy to escape persecution.
As Bartali grew older, his proficiency at being an endurance athlete kept increasing, culminating in a Tour de France win in 1938. Even before that, his accomplishments had already drawn the attention of Italy’s dictator, Benito Mussolini, and his Fascist propaganda machine’s efforts to create a “warrior people” through physical training. Bartali, however, resisted becoming a tool of the regime. Part of his reasons were due to the lingering memory of his father’s colleague being murdered by the Fascists for speaking out on behalf of worker’s rights.
The other reason was because of the Catholic faith that Bartali had practiced since boyhood.
Bartali not only attended Mass regularly, prayed daily, and read about saints like Anthony of Padua and Thérèse of Lisieux, he joined a lay group called Catholic Action, which organized both religious and social activities for young people. Its members numbered 600,000 throughout Italy, and Bartali frequently spoke at meetings to share his faith’s role in his life and success. This didn’t go over well with the government-run Fascist press which started mocking him for his piety. They couldn’t stop covering him, though, because he won races.
Though Bartali felt devastated when World War II derailed his sports career, the situation led to a much darker reality. Hitler’s influence had led to Italy becoming a dangerous place for Jews. Despite that fact, Jewish refugees fled to Italy to hide their identities or escape into Switzerland. That’s when a vocal anti-Fascist and good friend of Bartali’s, Cardinal Elia Dalla Costa, stepped up a secret operation. He would use the Catholic Church’s resources to deliver forged identity documents to Jews in the surrounding areas.
Cardinal Dalla Costa asked Bartali to help take part in this mission as well. Though he could be killed if he was caught, the cyclist agreed. He would roll up the false documents, hide them inside the hollow frame of his bicycle, and deliver them to a priest in Assisi.
For Bartali, this battle was also personal. His friend, Giacomo Goldenberg, and his family were also being persecuted. Bartali hid them in an apartment he had bought with his cycling winnings.
With all that clandestine activity, it’s no surprise that Major Carita was alerted to suspicions about Bartali. Carita tried every trick and intimidation tactic he knew to break Gino, but despite being inwardly nervous, the sports hero played it cool and lived to continue his life-saving work.
There is much more to the life of Gino Bartali, whose story, as McConnon explained, “combines the dramatic appeal of a sports underdog with the surprising saga of a secret Holocaust hero.” It would be worth your time to read Road to Valor.
(This essay is a recent “Light One Candle” column, written by Tony Rossi, of The Christophers; it is one of a series of weekly columns that deal with a variety of topics and current events.)
Background information:
Reflection Starter from St. Benedict
“Whenever you begin any good work, you should first of all make a most pressing appeal to Christ our Lord to bring it to perfection.” – Saint Benedict
11 June 2013
EPA Survey: $384 Billion Needed for Drinking Water Infrastructure by 2030
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently released results of a survey showing that $384 billion in improvements are needed for the nation’s drinking water infrastructure through 2030 for systems to continue providing safe drinking water to 297 million Americans.
EPA’s fifth Drinking Water Infrastructure Needs Survey and Assessment identifies investments needed over the next 20 years for thousands of miles of pipes and thousands of treatment plants, storage tanks and water distribution systems, which are all vital to public health and the economy. The national total of $384 billion includes the needs of 73,400 water systems across the country, as well as American Indian and Alaska Native Village water systems.
The survey, required under the Safe Drinking Water Act to be submitted to Congress every four years by EPA, was developed in consultation with all 50 states and the Navajo Nation. The survey looked at the funding and operational needs of more than 3,000 public drinking water systems across the United States, including those in Tribal communities, through an extensive questionnaire. In many cases, drinking water infrastructure was reported to be 50-100 years old.
The assessment shows that improvements are primarily needed in:
- Distribution and transmission: $247.5 billion to replace or refurbish aging or deteriorating lines;
- Treatment: $72.5 billion to construct, expand or rehabilitate infrastructure to reduce contamination;
- Storage: $39.5 billion to construct, rehabilitate or cover finished water storage reservoirs; and
- Source: $20.5 billion to construct or rehabilitate intake structures, wells and spring collectors.
EPA allocates Drinking Water State Revolving Fund grants to states based on the finding of the assessment. These funds help states to provide low-cost financing to public water systems for infrastructure improvements necessary to protect public health and comply with drinking water regulations.
To access a copy of the survey, please visit:
EPA: 2011 Drinking Water Infrastructure Needs Survey and Assessment: Fifth Report to Congress
EPA: 2011 Drinking Water Needs Survey and Assessment Fact Sheet
Background information:
Thank You, Lord
Thank you, Lord, for the gift of parish community life and for the many ways in which You work through local parishes.
Msgr. Pope on the Migration of the Church and Related Concerns
In a recent commentary, Monsignor Charles Pope (pastor of Holy Comforter-Saint Cyprian Parish, Washington, DC) reflected on the growth of the Church in some areas and the decline of the Church in other areas and on related positive and negative factors in parish life.
To access Msgr. Pope’s complete post, please visit:
Reflection Starter from Father Thomas Lay, S.J.
“Often when struggling to make some major change in life, whether elected or enforced, some remark that if they truly had faith, or really were mature, they would be able to do this so much better. ‘Better’ almost always meant quicker, if not instantly. Yet when our Scriptures present the Almighty One creating, they make it clear that he does not do so in the blink of an eye. Creating takes time. Even the Lord had to take time or give time to put a world together.” - Father Thomas Lay, S.J.
10 June 2013
Flag Day and National Flag Week
Friday, 14 June, is Flag Day, which marks the anniversary of the adoption by Congress of the Stars and Stripes as emblem of the nation (in 1777). This week, the week of 9-15 June, is also being observed as National Flag Week.
Presidential Proclamation:
Presidential Proclamation – Flag Day and National Flag Week, 2013
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
“I am the Flag”
by Ruth Apperson Rous
I am the flag of the United States of America.
I was born on June 14, 1777, in Philadelphia.
There the Continental Congress adopted my stars and stripes as the national flag.
My thirteen stripes alternating red and white, with a union of thirteen white stars in a field of blue, represented a new constellation, a new nation dedicated to the personal and religious liberty of mankind.
Today fifty stars signal from my union, one for each of the fifty sovereign states in the greatest constitutional republic the world has ever known.
My colors symbolize the patriotic ideals and spiritual qualities of the citizens of my country.
My red stripes proclaim the fearless courage and integrity of American men and boys and the self-sacrifice and devotion of American mothers and daughters.
My white stripes stand for liberty and equality for all.
My blue is the blue of heaven, loyalty, and faith.
I represent these eternal principles: liberty, justice, and humanity.
I embody American freedom: freedom of speech, religion, assembly, the press, and the sanctity of the home.
I typify that indomitable spirit of determination brought to my land by Christopher Columbus and by all my forefathers – the Pilgrims, Puritans, settlers at James town and Plymouth.
I am as old as my nation.
I am a living symbol of my nation’s law: the Constitution of the United States and the Bill of Rights.
I voice Abraham Lincoln’s philosophy: “A government of the people, by the people,for the people.”
I stand guard over my nation’s schools, the seedbed of good citizenship and true patriotism.
I am displayed in every schoolroom throughout my nation; every schoolyard has a flag pole for my display.
Daily thousands upon thousands of boys and girls pledge their allegiance to me and my country.
I have my own law – Public Law 829, “The Flag Code” – which definitely states my correct use and display for all occasions and situations.
I have my special day, Flag Day. June 14 is set aside to honor my birth.
Americans, I am the sacred emblem of your country. I symbolize your birthright, your heritage of liberty purchased with blood and sorrow.
I am your title deed of freedom, which is yours to enjoy and hold in trust for posterity.
If you fail to keep this sacred trust inviolate, if I am nullified and destroyed, you and your children will become slaves to dictators and despots.
Eternal vigilance is your price of freedom.
As you see me silhouetted against the peaceful skies of my country, remind yourself that I am the flag of your country, that I stand for what you are – no more, no less.
Guard me well, lest your freedom perish from the earth.
Dedicate your lives to those principles for which I stand: “One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”
I was created in freedom. I made my first appearance in a battle for human liberty.
God grant that I may spend eternity in my “land of the free and the home of the brave” and that I shall ever be known as “Old Glory,” the flag of the United States of America.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Background Information:
Curtis Mitch Presentation on the Four Marks of the Church
The blog The Sacred Page recently posted a video of a presentation made by biblical commentator Curtis Mitch, a research fellow and trustee of The St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology, on the Four Marks of the Church in Ephesians.
To access this post, and its video, please visit:
The Sacred Page: Curtis Mitch on the Four Marks of the Church in Ephesians (2 JUN 13)
From Tobit: Guidance from Raphael
Saturday’s first reading, from the book of Tobit (Tobit 12:1, 5-15, 20), contained some guidance from the archangel Raphael – guidance that continues to be important in these times:
“Thank God! Give him the praise and the glory. Before all the living, acknowledge the many good things he has done for you, by blessing and extolling his name in song. Honor and proclaim God’s deeds, and do not be slack in praising him. A king’s secret it is prudent to keep, but the works of God are to be declared and made known. Praise them with due honor.
“Do good, and evil will not find its way to you. Prayer and fasting are good, but better than either is almsgiving accompanied by righteousness. A little with righteousness is better than abundance with wickedness. It is better to give alms than to store up gold; for almsgiving saves one from death and expiates every sin. Those who regularly give alms shall enjoy a full life; but those habitually guilty of sin are their own worst enemies.” – Tobit:12:6-10
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