Thank You, Lord

Thank you, Lord, for the encouragement You give us through Holy Scripture.

Msgr. Pope on Lady Wisdom and Her Effect on the World

“What would happen if God were ever to remove his sustaining wisdom. What would happen if his abiding presence should ever cease to be present? Truly, all things would cease instantly to exist at all, vanishing. For if the cause be removed, so also the effect.”

In a commentary earlier this year, Monsignor Charles Pope (pastor of Holy Comforter-Saint Cyprian Parish, Washington, DC) reflected on how God’s wisdom infuses and sustains all things and on what would happen if God were ever to remove His sustaining wisdom.

To access Msgr. Pope’s complete post, please visit:

Msgr. Charles Pope: Lady Wisdom as Seen in a Beautiful Video (31 MAY 13)

Reflection Starter from St. Ambrose

“It is not enough just to wish well; we must also do well.” – Saint Ambrose (whose memory was celebrated yesterday by the Church)

Johnny Rivers: “Secret Agent Man”

As this blessed week draws to a close, I offer this version of Johnny Rivers singing “Secret Agent Man”:

Thank You, Lord

Thank you, Lord, for the gift of good literature.

Elizabeth Scalia on Being Grown-up in the Public Square

“Almost a year ago, I announced that I was going to make a full-hearted effort to pull back from the temptation to ideological excess, and I completely meant it. I was tired of being angry, more than a little convinced that my anger suited the purposes of others, beyond my ken, and fed up with consenting to being bitter — which was not only exhausting but took me nowhere I wanted to go.

“Here’s what I’ve learned, so far: It’s not always easy. Absent a grace-filled miracle, one can’t can’t just say ‘I want to love again’ and suddenly — poof! — you’re a lover, not a fighter; by making a conscious commitment to change the rotation of one’s heart, however, things slowly do become different, better; more productive.

“The first bad habit that needs to be broken is the one where labels are easily flung about, creating a world of ‘theys’ and ‘thems’, which instantly negates human beings; renders their ideas ignorable.”

In a recent commentary, writer Elizabeth Scalia reflected on establishing conversational boundaries that respect one’s opponent while also respecting one’s self.

To access Ms. Scalia’s complete post, please visit:

The Anchoress: Crouched Behind our Ideologies; Blocked from Salvation (29 NOV 13)

Reflection Starter from Robert R. Brown

“Give me the ability to see good things in unexpected places and talents in unexpected people.” – Robert R. Brown

NH Initiating Partnership to Help Prevent Youth Violence

In an effort designed to strengthen the safety of New Hampshire’s communities by helping parents, professionals, and youth understand media’s role in influencing behavior, the State of New Hampshire has begun a public-private initiative aimed at reducing and preventing youth violence.

Funded through a grant from the Office of the Attorney General, the initiative is designed to enable Manchester-based Media Power Youth, a nonprofit organization and leader in media literacy education, to offer free teacher training and curricula to elementary schools statewide with technical support from the New Hampshire Department of Education. In addition, middle and high school programs and parent programs will be provided in selected communities.

The Media Power Youth plan is for the public-private partnership to bring together leaders from the fields of criminal justice, law enforcement, education, health and human services, health care, foundations, and business, as well as parents and community members.

Media Power Youth strives to utilize evidence-based practices and programs that have been found to be effective by independent evaluation and review. Evaluations have shown that Media Power Youth programs help students actively speak about the negative aspects of media and increase their understanding of advertising influences and techniques in order to make their own healthy choices.

Media report:

Concord Monitor: State-funded program to target youth violence through media literacy  (3 DEC 13)

Background information:

Media Power Youth

New Hampshire Association of School Principals

New Hampshire Department of Education

Thank You, Lord

Thank you, Lord, for being our light and our salvation.

Msgr. Pope on Deepening Our Gratitude

“True gratitude is a grace, or gift from God which proceeds from a humble and transformed heart. In such a case we do not render thanks merely because it is polite or expected, or because God commands it, but because it naturally flows from a profound experience of gratitude. The ‘command’ of Scripture to give thanks is not a moralism, but a truth and description of a transformed heart.”

In a recent commentary, Monsignor Charles Pope (pastor of Holy Comforter-Saint Cyprian Parish, Washington, DC) offered some thoughts designed to help his readers have a deepening awareness of gratitude.

To access Msgr. Pope’s complete post, please visit:

Msgr. Charles Pope: Some thoughts to help deepen our gratitude. (27 NOV 13)

Reflection Starter from Robert E. Speer

“After thirty years of leadership in Christian work, it is my conclusion and conviction that the greatest missionary problem is just the failure of Christian people to live up to their profession.” – Robert E. Speer

“How Cheering Is The Christian’s Hope”

As we continue to live this week, I offer this version of “How Cheering Is The Christian’s Hope”: