Sunday, May 31, 2009

Come, Holy Spirit



Come, Thou holy Paraclete,
and from thy celestial seat
send thy light and brilliancy:
Father of the poor, draw near;
giver of all gifts, be here;
come, the soul's true radiancy.

Come, of comforters the best,
of the soul the sweetest guest,
come in toil refreshingly.
Thou in labor rest most sweet,
thou art shadow from the heat,
comfort in adversity.

O thou Light, most pure and blest,
shine within the inmost breast
of thy faithful company.
Where thou art not, man hath nought;
every holy deed and thought
comes from thy Divinity.

What is soilèd, makes thou pure;
what is wounded, work its cure;
what is parcèd, fructify.
What is rigid, gently bend;
what is frozen, warmly tend;
strengthen what goes erringly.

Fill thy faithful who confide
in thy power to guard and guide,
with thy sevenfold mystery.
Here thy grace and virtue send;
grant salvation in the end,
and in heaven felicity.
Amen. Alleluia.

Doctor George Tiller shot to death today.

Please continue to pray for his soul.

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Lots of people are rethinking abortion: secularist David Harsanyi of the Denver Post is one

After a life of being pro-choice, I began to seriously ponder the question. I oppose the death penalty because there is a slim chance that an innocent person might be executed and I don't believe the state should have the authority to take a citizen's life. So don't I owe an nascent human life at least the same deference? Just in case?

You may not consider a fetus a "human life" in early pregnancy, though it has its own DNA and medical science continues to find ways to keep the fetus viable outside the womb earlier and earlier.

But it's difficult to understand how those who harp about the importance of "science" in public policy can draw an arbitrary timeline in the pregnancy, defining when human life is worth saving and when it can be terminated.

The more I thought about it, the creepier the issue got.

Newsweek, for instance, recently reported that 90 percent of women whose fetuses test positive for Down syndrome choose an abortion. Another survey showed only a small percentage of mothers even used the test. So what happens when 90 percent of parents test their fetuses? Does it mean the end of the disease or are we stepping perilously close to eugenics?

H/T to Michael Liccione (via Facebook)

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Would this statement by a Supreme Court nominee fly, do ya think?

"I would hope that a wise white man with the richness of his experience would more often than not reach a better conclusion than a Latina woman who hasn't lived that life."

I don't think it would, but then, o' course, I'm just your typical white woman.

Sheesh.

Monday, May 25, 2009

Memorial Day: PFC Edward J. Vargas, WWII


Roaming around a cemetery, you can make new friends. I made several today, including Private First Class Edward J. Vargas and his wife, Florence.

I never met Mr. or Mrs. Vargas, but it was a privilege to bring to their grave a pot of flowers Alden gave me.
Thank you, Mr. Vargas, for your service..and Mrs. Vargas? A pleasure!

Requiescat in pace.

Sunday, May 24, 2009

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Why aren't we protesting in vitro fertilization clinics?

Just as most people, either as a matter of course or deep within their consciences, have come to realize that an unborn baby is, in fact, a baby, most people—I believe—are coming to realize that a fertilized embryo is an unborn baby.

After reading this very sad Boston Globe story a few days ago, I found a comment on a story published in the Seattle Times last October. I've reproduced the comment in full, below.

The Times story's headline is "What should be done with excess frozen embryos?"

My question is: "why are we tolerating a system that makes this question necessary?"

Read this and, perhaps, weep:
I am sitting here heart broken. About a week and a half ago My husband and I recieved information from our clinic that we have a month to make a decision. We have eight frozen embryo's from our failed IVF last year. We need to decide if we will discard them, donate them, store them, or try to use them.

My hearts desire is to try to use them. I am a stay at home mom, and my husband has been laid off from his job since November. We have sacrificed all of our finances on the proceedure from last year.

I feel completely hopeless. What I am going through right now is way more difficult than the loss of my two babies to ectopic pregnancies, or the loss to the failed IVF proceedure. I have eight babies. Eight possible children, eight possible siblings for my six year old son who is willing to give up toys and fun for the opportunity.

How can I sign off to just dispose of my babies when I would give my left arm for the chance to try again. How could I just donate them to someone else. In my heart I honestly feel that is the same as adopting out my little boy, it is not an option.

I never had a clue I would be put in this horrible position and feel completly stupid, and utterly hopeless.

Monday, May 18, 2009

Know a Boston-bound student looking for a very cool place to live? The pew lady has the answer!

It's been my joy to share my Roxbury home with students—particularly those studying at Northeastern, Mass College of Art, Emmanuel, and other nearby colleges—for about 10 years. A room has become available and you can read about it here. Thanks!

Sunday, May 17, 2009

Interesting response from Notre Dame -- sorry, Humanist University -- students to protestors today

Read in an AP story:

"...as the president began his commencement address, at least three protesters interrupted it. One yelled, "Stop killing our children." The graduates responded by chanting "Yes we can..."

Thursday, May 14, 2009

Saint Matthias, we hardly knew ye...

In the days when Christ walked the earth, a man's reputation was enhanced by the number of names by which he was known.

Today, in celebrating the Feast of Saint Matthias, the Apostle who took Judas' place, we learn that he was one of two disciples proposed for the position. (See Acts 1:15-26)

Peter, head of the Church, knew that the man appointed had to have been with Jesus from the time of His entry into public ministry—that is, from His Baptism by John—until His Resurrection and Ascension. Critical, this requisite, since the New Guy had to be an eye witness to the Good News.

Of the two nominees, one guy had three, count 'em, three names!

"They proposed two, Joseph, called Barsabbas, who was also known as Justus..."

And then there was plain old Matthias.

All we know about Matthias is that he, like Joseph-Barsabbas-Justus, was with Jesus from the beginning of His public life. Still, this rather unknown fellow was chosen by God, through the infallible actions of the new Church led by the Vicar of Christ, to become one of The Twelve. Tradition tells us that Matthias spread the Good News in what is now Turkey and Russia, receiving the crown of martyrdom somewhere near the Black and Caspian Seas.

Who was this nobody?

We don't know exactly...except that we know God chose him to take his place among the princes of His Church. No miracles are ascribed to Matthias. No sermons nor writings of his remain for our edification. He is mentioned in the Bible—what?—once?

And yet every Roman Catholic priest today celebrating the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass wore red vestments in his honor. He is one of The Twelve. The guy with just one name.

Nobody is really a nobody.

From the life of Saint Matthias we can learn that, no matter how lowly our station is in this life, we should be open to the choice of God to carry on the work of our Master.

While searching for something to add to this blog, Google asked me politely: "Did you mean: Saint Matthew?"

No, I meant Matthias. In Hebrew, the name means "gift of Yahweh."

Saint Matthias, pray for us.

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Monday, May 11, 2009

Samplings of your president's "humor"


In case you haven't heard of her—and I am proud to admit that I never did until today—let so-called "comedian" Wanda Sykes describe herself to you:
“Everybody that knows me personally, they know I’m gay...Now, I gotta get in their face. I’m proud to be a woman. I’m proud to be a black woman, and I’m proud to be gay.”
Among her fans—I'm guessing maybe they number perhaps six—is our fearless leader, Barack H. Obama.

Here we see him roaring at her "comedic" remarks such as:
  • hoping Rush Limbaugh's kidneys fail
  • wanting Sean Hannity waterboarded by Keith Olbermann
  • stating that if her child had a choice between getting in a car with Dick Cheney and a car with a stranger, she would tell her child to choose the stranger
  • saying that the absent Sarah Palin had "pulled out at the last minute," and that "somebody should tell her that’s not really how you practice abstinence”
Nice president we've got, huh? Real funny guy.

"If I could talk I'd say to you, CAN I LIVE?"

Friday, May 08, 2009

Catholic Crossword Puzzle subscriber: administrivia

My hard drive crashed and I lost email addresses collected over the last few months. If you've recently requested the crossword puzzles I make weekly based on the Sunday readings, chances are you won't get any more unless you write me again. Sorry for the inconvenience!

Hope for Boston: Catholics publically show opposition to "Jerry Springer" travesty, appeal to Our Lady of Fatima

Read the whole story but I like this 12-year-old's response to a stale remark:
A group of disgruntled Springer supporters went up to Joseph Gallagher, a young student who was protesting the show, and said: "You haven't seen the show, so how do you know it's bad?" The Catholic 12th grader responded: "I don't need to drink poison to know its bad for me."

Thursday, May 07, 2009

Code Lehe: super update

Two and a half years ago, we started praying for Cody Lehe, who was severely injured in a football accident.

Here's Cody today. Keep up the prayers—they're working! (H/T to Leila Miller, and Cody's Aunt Denise.)

Monday, May 04, 2009

U.S. Bishops are blogging -- no, wait, their media reps are

"Our mission is to present the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops to the media, and the media to the bishops. As Media Relations staff at the USCCB, our purpose with this blog will be to report on the activities of the U.S. bishops conference and discuss those matters of the faith and the Church that we encounter in our work, especially as they appear or are discussed in the media."

Saturday, May 02, 2009

Obama's "100 Days of Change"

Video courtesy of the the Family Research Council

Friday, May 01, 2009

A prayer for workers

To celebrate Saint Joseph the Worker, Blessed Pope John XXIII wrote this prayer:

O glorious Joseph! Who concealed your incomparable and regal dignity of custodian of Jesus and of the Virgin Mary under the humble appearance of a craftsman and provided for them with your work, protect with loving power your sons, especially entrusted to you.

You know their anxieties and sufferings, because you yourself experienced them at the side of Jesus and of His Mother. Do not allow them, oppressed by so many worries, to forget the purpose for which they were created by God. Do not allow the seeds of distrust to take hold of their immortal souls. Remind all the workers that in the fields, in factories, in mines, and in scientific laboratories, they are not working, rejoicing, or suffering alone, but at their side is Jesus, with Mary, His Mother and ours, to sustain them, to dry the sweat of their brow, giving value to their toil. Teach them to turn work into a very high instrument of sanctification as you did.

Amen.

Catholic singles: a new show about finding that "special someone"

“What is the secret to a happy marriage?" "Am I too picky?" Did I miss Mr./Mrs. Right already?”

CatholicTV's "The Road to Cana," premiering this month, attempts to answer these questions from a Catholic perspective. According the producers, Ignatius Productions, "the series is unique in that it focuses on life before marriage rather than during marriage." For example, show contributor Father Benedict Groeschel suggests that “marriage prep should start when you are single”.

"The Road to Cana" themes include:
  • The perfect person
  • Do looks matter?
  • What women and men want
  • Choosing wisely
  • Approaching dating
  • Internet dating
View "The Road to Cana" here on Wednesdays, 1:30 PM; Thursdays, noon; Fridays, 4:30 AM and 11:00 PM, Eastern Time.