Friday, April 28, 2006
Papal Message to Academy of Social Sciences: "Children are Neglected in a Loveless Society"

Pope Benedict XVI recently said that children are neglected in our loveless society.
It is children and young people who are often the first to experience the consequences of this eclipse of love and hope. Often, instead of feeling loved and cherished, they appear to be merely tolerated. In "an age of turbulence" they frequently lack adequate moral guidance from the adult world, to the serious detriment of their intellectual and spiritual development. Many children now grow up in a society which is forgetful of God and of the innate dignity of the human person made in God's image. In a world shaped by the accelerating processes of globalization, they are often exposed solely to materialistic visions of the universe, of life and human fulfillment.

Yet children and young people are by nature receptive, generous, idealistic and open to transcendence. They need above all else to be exposed to love and to develop in a healthy human ecology, where they can come to realize that they have not been cast into the world by chance, but through a gift that is part of God's loving plan. Parents, educators and community leaders, if they are to be faithful to their own calling, can never renounce their duty to set before children and young people the task of choosing a life project directed towards authentic happiness, one capable of distinguishing between truth and falsehood, good and evil, justice and injustice, the real world and the world of "virtual reality."
I pray that our society might value children and see to it that all children may have adequate education, health care, and food along with loving parents.
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What Catholics Don't Believe by Rev. Joseph Di Bruno

Far too many people believe in lies about the Catholic Church and never fully understand the beauty of God's Church. If you are one of those people, I sincerely ask you to please read What Catholics Don't Believe by Rev. Joseph Di Bruno, D.D.

"There are not one hundred people in this world who dislike Catholicism, but there are millions who dislike what they mistakenly believe Catholicism to be." -Archbishop Fulton Sheen
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St. Teresa of Avila on the Eucharist

"If we don't want to be fools and blind the intellect there's no reason for doubt. Receiving Communion is not like picturing with the imagination, as when we reflect upon the Lord on the cross or in other episodes of the Passion, when we picture within ourselves how things happened to Him in the past. In Communion the event is happening now, and it is entirely true. There's no reason to go looking for Him in some other place far away"

Image Source: Believed to be in the Public Domain
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Please Pray for the Repose of Megan's Soul

I received this email:

Please pray to and for the soul of Megan L. Boever. I did not know her, but my sister-in-law did. She was 30 years old, and like St Gianna died a martyr's death for love of her unborn child. Megan had cancer while pregnant with her 4th child and gave up treatment so the baby could live. She's a powerful example that not everyone in the US is a participant or a passive onlooker in the "culture of death."

Eternal rest grant unto Megan, O Lord and let perpetual light shine upon her. May she rest in peace!
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Thursday, April 27, 2006
Words from St. Dominic Savio: April 27, 2006

"Nothing seems tiresome or painful when you are working for a Master who pays well; who rewards even a cup of cold water given for love of Him."
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Pope Benedict XVI's visit to Poland

Photo Source: REUTERS/Peter Andrews
 
Pope Benedict XVI will be visiting Poland from May 25-28, 2006, and I will try to post as often as I can as the Holy Father makes this journey to Poland. Poland's TVP public broadcaster has promised to ban all TV ads that contain any erotic or violent scenes during the Pope's visit. Pope Benedict XVI is calling this trip a journey of remembrance for his predecessor, Pope John Paul II.

The Holy Father's schedule:

May 25:
May 26:
May 27:
May 28:
Poland Statistics

  • Total Population: 36,684,000
  • Number of Catholics: 34,850,000; 95%!
  • Percentage that attend Sunday Mass: 53%
  • According to most sites, 75% of Poland Citizens are practicing Catholics
  • Number of parishes: 9,941
  • Number of priests: 26,911

Statistics Source: Institute of Statistics of the Catholic Church SAC
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Pope Raises Standards for Beatifications

Pope Benedict XVI has called for raising the standards for beatifications, which comes after his predecessor canonized more saints than any previous pope. In his letter to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, Pope Benedict XVI says a cause should not be opened unless there is "a proven reputation for holiness."

Source: CWNEWS
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Novena for Vocations: Day Two

Please join in the second day of the Novena for more vocations to the priesthood and religious life. It is available at Cirque de moi.


Image Source: Believed to be in the Public Domain
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Prayer to the Holy Cross

The Discovery of The True Cross by Gustave Dore

I adore You, O glorious Cross, which was adorned with the Heart and Body of my Savior Jesus Christ, stained and covered with blood. I adore You, O Holy Cross, out of love for Him, Jesus, who is my Savior and my God.

(Pope Pius IX declared that reciting this prayer five times on Friday will free five souls from Purgatory and 33 souls by reciting it on Good Friday. This prayer should be recited before a crucifix with a contrite heart and praying a few minutes for the Pope).
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Prayer for Mary's Intercession by St. Francis of Assisi

Holy Virgin Mary, there is no one like Thee born in the world among women, Daughter and Handmaid of the Most Highest King, the Heavenly Father, Mother of Our Most Holy Lord Jesus Christ, Spouse of the Holy Spirit:

Pray for us with St. Michael the Archangel and all the powers of Heaven and all the Saints before Thy Most Holy and Beloved Son, the Lord and Master.

Glory to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, ...

Image Source: Believed to be in the Public Domain
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