Words of Inspiration: May 15, 2006

Blessed Mother Teresa:

"We shall never know all the good that a simple smile can do. "

St. Padre Pio:

"May the Mother of Jesus, and our Mother, always smile on your spirit, obtaining for it, from her Most Holy Son, every heavenly blessing."

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Parish Priest: Father Michael McGivney and American Catholicism

I just finished a wonderful 5-star book, "Parish Priest: Father Michael McGivney and American Catholicism" by Douglas Brinkley and Julie M. Fenster. I'm not an avid reader, but this book was easy to read and captivating since page one. The book traces the life of Fr. Michael McGivney, the founder of the Knights of Colombus along with his impact on those around it. The book also looks at how the Catholic Church was assaulted by prejudice in the 1800s.

It was a great read, and it was very informative and inspiring. I had no idea the Knights of Colombus had such a hard time at the beginning. At the time of Fr. McGivney's death in 1890, there were 6000 members. Those were nearly all men from Connecticut. Today the Knights of Colombus is made of 1.7 million men from the US, Canada, Philippines, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Panama, Bahamas, Virgin Islands, Guatemala, Guam, and Saipan. Currently, they are expanding into Poland.

In 1997 Daniel A. Cronin, the archbishop of the Hartford Diocese, offically began the canonization process for Fr. McGivney. He is currently at the first step in sainthood as he has been given the title of "Servant of God".

Prayer for the Canonization of Father Michael J. McGivney

God, our Father, protector of the poor and defender of the widow and orphan, you called your priest, Father Michael J. McGivney, to be an apostle of Christian family life and to lead the young to the generous service of their neighbor. Through the example of his life and virtue may we follow your Son, Jesus Christ, more closely, fulfilling his commandment of charity and building up his Body which is the Church. Let the inspiration of your servant prompt us to greater confidence in your love so that we may continue his work of caring for the needy and the outcast. We humbly ask that you glorify your servant Father Michael J. McGivney on earth according to the design of your holy will. Through his intercession, grant the favor I now present (here make your request). Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

(Say an Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be. )

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Repose of the Soul of Mary Reilich & T.O.'s Cousin, Tom

Please pray for souls of the following people who have died recently:

1. Mary Reilich - she worked diligently to create a calendar for priests. Each day was a different priest (active or retired), and people were to pray for that priest that day. She was a daily communicant and always carried a Rosary with her. We lost someone truly special on this earth, but I'm sure she'll continue her work from Heaven. Please pray for her.
2. T.O.'s cousin, Tom, who passed away last Saturday morning. Pray for his family too as they struggle with this obvious loss

Eternal Rest grant unto them, O Lord and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace.

Requiem æternam dona eis, Domine,
et lux perpetua luceat eis.
Te decet hymnus Deus, in Sion,
et tibi reddetur votum in Ierusalem.
Exaudi orationem meam;
ad te omnis caro veniet.
Requiem æternam dona eis, Domine,
et lux perpetua luceat eis.

Image Source: All Soul's Day Mass, Transalpine Redemptorists, Used with Permission

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Pope Benedict XVI Meets with Hugo Chavez

Pope Benedict XVI recently met with Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez. Venezuela is neighbor to Colombia. Colombia's law previously outlawed abortion in all cases. But, the day Chavez met with the Holy Father (last Thursday) was the day that a Colombian court ruled abortion may be permitted in rare circumstances.

Chavez said the 35 minute meeting was overall "very positive" and called it "the beginning of a new era in the relationship between the Catholic hierarchy and the Venezuelan Government." Chavez claims to be a Catholic, but he has frequently criticized the Church. He was gone so far to call the Church's leadership a "tumor".

Let us pray that Colombia will reverse its decision in order to stop the culture of death from spreading.

Source: LifeNews

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Pop Can Tabs for Charity

I've been planning to post about this for a long time now, but I have never got around to it. I have a few minutes to spare, so I wanted to know if my blog readers could help me.

For the past few years I've been saving pop cans. I take them to a recycling center near me and in addition to helping the environment, I get a little bit of money in return. Well, I also have been saving the pop can tabs from the cans. I probably have several hundred if not over a thousand pop tabs now since I started this a couple of years ago.

I was hoping someone knows of a charity that could benefit from these pop can tabs. I know the Ronald McDonald society uses them, but I really wanted to contribute to a Catholic or at least faith-based charity. Do you know of any charities that will accept pop can tabs?

Thanks!

Update: I have found a charity now.

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Memorial of Our Lady of Fatima

Today is the Memorial of Our Lady of Fatima. In honor of this memorial, I created the above image. I ask you to do only one thing - answer Mary's call to pray the Rosary. She asked us to pray it each day. Even if you don't like the Rosary, please make time to say it once today.

Read more on the apparitions at Fatima

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Victory for Life in Britain

The culture of life won another battle today when the British House of Lords defeated a bill to legalize assisted suicide. The vote was 148-100 to defeat the bill. If passed into law, it would have allowed physicians to prescribed lethal drugs to patients that only have less than 6 months to live. Right now, Netherlands, Belgium and Switzerland and the state of Oregon allowed assisted suicide.

Assisted suicide remains a mortal sin, and it is a non-negotiable meaning that Catholics can not support it while still claiming to be Catholic.

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Final day of the Novena to Our Lady of Fatima

Today is the last day of the Novena to Our Lady of Fatima. Even if you have not prayed this Novena yet, please pray the below prayer.

Novena Prayer:

Most Holy Virgin, who has deigned to come to Fatima to reveal to the three little shepherds the treasures of graces hidden in the recitation of the Rosary, inspire our hearts with a sincere love of this devotion, so that by meditating on the mysteries of our redemption that are recalled in it, we may gather the fruits and obtain the conversion of sinners, the conversion of Russia, and this favor that I so earnestly seek.... (State your request here...) which I ask of you in this novena, for the greater glory of God, for your own honor, and for the good of all people. Amen

(Say the Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be three times each)

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Remember Our Lady This Weekend

This Sunday is Mother's Day and my parish is having a special May Crowning of Mary. I'm sure it will be beautiful. Is anyone else going to a May Crowning this Sunday? 

Tomorrow is also the Memorial of Our Lady of Fatima. Read up on this wonderful series of apparitions from 1917!

St. Padre Pio: "May Mary adorn your soul with the flowers and the fragrance of ever new virtues and place her maternal hand on your head. Always stay close to this heavenly Mother, because she is the sea to be crossed to reach the shores of eternal splendors in the Kingdom of dawn." 

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The Praises of God Most High by St. Francis of Assisi

Thou art the Holy Lord, the Only God, who works miracles (Ps. 76:15) Thou art strong, Thou art great (cf. Ps 85:10), Thou are the Most High, Thou art King Eternal, Thou Holy Father (cf. Jn 17:11) King of Heaven and earth. (Mt 11:25)

Thou art three in one Lord, God of gods (cf Ps 135:2), Thou art Good, all good, Highest Good, Lord God living and true. (cf. 1 Thes 1:9). Thou art Love, Charity; Thou art Wisdom, Thou art humility, Thou art patience (Ps 70:5), Thou art Beauty, Thou art gentleness; Thou art security, Thou art quiet, Thou art joy; Thou art our Hope and Joy, Thou art justice, Thou art temperance, Thou art all our riches unto sufficiency.

Thou art Beauty, Thou art gentleness, Thou art Protector (Ps 30:5), Thou art our guard and defender, Thou art fortitude (cf. Ps 42:2), Thou art refreshment. Thou art our Hope, Thou art our Charity, Thou art our Sweetness, Thou art our eternal Life: Great and admirable Lord, God Omnipotent, merciful Savior.

Amen.

Image Source: Mass on the Assumption, Transalpine Redemptorists, Used with Permission

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