Tuesday, May 16, 2006
The DaVinci Solution

This Friday is the theatrical release of the DaVinci Code, a book filled cover to cover with lies. This book goes beyond the realm of fiction - it attacks Jesus Christ. Some of the lies taught by this book include Jesus Christ not being divine, Jesus marrying Mary Magdalene, and Opus Dei monks killing people to keep secrets of the Church.

These are all lies and Dan Brown, the author, did not just write this fiction for entertainment. I have read parts of an interview where Dan Brown has said his claims about the Catholic Church are true. What a liar! Here is part of that interview:
When appearing on “The Today Show,” host Matt Lauer asked him, “How much of this is based on reality in terms of things that actually occurred?” Dan Brown but responded: “Absolutely all of it. Obviously, there are - Robert Langdon is fictional, but all of the art, architecture, secret rituals, secret societies, all of that is historical fact.” (Source)
Tomorrow is the first viewing of the new film of the DaVinci code at the Cannes Film Festival. And, coincidentally, tomorrow is the anniversary of the beatification of Opus Dei's founder, St. Josemaría Escriva. In the DaVinci Code, Dan Brown claims this religious group of monks in the Catholic Chruch is a secret order willing to kill people to keep secrets! What a lie!

First, there are no Opus Dei monks! Opus Dei is made of priests and lay people. It was founded by St. Josemaría Escriva in 1928 and approved by the Holy See in 1947. The name is Latin for "Work of God". Currently, there are 80,000 members worldwide and 3,000 in the United States. Opus Dei is open for anyone to join, and anyone may leave. They are not a secret group with but a religious group serving the Church similar to Franciscans, Dominicans, Benedictines, et cetera. In the United States only one parish is run completely by members of Opus Dei and that is in Illinois at St. Mary of the Angels. Opus Dei is about making daily life holy, and if you read their website, you will see how truly wonderful it is.

Now, I've heard several options on how to combat the heresies in this book. The first I heard is to ignore it. But, as Cardinal John Newmann said, as long as good people do nothing then evil shall flourish. We can't ignore this.

What I recommend are the other two options. First, if you can, attend a prayerful protest outside of a theater. There are several near me, and I will be praying that the people who see this movie will not believe such lies! Second, I recommend the Othercott! Go the movies this Friday and Saturday, but see a different movie. Hollywood only cares about money so give the Da Vinci Code a blow by giving your cash to another movie. Over the Hedge is going to be released this weekend too, and it's a good children's movie. I recommend going to see it.


We also must work to counter the false claims from this movie. I recommend several books by Amy Welborn to use in disputing the numerous lies taught in this book. They can be viewed online at her website. I also recommend the DVD, The Da Vinci Delusion, which is available online for sale.

I also highly recommend the United State's Conference of Catholic Bishop's own site to Decode DaVinci. It's called Jesus Decoded.

Please, above all, join me in prayer as I pray in reparation for the blasphemies commited by this heretical book. Please also sign a petition against this movie [now defunct].

An Act of Reparation and Consecration to the Sacred Heart

O Most Merciful Heart of Jesus, Divine Mercy-seat, for Whose sake the Eternal Father has promised that He would always hear our prayers! I unite myself to Thee in offering to Thine Eternal Father this poor and needy heart of mine, contrite and humbled in His Divine presence, and desirous of making complete reparation for the offenses that are committed against Him, especially those which Thou dost continually suffer in the Holy Eucharist, and more particularly those which I myself have unhappily so often committed. Would that I could wash them away with my tears, O Sacred Heart of Jesus, and blot out with my own heart's blood the ingratitude wherewith we have repaid Thy tender love. I unite my sorrow, slight as it is, with the mortal agony which caused Thy sweat to become as drops of blood in the Garden of Olives at the very thought of our sins. Do Thou offer it, dear Lord, to Thine Eternal Father in union with Thy Sacred Heart. Render Him infinite thanks for the manifold blessings which He constantly showers upon us, and let Thy love supply for our want of thankfulness and remembrance. Grant me the grace always to present myself in a spirit of deepest reverence before the face of Thy Divine Majesty, in order thus to repair in some measure the irreverences and outrages which I have dared to commit before Thee; grant also, that from this day forth, I may devote myself with all my might to drawing, both by word and example, many souls to know Thee and to experience the riches of Thy Heart. From this moment I offer and dedicate myself wholly to propagating the honor due to Thy most sweet Sacred Heart.

I choose It as the object of all my affection, and desires, and from this hour forevermore I set up in It my perpetual abode, thanking, adoring and loving It with all my heart, inasmuch as It is the Heart of my Jesus, Who is worthy to be loved, the Heart of my King and sovereign Lord, the Bridegroom of my soul, my Shepherd and Master, my truest Friend, my loving Father, my sure Guide, my unfailing protection and my everlasting blessedness. Amen.

Act of Consecration


My loving Jesus, out of the grateful love I bear Thee, and to make reparation for my unfaithfulness to grace, I give Thee my heart, and I consecrate myself wholly to Thee; and with Thy help I purpose to sin no more.

Prayer to the Immaculata

O God, Who by the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin didst make ready a
fitting habitation for Thy Son, we beseech Thee that Thou Who didst keep her clean from all stain by the precious death of the same Thy Son, foreseen by Thee, mayest grant unto us in like manner to be made clean through her intercession and so attain unto Thee. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen (Roman Missal).

Image Source: Believed to be in the Public Domain
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Catholic Carnival is up!

The Catholic Carnival is up. Please check it out!

Image Source: Used with Permission
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Clinton Asked to Use Abortion to Kill the Poor

It was just recently uncovered that Bill Clinton received a frightening letter when he was planning to promote Ru-486, the abortion drug. So far seven women have died from this drug. Back when Bill Clinton was the President, the husband of the woman who was the lead attorney in the Roe v. Wade case wrote to him to urge him to use abortion to kill poor Americans!

The letter was dated January 6, 1992, and the author specifically asked him to "start immediately to eliminate the barely educated, unhealthy and poor segment of the country."

Readers, this is more than just "reproductive rights" this is genocide! People all over the world are dying in the Holocaust of the unborn, and Bill Clinton was asked to use this drug to kill the less than desirable people in society. This is an outrage!

Source: Life News

Abortion must end! But it will only end if you and I start praying each and everyday for its end. I have faith in God that it will end, but we need to pray. Lives are dying each day. Pray.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, in Your love for us, protect against the wickedness of the devil, those helpless little ones to whom You have given the gift of life.
Touch with pity the hearts of those women pregnant in our world today who are not thinking of motherhood.

Help them to see that the child they carry is made in Your image - as well as theirs - made for eternal life.

Dispel their fear and selfishness and give them true womanly hearts to love their babies and give them birth and all the needed care that a mother can give.

We ask this through Jesus Christ, Your Son, Our Lord, Who lives and reigns with You and Holy Spirit, One God, forever and ever. Amen.

Via Prayer for the Helpless Unborn
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Monday, May 15, 2006
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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Sunday, May 14, 2006
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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Saturday, May 13, 2006
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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Friday, May 12, 2006
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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