Category Archives: Catholic Moment

So Called Ban on Abortion Funding – Anti-Catholic History – Faith vs Works

I thought there is no public funding of abortion?

I wonder what Sister Carol Keehan, Bart Stupak and all the so-called Catholic health organizations think about U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi receiving an award from abortion giant Planned Parenthood in recognition of her efforts in ensuring that the abortion funding ban was not inserted in ObamaCare. Never mind, I don’t want to know.

History and Catholicsim:

I’m not looking to re-fight the Thirty Years War or defend all the actions of Mary I of England, but this interesting article should remind all Catholics that most of the history books we read are written by people that at their core are anti-catholic. If you like to read a good history of the Catholic Church to recommend Harry Crocker’s book:

Faith vs Works?  I choose Christ.

The New Oxford Review has a wonderful piece by Stephen Rombouts. He takes on the debate between faith versus works and talks about having a “truly personal relationship with Jesus” through the Eucharist.

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“Women: Where Are Your Children?”

In an insightful new commentary  on the rise of “childlessness” in America, a Catholic woman who has experienced the joys of life as a mother of nine children and nurse addresses the pain experienced by women who “bought into the myth that contraception and abortion would liberate them for an awesome career in a ‘man’s world.”

Jennifer Giroux, Executive Director of HLI America, lays out a very strong case for the risks of deciding not to bear children. She cites recent census data that projects which groups of women are on track for “loneliness in their twilight years” due to being childless, describes the “prison of loneliness” that traps people in nursing homes or retirement centers with no children or grandchildren to visit them, and sheds new light on the Gospel of Luke that has sadly come true.

An excerpt from Mrs. Giroux’s piece:

Jennifer Giroux, HLI America

When I was a child we lived 5 doors from St. Margaret of Cortona church. I recall how often we would walk down the street during Lent to frequently attend the Stations of the Cross. It is not until recently that I have been able to fully grasp what was meant by Our Lord as he met the women of Jerusalem on the way to the Cross:

“Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For behold, the days are coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed!’ “(Luke 23:28)

Let us pray for a conversion of heart for those who have bought into the myth that a lack of children will afford a better life, and ask Our Lady to comfort those who regret decisions not to bear children.

Join HLI America, a program of Human Life International, to spread the word that protecting life begins at home.

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Andrea Bocelli: Almost Aborted, Devout Catholic

Award-winning  pro-life blogger Jill Stanek has posted a great piece “Almost Aborted: Tenor Andrea Bocelli .” Her story links to video of the esteemed opera singer sharing his personal connection to abortion, which is both moving and beautiful:

 This is a powerful reminder that every life truly is special and worth fighting for despite difficulty, pain, risk and even “expert” opinion. I’m inspired by Mrs. Bocelli having the courage to continue with her pregnancy even while knowing her child may have a severe disability. Only God could have foreseen that her child would bring so much joy – to her and to millions of people around the globe – through the gift of his voice.

It’s sad to think of how many people like Andrea we are missing today because parents feared a disability for their child and thought it was better to abort. There are so many friends, colleagues and family members we should have in our lives, but don’t. Let Andrea’s story  inspire those facing difficult pregnancies, and remind us to encourage and support those who parent children with disabilities.  God blesses each child with gifts, talents and the ability to touch so many lives regardless of their ability or disability.

This isn’t the first time Bocelli has publicly stood for what he believes in. As a devout Catholic, he declined the invitation from friends Tom Cruise and Katie Holms to sing in their wedding ceremony in 2007 because of his faith. He attended the post-ceremony festivities, but did not join them for the Scientology wedding “because I’m Catholic. I didn’t think it was respectful for my religion to be there.”

What a class act.  Bocelli follows his faith and his heart in a respectful yet assertive way. Hollywood could stand to benefit from a whole lot more than singing lessons from him.

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Earth Day: Nature’s Greatest Gift

UPDATE: The Daily Caller published an opinion piece by St Michael Society editor Patrick Looby on this ad campaign. Check it out here.  

CatholicVote.org  has created another masterpiece to commemorate Earth Day and celebrate what should be considered our world’s greatest natural resource … people!

Rock star pro-life blogger Jill Stanek shares which cities it is running in here  and deems the organization “ever-hip” and “ever-relevant.” Watch the YouTube video  capturing the reactions from those in Chicago who have already experienced the campaign firsthand.

Hats off to you, CatholicVote.org!

 

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Happy Birthday and Anniversary, Pope Benedict!

The St Michael Society would like to ask for your prayers of thanksgiving for God’s gift of Pope Benedict XVI and his leadership of our Catholic Church. Today he celebrates his 83rd birthday and on Monday he celebrates the fifth anniversary of his election as pope.

Check out a very interesting story about his birth falling on the eve of Easter as he delivered it firsthand here .

Happy and Holy Birthday, Pope Benedict!

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Miracles: New Book Documents Visions, Miracles Through Humble Priest

Remember the many miracles Jesus performed in his 33 years on earth as revealed in the Bible? And when He promised the gift of miracles would persist in the Church (Mark 16:17 )?

According to the  humble priest and author of a new book – whom several of the St. Michael Society editors have had the priviledge to know – miracles were not just made manifest in the days of old; Jesus is performing them through believers in this very day in age. Fr. Stefan Starzynski shares:

I personally believe that Jesus never intended his miracles to lessen or cease, but we slowly began to accept the idea that miracles are rare in the Church; they are usually associated with very holy men and women or holy places like Lourdes, France,” Father Stefan shared. ” With this belief, came a reduction in the number of miracles.  Many people conclude that because I am not a saint, Jesus would not work a miracle through me.  I believe that Jesus is once again moving his hand to work great signs and wonders among his people to awaken a skeptical age.

Read about Fr. Stefan’s new book Miracles: Healing for a Broken World below. We’d highly recommend this moving and inspirational book as a gift or personal read. Visit Amazon.com  or call 1-800-348-2440 to purchase a copy.

MIRACLE STORIES, VISIONS DOCUMENTED IN NEW BOOK INSPIRE RENEWAL OF FAITH AND HOPE FOR MANY

NEW BOOK SHOWS HOW GOD AND THE BLESSED MOTHER WORK THROUGH A HUMBLE PRIEST

WASHINGTON, DC – “The existential miracles that have happened through Father Stefan have become a new flame of hope set to rekindle the mind of the contemporary Christian and a world in desperate need of hope.”  So writes Reverend Father Boniface Ewah in his brilliant introduction to a new book by Father Stefan Starzynski titled:  Miracles: Healing for a Broken World (Published by Our Sunday Visitor).

The book not only documents how God is working through Father Stefan, who worked closely for months with Blessed Mother Theresa, it also demonstrates the amazing power of prayer and faith that is often lacking in today’s modern society.  Indeed Father Stefan reveals how prayer and faith are unequivocally linked to the various miracles Father Stefan outlines in the book supported by full and beautiful, if not heart wrenching, testimonials from the various individuals on the receiving end of these miracles.

Through prayer, faith and his increasingly popular Healing Mass, Father Stefan recounts numerous stories ranging from the healing of the sick, including babies, to miraculous events that occurred on his ordination day to the death of a newborn baby that through prayers at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe inspired the Paul Stefan Homes for Expectant Mothers .  Father also addresses visions he has received that have lead to miraculous events all of which are supported by the witnesses themselves in subsequent chapters at the end of the book, titled “Testimonials.” 

Writing in his book, Father Stefan uses Church history and tradition to help readers understand the concept of miracles in every day life.  “Why are miracles important?  We live in an unbelieving time.  It is readily accepted that God worked miracles in the early Church to convert Pagan Rome and to establish his Church.”

“I personally believe that Jesus never intended his miracles to lessen or cease, but we slowly began to accept the idea that miracles are rare in the Church; they are usually associated with very holy men and women or holy places like Lourdes, France.  With this belief, came a reduction in the number of miracles.  Many people conclude that because I am not a saint, Jesus would not work a miracle through me.  I believe that Jesus is once again moving his hand to work great signs and wonders among his people to awaken a skeptical age.”   In reading Miracles: Healing for a Broken World, few will disagree.

To purchase the book, visit Our Sunday Visitor website at www.osv.com or call 1-800-348-2440.

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The Mass in Slow Motion – Part 3

The Mass in Slow Motion

Six talks detailing the action and meaning of the Mass Offered by Rev. Paul Scalia.

Part 1:

 

Part 2:

 

Part 3:

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The Feast of the Annunciation

As we celebrate the Solemnity of the Annunciation, I am struck by two things: the significance of our Lord taking the same human form as each of us began our lives, and how the Virgin Mary said “yes!” to a life of pain and suffering, knowing her Son would be King but that His crown would be very different from other rulers.

The angel of the Lord appeared to Mary and said,

 Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give to Him the throne of His father David, and He will reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of His kingdom there will be no end.”

 The angel did not say “Mary, God is sending a great military leader and you are to be his earthly mother.” Or “would you care to sit on a golden throne with the Son of God, eat fine food and drink the finest drink for the rest of your life?” No, the angel Gabriel told Mary that God Almighty wanted her to give birth to a tiny baby – His baby, their baby – and that God was sending the Holy Spirit to knit that divine child in her womb! So it’s not a coincidence that this feast day falls nine months to the day before Jesus’ birth on December 25th.

It’s also not a coincidence that Jesus first took the form of a human being as a tiny embryo – vulnerable, microscopic and completely dependent upon the nourishment of fellow human being, for whom he would eventually suffer and die to save.

What would have happened if Mary said “thanks, but no thanks?” Or if fear, poverty, inconvenience or any number of other circumstances won instead of her free will and courage? Her fiat is a model to us all – especially mothers and fathers who feel unprepared to bring an unborn child to term – because “through Him all things are possible.”

For those parents, let us ask our Virgin Mother’s intercession in praying,

 Hail Mary, full of grace

The Lord is with thee;

Blessed art thou amongst women

And blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

Holy Mary,

Mother of God,

Pray for us sinners now

And at the hour of our death.

Amen.

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Join Us in Taking Bishop Loverde’s Declaration to Fast & Pray National

As we near the end of the healthcare debate, the Most Rev. Paul Loverde, Bishop of the Arlington Diocese of Northern Virginia, has declared tomorrow Monday, March 15th a day of prayer and fasting  for the intention of “protecting the life, dignity, health and conscience rights of every human person in any legislation that Congress considers.” 

The St Michael Society applauds this initiative and, with your participation, can help make this a National Day of Fasting and Prayer.   

Bishop Paul Loverde

 Catholic teaching tells us that our support for the dignity of life includes access to affordable health care. This support, however, cannot come at the expense of the respect for life at all stages, from natural conception to natural death …

 

… Through our fasting and prayers, we ask the Lord to lead the hearts and minds of our nation’s leaders as they make crucial decisions concerning the protection of life. 

Read his full letter here, and please pass this onto fellow Catholics to join us in solidarity for these crucial intentions. 

You can also brush up on the power of “true” fasting here.

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PRO MULTIS – For Many or For All

The USCCB recently announced a series of workshops to prepare priests and diocesan leaders for implementation of the revised Roman Missal.

The seminars are sponsored by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Committee on Divine Worship and the Federation of Diocesan Liturgical Commissions as part of educational efforts for introducing the latest version of the Roman Missal, which incorporates the most significant changes in the Liturgy since 1974.

You don’t need to wait for the seminars.  There is a great site that lists all the “changes,” which I would call improvements, hereYou can start reviewing the changes now.

What changes do you like?  Which do you find confusing?  Do you wish some had been left untouched?  What do you think they missed?

We’ll put some of the questions to a priest, and post his answers here. 

My favorite – The consecration: 

TAKE THIS, ALL OF YOU, AND DRINK FROM IT: FOR THIS IS THE CHALICE OF MY BLOOD, THE BLOOD OF THE NEW AND ETERNAL COVENANT; WHICH WILL BE POURED OUT FOR YOU AND FOR MANY FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS. DO THIS IN MEMORY OF ME.

 

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