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Saturday, June 30, 2012

POPE BENEDICT XVI'S PRAYER INTENTIONS FOR JULY 2012



Vatican City, 28 June 2012 (VIS) - Pope Benedict's general prayer intention for July is: "That everyone may have work in safe and secure conditions".

His mission intention is: "That Christian volunteers in mission territories may witness to the love of Christ".


You can find more information at: www.visnews.org
The news items contained in the Vatican Information Service may be used, in part or in their entirety, by quoting the source:
V.I.S. -Vatican Information Service.
Copyright © Vatican Information Service 00120 Vatican City

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Austrian cardinal: dissident priests cannot serve in administrative posts : News Headlines - Catholic Culture

The following excerpts are from Catholic World News:
  • Vienna’s Cardinal Christoph Schönborn has announced that priests who support a “Call to Disobedience” cannot serve as the heads of local deaneries. But the dissident priests continue to serve as pastors in the Vienna archdiocese.
  • The archdiocese announced on June 26 that priests who were vocal supporters of the “Call to Disobedience” would not be appointed to administrative positions. Father Peter Meidinger, who had been a dean in one archdiocesan region, confirmed that he had resigned his post after telling Cardinal Schönborn that he would not back away from his support of the dissenting statement. Father Meidinger remains pastor of two parishes.

Click the link below to read the entire article:

Austrian cardinal: dissident priests cannot serve in administrative posts : News Headlines - Catholic Culture

Father Pavone wins partial victory on Vatican appeal : News Headlines - Catholic Culture

The following excerpts are from Catholic World News:
  • Father Frank Pavone, the president of Priests for Life, has won at least a partial victory in a conflict with his bishop over his leadership of the pro-life group.
  • Bishop Patrick Zurek of Amarillo, Texas, has announced that in May, the Vatican’s Congregation for Clergy “sustained Father Frank A. Pavone’s appeal of his suspension from ministry outside the Diocese of Amarillo.” Bishop Zurek had announced that suspension last September, citing his “deep concerns regarding his stewardship of the finances of the Priests for Life organization” and about Father Pavone’s reluctance to accept episcopal oversight.
  • Father Pavone appealed the bishop’s decision to the Vatican, and the May decision from the Congregation for Clergy vindicated his stand. Priests for Life issued a statement celebrating the Vatican’s decision in favor of Father Pavone’s appeal, saying: “Father Pavone remains a priest in good standing all over the world.”
  • However, the Vatican decision apparently affirmed Bishop Zurek’s authority to assign Father Pavone to new responsibilities as chaplain of a religious community in the Amarillo diocese. Bishop Zurek announced that the priest was to “continue his ministry as chaplain until further notice.” And Priests for Life, in its celebratory statement, hinted at some remaining conflict, saying:
  • While we fully agree that Bishop Zurek has rightful authority over the priests of his diocese, we also see the urgent need for Father Pavone to be allowed to conduct his priestly ministry outside the diocese of Amarillo for the good of the pro-life movement.

Click the link below to read the entire article:

Father Pavone wins partial victory on Vatican appeal : News Headlines - Catholic Culture

Tens of thousands flee homes as Colorado wildfire doubles in size overnight | Fox News

Please pray for an end to the devastating wildfires in Colorado.


The following excerpts are from Fox News:
  • A towering wildfire jumped firefighters' perimeter lines and moved into the city of Colorado Springs, forcing frantic evacuation orders for more than 32,000 residents, including the U.S. Air Force Academy, and destroying an unknown number of homes.
  • The fire doubled in size overnight to more than 24 square miles fire information officer Rob Dyerberg said Wednesday.
  • Authorities held a morning press conference Wednesday and urged residents to stay indoors because the air quality has deteriorated. They also denied rumors that they're aware of what started the fires.
  • "It was like looking at the worst movie set you could imagine," Gov. John Hickenlooper said after flying over the fire late Tuesday. "It's almost surreal."

Click the link below to read more:

Tens of thousands flee homes as Colorado wildfire doubles in size overnight | Fox News

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

NOTE FROM THE CONGREGATION FOR THE DOCTRINE OF THE FAITH



Vatican City, 26 June 2012 (VIS) - Given below is the text of an English-language note issued today by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Fatih concerning the appointment of Archbishop Augustine Di Noia as vice president of the Pontifical Commission "Ecclesia Dei":

"Pope Benedict XVI has named Archbishop Augustine Di Noia, O.P., to the post of vice president of the Pontifical Commission 'Ecclesia Dei'. The appointment of a high-ranking prelate to this position is a sign of the Holy Father’s pastoral solicitude for traditionalist Catholics in communion with the Holy See and his strong desire for the reconciliation of those traditionalist communities not in union with the See of Peter. The president of the commission is the Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Cardinal William J. Levada.

"The Pontifical Commission 'Ecclesia Dei' was established in 1988 by Blessed John Paul II to facilitate 'full ecclesial communion of priests, seminarians, religious communities or individuals until now linked in various ways to the Fraternity founded by Archbishop Lefebvre' and to promote the pastoral care of the faithful attached to the ancient Latin liturgical tradition of the Catholic Church. In 2009, the Pontifical Commission was structurally linked to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith to address the doctrinal issues in the ongoing dialogue between the Holy See and the Priestly Fraternity of St. Pius X.

"As a respected Dominican theologian, Archbishop Di Noia has devoted much attention to these doctrinal issues, as well as to the priority of the hermeneutic of continuity and reform in the right interpretation of Vatican Council II - a critically important area in the dialogue between the Holy See and the Priestly Fraternity. Under the guidance of Cardinal Levada, with the assistance of Msgr. Guido Pozzo, secretary of the Pontifical Commission, this dialogue has been ongoing over the past three years.

"Previously, Archbishop Di Noia served as secretary of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments where, together with the prefect, Cardinal Antonio Canizares, he oversaw the reorganisation of the dicastery and the preparation of a new 'Regolamento' following the directions of Pope Benedict’s 'motu proprio' of 30 August 2011, 'Quaerit Semper'. Archbishop Di Noia’s experience and continued association with the Congregation for Divine Worship will facilitate the development of certain desired liturgical provisions in the celebration of the 1962 'Missale Romanum'.

"In addition, the broad respect that Archbishop Di Noia enjoys in the Jewish community will help in addressing some issues that have arisen in the area of Catholic-Jewish relations as the journey towards the reconciliation of traditionalist communities has progressed".


You can find more information at: www.visnews.org
The news items contained in the Vatican Information Service may be used, in part or in their entirety, by quoting the source:
V.I.S. -Vatican Information Service.
Copyright © Vatican Information Service 00120 Vatican City

Saturday, June 23, 2012

Vatican Unveils ‘Year of Faith’ Plans | Daily News | NCRegister.com

The following excerpts are from National Catholic Register:
  • The Vatican has approved a formula for a special “Mass for the New Evangelization” for the upcoming Year of Faith, as well as devised an official hymn, a dedicated website and a multilingual pastoral guide to coincide with the event.
  • The innovations were revealed at a June 21 Vatican press conference on the Year of Faith, led by the president of the Pontifical Council for the New Evangelization, Archbishop Rino Fisichella. The year will be held Oct. 11, 2012-Nov. 24, 2013. October 11 is the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council.

Read more by clicking below: 

Vatican Unveils ‘Year of Faith’ Plans | Daily News | NCRegister.com

Friday, June 22, 2012

Obey Mandate or Scripture | One More Soul


The following excerpt is from One More Soul:
  • One More Soul is pleased to offer this “newspaper” response to the HHS mandate as a supplement to the resources already available from the USCCB and other sources. It is an educational piece that draws attention to several “concerns” prompted by the HHS mandate. 
Click below to read the entire article:

Obey Mandate or Scripture | One More Soul

Update On Prayer Request For My Uncle James



As you know my uncle was in a wreck several days ago.

After 10 days in ICU, Uncle James is now in a regular room. He will be there for 2 to 4 days, and if everything goes well, he will get to go home.

Thank you for all your prayers, and I ask you to continue to keep him in your prayers.

May God Bless you all!

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

New Live Action exposé: abortion clinics in North Carolina offer help with sex-selection abortion : News Headlines - Catholic Culture

New Live Action exposé: abortion clinics in North Carolina offer help with sex-selection abortion : News Headlines - Catholic Culture

Skewed Priorities?



I have noticed something that is repeated over and over again in our society. That something is, people get more upset and more outraged over harm done to an animal, than they do over harm done to another human being.

Let there be a news item in your local newspaper, a shared news story on Facebook or twitter about an animal...particularly dogs or cats...being injured or killed through abuse, wanton neglect, or callous indifference, and there will be tons of letters to the editor...hundreds of comments on Facebook ...hundreds of re-tweets on twitter...all expressing outrage over the harm done to an animal, and all accompanied by demands that the full extent of the law be applied in dealing with the perpetrators of these acts.

For example, a post on Facebook linked to a story about a Newark, New Jersey woman who is charged with second degree burglary and third degree animal cruelty for killing a small dog by throwing it into oncoming traffic. Out of the more than 70 comments condemning this woman, only one said that they get upset over someone hurting children or animals.

Only one...not two, three or more....just one! Sadly, that seems to be the mindset of people in today’s society. They either consider an animals life as equal to, or superior to the life of a human being.

A few years ago, there was a young lady... just weeks away from her high school graduation...who was killed in a car accident by being thrown from the car she was riding in when it struck a tree. She and her boyfriend who was driving, had been leaving a party where alcohol had been served to them by an off duty law enforcement officer, even though both were under the legal age to consume alcohol.

At the request of the young lady's family, no charges were brought against the off duty officer, or the young driver of the car.

There was not one single letter to the editor in protest of this decision. Yet just a few weeks later, there appeared a story about a dog (that somehow survived) being doused with a flammable liquid and then set on fire. The letters of protest and outrage over this act appeared on the letters to the editor page for almost 3 weeks.

Chief
Let me make it perfectly clear that I love all of God's creatures. We had both dogs and cats growing up, and I have owned dogs in my adult life as well. My last dog was a German Shepherd Dog named “Chief” and he was the best dog I ever owned. So I am against animal abuse. Period.

In absolutely no circumstances however, would I place an animals life above that of any human for any reason.

I would just like to see the same outrage over the life of a human being, and particularly, that same level of outrage over children killed through abuse, wanton neglect, callous indifference, or murdered through the heinous act of abortion.

Where is that outrage and why is it not being expressed? Are we keeping it to ourselves out of fear of being ostracized? Are we afraid we will offend someone? Do we not care for the unborn as much as we do for Fido or Muffin? I am beginning to believe Fido and Muffin are more important to far too many of us than are Jack and Jill or that unnamed child in the womb, who's chance at life ended today.

Here are some quotations from the famous and not so famous to ponder:

You shall not kill.”
-- Exodus 20: 13

I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life . . .”
-- Deuteronomy 30:19

Yet thou art he who took me from the womb; thou didst keep me safe upon my mother's breasts. Upon thee was I cast from my birth, and since my mother bore me thou hast been my God.”
-- Psalms 22: 9-10

Know that the LORD is God! It is he that made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.”
-- Psalms 100: 3

For thou didst form my inward parts, thou didst knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise thee, for thou art fearful and wonderful. Wonderful are thy works! Thou knowest me right well; my frame was not hidden from thee, when I was being made in secret, intricately wrought in the depths of the earth. Thy eyes beheld my unformed substance; in thy book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.”
-- Psalm 139: 13-16

God’s love does not distinguish between the infant in the mother’s womb or the child or the youth or the adult or the older person. In each one God sees His image and likeness. Human life is a manifestation of God and His glory.”
-- Pope Benedict XVI

That is the dignity of America, the reason she exists, the condition of her survival, yes, the ultimate test of her greatness: to respect every human person, especially the weak and most defenseless ones, those as yet unborn.”
Pope Blessed John Paul II

It is a poverty to decide that a child must die so that you may live as you wish.”
-- Blessed Mother Teresa

Nothing we do to defend the human person, no matter how small, is ever unfruitful or forgotten. Our actions touch other lives and move other hearts in ways we can never fully understand in this world. Don’t ever underestimate the beauty and power of the witness you give in your pro-life work.”
-- Archbishop Charles Chaput

There are two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.”
-- Albert Einstein

I notice that all of the people who support abortion are already born.”
-- Ronald Reagan

The Church has never changed its teaching on the sanctity of human life - it didn't make up a rule for the convenience of a particular time like a rule at a country club as the Governor would have us believe.”
-- Wellington Mara

That you may retain your self-respect, it is better to displease the people by doing what you know is right, than to temporarily please them by doing what you know is wrong.”
-- William J. H. Boetcker

The best things in life are nearest: Breath in your nostrils, light in your eyes, flowers at your feet, duties at your hand, the path of right just before you. Then do not grasp at the stars, but do life's plain, common work as it comes, certain that daily duties and daily bread are the sweetest things in life.”
--Robert Louis Stevenson


Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Network begins ‘nuns on the bus’ tour to protest Ryan budget plan : News Headlines - Catholic Culture

The excerpt below is from Catholic World News:
  • A week after its executive director disparaged the nation’s bishops and stated she was hesitant to call herself pro-life, the social justice lobby Network has begun a “nuns on the bus” tour to protest the House budget plan.

Click below to read more:
Network begins ‘nuns on the bus’ tour to protest Ryan budget plan : News Headlines - Catholic Culture

New LCWR statement on meeting with CDF : News Headlines - Catholic Culture

New LCWR statement on meeting with CDF : News Headlines - Catholic Culture

Friday, June 15, 2012

Prayer Request For My Uncle James


Please keep my uncle James in your prayers. Uncle James, who is 90 years old, was involved in a wreck on Tuesday and is currently hospitalized in the trauma ICU. He has 1 broken rib on the right side and 4 broken ribs on the left. Also, when the air bag in his van deployed, it bruised his heart. This is causing his heart not to pump as it should, and is causing a multitude of problems. So I ask all of you to please pray for him, and his family. Uncle James is the last of my father's brothers still with us, and we'd like to keep him around for a long time to come, God willing.

Thursday, June 14, 2012

South Australia Defeats Bill to Legalize Euthanasia | LifeNews.com

South Australia Defeats Bill to Legalize Euthanasia | LifeNews.com

Pro-Lifers to Protest Worldwide Euthanasia Conference in Switzerland | LifeNews.com

Pro-Lifers to Protest Worldwide Euthanasia Conference in Switzerland | LifeNews.com

Swiss to Vote on Bringing Assisted Suicide to Nursing Homes | LifeNews.com

Swiss to Vote on Bringing Assisted Suicide to Nursing Homes | LifeNews.com

Additional Gallup Data Proves America Trending Strongly Pro-Life | LifeNews.com

Additional Gallup Data Proves America Trending Strongly Pro-Life | LifeNews.com

Sunday, June 10, 2012

Prayer Request


I would greatly appreciate your prayers for some personal intentions at this time. Thank you!

Saturday, June 09, 2012

Coffee May Delay Onset of Alzheimer's

Now you have another reason to buy more Mystic Monk Coffee!

The video below is from a report on CNN:

Dr. Sujatha Reddy joins CNN's Fredricka Whitfield to discuss how drinking more coffee can help delay Alzheimer's.

Girl Scouts leadership: pro-choice, pro-gay ideologues :: Catholic News Agency (CNA)

The following excerpts are from Catholic News Agency (CNA):
  • Who’s calling the shots over at the Girl Scouts? And where’s the organization headed?
  • The questions matter for two reasons. First, it’s cookie season. Any day now some cute little girls wearing green sashes and bright smiles will knock on your door and sweetly seek support for their projects, badges, and activities. Do you write the check or not? (Forget your craving for Thin Mints. Think rationally!) Should you support the Girl Scouts?
  • Second, the Girl Scouts organization (GSUSA) is in trouble again. In recent weeks, they’ve drawn scrutiny for promoting biased resources (the left-wing Media Matters) and pressuring an employee to muzzle her pro-life views. The latest events top the pile of controversies that has outraged parents and spurred some Scouts to quit the organization.
  • What’s going on? Are these merely quality control issues – or do the problems reflect an ideological divide between the Girl Scout leadership and the families they serve?
  • In recent years, the Girl Scouts have tacked left, and criticism has mounted – over their programs and their partnerships with America’s leading abortion provider, Planned Parenthood. (As an aside, the Scouts mislead families and churches into believing that they have no relationship with Planned Parenthood at any level; they maintain that “Girl Scouts of the USA (i.e. the national office) does not have a relationship or partnership with Planned Parenthood,” but say nothing about the many local Girl Scout councils that do partner with Planned Parenthood and its teen subsidiaries.
  • Concerned Scouts and their parents have publicized and documented the Girl Scouts’ liberal bent. And they’ve asked for changes.

Click the link below for the entire article:

Girl Scouts leadership: pro-choice, pro-gay ideologues :: Catholic News Agency (CNA)

Thursday, June 07, 2012

A Personal Request




As many regular readers know, due to my employment changes, the last several months have been a financial burden on me, as well as many of you.

I have gone from 40 hours a week to about 28 a week (on a good week) and, as is the case for many of us, I end up with far too much month left at the end of the money. In fact, the day after my computer went down, I also had the experience of having my electric power shut off for the first time in my life. I had gotten paid that day, but it took all the money that I had to get the power turned back on later that night. The power company is requiring that I pay an additional amount as a “deposit” by my next pay day on May 24 (which is kind of funny as that is two days after my birthday).

So, I have added a “Tip Jar” over on the top right hand sidebar of each blog if anyone would like to give me a hand. The “Donate” button utilizes PayPal, which is familiar to most internet users. I appreciate what you can do, and I would especially appreciate your prayers more than anything!

Once again, I would like to thank all of you who have clicked the various ads that appear on these blogs, and for using my links to purchase Mystic Monk Coffee, and the products I have from Zazzle. If it hadn't been for the purchases of Mystic Monk Coffee that literally poured in after Christmas through March, I would not have been able to have made it through the winter.

Let me say, that I am embarrassed to post this, but I am to the point of not knowing what else I can do, except rely on God, who has seen me through many storms. God has been good to me, and has helped me out with so many trials that I can not begin to recount them all.

So, please keep me in your prayers. I appreciate that more than you could ever know!

May God Bless you and Our Lady keep you in her care!

Worldwide Rosary Novena - Worldwide Rosary Novena

Worldwide Rosary Novena - Worldwide Rosary Novena

Tuesday, June 05, 2012

The Carmelite Monks of Wyoming Visit the Vatican


The Carmelite Monks of Wyoming have posted their June newsletter here, where they recount their visit to The Vatican, and their meeting Pope Benedict XVI.

They presented the Holy Father with a gift of some bags of their Mystic Monk Coffee (which they blend, roast and grind at their monastery), as well as a CD of the monks Gregorian Chant.

Anyway, go visit the website of the Carmelite Monks of Wyoming, and check out all the information there about their Carmel.

Don't forget to take a look at the Father's Day Gifts available for dear old dad at their Mystic Monk Coffee pages, too!

Your purchase helps support the Carmelite Monks of Wyoming!

Monday, June 04, 2012

Ordination 2012 Photo Highlights Diocese of Charlotte, N.C.

Father Peter Shaw, Father Matthew Codd and Father Jason Barone were ordained into the sacred priesthood for the Diocese of Charlotte, N.C., on June 2, 2012. Photo highlights with music performed by the diocesan choir during the Mass.

Saturday, June 02, 2012

Pro-life, pro-family Canadians having a particularly tough time right now | LifeSiteNews.com

The following excerpts are from LifeSiteNews.com:
  • Pro-life, pro-family Canadians are having a particularly tough time right now. At the federal government level they have a “Conservative” Prime Minister who continues to be unreasonably determined to shut down all debate in Parliament that might in any way bring up the abortion or other similarly contentious social issues.
  • Harper’s support is starting to decline as even his die-hard social conservative supporters are losing hope that this PM will drop his intransigence and his suppression of caucus members who dare to be true to their consciences and to God. The nation could be in danger of a deadly political swing to the hard left in reaction to growing distaste for Harper’s autocratic governing style.
Click the link below to read more:
Pro-life, pro-family Canadians having a particularly tough time right now | LifeSiteNews.com