A Wonderful Surprise (edited to add a picture!)

As is our habit, we went to Mass this evening. I walked in with Caecilia a bit behind the rest of the family, and hurried her to the pew. To be honest, when I was genuflecting, I was more making sure she was following me, than I was looking up at our Lord in the tabernacle.

I got her settled in the pew and assessed the rest of the situation (where were the other kids sitting and what were they doing.) I knelt down to pray and I looked up and saw that there was a green veil over the tabernacle. That was new. I’d not seen that before. Then I looked again, it was a new tabernacle and Jesus had been moved to the center, where he belongs! Can you say awesome?

 

 

Filed under: Catholic

The USCCB’s Response to VP Biden’s HHS Mandate Claims

USCCB Responds To Inaccurate Statement Of Fact On HHS Mandate Made During Vice Presidential Debate

 

October 12, 2012

WASHINGTON—The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) issued the following statement, October 12. Full text follows:

Last night, the following statement was made during the Vice Presidential debate regarding the decision of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to force virtually all employers to include sterilization and contraception, including drugs that may cause abortion, in the health insurance coverage they provide their employees:

“With regard to the assault on the Catholic Church, let me make it absolutely clear. No religious institution—Catholic or otherwise, including Catholic social services, Georgetown hospital, Mercy hospital, any hospital—none has to either refer contraception, none has to pay for contraception, none has to be a vehicle to get contraception in any insurance policy they provide. That is a fact. That is a fact.”

This is not a fact. The HHS mandate contains a narrow, four-part exemption for certain “religious employers.” That exemption was made final in February and does not extend to “Catholic social services, Georgetown hospital, Mercy hospital, any hospital,” or any other religious charity that offers its services to all, regardless of the faith of those served.

HHS has proposed an additional “accommodation” for religious organizations like these, which HHS itself describes as “non-exempt.” That proposal does not even potentially relieve these organizations from the obligation “to pay for contraception” and “to be a vehicle to get contraception.” They will have to serve as a vehicle, because they will still be forced to provide their employees with health coverage, and that coverage will still have to include sterilization, contraception, and abortifacients. They will have to pay for these things, because the premiums that the organizations (and their employees) are required to pay will still be applied, along with other funds, to cover the cost of these drugs and surgeries.

USCCB continues to urge HHS, in the strongest possible terms, actually to eliminate the various infringements on religious freedom imposed by the mandate.

For more details, please see USCCB’s regulatory comments filed on May 15 regarding the proposed “accommodation”: www.usccb.org/about/general-counsel/rulemaking/upload/comments-on-advance-notice-of-proposed-rulemaking-on-preventive-services-12-05-15.pdf

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Keywords: vice presidential debate, HHS mandate, U.S. bishops, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, insurance plans, Catholic hospitals, charities, social services, sterilization, contraception, religious liberty, USCCB

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MEDIA CONTACT ONLY:
Don Clemmer
O: 202-541-3206
Filed under: American Liberties, Catholic, Church Laws, Social Commentary

…because we have Jesus.

 

 

At a recent vocations conference, a priest told me why he used this painting on their vocation poster, it was to emphasize that no matter what happens in this world, Jesus is in charge. The election in November the HHS mandate mean nothing, because we have Jesus.

I was struck by the painting and what he said. I’ve also requested a copy of the poster for our house, so I can remember to pray for this particular priest, the priests in his diocese, and the seminarians studying for the diocese. (and selfishly, to have a copy of the painting in my house.)

 

 

Filed under: Catholic

On Meeting the Cardinal

This past week Joshua and I were in Oakland, California for a Vocation Directors convention. It was a great time, many many laughs, lots of learning, and tons of fun. I am sure that it will take weeks for me to process all of the things I learned or did during our six days there. I will share one of them with you now though:

On Monday, Donald Cardinal Wuerl, from Washington DC was the Keynote Speaker (and just wait until I get some of the quotes from that down for you, your socks will be knocked off).  Joshua and I were standing near the booth for his company before the address was to start. Most of the priests and participants had made it down to the room where the address would be, so it was pretty empty in the lobby area. Joshua tapped my shoulder and said “Here’s your chance” and pointed behind me.

Turning around, I discovered Cardinal Wuerl standing behind me, waiting to say hello. As only I could do, I said “Cardinal” with surprise. I then recovered and knelt to kiss his ring. Then he addressed me by name. How did he know my name??? Does he read by blog?!! Well, no, I had a name tag on.

He was a very gracious man and very friendly, not at all bothered by my faux pas, but then again, I am sure that he gets all sorts of reactions when people meet him. I will leave you with a quote from his talk, a talk that had me in tears, because of its beauty.

 

There is only one interrupted Tradition stretching back all the way to the Apostles which gives assurance to our words.

Filed under: Catholic, Church Laws

Pope Benedict XVI on Peace

Equally unacceptable are conceptions of God that would encourage intolerance and recourse to violence against others. This is a point which must be clearly reaffirmed: war in God’s name is never acceptable! When a certain notion of God is at the origin of criminal acts, it is a sign that that notion has already become an ideology. – Pope Benedict XVI For the Celebration of the World Day of Peace 1 January 2007

Filed under: Catholic

Lift High the Cross!

 

Lift high the cross, the love of Christ proclaim,
Till all the world adore His sacred Name.

Led on their way by this triumphant sign,
The hosts of Heaven in conquering ranks combine.

Lift high the cross, the love of Christ proclaim,
Till all the world adore His sacred Name.

Each newborn servant of the Crucified
Bears on the brow the seal of Him Who died.

Lift high the cross, the love of Christ proclaim,
Till all the world adore His sacred Name.

O Lord, once lifted on the glorious tree,
As Thou hast promised, draw the world to Thee.

Lift high the cross, the love of Christ proclaim,
Till all the world adore His sacred Name.

So shall our song of triumph ever be:
Praise to the Crucified for victory.

Lift high the cross, the love of Christ proclaim,
Till all the world adore His sacred Name.

Happy Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross!

Filed under: Catholic

Happy Birthday, Mama Mary

When we lived in Indiana and attended St. Boniface, on Marian Feast Days we would have the chance to consecrate ourselves or re-consecrate ourselves to Our Lady, using the consecration from the Knights of the Immaculata.

O Immaculata, Queen of heaven and earth, Refuge of sinners and our most loving Mother, God has willed to entrust the entire order of mercy
to you.

I, _____________________, a repentant sinner, cast myself at your feet humbly imploring you to take me with all that I am and have, wholly
to yourself as your possession and property. Please make of me, of all my powers of soul and body, of my whole life, death and eternity, whatever most pleases you. If it pleases you, use all that I am and have without reserve, wholly to accomplish what was said of you: “She will crush your head,” and “You alone have destroyed all heresies in the whole world.”

Let me be a fit instrument in your immaculate and merciful hands for introducing and increasing your glory to the maximum in all the many
strayed and indifferent souls, and thus help extend as far as possible the blessed kingdom of the most Sacred Heart of Jesus. For wherever you
enter you obtain the grace of conversion and growth in holiness, since it is through your hands that all graces come to us from the most Sacred Heart of Jesus.

 

After the consecration prayers, Father would lead us in a hymn to Our Lady.  During the summer of 2005, Father picked “Stainless the Maiden” as the hymn we would sing. I was pregnant with Karol at the time, and the hymn really struck me.  To this day, it remains one of my most favorite hymns.

 

Stainless the maiden whom he chose for mother; Nine months she waited, bearing Christ our brother; Think of her gladness when at last she saw him, God in a manger, Bethlehem a heaven!

Lantern in darkness, when the sick are sighing, Threshold of brightness comfort for the dying, High she is holding for a world adoring, Hope of the nations, Jesus Christ our brother.

Jesus has conquered; to his side he raised her; Queen of the angels, every saint has praised her. Yet, in her splendor, Mary goes on drawing Sinners and exiles to their promised glory.

Come sons and daughters, through the ages singing, Praising the Virgin, joys and sorrows bringing. Clothed with the sunshine, Sion’s fairest flower, Spouse of the Spirit, be to us a mother.

 

 

Filed under: Catholic

Blessed are the Peacemakers

Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. – Matthew 5:9

Jesus then said to him, “Put your sword back into its place; for all who take the sword will perish by the sword.” Matthew 26:52

Filed under: Catholic

Of the Eucharist

St. Justin Martyr wrote, “This food we call the Eucharist, of which no one is allowed to partake except one who believes that the things we teach are true, and has received the washing for forgiveness of sins and for rebirth, and who lives as Christ handed down to us. For we do not receive these things as common bread or common drink; but as Jesus Christ our Savior being incarnate by God’s Word took flesh and blood for our salvation, so also we have been taught that the food consecrated by the Word of prayer which comes from him, from which our flesh and blood are nourished by transformation, is the flesh and blood of that incarnate Jesus.”

Filed under: Catholic, General Stuff

Pro-Life Thoughts

Back during the primaries, I was told I am a bad Catholic because I supported a candidate who was not 100% pro-life (according to the accusers). Now, most of those accusers are telling me that under penalty of sin, I am obligated to vote for a candidate who supports abortion, because he is less bad than the current president, and has a chance to win, unlike say a third party candidate.

When did the Church start saying that I had to support evil? I have never heard any moral analysis that demands voting for a “lesser of two evils”, is there an authentic one out there?

 

 

 

 

Filed under: Catholic