Bishops

  In the Chicago Tribune, I have been reading columnists who are accusing the Catholic bishops, who are speaking out against the civil laws that are being passed or proclaimed by executive order,  as trying to regain waning power or as engaging in a fruitless exercise, since Catholics are not following a particular Church teaching anyway.  The function of the bishop (Titus 1:9) is to "be holding fast to the true message as taught so that he will be able both to exhort with sound doctrine and to refute opponents." (NAB)  (He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.  (NIV))  As a member of the Church, aka the Body of Christ, the bishop has a purpose.  That purpose is to teach and defend the teachings of the Church.  That purpose does not give him as an individual any power over people.  It is the teachings which have the power.  Neither the purpose nor the teachings depend on the number of people who agree or disagree with them.  If the bishops did not speak out, they would not be serving God as their role requires.  If Catholics disagree with a teaching of the Church, they should deeply examine the teaching.  Perhaps, it requires what St. Augustine spoke of:  “For understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore, seek not to understand so that you may believe, but believe that you may understand; for unless you believe, you will not understand.”  Tractates on the Gospel of John: Tractate 29 (John 7:14-18)

Bumper Sticker for Adoration chapel

"I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world."

Pope Paul VI on contraception

In the encyclical The Splendor of Truth (Aug. 6, 1993) the Pope (John Paul II) reaffirms the intrinsic evil of contraception as taught by Pope Paul VI:

"With regard to intrinsically evil acts, and in reference to contraceptive practices whereby the conjugal act is intentionally rendered infertile, Pope Paul VI teaches:
'Though it is true that sometimes it is lawful to tolerate a lesser moral evil in order to avoid a greater evil or in order to promote a greater good, it is never lawful, even for the gravest reasons, to do evil that good may come of it (cf.Rom.3:8) - in other words, to intend directly something which of its very nature contradicts the moral order, and which must therefore be judged unworthy of man, even though the intention is to protect or promote the welfare of an individual, of a family or of society in general.'" (n.80).

Mom and Dad a Celebration of Love

 On this date in 1930, my parents vowed to love, honor and cherish each other for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health till death did they part.  They kept their vows for 70 years through job loss in the depression, living with relatives (in-laws for my mother), four children spread over 20 years (I'm the baby), Dad working two jobs at times, Mom keeping house for two mothers, multiple fractures from osteoporosis for my Mom, and cancer and dementia for my Dad.

On this date in 2000, my parents celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary.  Dad was already in a nursing home due to his dementia and bad knees.  He died later that year and Mom followed him three years later.  Together again in heaven.

(And, yes, at 92 that is my Mom's natural hair color. I didn't get that gene.  ;) )

Life

"We are not some casual of meaningless product of evolution.  Each of us is the result of a thought of God.  Each of us is willed, each of us is loved, each of us is necessary."

Pope Benedict XVI, Homily, Mass of Installation, April 24, 2003

Religion

The virtue of religion is part of the virtue of justice, to give each his due.  Source-St. Thomas Aquinas

Acts of religion are prayer, adoration and sacrifice.

Does God need our prayers, our adoration, our sacrifice (Jesus on the Cross)?  No.  Then, what is the purpose of religion if it is to give God what He is due, but He doesn’t need it?  The virtue of religion (and justice) is rather for our need.  Our need is to redirect focus from ourselves to the other.  Love is willing the good of the other for the sake of the other.  We cannot do that if our focus is on ourselves.  In focusing on giving God ‘His due” in prayer, adoration and sacrifice we are forced to see that we are not the source of our creation, the source of Love, and the source of salvation.

God's kitchen

How are the sacraments like a kitchen?  God gives us all the graces and gifts we need for our salvation through Baptism and Confirmation.  It is like having a fully stocked pantry and all the cookware in a kitchen allowing us to have nourishing meals.

We cannot do that though  if our hands are filthy.  What we make would be unhealthy and disgusting.  We need to be clean.  God needs us to co-operate with his grace and gifts.  Our spritual soap is repentance and confession.  Deeper examination of the 10 Commandments reveal even the most microscopic dirt on our souls which keeps us from fully utilizing God's graces and gifts.  God desires us to be as full of His Love as we could be and through the gifts of the Holy Spirit in the sacraments we can receive that Love.

Choice

A worried woman went to her gynecologist and said: 'Doctor, I have a serious pro...blem and desperately need your help! My baby is not even 1 year old and I'm pregnant again. I don't want kids so close together. So th e doctor said: 'Ok and what do you want me to do?' She said: 'I want you to end my pregnancy, and I'm counting on your help with this.' The doctor thought for a little, and after some silence he said to the lady: 'I think I have a better solution for your problem. It's less dangerous for you too.' She smiled, thinking that the doctor was going to accept her request. Then he continued: 'You see, in order for you not to have to take care 2 babies at the same time, let's kill the one in your arms. This way, you could rest some before the other one is born. If we're going to kill one of them, it doesn't matter which one it is. There would be no risk for your body if you chose the one in your arms. The lady was horrified and said: 'No doctor! How terrible! It's a crime to kill a child! 'I agree', the doctor replied. 'But you seemed to be OK with it, so I thought maybe that was the best solution.' The doctor smiled, realizing that he had made his point. He convinced the mom that there is no difference in killing a child that's already been born and one that's still in the womb. The crime is the same! If you agree, please SHARE. Together we can help save precious lives! "Love says I sacrifice myself for the good of the other person. Abortion says I sacrifice the other person for the good of myself..

By: Jagadeesh K Rathinam

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