Do you read the Interfax news agency from Moscow. Every now-and-again you should just to keep up with news not seemingly connected with own. Today, Interfax is reporting that Archbishop Hilarion has indicated that a meeting between Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kyrill and Pope Benedict XVI is on the table. No definite plans appear to have been made but there seem to be significant discussions pointing to a meeting. Interesting that this announcement is on the liturgical memorial of Saint Josaphat, brutally martyred by the Ordthodx (on the Latin calendar).
Youth leaders to hinder the Church
Humor teaches. The trauma caused in watching this video is worth it. Do agree with this list? Sadly, there are youth leaders and priests who hold these approaches in the Catholic Church.
Saint Theodore of Studis
God of all mercy, You transformed Saint Theodore and made him a new creature in Your image. Renew us in the same way by making [of us] gifts of peace acceptable to You.
The great monk from the East! Monastic influence was tremendous especially since he pioneered what is often called urban monasticism.
Fr Benedict Groeschel celebrates 50 years of priesthood
This year is Father Benedict Groeschel’s golden jubilee as a priest. That’s right! He’s 50 years a Catholic priest. Many would know him as a TV personality on EWTN; others know him as the instigator of the Friars of the Renewal, to many, he’s a friend and a great priest. Friends of his put together a beautiful, brief video of Father Benedict. Watch it, the link’s below.
Pray for priests. Pray for Father Benedict. Pray for the Friars of the Renewal.
The CFR newsletter on Father Benedict
A video honoring him can be seen here.
Keeping the centrality of Christ
Monsignor Giussani, with his fearless and unfailing
faith, knew that, even in this situation, Christ, the encounter with Him,
remains central, because whoever does not give God, gives too little, and
whoever does not give God, whoever does not make people find God in the Fact of
Christ, does not build, but destroys, because he gets human activity lost in
ideological and false dogmatisms. Fr Giussani kept the centrality of Christ
and, exactly in this way, with social works, with necessary service, he helped mankind
in this difficult world, where the responsibility of Christians for the poor in
the world is enormous and urgent.
(Pope Benedict XVI, Funeral Homily for Msgr Luigi Giussani, 24 February 2005, Milan)
NFP (Natural Family Planning): formation for a fertile life
Saint Joseph Seminary – Dunwoodie was the setting today for a clergy seminar on Natural Family Planning (NFP) sponsored by the Archdiocese of New York Family & Respect Life Offices, The Couple to Couple League International and with the generosity of others as well. Some 40 clergy types (priests, deacons and seminarians) attended. It was a blessing to have Dr Theresa Notare, Dr Kyle Beiter, Richard & Vicki Braun, Dr. Jack Burnham, Fr John Higgins, Andrew & Tracey Pappalrdo, and Erik & Anne Tozzi as presenters.
So what did I learn today?
YOU can control YOUR reproductive health care sensibly and morally without spending tons of money and selling your values. The point of the day was to introduce us to the most wholistic, safe form of family planning that there is today. This approach is pro-life, pro-woman, pro-faith, and pro-humanity. NFP is totally Catholic. It shows that it’s possible for a husband and wife to communicate and to collaborate with each other on all facets of life, especially the facet of sex and reproduction.
Continue reading NFP (Natural Family Planning): formation for a fertile life
How do you worship?
A friend of mine sent me this video on worship. I think you might enjoy the humor. I did.
Veterans Day Remembrance
Today is dedicated to world peace through the recognition of our countrymen’s service in the armed forces. We indeed pray for peace of mind and heart, city, state and country. We pray in thanksgiving for the sacrifices of the men and women who served the country to keep us free, safe and peaceful.
I would encourage you to recognize in some way today the generosity of those who served in the military and to ask Saint Martin of Tours to bless them and our civil leaders with the capacity to work for peace in all areas of our lives.
Let us pray.
God our Father, You reveal that those who work for peace will be called Your sons. Help us to work without ceasing for that justice which brings true and lasting peace.
Saint Martin of Tours
The disciples said to blessed Martin: Why, father, do you abandon us? or to whom do you leave us in your desolation? for ravening wolves will rush upon thy flock.
O God, Who sees that we stand not by our own strength; mercifully grant that by the intercession of blessed Martin, Thy Confessor and Bishop, we may be kept from all harm.
Saint Leo the Great
Eternal Shepherd, graciously guard Thy flock, and through blessed Leo, Thy Supreme Pontiff, whom Thou did appoint pastor of the universal Church, keep it under Thy continual protection.