Preparing for Advent

Want To Prepare For Advent? Help The Endangered Among Us Live Through It!

by Contributor Doug

So there I was, listening to my pastor giving his Homily in mass this morning, and at the same time, God was also giving the same Homily.

I’ll let you digest that one for a minute.

No, really, it’s OK. As those who well know me would zealously attest, I may be crazy, but I’m not nuts. And trust me, if my opening statement made sense to you, your not nuts, either.

Our pastor, hardly the shrinking violet type, who is much more concerned with saving souls than feelings (Picture a slightly older but similarly zesty Father Corapi of EWTN!), gave yet another unabashed but quite necessary sermon on protecting the sanctity of life, and once again, didn’t even try to mince words on the topics of abortion and euthanasia, sadly rare topics in many other parishes for reasons of sheer cowardice and political correctness, but not mine. (I love this guy!)

Father mentioned how Pope Benedict, in his opening Advent Mass in the Vatican, spoke of preparing for the celebration of Christ’s coming by praying for the unborn, many of whom worldwide will be savagely slaughtered by Christmas, and most ironically, as Father Corapi has often said, in what should be the safest place on earth, the womb.

As the priest spoke about protecting the sanctity of human life, he also mentioned how far we have regressed, as women now, upon being confirmed that they are pregnant, are typically and callously next asked by their doctors if they wish to keep or terminate their growing, nurturing baby inside them. At about this time, I noticed a woman sitting about a half dozen or so pews ahead of me, holding a rambunctious toddler, a handsome young tyke, with a perfectly round face, blond hair and big, sparkling blue eyes. This little guy, as if he thought himself to be a visual aid, suddenly sprang completely straight upright, standing on Mom’s legs, and looking backward over her shoulder to all those behind him and broke out a huge smile from ear to ear! The timing could not have been any more perfect!

Now does anyone really believe that precious event, and at that precise time, was just coincidence?
Mother Teresa blamed the increase in evil in the world on abortion. I don’t think she was too far off the mark there. As we try to cleanse our own lives in this joyous season of celebration, how can we condone the slaughter of the most innocent and defenseless among us when the crux of this entire festive season is the birth of a baby, the baby who would become our savior? And yet we condone the killing of other babies in His likeness?

To clarify my usage of the word “condone,” Edmund Burke sagely noted that all that is necessary for evil to flourish is for good men to do nothing. And in our own faith, a great number of Catholics agree with abortion and euthanasia, and some even actively support these ghastly endeavors. And still others, who do oppose these atrocities, say or do nothing about it. Same evil, different tactic.

And thus, the flames of this insidious evil threat to life continues to flourish, perpetually fed and fanned by the energizing fuel of apathy, if not collaboration.

Who is then left to annoy others “convenience” when we are finally rid of all our “inconvenient” young and old? (As someone of middle age, that very thought gives a chill up my spine!) To paraphrase Martin Niemoller, a Lutheran Minister imprisoned under Hitler’s regime, he failed to speak when they came for the Jews, the Austrians, the Poles, etc.., and finally when they came for him, no one was left to speak.

Too many times I hear the excuse (not reason) of compassion tossed about. God gave us our lives and only He can take them back. We belong to Him. Would any of us so tolerate the theft and abuse of any cherished possession that belonged to us by someone else?

There are also, difficult as it may seem to fathom, sound theological principles that uphold suffering, but that topic is an article unto itself. Suffice to say for now that our superior and loving God’s will is better informed and ultimately far more benevolent in the end than ours. We, the created, created, contrary to our arrogance, do not know more than our Creator. God also allows evil (as Father mentioned in His Homily today, such as the horrific torture and death of God’s Son), so that a greater good can come of it. Abortion and euthanasia are evil, period, and that is just absolute truth, as taught by the Church. To paraphrase the late and great Archbishop Fulton Sheen, absolute truth is still absolute truth, despite how many or how few people believe it. God, having allowed these evils to exist, also demonstrates His love by giving us free choice. We can work to stop those evils, and thus achieve a greater good, or sit back (and maybe even join in) and allow those evils to continue and even thrive.

I am nauseated by pro-abortion politicians and candidates continually trying to slither off the hook by saying that while they favor abortion (Wink, wink, NARAL, keep those political contributions flowing!), they wish to keep abortion “safe and rare.” yet they do little if anything to ever keep it safe or rare. Likewise, I have so often had this same ridiculous argument with others who claim that they favor abortion and euthanasia because of the horrific conditions that they so often see foisted among children and the elderly in our society today. True enough, but if they are so concerned, what if anything, do they typically do to help stop those atrocities from occurring to children and the elderly that in their minds so necessitates abortion and euthanasia to continue? NOTHING! Isn’t this mindset somewhat akin to using a sledge hammer to kill a mosquito on your friend’s forehead?

Another favorite Father Corapi gem of mine (which I heard again just last night) was that he encourages people to pray the Rosary daily, and often hears people reply that they pray in their own way, yet in his experience, these same people pray seldom, if ever at all. Once again, more excuses, no action. If our eroding culture is our so-called excuse for allowing abortions and euthanasia to continue, then by that “logic,” why don’t we all just starve ourselves to death to eliminate the tragedy and potential of obesity? As a baseball announcer might say, “Swing and a miss!”

Some of you can take an active part in saving the innocent and defenseless around us, but you have more excuses than pharmaceutical companies have pills. Stop making excuses and do something about it! Some of you, for any number of truly legitimate reasons cannot. OK, fine. Pray. Better yet, pray the Rosary. Who better to pray to for life than our Blessed Mother, who gave birth to our Savior so that all could live eternally? And if you think you are too busy, you are not. As Father Corapi has said, the Pope recites the Rosary four or five times a day. Do you have any idea what his daily schedule is like? Are you really busier than the Pope? Furthermore, the Blessed Mother at Fatima told us to pray the Rosary daily, for others, and for that matter, ourselves, too. As we know from John: 19, 26, 27, Jesus, while dying on the cross, gave us to Mary as her children, and Mary to us as our mother, also. So listen to your Mother!

Like St. Paul, in 2 Corinthians, 12, 10, when we are weak, we are strong. St. Therese of Lisieux (“The Little Flower”) is known for her prayers for, and kindness to others, despite her suffering and infirmity.
Does prayer seem ineffective to you? How’s your faith?

“…For truly, I say to you, if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you.”
(Matthew: 17, 20.)

As we know from Jesus in Matthew : 19, 26, all things are possible with God. We only need to pray, and with faith. And pray lovingly, not just for the rescue of those endangered, but for the repentance of, and mercy upon all those who intentionally and unintentionally, actively and passively, endanger them. And while thus praying, keep this scenario in your mind:

“The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid, and the calf and the lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them. The cow and the bear shall feed; their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. The suckling child shall play over the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the adder’s den. They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.”
(Isaiah: 11, 6-10.)

As Sam Cooke sang, “What a wonderful world this would be.”

As the saying goes, “The more, the merrier.” Let us then have a fruitful Advent by saving the endangered among us, and thus, a very merry Christmas. God bless.

“And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. And the angel said to them, ‘Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all people; for to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign to you; you will find a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.”
(Luke: 2, 9-13.)

Doug

Youth and Sex by Bishop Fulton Sheen

Part 1


Part 2


Part 3

EWTN Press Release 9/29/10

October 1, 2010

EWTN Foundress Mother Angelica’s Hometown to Name a Street in Her Honor



Irondale, AL (EWTN) – Mother Angelica, the cloistered nun who founded EWTN Global Catholic Network, will be honored by her hometown of Canton, Ohio when a section of Market Ave. is declared the “Mother Angelica Memorial Corridor.” The section, between 30th St. N.W. and 44th St. N.W., includes the portion of the avenue that runs in front of Sancta Clara Monastery, where Mother made her first vows and lived out her first years as a nun.

“Mother Angelica and all of us at EWTN are truly touched and thrilled by the recognition bestowed upon our foundress by the Mayor and the Canton City Council,” said EWTN CEO & President Michael P. Warsaw. “It is a testament to the work that Mother accomplished in her life – work from which the whole world is benefiting. We want to thank the Mayor and the Canton City Council for recognizing Mother Angelica in this way.”

The honor comes as EWTN prepares to descend upon the Canton Civic Center Oct. 9 and 10 for its annual “Family Celebration,” an event that attracts viewers from all over the country thanks to its roster of well-loved speakers, children’s entertainment, and more. This year, the Network will pay homage to the life and legacy of its famous foundress with a live program featuring many of this year’s speakers as well as select members of the audience. This made Canton the perfect location for the 2010 Family Celebration.

This year’s speakers are all well-known to Mother. They include EWTN’s “World Over” Anchor (and Mother Angelica’s best-selling biographer) Raymond Arroyo; “Journey Home” Host Marcus Grodi; Dr. Ray Guarendi, host of EWTN Radio Network’s “The Doctor Is In,” and Mother Assumpta Long of the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist, whose order hosts the EWTN children’s catechetical series, “Truth in the Heart.” “Bookmark” Host Doug Keck will emcee the event.

EWTN President & CEO Michael P. Warsaw, Deacon Bill Steltemeier, Father Anthony and Father Joseph Mary Wolfe will also be on hand for the popular “Family Talk,” which is a chance for viewers who are part of the EWTN Family, to ask questions

In addition, children will be entertained by “Roamin Catholic” Host Rob Wahl and his sidekick, Pete the Penguin, as well as Brother Leo, author of “Hey Brother Leo” fame. “Older kids” can browse the EWTN Religious Catalogue shop, line up to “Meet the Author,’ and maybe even get a signed copy of Arroyo’s new book, “The Prayers & Personal Devotions of Mother Angelica.”

Doors will open at 8 a.m. As always, there will be plenty of opportunities for confession as well as Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. It’s a day no fan of EWTN and Mother Angelica will want to miss – and, best of all, it’s free!

For more information, please visit: http://www.ewtn.com/familycelebration/

Note: We invite you to tell you friends about this event – and the great honor being bestowed on Mother Angelica – on Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, and other social networks – and to tweet about it using the hashtag #EWTN.

EWTN Global Catholic Network, in its 29th year, is available in over 160 million television households in more than 140 countries and territories. With its direct broadcast satellite television and radio services, AM & FM radio networks, worldwide short-wave radio station, Internet website www.ewtn.com and publishing arm, EWTN is the largest religious media network in the world.

**Press Release issued by EWTN to Connecticut Catholic Corner**

Why be Catholic?

Why be Catholic?? by Tim Staples

For more information visit: http://www.catholic.com/new/why_be_catholic.asp

Mother Angelica Live Episode

What a treasure Mother Angelica is to our Catholic faith!

Full episode of Mother Angelica Live:

Mother Angelica Live Classics - Regret, Remorse and Sorrow - June 07, 1991




Thank you Mother Angelica and God bless you!

Should We Take Our Faith to the Voting Booth?

Written by Connecticut Catholic Corner Contributor Tim Siggia


"The Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of a religion, nor prohibiting the free exercise thereof." -- Constitution of the United States, Amendment 1

The Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to the Constitution, quoted above, is probably one of the most deliberately misunderstood parts of that document. Over the years, it has been construed to mean separation of church and state, a concept which, though having originated with founding father Thomas Jefferson, is in fact nowhere to be found in the Constitution itself. Jefferson first used the phrase not in any official document, but rather, in a private letter to a group of Baptists in Danbury, Connecticut. Since then, liberal politicians, jurists, and pundits have erroneously linked the concept to the Establishment Clause, using it as justification to ban all religious expression and reference in public schools, government buildings, and public grounds -- conveniently ignoring the second portion of that clause: "nor prohibiting the free exercise thereof."

So is it right, constitutionally or otherwise, for Catholics to take their faith to the voting booth?

Jesus Himself gave us the answer: "Render therefore unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." -- Matt. 22:21

But this then raises another question: What is Caesar's and what is God's on Election Day? Election Day is coming up in just a little more than two months now, and it should be giving us, as Catholics, pause for reflection. On this day, when those of us lucky enough to be American citizens of majority age are taught to consider it a civic duty to make our preferences known at the polls, might a possible answer be that in some cases -- like this one, for example -- that which is Caesar's and that which is God's might be one and the same?

Voting, in a very real way, is much like the Sacrament of Reconciliation. It is not something done lightly. If done responsibly, it requires reflection, examination of conscience, and many questions. Who am I voting for? What have been his positions in the past? Are those positions reflective of Catholic teachings and Catholic values? Does this candidate support or oppose such things as abortion and euthanasia? Is he one who would preserve the Sacrament of Matrimony, or would he redefine it? Is it better or worse to vote for a non-Catholic whose positions are in line with Catholic teachings, or a nominal Catholic whose positions run contrary to those teachings?

Finally, the big question: Do we check our faith at the door when we enter the polling place? By now, hopefully, the answer is obvious. In Matthew 22, Jesus gives us the prescription on which to base not only our votes, but everything else in life we do: His first and greatest commandment: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." Then the second: "Love your neighbor as yourself." If we follow His prescription, and take our faith with us when we cast our votes, we cannot help voting responsibly.

-Contributor Tim-

EWTN Press Release 8/21/10

Do You Know ‘The Biblical Story of the Mass?’
Find Out In EWTN’s Exclusive Fall Series



Irondale, AL (EWTN) – As a Catholic, do you ever wonder why Jesus is referred to as “the lamb of God” or why the “body and blood” of our Lord distributed at communion still look and taste like ordinary bread and wine? If the biblical story of the Mass did not begin at the Last Supper, where did it begin? Answers to these and many more questions will be provided in EWTN’s exclusive new 13-part series, “The Biblical Story of the Mass,” which will air 5 p.m. ET Sundays (with a re-air at 2:30 a.m. ET Fridays), beginning Sept. 5.

If you really want to understand what’s happening at Mass, why the priest and people have distinct liturgical roles, why the Eucharist is the best path to a more personal relationship with Jesus Christ and the Trinity – and a whole lot more -- tune into this challenging new series.

Hosted by EWTN Theologian Tom Nash and Fr. Wade Menezes, this lively, conversational program is partially based on Nash’s book, “Worthy is the Lamb: The Biblical Roots of the Mass,” http://bit.ly/dAqnPu. Nash is also co-author of “Catholic for a Reason III: Scripture and the Mystery of the Mass,” http://bit.ly/bJQXPx. Fr. Wade Menezes is the well-known host of numerous EWTN series, including “The Ten Commandments of Catholic Family Life,” http://bit.ly/aqJzi3, and “Gospel of Life vs. Culture of Death,” http://bit.ly/bPo5wh,

“When St. Paul mentions the Lord’s Supper, most Protestant Christians view the ritual as simply a symbolic meal, which recalls Christ’s redemptive work that they believe began and ended on the Cross,” says Nash. “Wouldn’t you like to be able to defend the Catholic belief with biblical and historical evidence?”

Tune in this fall and learn what really happens on the altar each Sunday!

EWTN Global Catholic Network, in its 30th year, is available in over 160 million television households in more than 140 countries and territories. With its direct broadcast satellite television and radio services, AM & FM radio networks, worldwide short-wave radio station, Internet website, www.ewtn.com, and publishing arm, EWTN is the largest religious media network in the world.



***Press Release from EWTN***

EWTN Press Release 8/17/10

EWTN To Air Pope’s Historic U.K. Visit Live
Exclusive Interviews, Expert Commentary Available



Irondale, AL (EWTN) – EWTN Global Catholic Network will provide live coverage of every public event during Pope Benedict XVI’s historic visit to England and Scotland Sept. 16-19, numerous original productions on the life and works of Cardinal John Henry Newman, who will be beatified by the Pope during his visit, and exclusive behind-the-scenes footage and interviews.

Coverage will be seen and heard on all nine EWTN Television Networks worldwide, and can be heard in English, Spanish, French and German; on EWTN Radio Network, and at www.ewtn.com through live streaming video. (Find EWTN Television at www.ewtn.com/channelfinder and EWTN Radio at http://www.ewtn.com/radio/amfm.htm or on Sirius Satellite Channel 160.)

Special live coverage will be provided by EWTN News Anchor Raymond Arroyo, who has covered more papal events than anyone in the industry and who obtained the only English language interview in existence today with the former Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger. (Contact EWTN to arrange an interview.)

“To my mind, this visit to the U.K. is to Pope Benedict XVI’s papacy what Pope John Paul II’s visit to Poland was to his,” said “World Over” Host Raymond Arroyo, who will anchor EWTN’s coverage. “Not enough attention is being paid to the historicity of this seismic moment.”

EWTN’s coverage of these events will include exclusive interviews with Deacon John “Jack” Sullivan, who prayed to Newman for healing after watching a series on the saint on EWTN and whose resulting miracle is responsible for Newman’s beatification; Cormack Murphy O’Connor, former Archbishop of Westminster, who worked tirelessly behind-the-scenes to make this papal trip possible; Lord David Alton, a member of Parliament, who will discuss the government’s view of the trip and what Catholics can expect; Westminster’s current Archbishop Vincent Nichols, Anglican Archbishop Rowan Williams, and many others!

You’ll also travel to the Birmingham Oratory and the rooms in which Newman lived and worked; Westminster Hall, where St. Thomas More was condemned to death; the Guild Chapel and much more.

EWTN Global Catholic Network, in its 30th year, is available in 160 million television households in 140 countries and territories. With its direct broadcast satellite television and radio services, AM & FM radio networks, worldwide short-wave radio station, Internet website www.ewtn.com and publishing arm, EWTN is the largest religious media network in the world.


**EWTN Press Release from EWTN**