Archive for October, 2014

Marriage and the Cult of Momentary Well Being
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Marriage and the Cult of Momentary Well Being

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by on Oct 13, 2014 in Catechesis, Featured, Learn & Live the Faith, Marriage, The Catholic Family
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The current crisis in marriage and family life arises from “a cult of momentary well-being,” stated Cardinal Peter Erdö, the relator general of the 2014 Synod of the Family. In his opening speech, one which traditionally sets the tone for the whole synod, the Cardinal emphasized that “many look upon their lives not as a […]

Is Rock Music Good for You?
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Is Rock Music Good for You?

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by on Oct 11, 2014 in Featured, Music, MyChurchParish.com, Parenting
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We all know that the lyrics of rock music are often morally offensive; however, evidence is appearing which indicates that rock music itself may be harmful regardless of the lyrics.  Although studies of the harmful effects of rock music are hard to find, there is a growing concern that there is something about the beat […]

The Sneakiest of the Seven Deadly Sins
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The Sneakiest of the Seven Deadly Sins

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by on Oct 11, 2014 in Catechesis, Columnists, Featured, Sunday Reflections
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At age 16, life was about rock ‘n roll. If my own band was not performing on Saturday night, I was out in the audience, watching another band. It would have never occurred to me to spend my Saturday nights at a Catholic conference or retreat. True, no matter how late I was out, I’d […]

Pope Francis, Evangelii Gaudium, The Joy of the Gospel
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Front Row With Francis: On the Unity of the Church

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by on Oct 11, 2014 in Catechesis, Featured, The Shepherd's Voice
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Pope Francis called all Christians to unity during His General Audience Catechesis. He challenged us not to remain resigned to this division, but to take the step towards reconciliation and full communion. “Holy Father, keep them in thy name which thou has given me, that they be one, even as we are one,” (John 17:11) […]

Oldest Manager to Win World Series Still Enjoys Kid’s Game
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Oldest Manager to Win World Series Still Enjoys Kid’s Game

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by on Oct 10, 2014 in Live in Christ, Sports
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Most 80-year-olds would never consider managing a professional baseball team. Then again, most 80-year-olds would never be asked to manage a professional baseball team. Yet, in June 2011, Jack McKeon accepted the then-Florida (now Miami) Marlins’ offer to lead the team as interim manager. McKeon’s previous stint with the Marlins included a World Series Championship in […]

Forever and Ever, Amen: Part III
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Forever and Ever, Amen: Part III

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by on Oct 10, 2014 in Featured, Marriage
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In my previous articles on marriage (part1 and part2), I offered some thoughts courtesy of Archbishop Sheen on the male and female relationship, and our unique perspectives regarding marriage. St. John Paul II also has some remarkable things to say that may add greater depth. In his great work on The Dignity and Vocation of […]

Population Projections Prompt Predictable Panic, Pundits Push Problematic Policies
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Population Projections Prompt Predictable Panic, Pundits Push Problematic Policies

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by on Oct 10, 2014 in Featured, The Social Order
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It’s a familiar ritual. The media response to the latest UN population projections splits between casual interest and panic with a heaping side dish of policy recommendations. To the alarmists, the prospect that population growth may stabilize after the year 2100 instead of before represents a call to action. At a press conference, UN official […]

Book Review: <i>Three Moments of the Day</i>
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Book Review: Three Moments of the Day

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by on Oct 10, 2014 in Featured, Live in Christ, On Books
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In the Foreward to Three Moments of the Day by Fr. Christopher Collins, Fr. James Kubicki reminds us that “every precious moment of time has eternal significance, either contributing to the salvation of our neighbor or not.” Given that each moment of our life has this eternal value, how do we make the most of […]

St. Francis Borgia
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St. Francis Borgia

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by on Oct 10, 2014 in Saint of the Day - Ex Form
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FRANCIS BORGIA, Duke of Gandia and Captain-General of Catalonia, was one of the handsomest, richest, and most honored nobles in Spain.  In 1539, there was laid upon him the sad duty of escorting the remains of his sovereign, Queen Isabella of Spain, to the royal burying-place at Granada. The coffin had to be opened for […]

Some Good Legal News
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Some Good Legal News

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by on Oct 09, 2014 in Contraception & Abortion, Featured, Law & Justice
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In 2013 the Texas legislature passed, and Governor Rick Perry signed, enormously significant pro-life legislation that helps to protect the unborn child and the health of the mother of the unborn child. The law prohibits the killing of the unborn after 20 weeks gestation, requires any physician performing abortions at abortion facilities in the State […]

Poem: "The View from Shore"
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Poem: “The View from Shore”

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by on Oct 09, 2014 in Poetry
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The View from Shore the sailboats bob in the bay – a languid dance upon the gentle waves. sometimes together sometimes alone their masts pointing singly to heaven. Maria Morera Johnson

Love for the Loud at Mass
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Love for the Loud at Mass

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by on Oct 09, 2014 in Featured, MyChurchParish.com, Parenting
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Most Catholic parents have had to take an embarrassing walk to the back of church with small children who can’t quiet down. So, what might parents of small children, and those who are bothered by small children, do in these situations? From the perspective of others at Mass My family is at the stage where […]

CL3 - hbratton notxt
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St. Dionysius and his Companions, Martyrs, St. Louis Bertrand

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by on Oct 09, 2014 in Saint of the Day - Ex Form
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OF all the Roman missionaries sent into Gaul, St. Dionysius carried the Faith the furthest into the country, fixing his see at Paris.  By him and his disciples the sees of Chartres, Senlis, Meaux, and Cologne were erected in the fourth century. During the persecution of the Roman Emperor, Valerian (253-260, AD), Dionysius was arrested […]

Movie Review: <em>The Good Lie</em>
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Movie Review: The Good Lie

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by on Oct 08, 2014 in Featured, On TV and Movies
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I did not want to see The Good Lie. It was assigned to me by my boss at LifeTeen, Christina Mead (benign dictator). I thought: I already know all about the “Lost Boys of Sudan” (young men who were forced to be child soldiers when their parents were murdered during the civil war). Many sad, […]

Thanks, Fr. Benedict
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Thanks, Fr. Benedict

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by on Oct 08, 2014 in Featured, Live in Christ
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He was a pro-life champion. He was a great supporter of EWTN and Mother Angelica. He was a huge booster for Franciscan University. He was a tireless therapist/spiritual director/advocate for priests in trouble. He was a lighthouse for fidelity and truth in the faith during the tumultuous 60’s and 70’s. He was co-founder of Good […]

Dear Anthony: Natural Family Planning
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Dear Anthony: Natural Family Planning

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by on Oct 08, 2014 in Contraception & Abortion, Dating & Singles, Featured, Marriage
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Dear Anthony, I’m getting married soon and I wanted to find out exactly how NFP works, since that’s what the Church recommends.  I have saved myself for my husband and remained pure.  I want to enjoy sex without the worries of getting pregnant right away.  I want my husband to enjoy sex too, so NFP […]

Reflections for Sunday, October 12, 2014
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Reflections for Sunday, October 12, 2014

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by on Oct 08, 2014 in Catechesis, Featured, Learn & Live the Faith, Sunday Reflections
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Meditation and Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion (Isaiah 25:6-10; Psalm 23; Philippians 4:12-14, 19-20; Matthew 22:1-14) Accepting Jesus’ Invitation to Say Yes to Him Cast him into the darkness outside, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth. (Matthew 22:13) How crowded is heaven? How about hell? Theologians have debated this question for […]

Saint Bridget of Sweden, religious
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Saint Bridget of Sweden, religious

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by on Oct 08, 2014 in Saint of the Day - Ex Form
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ST. BRIDGET was born of the Swedish royal family, in 1304. In obedience to her father, she was married to Prince Ulpho of Sweden, and became the mother of eight children, one of whom, Catherine, is honored as a Saint. After some years she and her husband separated by mutual consent. He entered the Cistercian […]

The Hope of Lepanto: the Feast of the Holy Rosary
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The Hope of Lepanto: the Feast of the Holy Rosary

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by on Oct 07, 2014 in Contraception & Abortion, Featured, History
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We are not to lose hope even in the face of the nightly evening news. We have Jesus and all the treasures of the Catholic Church. And on October 7, we have the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, also known as Our Lady of Victory. This feast is not just an example that […]

Despite Protests, Cardinal Dolan Hosts Political Rivals at Charity Dinner
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Despite Protests, Cardinal Dolan Hosts Political Rivals at Charity Dinner

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by on Oct 07, 2014 in Featured, Resources
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“It is time to cancel” the annual bi-partisan charity event known as “the Al Smith Dinner and all the other ‘Catholic’ traditions that have been hijacked by the world,” recently asserted Msgr. Charles Pope in a column that was quickly removed from the official website of the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C.. “In the old days […]

Homes for Those Without a Place
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Homes for Those Without a Place

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by on Oct 07, 2014 in Featured, The Economy, The Social Order, Those in Need
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The idea of home, of a sense of place, is a vital thread in conservative thought. It’s crucial to the conservative emphasis on community, family, and local institutions. Yet amid the incessant discussions on this theme, it’s easy to forget how such a basic good as a literal home is unobtainable for so many homeless […]

Image Tweeted August 9, 2014
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Covering Up Islamic Terrorism for Fun and Profit

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by on Oct 07, 2014 in Featured, Government & Politics, International Issues, Law & Justice
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Ideas are roads to conclusion, and conclusions lead to policies.

Chosen by the Humility of God - Thoughts on Fr. Benedict Groeschel, CFR
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Chosen by the Humility of God – Thoughts on Fr. Benedict Groeschel, CFR

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by on Oct 06, 2014 in Columnists, Featured, Live in Christ
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The church on earth lost a great spiritual leader this past Friday night, October 3. On the very same day that St. Francis of Assisi died back in 1226, a priest who lived and taught the Franciscan spirituality and in fact founded a new community based on that spirituality, was called home to the Lord. […]

Marriage Still Matters
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Marriage Still Matters

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by on Oct 06, 2014 in Featured, Marriage, The Social Order
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A recent Pew study made headlines last week, revealing that “as values, economics, and gender patterns change . . . the share of American adults that have never been married is at an historic high.” According to the report “adults are marrying later in life, and the shares of adults cohabiting and raising children outside […]