From Letter 3/17/04:
"If you have followed my preaching and writing over the years, you know that the most significant part of my application of the Gospels to everyday life has been the acceptance of God's Will and Divine Providence. I've tried personally to live this out, but I had no idea that in my later years I would be confronted with so great a challenge as now faces me.
Apparently, by a medical miracle, I am still alive - having really been considered dead. One can't miss the conclusion that when this happens, God still wants us here. Consider how many times in the course of life we are in danger of death and not even aware of it!
I don't know what God has in store for me, nor do you know what He has in store for you; yet a conviction that must guide us both is 'Your will be done'. This conviction should be the ultimate intention of all of our prayers - along with finding our peace in the acceptance of that will. Certainly to pray like this is a gift of the Holy Spirit. "
Thursday, March 18, 2004
Therese Movie Needs Your Help
From CNS STORY: THERESE-MOVIE Mar-17-2004 (690 words) xxxn:
"Absent the star power of Mel Gibson, who directed, produced and co-wrote 'The Passion of the Christ,' other privately funded Christian films are struggling to get into theaters. One such movie is 'Therese,' the story of St. Therese of Lisieux, also known as the Little Flower, who lived a short life in a French Carmelite monastery doing little things with great love.
'Therese' had been scheduled for release last autumn, but it's been postponed until October to drum up public and monetary support.
''Therese' is a different kind of film, filled with the innocence of simplicity and reveals the incredibly rich interior life of the human soul,' said director Leonardo Defilippis, whose nonprofit firm, St. Luke's Production Co., produced the film.
Although the 19th-century period production garnered a standing ovation from Catholic dignitaries associated with mission work at a private Vatican screening last May, it has not yet created a stir among the public.
'There have been difficulties,' said Defilippis. He estimates the company still needs $2 million to open in select theaters. 'This movie is a total work of charity. It has been done the 'Little Way' with all these little people scattered all over the world, trusting in this project.'
'Therese' is relying heavily on publicity from a Web site called www.theresemovie.com and efforts from grass-roots religious volunteers to push the film into theaters."
"Absent the star power of Mel Gibson, who directed, produced and co-wrote 'The Passion of the Christ,' other privately funded Christian films are struggling to get into theaters. One such movie is 'Therese,' the story of St. Therese of Lisieux, also known as the Little Flower, who lived a short life in a French Carmelite monastery doing little things with great love.
'Therese' had been scheduled for release last autumn, but it's been postponed until October to drum up public and monetary support.
''Therese' is a different kind of film, filled with the innocence of simplicity and reveals the incredibly rich interior life of the human soul,' said director Leonardo Defilippis, whose nonprofit firm, St. Luke's Production Co., produced the film.
Although the 19th-century period production garnered a standing ovation from Catholic dignitaries associated with mission work at a private Vatican screening last May, it has not yet created a stir among the public.
'There have been difficulties,' said Defilippis. He estimates the company still needs $2 million to open in select theaters. 'This movie is a total work of charity. It has been done the 'Little Way' with all these little people scattered all over the world, trusting in this project.'
'Therese' is relying heavily on publicity from a Web site called www.theresemovie.com and efforts from grass-roots religious volunteers to push the film into theaters."
Wednesday, March 17, 2004
Great New Books!
Former NFL coach and player Danny Abramowicz gives men a way to build their Catholic muscle in a Spiritual Workout of a Former Saint. Plenty here for both men and women, filled with interesting anectodes about the faith and football!
Do you think a woman ordained in the Episcopal or Lutheran Church could ever leave that and become a Catholic, giving up their career in the process? Read the incredible modern tales of conversion of truly remarkable women in The Catholic Mystique: Fourteen Women Find Fulfillment in the Catholic Church!
Being sexually abused by a priest was just another nail in the cross for little Virginia Cyr. If you look for a diary to lift your spirits this Lent, read this amazing story of a soul who suffered and died with incredible faith! Virginia Cyr, God's Little Hobo
Looking for the perfect Catholic quote? Look no further, Leo Knowles gives thousands of Catholic quotes from everyone from the Apostles to Pope John Paul II in Catholic Book of Quotations.
Teaching youth to pray? Father Stan Fortuna has a prayer for every occaision, going on a date, remaining chaste, keeping God at the center of school, work and play in U Got 2 Pray!
Do you think a woman ordained in the Episcopal or Lutheran Church could ever leave that and become a Catholic, giving up their career in the process? Read the incredible modern tales of conversion of truly remarkable women in The Catholic Mystique: Fourteen Women Find Fulfillment in the Catholic Church!
Being sexually abused by a priest was just another nail in the cross for little Virginia Cyr. If you look for a diary to lift your spirits this Lent, read this amazing story of a soul who suffered and died with incredible faith! Virginia Cyr, God's Little Hobo
Looking for the perfect Catholic quote? Look no further, Leo Knowles gives thousands of Catholic quotes from everyone from the Apostles to Pope John Paul II in Catholic Book of Quotations.
Teaching youth to pray? Father Stan Fortuna has a prayer for every occaision, going on a date, remaining chaste, keeping God at the center of school, work and play in U Got 2 Pray!
Happy Saint Patrick's Day!
You may notice it is a lot longer than the popular version.
From the CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: St. Patrick's Breastplate:
"I bind to myself today
The strong virtue of the Invocation of the Trinity:
I believe the Trinity in the Unity
The Creator of the Universe.
I bind to myself today
The virtue of the Incarnation of Christ with His Baptism,
The virtue of His crucifixion with His burial,
The virtue of His Resurrection with His Ascension,
The virtue of His coming on the Judgement Day.
I bind to myself today
The virtue of the love of seraphim,
In the obedience of angels,
In the hope of resurrection unto reward,
In prayers of Patriarchs,
In predictions of Prophets,
In preaching of Apostles,
In faith of Confessors,
In purity of holy Virgins,
In deeds of righteous men.
I bind to myself today
The power of Heaven,
The light of the sun,
The brightness of the moon,
The splendour of fire,
The flashing of lightning,
The swiftness of wind,
The depth of sea,
The stability of earth,
The compactness of rocks.
I bind to myself today
God's Power to guide me,
God's Might to uphold me,
God's Wisdom to teach me,
God's Eye to watch over me,
God's Ear to hear me,
God's Word to give me speech,
God's Hand to guide me,
God's Way to lie before me,
God's Shield to shelter me,
God's Host to secure me,
Against the snares of demons,
Against the seductions of vices,
Against the lusts of nature,
Against everyone who meditates injury to me,
Whether far or near,
Whether few or with many.
I invoke today all these virtues
Against every hostile merciless power
Which may assail my body and my soul,
Against the incantations of false prophets,
Against the black laws of heat"
From the CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: St. Patrick's Breastplate:
"I bind to myself today
The strong virtue of the Invocation of the Trinity:
I believe the Trinity in the Unity
The Creator of the Universe.
I bind to myself today
The virtue of the Incarnation of Christ with His Baptism,
The virtue of His crucifixion with His burial,
The virtue of His Resurrection with His Ascension,
The virtue of His coming on the Judgement Day.
I bind to myself today
The virtue of the love of seraphim,
In the obedience of angels,
In the hope of resurrection unto reward,
In prayers of Patriarchs,
In predictions of Prophets,
In preaching of Apostles,
In faith of Confessors,
In purity of holy Virgins,
In deeds of righteous men.
I bind to myself today
The power of Heaven,
The light of the sun,
The brightness of the moon,
The splendour of fire,
The flashing of lightning,
The swiftness of wind,
The depth of sea,
The stability of earth,
The compactness of rocks.
I bind to myself today
God's Power to guide me,
God's Might to uphold me,
God's Wisdom to teach me,
God's Eye to watch over me,
God's Ear to hear me,
God's Word to give me speech,
God's Hand to guide me,
God's Way to lie before me,
God's Shield to shelter me,
God's Host to secure me,
Against the snares of demons,
Against the seductions of vices,
Against the lusts of nature,
Against everyone who meditates injury to me,
Whether far or near,
Whether few or with many.
I invoke today all these virtues
Against every hostile merciless power
Which may assail my body and my soul,
Against the incantations of false prophets,
Against the black laws of heat"
2004 New York City Saint Patrick's Day Parade NYC -- NYC Grand Marshal Edward J. Malloy
In response to Amy's query about the Parade...2004 New York City Saint Patrick's Day Parade NYC -- NYC Grand Marshal Edward J. Malloy
Amy's Book Gives My Book a Big Boost
The How-To Book of the Mass: Everything You Need to Know but No One Ever Taught Youjumped some 14,000 places yesterday to rank in the 2,000's, this at the same time that Amy's new de-Coding Da Vinci: The Facts Behind the Fiction of the Da Vinci Code went from 2,000,000 to 3,000!
From Father Benedict
From Letter 3/16/04:
"And finally there is the presence of God. In the several weeks of strong pain medication, it is hard to focus your mind; but you become aware that faith is not a human accomplishment, but rather a response to a gift. Through all the haze I recall a presence, sometimes like a person standing in the wind and rain saying: 'Do not be afraid, I will be with you'."
"And finally there is the presence of God. In the several weeks of strong pain medication, it is hard to focus your mind; but you become aware that faith is not a human accomplishment, but rather a response to a gift. Through all the haze I recall a presence, sometimes like a person standing in the wind and rain saying: 'Do not be afraid, I will be with you'."
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