Where a fallen bishop goes to heal

From Where a fallen bishop goes to heal:



"The entrance to Mepkin Abbey is a long, private driveway lined with ancient live-oak trees, scenically draped in Spanish moss. Go straight, and you reach a beautiful, terraced garden sewn with azaleas and camellias, overlooking a calm, lonely stretch of the Cooper River.



Turn before that, and you will reach the riverside monastery itself, where 27 Trappist monks live, following a regimen that has its roots in the 11th century. They pray communally seven times a day, and if you arrive at the right time, you will hear the church bells toll. The monks will be found in their white, hooded robes, manning their prayer stalls, singing and chanting the Psalms.



These days, you also will see a guest, not robed but in civilian dress, sitting among them. He is Bishop Anthony J. O'Connell, who resigned as head of the Palm Beach Diocese 25 months ago after confessing to sexual improprieties. He has lived here ever since in the seclusion of this Catholic monastery."

Heroic Virtue of New Yorker Recognized

From Vatican Information Service:



Servant of God Mary Anne Barbara Cope, known as "Mother Marianne of Molokai," German, religious of the Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis of Syracuse, New York (1838-1918).

Eucharist Instruction to be Released on Friday

From the Vatican Information Service:



On Friday, April 23 at 11:30 in the Holy See Press Office there will be the presentation of the Instruction of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of Sacraments "'Redemptionis Sacramentum', on several things that must be observed and avoided regarding the Most Holy Eucharist."



Presenting the document will be Cardinal Francis Arinze, and Archbishop Domenico Sorrentino, respectively prefect and secretary of the congregation, and Archbishop Angelo Amato, secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. Also present will be Cardinal Julian Herranz, president of the Pontifical Council for Legislative texts.

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Feast of Divine Mercy

From the Diary of St. Faustina:



"Yes, the first Sunday after Easter is the Feast of Mercy, but there must also be deeds of mercy, which are to arise out of love for Me. You are to show mercy to our neighbors always and everywhere. You must not shrink from this or try to absolve yourself from it. (Diary 742)"

Catholic Kerry Watch

The great thing about blogs is that one will arise to meet every need.



Catholic Kerry Watch:



"Chronicling Democratic presidential frontrunner John Kerry's desparate attempts to maintain his status as 'a Catholic in good standing' while publicly flouting the moral teachings of the Catholic Church. "

Vatican Envoy's Assessment of Iraq

From EWTN News Story:



"'The Americans are no longer in command of the situation, and I don't know whether they will be successful in regaining control.' That is the assessment of Archbishop Fernando Filoni, the papal nuncio in Iraq.



Speaking to the Italian daily Il Giornale, Archbishop Filoni offered a critical appraisal of American policy in Iraq, one year after the beginning of war there. He also condemned the Iraqis who have taken Western hostages, saying that they have 'lost all sense of proportion' in their approach.



'In Washington, they still don't understand that they will never be loved, and that the people of Iraq will not tolerate the occupation,' the papal nuncio said. He recommended that American leaders should 'have the courage to transfer power immediately.' The people of Iraq 'need a leader who can speak their language,' the Italian prelate continued. He observed that the top American official in Iraq, Paul Bremer, does not understand the situation as native Iraqis see it. 'If the governor would leave his bunker, and walk around through the city, he would realize that things are not going well,' the archbishop said. "