This is a continuation of the 73 Steps to Communion with God. The previous steps are found in the archives. This is step 71:



71) To pray for one's enemies in the love of Christ.



"Father, forgive for they know not what they do," are the words that come to mind when we reflect on this counsel to "pray for one's enemies in the love of Christ." Jesus not only preached this counsel of Benedict's but He also left us an example of how to do it. Yet it is pretty tough to do when we start putting faces to the word enemy.



We could start by those who personally affront us and pray for them. Do we believe that they really didn't know what they were doing when they hurt us? I'll be that if you share the incident with an objective person they would offer you some insight into the ignorance that probably was at work on the other end. Perhaps our enemies are insane, misled or plain stupid and this is the evil that we live with in the world that things are not quite what they could be or should be at any given time.



Even those who are moved by greed and dispense with poisons that injure and kill thousands daily (many of whom are quite respected in our communities) should be prayed for because could anyone really know what they are doing--and still do it if it had such horrible results. One can easily look at the insanity of a Hitler or Stalin but what of those who market items that kill (feel free to fill in the blanks with all known cancer and disease causing products that one can still buy at the local convenience store).



We are to pray for these people--those who hurt us and threaten us personally and the same for those who we fear in a more global way. In doing so we also are made aware of our own ignorance and how we too are responsible for the pain and hurt we cause others.



In praying for our enemies we change them into our brothers and sisters. We recognize their frailty. We bring them back down to earth where we are. We destroy our idols (albeit idols that we fear). In the process God almighty is restored to His rightful place in our lives as the Supreme Being who should be our one concern.

My Choice for the Next Pope is dead



But will be canonized someday in the future.

Cardinal Francois Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan Dies

Some Thoughts



Catholic Writer's Conference in Steubenville



I would judge that the Catholic Writer's Conference in Steubenville was a great success. It was great to meet people that I had only "read" and to touch base with others who I 've known for awhile. My talk was well attended (by close to 90 people) and a lot of writers presented me with some great ideas.



Hopefully this will become a yearly event.





Sopranos' first episode.



Best line of the night about 9/11 that was said by Bobby to Tony. It went something like this, "you know Quasi Mode predicted all of this."

Tony says, "huh--no you mean Nostradamus."

"Oh yeah, Notre Dame-us"

"No Nostradamus."

"Do you ever think about the similarities between the hunchback of Notre Dame and the halfback and quarterback for Notre Dame."

Tony says, "no."

The writers of the Sopranos have captured the way people talk in this country in a way that no other program before has been able to do.

The Cross still at Ground Zero



NYPOST.COM 9/11 Those We Lost: THIS IS A DAY TO REMEMBER By NEIL GRAVES and MAGGIE HABERMAN

Create a memorial tile in honor of 9/11



Yahoo! Living Tribute

9/11



From theOffice of Readings:



The heavens will proclaim your wonders, O Lord,

the assembly of your holy ones will proclaim your faithfulness.

For who in the sky can be compared to the Lord?

Who could resemble the Lord among all the sons of God?

God is to be feared in the council of his holy ones,

great and terrible above all who surround him.

Cause for Bishop Sheen moves forward



Diocese to renew push Sheen sainthood