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September 25, 2004
I think there is a
I think there is a great correlation between the struggle for authentic Catholic family life and the battle against the culture of death. On their Life Matters blog, the Citizens United Resisting Euthanasia (CURE) have issued a statement regarding the recent demonstration by Florida jurists that they don’t understand even the basic principles of life.
(Thanks to Times Against Humanity)
Posted by Walter Babetski at 2:12 PM | TrackBack
September 23, 2004
Just a quick update on
Just a quick update on my son, whose accident I blogged about here. Dan returned to his warehouse job this week on a semi-light-duty basis. He's still walking with a bit of a limp. All of the other people involved had only minor injuries. Unfortunately, Blue Cross is refusing to pay for any of his $15,600 helicopter ride to the trauma center. He'll be appealing that. Please keep that issue in your prayers, as having to pay that himself would wipe out the money he has so diligently saved for college thus far. Overall, I praise the Lord for his mercy, protection and providence in this entire situation. And thank you all for your prayers.
Posted by Walter Babetski at 8:10 AM | TrackBack
September 22, 2004
Babytown
Our kids like to call my wife's womb Babytown, and each current occupant is given the title Mayor of Babytown. It's good, I think, that each new child is welcomed not as a competitor or burden, but as the exalted and honored leader of their native place.
This parenthood stuff is cool.
Posted by Bill White at 5:48 PM | TrackBack
September 15, 2004
Honoring Our Sorrowful Mother
Here is a litany to help us honor Mary, Our Lady of Sorrows, today. It was apparently composed by Pope Pius VII while he was held in captivity by Napoleon. Today would be a great day to take those issues (especially family issues) that weigh most heavily on our heart and offer them to Jesus through our Sorrowful Mother's intercession.
Posted by Walter Babetski at 7:42 AM | TrackBack
September 14, 2004
Prayer for Purity
I really enjoy a good, creative prayer. In its May/June 2004 issue, Lay Witness magazine printed an article by Dr Daniel Van Slyke ( a professor at the University of St Mary of the Lake in Mundelein, IL) describing how modern males are almost constantly bombarded by sexually provocative images in public places. He concludes his article with a “prayer, inspired by the De profundis (Psalm 130),” which he hopes “will prove a spiritual resource to husbands struggling with sexual purity:”
De Profundis for the Married Man
Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord,
Lord, hear my prayer.
The enemy has hedged me in with fleshly temptation,
in the mail, in the stores, on electronic screens of all sorts.
Everywhere I turn, lo! I am confronted with wickedness,
and the weakness of my own flesh.
Wherever I flee he overtakes me,
that ancient serpent who strives
to put enmity between husband and wife,
between spouses and the Lord.
Why have you turned your back on me,
that even on my own bed
I am assailed with thoughts of selfish pleasures
that drag my soul into the pit,
and my sin is exposed before you.
My heart yearns for your saving help,
infuse it with manly virtue.
Send forth your holy angel to cast into the pit
that devil who lays snares for my life
and the life of my family.
Strengthen, I beseech you, my arms for battle,
set my feet on the path of righteousness,
for by your grace only can man prevail.
I trust in the Lord, who supplies aid to my weakness,
and I praise his name in the presence of the faithful.
Grant, Lord, that with clean hands and a pure heart
I may receive you in the assembly,
and render you due worship with all my life,
refreshed by your holy sacraments.
You can sign up for a free trial copy of Lay Witness magazine here.
Posted by Walter Babetski at 11:44 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
September 13, 2004
Hot Conference
For anyone within traveling distance to Philadelphia, I highly recommend the upcoming “Conference on the Eucharist” sponsored by the St John Neumann Chapter of Catholics United for the Faith. It will be held on Saturday, September 25th at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary beginning at 9am. Speakers will include Most Rev. John Donoghue, DD, Archbishop of Atlanta; Mother Mary Assumpta Long, OP Co-Foundress and Mother Superior of the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist; Rev. Shaun Mahoney, STD and Janet Haggerty, Ph.D., Assistant Professors of Theology at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary. His Eminence Justin Cardinal Rigali, Archbishop of Philadelphia will be the principal celebrant & homilist at the concluding Mass at 4:30 in St. Martin’s Chapel. Cost is $35/person, including lunch. If you email me, I can send you a pdf of the registration form.
I attended last year’s conference, which was my first. I think there were over 300 people in attendance, with a good number of ‘habited’ religious sisters (about two dozen Missionaries of Charity alone!). The seminary buildings and grounds are just gorgeous. It would be a great way to prepare to begin the Year of the Eucharist!
Posted by Walter Babetski at 12:34 PM | TrackBack
September 11, 2004
The Prodigal son
Dr Kevin Miller of the HMS blog provides several links to help us delve deeply into this Sunday's Gospel.......
Posted by Walter Babetski at 11:07 AM | TrackBack
September 8, 2004
Parental influence
The Mom who authors the Selkie blog yesterday posted a quote that I found very thought-provoking:
It is my personal approach that creates the climate. It is my daily mood that makes the weather.... I possess a tremendous power to make a child's life miserable or joyous. I can be a tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration. I can humiliate or humor, hurt or heal. In all situations, it is my response that decides whether a crisis will be escalated or de-escalated and a child humanized or dehumanized.
If only I could have understood this twenty years ago! Better late than never, I guess.
Posted by Walter Babetski at 8:54 AM | Comments (5) | TrackBack