Want a movie to watch over Thanksgiving break?

Mitch Albom, author of the number one New York Times bestseller Tuesdays with Morrie, released another hit–Have a Little Faith–at the beginning of this year. This book has now been turned into a motion picture that will be premiering on ABC Sunday, November 27th from 9pm-11pm.

Catholic.org even posted about this upcoming premiere! The trailer for this movie gives you a taste of what it will be like–it has been reviewed as a “story about life’s purpose – losing belief and finding it again – and about the divine spark inside all of us. One man’s journey is really everyone’s story.”

So, here’s an interesting, inspiring movie for you to watch with your family over the Thanksgiving holiday!

Peace all!

 

We Remember

Today marks the tenth anniversary of the September 11th attacks on the World Trade Center twin towers. This singular day marks a shift in reality, one from “there are people in this world who don’t like me” to “there are people who don’t like me enough to kill my father, my sister, my uncle, etc.”

War pervades our world, especially between the US and the Middle East. Yet, God is inviting us to something higher, something better, than this. When I was thinking of today, the image of La Pieta came to me.

 

Feast of St. Rose of Lima-First Saint of the Americas

Today marks the feast of St. Rose of Lima, the patron saint of Latin America and the Philippines.

 

Assumption of the Virgin Mary

Today is the feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, when Mary was assumed into Heaven. Mary is obviously a very prominent figure in our tradition, and it’s days like this where we have the invitation to take some time and reflect on why. Why is Mary so important to us? What does she mean to you personally?
Today’s Gospel tells the story of Mary going to visit Elizabeth (both are pregnant), right after Gabriel appeared to her to tell her she was to bear Jesus. Elizabeth says to Mary

“Blessed are you among women,
and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
And how does this happen to me,
that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears,
the infant in my womb leaped for joy.
Blessed are you who believed
that what was spoken to you by the Lord
would be fulfilled.”-Luke 1:42-45

 

Happy Feast of St. Clare!

Today is a special day, especially for Franciscans, as it is the feast day marking the anniversary of the death of Clare of Assisi. Catholic Encyclopedia did an amazing job of summarizing her life-I’ve attached the link, but here are some really cool snippets:

 St. Francis, who at once recognized in Clare one of those chosen souls destined by God for great things, and who also, doubtless, foresaw that many would follow her example, promised to assist her. On Palm Sunday Clare, arrayed in all her finery, attended high Mass at the cathedral, but when the others pressed forward to the altar-rail to receive a branch of palm, she remained in her place as if rapt in a dream. All eyes were upon the young girl as the bishop descended from the sanctuary and placed the palm in her hand.

 

Wanna see the new Mass translation?

We’ll have pew cards for our Mass at Furman, but here is a picture of the pew cards with the changes in case anyone wanted to take a peek :)

 

Cardinal Zen and the Church in China

Here is a great article from Zenit on the state of the Catholic Church in China.  We must continue to pray that the Church in China, which has been in serious danger of dying, will survive through the grace of God.  Please feel free to share your thoughts in the comments!

 

Won’t be in Madrid for WYD but wish you were?

USCCB has you covered! Catholic bishops have put together a website and Facebook app to serve those who can’t attend this year’s World Youth Day (WYD) as a virtual pilgrimage! This allows users to create avatars, upload pictures and video, and watch WYD live stream.

So, if you aren’t headed over to Madrid this year but wish you were, you can still participate and grow from this year’s festivities! Head on over to the Facebook fan page or to the non-Facebook website (both work) to participate!

 

“They have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him” John 20:2

In honor of the feast day of St. Mary Magdalene, here are some quick facts about her life:

• According to the Gospel of Luke, she was a notorious sinner, and had seven devils removed from her.
• She was present at the crucifixion.
• With Joanna and Mary, the mother of James and Salome, at Jesus’ empty tomb.
• She was put in a boat by the Jews without sails or oars – along with Sts. Lazarus and Martha, St. Maximin (who baptized her), St. Sidonius (“the man born blind”), her maid Sera, and the body of St. Anne, the mother of the Blessed Virgin.
• After landing in France, she lived as a contemplative in a cave known as Sainte-Baume where the angels provided her with the Eucharist daily.
• She is the patron saint of penitents.

Here is a prayer to St. Mary Magdalene.

Saint Mary Magdalene,
woman of many sins, who by conversion
became the beloved of Jesus,
thank you for your witness
that Jesus forgives
through the miracle of love.

You, who already possess eternal happiness
in His glorious presence,
please intercede for me, so that some day
I may share in the same everlasting joy.

Amen.

Happy feast day!

 

Euthanasia and the Budget Crisis?

There’s an article out from the NYTimes that speaks of the rising costs of healthcare in America and connects this rising cost to our supposed inability to “confront death and [the very sick's] obligations to the living.”  They have cited that Americans spent $91 billion caring for Alzheimer’s patients in 2005 and this cost is projected to rise to $189 billion by 2015. The author states that our inability to accept death (if that’s true) is contributing to our financial crisis.