Freebies for The Da Vinci Code enthusiasts

From the UK Bishop's conference. Nice site!

http://www.life4seekers.co.uk/TheDaVinciCode-resources.htm

It's all in the title (to get in the door)

just found this. It's a few days old, but remarkable!
We should observe the importance of a clever title for a presentation!

God be praised!
mark

Lucy Gwin, editor of Mouth Magazine wrote:
We would have been lucky to win one convert.

Turns out, we got all BUT one.

Oh, they kicked and screamed, but they got off the Right to Die bandwagon.

We tricked them into hearing a pitch about our right to stay alive, billing our presentation to a Kansas City ACLU conference as "A New Field Guide to Closet Bigotry."

They tipped to the trick right away of course, but damned if they didn't stay to hear us out and, finally, reconsider the ACLU position on Terri Schiavo.

They had supposed, I suppose, that the only disabled people who want to stay alive are dupes of the rabid-religious right wing...

read the rest at:
http://www.notdeadyet.org/docs/articles/gwin0305.html

Retreat on feast of Mary Magdalene

The retreat is shaping up. It begins 7PM on Friday evening, on the feast of Mary Magdalene, the first anniversary of the internment of our beloved Gwen.

Two presentation on the Magdalene will be given. Here's a sample from the first, from Ven Louis of Granada, Summa of the Christian Life, Volume 3, Chapter 19.

Mary Magdalene


Although there are many paths to heaven, all of them can be reduced to two: that of innocence and that of repentance. The first is the way of those who have never sinned; the other is the way of those who, having sinned, have done penance for their sins. The former was the path followed by the Blessed Virgin, St. John the Baptist, and those who never committed a mortal sin; the latter is the path of all other human beings.

Apart from these two paths there is no other because all those who are eventually saved are either innocent or repentant sinners. And since each of these paths requires a guide, divine wisdom has provided two guides that are outstanding. They are the two Marys: Mary, the Mother of the Savior, who was the mirror of innocence; and Mary Magdalene, who was the mirror of repentance. Accordingly, all who travel by the path of innocence should keep their eyes fixed on the first Mary so that they may travel well. But those who travel by the way of repentance should fix their gaze on the second Mary and try to imitate her ardent spirit, her profound sorrow for sin, her vital faith, burning love, and disdain of the world.

Click here to continue

Confusing scripture finally enlightened

Yesterday in the Liturgy of the Hours, Office of Reading I read the following, (from First Kings):

Tuesday, Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Elisha left the oxen, ran after Elijah, and said, "Please,
let me kiss my father and mother goodbye, and I will follow you."
"Go back!" Elijah answered. "Have I done anything to you?"

Year after year I've read this and been perplexed by Elijah's response.
Sometimes I forget to look at other resources; so I looked at the DR translation.

19:16. And thou shalt anoint [...] Eliseus, the son of Saphat, of
Abelmeula, thou shalt anoint to be prophet [...].

19:20. And he forthwith left the oxen, and run after Elias,
and said: Let me, I pray thee, kiss my father and my
mother, and then I will follow thee. And he said to him:
Go, and return back: for that which was my part, I have
done to thee.

Now it makes sense! Elijah discharged his commission from God and was done. The new translations are supposed to be clearer, but there are several places where they can be very obscure instead.

Recent News Concerning Possible Canonization

This from the Blessed Margaret of Castello Guild and Shrine

The guild was recently informed that her cause had been re-examined in 2000 and, in the Diocese of Castello, Italy , a diocesan inquiry on her reputation and fame of sanctity is proceeding. At the conclusion of this phase, the cause will be studied and examined in Rome . Another miracle will be examined for the final Canonization Decree. This miracle to be examined is in a case from Silver Spring , Maryland ! It has been studied by a medical doctor of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints but requires verification with more medical tests. If the miracle were upheld, it would be the one needed for her canonization. This is such good news!

Other major works to help to spread devotion to Blessed Margaret are as follows:

• In 1999, a canonical recognition of the body of Blessed Margaret under the main altar of the Church of Saint Dominic in Castello took place.

• A small fragment has been taken from her body in order to prepare relics.

• Her biography was published in Polish in 2001 and in Italian in 2002.

• In 2003, her habit was discovered and has been given by the Dominican Order to the Shrine of Blessed Margaret at the Church of Saint Dominic in Castello.

The Dominican Curia has begun an aggressive campaign to raise funds to help defray the expenses of the cause. They are asking for $40,000 to $50,000. The summer of 2003 the guild raised over $10,000 for this cause. Any money raised will go directly to further her cause of canonization. Could the chapters of the Third Order consider raising funds for this cause? The money can be sent directly to the Dominican Curia or sent to the shrine here in Columbus . You may contact me for further information. Most importantly, please pray for our efforts and all who are working so hard for Little Margaret's canonization.

For more information about the Shrine of Blessed Margaret, please contact: Fr. Andre-Joseph LaCasse, O.P., Director, Saint Patrick Church, 262 North Grant Street , Columbus , Ohio 43215 . ajdominican@earthlink.net

This year sagebrush, next year garden?

Gayle Boyer OPL applying "traditional" formation to disordered growth of weeks that is choking out the good growth (see next Sunday's gospel, Mt. 13:1-23).

The soil is good, the weeds are thick. a good whacking is in order...

James Schuck OPL entered into rest June 29, 2005

Today, with joy tinged with glory, the Blessed Margaret of Castello honors James Schuck OPL, beloved husband, Knight of Columbus, and member of our chapter, at his funeral mass, as we wish our beloved brother God speed on this his final leg of the journey to the goal for which we are all striving, life on high with Jesus our Lord and all the saints in the blessed vision of the Holy Trinity.

Eternal Father, you blessed us in the sharing of Jim, accept him into your loving embrace. Grant that we, who are only a breath and a heartbeat behind, through the prayers and intercessions of the saints and our beloved brothers and sisters who have gone before us, may perservere in the journey and join them in your presence.