“Give Us Your Questions for Planned Parenthood” an article from lifehacker.com. Lifehacker is a general tech blog with so-called life hacks.
Well Planned Parenthood literally is Life Hacker
As a long time fan of Julie Davis I was delighted to receive a review copy of her latest book – which is released today. Seeking Jesus in Everyday Life: Prayers and Reflections for Getting Closer.
I have become more an more of a fan regarding the genre of daily meditations. Usually I like the format of a quote or two, short reflection, and a closing prayer/reflection. I usually like the conciseness of such books which get right to the point.
I have been taking a leisurely stroll through this new book using it as intended. Reading a single or a couple of pages daily. I really enjoy the variety of quote sources and how she reflects on them. She has a Chestertonian ability to see things afresh and to illustrate that freshness to you. There is gratitude and wonder in her reflections that inspire me to want to imitate that viewpoint more consistently.
Sometimes even from the best of writers I usually find the closing prayer/reflection more as something tagged on than integral. More as an expected part of the format than something useful. Not true here where even a single sentence is the exclamation point to what goes before.
So yeah – highly recommended.
To see an excerpt go to Niggle Publishing.
Oh and Niggle Publishing is hers. A Tolkien fan, such as myself, just loves that name.
You can also find Julie at: (lifted from her Publishing page)
- Happy Catholic – where she’s not always happy but always happy to be Catholic
- A Good Story is Hard to Find – a podcast where a friend and I talk about “… about books, movies and traces of ‘the One Reality’ we find there.”
- Forgotten Classics – my podcast where books and stories are read aloud.
- Meanwhile, Back in the Kitchen – cooking blog because we’ve got to eat!
- GoodReads – talking about every sort of book.
- Facebook – of course. And also here.
This version of The Weekly Francis covers material released in the last week from 23 March 2017 to 5 April 2017.
The Weekly Francis is a compilation of the Holy Father’s writings, speeches, etc which I also post at Jimmy Akin’s blog.
Messages
Speeches
- 24 March 2017 – To the Heads of State and Government of the European Union
- 31 March 2017 – To participants in the Meeting promoted by the Pontifical Committee for Historical Sciences: “Luther: 500 Years Later”
Papal Tweets
- “May the certainty of faith be the engine of our lives.” @Pontifex 23 March 2017
- “Fasting is fruitful when accompanied by concrete expressions of love towards our neigbors, especially those in difficulty.” @Pontifex 24 March 2017
- “Let us remember our Christian brothers and sisters who are suffering persecution for their faith. May we be united with them.” @Pontifex 24 March 2017
- “The word of God is alive and powerful, capable of bringing about the conversion of hearts.” @Pontifex 25 March 2017
- “Lent is a favourable season for deepening our spiritual life through fasting, prayer and almsgiving.” @Pontifex 26 March 2017
- “Caring for the sacred gift of all human life, from conception to death, is the best way of preventing every type of violence.” @Pontifex 27 March 2017
- “If we learn to read everything in the light of the Holy Spirit, we realize that everything is grace!” @Pontifex 28 March 2017
- “The peace that springs from faith is a gift: it is the grace of feeling that God loves us and that he is always beside us.” @Pontifex 29 March 2017
- “Prayer is powerful. Prayer conquers evil. Prayer brings peace.” @Pontifex 30 March 2017
- “Fasting with a proud heart does more harm than good. The first fast is for humility.” @Pontifex 31 March 2017
- “Even in the hardest and most disturbing moments, the Lord’s mercy and goodness are greater than every thing.” @Pontifex 1 April 2017
- “https://twitter.com/Pontifex/status/848965834865233920” @Pontifex 3 April 2017
- “Today is the International Day of Mine Awareness. Let us please renew the commitment for a world without mines!” @Pontifex 4 April 2017
- “Let us follow in the footsteps of Christ, especially by dedicating ourselves to our brothers and sisters in need.” @Pontifex 5 April 2017
Papal Instagram
I had previously mentioned that I joined a local group of St Paul Street Evangelization. On April 1st our first outing as a group was to Jacksonville Beach, Fl.
The parish sponsoring us is St Paul’s and is only two blocks from the public access to the beach. This can be confusing referring to St. Paul’s St Paul Street Evangelization. Our local team though is made up of a variety of people from multiple parishes in the Diocese of St. Augustine.
The things I do for Christ, like spending part of the day at the beach on an absolutely beautiful and sunny afternoon.
I compare this to the travails of St. Paul (that name is coming up a lot).
Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked. I spent a night and a day in the open sea.
So as an introvert I certainly had trepidations about evangelizing in the way of St Paul Street Evangelization, although their approach makes it easier. People there were actually very decent about getting offers for a free Rosary. Even the ones not interested at all were polite about it. I think a saw a rather confused face from one man wearing an obviously Evangelical t-shirt, but he was still pleasant in his refusal.
We should have had EMT’s out with us for anybody fainting from seeing Catholics evangelizing. For the most part I hung back while more extroverted members of the team approached people. Giving me a change to pray for those being interacted with. Plus I could enter conversations at times regarding areas I was confident talking about. Having listened to thousands of hours of Catholic radio I can finally make use of that. It was all very enjoyable and even relaxing. Time went pretty quick for the three hours we were out there.
It was great getting to know some of the other members of the team. Quite varied in experience and thankfully many of them are very outgoing approaching people with seeming ease. Especially impressed with Deacon Ed who leads the team. It is just great seeing Catholics out there doing this and I can hardly believe I am one of them.
If you are thinking you want to do more to evangelize in a non-pressure way – I highly recommend St Paul Street Evangelization. In the five short years they have been around they have really grown.
First outing
(I’m the guy second over from the left)
There are additional pictures at the Jacksonville Beach St Paul Street Evangelization blog for our team.
By the way, today is my anniversary as a Catholic. Where have those 18 years gone? So when do I start the part about growing in holiness?
“You have no idea how much nastier I would be if I was not Catholic. Without supernatural aid I would hardly be a human being.” – Evelyn Waugh
With the recent death of my wife I am of course dealing with a lot of changes. All the patterns of everyday life in 36 years of marriage have been totally disrupted. While I am thankful for my faith in dealing with my grief, it still must be dealt with. The waves of sadness that hit me suddenly are mostly surprise attacks. Still I am dealing with it the best I can in prayer.
One of my early thoughts going through this process was that I wanted to live a life worthy of her. She who had toiled for years praying for her hardened atheist husband. After being married so long I think it can be rather easy to be set adrift. Still my faith anchors me and helps me from making of fool of myself – or at least more of a fool of myself.
Of those changes one was to commit to Daily Mass. My work hours are flexible so I searched through MassTimes.org looking for an early Mass that I could go to and still get to work somewhat early. Not many to choose from with that criteria and ended up with one at 7:00 A.M. that was only a little off my route. This was much earlier than I wanted. Still I have now managed a routine of getting ready in the morning in 15 minutes to be on my way. So despite waking up much earlier than I wanted, this is so worth it to start my day this way.
The second change I wanted to effect was to get involved in evangelization. That the faith my wife had given me should be multiplied. In the past I have made plenty of excuses regarding this. I felt like Moses telling God about how he wasn’t good talking to people. I am a bit of a gregarious introvert. I do love people, but tend to myself. I do better in larger groups than smaller ones like many class clowns.
Over the last couple of years I have been hearing more and more regarding St. Paul Street Evangelization. The more I heard the more I thought that just possible I could fit in doing this. There non-confrontational approach of handing out Rosaries, Miraculous Medals, etc – while listening to people and answering questions appealed to me. A group setting where you have several people involved and people praying for you when you talk to someone.
So I decided to reach out to them to find if there was a chapter near me. Turns out there was one – one that was just forming. So last Saturday I met with this group in their first meeting. An interesting range of people led by a Deacon obviously on fire for the faith. The parish he belongs to is providing all the materials needed. So next Saturday will be our first experience of setting out a table and following the charism of St. Paul Street Evangelization. The parish sponsoring this is right off the beach and so there will be a lot of foot traffic where we will be setting up.
Another change is becoming more involved in parish life. My wife liked going to different parishes each week. She disliked going to the same place over an over. My tendencies are different as have no problem with routine. Although going to all these different parishes did give me a snapshot regarding liturgical worship in my diocese and that generally things are improving in this regard. My first thought was to be involved in the parish where I first came into the Church. A downtown Jacksonville church that is now a Basilica. A really beautiful church with a solid pastor.
Other considerations came into play though. After my wife died I scrambled to find a place for her to be interned. I found that a parish within easy driving distance to me was the only one with their own graveyard. So she is interned there in a Mausoleum. Since we were not members of this parish, the costs were increased. Later as I realized I wanted to be buried there next to her I decided that this parish would be my home. The main church is very large seating around 4,500. They also still maintain their historic church completed in 1883. This wooden building is situated in front of the cemetery where my wife is. They have the Traditional Latin Mass on Sundays so this is where I go. After Mass it is a short walk to visit my wife and pray the Divine Mercy. I love going to the TLM on Sundays, but also love the Daily Masses I go to in the Ordinary Form.
So those are just some of the changes I am going through. So any prayers you can send my way I would appreciate.
This version of The Weekly Francis covers material released in the last week from 27 February 2017 to 22 March 2017.
The Weekly Francis is a compilation of the Holy Father’s writings, speeches, etc which I also post at Jimmy Akin’s blog.
Angelus
General Audiences
Homilies
Messages
- 27 February 2017 – XXXII World Youth Day: “The Mighty One has done great things for me” (Lk 1:49)
- 21 March 2017 – Video message of the Holy Father to the young people from all over the world on the occasion of the upcoming World Youth Days (27 February 2017)
Speeches
Papal Tweets
- “The Church wishes to be close to each person with the love, compassion and consolation that come from Christ.” @Pontifex 16 March 2017
- “Fasting means not only abstaining from food, but also from any unhealthy attachment, and especially sin.” @Pontifex 17 March 2017
- “I invite you not to build walls but bridges, to conquer evil with good, offence with forgiveness, to live in peace with everyone.” @Pontifex 18 March 2017
- “May St Joseph, Spouse of Mary and Patron of the Universal Church, bless you and watch over you. And best wishes to fathers!” @Pontifex 19 March 2017
- “t is vital that we sow the seeds of goodness in order to cultivate justice, foster accord, and sustain integration, without growing weary.” @Pontifex 21 March 2017
- “Even if we may be men and women of little faith, the Lord saves us. We must always have hope in the Lord!” @Pontifex 22 March 2017
Papal Instagram
Via Wesley J. Smith:
Now, a proposal is being pushed in the UK to give “rights” to the Frome River. From the SomersetLive story:
The River Frome could soon be capable of bearing the same rights as humans and companies, if proposals to establish a nature rights by-law go ahead.
Sustainable Frome is campaigning to get Frome Town Council to create a new type of by-law which recognises the river as a legal system capable of bearing the same rights as us humans.
The key elements of a nature rights by-law for the river were laid out at a town council meeting last July. These would be:
1. That the river be given appropriate rights stemming from the function of rivers within the wider whole of nature.
2. That local people and the council be granted the power to enforce these rights on behalf of the river. Currently anyone trying to defend the nature of the river has to show sufficient interest in order to bring a case.
3. That the river must not be subordinated to the rights and interests of companies of natural persons, whose property claims must respect the rights of the river.
Now I like Fantasy stories just as much as my favorite genres. Always liked sentient rivers that struck deals in such stories. This is all just fine for fiction.
Now if rivers are sentient and has rights, Old Man River is due some Social Security back payments.
Ol’ man river, that ol’ man river
He don’t say nothin‘, but he must know somethin’
He just keeps rollin‘, he keeps on rollin’ along
Although they might consider all the back taxes rivers must owe since they have the same rights and thus duties as humans.
This version of The Weekly Francis covers material released in the last week from 15 February 2017 to 15 March 2017.
The Weekly Francis is a compilation of the Holy Father’s writings, speeches, etc which I also post at Jimmy Akin’s blog.
Angelus
Daily Homilies (fervorinos)
Speeches
- 15 February 2017 – To Participants of the III Global Meeting of the Indigenous Peoples’ Forum of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)
- 17 February 2017 – Visit to the Roma Tre University
- 25 February 2017 – To participants in the course on the marriage process
- 2 March 2017 – Meeting with the parish priests of Rome
- 4 March 2017 – To Participants in the International Conference on Sacred Music
Papal Tweets
- “Let us strive to fast during Lent with a smile, rather than a long face.” @Pontifex 10 March 2017
- “The road from love to hate is easy. The one from hate to love is more difficult, but brings peace.” @Pontifex 11 March 2017
- “Lent is the favourable season for renewing our encounter with Christ, living in his word, in the sacraments and in our neighbour.” @Pontifex 12 March 2017
- “May the Holy Spirit lead us on a true journey of conversion, so that we can rediscover the gift of God’s word.” @Pontifex 13 March 2017
- “Let us pray for one another so that we may open our doors to the weak and poor.” @Pontifex 14 March 2017
- “The word of God helps us to open our eyes to welcome and love life, especially when it is weak and vulnerable.” @Pontifex 15 March 2017
Papal Instagram
This version of The Weekly Francis covers material released in the last week from 13 February 2017 to 5 March 2017.
Angelus
Daily Homilies (fervorinos)
- 13 February 2017 – The story of Cain and Abel
- 14 February 2017 – Lambs among wolves
- 16 February 2017 – The war is over
- 21 February 2017 – Worldly temptations
- 23 February 2017 – Do not delay conversion
General Audiences
Homilies
- 26 February 2017 – Visit to the Anglican Church of “All Saints”
- 1 March 2017 – Holy Mass, blessing and imposition of the Ashes (1st March 2017)
Speeches
- 18 February 2017 – To participants in the General Chapter of the Congregation of the Marian Clerics of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- 23 February 2017 – To Rabbi Abraham Skorka and to a Delegation of Jewish Leaders for the Presentation of a New Edition of the Torah
- 24 February 2017 – To participants in the Fourth Workshop organized by the Pontifical Academy of Science [23–24 February 2017]
Papal Tweets
- “Do not underestimate the value of example, for it is more powerful than a thousand words, a thousand “likes”, retweets or YouTube videos.” @Pontifex 23 February 2017
- “The Christian heart is always full of joy. Always. Joy received as a gift and kept in order to be shared with everyone.” @Pontifex 24 February 2017
- “Proclaiming to all the love and tenderness of Jesus, we become apostles of the joy of the Gospel. And joy is contagious!” @Pontifex 25 February 2017
- “I invite you to persevere in prayer, so that Jesus’ wish may be fulfilled: “that they may all be one”.” @Pontifex 26 February 2017
- “When the journey is uncertain and you fall, God, rich in mercy, will extend his hand to pick you up.” @Pontifex 27 February 2017
- “Lent is a new beginning, a path leading to the certain goal of Easter, Christ’s victory over death.” @Pontifex 1 March 2017
- “God is always faithful and never stops for a moment loving us, following our steps, and running after us when we have strayed from him.” @Pontifex 2 March 2017
- “Fasting is not only about abstaining from food. It also means sharing food with those who are hungry.” @Pontifex 3 March 2017
- “Lent urgently calls us to conversion. We are called to return to God with all our heart.” @Pontifex 4 March 2017
- “Jesus is the faithful friend who never abandons us. Even when we sin, he patiently awaits our return.” @Pontifex 5 March 2017
- “I ask, please, for your prayers for me and my collaborators, who until Friday will be on retreat.” @Pontifex 5 March 2017
Papal Instagram
Some years ago I came across a story about Trappist Caskets where the monks of New Melleray Abbey in Iowa build hand-crafter caskets. This appealed to me in several ways. That they are hand-crafted, affordable, and that the effort supports Trappist monks. So I had told my wife this is what I wanted to buried in.
When we were staying at the hospice they gave us various materials including for funeral planning. Up to that point I really had not given any thought to this. Really I didn’t want to think about this at all. Still I realized that I had to deal with this. So I remembered the story about Trappist Caskets and called them to order one. I felt pretty creepy calling them about this since my wife was still alive at the time. When my wife died two days later, they were able to ship it to the funeral home in two days.
At her funeral Mass when I saw this casket I was pleased about the quality of the woodwork. Talk about mixed-feelings though. It is hard to appreciate the craftsmanship of something holding your wife’s body.
Still I did appreciate their customer service and how easy the process was. So I plan on setting up an ordering of one for myself. Just thinking about this is just so Lenten – Memento mori.
I was thinking about all this when I saw this recent post at Crux Loving Memory: Handcrafted Caskets Memorialize with Meaning. This was actually labeled as SPONSORED CONTENT so is a case of an advertisement disguised as an article. Still it does give some idea about them.
