Immaculata Publishing: Apostelship

Thu, 31 Mar 2005 15:36:39 GMT

Vatican News Update

Thursday, March 31, 2005

SUMMARY:

BIBLICAL COMMISSION AND RELATION BETWEEN BIBLE, MORALITY

VATICAN TO ISSUE NEW STAMPS AND EURO COINS IN APRIL

OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

___________________________________________________________

BIBLICAL COMMISSION AND RELATION BETWEEN BIBLE, MORALITY

VATICAN CITY, MAR 31, 2005 (VIS) - The Pontifical Biblical Commission will hold its annual plenary assembly from April 4 to 8 at the Domus Sanctae Marthae (St. Martha residence) in Vatican City under the presidency of Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, according to a communique published today by the commission. Fr. Klemens Stock, S.J., secretary general, will lead the work sessions.

During the course of the meetings, participants will continue to study more deeply the theme of the relation between the Bible and morality. Each member of the commission has prepared a specific contribution which will serve as the basis for the assembly's discussions. COM-B/BIBLE:MORALITY/RATZINGER VIS 050331 (110)

VATICAN TO ISSUE NEW STAMPS AND EURO COINS IN APRIL

VATICAN CITY, MAR 31, 2005 (VIS) - The "Resurrection of Christ" by Perugino, and 120,000 copies of a leaflet featuring the Risen Christ, the central part of the painting. The series of four stamps costs 3.02 Euro and the leaflet is 2.80 Euro.

Pietro Vannucci, known as Perugino, painted the altarpiece of the Resurrection of Christ during a period of only two months in 1499 as a decoration for a noble family's chapel in the Church of San Francesco al Prato in Perugia. It remained in its original position until 1797 when Napoleon moved it to Paris. In Congress of Viennaagreements.

The painting was exhibited in different locations in the new Vatican Picture Gallery, which was founded by Pope Pius VII in 1816. It remained there until 1964 when Pope Paul VI wanted it to adorn the back wall of the library of the papal apartments in the Apostolic Palace. Since then, Perugino's "Resurrection of Christ" has served as the solemn and significant backdrop to many audiences of pontiffs, especially visiting heads of state or government and new ambassadors who present their Letters of Credence to the Holy Father, thereby becoming one of the best-known paintings in the extensive artistic patrimony of the Church.

On April 28, the Vatican's Euro coins marking the 27th year of the Pontificate of His Holiness John Paul II will go on sale. The BU series of 8 coins costs 23 Euro whereas the proof version, which also includes a medal of this pontificate, costs 125 Euro. SCV/STAMPS:COINS/... VIS 050331 (300)

OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, MAR 31, 2005 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed Bishop Thomas J. Tobin of Youngstown, U.S.A., as bishop of Providence (area 3,143, population 1,063,200, Catholics 649,188, priests 407, permanent deacons 107, religious 895), U.S.A. He succeeds Bishop Robert E. Mulveewhose resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese was accepted by the Holy Father, upon having reached the age limit. NER:RE/.../TOBIN:MULVEE VIS 050331 (70)

Thu, 31 Mar 2005 14:10:31 GMT

Vatican News Update

Thursday, March 31, 2005

SUMMARY:

BIBLICAL COMMISSION AND RELATION BETWEEN BIBLE, MORALITY

VATICAN TO ISSUE NEW STAMPS AND EURO COINS IN APRIL

OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

___________________________________________________________

BIBLICAL COMMISSION AND RELATION BETWEEN BIBLE, MORALITY

VATICAN TO ISSUE NEW STAMPS AND EURO COINS IN APRIL

OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

Wed, 23 Mar 2005 18:28:54 GMT

IMAGES OF ST. THERSE

Here at Immaculate Conception Parish in Union, Mo. we have in the Church a small statue of the Saint of Lisieux which stands above the confessional overlooking the body of the Church itself. Opposite the statue of St. Therese is the statue of the Infant Jesus of Prague, which is above the confessional on the other side of the Church.

Below is a group of photos of the St. of Lisieux. They are to remind us of the holiness of the life of St. Therese and it is for this purpose that they are presented here. The Catholic Church teaches that the relics and images of the Saints can unite us to those to whom they remind us of. In the same way. St. Thomas Aquinas teaches that the sacred image is a means to unite us to the saacred person it depicts as the robe of the King reminds us of the King

St. Therese and Celine

This is a picture of the two youngest sisters next to each other; Therese and Celine were the closest to one another. St. Therese was very instrumental in bringing Celine into religious life.

St. Therese at the Pillar in the Convent

St. Therese At Her Death

St. Therese said that she would ask Our Lord to continue so spend her eternity doing good works on earth. In the following days after her death many miracles were worked attested to her intercession.

St. Therese near a Cross

St. Therese to Sr. Marie of St. Joseph, Sept. 1896

"It will never be revealed to creatures on earth, but when the Lamb will open teh book of life, what a surprise for the heavenly court to hear proclaimed with the names of missionaries and martyrs those of poor little children who will have never performed dazzling actions...

St. Therese as Joan of Arc

A Picture of Young St. Therese from 1896

St. Therese at Fifteen

St. There at Twelve Years of Age

St. Therese in Her Religious Habit at Lisieux

St. Therese Washign Laundry With Religious Sisters

Basilica of St. Therese in Lisieux

May St. Therese consinue to pray for all of her spiritual children and guide them to the eternal dwelling with God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. May she intercede for us with the Most Holy Mother of God, the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Archbishop Raymond L. Burke

Mon, 21 Mar 2005 13:35:31 GMT

Who is Archbishop Raymond L. Burke? There is a biography of his at the Archdiocesan website below. Here you will find his apostolic works here in the Archdiocese. Immaculata Publising News CRL Regional Newscaster Archdiocese of St. Louis 111 Cherry St. Union, Mo.

My God, My God why have you abandoned me?'

Mon, 21 Mar 2005 13:21:05 GMT

What is Sincerity? 'Learning to Love Thru in Our Daily Martyrdom' 'Those who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.' Deep in our hearts, the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit dwell in our hearts, yet the suffering of our lives for Christ means pouring it out daily. As much as we receive the daily bread, Who is Christ, so we are called to share it with others. This sharing is a cup of blessing containing both sorrow and joy; it is a sorrow because we are light for the world thru it, but it is at the same time a cup of joy for Christ has promised his victory thru it. The middle ground of our daily martyrdom comes at the expense of individual choices for Christ in the less than infinite possibilities that they can take. Here at the liturgy we share in in that communal martyrdom in the Church of Jesus Christ; tha tdaily martyrdom is entering into the 'do this in memory of me.' With Fr. Matthew Mitas and the faithful that gather together, reciting the prayers of the Church and listening to the Word of God we are renewed in this desire to 'lay down our lives for others,' for a friend,' who is Jesus Christ.' This morning we entered more deeply into Passion week. The words of the Gospel are clear about the element of betrayal in the Christian tradition; the element of light and darkness that each Christian has to face becomes very evident today in the liturgy. Though it is personified in one of the disciples it does not come keep us from understanding that the element of betrayal is always possible to every man: 'Jesus knew what was in their hearts.' It is only in following Jesus, the 'way, the truth, the life,' that we are freed from betrayal. 'Do you also want to go away, ' Jesus once said to his disciples. 'My God, My God why have you abandoned me.' These words are the one who has been betrayed not only by a friend but by everyone, excepting those few who stood by his Cross. Here at Immaculate Conception we join with one another is accompanying Jesus thru his passion; in preparation, this week we are meeting for Rosary after 7a.m. Mass and other devotionals. Immaculata News Correspondent CRL

St. Joseph Patron of Universal Church

Sat, 19 Mar 2005 15:16:13 GMT

Live From Immaculate Conception Parish Union, Mo. Solemn Celebration of St. Joseph Head of the Holy Family Today we celebrated St. Joseph, the Patron of the Universal Church. I was very happy to remember him, since he has done so much for my life. I think that it was at Carmel that I first was introduced to him, since St. Teresa of Avila had a great devotion to him. Fr. Matthew Mitas, our pastor spoke very highly of him and recounted his vitrues and offices in relation to the Incarnate Word, Jesus Christ. Now who wouldn't be amazed at the responsibilities of this man. When we consider him during the Catholic Liturgy, and remember him as we did today [ FR. Mitas recited the Litany of St. Joseph after Mass at the altar] then St. Joseph is quite a light in relaiton to both Jesus and Mary. The Liturgy today brought profound Peace to my soul, especially after Communion. To believe that we receive the Body, Soul, Blood and Divinty of Christ into our souls, how can we not come as spotless before Our Lord, but I am not spotless. In fact, after Mass, I found myself considering my sins and had to go to confession. This is a profound consideration, since grace enlightens our souls and means that we must change for others. I cannot look at others, but I have to take control of myself. Fr. Mitas gave some wise counsel to me and as always confesison brings abundant grace to our souls. Many things disturb us, but nothing disturbs us more than infidelity to our true selves: 'know thyself.' Thank You, Divine Lord, IP CRL

Prayer of the Heart: Centering Prayer: Hesychasm

Sat, 19 Mar 2005 13:44:20 GMT

When centering Myself for prayer I find that there is a confusing element in my heart; I call this the pull of the senses. On the other hand, there is that lifting of the Spirit unto God, which I identify as assent to faith. This assent is not the leaving of the body but an integration of the body and spirit unto God-this I identify as the 'Spirit of the Incarnation.' St. Thomas and St. Damascene taught about lifting of our mind to God or unveilling our mindsw to God who sees our intentions adn heart within; this is the asceticism that comes from a TO-GOD life. Though it is TO-GOD is is not AWAY form humanity, rather I find myself pulled into a compassionate feeling in a greater hope for humanity. This is a hopoe which experience distinguishes from what is given. Anyway, repeating the Name of Jesus is a consoling aspect of this Prayer. I know that this is part of what is means to search for Orthodoxy in my life; it is a questing after God, which St. Benedict called 'a searching for God.' This knowledge of God, which is called spiritual is talked about frequently by the Desert Fathers and Hesychastic Fathers. I find myself strained to live this inner call of the Spirit of God, yet I know I should. IP CRL

Sacred Heart Consecration

Fri, 18 Mar 2005 19:02:43 GMT

100th Anniversary World consecrated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus "Greatest Act of my Pontificate" Pope Leo XIII (1873-1903) is acknowledged by historians to be one of the greatest popes in history. His social encyclical, Rerum Novarum (On capital and labor) continues to be the basis of the Church's understanding and teaching on social justice. He was pope for 25 years during very difficult and turbulent times. He gained exceptional prestige by his numerous teachings and acts of initiative in a pontificate which he began at the age of 68. Towards the end of his long pontificate there was an event which he held in the highest regard. It was in connection with his declaration of 1900 to be a Holy Year, similar to Pope John Paul's Holy Year/Jubilee Year 2000. To prepare the Church for celebrating the Holy Year, Leo XIII issued on May 25, 1899 the encyclical Annum Sacrum (Holy Year). In that encyclical he stated that he wanted to do something of exceptional importance to mark the beginning of the twentieth century. In his words: "... We ordain that on the ninth, tenth, and eleventh of the coming month of June, in the principal church of every town, and village, certain prayers are to be said, and on each of these days there be added to the other prayers the Litany of the Sacred Heart approved by Our authority. On the last day the form of consecration shall be recited which, Venerable Brethren, We sent to you with these letters." This triduum of prayer began on June 9, the Feast of the Sacred Heart, and concluded with the Act of Consecration to the Sacred Heart of the human race, June 11, 1899. Pope Leo himself composed the prayer. This encyclical and the Consecration that followed constituted "the greatest act of My pontificate." In the Pope's encyclical he had a famous passage which was quoted by both Pius XI and Pius XII in their own encyclicals on the Sacred Heart. Leo XIII connected Constantine's vision on the eve of his decisive victory at the Milvan Bridge, October, 312, with the symbol of the Heart of Jesus. In his words: "When the Church, in the days immediately succeeding her institution, was oppressed beneath the yoke of the Caesars, a young Emperor saw in the heavens a cross, which became at once the happy omen and cause of the glorious victory that soon followed. And now today, behold another blessed and heavenly token is offered to our sight--the most Sacred Heart of Jesus, with a cross rising from it and shining forth with dazzling splendor amidst flames of love. In that Sacred Heart all our hopes should be placed, and from it the salvation of all is to be confidently besought." The effect of his encyclical and Act of Consecration was a gradual development of the devotion in this century. About 30 years after it was issued, the ideas were crystallized in the establishment of the Feast of Christ the King which now is celebrated as the last Sunday of the liturgical year. The encyclical also had great influence in developing the social reign of the Sacred Heart in the reform of harsh conditions for workers. This need still remains especially in developing countries. But there is world pressure for such reforms. Leo XIII deserves much of the credit. June 11, 1999, is the 100th Anniversary of the Act of Consecration. In this year the day is also the Feast of the Sacred Heart. How fitting that parishes and institutions and individuals should renew this Consecration on June 11 or on the following Sunday, when many more can participate, as Leo XIII did originally! Here follows the Act of Consecration composed by the great Pope Leo XIII: ACT OF CONSECRATION Most sweet Jesus, Redeemer of the human race, look down upon us humbly prostrate before you. We are yours, and yours we wish to be; but to be more surely united with you, behold each one of us freely consecrates himself today to your Most Sacred Heart. Many indeed have never known you; many, too, despising your precepts, have rejected you. Have mercy on them all, most merciful Jesus, and draw them to your Sacred Heart. Be King, O Lord, not only of the faithful who have never forsaken you, but also of the prodigal children who have abandoned you; grant that they may quickly return to their Father's house, lest they die of wretchedness and hunger. Be King of those who are deceived by erroneous opinions, or whom discord keeps aloof, and call them back to the harbor of truth and the unity of faith, so that soon there may be but one flock and one Shepherd. Grant, O Lord, to your Church assurance of freedom and immunity from harm; give tranquillity of order to all nations; make the earth resound from pole to pole with one cry: Praise to the Divine Heart that wrought our salvation; to it be glory and honor forever. Amen. Blessed Maria Droste--June 8 Christ revealed special message to her God sometimes intervenes directly in the lives of people to further His plan of salvation. This was the case when He told an obscure nun that He wanted the Pope to consecrate the world to His Sacred Heart. This month is the 100th anniversary of Pope Leo XIII's consecration of the world to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, at the urging of Blessed Maria Droste zu Vischering. She had told her confessor: "My mission on earth will be completed as soon as the consecration is done." She died a few days later at the age of 36. Maria was born on September 8, 1863 in Munster, Germany, one of seven children of Count and Countess Clement Droste zu Vischering who both had very good Catholic backgrounds. She was raised in their wealthy family home--Darfield Castle. At 15 she went to a convent school run by the Sisters of the Sacred Heart at Riedenburg. There, she developed an even greater love for the Sacred Heart. At 18 she felt called to the religious life and eight years later she joined the Good Shepherd Sisters who looked after needy girls who needed special care. Her religious name was Maria of the Divine Heart and at 28 she took perpetual vows. She had a winning way with the girls and attributed all this to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. She said: "When you are appealing to His Divine Heart for a soul, He will never refuse you, although sometimes He demands much prayer, sacrifice and suffering." In 1894 she was sent to Lisbon, Portugal, and in May to Oporto where she became Mother Superior of the convent. It was there that Christ appeared to her in visions, making known to her that He wanted the Pope to consecrate the whole universe to His Sacred Heart. She made known this special message to Pope Leo XIII in June 1898 and in January 1899. In May that year he wrote his encyclical Annum Sacrum which included the desired consecration to the Sacred Heart. He also mentioned in the Encyclical that he had been cured of a dangerous life-threatening disease. (Privately, he attributed this cure to the intercession of Mother Maria.) On June 8 Mother Maria personally received two copies of the Encyclical sent by the Holy Father. Later that day she passed away, after the recitation of the First Vespers which commenced the Feast of the Sacred Heart. For the past three years she had suffered much from a spinal disease which had led to a gradual paralysis. After a solemn Triduum held throughout the world, Pope Leo consecrated the whole human race to the Heart of Jesus on Sunday, June 11th, 1899, adding: "This is the greatest act of my pontificate!" The Pope had previously received the parents of Mother Maria and had told: "Tell your daughter that the consecration to the Sacred Heart which she asked of me, will be made in every cathedral and church in the world; and tell her clearly that this is in consequence of what she made known to me and that I expect from it the greatest graces for the whole world." Forty-five years later the body of Mother Maria was found to be incorrupt! She was declared Venerable by the Church in 1964 and was beatified by Pope Paul VI in 1975. Blessed Maria was one of God's chosen instruments to make better known the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Lives of the Saints by Alfred de Manche

Apostleship of Prayer

Fri, 18 Mar 2005 18:55:23 GMT

If you are interrested in teh Apostleship of Prayer and learn more about the Morning Offering check the link below. IP CRL

Finding Wisdom

Thu, 17 Mar 2005 12:44:08 GMT

'Happy the Man who finds Wisdom,' [Prov. 3:13] When I enter into prayer I experience the presence of God, but not in a tangible way as coming from the senses, but as a presence which is beyond every conceivable presence, yet revealed thru His Holy Word-as Revelation. Eternal Father, I believe, I hope in You, I Love in You; Eternal Son, I believe, I hope in You, I Love in You; Eternal Spirit, I believe, I hope in You, I Love in You. IP CRL

COME TO ME ALL YOU WHO LABOR AND I WILL REFRESH YOU

Mon, 14 Mar 2005 17:31:48 GMT

Union, Mo. Immaculata Publishing is now making its Corpus Christ Newsletter available to local parishioners at Immaculate Conception Parish in Union, Mo. by door-to-door visitations of the parish family. When I place my trust in God and spend time with Him in adoration it soothes the soul. His presence is deep and lasting and refreshes more than any joy I can conceive. Why? Because he made us and we belong to Him. Even the Psalmist says this: "Where can I go from your presence? If I climb the heavens you are there. If I go to the depths of the sea you are there. You know when I sit and when I stand." [Ps. 139:+] But, we say, this is today? No, 'I have loved you with an everlasting love.' Can we conceive of an everlasting love. I mean a love that has no end; that had no beginning-FOR US, SINNERS ALL! Welcome to Jesus Christ! AND Welcome to Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist. Christ instituted this sacrament on the last supper for our good and he as the Faithful Witness of God's Love remains with us. We adore you O Christ and we bless you , because by your holy Cross you have redeemed the world. Even when evil grasps us, we are free. WE know it: 'The truth will set you free.' What is this truth? 'I am the way, the truth, and the life.' So I enjoy my tabernacle visits here at Immaculate Conception. I enjoy coming into his presence and adoring him every Tuesday for the whole parish after the children's litury to 7:30 p.m. or daily when I have a chanve. Also as an extension of this adoration it is a blessing to share with others in the parish about the presence of God in the Eucharist. IP CRL

God Recreates Us

Mon, 14 Mar 2005 11:45:14 GMT

'NOT ONLY TAHT , WE EVEN BOAST OF OUR AFFLICTIONS...' If we are attentive we will catch the Spirit who moment by moment recreates us; gives us existence, enfolds us in the Divine forebearance thru the Mercy poured out on the Cross, and is our ADVOCATE AND CONSOLER along the 'WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE, ' which is Christ. He unites us with teh WORD who is from teh Beginning [Jn. 1:1] He unites us in the Heart of Love that is His Sacred Heart; He gives us freedom of the children of God. IP CRL

Fri, 11 Mar 2005 19:21:14 GMT

SHE SAID IT WAS LOVE Everything is a grace Immaculata Publishing News Brief Union, Mo. St. Therese of Lisieux is known by many to have said that she looked upon everything as a grace. I believe that St. Therese was not far form being a Thomist herself by saying this, sicne the greal Angelice Doctor had this to say about the Holy Spirit: [scg.bk.4.ch.20.par.1.sent.5] Hence the Holy Ghost is the cause of the creation: and this is indicated (Ps. ciii. 30): Send forth thy Spirit and they shall be created. [scg.bk.4.ch.20.par.1.sent.6] Also, seeing that the Holy Ghost proceeds by way of love, and that love is an impelling and moving force, any movement that God causes in things is rightly appropriated to the Holy Ghost. [scg.bk.4.ch.20.par.1.sent.7] Now the first change wrought by God in things is that whereby he produced the various species out of formless created matter. [scg.bk.4.ch.20.par.1.sent.8] Wherefore Holy Scripture ascribes this work to the Holy Ghost: thus it is said (Gen. i. 2): The Spirit of God moved over the waters. Here Aquinas gives a detailed outline of the workings of the Holy Spirit over all of creation, from the beginning as its principle of action over all creation to its government over every impelling movement. What more could be said about the eternal love that is between the Father and the Son that that love which is incomprehensibly Divine as principle and end of all our acitons for all eternity? IP CRL

Fri, 11 Mar 2005 19:04:19 GMT

THE PROMPTINGS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN AMERICA Let us start with this passage from St. Thomas Aquinas in the Summa Contra Gentiles regarding the effects of the Holy Spirit on creatures: [scg.bk.4.ch.20.par.1.sent.1] Hence the Holy Ghost is the cause of the creation: and this is indicated (Ps. ciii. 30): Send forth thy Spirit and they shall be created. [scg.bk.4.ch.20.par.1.sent.1] Also, seeing that the Holy Ghost proceeds by way of love, and that love is an impelling and moving force, any movement that God causes in things is rightly appropriated to the Holy Ghost. CHILDREN BORN INTO FREEDOM As Aquinas brings to our attention that it is the Holy Spirit that makes possible creation, which means that at every instant in whcih we 'reside' in creation we are his debtors. In every possible phase of our life it is the Creator Spirit that calls us out of nothingness into being, that ratifies our existence and our existence among other in human society and among all God's creation. As we look at the many kinds of freedom that are available to God's creatures we see more deeply into the working of the Holy Spirit in giving us a 'choice' among the many good things that come to us daily. Freedom in America has always been understood as the ability to make one's dream come true, speaking simply as a national dream come true, but there are also more deep considerations in the word freedom which we have been given: the freedom to pursue happiness, the pursuit of religious freedom, the freedom of speech. Each one of these freedoms has also some responsibilities to them. But the essential consideration is: what is the source of our freedom? Where does it come from? Does our freedom in America have at its root a different source than freeodm of the European peoples, the African people's, the Asian people's, etc? It doesn't seem reasonable that someone would consider that human freedom is absolutely equal to American freedom. At the same time, there must be essential differences between human freedom as it is in itself, availabel to every man and woman and American freedom available to only Americans. I PLACE BEFORE YOU LIFE AND DEATH, CHOOSE LIFE In the Bible God tells his Chosen people, I place before you today life and death, choose life. So we know where the WORD of GOD stands in reference to the use of our freedom, he stands for life. In the passage above, we have St. Thomas advocating the God of life who being the principle of life moves each and every human to life not death. Someone may want to understand more clearly what this life is in which God speaks about. On the other hand, it cannto be a life that it devoid of reason or is discordant to reason otherwise the God of life who is the exemplar of every good and who places the desire of these good things in mankind would be working against himself, which is impossible. God is truth. Therefore, the God of Life who advocates life not death must be in accordance with the demans of reason and not irrational desires. Furthermore, life means growth and change. The God of life and freedom would advocate growth and change in the human good which is also in accord with reason; that is, where we see the possibility of choosing the grades of life over death God would have to be present. For example, for a child with learning disabilities to have the freedom in school to change form one curriculm to another more challenging one according to his potential to learn would be a reasonable desire uphelp by God's laws and the freedom of an American student with learning disabilities. Take for another example the rights every American citizen has to pursue his own education. A personn has a choice to make. He can choose between different universities, different places according to his likes or expenses; today there are online universities where a person can learn form the comfort of their home or at a local trade school, 2 or 4 year college. Lastly, a person can pursue graduate adn post graduate degrees in many fields. All of these possibilities are within the 'choices' of an American citizen. Do these choices bring one freedom? Can any one of these choices bring a person to that true freedom which is available to every person, regardless of age, race or color; that is, anyone who may be or become a citizen of the United States? In this respect I think that Thomas Aquinas gives to us something which we have to consider here; that is, that the essence of and the substance of our very freedom apart from the Constitutions come form a higher power altogether. Furthermore, that this very power which granted to the United States founding fathers was of this same power; that is, the power of the Holy Spirit. This is the reason for quoting at the beginning of our reflecitons here that our essential cause for being a citizen in the United States is the Holy Spirit. As Aquinas clearly presents: [scg.bk.4.ch.20.par.1.sent.1] Also, seeing that the Holy Ghost proceeds by way of love, and that love is an impelling and moving force, any movement that God causes in things is rightly appropriated to the Holy Ghost. I mean that the love which moved the founding fathers of this country to start what they considered a land of freedom and democracy was itself a derivative of the freedom of choice that is given to every human being. What Aquinas calls an essential charater of love as an 'impelling and moving force' must be looked at more carefully in order to establish what teh Holy Spirit was accomplishing in the early founding of America. Then perhaps other questions could be faced: Is America in conjunction with the original freedom of choice which the founding Fathers experienced and understood and judged and took responsibility for when they established this democratic society we call the United States of America? I do not say that I have an answer for this altogether. What I do say is that without the Holy Spirit, according to the teaching of the CatholicChurch and the Fathers of the Church there cannot be true freedom nor a true expression of it. On the other hand, how does someone know when he is making a free choice that is in accord with the Holy Spirit? the Apostles had this problem. After Jesus died and was not yet revealed as arisen from the dead the Apostles decided to return fishing. It seems that they had the use of natural reason, but perhaps they could not see further than this. There was some significant event that took place, which is detailed in the Acts of the Apostles which is reltated to as Pentecost. There was a profound change in the Apostles and followers fo Jesus at this time and it was something that, according to the promise of Jesus, would take place. But there was a period of preparation, of gestation. Is it right to ask, has America had its Pentecost? Some say it has? Surely the gift of giving birth to a nation that is as poweful as America is today, as such a world power cannot go unnoticed. In other words, something very powerful gave the power to each of the founding fathers, 'impelled them and move them,' again using the words of Aquinas, to produce in their minds and hearts for the future generation in which they were doing this to circumvent and outline in advance such a nation as they conceived it to be and to become. There must be admitted that this force was greater than anyone of them and all together. But what they created was not opposed to human reason nor the fond hearts of every person pursuing the good of life; that is, they sought what every man would naturally seek. On the other hand it does not seem to fit within the category of reasonableness to consider some of the things that America has produced within itself to fall within this boundary of the overall human good, though 'some' may call these events happiness or freedom. Perhaps the judiciary system comes into play in this consideration; that is, there is a dialectic that take splace in the interaction of human freedoms; that is individuals who have a common freedom but desire to ecxpress it in different ways. We cann ot imagine that the founding Fathers had in mind every possible freedom that would ever be expressed in America adn all that this would mean. I believe that this brings into play the very significant role of religion in America. That elements which cannot be fully explained by human reason alone, but yet is at work in our freedom. Of course this is the age-old question which has been asked hundreds of years before America was born. The Europeans, Asians, Meditteranean peoples all have always asked this question. IP CRL

Wed, 09 Mar 2005 14:30:04 GMT

The Darkness of Afflicitons, hte Light of the Holy Spirit Union, Mo. Immaculata Publishing ©2005 During prayer we call on the Lord, 'Answer me, when I call.' He hears us and enlarges our hearts desire. But how does this enlarging take place, so that when we cry 'even in my afflictions.' Afflictiosn is a training ground of the Most Holy Trinity for the soul. Even St. Paul says, 'but our afflictions bring patience, patience endurance.' This enabling, enlarging of the heart is experienced as a movement from privation of freedom to a freedom of Spirit. Thsi enabling of our Spirit is what God wants us to learn, to ongoingly trust and choose to trust in His workign in our hearts, because 'the love of God has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit.' [Rom. 5:3-5] IP CRL