4-24-07
Greetings!
I recently came across this beautiful story about Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta as told by someone who worked with her.
Archbishop Comastri, who was a collaborator of Mother Teresa, concluded with an anecdote about her:
To a photographer who asked her why she seemed so happy, Mother Teresa replied: "My eyes are happy because my hands dry tears. You, do the same: I assure you, it works."
Source Zenit.org ZE07030601
One Catholic University offers a Master's Degree in "Servant Leadership". I'm not quite sure how they define it or indeed what the course material entails---but I can't think of a more succinct example then the above.
Phil's Tidbits:
Here is a happy update to the story of the German homeschooler forcibly removed from her family.
German Homeschooler Melissa Busekros Home with Family after 3 Month Ordeal
By Peter J. Smith
ERLANGEN, Germany, April 23, 2007 (LifeSiteNews.com) – German homeschooler Melissa Busekros finally returned home early this morning on her 16th birthday after having been forcibly separated from her family by the government 3 months ago.
Back in February, Melissa was seized from her family home in a dramatic police raid for the crime of home schooling – illegal since 1937 by edict of Nazi Chancellor Adolf Hitler – and placed with a foster home in a location unknown to her family.
The International Human Rights Group (IHRG), which has doggedly championed the rights of Busekros and other German home schooling families, reports Melissa penned a note to her foster family and left in the dead of night, arriving on her doorstep in Erlangen at 3AM to the astonishment of her family.
IHRG President Joel Thornon told LifeSiteNews.com that German law entitles Melissa Busekros to far more rights after turning 16, "giving her virtual control where she lives."
So as soon as she turned 16, Melissa Busekros - the same girl a state official of the Jugendamt (Youth Welfare Office) falsely described as happy in state custody – headed out the door for home.
There is a danger the Jugendamt may order police forces to seize Melissa again. However, confident of her new legal rights, Melissa is prepared to refuse to leave home on the advice of her attorney, Dr. Hildebrandt.
Richard Guenther, IHRG's director of European Operations, contacted the Busekros family this morning urging them to inform Dr. Hildebrandt immediately so that he can be fully prepared to respond to any visit from state police.
Joel Thornton, President of IHRG, said he spoke with Gudrun, Melissa's mother, who is "relieved to have her entire family back together."
Tonight, the dinner table will have its one empty spot filled for the first time in 3 months for a birthday celebration.
"A lot of those home school families are at the Busekros house celebrating her coming home, and there's a bit of a bonding that's going on right now," said Thornton. "For the first time, they're able to get together and kind of celebrate and have a party for a victory."
Thornton expressed hope that Melissa's return home would cause the government to slow down and reconsider its harsh line toward German homeschooling families.
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Every form of media and every genre within it has a target audience. That target audience is what they sell advertisers on. That's why for example, during daytime soap operas, it is rare to see any ads for the new line of Ford Pick-Up Trucks! In fact, one sees the majority of commercials during such programs aimed at women and mothers.
This is why I had to chuckle when paging through a periodical I subscribe too. The ad was for a solar powered talking Bible…"for those whose eyesight isn't what it used to be." The company that produces this fine product has a tag line of "For Boomers and Beyond". Hmmmmm….I suspect I'm not their "typical" reader…..
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Fr. Wayne Barta, priest of the archdiocese of Milwaukee recently passed away. His funeral was 4-16-07. At the end of March, the archdiocesan paper ran an inspiring story of him and his life, including a number of miraculous events. He was a priest to the end, offering his sufferings to Christ through his increasingly painful celebrations of the Holy Mass. He touched countless souls, and kept in good spirits all the way to the end. I can't resist passing on this anecdote: Shortly after attending another priest's funeral, Fr. Barta's housekeeper looked at him, with tears in her eyes and said "Father, I'm never going to live through your funeral." Without missing a beat, Father looked at her and said "Well neither am I!" Eternal rest grant unto him O Lord, and let the perpetual light shine upon him. May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, Rest in Peace. Amen.
The story can be found here: http://www.chnonline.org/2007/2007-03-29/newsstory3.html
I've seen a number of negative reports in the media concerning Pope Benedict. Most lack hard evidence and instead interview a handful of people who have problems with the pope (although their problems are generally with the Church, and one might add…God). The author then generally laments "all the many people" leaving the Church because of the pope. How kind of the media to offer their sympathies. The hard evidence indicates the opposite. The past 2 years have actually shown more people attending the pope's audiences on Wednesdays & Sundays then even JPII drew. Similarly, even more are visiting St. Peter's now. The pope's encyclical, if I remember correctly, sold more then any other previous one. And now the pope's book, due out in English in May, is already a hit in Italy. In fact, already showing up on Amazon.com's top seller list.
Our pastor recently lamented that so many Catholics get their news about the church through the media Heaven help us!
For further evidence see the 2 stories below:
Pope's Book Already a Big Seller
ROME, APRIL 18, 2007 (
Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI's book "Jesus of Nazareth" sold 50,000 copies in Italy in one day and its publisher has called it "already an extraordinary editorial success."
The publishing house Rizzoli has decided to print more copies, bringing the total printing to 420,000 copies.
"The book by Benedict XVI, out in Italian bookstores on April 16, 2007, the day of the Pontiff's 80th birthday, is already an extraordinary editorial success," a statement from the publisher said.
"Jesus of Nazareth" will be published in English on May 15 by Doubleday in North America and by Bloomsbury in the
United Kingdom.
ZE07041803
Benedict XVI Marks 2nd Anniversary as Pope
VATICAN CITY, APRIL 19, 2007 (Zenit.org).- In the second year of Benedict XVI's pontificate, some 3.3 million people participated in his
Vatican encounters with the public.
Today marks the second anniversary of his election. On this occasion, the Pontifical Household published statistics about his papal audiences.
In the last 12 months, 1,026,600 people have participated in Wednesday audiences, 351,620 have participated in special audiences, 536,000 have participated in liturgical celebrations and 1, 460,000 have participated in the midday Sunday addresses.
The total number of participants in the papal audiences in the Vatican was 3,374,000.
ZE07041901
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May these brothers and sisters in Christ Rest In Peace. And may we be inspired by their example. I wonder how many in America would be so courageous?
Bible Printers Slain in Turkey
Bishop Notes Rising Christian Fear
MALATYA, Turkey, APRIL 19, 2007 (Zenit.org).- A Catholic bishop has expressed his dismay that four Protestants were slain on Wednesday while at work at a Christian publishing house that distributes Bibles.
According to AsiaNews, three of the four victims, including the Zirve publishing house's owner, had their throats cut when assailants entered. The fourth died trying to escape.
Bishop Luigi Padovese, vicar apostolic of Anatolia, said today on Vatican Radio: "We are truly sad, because we see that there is a series of these kinds of acts which provoke a sentiment of uncertainty and perplexity regarding our presence here in
Turkey.
"We don't want to leave, but these happenings make us understand that within this country, which is fundamentally healthy, there are mad people who don't accept our presence."
Guarded presence
The bishop explained that he has a police escort at all times. And his parish is guarded day and night.
"These are symptoms that make it possible to perceive a certain fear on the part of the police -- fear that something will happen," the 60-year-old bishop said.
The general manger of the publishing house, Hamza Ozant, was on his way to work when the slaying happened. He said that the company had been receiving threats for a year, which had led it to request police protection.
According to AsiaNews, many people in Turkey resent the publication of the Bible in their native tongue.
Fanatics
Bishop Padovese also spoke of the 2006 assassination of Father Andrea Santoro. "The Turkish population is fundamentally healthy," he said. "Unfortunately, these acts are carried out by certain Islamic and nationalistic fanatics.
"They raise their voices, above all, in key moments -- we are drawing near presidential elections. … These are acts that aim to destabilize."
Friday's Italian issue of L'Osservatore Romano explained that proselytism is not illegal in Turkey, as it is in some Islamic states. Nevertheless, the semiofficial Vatican newspaper reported: "[W]itnessing to a faith other than Muslim continues to be dangerous."
"In Turkey, not just Islamic fundamentalists are active and organize homicidal attacks," the newspaper added, "but even the press and other institutions accuse those who proselytize as 'enemies of Turkey.'"
ZE07041904
God bless you! Phil Lawson For the latest info on St. Peter's, check out the parish website: www.saintpetercatholic.com (You can also find old editions of the Areopagus here)
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