10-2-07

Greetings!

 

Yesterday, the Church celebrated the Feast of St. Therese' of Lisieux, the Little Flower.   She is one of the more popular saints for her beautiful simplicity---considering herself but a tiny flower in God's garden.  She died in 1897 at the tender age of 24 with tuberculosis.   She wanted nothing more than to serve God with all she was.  In fact, she pledged to "spend her heaven doing good on earth."  

            One of my favorite stories about her, concerns the frustration she felt at continually falling asleep during her time in the Chapel.   One day, she reflected and consoled herself with the following: parents love their children whether they're awake or asleep—in fact, sometimes even more so when they're asleep!   How much more so must God love His children awake….or asleep. 

Phil's Tidbits:

More information on the HPV Vaccine…..

Check Online Yourself - HPV Vaccine Now Associated with 7 Deaths, 3000+ Adverse Reports
Free Public Database Lists 44 Life Threatening Reactions; 94 Hospitalizations

By John-Henry Westen

WASHINGTON, September 28, 2007 (LifeSiteNews.com) - An online database, freely available to the public, allows one to search for reported adverse effects from vaccines. The database covering data for the United States includes the controversial Merck HPV vaccine Gardasil, identified as "HPV4" in the database.

The US Government's Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) database indicates that there have been 7 deaths associated with administration of Gardasil. Age is listed for four of the girls who died at: 11, 12, 15 and 19.

VAERS lists 3,137 reported adverse effects stemming from Gardasil. The database is voluntary and thus is unlikely to include all adverse effects from the vaccine.

The database, placed online by the National Vaccine Information Center, also indicates 44 adverse effects associated with the vaccine's administration were considered "life threatening." In 94 cases, vaccine recipients required hospitalization.

To search the database online visit:
http://www.medalerts.org/vaersdb/index.html

 

 

Even if you can't join any of these physically, please do spiritually through your own prayers and fasting.  Recall that the only thing necessary for evil to flourish is for good people to do nothing---well here good people ARE doing something.

U.S. Kicks Off 40 Days for Life

Nationwide Campaign to End Abortion

WASHINGTON, D.C., SEPT. 26, 2007 (Zenit.org ).- People of faith and conscience from some 80 cities in 33 states are launching the largest simultaneous pro-life mobilization in American history, said the 40 Days for Life campaign director.

David Bereit said this about 40 Days for Life, a pro-life campaign that starts today, focusing on 40 days of prayer and fasting, peaceful vigils at abortion facilities, and grass-roots education.

The 40-day time frame was chosen from examples in biblical history where God brought about world-changing transformation.

Bereit said, "40 Days for Life is a campaign about faith, and this faithfulness is truly preparing this country for the beginning of the end of abortion."

Bishop Samuel Aquila of Fargo, North Dakota, is encouraging all in his diocese to participate in the 40 Days of Life.

The bishop asked especially for prayer vigils to be held at the state's only abortion clinic, located in Fargo.

Bishop Aquila said in his letter: "Make a plan for prayer and fasting. Then, if you are not homebound or physically impaired, schedule an hour or more of prayerful vigil.

"I have asked each priest of the diocese to do the same and to challenge you to follow his example."

Recognizing that sparsely populated North Dakota has fewer abortions than other states, the 57-year-old bishop explained that "low numbers are not enough. Not even one abortion per week is acceptable. Not one per month. Not one per year. Not one in our lifetime."

"God has called us to put an end to abortion in the state of North Dakota," Bishop Aquila concluded, "He does not call us to do what is impossible, but to proclaim the gift of life and to build a civilization of truth and love."

The 40 Days for Life concludes on Nov. 4.

 

 

Belarus to Deport Foreign Priests

MINSK, Belarus , SEPT. 21, 2007 (Zenit.org).- Belarusian Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandr Kosinets said that all foreign Catholic priests would be banned from the country over the next few years.

Of the roughly 350 Catholic priests in the country, the majority are foreign and almost all of those are Polish. Belarus has been targeting foreign Catholics since last year, deporting all those without papers, reported the U.S.-based Stratfor intelligence firm.

Now the campaign is extended to all foreign Catholic priests.

Kosinets said Thursday that "foreign priests cannot conduct religious activities in Belarus because they do not understand the mentality and traditions of the Belarusian people."

--Note a friend of mine once did some missionary work in Belarus.  The lack of basic knowledge of Christ—things that even vehement secularists know, was surprising there---the result of Communist domination for so many centuries.   Pray for the people and Church in Belarus!

 

As the old saying goes, there are only two things guaranteed in life:  "death and taxes"

No One Likes Taxes, Says Benedict XVI

VATICAN CITY, SEPT. 20, 2007 ( Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI smilingly affirmed that Italian debates on taxation are a sign that "some things never change."

The Pope jokingly made this comment Wednesday during his reflection at the general audience focused on St. John Chrysostom. Referring to the saint's homilies written during the so-called statue revolt, a third-century protest over the emperor's taxes, the Holy Father said with a smile, "You can see that some things never change throughout history."

The Pontiff's off-the-cuff remark came two days after Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi announced that he will not cut personal income taxes this year. The prime minister raised taxes last year in an effort to cut the country's budget deficit.

 

Very interesting, but perhaps not surprising?

Latin Mass Missal Sales Double

LONDON , SEPT. 20, 2007 (Zenit.org).- Since Benedict XVI's letter on the Latin Mass was released this summer, sales of the missal for the extraordinary rite have doubled, reported one publisher.

The London-based Baronius Press is reprinting an edition of the missal, which includes the full text of the papal letter "Summorum Pontificum."

John Newton, editor of Baronius Press, commented, "It would seem that 'Summorum Pontificum,' has generated a considerable amount of interest and excitement in the traditional Latin liturgy among the Catholic laity."

 

 

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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