We just officially began the Christmas shopping season on “Black Friday,” the day which is supposed to help stores get out of “red” debt and into the “black” of economic survival.
While it is good to support our economy — especially in these challenging times — I think we can find additional ways to spend our money during the Advent season that reflect our religious values.
In an attempt to be “inclusive” and not to offend anyone, our society these days seems to be emphasizing the secular nature of our holidays and avoiding any mention of religion.
That’s perhaps why we often see turkeys pictured instead of Pilgrims at Thanksgiving time. That’s why, too, we see the term “holiday” trees used instead of Christmas trees.
With efforts to banish religion from the public square in this country, I’ve begun to wonder what is happening to freedom of religion in the United States.
The beginning of the first amendment to the Bill of Rights in the U.S. Constitution says: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” This means that while there should be no specific state religion, those with religious beliefs should be able to practice their faith freely.
When she was a 13-year-old girl living in Belgium, Mariette Coffman walked in a procession behind a hearse carrying the remains of Fr. Damien de Veuster on May 3, 1936.
“I remember that the hearse was drawn by six white horses,” said Mariette. Father Damien’s remains were shipped from Hawaii, where the Belgian missionary had ministered to people with leprosy until he himself died of the disease. Mariette recalls that the ship landed in Antwerp and his remains were taken to Louvain, where he was buried.
Our nation is at a crossroads in the health care debate. Congress has spent many months examining various health care reform proposals. Finally our representatives and senators are expected to be voting soon on concrete pieces of legislation.
We laugh when women running for beauty crowns are asked about their goals in life and they say, “World peace.” We think it sounds silly to wish for such a lofty goal. How could one person make such a difference in the world — and achieve world peace, no less?
But upon reflection, I don’t think it’s an unattainable goal. Each of us can do our part to work for world peace. And I believe it’s tied in with respecting life, something to ponder as we conclude October as Respect Life Month.
Some people consider the “right to life” as dealing primarily with issues such as abortion, infanticide, and euthanasia. However, respect for life from womb to tomb must include caring for the needs of people throughout that spectrum.
Pope Benedict XVI reminded us of this wider pro-life view in a message he wrote for World Food Day, observed on October 16 this year. His written message was addressed to Jacques Diouf, director-general of the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
Recently it seems like we’ve had an increasing number of celebrities and public figures apologizing for bad behavior.
When politicians, athletes, and entertainers are caught doing something wrong, they say, “I’m sorry.” We get the feeling that these people aren’t really very sorry about what they did — only that they got caught!
What has the power to end wars, destroy evil, save lives, and heal people? Someone might think I’m talking about a superhero.
No. I’m thinking about the power available to any believer in the Rosary. This traditional Catholic devotion usually prayed on beads really has awesome power! How do we know? Our Lady herself has told us.
It doesn’t seem possible that it has been 30 years since Pope John Paul II made his historic visit to rural Des Moines, Iowa. As a young reporter, I was among nearly 350,000 people gathered on a hillside to welcome the Holy Father. It is an experience I’ll never forget.
As the pope celebrated Mass and preached to the throngs of people, it reminded me of what the Sermon on the Mount must have been like. I really felt the presence of Jesus in our midst that day in October of 1979.
