I wish more families who have children diagnosed with Down syndrome and other diseases before birth would get advice like this instead of pressure to abort: In a related video, St. Josemaria talks about true “liberation” from suffering and the value of the prayers of sick people – the apostolate of suffering. On our retreat last week, the priest said … Read More
Stay By the Cross
This Sunday we heard the Gospel account of Lazarus being raised from the dead (Jn 11:1-45 or 11:3-7, 17, 20-27, 33b-45). I love this passage from St. Therese’s autobiography and her view of the death and resurrection of Lazarus “the One whose heart watches even when he sleeps (Song of Songs 5:2) made me understand that to those whose faith … Read More
Five Year Old Suffers for Souls
There is so much wasted suffering in the world today. So often we desperately pray that God will deliver us or a loved one from pain and suffering without also praising Him for the gift of being able to share in the Cross and asking for the strength to persevere in the midst of affliction. Not only can accepting suffering … Read More
Refusing to Suffer is Refusing to Live
Because it has been my observation that one of the supporting pillars of the culture of death (those kneejerk proponents of abortion, euthanasia, assisted suicide, cloning/ESCR) is a desire to avoid or alleviate human suffering at all cost (a woman with an unwanted pregnancy doesn’t want the “burden” of a child; sick people want cures for what ails them or … Read More
The Culture of Death and the Magesterium of Me
Awful. In Canada a couple opted to have one of their unborn children killed for no other reason than that having twins just did not fit into the “perfect” life they had laid out for themselves (h/t Rebecca Taylor). From the National Post: Like so many other couples these days, the Toronto-area business executive and her husband put off having … Read More
JP II, the Church on Withdrawing Nutrition and Hydration
Last week I talked about withdrawing nutrition and hydration from sick and disabled people using a passage from Pope Benedict’s encyclical Caritas in Veritate (Charity in Truth) on every human beings basic right to receive food and water. I forgot that in 2004 John Paul II discussed this issue specifically in an address to participants in the International Congress on … Read More
Locked-In Quadriplegic: “All Life is Worth Living”
Excellent! France has awarded its Legion of Honor to a woman who has been a locked-in quadriplegic for 30 years (h/t Wesley Smith). And, get this: it’s for her fight against euthanasia and assisted suicide! Maryannick Pavageau (shown here with her daughter Myriam (r) and Senator Monique Papon (l), who bestowed the award) had a stroke which left her completely … Read More
Music for Your Monday: Everybody Hurts
You can thank (blame?) Stephen Colbert, who recently told the women on the view that his mother, “taught us to still love love life and not be bitter and to realize that everybody suffers and if you can accept your suffering you’ll just understand other people better,” for the inspiring for this (late) Monday music post. Does R.E.M.’s song “Everybody … Read More
Colbert Talks Suffering on The View
On The View last Tuesday, Stephen Colbert made a few headlines for making fun of Whoppi and Joy Behar for walking off the set after a heated argument on air with Bill O’Reilly the previous Thursday. But it’s what came after his mockery that actually deserves attention. Changing the subject to his faith and family, Barbara Walters asked the comedian … Read More
Be Not Afraid of the Cross
I’m preparing to give a talk to a youth group in Ellisville MO later this evening. This quote from Pope Benedict sums up the message I hope to get across: Dear friends, the Cross often frightens us because it seems to be a denial of life. In fact, the opposite is true! It is God’s “yes” to mankind, the supreme … Read More