I don’t think it matters how handicapped you are or how sick. You always succeed in something. God gave us each a gift. –Garvan Byrne March 20, 1973 – April 16, 1985 After watching these videos and hearing the words of the delightful young Garvan Byrne, terminally ill and handicapped from birth, I am reminded of something Fr. Jaques Philippe … Read More
Surprise! People W/ Disabilities Can Have Babies and Be Good Parents
I came across a couple of pretty awesome stories recently. The Telegraph this week has a rather unusual, but very encouraging story about the “Britain’s smallest mother” (pictured here). She refused to have an abortion despite significant health risks and gave birth to a beautiful baby boy who, after only a year, is already bigger than she is! “But,” she … Read More
A Wonderful Example for the Sick and Suffering
On September 25, Ven. Chiara Luce Badano will be beatified (via Rome Reports): What a beautiful example of hope and joy in the midst of terrible sickness and suffering – something I think (I hope) our suicide friendly world could greatly benefit from. Find out more about this extraordinary young woman who offered all her suffering to Jesus saying: “I … Read More
R.I.P. Pietro Molla
Pietro Molla, widower of Gianna Molla, a canonized saint, died on Holy Saturday last weekend at the age of 97. Coincidentally, it was on Holy Saturday that Gianna Emanuela, the child whom St. Gianna gave up her life for, was born in 1962. Of course his wife is one of the greatest, modern-day witnesses of love and suffering, but for … Read More
No Greater Love
This article by Peter Hitchens, on his conversion to Christianity and relationship with his brother, atheist author Christopher Hitchens, is a must read! A good bit: For a moral code to be effective, it must be attributed to, and vested in, a non-human source. It must be beyond the power of humanity to change it to suit itself. Its most … Read More
TOB Tuesday: Suffering as a Gift from God
This is an excellent article from Steve Pokorny at Catholic Exchange. A bit of an intro: Throughout human history, since Adam and Eve, there has been the temptation to want to take the powers of life into our own hands. There is the insidious idea that is floated through our fallible minds that if we manipulate things to our liking, … Read More
No Pain, No Gain
That is the message of this Sunday’s Gospel reading (Mk 10:32-45). James and John asked Jesus: “Grant that in your glory we may sit one at your right and the other at your left.” And Jesus replied: “You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the chalice that I drink or be baptized with the baptism with … Read More
The Apostolate of Suffering
In my scripture reading today I came across Christ’s instructions to His Apostles on how they were to go out and spread the Good News (Lk. 9:1-6). This part of the Gospel has inspired missionaries throughout the centuries to travel around the world in order to share our faith with others and help those in need. It also reminds those … Read More
“We Didn’t Terminate Because He’s Our Son”
What did Tennyson write? “‘Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.” T.K. and Deidrea Laux know that is true. Warning: tissues will be needed for this one (h/t Jill Stanek): “The only thing Thomas will ever know of this world is love” What a great gift these parents’ gave to little Thomas. And … Read More
The Beauty of Human Weakness
In Australia last week, the Supreme Court ruled that 49 year old quadriplegic Christian Rossiter has the “right to die” if he so wishes. The problem is Rossiter is not going to just die, he’s going to starve himself to death by refusing to be nourished with food and fluids through a feeding tube. What is most heart-breaking about this … Read More