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"Cast yourself into the arms of God and be very sure that if He wants anything of you, He will fit you for the work and give you strength." St. Philip Neri For Reflection: Sometimes we lack courage, because our confidence in God is weak. What does St. Philip Neri tell us? To what extent do you believe it? Are you willing to give it a try in what God is asking of you right now? 

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"Cast yourself into the arms of God and be very sure that if He wants anything of you, He will fit you for the work and give you strength." St. Philip Neri For Reflection: Sometimes we lack courage, because our confidence in God is weak. What does St. Philip Neri tell us? To what extent do you believe it? Are you willing to give it a try in what God is asking of you right now?

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Ignatius Press has just released Toward the Gleam by T. M. Doran which is described by renowned Catholic author, Michael J. O'Brien as "ingeniously inventive . . . startling, moving, horrifying at times, and ultimately consoling."

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By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS Staff Journalist A fierce budget battle on the Hill ended at the eleventh hour on Friday night when pro-life lawmakers were forced to give up attempts to defund Planned Parenthood and ObamaCare in order to avoid a government shutdown.

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By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS Staff Journalist While U.S. lawmakers argue over funding of "women's reproductive health" services, cutting these services may one day be inevitable in a government-run health care system such as the UK's, where recent budget constraints are forcing them to ration these - and many other services - in an effort to control costs.

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By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS Staff Journalist While commenting on Sunday's gospel before praying the Angelus yesterday in St. Peter's Square, Pope Benedict XVI acknowledged the doubt and confusion many Christians have toward the Resurrection but reassured them that Christ does indeed "break down the wall of death."

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"The past must be abandoned to God's mercy, the present to our fidelity, the future to divine providence." St. Francis de Sales For Reflection: How can preoccupation with past transgressions and worry over future possibilities rob us of fidelity to the present moment? How does fidelity to the present moment increase our hope? How does reliance on God's mercy and providence increase our hope? 

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"We shall steer safely through every storm, as long as our heart is right, our intention fervent, our courage steadfast, and our trust fixed in God." St. Francis de Sales For Reflection: What four qualities does St. Francis de Sales tell us we need to steer with hope through all of life's storms? Which one do I most need to acquire? What are some practical ways I can do so? See the next three Grace Lines for some saintly insights.

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"We know we have souls. But we seldom consider the precious things that can be found in this soul, or who dwells within it, or its high values. Consequently, little effort is made to preserve its beauty. All our attention is taken up with the plainness of the diamond's setting, that is, with these bodies of ours." St. Teresa of Avila For Reflection: What one thing can I specifically do today to preserve the beauty of my soul?

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We get so much mail from parents and educators who are concerned about the impact of occult fiction on the minds of our youth, that Johnnette decided to devote a week's worth of shows to this subject. These shows will air next week, April 11-15. I will appear on several of the shows along with renowned writer, Michael O'Brien. This is a great series, especially for parents, because it takes a comprehensive look at this troubling trend and gives viewers an idea of what to watch out for when choosing good titles for themselves or their loved ones. We delve deeply into this subject, exposing the occult in all kinds of literature, movies, and even games. In addition, Michael does a masterful job of explaining why this dark literature is so dangerous to the minds and morals of our children. He also explains the difference between Christian fantasy such as J. R. R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings and C.S. Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia and books like the Harry Potter series. A whole show with Michael is devoted to discussing Harry Potter, and I discuss the dangers of Twilight with Johnnette and Fr. Ed on another episode. This is a must-see week of shows! Women of Grace airs at 11:00 a.m. EST and encore at 11:30 p.m. EST.

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