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"Guard your eyes that they may not look upon anything contrary to purity; your ears, that they may not listen to evil conversation; your mind, by banishing from it all suggestive thoughts; your heart, by stifling impure desires at their very birth." St. John Baptist de la Salle

For Reflection: How may I apply this sound advice to my life?

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Fr. Edmund Sylvia, C.S.C. recently read the following reflection on our radio program, Women of Grace Live, in honor of the 10th anniversary of 9/11. It gives us pause for reflection and consideration. May we never forget all of those who died on this infamous date especially those who were spiritually unprepared for their final moment of life on earth.  With these poor souls in mind, let us come together as the Church Militant, and offer our prayers for them.  It is just possible that the prayer we pray for them today, the Mass and Holy Communion we offer in their name, the sacrifice we make on their behalf may be the very vehicle God uses to bring them to Himself.  Let us, pray, too, for those who were left behind -- the survivors of the men and women lost and the men and women whose lives were spared. We are one body in Christ, and when one member suffers, so do we all.  Finally, let us beseech God to protect and make safe our country, as we seek to serve the One Who is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Meet Me In The Stairwell by Stacey Randall

You say you will never forget where you were when you heard the news On September 11, 2001. Neither will I.

I was on the 110th floor in a smoke filled room with a man who called his wife to say ‘Good-Bye.’ I held his fingers steady as he dialed. I gave him the peace to say, ‘Honey, I am not going to make it, but it is OK..I am ready to go.’

I was with his wife when he called as she fed breakfast to their children. I held her up as she tried to understand his words and as she realized he wasn’t coming home that night.

I was in the stairwell of the 23rd floor when a woman cried out to Me for help. ‘I have been knocking on the door of your heart for 50 years!’ I said. ‘Of course I will show you the way home – only believe in Me now.’

I was at the base of the building with the Priest ministering to the injured and devastated souls. I took him home to tend to his Flock in Heaven. He heard my voice and answered.

I was on all four of those planes, in every seat, with every prayer. I was with the crew as they were overtaken. I was in the very hearts of the believers there, comforting and assuring them that their faith has saved them.

I was in Texas, Virginia, California, Michigan, Afghanistan. I was standing next to you when you heard the terrible news. Did you sense Me?

I want you to know that I saw every face. I knew every name – though not all know Me. Some met Me for the first time on the 86th floor.

Some sought Me with their last breath. Some couldn’t hear Me calling to them through the smoke and flames; ‘Come to Me… this way… take my hand.’ Some chose, for the final time, to ignore Me. But, I was there.

I did not place you in the Tower that day. You may not know why, but I do. However, if you were there in that explosive moment in time, would you have reached for Me?

Sept. 11, 2001, was not the end of the journey for you. But someday your journey will end. And I will be there for you as well. Seek Me now while I may be found. Then, at any moment, you know you are ‘ready to go.’

I will be in the stairwell of your final moments.

-Jesus

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"If you wish to prevent evil thoughts, let your eyes be modestly reserved, and make a league with them never to look upon anything which is not permitted you to desire." St. Gregory of Nyssa

For Reflection: St. Gregory of Nyssa recommends taking "custody of the eyes." What does this mean? To what extent do I take in through the senses that which is morally illicit - especially regarding chastity? How can I best follow St. Gregory's advice? (See tomorrow's Grace Line to discover how to protect all of the senses from sins against chastity.)

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By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS Staff Journalist The U.S. Catholic bishops are calling on their fellow Americans to see the tenth anniversary of 9/11 as a time to remember the sacrifices, to face today’s challenges together, and to renew our nation and world.

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By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS Staff Journalist In the five years that she worked at an abortion clinic, Jewels Green became accustomed to working around freezers full of dismembered fetuses, finding tiny body parts in sinks and looking at dead babies in the lab refrigerator.

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By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS Staff Journalist As our nation approaches the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, people who were on the ground during that fateful day, ministering to the injured and the dying, are recounting what they saw and felt during the deadliest attack on the U.S. since Pearl Harbor.

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"When an evil thought is presented to the mind, we must immediately endeavor to turn our thoughts to God, or to something which is indifferent. But the best rule is, instantly to invoke the names of Jesus and Mary, and to continue to invoke them until the temptation ceases." St. Alphonsus Liguori For Reflection: What advice does St. Alphonsus Liguori give for overcoming evil thoughts? What makes his suggestions effective? What makes invoking the names of Jesus and Mary especially effective? Which of these suggestions will I employ when I am tempted? (See tomorrow's Grace Line for one suggestion on how to overcome evil thoughts.)

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By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS Staff Journalist A new analysis by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has found that pregnant women who are assaulted by an intimate partner are at increased risk of giving birth to infants of reduced weight. 

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By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS Staff Journalist

A radio station in Canada is sparking controversy with a new contest offering someone $35,000 worth of fertility treatments.

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Commentary by Susan Brinkmann, OCDS Staff Journalist Just days after two major studies found unacceptably high levels of mental illness in the U.S. and Europe, the media have all but ignored a major study published in a prestigious British medical journal which found that abortion is associated with mental health problems.

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