"Fast from bitterness - feast on forgiveness.
Fast from self-concern - feast on compassion for others.
Fast from personal anxiety - feast on eternal truth.
Fast from anger - feast on patience.
Fast from words that destroy - feast on words that build up.
Fast from discontent - feast on gratitude.
Fast from discouragement - feast on hope."
Susan Tassone
For Reflection:
What "fast" should I engage? What are three practical ways I can employ its antidote today?
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The results of an investigation by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) into the use of $18 million in taxpayer money by the Obama Administration to fund a group pushing abortion in Kenya has found that the Administration not only broke the law, but stonewalled investigators who were searching for answers.
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The latest report from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has found that fewer teens are opting for sex during their teenage years than they were just a decade ago, with the majority saying they abstained because it was against their morals or religion.
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The iconic Italian fashion house, Benetton, decided to withdraw a photo in an ad campaign that showed Pope Benedict XVI kissing an imam on the lips after the Vatican called it "completely unacceptable."
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At Judgment:
"The soul sees what God intended it to be. And the soul sees what obstacles it erected - its selfishness, its cowardice, its shallow satisfactions, its perversions of God's graces and His gifts. All this came between God and the soul in life."
Susan Tassone
For Reflection:
What will I see at the moment of my particular judgment? Will I see that I have created obstacles between my soul and God? What might they be? I pray for the grace to dismantle these obstacles in this life so I will not take them with me to eternal life.
(See tomorrow's Grace Line for some helpful hints on how to do this.)
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The world's first human trials using human embryonic stem cells has been abruptly halted with the results showing no improvement in those treated.
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Speaking just hours before Catholic Social Services in Illinois announced that the state's new civil union law was forcing them out of the adoption business, the head of the U.S. Bishops new committee on religious liberty warned the faithful that freedom of religion in America is being increasingly eroded.
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Nearly a half century of foster care services provided by Catholic Charities in Illinois has come to an end as the dioceses fighting a civil union law requiring them to allow unmarried and same-sex couples to adopt decided to drop their lawsuit.
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"The soul's true life and repose are to abide in God."
St. Albert the Great
For Reflection:
Ultimately, our hearts were made for God so that we might spend all eternity with Him in heaven. How do I evaluate myself in light of this truth? Is Heaven my true "north star?" What about my actions say so? What about my actions say not? Am I willing to make necessary adjustments beginning today?
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The U.S. Supreme Court announced yesterday that it will hear arguments next spring in a pivotal case concerning the constitutionality of the individual mandate in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
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