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The government stumbled badly this past week when it attempted to stop Catholic chaplains on military bases from reading the same letter of protest against the HHS mandate read in most parishes during the last few weeks, and was forced to backtrack when confronted by the Archbishop of the Military. In military if you are charged with rape or any sexual assault then this content is useful for you to take right attorney for your case.

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A Catholic College located in suburban Philadelphia sponsored a fortune teller who entertained hundreds of students during a "Psychic Night" held last month.

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Psalm 27

The Lord is my light and my salvation;

whom should I fear?

The Lord is my life’s refuge;

of whom should I be afraid?

When evildoers come at me

to devour my flesh,

My foes and my enemies

themselves stumble and fall.

Though an army encamp against me,

My heart will not fear;

Though war be waged upon me,

Even then will I trust…

For he will hide me in his abode

In the day of trouble;

He will conceal me in the shelter of his tent,

he will set me high upon a rock…

Wait for the Lord with courage;

be stout-hearted, and wait for the Lord.

For Reflection: Meditate on Psalm 27 in light of the Flight into Egypt. Why would this psalm have been an apt prayer for Our Lady and St. Joseph from the time the angel bid them leave for Egypt until their return trip home? What parts of the psalm speak to you most deeply? What part would you most like to emulate?

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An angel appears to St. Joseph in a dream and tells him to take the Baby Jesus and Mary to Egypt because Herod is seeking to kill the child. Egypt had been regarded as a place of safe refuge since the time of the Maccabees.

For Reflection:              Read Matthew 2:13-15. What virtues do you see in St. Joseph’s response to the angel’s command? Though not explicitly stated, with what virtues do you think Mary responded (recall her response to the news of Elizabeth’s pregnancy)?  What emotions do you think they experienced? Is there an incident in your own life with which you can compare Mary’s experience? What virtues did you exhibit? How was the presence of Christ revealed to you in that time and how did His presence encourage you?

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I went to Cconfession today. And once again, I was overcome by the gracious goodness of our God. It caused me to wonder why it is that we do not use this sacrament more frequently.

I do know numbers of dear souls who have made a pledge of sorts to go to the Sacrament of Penance at least once a month. And this is commendable -- laudable, even. And I know other souls who frequent the Sacrament bi-weekly or even weekly. This is saintly.

It is said that Pope John Paul II went to confession every day. Imagine. Every day!  He, like so many others who have been raised to the altar of Christ, discovered the treasury of grace that awaits us in the Sacrament even when grave sin is not present. Simply put, the Sacrament of Reconciliation is restorative. It is, after all, a sacrament of healing.

For myself this morning, I found it to be exactly that: restorative. And renewing, revitalizing. redeeming. The graces received in the quiet and solitude of confronting Our Lord with our weakness and frailties, our struggles and concerns, our discouragements and frustrations are boundless -- like God's own mercy of which they are replete.

Something about exposing the dark parts of our being to the rays of light that emanate from the Heart of  Christ sets us free in new ways. It affects every part of us -- our psyche, our emotions, our spiritual life to be sure, even our physiology -- all are inundated with the healing love of God and, in that holy exchange of Heart-to-heart, new life comes.

I remember one of my teachers in grade school tell us that she often prayed that God would let her die right after receiving the Sacrament of Penance because she would go straight to Heaven. My little girl's mind strove to plumb the depths of what this good and holy religious woman was imparting. She pointed to the sun shining on the snow outside of our classroom window so bright it was near blinding. "That", she said, "is what a soul looks like when it has made a good confession." I got it then. I understood.  At least to some extent. Today, I understand more.

What is your burden this day? Is it a deep sin for which you need to receive forgiveness? Is it a weakness or tendency from which you wish to be set free? How about discouragement, hopelessness, or despair? There is a solution. Run -- don't walk -- to the Sacrament! Be set free!

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“The references to Mary in Scripture transcend the limits of her own personality in order to be the symbol of all humanity. She becomes for us a sign, or symbol, of eternal values. All that has been revealed to us about her is for the sake of our own participation in the redemption wrought by her Son.”

                                                      Sister Mary Elise Krantz, S. N.D.

 

For Reflection:              What eternal value(s) is Mary a sign or symbol of at the Presentation? Consider this in light of the last sentence of the quote. How does this apply to your own life in general? Specifically? Right now?

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After an onslaught of negative press, the hacking of their servers, and threats from all corners of the abortion industry, Susan G. Koman (SGK) for the Cure issued a new statement today which appears to reverse a decision to cease providing grants to Planned Parenthood, although the statement is nuanced enough to suggest they just might be looking for some "breathing room."

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A London fashion designer who had a change of heart after her brother's death is devoting her talents to teaching women how to be well-dressed without dressing in a way that disrespects their God-given femininity.

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Despite the ever-mounting uproar from people of all faiths over the contraception mandate for employer provided insurance, President Barack Obama says he has no plans to reconsider the controversial decision.

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The parents of a 14 year-old victim of the controversial Gardasil vaccine are suing the manufacturer, three doctors and a clinic for their daughter's death.

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