By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Journalist
With the end of the U.S. military’s “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” policy, which prohibited homosexuals from serving openly in the armed forces, the Office of the Chief of Navy Chaplains has sent out instructions that will allow chaplains to perform same-sex marriages in states where it is legal.
“A Virgin conceived, a Virgin bore, and a Virgin she remains.”
St. Peter Chrysologus
For Reflection:
Read Paragraphs 499-501 in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. What do these paragraphs teach about Mary’s perpetual virginity, the reference to brothers and sisters of Jesus in Sacred Scripture, and Mary’s spiritual motherhood?
By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Journalist
Two girl scouts have started a new blog in which they give detailed information about the not-so-wholesome relationship between the Girls Scouts of America (GSA) and Planned Parenthood, radical feminists and communists.
Commentary by Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Journalit
Time Magazine celebrates just how out-of-touch it is with the American public by publishing a bizarre list of the top 10 best mothers in popular culture, which includes the imaginary Mother Earth goddess known as Gaia and Marge Simpson but neglects to include the “glory of Jerusalem” and the “highest honor of our race” – the Blessed Virgin Mary.
By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Journalist
An off-hand comment by a police officer who warned women to be careful how they dress in order to avoid being rape, has sparked an international wave of protests called “SlutWalks” that are aimed at reclaiming the derogatory title for women.
By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Journalist
The American Family Association (AFA) is reporting that Sears was so inundated with phone calls and e-mails from pro-family Americans regarding the pornography they were selling from their website, they decided to remove all offensive material from the site.
“What a wonder is your Mother! The Lord entered her, and became a Servant; the Word entered her, and became silent within her; Thunder entered her, and His voice was still; the Shepherd of all entered her, and He became a Lamb.”
St. Ephraem the Syrian
For Reflection:
Mary is a wonder! How does she exemplify the call of the disciple as given to us in this quote?
“Mary symbolizes the Church, which, espoused to Christ as a virgin, has conceived us of the Holy Spirit, and as a virgin has also given us birth.”
St. Isidore of Seville
For Reflection:
According to the quote above, what are two ways Mary symbolizes the Church? Think of at least two more ways in which we see Mary as a symbol or archetype of the Church.
“Hail to you forever, O virgin mother of God, our unceasing joy. You are the pearl of great price that belongs to the kingdom; the fate of every victim, the living altar of the bread of life. Hail, O treasure of God. Hail, O fount of the Son’s love for man.”
St. Methodius of Olympus
For Reflection:
Why do you think Mary is our “unceasing joy?” Why do you think she is the “pearl of great price that belongs to the kingdom?” How is Mary “the living altar of the bread of life” and, therefore, “the fate of every victim?” Why do you think she is the “treasure of God” and the fount of the Son’s love for man?” In considering all of this, is my appreciation and love of the Virgin Mary deepened? To what extent?
By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Journalist
The American Family Association (AFA) is sending out an alert to its one million-member family warning them that Sears is not only selling scores of hard-core pornographic DVDs, but graphic images and descriptions of these products are easily accessible to children through their website.
