Redland Catholic

Spiritual Pilgrimage

The Knights of Columbus begin their spiritual pilgrimage with the Pope on November 26, ending on his return December 1.  The Holy Father will be in Turkey November 28- December 1, and needs our prayers!  The Knights have a special prayer for the event, and will be praying for his intentions throughout the week.

Please pray for my Dad

My Dad is going in for an arteriogram on Tuesday.  He has had major bypass in the past and a heart attack.  We'll find out on Tuesday if he will have to have further surgery.

*UPDATE 10-31- He's ok, there were some blockages that the doctors will treat with medication.  Thanks for the prayers!

Pope Benedict's Monthly Intentions for September

The Apostleship of Prayer has posted the Pope's Intentions for September.  I will try to post these each month and include a link in my sidebar.  Here they are:

General Intention: That those who use the means of social communication may always do so conscientiously and responsibly

Missionary Intention: That in mission territories the entire People of God may recognize permanent formation as a personal priority

Novena for Mideast Peace

A Rosary novena for Mideast Peace begins August 18th.  Visit Catholic World News to read this article about it.

While you're at it, this would be a good time to pray John Paul II's prayer for life.  I would also appreciate prayers for the safety of my cousin Michah who is serving in the Israeli army.

UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

I know I've said that I don't want to get into heated debates about "hot button issues" but I feel like I have to speak up here.  I haven't seen any mention of this recently on any other Catholic blogs out there.  Check out the Friday Fax issued by C-FAM August 10, 2006.

(NEW YORK - C-FAM) United Nations delegates will assemble in New York on Monday to finalize a new human rights treaty. The International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities will be “hard” international law, joining other human rights instruments which are binding on the countries that ratify them. Most documents negotiated at the UN are non-binding. Treaties, such as this one, require governments to change their domestic laws based on the treaty.

Conservative legal experts have complained that the draft text contains ambiguous and undefined language - such as “reproductive health,” the right to “experience sexuality,” and the right to “have sexual and other intimate relationships” -- that has never before appeared in a treaty-level document. [emphasis mine]

As I understand it, according to Article II, Section 2, Clause 2 of our country's constitution, a treaty can be signed by the president only with agreement of two-thirds of the senate.  So if the UN does produce this treaty, it will still require the approval of the senate and our president.  I think.  I really don't know anything about how all that stuff works.  Here is a link to the UN's working document and to the UN Committee's web page with other documents.  They make the language sound harmless by saying they are merely giving the disabled access to the same "reproductive health" services they give everyone else.  Another example of the "slippery slope."

So I have a prayer request as the UN delegates meet to finalize this treaty.  This week please remember to pray that God's will be done, that the UN treaty will defend life, and that the UN and the government of the United States will promote authentic human rights and the dignity of every human being, and adopt policies that will strengthen families and assist the poor, hungry, and sick. 

**UPDATE 8-18-06** According to C-Fam's current Friday Fax (check the one dated August 17th if you go to the archives) there is some heated debate over the controversial phrases.  Let us continue to pray that they will do the right thing.

From John Paul II's encyclical Evangelium Vitae:

O Mary,
bright dawn of the new world,
Mother of the living,
to you do we entrust the cause of life.

Look down, O Mother,
upon the vast numbers
of babies not allowed to be born,
of the poor whose lives are made difficult,
of men and women who are victims of brutal violence,
of the elderly and the sick killed
by indifference or out of misguided mercy.

Grant that all who believe in your Son
may proclaim the Gospel of life
with honesty and love
to the people of our time.

Obtain for them the grace
to accept that Gospel
as a gift ever new,
the joy of celebrating it with gratitude
throughout their lives
and the courage to bear witness to it
resolutely, in order to build,
together with all people of good will,
the civilization of truth and love,
to the praise and glory of God,
the Creator and lover of life.

AMEN!

(Image Source)  I will "mark this post as featured" for the rest of this week.

Reminder - July 23rd Day of Prayer and Penance for Peace in the Middle East

His Holiness Pope Benedict has declared Sunday, July 23rd, a day of Prayer and Penance for Peace in the Middle east.

While you're at it, please pray for my Israeli cousins Micah and Avichai who will probably be called to serve in the Israeli Army's reserves.

The American Papist has some good information on the situation.

Most Holy Virgin, By your Divine Motherhood you merited to share in your Divine Son's prerogative of universal kingship, and to be called Queen of Peace.  May your powerful intercession guard your people from all hatred and discord among themselves and direct their hearts in the way of peace. Your Son came to teach us this way for the good and well-being of all, and your Church continues to guide our steps along that same way.

Look kindly upon the efforts of Christ's Vicar to call together and unite nations around the only center of saving faith.  Enlighten the rulers of our country and of all countries on Earth to follow this path to peace. Grant that there may be peace in our hearts, in our families, and in our world.

Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Pray for us!

Mary, Queen of Peace, Pray for us!

From Favorite Prayers of Our Lady (Anthony. M. Buono).     Image Source