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July 3, 2009 -  Friday of thirtheen Week of Ordinary Time      LITURGICAL/THEME MEDITATION: "Unless I see in his hands the prints of the nails, I will not believe" UNIVERSAL CHURCH/WORLD EVENT(S): Obama Promises Conscience Protection SAINT OF THE DAY St. Thomas the Apostle  GENERAL MARIOLOGY THE DIVINE HISTORY AND LIFE OF THE VIRGIN MOTHER OF GOD Book Four - Chapter V  THE ADORATION OF THE SHEPHERD; THE CIRCUMCISION.  DIVINE MERCY Divine Mercy in My Soul Notebook IV  TEACHING/TESTIMONY/CONVICTION: Dr. Paul Jarrett

DAILY LITURGICAL MEDITATION

Friday (7/3): "Unless I see in his hands the prints of the nails, I will not believe" Scripture: John 20:24-29  (alternate reading: Matthew 9:9-13) 24 Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails, and place my finger in the mark of the nails, and place my hand in his side, I will not believe." 26 Eight days later, his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. The doors were shut, but Jesus came and stood among them, and said, "Peace be with you." 27 Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side; do not be faithless, but believing." 28 Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!" 29 Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe." Meditation: What gives us unshakeable hope and confidence in the face of death and defeat? The apostles abandoned Jesus in his hour of trial and lost hope when Jesus was handed over to the Romans for execution. They saw the cross as defeat rather than victory. They were slow to believe the reports of the resurrection until the Risen Lord appeared to them and reassured them of his presence and love. The  last apostle to meet the resurrected Lord was the first to go with him to Jerusalem at Passover time. The apostle Thomas was a natural pessimist. When Jesus proposed that they visit Lazarus after receiving news of his illness, Thomas said to the disciples: "Let us also go, that we may die with him" (John 11:16). While Thomas deeply loved the Lord, he lacked the courage to stand with Jesus in his passion and crucifixion. After Jesus' death, Thomas made the mistake of withdrawing from the other apostles. He sought loneliness rather than fellowship in his time of adversity. He doubted the women who saw the resurrected Jesus and he doubted his own fellow apostles. When Thomas finally had the courage to rejoin the other apostles, the Lord Jesus made his presence known to him and reassured him that he had indeed overcome death and risen again. When Thomas recognized his Master, he believed and exclaimed that Jesus was truly Lord and truly God! Through the gift of faith we, too, are able to recognize the presence of the risen Lord in our personal lives. The Holy Spirit reveals the Lord Jesus to us and helps us to grow in knowledge and understanding of God and his ways. Through the gift of faith we are able to proclaim that Jesus is our personal Lord and our God. He died and rose that we, too, might have new life in him. The Lord offers each of us new life in his Holy Spirit that we may know him personally and walk in this new way of life through the power of his resurrection. Do you believe in God's word and in the power of the Holy Spirit? "Lord Jesus Christ, through your victory over sin and death you have overcome all the powers of darkness. Help me to draw near to you and to trust in your life-giving word. Fill me with your Holy Spirit and strengthen my faith in your promises and my hope in the power of your resurrection." Psalm 117:1-2 1 Praise the LORD, all nations! Extol him, all peoples! 2 For great is his steadfast love toward us; and the faithfulness of the LORD endures for ever.  Praise the LORD!   www.dailyscripture.net   RETURN TO TOP

UNIVERSAL CHURCH/WORLD EVENTS

Obama Promises Conscience Protection Meets With Representatives of Catholic Press   WASHINGTON, D.C., JULY 2, 2009 (Zenit.org).- In a meeting with representatives of the Catholic press today, U.S. President Barack Obama assured his intentions to protect the conscience rights of health care providers. Legionary of Christ Father Owen Kearns, editor and publisher of the National Catholic Register, was one of the eight members of the press invited to the 41-minute meeting. According to Father Kearns, "The most noteworthy thing during the meeting was his dispelling of what you might call the expectation of the worst regarding conscience clauses." On National Catholic Register's Web site, the priest revealed Obama's analysis that there has been confusion regarding his intentions to legislate freedom of conscience. Obama said: "I think that the only reason that my position may appear unclear is because it came in the wake of a last-minute, 11th-hour change in conscience clause provisions that were pushed forward by the previous administration that we chose to reverse. […] "I'm a believer in conscience clauses. I was a supporter of a robust conscience clause in Illinois for Catholic hospitals and health care providers. I discussed this with Cardinal George when he was here in the Oval Office, and I reiterated my support for an effective conscience clause in my speech at Notre Dame. […] "I can assure all of your readers that when this review is complete there will be a robust conscience clause in place. It may not meet the criteria of every possible critic of our approach, but it certainly will not be weaker than what existed before the changes were made." In addition to Father Kearns, those attending were representatives from America, Avvenire/Vatican Radio, Catholic News Service, Catholic Digest, Commonweal, National Catholic Reporter and The Washington Post. The meeting began with remarks from Obama and then each representative asked one question. Visiting the Pope The president spoke about his upcoming meeting with Benedict XVI, which he will have when he is in Italy for the Group of Eight conference. According to the Register, the president "said that he sees his visit with the Holy See in some ways like any other government in that there will be areas of agreement and disagreement. […] He said that it would be a great honor to meet the Pope and was looking forward to talking about the Middle East, climate change and immigration." Obama spoke twice of his relationship with the late Cardinal Joseph Bernardin, who was the archbishop of Chicago from 1982 until his death in 1996. Father Kearns summarized the president's words: "Cardinal Bernardin was pro-life and never hesitated to make his views known, but he had a consistent 'seamless garment' approach that emphasized the other issues, as well. The president said that that part of the Catholic tradition continues to inspire him. Those issues, he said, seemed to have gotten buried by the abortion debate." Common ground? Paul Baumann of Commonweal Magazine asked the president about the forthcoming report on efforts to seek common ground on abortion, asking him what he hopes from the group. "I've never been under the illusion that there are going to be … that we were going to simply talk all our differences away on these issues," said the president. "[…] I can tell you, though, that on the idea of helping young people make smart choices so that they are not engaging in casual sexual activity that can lead to unwanted pregnancies, on the importance of adoption as an option, an alternative to abortion, on caring for pregnant women so that it is easier for them to support children, those are immediately three areas where I would be surprised if we don't have some pretty significant areas of agreement." Obama expressed his personal view that "good sex and moral education" needs to be combined with contraception to reduce unwanted pregnancies. "I recognize that contradicts Catholic Church doctrine, so I would not expect someone who feels very strongly about this issue as a matter of religious faith to be able to agree with me on that, but that's my personal view," he added. "We may not be able to arrive at perfectly compatible language on that front." "I would be surprised if those who believe abortion should be legal would object to language that says we should try to reduce the circumstances in which women feel compelled to obtain an abortion. If they took that position, I would disagree with them. I don't know any circumstances in which abortion is a happy circumstance or decision, and to the extent that we can help women avoid being confronted with a circumstance in which that's even a consideration, I think that's a good thing."   TURN TO TOP

DAILY LITURGICAL SAINT

July 3, 2009 St. Thomas the Apostle Poor Thomas! He made one remark and has been branded as “Doubting Thomas” ever since. But if he doubted, he also believed. He made what is certainly the most explicit statement of faith in the New Testament: “My Lord and My God!” (see John 20:24-28) and, in so expressing his faith, gave Christians a prayer that will be said till the end of time. He also occasioned a compliment from Jesus to all later Christians: “Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed” (John 20:29). Thomas should be equally well known for his courage. Perhaps what he said was impetuous—since he ran, like the rest, at the showdown—but he can scarcely have been insincere when he expressed his willingness to die with Jesus. The occasion was when Jesus proposed to go to Bethany after Lazarus had died. Since Bethany was near Jerusalem, this meant walking into the very midst of his enemies and to almost certain death. Realizing this, Thomas said to the other apostles, “Let us also go to die with him” (John 11:16b). Comment: Thomas shares the lot of Peter the impetuous, James and John, the “sons of thunder,” Philip and his foolish request to see the Father—indeed all the apostles in their weakness and lack of understanding. We must not exaggerate these facts, however, for Christ did not pick worthless men. But their human weakness again points up the fact that holiness is a gift of God, not a human creation; it is given to ordinary men and women with weaknesses; it is God who gradually transforms the weaknesses into the image of Christ, the courageous, trusting and loving one. Quote: “...[P]rompted by the Holy Spirit, the Church must walk the same road which Christ walked: a road of poverty and obedience, of service and self-sacrifice to the death.... For thus did all the apostles walk in hope. On behalf of Christ's Body, which is the Church, they supplied what was wanting in the sufferings of Christ by their own trials and sufferings (see Colossians 1:24)” (Decree on the Church’s Missionary Activity, 5).  http://www.americancatholic.org/Features/SaintofDay RETURN TO TOP

GENERAL MARIOLOGY

THE DIVINE HISTORY AND LIFE OF THE VIRGIN MOTHER OF GOD BOOK FOUR Describing the Anxieties of Saint Joseph on Account of the Pregnancy of Most Holy Mary,the Birth of Christ our Lord, His Circumcision,the Adoration of the Kings, the Presentation of the Infant Jesus In the Temple, the Flight into Egypt, the Death of the Holy Innocents, and the Return to Nazareth. THE ADORATION OF THE SHEPHERD; THE CIRCUMCISION. Most holy Mary issued from her prayer and requested saint Joseph to take the necessary steps for the Circumcision of the divine Infant. With rarest prudence She avoided telling Him anything of what She had been told in answer to her prayer. She spoke as if She wished to consult Him or ask his opinion in regard to the Circumcision, saying that the time appointed by law for the Circumcision of the Child had arrived and since they had not received any orders to the contrary, it seemed necessary to comply with it. They themselves, She said, were more bound to please the Most High, to obey more punctually his precepts, and to be more zealous in the love and care of his most holy Son than all the rest of creatures, seeking to fulfill in all things the divine pleasure in return for his incomparable favors. To these words saint Joseph answered with the greatest modesty and discretion, saying, that, as no command to the contrary had been given concerning the Child he wished in all things to conform himself to the divine will manifested in the common law; that, although as God the incarnate Word was not subject to the law, yet He was now clothed with our humanity, and, as a most perfect Teacher and Savior, no doubt wished to conform with other men in its fulfillment. Then he asked his heavenly Spouse how the Circumcision was to take place. The most holy Mary answered, that the Circumcision should be performed substantially in the same way as it was performed on other children but that She need not hand him over or consign Him to any other person, but that She would herself hold Him in her arms. And the delicacy and tenderness of the Infant would make this ceremony more painful to him than to other children, they should have at hand the soothing medicine, which was ordinarily applied at circumcision. Moreover, She requested saint Joseph to procure a crystal or glass vessel for preserving the sacred relic of the Circumcision of the divine Infant. In the meanwhile the cautious Mother prepared some linen cloths to catch the sacred blood, which was now for the first time to be shed for our rescue, so that not one drop of it might be lost or fall upon the ground. After these preparations the heavenly Lady asked saint Joseph to inform the priest and request him to come to the cave where, without the necessity of bringing the Child to any other place, he might, as a fit and worthy minister of so hidden and great a sacrament, with his priestly hands perform the rite of the Circumcision. Then most holy Mary and Joseph took counsel concerning the name to be given to the divine Infant in the Circumcision, and the holy spouse said: "My Lady, when the holy angel of the Most High informed me of this great sacrament, he also told me that thy most sacred Son should be called JESUS." The Virgin Mother answered: "This same name was revealed to me when He assumed flesh in my womb; and thus receiving this name from the Most High through the mouth of his holy angels, his ministers, it is befitting that we conform in humble reverence with the hidden and inscrutable judgments of his infinite wisdom in conferring it on my Son and Lord, and that we call Him JESUS. This name we will propose to the priest, for inscription in the register of the other circumcised children."    RETURN TO TOP

DIVINE MERCY

Divine Mercy In my soul   The Mercy of the Lord I will sing Forever. Divine Mercy in my soul. Sr. Faustina, Diary Notebook V   J.M.J. O my God, I love You. Sister Faustina Of the Blessed Sacrament. Cracow, October 20, 1937. I bow down before You, O Bread of Angels, With deep faith, hope and love And from the depths of my soul I worship You, Though I am but nothingness. I bow down before You, O hidden God And love you with all my heart. The veils of mystery hinder me not at all; I love You as do Your chosen ones in heaven. I bow down before You, O Lamb of God Who take away the sins of my soul, Whom I receive into my heart each morn, You who are my saving help.     RETURN TO TOP

CATHOLIC  TEACHING/CONVICTION/TESTIMONY

Dr. Paul Jarrett (continued) One of my idealistic bubbles burst in about April of 74, when a patient whom I had aborted in January, returned to me for another abortion. She was using abortion for birth control. In order to tell you why I finally stopped, I need to explain a little about the technique of suction curettage abortion. Incidentally, I did them under general anesthesia in surgery. Today, most are done under local anesthesia in a clinic. First, the cervix, or mouth of the womb, is stretched open with pencil shaped dilators, until it is open enough to insert the suction curette, which is a clear plastic straw like tube. A vacuum source is then attached to the curette. After the curette is introduced into the uterus, the water is broken and is seen through the curette, followed by bits of flesh and blood, which is what remains of the baby and placenta. The procedure works well because the baby is small at 10 weeks and is not calcified, so that it fits easily through the narrow tube. All parts become almost indistinguishable in the mesh filter bag in the suction jar. My 23rd abortion changed my mind about doing abortions forever. This patient was a little overweight and ultimately proved to be a little farther along than anticipated. This was not an uncommon mistake before ultrasound was readily available to confirm the gestational age. Initially, the abortion proceeded normally. The water broke, but then nothing more would come out. When I withdrew the curette, I saw that it was plugged up with the leg of the baby which had been torn off. I then changed techniques and used ring forceps to dismember the 13 or 14 week size baby. Inside the remains of the rib cage I found a tiny, beating heart. I was finally able to remove the head and looked squarely into the face of a human being -- a human being that I had just killed. I turned to the scrub nurse standing next to me and said, "I'm sorry". I knew then that abortion was wrong and I couldn't be a part of it any longer. No one was critical of me for what I had done, nor for having stopped. But I had a lot of guilt about that abortion and had flashbacks to it from time to time. I sometimes dreamed about it. The guilt lasted about four years, Sometime after that, my wife became a Christian. She explained the gospel to me, but I thought she was weak, It irritated me that she felt she needed something else besides me to provide for her needs. I knew I didn't need anything, because I was self-reliant. I was a doctor. I could fix anything that was wrong in my life. However, other things in my life began to bother me. Finally, when I betrayed an agreement with my best friend which seemed to destroy that friendship, I became convicted of my sinfulness. It was then that I asked Jesus Christ to come in to my life and forgive my sins. It was Jesus who forgave me for the murders I had legally committed. It was Jesus who took away the guilt. As I look at our country, particularly in regard to abortion, I find very little encouragement. As I stated earlier, most OB/GYN physicians leaving training at this time seem to have a pro-choice philosophy. This trend will likely continue, particularly because residents in many training programs are selected on the basis of an unofficial quota system to ensure that residents will be available to work in the abortion clinics run by those programs. I am personally acquainted with an absolutely top notch resident in our hospital, who was run out of a hospital's residency program for his failure to participate in their abortion clinic Starting with the murder of Dr. David Gunn, and continuing with the other clinic attacks and murders, I sense a siege mentality in our specialty. The pro-choice people are now the martyrs and public opinion has swung their way. Successful attempts have been made this year to require mandatory training in abortions in residency programs by a residency review committee. There are proposals at the highest levels of our national organization for the training of non-physician abortion technicians to carry on the work of abortions. There are repeated pleas for the importation of RU-486, the abortion pill from France. Several programs are running pilot studies in preparation for seeking FDA approval. Several articles have appeared in our literature detailing the use of two other medications, Cytotec and Methotrexate, as abortifacients, that is, as a medication that will cause abortion to occur. Both of these medicines are already in widespread use in the United States. Cytotec is an ulcer treatment and Methotrexate is an agent used in chemotherapy and in the treatment of ectopic pregnancies. If for any reason surgical abortions become unavailable, these drugs are readily available and their use will increase. There have evolved national standards of care in our specialty which make life as a pro-life physician frustrating. I am referring specifically to the area of prenatal diagnosis. Three things in particular come to mind: Amniocentesis, alpha-feto protein screening, and ultrasound. Standards of care are somewhat nebulous in many instances, but when a governing body such as the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists [ACOG] issue policy statements and technical bulletins, it is assumed that the issues addressed define the standards for all the country in the practice of OB/GYN. As an organization ACOG has been consistently pro-choice in its advocacy. Prenatal diagnosis is an ever-expanding area as new technology becomes available. More and more time in doctor's offices is being spent discussing the availability of these procedures and the rationale for them. Underpinning the whole issue of prenatal diagnosis is the idea that some forms of human life are undesirable and expendable. Judicial courts have reinforced this notion with multimillion-dollar awards against physicians for "wrongful life" or "wrongful birth". Conceivably, a doctor could lose all his possessions by failing to document that he informed a patient that tests were available which would have detected an abnormal child that could have been aborted. (to be continued)   RETURN TO TOP

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