Catholic Reaction to Recession: Bishops Give Guide

WASHINGTON, D.C., MAY 25, 2009 (Zenit.org).- What does the Catholic Church affirm about the free market?

The answer to this and other questions about Catholic social teaching is part of a quiz found on a new Web site from the U.S. episcopal conference. The site aims to offer tools to parishes for leading the faithful in their response to the economic crisis.

Catholic Teaching on Economic Life (www.usccb.org/jphd/economiclife) features a 10-point handout on a Christian framework for economic life. It has statements from Benedict XVI, stories of how groups have successfully responded to the crisis, and podcasts and videos,

Bishop William Murphy of Rockville Centre, New York, chairman of the U.S. bishops' Committee of Domestic Social Justice and Human Development, outlined a central theme of the site in a letter to the nation’s leaders: "This crisis involves far more than just economic or technical matters, but has enormous human impact and clear ethical dimensions which should be at the center of debate and decisions on how to move forward.

"Families are losing their homes. Retirement savings are at risk. People are losing jobs and benefits. Economic arrangements, structures and remedies should have as a fundamental purpose safeguarding human life and dignity."

John Carr, the executive director of the committee, said the site aims to educate Catholics so they can understand the economic crisis in light of Church teaching.

"One of the central themes of this teaching is that the dignity of the human person always comes first," Carr said. "This is a message of hope in tough economic times."

Divine Mercy In my soul

The Mercy of the Lord I will sing Forever.
Divine Mercy in my soul.
Sr. Faustina, Diary
Notebook III

March 23, 1937. Today is the seventh day of the novena. I have received a great and inconceivable grace: the Most Merciful Jesus has promised that I will be present at the celebration of this solemn Feast. This day, the 23rd, that is Tuesday of Holy Week, is a day on which the Lord has granted me many graces.

Suddenly, God's presence took hold of me, and at once I saw myself in Rome, in the Holy Father's chapel. And at the same time I was in our chapel and, in a very special way, with Our Congregation. And I took part in the solemn celebration simultaneously here and in Rome, for the celebration was so closely connected with Rome that, even as I write, I cannot distinguish the two but I am writing it down as I saw it. I saw the Lord Jesus in our chapel, exposed in the monstrance on the high altar. The chapel was adorned as for a feast, and on that day anyone who wanted to come was allowed in. The crowd was so enormous that the eye could not take it all in. Everyone was participating in the celebrations with great joy, and many of them obtained what they desired. The same celebration was held in Rome, in a beautiful Church, and the Holy Father, with all the clergy, was celebrating this Feast, and then suddenly I saw Saint Peter, who stood between the altar and the Holy Father. I could not hear what Saint Peter said but I saw that the Holy Father understood his words...

Then some clergy whom I did not know began to examine me and to humiliate me, or rather, what I had written; but I saw how Jesus himself was defending me and giving them to understand what they did not know.

Then suddenly, I saw how the two rays, as painted in the image, issued from the Host and spread over the whole world. This lasted only a moment, but it seemed as though it had lasted all day, and our chapel was overcrowded all day long, and the whole day abounded in joy.

Then suddenly I saw on our altar the living Lord Jesus, just as He is depicted in the image. Yet I felt that the sisters and all the people did not see the Lord Jesus as I saw Him. Jesus looked with great kindness and joy at the Holy Father, at certain priests, and the entire clergy, at the people and at our Congregation.

Then, in an instant, I was caught up to stand near Jesus, and I stood on the altar next to the Lord Jesus, and my spirit was filled with a happiness so great that I am unable to comprehend it or write about it. A profound peace as well as repose filled my soul. Jesus bent toward me and said with great kindness, "What is it you desire, My daughter?" And I answered, "I desire worship and glory be given to Your mercy." "I already am receiving worship by the institution and celebration of this Feast; what else do you desire?" I then looked at the immense crowd worshiping the Divine Mercy and I said to the Lord, "Jesus, bless all those who are gathered to give glory to You and to venerate Your infinite mercy". Jesus made a sign of the cross with His hand, and this blessing was reflected in the souls like a flash of light. My spirit was engulfed in His love. I felt as if I had dissolved and disappeared completely in God. When I came to myself, a profound peace was flooding my soul, and an extraordinary understanding of many things was communicated to my intellect, an understanding that had not been granted to me previously.

I am immensely happy, although I am the least of all; and I would not change anything of what God has given me. I would not to change places even with a Seraph, I would not want to change places even with a Seraph, as regard the interior knowledge of God which He himself has given me. The intimate knowledge I have of the Lord is such as no creature can comprehend, particularly, the depth of His mercy that envelops me. I am happy with everything You give me.

Notre Dame's Eucharistic Instinct

Father Kevin Russeau's Homily at Prayerful Protest

SOUTH BEND, Indiana, MAY 25, 2009 (Zenit.org).- Here is the text of the homily given May 17 by Father Kevin Russeau at the Mass on the South Quad of the University of Notre Dame's campus, hosted by the student coalition ND Response.

The coalition organized the Mass and other events to prayerfully protest the university's decision to confer an honorary law degree to President Barack Obama at its commencement, and to witness to the Catholic identity of Notre Dame and its foundationally pro-life mission.

* * *

Good morning. My name is Fr. Kevin Russeau. I am a Holy Cross priest and I live and work here at the University of Notre Dame. I want to extend a warm welcome to my brother priests -- some of whom have traveled far -- some who join us from campus -- and I especially wish to welcome all of you gathered this morning. On behalf of all the students, faculty, and staff who have worked to organize this weekend’s demonstrations, I want to welcome you here to South Quad this morning for Mass and thank you for choosing to gather in prayer with us.

There is an instinct that is cultivated here at Notre Dame. When I was in the seminary it was told to us on several occasions that Notre Dame was once known as the Eucharistic campus since Mass is so frequently celebrated here and celebrated regularly in so many places. As a priest I have witnessed what I think is an instinct for the
Eucharist.

When a student learns that a loved one is sick, be it a parent, sibling, friend or acquaintance, a group of students get together and have a priest offer Mass for their recovery.

When a couple becomes engaged on campus, friends gather again around the Eucharist to celebrate and wish the couple well.

In tragedies, which will always be too frequent, the community comes together to celebrate the Eucharist -- the
Eucharist brings consolation and healing to the community.

And when religious are ordained priests each year, we celebrate Masses of thanksgiving within our campus community grateful for God’s blessings.

It seems especially appropriate that in our time, a time of uncertainty, debate, confusion, and mixed emotion, that we should gather again around the table of the Lord to be nourished by his word and with his sacrament.

Much ink has been spilled regarding the controversy of this commencement weekend. There has been local and national coverage. The news and blog pages continue show images, interviews, and footage from campus and each network seems to have its own spin. One story that I don’t hear enough about though, is the response of the student body. In the face of this controversy, I have witnessed countless students who have given me inspiration. Students who instinctively know to approach God in prayer about their trials, students who reach out to others in attempts to offer care, students who have demonstrated to me an ability to listen and obey the scripture we proclaim this day.

Jesus seems to make life easy for us when he summarizes what it is that God expects. He tells us clearly “love one another as I love you.” This is the will of the Father: that you love. Jesus’ love was constant throughout his ministry. Jesus’ love healed the sick, proclaimed the good news, and spent time with the Father in prayer. Jesus’ love cast out demons, raised the dead, and multiplied the loaves and fish! Jesus’ love cleansed the temple of the money changers, washed the feet of his disciples, and forgave sins. All of his ministry and, indeed all of Jesus’ life was an expression of love for humankind.

I often tell couples who are preparing for marriage that love is an exciting emotion to experience and an amusing one to watch! Though often reduced to physical expressions by our media, love is actually a great gift that was extended to us by God and love is also a vocation that we are called to share. The Constitutions of the Congregation of Holy Cross, my religious community, tell us that our vows are meant to be an act of love to the God who first loved us! They remind us that God has loved us first -- and that we are called to respond with love in return.

The kind of love that Jesus is actually speaking of today is not limited to his great miracles or sermons. Rather, it is a love that suffered scourging and a crown of thorns -- his love bore a heavy cross and public humiliation -- Jesus’ love included abandonment and betrayal. Jesus’ love for us experienced death so that we might have new life. So this message is not so easy when we look at it more closely, for the summary of God’s expectations for us to love as he loved, is to love in a way that is sacrificial. To love with a love that is deeper than a relationship and more demanding than romance - to love even when it is difficult.

Sacrificial loves comes in a variety of forms. It is expressed with patience and understanding. It is lived out when we put the needs of others before those of our own. Sacrificing is the love that doesn’t count the cost -- but extends the care. Sacrificing is the love that goes the extra mile. Our society encourages us to overcome sacrifice and to take care of ourselves. Jesus tells us today to not be scandalized by the word sacrifice: it is the love that he shared for us and the love we are called to share for him and each other.

What has been inspiring for me these past couple of months, with all the trials and challenges that have confronted the family of Notre Dame, is that our student body had an instinct -- an instinct to come to the altar of the Lord to ask for guidance and strength. I can’t tell you the number of rosaries and Masses and prayer meetings that have been intentional responses to what many feel is a concession to the culture of death. Students, family, friends, alumni, and many of you, have spent hours in adoration looking for the proper response. The students that I have come to know here on campus have reminded me that in all things we must respond with love. And to respond with love in hard times, we must ask our Lord for grace.

We are here today to bear witness and to love. We have gathered today to give voice to the most vulnerable. I don’t know what the cost of your sacrificial love will be anymore than I know the cost of the love I hope to share. But in times of confusion and sadness as well as those times of joy and celebration, perhaps it is our instinct which prompts us to come to the Lord in the sacrament of the Eucharist to be nourished and strengthen in our vocation.

May God bless us this day and bless all who work for the culture of life.

[Text courtesy of www.ndresponse.com]

Divine Mercy in My Soul

Catholic Reaction to Recession: Bishops Give Guide

Notre Dame's Eucharistic Instinct