October 12, 2006

Marian Meditation of the Day:

Verse

Now hope that is seen is not really hope…
but if we hope for what we do not yet see,
we wait with patience.

-- Romans 8: 24-25

Reflection

The Rosary enlivens the hope for things above that endure forever.
As we meditate upon the glory of Jesus and His Mother,
we have seen heaven opened and are heartened in our striving to gain the eternal home.

-- Pope Pius XI

Prayer

O Mary, as I recite my Rosary,
Foster the virtue of hope in me.
Teach me to wait with patience for the fulfillment of God’s promises.

Amen.

Catholic News for Today:

The Bloomberg School of Health at Johns Hopkins, in conjunction with Baghdad University and MIT have conducted a mortality study of the Iraqi populaion. This population study uses demographic data and anthropological methods to determine an accurate body count for the Iraq war.

President Bush, despite protests from Russia, Japan and China wishes to impose tough economic sanctions, travel restrictions and other resolutions on North Korea. President Bush is pushing for the inclusion of the condition that "any resolution should be adopted under Chapter 7 of the U.N. charter, which means it could be enforced militarily". This is especially disturbing given Bush's proclivity to invade countries he feels are "part of the Axis of Evil".

Britain has a new military commander, General Richard Dannatt. What was General Dannatt's first act as commander of the UK's Military forces? He declared that: British troops in Iraq are making matters worse, that Britain needs to remove troops from the region as soon as possible, and that Tony Blair's political views and actions are "naive". Sounds like Her Majesty's armed forces are fairing better than those of the United States under King George.

Bishop William Skylstad, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), sent a letter to President George W. Bush yesterday urging him to veto H.R. 6061, the Secure Fence Act of 2006 that would authorize construction of up to 700 miles of fencing and barriers along the U.S-Mexico.

Cardinal Bertone has an interesting way of interpreting Benedict's recent "attempts at interreligious dialogue"...

Pope Benedict has long favored moves to accommodate traditionalist Catholics, and is now moving towards allowing the Latin Tridentine Mass to be celebrated regularly, in all parishes, by all Priests without approval of local Bishops. This shows that he identifies more with the "Traditionalist" members of the Church instead of the "Liberation Theology" and "Neo-Orthodox" Catholics (exemplified by Pope John Paul II).

Remember to Pray the Rosary for Peace!

Today's Mystery - Luminous Mysteries