“Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s goods.”
Am I grateful for the life I have, the family I have, the home I have, and the faith I have?
On any given day, look for something in your life to be grateful for. Always be grateful for what you have.
Do I want a bigger house, faster car, greener lawn or more prestigious job?
Appearances are very important, so always try to keep up with the Jones’, being jealous of them until you do.
from Catholic Online
Cardinals pitcher Jeff Suppan had an opportunity to address 400 kids and adults at St. Joseph’s Academy in Frontenac, Missouri. The topic was how he lives out his faith as a professional baseball player and in his daily life.
He encouraged the kids “to keep Jesus No. 1″ in their lives and to be ready to be challenged on their faith. (more)
No link to articles or quotes from other blogs today; just a couple of comments from a Catholic man in the middle of the United States.
I am sure that you are all enjoying the political ad seasons as much as I am. I have the added enjoyment of hearing and seeing the ads from the neighboring state of Missouri in addition to the ones in my own state. Missouri has a stem cell amendment on the ballot looking for voters to approve the the embryonic stem cell research in the state. They are projecting something like $29M will be spent by those either for or against the amendment.
Of course as I faithful Catholic, I do not support research on these embryos. Unless someone is willing to do their research, I doubt that very many people are going to be convinced to change their mind because of the advertising. You sure could not make an educated decision by watch and listening to all the advertising spots.
The constant from the stem cell supporters is that this could lead to cures for this disease or that disease. I think this is wrong; very wrong! There have not been any cures as of yet and no proof that there ever will be. Everytime I hear the argument, I can’t help but think that there is some kid out there watching and believing that the only that needs to happen to keep their loved one, possible their Mom and Dad alive is for this amendment to pass. Are they going to wake up on November 8th to the news that “Mom is going to live” since it passed or “Dad is going to die” because the terrible people in Missouri didn’t want to help?
Where are all the folks going to be to help these individuals pick up the pieces of their lives after they realize that they have been doped by these misleading and dishonest ads? They will be on to push the business of embryonic stem cell research in some other state; telling the same lies to some other kid.
God Bless!
“Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s wife/husband.”
Do I think of my spouse as my one and only lover and accept all aspects of my spouse?
Married couples show total commitment to each other and accept each other.
Do I desire a neighbor/co-worker/other person instead of my spouse or wish my spouse was more like other people?
It is acceptable to place one’s desire for love outside of marriage and want your beloved to be at the center of your life until someone better comes along.
from Catholic Online
“Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.”
Am I honest in dealings and communications with my family, community members, parish and co-workers?
If parents speak the truth with others, and about other, children will see how honesty and respect are practiced. This can be reinforced as they develop relationships with family and friends.
Do I speak untruths or spread gossip about people?
It is acceptable to lie and gossip.
from Catholic Online
“Thou shalt not steal.”
Do I refrain from choosing to steal or from cheating in financial transactions?
Honesty is the best policy and stealing is wrong.
Do I steal clothes from stores or office supplies from work, cheat on taxes and/or steal ideas from co-workers and take credit for their work?
Stealing is only wrong if I get caught.
from Catholic Online
“Thou shalt not commit adultery.”
Do I stay faithful to my spouse in body and mind? Do I tell jokes or laugh at jokes that demean the institute of marriage?
If a marriage is filled with respect and commitment, they will see what that looks like and how it is done. More importantly, if parents keep this commandment, their children and spouses will never experience the conflict and pain that being unfaithful can create.
Have I been unfaithful in body, and/or chosen to use pornography or otherwise participated in virtual or real online relationships outside of marriage?
In marriage, it is acceptable to be unfaithful to one’s spouse and choose to spend time in affairs of the body and/or mind.
from Catholic Online
10/26/2006 – 12:29 PST
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(NEW HAVEN, CT.) — The Knights of Columbus announced today that it will
sponsor a “spiritual pilgrimage” with Pope Benedict XVI as he travels
to Turkey in late November. Knights, their families, and all Catholics
are being asked to pray daily for the Pontiff during the trip, which
begins on Tuesday, November 28 and concludes on Friday, December 1.
Knights will pray for the pope’s intentions beginning on November
26, the Sunday before the pope departs (the Solemnity of Christ the
King). In addition, the Knights of Columbus will print and distribute
cards with a special prayer written by the Order’s Supreme Chaplain,
Bishop William E. Lori. Knights and others joining in the Spiritual
Pilgrimage will say the prayer each day during the pope’s trip.
The prayer asks that the pope’s visit will bring about “deeper ties
of understanding, cooperation, and peace among Roman Catholics, the
Orthodox, and those who profess Islam.” And it asks that “Pope Benedict
be kept safe from all harm as he prays, bears witness to the Gospel,
and invites all peoples to a dialogue of faith, reason, and love.” The
full text of the prayer appears below. A PDF file of the prayer card
can be found at www.kofc.org.
“Only a few Catholics can physically travel with the Holy Father to
Turkey,” Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson said, “but millions of us can
be united with him in prayer during his pilgrimage for peace.”
“We will ask Our Lady of Fatima to intercede for the pope during
this journey,” Anderson continued. “Mary is regarded with special
esteem by people of the Islamic faith, and this is especially true
under her title Our Lady of Fatima, since Fatima was the name of the
prophet Mohammed’s daughter.”
The Knights of Columbus is the world’s largest lay Catholic
organization, with more than 1.7 million members in North and Central
America, the Philippines and Poland.
Text of the Knights of Columbus prayer
SPIRITUAL PILGRIMAGE WITH HIS HOLINESS POPE BENEDICT XVI ON HIS PASTORAL VISIT TO TURKEY
NOV. 28–DEC. 1, 2006
Heavenly Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth takes
its name, we humbly ask that you sustain, inspire, and protect your
servant, Pope Benedict XVI, as he goes on pilgrimage to Turkey – a land
to which St. Paul brought the Gospel of your Son; a land where once the
Mother of your Son, the Seat of Wisdom, dwelt; a land where faith in
your Son’s true divinity was definitively professed. Bless our Holy
Father, who comes as a messenger of truth and love to all people of
faith and good will dwelling in this land so rich in history. In the
power of the Holy Spirit, may this visit of the Holy Father bring about
deeper ties of understanding, cooperation, and peace among Roman
Catholics, the Orthodox, and those who profess Islam. May the prayers
and events of these historic days greatly contribute both to greater
accord among those who worship you, the living and true God, and also
to peace in our world so often torn apart by war and sectarian
violence.
We also ask, O Heavenly Father, that you watch over and protect Pope
Benedict and entrust him to the loving care of Mary, under the title of
Our Lady of Fatima, a title cherished both by Catholics and Muslims.
Through her prayers and maternal love, may Pope Benedict be kept safe
from all harm as he prays, bears witness to the Gospel, and invites all
peoples to a dialogue of faith, reason, and love. We make our prayer
through Christ, our Lord.
Prayer composed by Bishop William E. Lori, Supreme Chaplain
————————————————-
Contact: Knights of Columbus
http://www.kofc.org CT, US
Peter Sonski - Director of Public Relations, 203 - 752-4182
“Thou shall not kill?”
Do I keep this commandment and also not allow one’s self and children to watch murder related television shows or play violent video games that promote players to “kill” images on the screen?
The influence of watching violent behavior is negative, and though a popular pastime in our culture, can and should be avoided.
Have I killed or contemplated taking the life of another? Do I spend free time watching violent television shows about murder, and/or allow my children to watch violent television and/or play video games encouraging players to “kill” the screen images? In a much milder connotation, have I purposely killed another person’s dream, enthusiasm, curiosity or idea?
Watching violence on the television is acceptable and playing acting out “killing” people figures on a video game is acceptable.
from Catholic Online
”Honor thy father and thy mother.”
Do you speak of and to your parents with respect, spend time with them and offer them help?
If they see your parents shown love and respect,
they will learn how to do the same for you, and other people as well.
Do you avoid speaking with them or visiting them, or say unkind things about them?
If children see that their own parents do not show
respect, honesty and healthy communication patterns toward their
parents, they will probably use the same negatives behaviors toward you
and their grandparents.
from Catholic Online
“Remember thou keep holy the Lord’s day.”
Do you attend church on the weekend, spend time
in positive activities, take a rest and not obsess or work extra hours
(not scheduled)?
Go to Mass once a week and make Sunday an extra
special day by sharing the time and activities with family and friends.
Do you miss Mass, work extra hours and not have a
chance to share time with family or enjoy God’s gifts, such as nature,
family dinner, music or reading?
It is not necessary to go to Mass regularly or spend
time with family on weekends, and it is acceptable to put make or
personal activities priority on days off rather than spend time with
the family.
from Catholic Online
“Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.”
Do I choose not to take the Lord’s name in vain and not use offensive language?
Taking the Lord’s name in vain, swearing and offensive
language are not spoken in the home and not acceptable behavior.
Do I use the Lord’s name in vain for drama and
use offensive language because other people use it in conversation and
in the media?
It is acceptable to use the Lord’s name in vain, as well as other offensive language.
from Catholic Online
“I am the Lord thy God; thou shalt not have strange gods before me.”
Do I honestly have faith in God, and place him at the center of my life?
Through words and actions children can see what living a life looks like based on the teachings of the Catholic Church, and can learn how to then teach their children. Children will also be able to feel the strength of their parents’ faith.
Are my priorities material things, alcohol, work or causes not related to God?
Don’t place God first, instead strive to drive fancy sports cars, always win the game, and wear the trendiest clothes.
from Catholic Online
The highest court in New York ruled last week that Catholic Charities must provide female employees with birth control coverage as part of their health insurance coverage. This is a setback to Catholic groups opposed to artificial birth control.
That they will be forced to provide the converage and pay for it is a violatiohn of their religious freedoms. This is another situation where we should all be concerned. Even thought it may not directly impact us, it is clearly an attack on religious freedoms that we should speak out against.
CBN.com has a list of 4 secrets that women should know about marriage.
Secret #1: Your husband cannot meet all of your emotional needs.
Secret #2: Your husband has emotional needs that are just as important as your own needs.
Secret #3: Your husband was designed by God to be the leader of your family.
Secret #4: Most men truly want to make their marriages work.
