Profiles in Catholicism
Sep 28, 20197 min
Updated: Sep 30, 2019
A Message from the Editor
The challenge of abortion
What a woman carries within herself, nascent life and that cannot be denied (scientifically). We treasure and respect nascent human life. It is God's gift and not our to dispose of as we want.
Special Prayers
A Prayer for the Souls of the Over 2,000 Fetal Remains Found at Ex-Abortion Doctor's Home
God of tender love and mercy,
we read with deep sadness the story of the remains of so many children discarded and forgotten.
We know that you never forget any one of us,
and we pray that
we may hold the sacred memory of these innocent lives within ourselves
and redouble our efforts to respect and protect all life
from conception to natural death. Amen
A Prayer to Our Lady of Guadalupe
Virgin of Guadalupe, Patroness of unborn children,
we implore your intercession for every child at risk of abortion.
Help expectant parents to welcome from God
the priceless gift of their child’s life.
Console parents who have lost that gift through abortion,
and lead them to forgiveness and healing
through the Divine Mercy of your Son.
Teach us to cherish
and to care for family and friends until God calls them home.
Help us never to see others as burdens.
Guide our public officials
to defend every human life through just laws.
Inspire us all to bring our faith into public life,
to speak for those who have no voice.
We ask this in the name of your Son,
Jesus Christ, who is Love and Mercy itself.
Amen
Submitted by Wayne Smith Our Lady of Mt Carmel Chicago
A prayer for those in the Bahamas which were killed, injured, and lost all their possessions as a result of Hurricane Dorian
O Lord God,
Your revelation teaches us that even before your created the light, a might wind swept over the waters.
In the beginning, when God created the heavens and the earth and the earth was without form or shape, with darkness over the abyss and a mighty wind sweeping over the waters. (Gen 1:1-3)
There was neither form nor shape. There was darkness. There was the abyss. Yet there was hope.
Then God said: Let there be light, and there was light.
The Lord God you continued on with the creation of earth and sky, of sea and land, of man and woman. And finally:
God looked at everything he had made, and found it very good.(Gen 1:31)
Oh Lord God, in our day, the winds and the rain, the waters of the sea are raging mightily, flowing over the land with a fury at times with no shape and no form. It is fearful and we are afraid. Help us Oh Lord our God, to remember always these words you have inspired:
God looked at everything he had made, and found it very good.
We make this prayer through our Lord Jesus Christ who lives in unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
Give us hope.
by Father David O. Brown, O.S.M.
A Quote to Remember
“Never tire of firmly speaking out in defense of life from its conception and do not
be deterred from the commitment to defend the dignity of every human person
with courageous determination. Christ is with you: be not afraid!”
by St. John Paul II
Interviews
General Articles/Commentaries
My Two Abortions
by Anonymous Commonweal
Despicable,' 'repugnant,' 'extremist': Pro-life activists respond to Bernie Sanders on abortion
by Christine Rousselle Catholic News Agency
Abortion groups in South Africa can't find doctors willing to perform abortions
by Catholic News Agency
Following state, federal funding cuts, two abortion clinics close in Cincinnati
by Catholic News Agency
Over 2,000 Fetal Remains Found at Ex-Abortion Doctor's Home
by Associated Press/US News
Link to Abortion
Holy Name Cathedral Opens New Healing Ministry
by Mary Ann Ahern NBC5 Chicago
Latest Pew survey a case of good-news, bad-news for American religious leaders
by Elise Harris Crux
Church builds homes for migrants in Papua New GuineaProject aims to move workers from disease-ridden squatter camps in East New Britain provincial capital Kokopo by Michael MacLachlan, La Croix International Link to Homeless
Rikers Island prison ‘has got to go,’ says New York cardinal
by Christopher White Crux
Link to Prison Challenges
Religion in the age of Trump
by Ali A Olomi America
Sturzo in Exile. The Democratic Legacy of an Italian Priest
by Massimo Faggioli Commonweal
Agreement between China and the Vatican, Year I
by Nicolas Senèze La Croix International
Link to Catholicism and China
US Cardinal leads protest against brutal treatment of child migrants
by Independent Catholic News
Link to Separation of Children from their Parents
Ireland: Archbishop Martin speaks on 'What is the role of faith in our politics?
by Independent Catholic News
Season of Creation by Tony Magliano Franciscan Action Network
The Personalism of John Henry Newman
by John F. CrosbyThe Catholic Thing
South African bishops: Government must protect women, girls from murder
by Bronson Philpott, Catholic News Service/National Catholic Reporter
Link to Murder
Commitment to peace the answer to language of hate
by Christopher White America
Link to Catholic/Jewish Challenges and to Fear, Hate, Prejudice, and Discrimination against Others
Does mental illness make you violent?
by Sofia Carozza Patheos
Link to Mental Health/Illness and to General Violence Challenges
To reach young people, we must be honest about our broken church
by Mary Ann Spanjers, O.S.F. America
Link to Youth Outreach/Protection
Why the Arizona Supreme Court ruling in favor of our art studio is a win for everyone
by Joanna Duka and Breanna Koski Religion New Service
A modern-day saint for those suffering addiction
by Aleteia
Link to Substance Use/Addiction
Suicide is on the rise - What can the Catholic Church do to help?
by Mary Farrow Nation/The Pilot
Link to Suicide/Assisted Suicide/Euthanasia
Pope Francis: Life imprisonment forgoes the ‘right to start over’
by Courtney Grogan Catholic News Agency/Angelus
How one Catholic group is fighting for justice in Nigeria’s troubled prison system
by Linus Unah America
Catholic agency works to ‘correct vaccine myths’ during Congo’s Ebola fight
by Crux Staff
Link to Ebola
Priest’s murder latest violent attack against Church personnel in Brazil’s capital
by Eduardo Campos America
Link to Murdered Priests
Evangelizing with the courtesy of Christ
by Fr. Charles Fox The Dispatch/ Catholic World Report
Link to Evangelization
Nuns hope to be disciples of hope in changing landscape of human trafficking
by Claire Giangravé Religion News Service Link to Prison Challenges
New program for victim-survivors of abuse by priests begins in LA, five California dioceses by Pablo Kay Angelus Link to Sexual Violence Against Women
Please support one of our organizations and people who need help
Please send a donation for help save the life of my close friend Alwin Rex in India. Please read the article How do we love our neighbor as ourselves? and send a donation of $10.00 or more to help cover his healthcare costs to Father Thomas Ayyaneth, Syro Malankara Catholic Eparchial Chancery,1500 DePaul Street, Elmont, New York 11003, USA with a notation that the donation is for Alwin Rex. Father Thomas will process donations and send them to his pastor.
Thank you
Gordon Nary
Editor, Profiles in Catholicism
When Children are Set Free
by Father Shay Cullen Preda Foundation
Book Reviews/Commentaries
Symbol or Substance?: A dialogue on the Eucharist
by Peter Kreeft
Reviewed by Eileen Quinn Knight, Ph.D Profiles in Catholicism.
Because God is Real: Sixteen Questions, One Answer
by Peter Kreeft
Reviewed by Eileen Quinn Knight, Ph.D Profiles in Catholicism.
Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?: And Other Conversations About Race
by Beverly Daniel Tatum
Reviewed by Eileen Quinn Knight, Ph.D Profiles in Catholicism.
A Love Supreme
by Father John O'Brien, OFM
Reviewed by Eileen Quinn Knight, Ph.D Profiles in Catholicism.
The 21: A Journey into the Land of Coptic Martyrs
by Martin Mosback
Reviewed by Daniel Philpott La Croix International
TV Reviews/Commentaries
Carol’s Second Act’: Part 1
Commentary by Kate O'Hare Patheos
Chernobyl
Review by Mike Seay AmericaEvil
Commentary by Nick Ripatrazone America
Feasting with the Saints
Prayers
A Prayer for Those Who Have Suffered Abuse by the Clergy
God, in your providential love you comfort those who are wounded and afflicted.
Hear our prayers for those who have suffered abuse by those in their families or by those entrusted with their care. In a special way, we pray for those who suffered abuse by clergy who betrayed a sacred trust and who were meant to stand for your loving presence in their lives. May those who have been hurt find support and encouragement in communities of faith, hope, and love. May they discover healing in genuinely loving and caring relationship. May they reclaim hope for themselves. May they be strengthened and confirmed in their resolve to set things aright. May they rest in you who make all things work for the good.
Amen
by Father Louis Cameli Profiles in Catholicism
A Prayer to End Gun Violence
Lord Jesus, as you approached the city of Jerusalem,
Before your passion,
As your people waved palms in your honor,
You saw the city and wept over it because you
Loved it.
You knew of the violence and chaos you would suffer
In that beloved city
still you loved it and wept over it.
Lord Jesus, look upon our cities, weep over them,
Love them and protect them.
Weep over us and strengthen us as we suffer
Violence and chaos.
Weep over us and love us.
Lord Jesus, weep over us and love us. (See Lk 19)
by Father David O. Brown, O.S.M.. Profiles in Catholicism
A Prayer for Migrant Children
Good Lord, who said “Whoever receives one of these little ones, receives me,” bless the little ones who are caught in the struggle of migration, separation, and abuse. Give all those adults who are responsible for them and for their welfare the wisdom and courage to do the children justice and to protect them. Make our hearts more ,loving and willing to do the right thing by them. May we see in all people young and old your image and so reverence their great dignity. We make our prayer through you who came among us as a child and who was forced to flee the threat of violence Amen
by Father Louis Cameli Profiles in Catholicism
An Encounter with Silence
Loving God, I come before you to pray for my brothers and sisters, your children and members of Christ’s body, at the southern border of the United States today.
What we read of their suffering seems nothing less than a Passion for thousands. Little children crowded into cells where they scarcely have room to stand. Without decent sanitation or food, separated from their families, the older ones taking care of the younger.
God of mercy, I believe that you live within whatever and whoever I am, the ground of my existence, its gracious cause and hope, its true future, its blessed promise of eternal life. I could not always have said so much. But now through your grace I do believe it.
But God of all, I am shaken in that faith when I read of what is happening on the threshold of my country. Are not the women and men and children there also vessels of your eternal presence? Many of them, most perhaps, from what we call the Northern Triangle, have indeed been baptized. But your incarnate Word is addressed to all of them. Your Spirit of freedom hovers over all of them
by Leo J. O’Donovan, S.J .America
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