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  • Writer's pictureProfiles in Catholicism
    • Mar 27, 2020
    • 15 min read

April 1, 2020 Profiles In Catholicism

Updated: Mar 31, 2020



A Message from the Editor

Many years ago, I had the joy of teaching art to autistic children. This issue of Profiles in Catholicism has a special focus on autism and reminds me of this extraordinary experience.

With the number of global cases of coronavirus exploding daily, we hope that our readers may want to contribute to an organization that helps coronavirus victims. For more information on recommended organizations, go to Charities Providing Direct Relief for the Coronavirus Outbreak. We update our Coronavirus web daily so check it often for the most current information.

Please remember what Saint Augustine said “Bad times — this what people keep saying. But let us live well and times shall be good. Such as we are, such are the times."

I deeply appreciate the thoughtfulness of Francis Etheredge who added my recommendation about his book The Prayerful Kiss on the back cover of the book. I recommend this beautiful book to all o our readers.

Please reflect on the value of human life. We pray that our readers will consider the needs of those people and organizations in our Advocacy section. A small donation in any amount will help save and improve lives. We pray that some of our readers may send a donation to Francis Otieno who is the only caregiver for children affected by HIV/AIDS in a part of Kenya. These children could die without donations from our readers A donation in the smallest amount will help protect their lives.

Profiles in Catholicism is sent to several thousand people in 63 counties including South Vietnam which was recently added. Your donation of $5.00 or more helps to support our global educational service, If you find Profiles in Catholicism helpful, please make a donation by going to https://www.catholicprofiles.org/donate

Profiles in Catholicism is deeply grateful for the beautiful prayer by Father Louis Cameli for those who send donations to help support our mission.

A Quote to Remember

"Very often the hardships of everyday life, loneliness, and worries for the future can prevail over hope. Aware of how important and necessary it is to stimulate efforts in this sector for the improvement of services and the promotion of research, just as it is essential to support autistic people and their families … our heart cannot but feel strongly confirmed in hope. … In a time in which often we struggle to find reasons to hope, and especially when faced with problems linked to autistic spectrum disorders, that are often not easily diagnosed and also, especially in families, not easily accepted without shame or retreating into solitude, we are called to place our trust in God. … Although by definition hope looks to the future, it is rooted in today of God, Who loves us and seeks us tirelessly. … God is boundless goodness and benevolence; He cares for His children and never abandons those whom He has called to enter into His communion, whatever difficulties there may be."

by Pope Francis

Special Prayer


A Prayer of St. Francis for Autism


Lord, let thy peace fill me up until I overflow;

that where people cannot speak, I may be their advocate;

that where anyone is rejected, I may extend my arms in welcome;

that where parents are heavily burdened, I may offer a word of comfort; that where our children struggle, I may lift them up and cheer; that where some see disability, I may reveal to them extraordinary gifts; that where others judge, I may share with them my deep gladness; and that where any are overlooked, I may help the lights of all to shine.

Oh, the giver of these gifts,

grant that I may not so much seek to be reassured as to reassure;

to be praised as to praise;

to be accepted as to accept;

for it is in all our uncertainty that we are inspired to hope;

it is in great challenges that we discover our greatest joys,

and it is in our community of wanderers that we find the way home.

Amen.

by Tim Tucker

Provided by the National Catholic Partnership on Disability Autism Task Force

Pope Francis’ Prayer to Mary during the coronavirus pandemic


O Mary,

you always shine on our path

as a sign of salvation and of hope.

We entrust ourselves to you, Health of the Sick,

who at the cross took part in Jesus’ pain, keeping your faith firm.

You, Salvation of the Roman People,

know what we need,

and we are sure you will provide

so that, as in Cana of Galilee,

we may return to joy and to feasting

after this time of trial.

Help us, Mother of Divine Love,

to conform to the will of the Father

and to do as we are told by Jesus,

who has taken upon himself our sufferings

and carried our sorrows

to lead us, through the cross,

to the joy of the resurrection. Amen.

Under your protection, we seek refuge, the Holy Mother of God. Do not disdain the entreaties of we who are in trial, but deliver us from every danger, O glorious and blessed Virgin.


by Pope Francis


This Prayer was recommended by Father Hans Zollner, S.J., Please read his biography in Wikipedia. Also for our US readers, please watch Father Zollner on “Inside the Vatican," slated to air 9-11 p.m. EDT April 28 on PBS.


A Prayer for the Children Affected by the HIV/AIDS Pandemic in Kenya


Dear God of healing and hope,


The severe children's epidemic in Kenya that we ask you to help. Many times we know how you’d like us to react but our own discomforts and uneasiness cloud your vision for us. We know you to be a welcoming God perfectly exemplified in the person of Jesus, the one we call Christ One who extends grace to all people. May Mother Mary guide us in our plan to help all children in need.


O God, too often this is the case when we talk about HIV and AIDS. We’d rather not think about how it was contracted, but at the same time, that is all we can think about. Too often we get caught up in a spirit of retributive justice, rather than responding out of the grace that was first extended to us.


Help us, Gracious One, to truly follow the ways of the One who healed without question, even on the Sabbath, instead of perpetuating a culture of “unclean” lepers. And challenge us to accept that our passing judgment against segments of our society contributes to new HIV infections rather than reducing them. Open our eyes—give us 20/20 vision—so that we may see that racism, homophobia, bi-phobia, and trans-phobia, in addition to a general reluctance to think about children becoming prey to the epidemic of HIV-AIDS in the continuing rise of HIV-infection rates that are falling on the lives of children.


May your Holy Spirit comfort those children who are hurting and dying. Hold them in your loving embrace and in your healing and mercy, Amen.


by Eileen Quinn Knight, Ph.D. Vice-president Profiles in Catholicism


To help save a child affected by HIV/AIDS in Kenya, please send a donation of $10,00 to my friend

Francis Otieno who cares for these children. You can make a donation via PayPal and the instructions are at the end of his interview.


A Prayer for Those Who Have Made Donations to Profiles in Catholicism


God most kind,

Bless all those who have supported Profiles in Catholicism

with their donations and kind words of support.

Let their generosity bear much fruit.

Let those of us who benefit from this publication

be ever mindful of them and grateful for their gift. Amen


by Father Louis Cameli Profiles In Catholicism


Interviews


General Articles/Commentaries

Please support one of our organizations and people who need help

Book Reviews/Commentaries


Film Reviews/Commentaries

Television Reviews/Commentaries

Feasting with the Saints

Remembering Those Who Have Passed


A Poem in the Time of Plague

Lockdown by Brother Richard:


Yes there is fear.

Yes there is isolation.

Yes there is panic buying.

Yes there is sickness.

Yes there is even death.

But,

They say that in Wuhan after so many years of noise

You can hear the birds again.

They say that after just a few weeks of quiet

The sky is no longer thick with fumes

But blue and grey and clear.

They say that in the streets of Assisi

People are singing to each other

across the empty squares,

keeping their windows open

so that those who are alone

may hear the sounds of family around them.

They say that a hotel in the West of Ireland

Is offering free meals and delivery to the housebound.

Today a young woman I know

is busy spreading fliers with her number

through the neighbourhood

So that the elders may have someone to call on.

Today Churches, Synagogues, Mosques and Temples

are preparing to welcome

and shelter the homeless, the sick, the weary

All over the world people are slowing down and reflecting

All over the world people are looking at their neighbours in a new way

All over the world people are waking up to a new reality

To how big we really are.

To how little control we really have.

To what really matters.

To Love.

So we pray and we remember that

Yes there is fear.

But there does not have to be hate.

Yes there is isolation.

But there does not have to be loneliness.

Yes there is panic buying.

But there does not have to be meanness.

Yes there is sickness.

But there does not have to be disease of the soul


Videos

Study: Autistic Kids Struggle in the Catholic Church


Kathy Labosh The Child with Autism Learns about Faith

Autistic Children Should Receive First Communion


TCWA Sleeping Tips For Children With Autism


Fr. Matthew P. Schneider, LC: Big Announcement, "I'm Autistic"


Message of Fatima Tim Staples - Answering Anti-Jesuit Myths


Fishermen Are Largely Invisible Victims of Trafficking and Forced Labor


Rosary rallies draw thousands of young Catholics across Poland


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