Prayers of the Faithful

During the Prayers of the Faithful at Mass, we pray intercessory prayers for general situations: the Pope’s intentions and for the local bishop, for the protection of life from conception to natural death, for those in difficult times such as seeking employement or dealing with illness.

On an everyday basis, we ask for intercessory prayer for specific intentions: please pray for my dad just learned that he’s being laid off, my niece Sally went into premature labor, my neighbor’s five year old has cancer. (all hypothetical for this post)

There are two situations I intend to pray for until resolution and invite others to join in that prayer.

The first is Fr. Michael Sinnott.  Since my Oct. 11 post, I’ve looked for updates but have found only that he had been sighted soon after his abduction by Islamic whatever you want to call people who go around kidnapping people.  Being kidnapped would be an ordeal for anyone, but Fr. Sinnott is 79 with a serious heart condition.  Today there is a report that he was alive holding an October 22 newspaper while relaying his kidnappers’ demand for a ransom. 

The second is Rifqa Bary, a 17 year old convert to Christianity from Islam, who ran to Florida from her home in Ohio, saying her father had threatened to kill her.  She came to the attention of the Florida authorities. The FL judge said he wouldn’t return Rifqa to Ohio until he saw the family’s immigration papers and threatened contempt of court if her parents didn’t provide them. The parents apparently had nothing to present and kept stalling. The father’s attorney offered a “deal” and that the parents would leave Rifqa alone when returned to Ohio in exchange with the contempt charge being dropped.  When Rifqu was back in Ohio, the parents fired their attorney and reneged on their part of the “deal.”

At this point, Rifqa’s contact (phone, Internet) with the outside world is limited and monitored. She doesn’t even attend school, completing “virtual” coursework while confined to the house.  That in itself is wrong on so many levels.

November 16 is the date of Rifqa’s dependency hearing and also a rally for her.

August 10, 2010 is apparently Rifqa’s 18th birthday when all this will be a moot point.  That is, assuming she gets past the threatened honor killing and/or return to Sri Lanka.

My immediate prayer concern is for her as she is cooped up in a house with no outside contact for nearly three weeks (she was returned a few days ago), that the Lord provide whatever her needs are.

Bagels 1, Tastykakes 1

This is as close as I’ll get to keeping track of this year’s Series.  I never did figure out how to hook up the converter box so I’ve been without television since June – and haven’t missed it. Until now, that is.  There’s something to hearing a game live, so I’ll have to figure out which radio station carries the Yankee games.

Bagels after first game

Zenit’s story  Bagels and Tastykakes Are on the Line describes the “friendly wager” between Archbishop Dolan and Cardinal Rigali. Regardless of the outcome of the Series, both cities have winners in their bishops. (h/t to Cleansing Fire)

Spiritual Stockpot

While thinking about some posts that will be very belated by the time I write them, it occurred to me necessary to make a disclaimer.  My experience at Madonna House and the writings of Catherine de Hueck Doherty have greatly influenced me and I’m likely to refer to those writings to make a point.  My views are my own, however, and don’t necessarily reflect the Madonna House apostolate.  Various experiences and writings have contributed to my spiritual growth and like the vegetables and herbs tossed into a stockpot, have simmered into a voice, faithful to Church teaching yet not exactly the same as the various ingredients that went into producing it.

Secular Translation

 

At first, I was concerned about perpetuating an inaccurate stereotype, but then realized this doesn’t do so.  I couldn’t resist the humor.

From lolcats.

Archbishop Burke Named to the Congregation of Bishops

From Saint Louis Catholic is a piece on Archbishop Burke’s appointment to the Congregation of Bishops, which recommends bishop appointments to the pope.  Very good news for the Church as a whole and Rochester in particular.

Threats, Intimidation, Assault

Excerpted from a press release from the Right to Life of Central California:

“…the pattern of threats and intimidation targeted at pro-life volunteers, that escalated into an assault Thursday afternoon … a pro-choice woman shouted obscenities at 40 Days volunteers, before attempting to break the event security camera and assaulting Victor Fierro … Local media ignored the story of yesterday’s assault …”

The video is here.

Good News and Bad News

Good news is that Fr. Damien is now St. Damien (I’ve seen it spelled both Damian and Damien), one of the five saints canonized today by Pope Benedict XVI.  Earlier this month, the pope awarded the papal Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice medal to Mother Angelica and Deacon Steltemeier of EWTN , honoring and validating their work for the Church.  In Rochester, at least one more baby will live, thanks to local pro-lifers, as reported by Lee Strong. 

Bad news is that a 78 year old Irish priest, Fr.  Michael Sinnott, was kidnapped at gunpoint by Islamic militants in the southern Philippines, in yet another act against Christians that will probably get the sound of crickets.  

Prayers for Fr. Sinnott, all those affected by anti-Christian violence, the 40 Days for Life campaign, all those affected by abortion.

As always, women and men in the diocese of Rochester affected by abortion can call Project Rachel at 1-888- 972-2435.

Bob Hope nails it – Updated

The jaw-dropping news yesterday that Obama had won – and I find it difficult to both in the same sentence – the Nobel Peace Prize must’ve had people wondering if they were reading a news source or The Onion. 

Humor turned out to save the day.  All day, I heard headlines and snippets that had me chuckling.   It continues today such as today’s Augusta Chronicle is this cartoon.  … h/t

I would have loved to have gathered all the funnies but didn’t.  Fortunately a Free Republic poster did do a round-up on his blog.  Some of the ones I particularly like:

Obama Destroys Deathstar. Saves Endor

BREAKING! Obama catches Roadrunner!!!

BREAKING! IOC reconvenes and hands 2016 games to Chicago — new name is “BOlympics”

World Series Cancelled – Baseball Commissioner awards Series to Obama due to his “intention to win”

Barack Obama Wins $10 Million Publishers Clearing House Sweepstakes!

Obama Replaces Lennon and Harrison, Reunites the Beatles!

Obama Finds Nobel Prize in Cracker Jack Box

Breaking News: Obama finds Waldo

BREAKING: Pillsbury Bake-Off prize goes to Obama!

Obama Breaks the Speed of Light (Einstein Rolls over in Grave)

Breaking! Bill Ayers wins Nobel Literature prize for “Dreams From my Father”!

USGS to create new center of the Universe medallion

Breaking- Obama wears white after Labor Day

BREAKING! OBAMA WINS WORLD SERIES FOR CUBS!

Update:  The list keeps growing….  (vast right wing conspiracy has the updated list)

The best headline and article is Mark Steyn’s Nobel tops ‘SNL’ for Obama joke.  The headline reminded me of the  poor late night hosts who said they couldn’t find anything funny about Obama.

Perhaps the funny bones of the late night hosts had a case of hypothermia induced by the Prez and those around him.  In response to yesterday’s humor,  CNN reports that “A Democratic National Committee spokesman said Friday the GOP has “thrown in its lot with the terrorists” in criticizing the president’s Nobel Peace Prize award.”   Gee, who’d a thunk that humor about a sitting president was on par with terrorism?  I don’t recall that being the case when Bush was in office. 

Nor did it occur to me that Bob Hope had “thrown (his) lot in with the terrorists.” Hope probably would have considered yesterday a gold mine. Having ribbed presidents for decades, he once said that only the great presidents knew how to poke fun at themselves. His observation still stands.

Best Comment for Nobel prize news

Of the all the reactions so far to Obama winning a Nobel prize, the best is Drew M’s at Ace of Spade’s HQ.