Pope's prayer intentions for November

I always like starting a new month of blogging with the Pope's prayer intentions, which for November are:

"That all the men and women in the world, especially those who have responsibilities in the field of politics and economics, may never fail in their commitment to safeguard creation".

His mission intention is: "That believers in the different religions, through the testimony of their lives and fraternal dialogue, may clearly demonstrate that the name of God is a bearer of peace".

Detroit archdiocese losing $42k a day, lays off 1/3 of staff

Long-overdue budget cuts for the Catholic Church in motor city:

The Archdiocese of Detroit announced major cuts today, slashing its central staff by 29% because of a $14.5-million operating deficit, a spokesman said.

It will reduce its central staff from 264 to 187, one of the biggest reductions in years, said Joe Kohn, an official with the archdiocese. And it plans to sell the Gabriel Richard building on Michigan Avenue in downtown Detroit, one of its main offices.

The archdiocese oversees 1.4 million Catholics in metro Detroit, the largest religious denomination in the region. But the slumping economy has taken its toll on the church's financial and property investments. And tithing is down between 5% and 10%, compared to previous years.

In a meeting today at St. Aloysius Catholic Church in downtown Detroit, Archbishop Allen Vigneron announced the changes. (Detroit Free Press)

Also on the chopping block: the Michigan Catholic, which will no longer receive a subsidy from the archdiocese.

Please pray for the Catholic Church in Detroit. I have many ties there.

From Archbishop Dolan, 4 tips for fostering vocations

The newly-installed Archbishop of New York City, Archbishop Timothy Dolan, uses this Year for Priests to give us laity four distinct ways of promoting vocations:

The first, said Archbishop Dolan, is by emphasizing the vocation of marriage and family. Citing data from a Pew Research Center study, Archbishop Dolan stated that only about 50% of Catholic young people are approaching the sacrament of marriage.

“Taking care of the first crisis will take care of the second,” said Archbishop Dolan. “Vocations to the priesthood and religious life come from lifelong, life-giving faithful marriages.”

Secondly, Archbishop Dolan spoke of re-creating a culture of vocations.

“There were no good old days in the Church,” said Archbishop Dolan. “Every era in Church history has its horrors and difficulties.”

“We need to recapture the climate/tenor/tone/ambiance in the Church where a boy or man isn’t afraid to publicly say, ‘I want to be a priest,’ and where his family, relatives, neighbors, parish, priest, sisters, teachers and even non-Catholics are robustly supportive.”

Thirdly, Archbishop Dolan said that the laity need to not be afraid to ask their priests to help them be holy.

“For a faithful Catholic, a priest is essential for growth in holiness because he gives us the sacraments, and without the sacraments we can’t be holy,” said Archbishop Dolan. “When you ask us to help you be holy, we realize that we must be holy, and you remind us that there is something unique in the Church that only a priest can do.”

Finally, Archbishop Dolan said that priests must be reminded that they are here to help the laity get to heaven.

“A priest is an icon of the beyond, the eternal, the transcendent,” said Archbishop Dolan. “Heaven gives us hope and meaning in life.”

Archbishop Dolan's pastoral voice is featured prominently in this excellent vocations video by Grassroots Films I published on AmP yesterday.

Pope Benedict's prayer intentions for September

Are....

Pope Benedict XVI's general prayer intention for September is: "That the word of God may be better known, welcomed and lived as the source of freedom and joy".

His mission intention is: "That Christians in Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar, who often meet with great difficulties, may not be discouraged from announcing the Gospel to their brothers, trusting in the strength of the Holy Spirit".

Amen.

Pray for Bishop Richard Stika of Knoxville {updated}

The new Bishop of Knoxville, Richard Stika, experienced a heart attack while in Florida over the weekend. According to a statement from the acting diocesan spokeswoman, he is "responsive and doing well." But of course, we should still keep him in our prayers.

Bishop Stika was installed in March of this year.

update - 11AM:

Deacon Sean Smith, chancellor of the Diocese of Knoxville, offers the following update regarding Bishop Richard F. Stika:

As we now understand it, Bishop Stika traveled to Florida to visit a sick friend and became ill with severe flu-like symptoms, which precipitated a diabetic crisis. Although the Bishop suffered a mild heart attack related to the diabetic crisis, his heart was thoroughly examined and found to be in great shape.

He had a very good night and is stable and responding well to his treatment. He is looking forward to returning home to Knoxville.

I am in contact with Bishop Stika’s doctors hourly and will continue to update you all as I get new information. Let us give thanks for this encouraging information and pray for his continued recovery.

Amen.

AP: Catholic basketball coach paid for mistress's abortion

An AmP reader sent me this sad story of the men's basketball coach Rick Pitino, a Catholic father of five, who apparently paid his mistress $3,000 to have an abortion.

Being a party to an abortion results in an automatic excommunication, so in addition to the significant legal problems Mr. Pitino is facing, he also ought to urgently seek reconciliation with the Church.

The Associated Press article claims that Pitino "brings along a priest who's a close friend and spiritual adviser on many team trips". 

I hope that this priest is helping Mr. Pitino and his family.

Let's say a quick prayer for men whose job keeps them away from their families for long periods of time. I'm not condoning at all what Mr. Pitino did but certainly this can be an occasion of temptation.

update: My father, Canon Lawyer Ed Peters, takes a look at the canonical consequences arising from the abortion in this case.

Claim: Legion founder Maciel had multiple children; other details emerging

For some time, I have refrained from reporting on the ongoing saga of the Legionaries of Christ out of deference for the canonical visitation which is taking place.

AmP was the first major blog to report the scandal of Maciel having a biological child, and became a hub for accurate reporting on the story in the tumultuous weeks that followed.

However, because the most recent round of news changes the situation dramatically, I will report on it as well. The conclusions of the apostolic visit cannot be expected for some time, but individuals who are still in the Legion or Regnum Christi deserve to know what is happening now.

Multiple stories from Mexico report that three additional individuals claiming to be children of Fr. Maciel are suing the Legion of Christ for inheritance rights. It appears the original daughter of Maciel, and her mother, were supported by Legion money (i.e. money contributed by Catholic faithful for supporting Fr. Maciel's work). 

The mother claims she was a minor when her relationship with Fr. Maciel began. And it appears that "highly placed officials" in the Legion knew of this situation and where complicit in it. Details beyond this are sketchy, but it appears probable now that there are even more children than the ones mentioned (the most frequent number I hear is six total). 

If you are interested in the details, two ex-LC blogs provide them: Life-after-RC and Ex LC Blog.

These new allegations suggest several conclusions:

• Fr. Maciel was an extraordinary, calculating fraud and he ought to be acknowledged as such by the leaders of the Legion and Regnum Christi alike
• The breadth of Fr. Maciel's crimes makes it nearly impossible that other members of the Legion did not know of them, and they ought to be brought to justice
• The serious financial infraction of misusing lay resources (money, property, etc) for the upkeep of Fr. Maciel's mistress and his other escapades demands restitution
• The ongoing revelations about Fr. Maciel and his enablers requires an intense examination, person-by-person, of those still charged with the movement's leadership

In the face of these conclusions, the choice made by increasing numbers of Legionary and Regnum Christi members - to simply leave the order and begin anew - to my mind, is the most prudent way to respond. Most of these individuals have left quietly, and I have no desire to point them out, but it is happening and I have not yet heard of anyone regretting that decision. Life in the Church, after all, can always be wonderful, even outside a movement.

For both those who decide to stay in the Legion/Regnum Christi and for those who have left, I would firmly admonish them to assist in every way possible with the ongoing apostolic visitation. 

There have been some scattered reports of Legion/Regnum Christi members attempting to thwart the visitation (I do not necessarily give credence to these reports), but obviously the primary obedience of any faithful Catholic is to the Holy See and its elected representatives (Christ speaks through His vicar the pope, not Fr. Maciel). For LC/RC in the United States and Canada the representative of the Holy Father is Archbishop Charles Chaput.

To contact Abp. Chaput, send an email with the subject line "PRIVATE" to "shepherd [at] archden.org" (without the brackets and spaces). Emails ought to be VERY SHORT and to the point. Every email will be read eventually.

For those of us outside the Legion and Regnum Christi, let us continue to pray for all the members, and if we personally know anyone who has been or is a member, let us charitably reach out to them if they welcome it. Oremus pro invicem.

[photo credit: chamorros1976]

What *not* to learn from the tragic shooting in Pittsburgh

As many of you are probably aware:

A gunman walked into an LA Fitness gym outside Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, turned off the lights and fired off 50 rounds, killing three women before killing himself Tuesday evening, police said.

The man didn't speak but was carrying a gym bag with a note inside it. He was found dead in the gym lying on top a gun about 7 feet away from a victim, said Charles Moffatt, Allegheny County police superintendent.

At least 10 other people were injured in the barrage of bullets that sent people in the gym ducking for cover, Moffatt said.

A law enforcement source identified the gunman as George Sodini, a 48-year-old gym member. (CNN)

First of all, we ought to pray for the victims, and for Sodini.

Unfortunately, it appears Sodini's online journal contain references to his theology. He said:

"Maybe soon, I will see God and Jesus. At least that is what I was told. Eternal life does NOT depend on works. If it did, we will all be in hell," Sodini apparently wrote, before adding later, "I was reading the Bible and The Integrity of God beginning yesterday, because soon I will see them."

I need not point out that this disturbed individual also has a deeply-flawed theology. And I hope no one takes this tragedy as an opportunity to blame Christianity for this man's evil actions.

If commenters want to point out the real Christian witness in this drama, it is here:

Relatives and friends of those who'd been inside the fitness center eventually were directed to the Bower Hill Volunteer Fire Department on Vanadium Road in Scott to await word on the dead and wounded.

There, they were comforted by crisis counselors and priests from the Pittsburgh Catholic Diocese -- the Revs. Kim Schreck, John Naugle and Joseph Freedy, who were sent to the fire hall by Bishop David Zubik.

Father Freedy had been one of the first to the gym after the shooting, Father Schreck said. Father Freedy, who had been passing by, ministered to panicked club members in the fitness center parking lot and also comforted some of the wounded before contacting the bishop.

Bishop Zubik then dispatched the three priests to the fire hall, and the bishop himself visited the wounded and their families at the three hospitals.

"We're here so we can help, perhaps, some with their spiritual needs," Father Schreck explained.

The priests listened to, counseled and prayed with more than a dozen people inside the fire hall "whether they were traumatized by the incident or here for a loved one," he said.

Asked what he told people in such situations, he said, "Evil is real. For whatever reason, this man acted in a horrible way, and we suffered because of it. Some people blame God, but He is here in us. The Lord is with us in our suffering."

Amen.

Papist Pic: Hulk Hogan wears rosary at divorce hearings

AmP reader Anthony send in this June 14th picture of Hulk Hogan in his divorce proceedings.

Pope Benedict's prayer intentions for August

The Vatican Information Service does not operate throughout the month of August, so this is the last bulletin we'll see in awhile....

BENEDICT XVI'S PRAYER INTENTIONS FOR AUGUST

VATICAN CITY, 31 JUL 2008 (VIS) - Pope Benedict's general prayer intention for August is: "That public opinion may be more aware of the problems of millions of displaced persons and refugees, and that concrete solutions may be found for their often tragic situation".

His mission intention is: "That those Christians who are discriminated against and persecuted in many countries because of the name of Christ may have their human rights, equality and religious freedom recognised, in order to be able to live and profess their own faith freely".

Pope: "My own guardian angel did not prevent my injury, certainly following superior orders"

Pope Benedict reflected today on the lessons he could learn from his recent tumble - and about the agency of his guardian angel. 

It's not hard to imagine the grin on his face that must have accompanied these words:

Pope Benedict XVI said Wednesday that his "guardian angel" let him down when he fell and broke his wrist earlier this month, but that the angel was clearly acting "on superior orders."

The pope thanked law enforcement officials for being "like angels," as he prepared to depart Les Combes, the Alpine resort where he tripped and injured his wrist 10 days ago while on vacation.

"Unfortunately, my own guardian angel did not prevent my injury, certainly following superior orders," Benedict said.

"Perhaps the Lord wanted to teach me more patience and humility, give me more time for prayer and meditation," the pope added.

Benedict leaves Les Combes, near the French border, later Wednesday to spend the rest of the summer in Castel Gandolfo, a papal retreat near Rome. (AP)

We should keep the pope in our close prayers. It's no fun to have a sprained wrist at 82.

Cool: Year for Priest T-Shirts!

AmP reader Phil:

Hello, I thought I would send you an e-mail about some Year for Priests T-Shirts that I have been designing. These t-shirts are apart of my online apostolate Digital Catholic, where I design Catholic Wallpapers and Catholic T-Shirts. I am just trying to spread the news about the Year for Priests in hopes of getting more people involved in praying and supporting our priests!

I can support that:

Year For Priests T-Shirt by digitalcatholic
See other Tridentine T-Shirts

Pope Benedict fractures wrist - prayers asked

New York Times:

Pope Benedict XVI fractured his right wrist in a fall Friday morning while on vacation in northern Italy, the Vatican said.

In a statement, the Vatican said that the pope had slipped in his room in the chalet where he is staying in the mountainous Valle d’Aosta region, but was well enough to eat breakfast and celebrate Mass before being taken by car to the local hospital.

“It’s nothing serious,” the Vatican spokesman, the Rev. Federico Lombardi, said in a telephone interview . He said that the pope’s wrist had been “immobilized.”

Doctors operated on the pope’s wrist for about 20 minutes, Reuters reported, and he will have to wear a cast for about a month.

Whispers has several updates, including that the Holy Father has been released from the hospital. 

I thought this was admirable:

Italian news footage shows pope walked inside hospital emergency room with his aides.

Pope insisted he get no special treatment at hospital. He waited his turn for X-ray, operating room.

Well, he's first in line for my prayers today.

Noted: Barack Obama to meet Pope Benedict at 10AM EST tomorrow

I'll be updating the AmP countdown above to make sure the time is correct (Eastern Standard Time). 

Many Catholics, including myself, are praying for a successful meeting. I will post details about the meeting as they become known tomorrow.

Photo: Archbishop Dolan prays at Ground Zero

Source: New York Daily News.

I found this image very powerful. Let's stop and say a prayer for the victims of 9-11 and of all terrorism.

... and after that, how about a serious open thread discussion about Archbishop Timothy Dolan as papabili?

Pope Benedict's Prayer Intentions for July

Whoops! This month snuck up on me. Here they are:

Pope Benedict's general prayer intention for July is: "That the Christians of the Middle East may live their faith in full freedom and be an instrument of peace and reconciliation".

His mission intention is: "That the Church may be the seed and nucleus of a humanity reconciled and reunited in God's one and only family, thanks to the testimony of all the faithful in every country of the world".

Cliff-note version: Christians in the Middle East have a unique challenge and opportunity // Christians around the world have a unique identity and mission to preach and bear witness to the Good News.

Sunday project: pray for a pro-abortion politician

It's a straightforward concept, requiring no elaborate explanation from yours truly.

I'm going to pray for John Dingell of Michigan.

People who choose Pelosi should probably get some sort of special indulgence.

Heartbreaking: NYT on "Choosing not to keep the baby"

Over at the New York Times blog "Motherlode: Adventures in Parenting", a heartbreaking story:

When asked for advice, Motherlode readers come through, and last week more than 700 of you poured out your thoughts to Emmie, a young woman unexpectedly pregnant as she is about to start a grueling and prestigious Master’s degree program.

I heard from her yesterday. I will let her explain in her own words what she decided and why. Then I ask you to please return later today to brainstorm ideas on how to transform the surge of compassion that rose up here toward Emmie into real action that can help the many young women who find themselves in her shoes.

Emmie sent me a number of emails laying out her thoughts, and asked me to combine them into one.

[Click here to see what she wrote.]

What is heartbreaking for me is not only the "choice" she has made, but how very close she was to making the right one. If there is anything that should inspire us to try harder to provide for young women experiencing problems in their pregnancy, it is a story like this. Let us pray for Emmie and her soon-to-be-ended young child.

Pope's Prayer Intenions for June

From the Vatican Information Service:

Pope Benedict's general prayer intention for June is: "That international attention towards the poorer countries may give rise to more concrete help, in particular to relieve them of the crushing burden of foreign debt."

His mission intention is: "That the particular Churches operating in regions marked by violence may be sustained by the love and concrete closeness of all the Catholics in the world".

Hiatus for Comps

This week I will be taking comprehensive S.T.B. exams for my next graduate degree in theology, and - God willing - graduating at the end of the week. As a result, blogging will be lighter in the interim.

I would ask for your prayers and understanding in the days ahead. God bless you!

Today: Notre Dame Leadership Holds "MayDay" Meeting

Today the Board of Trustees and Fellows of the University of Notre Dame are meeting.

I believe this gathering to be a defining moment for the future of Notre Dame.

Let us pray that they be granted the wisdom and courage to make good decisions in these difficult circumstances.

Mater nostra, ora pro nobis!

Pope Benedict's prayer intentions for May

Here they are:

Pope Benedict's general prayer intention for May is: "That the laity and the Christian communities may be responsible promoters of priestly and religious vocations".

His mission intention is: "That the recently founded Catholic Churches, grateful to the Lord for the gift of faith, may be ready to share in the universal mission of the Church, offering their availability to preach the Gospel throughout the world".

Time to get on our knees! :)

Prayers: Swine flu empties Mexico City's churches

Catholics in Mexico City were unable to attend Mass today for fear of the swine flu (which Drudge has been reporting):

Churches stood empty Sunday in heavily Roman Catholic Mexico City after services were canceled, and health workers screened airports and bus stations for people sickened by a new strain of swine flu that experts fear could become a global epidemic. (AP)

Here is the communique from the Archdiocese of Mexico.

Let's pray for those who could not attend Mass today, and pray for a speedy end to this outbreak.

President of TAC Thomas Dillon killed in Ireland accident

A tragedy for the vibrant academic community of Thomas Aquinas College, and for all American Catholics:

One of America's leading educators died this morning in a car crash in Dublin, Ireland. Prayers for his wife, four children and 15 grandchildren are urgently needed. The best way to honor him is to support the work he gave his life for: Thomas Aquinas College in California... (Robert Moynihan of Inside the Vatican)

• Here (scroll down the page) is an address given by Dr. Dillon four years ago
• Statement of condolance by the Cardinal Newman Society
• Thomas Aquinas College website with promise of updates

Requiescat in pace!

Cardinal Egan in hospital with stomach pains

He was supposed to have a pacemaker put in his heart:

Cardinal Edward M. Egan remained hospitalized on Sunday with stomach pains as doctors first scheduled and then postponed an operation to install a pacemaker at St. Vincent’s Hospital Manhattan, the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York said on Sunday.

Cardinal Egan, who turned 77 on Thursday, experienced stomach pain and was driven in his private car to St. Vincent’s late Saturday night, and the doctors ordered him held overnight for further testing, said Joseph Zwilling, director of communications for the archdiocese.

On Sunday, doctors scheduled the pacemaker operation for Monday morning, but then postponed the operation, telling Cardinal Egan that it was not an emergency and that he should get his strength back and eliminate his stomach pain first, Mr. Zwilling said. It was unclear on Sunday whether there was a connection between his stomach pains and the recommendation for a pacemaker. (New York Times)

Flash: Strong earthquake hits Italy, 50 miles NE of Rome

Pray for those in Italy:

An earthquake measuring 6.3 on the Richter scale rocked central Italy on Monday, seriously damaging some houses and causing a few structures to collapse in a mountainous region east of Rome, officials said.

A number of people were reported to have been injured and others trapped under rubble in the area where the city of l'Aquila is situated, but officials had few details on the situation.

The quake struck at about 3.35 a.m. (0135 GMT) and was centered in the mountainous Abruzzo region east of Rome. (Reuters)

SkyNews has video.

Pope Benedict's Prayer Intentions for April

Pope Benedict's general prayer intention for April is: "That the Lord may bless farmers' work with an abundant harvest and sensitise the richer populations to the drama of hunger in the world".

There's more than enough food to go around, so let's move it around!

His mission intention is: "That the Christians who operate in the territories where the conditions of the poor, the weak and the women and children are most tragic, may be signs of hope, thanks to their courageous testimony to the Gospel of solidarity and love".

Note, pray for the poor, but also pray for those who serve the poor!

Make Friday a day of prayer for Deaf Catholics

A request from a Deaf Catholic Priest doing amazing work in this under-prioritized ministry:

Fr Michael Depcik, an Oblate of St. Francis de Sales now living in Chicago, was our Deaf pastor during his ministry in the Diocese of Lansing. His website, Fr. MD's Kitchen Table, is a spiritual treasure for Deaf Catholics and anyone else who knows some American Sign Language.

Recently, Fr. Mike asked Catholics to join him in praying, especially on Fridays, for the Deaf Catholic Church. After a short Introduction video as to why he thinks that special prayers are needed for the Deaf Catholic community, Fr. Mike sets out in ASL a simple, very short, but beautiful prayer for our Deaf Catholic brothers and sisters. Here is my translation of that prayer.

Please consider accepting Fr. Mike's request to join him in praying for a renewal and a deepening of Christ's Gospel in the hearts of the Deaf community! Thanks! - Ed Peters

An important AmP milestone will be passed today

Sometime today, probably around noon EST, AmP will register its 2,000,000th physical visit.

{update - it happened!}

AmP passed the 1,000,000 mark last year on July 2nd.

250,000 of the most recent visits happened in the last month alone.

That means AmP could well log another two million visits this calendar year.

Honestly, I don't quite know what to make of that. It is an incredible honor to me that you find this site useful, visit it often, tell your friends about it, and support me with tips, both informational and monetary.

Please pray for me that I may discern how best to use the talents God has given me, and determine how best to use the opportunity that AmericanPapist's popularity provides me to spread the Good News today.

And, from the bottom of my heart, thank you. God bless you.

Benedict XVI's Prayer Intentions for March

Pope Benedict's general prayer intention for March is: "That the role of women may be more appreciated and used to good advantage in every country in the world".

His mission intention is: "That, in the light of the Letter addressed to them by Pope Benedict XVI, the bishops, priests, consecrated persons and lay faithful of the Catholic Church in the Popular Republic of China may commit themselves to being the sign and instrument of unity, communion and peace".

Two excellent prayer intentions, although I'm sure Papa Benny wasn't waiting around for my approval.

Cardinal DiNardo promotes Bible-listening Lenten devotion

Sounds good to me:

"Daniel Cardinal DiNardo, Archbishop of Galveston-Houston, recently urged Catholic leaders to get involved in a city-wide Bible listening campaign called You've Got The Time Houston.

So far more than 50 different parishes have signed up to listen through the entire New Testament, which represents more than 160,000 Catholics."

Faith Comes Through Hearing is offering a free audio download of the (NAB) New Testament:

Faith Comes By Hearing.com

Cardinal DiNardo is trying to get Catholics to listen to the Bible for 30 minutes a day for Lent.

Video: St. Michael's Abbey is sliding down a hill!

A beautifully produced video, with a pressing need behind it:



Or watch individual segments:

• The history of St. Michael's Abbey - a page out of a spy thriller
• Need to Relocate - the Abbey is sliding down the hill!
• Everyone has to sing!
• Recording the Albums
• Daily Life at the Abbey

And if you enjoyed that incredible music in the background of these videos, you may purchase it on CD. Profits from this album will help defray the costs of their move: Anthology: Chants and Polyphony from St. Michael's Abbey. It's a great deal: you get beautiful music, and monks praying for you, and they don't have to live in an Abbey that is literally sliding down a hill.

Visit the Norbertine Fathers website here.

R.I.P. Bishop Welsh, Founding Bishop of the Diocese of Arlington

AmP reader Joelle writes:

It is with great sadness that I share with you the news of the death of Bishop Thomas J. Welsh, Bishop Emeritus of Allentown and the Founding Bishop of the Diocese of Arlington. As Bishop Loverde said in his statement, “Bishop Welsh was indeed our father in faith, sent by Pope Paul VI in 1974 to form the newly-created diocesan Church of Arlington. Attentively, faithfully and devotedly, Bishop Welsh nurtured this nascent church for nine years…”

Please click here to read Bishop Loverde’s full statement.

Please click here to read the Herald coverage.

{You can find a few photos of the late Bishop here on flickr.}

All spiritual bouquets are not created equal

Lest yesterday's post leave doubt in people's minds - I have no problem with offering spiritual bouquets.

This one, for instance, for Pope Benedict XVI, "amid the anti-Catholic sentiment in the media of today" is just fine by me.

People, churches not spared in Australian bushfires

Please pray for our Catholic friends and all poor souls effected by these horrible bushfires:

Churches have launched prayers for bushfire victims in Victoria, where 126 people are already confirmed dead.

The ABC reports that across Victoria people are looking to pick up the pieces of their shattered lives, as the state attempts to come to terms with the deadliest bushfire disaster in Australian history.

... A number of churches have been destroyed but no details are yet available.

Melbourne Archbishop Denis Hart said today that his thoughts and prayers are with the communities suffering under the destructive force of the unprecedented bushfires in Victoria. (CathNews)

There are many AmP readers down under - you are in our close prayers today.

Please pray for the Dubruiel Family

I'm without words. Amy Welborn's husband and Catholic author Michael Dubruiel passed away today:

"Michael collapsed this morning at the gym and was not able to be revived despite the efforts of EMTs and hospital personnel. We are devastated and beg your prayers."

I met Mr. Dubruiel a couple years ago. I particularly remember the care and devotion he showed to his wife and children during the short span of time I was around him. He was blogging as recently this past Sunday.

Please pray for the repose of his soul, for Amy, and for their children. I am hoping that someone organizes a way of showing our care and support for them. I will make that information available when I have it. Amy and her family are synonymous with St. Blogs in my mind.

Pope Benedict's prayer intentions for February

Only 28 short days to fit them in!

Pope Benedict's general prayer intention for February is: "That the pastors of the Church may always be docile to the action of the Holy Spirit in their teaching and in their service to God's people". {The Holy Spirit always seeks to bring about the unity of the One Church of Christ. Let's pray for this intention especially! - AmP}

His mission intention is: "That the Church in Africa may find adequate ways and means to promote reconciliation, justice and peace efficaciously, according to the indications of the Second Special Assembly for Africa of the Synod of Bishops". {A prayer intention to prepare hearts for his upcoming visit to that continent in March - AmP}

Prayers for Pope's latinist Fr. Reggie Foster

Father Reginald Foster is the Pope's principal Latinist, and his positive influence is immeasurable.

From AmP reader Vince (I've edited out some of what I consider personal medical details):

Reginald continues to have serious health problems, ever since his fall last June. He has basically been bed ridden ever since that incident I just returned from the hospital where I was allowed (after a two hour wait) to go in and see Reggie. He was not conscious, but he did open one eye slightly for a moment when I spoke to him. Some of you may be hearing this news from other sources, but I just wanted to make sure that you heard. Say a prayer for Reggie.

Amen.

update: Fr. Z is organizing a spiritual bouquet to send to Fr. Reggie.

Pio Cardinal Laghi, US-Vatican diplomat, dies

The news:

In this March 5, 2003 file photo President Bush welcomes Cardinal Pio Laghi, Pope John Paul II's envoy, left, during a meeting on the looming war with Iraq, in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington. Cardinal Pio Laghi, a longtime Vatican diplomat who went to Washington in 2003 to personally try to dissuade President George Bush from launching the Iraq war, died in the evening of Saturday Jan. 10, 2009 in Rome, the Vatican said Sunday, Jan 11, 2009. He was 86. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

President Bush has released a statement of condolance. More from the AP:

The Italian-born Laghi had a long career in the Vatican diplomatic corps, serving first in Nicaragua in 1952. He was dispatched to India, Jerusalem and the Palestinian territories, Cyprus, Greece and Argentina before being named envoy to Washington in 1980.

At the time, there were no formal diplomatic relations between the United States and the Holy See; Laghi oversaw the establishment of ties in 1984 and remained as the Vatican's permanent diplomatic representative there until he was recalled to Rome to serve as prefect of the Vatican's Congregation for Catholic Education.

Prayers for the repose of his soul.

Prayers for Fr. Neuhaus on his deathbed

Nicholas Hardesty is asking us to pray that Fr. Richard John Neuhaus may have a holy death.

Prayers offered.

update: First Things has just announced that Fr. Neuhaus has died.

update 2: there are sure to be many tributes. LifeNews and LifeSiteNews have offered theirs.

Video: Woman attempted to bite Pope at Midnight Mass

Scary:

Details:

A psychiatric patient intended to bite Pope Benedict in the neck during a foiled attack at the Midnight Mass at St Peter’s over Christmas.

Erwin Niederberger, the press officer for the Swiss Guards, told the Swiss online magazine 20 Minuten that the hooded figure tackled to the ground by the Pope’s security people on Christmas eve was a mentally disturbed Italian woman. Neither Benedict XVI nor the rest of the congregation seemed fazed by the incident. (More)

We must continually pray for the safety of our Holy Father.

Ph/t: Insight Scoop.

Avery Cardinal Dulles has passed away

Avery Cardinal Dulles, 1918-2008.

I heard the sad news independently, but Rocco has the details.

Let perpetual light shine upon him.

update: the Jesuit Conference has released a statement.

Charities to aid Christians in Orissa?

Papists! Help me answer this AmP reader's request:

I'm a transitional deacon and I'm involved in a continuing formation program before ordination. There are a bunch of us here and we've decided to give some money to charity in lieu of gifts. So, we're going to make our proposals and vote on them at the community meeting next Thursday. I'd like to propose a charity to aid the Church in Orissa and was wondering if you could recommend a good one.

What should I recommend to him?

(More on the plight of Catholics in Orissa here.)

More Muslim-Christian violence in Nigeria

Ruth Gedhill, via Amy.

We must pray for the Christians being persecuted here: at least 400 dead in this latest outbreak.

Patriarch Alexei II, head of Russian Orthodox Church, dies

The head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Alexiy II, has died at the age of 79.

There is no word on the cause of his death at his residence outside Moscow, but he had been sick for some time. No date has been set yet for the funeral.

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin called his death a "great loss".

Alexiy II was credited with helping restore the moral authority of the Russian Orthodox Church after decades of repression under communism.

Favoured by the KGB as he rose through the Church's ranks, he then oversaw its post-communist revival.

However, relations with the Roman Catholic Church remained frosty and he repeatedly refused to meet the late Pope John Paul II, or his successor, Benedict XVI. (BBC)

Prayers for his passing, and his sucessor. Pope Benedict says he is profoundly saddened by the news.

update: someone help this papist out - how do the Russian Orthodox elect a new head?

(Besides, of course, just calling Pope Benedict and having done with it).

update 2: "The "Holy Synod" of Russian Orthodox bishops will meet to elect the next patriarch.This is also the manner in which (Eastern) patriarchs are elected in the Catholic Church." - f.r.

Here is the website of the Russian Orthodox Church. Same page translated into English.

Pope Benedict's Prayer Intentions for December

Pope Benedict's general prayer intention for December is: "That, faced by the growing expansion of the culture of violence and death, the Church may courageously promote the culture of life through all her apostolic and missionary activities".

His mission intention is: "That, especially in mission countries, Christians may show through gestures of brotherliness that the Child born in the grotto in Bethlehem is the luminous Hope of the world".

Large scale terrorist attack unfolding in India

Breaking news .... the UK Times:

At least 80 people were killed tonight and 20 Westerners taken hostage as suspected Islamic terrorists mounted a series of co-ordinated attacks on India’s financial capital.

The gunman, armed with automatic weapons and grenades, targeted British and American tourists in the city’s luxury hotels and bars. They were reported to be holding Western tourists hostage at the Taj Mahal Palace, Bombay’s top hotel, where a group of British MEPs were staying.

As a swathe of violent incidents swept across the south of the city, hitting at least nine locations, security sources said “a major terror attack” was unfolding. A senior police officer said that “terrorists have used automatic weapons and we have reports that in some places hand grenades have been used”.

“We have reports of 80 people dead and at least 900 injured. Many have serious injuries and the toll will go up,” said P.D Ghadge, a police officer in the main control room in Mumbai. Hemant Karkare, chief of the police anti-terrorist squad in Bombay, was among the victims. Police said two terrorists had been killed.

Shootings were reported in the lobby of the five-star Taj Mahal Palace hotel in the Colaba area of south Bombay and at the nearby Leopolds bar, a popular destination with western backpackers. Witnesses described pools of blood and bullet-scarred walls at both locations.

“I guess they were after foreigners, because they were asking for British or American passports,” said Rakesh Patel, a British witness who lives in Hong Kong and was staying at the Taj Mahal hotel on business. “They had bombs.”

Drudge is following the story.

Let's pray for the victims and be thankful for the relative peace we are blessed with in America.

update: and lest we let our own guard down, there are now reports of a plan to bomb penn station.

update 2: Pope Benedict has responded.

Congrats...

To Steven Greydanus, his wife, and their newborn child Catherine Rose ... pictures!

Prayers

For Charles and Margaret, siblings of mine who share today as their birth date (but in different years). Let's just say that Charlie received a very special birthday present one year. :-)

Pope Benedict's October Prayer Intentions

From the Vatican bulletino:

Pope Benedict XVI's general prayer intention for October is: "That the Synod of Bishops may help the pastors and theologians, the catechists and promoters who are engaged in the service of the Word of God to courageously transmit the truth of faith in communion with the entire Church".

His mission intention is: "That in this month dedicated to the missions, through the promotional activities of the Pontifical Missionary Works and other organisms, every Christian community may feel the need to participate in the Church's universal mission with prayer, sacrifice and concrete help".

More on this month's Synod of Bishops here.

Prayers ...

... for Carl Olson, his family, and Elanor.

Your local priest's blog

I often receive kind notes from parish priests who are doing yeoman's labor through keeping an active blog.

In addition to their many duties at the parish, they post their sermons online, keep in touch with parishioners, undertake evangelization, and provide a window into their own prayer life and devotions open for the people they serve.

Fr. Anythony Ho in the Archdiocese of Vancouver is just one example of this phenomenon.

Let's take a quick moment today to pray for all our courageous priests! Do you have a favorite priest blog? Especially one that is aimed primarily to the members of his parish? Drop it in the comment box!

Hurricane Ike is very dangerous, prayers requested

I have many Catholic friends in the Houston-Galveston region. Hurricane Ike is currently heading for a direct hit on that area tonight. Ike is a larger storm than Katrina, covering most the gulf of mexico. In fact, "At 9:30am EDT this morning, Ike earned a 5.6 on this scale, the highest kinetic energy of any Atlantic storm in the past 40 years."

Here is the current warning issued for the storm. Simply put: "get out."

Prayers for those in the path of Hurricane Ike

Marcel of the Aggie Catholics blog asks for prayers:

The new forecast models have Hurricane Ike going almost directly over College Station. So, please pray for our safety. Also, with the move northward (toward Houston) we will be seeing a large number of evacuees come into town. Evacuations are being ordered, some mandatory, and we could have more than 1 million people moving inland...We need your prayers and so do those fleeing their homes in the wake of this storm. Pray hard!

Ike is currently on a direct-collision course with Galveston-Houston. A local science blogger writes:

Good evening. The track forecast for Ike tonight has edged significantly closer to the Houston-Galveston area, now bringing the storm ashore near Freeport.

As I wrote a few years ago, for Houston's sake, this is just about the worst possible place a storm could make landfall. (More)

Keep track of the storm here at StormPulse.

Rowan Williams joins call to end violence in Orissa

Another voice added:

he Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Rowan Williams, has added his voice to calls for an immediate end to the violence being waged against Christians in India’s Orissa state.

“I hope that Christians and people of faith around the world will make known their horror at this violence, their support for the rebuilding of lives and the churches, orphanages and schools destroyed, and for work towards future reconciliation,” Williams said in a letter sent to the Most Rev. Joel Dal, moderator of North India.

Rights groups estimate that around 16,000 Christians have fled the area, with many seeking shelter in makeshift government refugee camps. According to Reuters news agency, one temporary camp in Raikia village has 8,000 people crammed into two floors of a government office, where they are sleeping on the bare floor and surviving on a rice and lentil meal given twice daily. (Christian Post)

More on these ongoing attacks, from Reuters:

On a starry night last week, as Lal Mohan Digal prepared to go to bed, a mob of raging, machete-wielding Hindu zealots appeared above the hills of his mud house and swarmed over this bucolic hamlet in Orissa.

By dawn, Christian homes in the village were smoking heaps of burnt mud and concrete shells. Churches were razed, their wooden doors and windows stripped off.

"We could hear them come shouting 'Jai Shri Ram'," Digal said, referring to the rallying cry of Hindus hailing their warrior-god.

The mob poured kerosene on the thatched rooftops of the village homes, then threw matches. Church spires were hacked down.

The Hindu part of the village was untouched. For four days Digal and his stricken Christian neighbours hid in the teak forests, before being herded to a government-run relief camp.

The violence replicated itself in village after village, as the rural Kandhamal district of Orissa convulsed from some of the worst anti-Christian attacks in India.

Also: see my post from yesterday.

Violence against Christians in Orissa subsiding? {updated}

{updated 4:30pm, see below}

Despite some reports of violence spreading, overall, the situation appear to be improving:

Violence against Christians in the Indian state of Orissa appears to be subsiding after 26 people were killed and 4,000 Christian homes, churches and centers were destroyed by Hindu extremists.

Fides News Agency is reporting that local police authorities say the violence has tapered off after a curfew was established on Monday. The police are continuing to patrol public places, town squares, centers, streets and around churches to prevent the outbreak of further violence.

Cardinal Varkey Vithayathil, the head of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India, said this past Saturday that because Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s government did not deploy government troops to the region, the violence has lasted for a week. (CNA)

Thank God. Let's keep the region in our prayers.

Previous reports on this story:

• September 1: Sandro Magister, others, on the growing Hindu violence
• August 29: Pray for Christian victims of Hindu persecution in India

update: not so, says someone very close to the situation...

Your rhetorical question seems to imply that the worst is over for Christians in Orissa. According to my Indian confreres here in Rome (and in Orissa)... Not so! I would suggest the blog "ORISSA BURNING" for continued reports on the situation.

Many of my SVD confreres are reported there or are listed as victims of the violence:

• Fr. Simon Lakra, SVD
• Fr. Edward Sequeira, SVD
• Fr. Babu Joseph, SVD
• Fr. Augustine Kanjamala, SVD
• Archbishop Raphael Cheenath, SVD
• The more than 140 SVD priests and brothers in Orissa would ask that you continue to make public the persecution of Christians and their forced re-conversion to Hinduism.

- Fr. David Streit, SVD, Asst. Secretary General, Rome

I had no intention of dropping the story, and will continue watching and posting.

Pope Benedict's prayer intentions for September

Verbatim:

Pope Benedict XVI's general prayer intention for September is: "That those who, because of wars or oppressive regimes, are forced to leave their homes and country may be supported by Christians in the defence and protection of their rights."

His mission intention is: "That, faithful to the sacrament of matrimony, every Christian family may cultivate the values of love and communion in order to be a small evangelising community, sensitive and open to the material and spiritual needs of its brothers."

Tracking Hurricane Gustav

We should keep the residents of the Louisiana coast in our prayers, as hurricane Gustav makes landfall.

We should also pray for Catholic governor Bobby Jindal, who faces his first large-scale preparations for a hurricane since taking office, that he competently oversees the complicated logistics.

Pray for Christian victims of Hindu persecution in India

I would be gravely amiss if I did not mention this developing story.

John Allen has published an extensive, one-stop-read article on the topic:

Islamic radicalism is causing great consternation these days, and rightly so. Christopher Hitchens has said it represents "an intricate cultural and political challenge that will absorb all of our energies for the rest of our lives," and while other assertions from Hitchens may be open to debate, it's tough to take issue here.

One risk, however, is that the scramble to do something about Islam may obscure other important inter-religious challenges. Dramatic events in India this week illustrate just such a conundrum, one that deserves more attention than it seems to be getting: The worrying rise of Hindu extremism.

Allen goes on to detail what has happened, why it is happened, and why it is significant not only for the present and future of Catholics in India, but also for the universal Church.

On Tuesday, the Vatican issued a statement:

"In reference to the tragic news coming from India concerning violence against the faithful and the institutions of the Catholic church, the Holy See, while expressing solidarity with the local churches and religious congregations involved, condemns these acts that injure the dignity and liberty of persons and compromise peaceful civil co-existence. At the same time, it appeals to all parties so that, with a sense of responsibility, all oppression may be ended and a climate of dialogue and mutual respect may be restored."

Bottom line: The Vatican is watching, and isn't happy.

For those desiring more, breaking information there is a blog "Orissa Burning" which is cataloguing the atrocities. This post, in particular, is noteworthy:

"The Catholic Bishops' Conference of India on Thursday released the number of people killed and list of Christian churches and institutions attacked and destroyed in the continuing violence that started on Monday. [Read it here.]" (Ph/t: Amy.)

That should be something to get started. The story seems to be getting scant attention in the mainstream media.

Franciscan monks attacked "clockwork orange-style"

Where did this come from?

Italians have been left shocked by a ferocious assault on Franciscan monks by hooded thugs at a monastery in the foothills of the Alps, which has been compared to incidents seen in the film 'A Clockwork Orange'.

Father Sergio Baldin, 48, the guardian of the San Colombano Belmonte monastery near Turin, and three elderly monks from the Franciscan order of Friars Minor, were having their evening meal when they were attacked by three hooded men who gagged and bound them before punching, kicking and beating them with clubs.

... Cardinal Severino Poletto, the Archbishop of Turin, who visited the victims in hospital, said the attack was "beyond comprehension". The only possible explanation was that the assailants had been "either drugged or possessed, or both", he said. (UK Times)

Just evil.

Steve Skojec, who gets the hat tip for this story, adds:

I think it would be good to keep both the intentions of the victims and the conversion of the attackers in our prayers. It might also be worthwhile to enlist the aid of another Franciscan, St. Anthony of Padua, in finding the assailants and bringing them to justice.

Amen.

Prayer request: FUS student killed in car accident

Local Pittsburgh 4:

A sophomore college student was killed and six others were injured after a minivan carrying athletes from an Ohio college crashed into the woods off Route 22 in Washington County Tuesday afternoon.

The cross-country team from Franciscan University of Steubenville was heading back to school at about 4:40 p.m. when their van went off the road in Hanover Township, between the Post-Gazette Pavilion and the West Virginia state line.

Pennsylvania state police said the driver may have tried to avoid a tire on the road in the westbound lanes and lost control.

... News of [the] death hit campus fast as thousands of students mourned the loss of their classmate and prayed for her family.

"Pope Benedict prays for tornado victims in Poland"

I can't remember a pope praying for tornado victims before:

During the weekly audience for pilgrims in his summer residence at Castel Gandolfo on Wednesday, Pope Benedict addressed the Polish victims of the hurricanes and tornados that devastated large areas of Poland last week.

"Last week, Poland saw hurricanes and tornados at a scale unheard of in that part of the world. There were fatalities and injuries. Many lost their entire life savings as a result. I want to offer my spiritual closeness and prayers to every one who was affected by the elements in any way,” the Pope spoke to the Polish pilgrims in their native language.

Poland experienced extremely strong winds and tornados on Friday evening, with roofs ripped off farmhouses and barns and cars destroyed in the southern and central parts of the country, killing at least four. (Polish Radio)

Let's join our prayers with his.

I still really want to see a tornado someday (from a safe distance, of course).

"Pope’s prayer intentions for August released"

Without further eloquence:

The Vatican's Press Office released the Holy Father's prayer intentions for the month of August today.

Pope Benedict's general prayer intention for is: "That the human family may know how to respect God's design for the world and thus become ever more aware of the great gift of God which Creation represents for us."

His mission intention is: "That the answer of the entire people of God to the common vocation to sanctity and mission may be promoted and fostered, with careful discernment of the charisms and a constant commitment to spiritual and cultural formation." (CNA)

Authentic feminism started in ... 13th century Belgium

To counter yesterday's depressing revelation, a burst of light from Belgium:

Here’s another reason to travel to Belgium, if the world’s best beer and chocolate weren’t enough to draw you there already: its beautiful, well-preserved beguinages.

If feminism means a desire for independence from patriarchal authority, the beguines — a Roman Catholic laic order that began in the 13th century and branched across northwest Europe — represented, perhaps, the world’s oldest women’s movement.

I can only speculate that these women of simplicity likely experienced more fulfillment than participants in the more infamous woman’s movement centuries later. (Mary Rose Rybak)

And upon this occasion, please keep a friend of mine in your prayers. She's leaving several important professional positions in Washington DC to pursue a vocation with the Nashville Dominicans.

Imagine a state in Amercia with no abortion clinics

It's called "South Dakota."

Praise God.

update: PP claims the clinic isn't closed.

Update: body of "flying balloon priest" found off Brazil

A story that began on a lighthearted note ("Brazilian balloon priest missing at sea; feared apostasized, raptured"), which quickly turned ominous ("Local Bishop claims no responsibility for "balloon priest") has today ended in sadness:

The body of "flying priest" balloon adventurer Adelir de Carli has been recovered some 100 kilometres off the Brazilian coast, local media reports said Saturday.

Father de Carli went missing in April while attempting to fly with 1,000 helium-filled party balloons tied to a chair. The body was recovered by a tugboat crew off Rio de Janeiro state, reports said.

Police said clothing, a rucksack and shoes left little doubt that the body was that of the priest. DNA tests would be conducted to provide final proof.

Father de Carli, 42, had set out on April 20 on what was planned to be a 20-hour flight from the town of Paranagua, in the state of Parana, to Dourados, in neighbouring Mato Grosso do Sul, to break a 19-hour world record and "to promote religion," as he put it. (TopNews)

God rest his soul. And may this case dissuade others from attempting such stunts.

Pope Benedict's July Prayer Intentions & travel plans

To wit:

Pope Benedict's general prayer intention for July is: "That there may be an increase in the number of those who, as volunteers, offer their services to the Christian community with generous and prompt availability".

His mission intention is: "That the World Youth Day held in Sydney, Australia, may awaken the fire of divine love in young people and make them sowers of hope for a new humanity".

Until August 13th (and except for World Youth Day) Pope Benedict will be on vacation.

But no worries, we'll still be keeping track of him.

Pope's June prayer intention: "beautifully benedict"

At least, that's how I'd describe it:

Pope Benedict's general prayer intention for June is: "That all Christians may cultivate a deep and personal friendship with Christ, in order to be able to communicate the strength of His love to every person they meet."

Picture: Latin Mass celebrated on a navy supercarrier

A late Memorial Day tribute:

Photo credit: "The extraordinary form of Holy Mass offered on board the USS Theodore Roosevelt. Courtesy of Chas. Johnson, Sac." - Meeting Christ in the Liturgy.

Ph/t: Phatmass user "KnightofChrist."

Prayers requested for the disaster in Myanmar

The Pope prayed for the victims today. Deaths from the recent cyclone could top 50-60,000:

• UK Times: Aid workers fear Burma cyclone deaths will top 50,000
• BBC News: Burmese storm toll 'tops 10,000'
• Sky News: Burma Cyclone Death Toll 'Hits 22,000'
• UK Daily Mail: 10,000 killed in ONE town as massive wave is blamed for death toll set to top 60,000

Sensationalist headlines and mounting figures aside, we should be praying sincerely for the victims.

update: and thanks, Al Gore, for blaming this disaster as a consequence of global warming.

Breaking: John Michael Talbot’s Hermitage Burns To The Ground

Horrible:

A major fire is testing the faith of a Catholic monastery near Eureka Springs. Flames destroyed the chapel and dining hall of Little Portion Hermitage just after midnight Tuesday.

Firefighters from four departments were able to keep the intense fire from spreading to the living quarters of its members. They lost their archives, library, and storeroom. Little Portion's founder is recording artist John Michael Talbot, who says some at the monastery suffered from minor smoke inhalation.

If you'd like to make a donation for recovery and rebuilding, you can do so at Little Portion’s Web site.

More:

• Music News: Fire destroys Little Portion Hermitage (GrapeVine)
• Breaking News: John Michael Talbot’s Hermitage Burns (Catholic Online)

Ph/t: AmP reader Joan.

Help an Eastern Rite Seminarian

I often get requests along these lines, but it's rare that someone has done the legwork to where it's easy for me to pass on their request. He's been accepted as a seminarian but needs to pay off his college debt.

• Real Clear Religion explains the situation
• The young man speaks on Catholic Exchange
• His website: http://www.helpmebecomeapriest.com/

If you don't feel able to help his financial plight, please keep him in your prayers.

In thanksgiving...

... for my grandparents Nade & Nancy, and Anthony & Joan.

Who, as of today, both celebrate over 50 years of married life together.

Servais Pinckaers, O.P.: 1925-2008

Servais Pinckaers, O.P. (1925-2008)

Some very sad news today. A brilliant Dominican moral theologian, longtime teacher at Fribourg in Switzerland, honored member of the ITC and formative contributor to the Catechism of the Catholic Church and Veritatis Splendor preparatory commissions, has passed away today....

The news this morning is that Father Servais Pinckaers, O.P., has died after a long period of debilitation. His history of Christian ethics and other writings—and especially his acute distinction between the “freedom of indifference” and the “freedom of excellence”—has had a powerful influence in Christian circles, and not only among Catholics, and certainly not only among Thomists. (RJN at First Things)

Pinckaers was one of the primary inspirations for my master's thesis ("Spiritual Spontaneity at the Heart of Morality"). You can read a decent biography of the great man here.

Also: a short Pinckaers CV, an essay of his entitled "The Place Of Philosophy In Moral Theology", and a personal note passed on from the dominicans who tended his bedside. His magnum opus is The Sources of Christian Ethics, but he also wrote a more introductory version of it: Morality: The Catholic View.

+

Requiem aeternam dona ei, Domine, et lux perpetua luceat ei. Requiescat in pace. Amen.

Breaking: Kidnapped Iraqi Abp. Rahho has been killed

Reuters breaking news alert:

Paulos Faraj Rahho, the Chaldean Catholic archbishop in Iraq who was kidnapped last month, has been found dead, an Italian Catholic news agency quoted an Iraqi bishop as saying on Thursday.

"Archbishop Rahho is dead. We found his lifeless body near Mosul. The kidnappers had buried him," Bishop Shlemon Warduni of Baghdad was quoted as telling SIR, the news agency of the Italian Bishops' Conference.

Rahho was seized on Feb. 29 after gunmen attacked his car in eastern Mosul, 390 km (240 miles) north of Baghdad, killing his driver and two guards.

Initial response from the Vatican:

Pope Benedict is "profoundly moved and saddened" by the death of Paulos Faraj Rahho, the Chaldean Catholic archbishop in Iraq who was kidnapped last month, a Vatican spokesman said on Thursday."

All of us had continued to pray and hope for his release, which the Pope had repeatedly urged," Father Federico Lombardi said in a statement shortly after news of the death.

Excerpt from the Holy Father's telegram to Iraqi Catholics:

Pope Benedict on Thursday condemned the death of the kidnapped Chaldean Catholic archbishop in Iraq as "an act of inhuman violence that offends the dignity of the human being".

The Pope made his comments in a telegram sent to Iraqi Catholic Church leaders after the discovery of the body of Paulos Faraj Rahho, who was abducted last month.

Updating Google news feed.

Zadok: "I've heard that Archbishop Rahho died in captivity due to necessary medication being denied to him."

God rest his soul - and those of his captors.

update:

• Vatican bulletino: "PAIN OF POPE FOR DEATH OF ARCHBISHOP OF MOSSUL"
• CNS: Pope calls death of Iraqi archbishop 'act of inhuman violence'
• CWNews: Kidnapped Iraqi archbishop is dead
• CNN coverage talks mostly about other things happening in Iraq
• AsiaNews is better

update 2: the latest...

• HotAir: "the body .... had gunshot wounds."
• CNS: "Chaldean bishop says U.S. accountable for death of Iraqi archbishop"

[picture 1: AP via BBC.] [picture 2: REUTERS/Osservatore Romano (VATICAN):]

Requiscat In Pace.

Prayer requests: Cubbedge & Bettinelli families

Catholic father bloggers Domenico Bettinelli and William Cubbedge are asking for our prayers for their wives, who are both in labor today. Lets send up some prayers for both of their growing families!

Update: $2.5+ million dollar ransom demanded for release of Iraqi archbishop

CNA:

The Mensajeros de la Paz (Messengers of Peace) foundation is reporting that the captors of Archbishop Paulos Faraj Rahho of Mosul are demanding $1.8 million euros in ransom money to free the Iraqi prelate who was kidnapped last Friday.

In comments to Italian Bishops’ news service Servizio Informazione Religiosa (SIR), Bishop Louis Sako of Kirkuk said that, "The kidnappers have called more than once asking for ransom."

Story originally reported here the day it happened.

*Breaking* Gunmen kidnap Iraqi Chaldean Catholic archbishop, kill companions

Breaking news:

Gunmen kidnapped the Chaldean Catholic archbishop of Mosul on Friday in the northern Iraqi city and killed his driver and two guards, police said.

"He was kidnapped in the al-Nour district in eastern Mosul when he left a church. Gunmen opened fire on the car, killed the other three and kidnapped the archbishop," said provincial police spokesman Brigadier-General Khaled Abdul Sattar.

An assistant to Cardinal Emmanuel III Delly, the Chaldean patriarch of Baghdad and spiritual leader of Iraq's Catholics, said they had heard three people were killed and they did not know the fate of the archbishop, [who is named] Paulos Faraj Rahho. - Reuters

The previous Archbishop of Mosul, Basil George Casmoussa, was kidnapped in 2005, "but was
released after one day of captivity and said no ransom was paid."

Updates as I see them.

Imagine the outcry from certain Muslims if one of their imams were kidnapped and his companions killed.

The Chaldean from Iraq who sent me this news story is asking us to pray for the captive Archbishop.

update: CWNews adds more:

Bishop Paulos Faraj Raho was seized by terrorists who attacked his car as he left the Holy Spirit cathedral in Mosul after leading the Stations of the Cross on Friday, February 29. Three companions who had been in the car with him were killed.

A Church spokesman in Iraq confirmed that the bishop was in the custody of his kidnappers, who had contacted the Chaldean Church to make a ransom demand. Iraqi Catholics did not know whether or not the bishop had been wounded in the attack.

update 2: the Vatican response:

Pope Benedict XVI called Friday for the swift release of a Chaldean Catholic archbishop who was kidnapped in Iraq, saying the "abominable" act was an attack on the Iraqi church as a whole.

In a statement, Benedict appealed for "reason and humanity" from the kidnappers, who killed the two bodyguards and the driver of Mosul Archbishop Paulos Faraj Rahho.

Rahho was kidnapped as he left church Friday afternoon. In the statement released by the Vatican press office, the Vatican said the fact that the gunmen knew Rahho was celebrating a religious rite inside indicated the kidnapping was premeditated.

The Vatican said the pope was immediately informed about the "abominable" kidnapping and was spiritually close to Rahho's family and the head of the Chaldean Catholic Church in Iraq, Cardinal Emmanuel III Delly.

Tuesday morning tidbits

A few notables:

• AMDG publishes an Open Letter to Archbishop Niederauer
• LSN informs us that the Miller apology doesn't cut it
• CNS News Hub tells us that Archbishop Wilton Gregory is to undergo prostate cancer surgery

We should keep the Archbishop in our prayers.

Don't pray to the Rain God - pray to the God of Rain says Archbishop!

Via the CNS Hub, no less than Abp. Wilton Gregory dusts off his Sacramentary:

The Sacramentary contains an official prayer asking God for rain, and I doubt that any priest in the Archdiocese of Atlanta has ever used this prayer before—I know that I have not used it in my 34 years of Priesthood. Now seems to be a good time to turn to the heritage of Faith that belongs to the Church and to offer the Mass prayers beseeching God Himself to send the rain that we all so desperately need.

I therefore ask each priest to consider offering the Mass text that is found in the Sacramentary under “Masses for Various Needs and Occasions” #35 for Rain during the course of the next few weeks to beg the Lord of all creation to send us the rain that we need. This Mass may be offered on any day that does not have an assigned feast.

I invite all Catholics to include in your personal prayers an intention for rain so that the earth that we are entrusted with will be spared even greater damage. Parishes may also include petitions in the prayer of the faithful asking for an end to the drought that has caused all of us not only inconvenience, but even more importantly a reason to turn humbly to the Lord who created the heavens and the earth for the help that His love and providence can provide for us all.

Georgia and other parts of the south are undergoing a severe drought right now.

An interesting related issue is that the Endangered Species Act is hurting the water supply for humans:

[Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue] also sent a letter to President George Bush seeking a temporary exemption from the Endangered Species Act to reduce water flows from the state. The day before, the state asked a federal judge to immediately force the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to curb releases of water from federal reservoirs.

Georgia contends humans need the water more than the federally protected mussels and spawning sturgeon downstream that benefit from the water drawn from Lake Lanier. The corps estimates there's enough water to last about 110 days if the drought holds, before reaching the murky water at the bottom that's more expensive to treat.

Sorry mussels and surgeon - first things first.

Prayers: Venezuelan Cardinal Castillo Lara passed-away today

Following reports several days ago that Cardinal Castillo Lara was in "critical condition" comes that sad news that he passed away today at the age of eighty-five:

Cardinal Rosalio Castillo Lara, a longtime Vatican official and a leading critic of Venezuela's Preident Hugo Chavez, died on October 16 at the age of 85.

The Venezuelan prelate, who was living in retirement in his native country, was hospitalized in September with severe cardiac problems. He died as the country's bishops were gathering for a scheduled meeting in Caracas.

[More from CWNews here.]

Cardinal Castillo Lara is best known for his enormous help in the revision process of the 1983 Code of Canon Law, and for his vocal criticism of Venezuelan dictator Hugo Chavez.

The Death notice on the Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church Biographies website:

Death. October 16, 2007, in the morning, in "Centro Médico de Caracas", Venezuela, where he had been hospitalized since September 19, 2007, due to an acute respiratory deficiency. The body of the cardinal is exposed in the church "Don Bosco", Altamira, Caracas, and it is possible that it will be transferred to the state of Aragua, where he was born. The exequies will last for three days.

More coverage:

• Associated Press
• El Universal: "Cardinal Castillo Lara is to remain in Venezuelans' memory as a great bishop and as the Venezuelan who has occupied the highest positions in the world church"

The Cardinal Ratzinger Fan Club has it's newest member!

... in the person of Raphael Joseph Feldman-Blosser, son to Christopher Blosser, who runs Against the Grain, Cardinal Ratzinger Fan Club, & Pope Benedict XVI Fan Club, as announced by proud grandfather Philip Blosser, who runs Musings of a Pertinacious Papist (an entirely-laudable title).

Christopher, public notice: I owe you a cigar when we meet!

God's blessings on all the Blossers.

A prayer request to my readers

This passed-on to me by a friend studying at the University of Dallas:

Dear friends,The last few days have been unexpectedly heartrending for me, and I am writing this to ask for all of your prayers for the son of a wonderful Catholic family who was lost in a drowning accident yesterday afternoon.

My Mom and I drove to Kansas early yesterday morning, intending to pick up a friend for the weekend, and unexpectedly found ourselves in the midst of a tragedy. As we approached our friend's house in Maple Hill, we crossed a bridge full of police officers staring down into the water. We pulled into the Van der Puttens', and were met with the news that several families in the parish had been spending the day on the river to celebrate the feast of Our Lady's Assumption. About 11 boys, and one father, were on a sandbar about 30 feet out, when the sandbar suddenly collapsed, and the father and several teens tried frantically to swim the younger boys to shore. With the undertow pulling them under, they managed to get most of the boys to safety, but as Peter Zaplitow grabbed his nine-yr-old brother Michael and another 8-yr-old, all three began to sink. Michael finally pushed Peter away towards shore, and let go of his brother. Peter swam the other boy to shore, almost collapsing himself, and watched helplessly as his brother went under. It all happened in a matter of minutes, at about 1:30 pm.

When we arrived at 5 and received the news, we drove to the parish church, and joined several hundred sorrowing parishioners to pray Our Lady's rosary continuously until about 10 pm, when the search and rescue teams called off the search for Michael's body for the night. His body has still not been recovered, and the search will continue over the next days.

It is in times of great tragedy that the deep mysteries of our Catholic faith, the intermingling of sorrow with trust and hope, became so present and real. The Zaplitow family were an incredible witness of love and faith in their grief, and it was truly a gift to be able to pray for them as a community, truly joined in the body of Christ. Please, if you would, remember Michael's soul and the intentions of his family, in your prayers.

Prayers requested...

... for the safety of a good friend of mine who is on a plane bound for Jordan. He will be studying Arabic and teaching at a small Christian school there for several months. When he sends me pictures I'll try to post a few. Thanks!

Prayers for the victims at Virginia Tech

Update, 12:30am - CNS reports on the Catholic response to the tragedy.

To get an idea about how close this event is to many St. Blog's members, Amy Welborn's own son graduated from VT, and currently works on campus. Thanks be to God he is safe. So many others this night, however, are not, and we should continue praying for them, as well as their friends and family.

Sacred Heart of Jesus, Have Mercy On and Keep Them!

Update, 8:42pm - reading Drudge, there's beginning to emerge the frightening probability that this was a premeditated attack. 33 people have been wounded and at least 29 more injured.
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Original post - There has been a massacre at Virginia Tech, with at least 29 students dead from a shooting attack.

More here. AP News coverage here. Ongoing coverage at Drudge Report.

We should all offer up prayers for the victims.

Prayers requested...

For Melanie, the wife of Domenico Bettinelli. More here.