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Cr awf or dA.Hi ggi nsI I Edi t or RebeccaH.Her nandez Phot ogr aphy/Desi gn Al ej andr o( Al ex)Her nandez Desi gner /Adver t i si ng Tosubmi tnewswor t hyar t i cl es,st or i es,i deas, event sorcomment ssendt o: cat hol i cl i f emag@gmai l . com Cat hol i cLi f emagazi ne( Li f e)i sapr oduct i onof Ser vusDomi niMi ni st r i es.Wer eser vet her i ghtt o edi t ,del et e,modi f y,r ewr i t eand/ orr ej ectedi t or i al mat er i al swhi chdonotmeetourpubl i cat i onst andar ds.Weassumenor esponsi bi l i t yf oraccur acy, er r or s,omi ssi onsorconsequencesar i si ng f r om i t . Al lmat er i al ssubmi t t edbecomet hepr oper t yof Li f eMagazi ne.Li f eMagazi neshal lbehel dhar ml ess andi ndemni f i edagai nstanyt hi r dpar t ycl ai ms.Al l adver t i sement sar epai df orandLi f eassumesno r esponsi bi l i t yf ori t s’accur acyanddoesnotnecessar i l yendor seanypr oduct sorser vi ces.Al lmat er i al i scopyr i ght edandcannotber epr oducedwi t hout expr esswr i t t enper mi ssi onf r om Li f eMagazi ne.

HowToHaveAGr eatLoveLi f e

Obedi enceTot heWi l lofGod

Whatt heChur chTeachesAbout Cr emat i on

Rever enceatMass

Pr ayerOpenst he Myst er yofGod’ sPl an 13 Euchar i st i cAdor at i on

Quest i ons&Answer s

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Ourmi s si oni sdedi cat edt os er vi ngt h ef ai t h f ul oft h eRi oGr andeVal l e ybysh ar i ngt h e f ul l ne s sofCat h ol i ct r u t h . Ourmi s si oni st oedu cat et h ef ai t h f ul , h el pgoodCat h ol i cs becomebe t t erCat h ol i cs, br i ngf or merCat h ol i cs“ h ome, ”andl e adnonCat h ol i csi nt o t h ef ul l ne s soft h ef ai t h . Wee xpl ai nCat h ol i ct r u t h , equi pt h ef ai t h f ul t ol i v ef ul l yt h esacr ament al l i f eandas si stt h emi nspr e adi ngt h eGoodNews. 3

Ho wT oHa v eAGr e a tLo v eLi f e

eel i ngscomeandgoandf l uct uat ef orvar i ousr easons. Doyouhavepr obl emsi nyourl ovel i f eorj ustwanti tt obeal li tcan butf Love i saboutdoi ng whati sr i ghteven when t her ei sn' ta be?Her ei soneover l ookedsecr etofhavi ngagr eatl ovel i f e: f eel i ngandwhenwedon' tf eell i kei t .ToLoveGodi ncl udes t i ng i nt o pr act i ce al lt hatGod t el l susi nt he Bi bl e and C.S.Lewi swasquot edonceassayi ng," WhenIhavel ear ntput hr oughaut hent i cchur cht eachi ngs.( " Thosewhol ovemewi l l t ol oveGodbet t ert hanmyear t hl ydear est ,Ishal ll ovemy t s" ) .Dowhati sr i ghtandf eel i ngswi l l ear t hl ydear estbet t ert hanIdonow.I nsof arasIl ear nt ol ove keepmycommandment ol l ow.Lovei saboutl ovi ngot her saswel oveour sel vesby myear t hl ydear estatt heexpenseofGodandi nst eadofGod,f ngasat t ent i vet ot hei rt r ueneedsaswear et oourown. Ishal l bemovi ngt owar dst hest at ei nwhi chIshal l notl ovemy bei ear t hl ydear estatal l .Whenf i r stt hi ngsar eputf i r st ,second Lovedesi r est obewi t ht heonel ovedandt ol oveGodf i r st t hi ngsar enotsuppr essedbuti ncr eased. " meanst osetasi deacer t ai namountoft i met ospendwi t hGod npr ayerandponder i ngGod' swor di nt heBi bl eandbasi cal l y Thatquot ei ssot r ue.Becausei fGodi spr i or i t i zedi nt henum- i ustf ocusi ng on God and l ovi ng hi m above al lt hi ngsand ber onesl oti nl i f e,onei sabl et ol ovet hei rspouseorspeci alj nghi sWi l lwhi chi sgood.( Psal m 1) . per soni nt hebestway ,evenmor esot hani ft hatper soni spr i - seeki or i t i zedf i r st .I faper soni sl ovedaboveGod,t hent hatper son ngt i mef orGod:Mostal lofushavebusyl i ves,sohow becomesl i keGodandi snoti nt her i ghtpl acei nal i f eand Maki i mef orGod?Onei deai st owakeupal i t t l e t hi ngsj ustdon' twor kout .Goddeser vest obenumberone canwemaket l yandspendsomet i mei npr ayerbef or eget t i ngupand/ or andwhenHei sever yt hi ngwor kst oget herf orgoodi nourl i f e.ear got obedal i t t l eear l yandspendsomet i mei npr ayerandspi r t ualt ypesofr eadi ngbef or egoi ngt osl eep. TheBi bl esays," Ever yt hi ngwor kst oget herf orgoodf ort hose i whol ovet heLor d. "( Romans8: 28)Focusi ngonGodaboveal l .Ter esaofAvi l asai dsheof t enbeganpr ayerwi t hagood t hi ngsandf ocusi ngonpl easi ngGod( doi ngGod' swi l l ) ,r at her St r i t ualbookt ohel pputhermi ndonGod.Topr aycor r ect l y t hanf ocusi ngf i r stonour sel vesorot her s,cont r i but est obei ng spi of i r stsetasi deot herconcer nsandputourmi nds t r ul yhappyi nsi deal mostbydef aul tandl i f ewi l l beasi tshoul d oneneedst one.Sheal soadvi sest ospeakt oJesusasone be.Byhavi ngt hi sat t i t udeandwor ki ngonbecomi nggoodour sel ves, onGodal daf r i end. weat t r actot her swhoal sodesi r et obegoodpeopl ei nt oourl i ves. woul Weat t r actt hosewhoar esi mi l art oour sel ves. Lovi ngt hepeopl ei nourl i f eal sor equi r esset t i ngasi desome i mef ort hem.Lovedesi r est obewi t ht hosewel ove.Justas Soi fwewantr el at i onshi pswi t hpeopl eofgoodchar act er ,and t det i met obewi t hGodal one,soweneedt omake al ovi ngspouseoragoodf r i endwhol ovesGodandwant st o wesetasi i mef orourl ovedonesonear t hbyspendi ngt i mewi t ht he dowhati sr i ght ,t heni fwewor konbecomi ngsuchaper son t ewhocountt ous.I fwewantar el at i onshi pwi t hGodand wewi l lat t r actt hesame.I not herwor ds,becomet het ypeofpeopl her s,weneedt ospendsomet i mer el at i ngorel senor el aper sonwewantt obei nr el at i onshi pwi t handwewi l lat t actot i onshi p! t hatt ypeofper sont oour sel ves." Seekf i r stt heki ngdom oft Godandal lel sewi l lbegi venyoubesi des. " No t i me? How much t i me do you spend on t he i nt er net , chi ngTV,r ecr eat i onalact i vi t esormaybeevenwor ki ngf or ef ort hoseofuswhohavevar i ousdysf unct i onal r el at i on- wat Anot hi ngsyoudon' tr eal l yneedwhi l enegl ect i ngt hoset hi ngsyou shi psi nourpast :Aswewor konour sel vesandbecomea t i ke God and some speci alpeopl ei n yourl i f e? The bet t erper sonwhoi sput t i ngGodf i r standseeki ngt of ol l owal ldo,l eat estt wocommandment sar e:LoveGodwi t hyourwhol e God' scommandment s,weneedt okeepoureyesopenand gr t ,whol emi ndandwhol est r engt handyournei ghboras not i ce t he l ovi ng,Godpl easi ng peopl et o seekf r i endshi ps hear sel f .I fwedot heset hi ngswewi l lhavei nnerpeacenow wi t h. . .r at hert hangr avi t at i ngt owhathasbeenf ami l i art ousi fyour or everandi fwedon' t ,wewon' t .St .Ther eseofLi si eux t hathasn' tbeen hel pf ul .Peopl et end t o gr avi t at e and f eelandf dswor t h ponder i ng asshe near ed herown comf or t abl ewi t hwhati sf ami l i ari nt hei rpasteveni fi ti sn' thad some wor h. . .shesai d," I ti sl oveal onet hatcount s" . goodf ort hem.Weal soneedt omakeadeci si ont odowhatdeat weknow Godwant seveni fot her swon' tbehappywi t hust o owor r yaboutt hi ngsanywayasGodwi l lt akecar e doso. . .t hati swhati tmeansbyput t i ngGodf i r st .I fsomeone Noneedt lourneedswhenweputHi mf i r st ,i ncl udi ngourneedf or pul l sawayf r om usj ustbecausewear ef ol l owi ngGod,we ofal et ol oveusandt ol ovei nr et ur n.I fwear e need t ol ett hem go and choose God overt hem and notaspouseandpeopl ng t hatand i thasn' thappened yet ,whati sneeded i s changeour sel vest opl easet hem ast hati st hei rchoi ce. . .our doi ayerandt r ust . . .dowhati sr i ghtandgoodandt r ueand choi cei st hatwehavedeci dedt oseekt opl easeGodabove pr r ust i ngGodhasagr eatpl anf orourl i f eandi twi l lunf ol das peopl e,event hatspeci alsomeone.Ont heot herhand,i fwe t i megoesonandi nt her i ghtt i me.Pr ayf orwhatyouneed. f i ndsomef r i endsal soseeki ngt odoGod' swi l li nt hei rl i ves,t t heycanbeaver ybi gsuppor tt oust obecomet heper sons tneedt odot hi ngsoutoff earori mpul si venessor Wedon' wewantt obe. dr i ves.I nf actt hosef eel i ngsshoul dnotbeact edon,butj ust t r ustGodanddowhati sr i ght( whi chi sof t enaccompani edby How t or eal l yl oveGod,your sel fandot her s: asenseofdeeppeacei nsi dewher eGoddwel l si nsi deus) hi ngswi l lbeast heyshoul dandevenbet t ert hanwe Loveseekst het r uegoodoft hebel oved.Byt heway ,l ovei sn' tandt magi nedt heycoul dbe. j ustaf eel i ngevent houghgr eatf eel i ngsar eof t eni nvol ved, 4i

HowToHaveAGreatLoveLi fe,contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; d

TheBi bl esays," Feari susel ess,whati sneededi st r ust . " I fwedon' thavepeaceoranyt hi ngel seweneedt he Bi bl esays," Askyouandwi l lr ecei ve,seekandyouwi l l f i nd,knockandt hedoorwi l lbeopen. "Asf arasear t hl y t hi ngsgo,OurLadyofFat i masai dt hatwhati sr equi r ed ofusal l i sdoi ngour" dai l ydut y" .Ourdai l ydut yi st owhat i sr equi r edf orusatt hi st i meandpl acei nourl i f eand r el at i onshi ps. Doi ngwhati sr i ghtcanbeagi gant i cst r uggl ebecause we ar e al lsi nner s and we need God' s gr ace t o over come,butwehaveGod' spr omi seofhi shel pand gr acef ort heaski ng.Soseekt odowhati sr i ghtandl et t hechi psf al lwher et heymay .Weneedt opr ayf ort he st r engt ht odowhati sr i ghtandGodwi l l gi veust hegr ace andmakeupf ort hel acki nouract i onsandmakeal l t hi ngswor kt oget herf orgoodi nourl i f e. Wi t hussomet hi ngsar ei mpossi bl e,butwi t hGodal l t hi ngsar epossi bl e.Weneedt obecomeGodpl easer s andnotapeopl epl easer s.Pai ni sn' tpl easant ,butsomet i mesi ti snecessar yt oachi ever ealchangeandgr owt h f orour sel vesandot her s.Soweneedt of acet hepai n andwor kt hr oughi tt oachi evet hegoal . Addi t i onal t hought s:I fwewantt obehol y ,weseekGod' s wi l lal oneandr eal l yt hati st heonl yt hi ngt hatmakes sense,asGodl ovesusmor et hanwel oveour sel ves.He want sonl ywhati sbestf orusi nt hel ongr un.

Heknowsever yt hi ngandwedon' t .Heknowswhati sbest andwedon' t . Seeki ngGod' swi l li sr eal l yandt r ul yseeki ngourbestgood. Someofuswhohavemademessesofourl i vesi nvar i ous waysr eal i zet hi st hr oughexper i ence,buti ti spossi bl et o l ear nt hi sj ustbyt r yi ngi t .I fwet r yt ol ear nGod' swi l land puti ti nt opr act i ce,wewi l lseei ti st r ueandwor kswi t hout havi ngt ounder st andi torl ear nt hi ngst hehar dwayorhi t bot t om orwhat ever . Jesussaysi fwewantt oknowwhati st r ue,t odot owhat hesays,andwewi l l knowi ti st r ue.Howweknowi ti st r ue i si nt hedoi ngi t ,noti nt heunder st andi ngi t ,aswewi l l under st andi twhenwedoi t . . .sot het hi ngher ei snoti nt el l ect ual i zi ngbutput t i ngi ti nt opr act i ce. I nef f ectJesussays:DowhatIt el lyou,andyouwi l lknow i ti st r ue.Wi t hGod' shel pwecandoi t ,andwi t hGodon oursi deal lwi l lbef i ne. Summar y:TheBi bl et el l sust hati fweseekGodf i r st ,al l t hi ngswi l l begi venusbesi desandt hatal l t hi ngswi l l wor k t oget herf orgoodi fwel oveGodandputhi mf i r sti nour l i ves,i ncl udi ngourl ovel i f e. " Letusl etGodshow uswhathecando. "( at t r i but edt o Mot herTer esa) cat hol i cspi r i t ual di r ect i on. or g

Ri t eOfChr i st i anI ni t i at i onOfAdul t s( RCI A)

Chur ch.The par i sh assembl y af f i r ms t hi s desi r e and t he i nqui r erbecomesa" cat echumen. "

Asanewschoolyeari ssett obegi n,par ent sar eagai npr epar i ngt oenr ol lt hei rchi l dr eni nCat echi sm cl asses.I nmymi ni st r y asaDeaconIt ooof t enmeetwi t hadul t swhohavenotr ecei ved t hei rownSacr ament s.Nowi sagoodt i met ot al kt oyourpr i est , deaconorRCI Adi r ect oraboutbegi nni ngyourownpr epar at i on t or ecei veyourSacr ament saswel l .

Theper i odoft hecat echumenat ecanl astf orasl ongassever al year sorf orashor t ert i me.I tdependsonhow t heper soni s gr owi ngi nf ai t h,whatquest i onst heyencount eral ongt heway , andhow Godl eadst hem ont hi sj our ney .Dur i ngt hi st i me,t he cat echumens consi derwhatGod i s sayi ng t ot hem i nt he Scr i pt ur es,whatchangesi nt hei rl i f et heyneed t o make t o r espondt oGod' si nspi r at i on,andwhatBapt i sm i nt heCat hol i c Chur chmeans.Whenacat echumenandt hepr i estandt he par i sh t eam wor ki ng wi t h hi m orherbel i evest he per son i s r eadyt o make a f ai t h commi t mentt o Jesusi nt he Cat hol i c Chur ch,t henextst epi st her equestf orbapt i sm andt hecel ebr at i onoft heRi t eofEl ect i on.Evenbef or et hecat echumens ar ebapt i zed,t heyhaveaspeci alr el at i onshi pt ot heChur ch. TheRi t eofEl ect i oni ncl udest heenr ol l mentofnamesofal l t hoseseeki ngbapt i sm att hecomi ngEast erVi gi l .Typi cal l y ,on t hef i r stSundayofLent ,t hecat echumens,t hei rsponsor sand f ami l i es gat heratt he cat hedr alchur ch.The cat echumens publ i cl yexpr esst hei rdesi r ef orbapt i sm t ot hedi ocesanbi shop. Thei rnamesar er ecor dedi nabookandt heyar ecal l ed" t he el ect . "

EachyearonHol ySat ur daydur i ngt heEast erVi gi l ,t housands ofmenandwomenar er ecei vedi nt ot heCat hol i cChur chi nt he Uni t edSt at es.Par i sheswel comet hesenewmember st hr ough t heRi t eofChr i st i anI ni t i at i onofAdul t s( RCI A)andatal i t ur gy br i ngi ngmenandwomeni nt of ul lcommuni onwi t ht heCat hol i c Chur ch. Bel ow i s an expl anat i on oft he pr ocess f orpr epar at i on as descr i bedbyt heUni t edSt at esCounci lofBi shops( USCCB) . Whatar et hest epsofRCI A? Pr i ort obegi nni ngt heRCI A pr ocess,ani ndi vi dualcomest o someknowl edgeofJesusChr i st ,consi der shi sorherr el at i onshi pwi t hJesusChr i standi susual l yat t r act edi nsomewayt o t he Cat hol i cChur ch.Thi sper i od i sknown ast he Per i od of Evangel i zat i onandPr ecat echumenat e.Forsome,t hi spr ocess i nvol vesal ongper i odofsear chi ng;f orot her s,ashor t ert i me. Of t en,cont actwi t hpeopl eoff ai t handaper sonalf ai t hexper i encel eadpeopl et oi nqui r eaboutt heCat hol i cChur ch.Af t era conver sat i onwi t hapr i est ,orRCI Adi r ect or ,t heper son,known as an " i nqui r er , "may seek accept ance i nt ot he Or derof Cat echumens,t hr ought heRi t eof Accept ance.Dur i ngt hi sRi t e, t hei nqui r erst andsami dstt hepar i shcommuni t yandst at est hat heorshewant st obecomeabapt i zedmemberoft heCat hol i c

ThedaysofLentar et hef i nalper i odofpur i f i cat i onandenl i ght enmentl eadi ngupt ot heEast erVi gi l .Lenti saper i odofpr epar at i onmar kedbypr ayer ,st udy ,andspi r i t ualdi r ect i onf ort he el ect ,andpr ayer sf ort hem byt hepar i shcommuni t i es.The Cel ebr at i onoft heSacr ament sofI ni t i at i ont akespl acedur i ng t heEast erVi gi l Li t ur gyonHol ySat ur daywhent hecat echumen r ecei vest he sacr ament sofBapt i sm,Conf i r mat i on and Hol y Euchar i st .Now t he per son i sf ul l yi ni t i at ed i nt ot he Cat hol i c Chur ch. ( cont i nuedonpage28)

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Ob e d i e n c et ot h eWi l l o f Go dBr i n g s G r e a t B l e s s i n g s ByVi r g i ni aBa r b e r ,O. C. D. S

as f ol l ows:“ By f ai t h Abr aham obeyed when he was cal l ed,andwentf or t ht ot hepl acehewast or ecei veasa her i t age;hewentf or t h,mor eover ,notknowi ngwher ehe wasgoi ng. ”Jamest el l sust o“ bedoer soft hewor dand nothear er sonl y” .St .Pet erwr i t esi nIPet er :“ Byobedi ence t ot he t r ut h you have pur i f i ed your sel ves f ora genui nel oveofyourbr ot her s;t her ef or e,l oveoneanot her const ant l yf r om t he hear t . ”Pet erl ear ned so wel lt he bl essi ng ofobedi ence t hathe al ong wi t ht he ot her apost l escoul dsay:“ Bet t erf orust oobeyGodt hanmen! ” when t hey wer e ar r est ed and appear ed bef or et he Sanhedr i ni nAct s5: 29. Wecan,t hen,r enderobedi encet ot heChur ch’ st eachi ng t r ust i ng t hatt he Hol y Spi r i tgui des t he Chur ch.I n so doi ng,wear er ender i ngobedi encet ot hewi l l ofGod.We canal sor enderobedi encet oj ustl awsofourl and.Paul , wr i t i ngt oTi t ussays:“ Remi ndpeopl et obel oyal l ysubj ect t ot hegover nmentandi t sof f i ci al s,t oobeyt hel aws,t obe r eady t ot ake on any honestempl oyment ” .Hebr ews 13: 17di r ect sus:“ Obeyyourl eader sandsubmi tt ot hem, f ort heykeepwat choveryouasmenwhomustr enderan account .Soactt hatt heymayf ul f i l l t hei rt askwi t hj oy ,not wi t hsor r ow,f ort hatwoul dbehar mf ult oyou. ” Sot hen,t osummar i zet hebl i ssofobedi ence:Fai t hand t r usti nGodar et henecessar ypr er equi si t esf orobedi ence.Obedi ence f r eesusf orf r i endshi p,i nt i macyand uni on wi t h God t hr ough Chr i st .Obedi ence makes us ci t i zensoft heKi ngdom ofHeavenwher eGod’ swi l li s doneper f ect l yandt her ei nl i esal lourj oyandpeace,our bl i ss,t hebeat i t udeofGod.

WhatTheCat hol i cChur ch TeachesAboutCr emat i on â&#x20AC;&#x153; As hest oAs hes â&#x20AC;?

The numberofcr emat i onsi si ncr easi ng f ort hr ee mai n r easons.Fi r st ,t her ei sagr owi ngshor t ageofbur i al spaces i nsomesect i onsoft henat i on.Second,i namobi l esoci et y wher emanypeopl emoveof t en,i t ' smuchsi mpl ert ot r anspor tashest hanacasket .Manyel der l ywhol i vei nt he nor t her nst at es,f orexampl e,wi nt eri nwar mercl i mat es.

The Chur c h No LongerFor bi ds t he Pr ac t i c e,but I t ' snotunusualf ort hem t ol eavei nst r uct i onst hat ,shoul d Does n' tAl l owTheSc at t er i ngofCr emat edRemai ns t heydi et her e,t hei rbodi esar et obecr emat edandt he ByLouJacquet udgebyt heboxof f i cer ecei pt s,mi l l i onsofAmer i cans Toj sawt hef i nal scenei nt hemovi e" TheBr i dgesofMadi son Count y . "I ni tasonanddaught erhonort hei rmot her ' sl ast r equestby scat t er i ng herashes f r om a sceni cI owa br i dge. I t ' shi gh dr ama,a power f ulmoment .What everel se i t mi ghtbe,however ,i twoul dcl ear l ynotbeapr operbur i al i ft hewomanwer eCat hol i c. Butt hemer ef actt hewomanwascr emat edi snott he i ssue.TodaymanyCat hol i cs,i nspeaki ngwi t ht hei rpar i sh pr i estaboutf uner alar r angement sf ort hemsel vesorf ora l ovedone,ar esur pr i sedt ol ear nt heChur chnol onger f or bi dscr emat i on.Whatt hoseci nemat i chei r sdi dwr ong was t oi gnor et he Chur ch' s st i pul at i on t hatcr emat ed r emai ns( cal l ed" cr emai ns" )mustr ecei veapr operbur i al i nconsecr at edgr ound. " Youcan' tst or eGr andmaont hemant elorscat t eryour f at her ' sashesacr osst he13t hgr eenofhi sf avor i t egol f cour se, "advi sesFat herPet erPol ando,canonl awyerand past orofSt .Mat t hi asPar i shi nYoungst own,Ohi o." The Chur chhasst r ongf eel i ngsaboutt hef actt hatt hi sbody hasbeenat empl eoft heHol ySpi r i tandr equi r esapr oper bur i alasar esul t . "

r emai nsf l ownhomet obei nt er r edi nt hef ami l ybur i alpl ot . Andat hi r dr easoni sf i nanci al :acr emat i ont ypi cal l ycost s si gni f i cant l yl esst hanaf ul l scal ebur i ali nacasket . Whenandwhydi dt heChurchchangei t st eachi ngont hi sopt i on? I nhi sbook" Quest i onsandAnswer s, "syndi cat edcol umni stFat herJohnDi et zenexpl ai ns" t hef i r stgener al l egi sl at i onbanni ngt hebur ni ngofbodi esasaf uner alr i t e came f r om t he Vat i can' sHol yOf f i ce i n May1886,not i ng t he ant i r el i gi ous and Masoni c mot i vat i on behi nd t he movement .The1918CodeofCanonLaw cont i nuedt hat ban because cr emat i on was st i l lconsi der ed a f l agr ant r ej ect i onoft heChr i st i anbel i efi ni mmor t al i t yandt her esur r ect i on. " Butnowt henewCat echi sm oft heCat hol i cChur ch,whi ch devot es hundr eds ofwor ds t o some subj ect s,mat t er of f act l y devot es onl y 20 wor ds t ot he t opi c:" The Chur ch per mi t s cr emat i on,pr ovi ded t hati tdoes not demonst r at e a deni aloff ai t hi nt he r esur r ect i on oft he body"( no.2301) . ( cont i nuedonnextpage)

By def i ni t i ons suppl i ed f r om f uner al i ndust r yl i t er at ur e, cr emat i oni st hepr ocessofr educi ngt hebodyt obone f r agment st hr ough t he appl i cat i on ofi nt ense heat .The bonef r agment sar et henpul ver i zed,andpl acedwi t hi na t empor ar ycont ai nerbef or ebei ngr et ur nedt ot hef ami l y . Cat hol i cbur i al pr act i cecal l sf ort hecr emai nst obebur i ed i nanur nwi t hi naconsecr at edgr aveorpl acedi nsi dea mausol eum.Keepi ngashesathomeorscat t er i ngt hem onl andorsea,evenwher el egal ,i si nappr opr i at et ot he Chur ch' sdeepr ever encef ort hebodyasapl acewher e t hesoulhasr esi ded,As" OurSundayVi si t or ' sCat hol i c Encycl opedi a"not es: " Cr emat i onwast henor mal cust om i nt heanci entci vi l i zed wor l d,excepti nEgypt ,JudeaandChi na.I twasr epugnantt oear l yChr i st i ansbecauseoft hebel i efi nt her esur r ect i onoft hebody .Byt hef i f t hcent ur y ,cr emat i onhad beenl ar gel yabandonedi nt heRomanEmpi r ebecauseof Chr i st i ani nf l uence. " Thesedays,cr emat i onhasbecomemor ecommoni nt he Uni t edSt at esamongper sonsofvar i ousdenomi nat i ons. TheCr emat i onAssoci at i onofNor t hAmer i ca( CANA)est i mat est hatoutofr oughl y2. 6mi l l i ondeat hseachyear , t her ear esome471, 000cr emat i ons,orabout20per cent . I n2010,cr emat i onsaccount edf oral most33per centof f uner alpl anni ng.CANAsayst her e1, 100cr emat or i esi n t heUni t edSt at es.

Chur ch’ sTeachi ngonCr emat i on,Cont i nued Thecur r entCodeofCanonLaw ( r evi sedi n1983)devot esa mer e30wor dst hatel abor at eont hesamet heme:" TheChur ch ear nest l yr ecommendst hepi ouscust om ofbur i alber et ai ned; buti tdoesnotf or bi dcr emat i on,unl esst hi si schosenf orr easons whi char econt r ar yt oChr i st i ant eachi ng"( no.1176) . So whathappened bet ween t he end ofWor l d WarIand t he wr i t i ngoft her evi sedcode?I n1963,t heChur chbegant or el ax i t sat t i t udet owar dcr emat i onf orr easonsofnat i onalcust om,l ack ofbur i alspace,di seasecont r olandot herconsi der at i ons.Now t her evi sedcode' scanoni ncor por at est he1963decr ee,butomi t s anyment i onofr equi r i ngagoodr easonf orcr emat i on. Fat herPol andonot edt hatt heCanonLaw Soci et yofAmer i ca' s " Comment ar yont heCodeofCanonLaw"i smor especi f i c:" I n t heol dcode,t hef or merl aw wasqui t ef or cef ulandr est r i ct i vei n i t sopposi t i ont ocr emat i on.Act ual l y ,t heChur chhasneverbeen agai nstcr emat i onassuch,butdi scour agedi tbecauseoft he r easonspeopl eusedt oj ust i f yi t . " TheChur chr eact st opr obl emst hatcomet oi t sdoor st ep, "he cont i nued." TheChur chadopt edt hest ancei tdi dbecausepeopl e wer eusi ngcr emat i ont oj ust i f ydenyi ngt her esur r ect i onoft he body . " Butnowt heChur chbel i evest hosewhor equestcr emat i onar en' t doi ngsooutofanydesi r et odenybodi l yr esur r ect i onordef ame Chur cht eachi ng.Cr emat i onandaCat hol i cf uner all i t ur gywoul d, ofcour se,bedeni edi ft hatwer et hecase. Lou Jacqueti sedi t oroft he Cat hol i cExponent ,newspaperf ort he Di oceseofYoungst own,Ohi o.

T on yMe l e n de z

I fyou’ reunf ami l i arwi t hTonyMel endez,he’ sagui t ari stwhosel i f ei sani nspi ra-

t i onalst oryofovercomi ngadversi t yanddi sabi l i t y,hewasbornwi t houtarms.I nan unf orget t abl emoment ,onSept ember15,1987,hepl ayedhi sgui t arf orPopeJohn PaulI Ii nLosAngel es.Bornwi t houtarms,heperf ormedat ouchi ngsongent i t l ed “NeverBeTheSame. ”Whent hePopeapproachedhi mf rom t hest aget oki sshi m i nappreci at i on,i tseemedt oref l ectt hesent i ment soft heent i recount ry. NeverBet heSamewasanappropri at esong,f ort hosef ew moment schanged TonyMel endez’ sl i f e and broughthi sunrest rai ned abi l i t i esasa gui t ari sti nt o nat i onalat t ent i on.I tseemst obeaf i t t i ngpl acef oramanwhohasspenthi sl i f e put t i ngpersonalconf i denceabovehi shandi cap.

Today,Tonyt ravel st heworl doverbri ngi nghi smessageofhopet odi verseaudi ences.From rel i gi ousgat heri ngst o corporat e meet i ngst o publ i cand pri vat e schoolassembl i es,Tony’ smessageof“ I fICan,SoCanYou-SiYoPue do,TuTambi en Pue des ”hasinspiredmillionsaroundtheworld. I fyouwoul dl i ket ohaveTonyperf orm atyourschoolornextmeet i ng,cont actus atcat hol i cl i f emag@gmai l . com.Fol l owi ngcert ai ngui del i nes,Tonycanperf orm f or yourschoolf orl i t t l eornocost .

Bri ngi ng“AMessageofHope”ToYourAudi ence 10

ReverenceatMass

Youcanobser veonanygi vendaypeopl et r avel l i ngt o wor k.Menar edr essedsmar t l yont hesubwayort r ansi t l i nes.Thei rshi r t s ni cel yi r oned and pant s cr eased. Womenar edr essedmucht hesame. Theyhaveonsome r espect abl egar b,per hapsabl ouseandski r torasmar t busi nesssui t .IknowasIt r avelt owor k,Iof t enl ookwi t h admi r at i onatmyf el l owt r avel l er s.Theyhavet akensuch gr eatpai nst opr epar et hemsel vesf ort hei rdai l yt oi l .I bel i evet hesamecanbesai dwi t hpeopl et r avel l i ngt oan i mpor t antmeet i ng orevent .One may even say t hat peopl ecanbeseenwear i ngt hei rbestcl ot hes.I fone wer egoi ngt omeett hePr i meMi ni st erort hePr esi dent ,I t hi nkt hi swoul dbeespeci al l yt r ue.Whyi st hent hatwhen wegot omeett heMast erofal l Cr eat i ont hesamer egar d i snotgi ven? Peopl eseem t ot akesuchgr eatcar esi mpr essi ngt he wor l d,butwhent heyappr oacht heLor di nt heHol yMass, t heyseem t of or getwhoHei s.Wher ei st her ever ence? How canoneshow somuchat t ent i ont ot hosear oundus, yetf or gett oshow r espectt ot heOnewhogi vesusal l ? Woul dn' ti tonl ybenat ur alt hatwest r i vet owearourbest cl ot hi ngwhenvi si t i ngHi mi nt heMass.Doesn' tHeaf t eral l t r anscendt heof f i ci al sofgover nment ? Isayt hesewor dsnotf r om aposi t i onofhaught i ness,but outofgr eatr ever encef orHi m whogi vesmeal l .Ihave t ooof t enseenpeopl ecomi ngt ot heMassast houghi ti s buta passi ng momentand t hei rcl ot hes and at t i t ude r ef l ectt hat . Peopl e chi tchat ,wearTshi r t s( some of whi ch have symbol s or r het or i c whi ch go agai nst Chr i st i anbel i ef s)andt her eseemst ohavecomet oexi st encet hei gnor anceoft hesacr edsi l encet hati st oexi st bef or eanddur i ngt heMass.Wher ei st her espect ? Somemayar guet hati ti sj udgement alt ol ookatpeopl e i nsuchaway ,aswenevert r ul yknowci r cumst ancesofa gi vensi t uat i on.Iwoul dagr eewi t ht hatcont ent i oni fwe wer el i vi ngi nanar eaofext r emepover t yandpeopl epossessed l i t t l e ornot hi ng,butt he pl aces wher e Ihave obser vedt heset r ansgr essi onar enoti nt hel ower

echel onsofsoci et y ,r at hert heyar ewel l est abl i shed,economi cal l yst abl epl aces.Iwoul devenpr oposet hecont ent i ont hati fonei sapauper ,t hatheorsheweart hei r bestpauperr agswhenappr oachi ngt heSacr amentoft he Al t ar .Comi ngt oMasswear i ngaCheGuevar ashi r tdoes notembodyt her ever encet hati sdue,nordoeswear i ng ashi r tpr esent i ngt hesat ani csymbol sofar ockband.We shoul dembr acet hei deaofwear i ngour" Sundaybest " . Fur t her ,whatchi tchati ssonecessar yt hati tcannotwai t unt i l t heMasshasconcl uded,exceptexpl ai ni ngt heMass t oani nt er est edpar t y? We,ast hechur chmi l i t ant ,havet hedut yt ouphol dt he st andar dsoft heMass.Thi si snotar esponsi bi l i t yt hati s sol el yl ef tupt ot hepr i est s,deaconsorusher s,butt he l ai t yaswel l .We,whoar ei nt hepews,of t enobser ve manyoft heset r ansgr essi ons.I ti swet hatshoul dmake i tknownt ot r ansgr essor st hatt hei rbehavi ori snotappr opr i at e,orbr i ngi tt oat t ent i onofourpar i shpr i est .When we see ourbr ot herorsi st erpl ayi ng on t hei rmobi l e phone,st opt hem. I si tr eal l yt oomucht oaskt odevot et hatonehouroft he Masst oGod?OurGodgi vesussomuch,butasksf orso l i t t l e.Ibel i evei fyoudoseet r ansgr essi onst aki ngpl ace dur i ngMassandf ai lt oactt hatyouar ej ustasgui l t yas t hesi nner .I ti st ant amountt ot ur ni ngabl i ndeyet ot he si nordoi ngi tyour sel f ,andi ndoi ngso,yout aket hatver y si nuponyour sel f .I ti st i met ost opt hei r r ever encet hat seemst oper meat et hr oughourt i mewi t hGodandt each peopl et r uer espectf ort heEuchar i st . I nconcl udi ng,Iwoul dl i ket or emi ndyout hatt heMassi s not hi ngot hert hant hegr eatsacr amenti nwhi chwehonor Chr i st ' sl i f e,deat handr esur r ect i on,andhi sbodyi sonce agai nof f er edont heal t arasi twasonCal var y .TheMass deser vest hegr eat estr ever encef r om al li nat t endance, andweshoul dal waysst r i vet ohonorHi mi nourt hought s, act i onsanddeeds.Par tofshowi ngr ever encet oJesusi s t ohonorhi m wi t hr espect f uldr essandl ovi ngat t ent i on. Ther ei snor easonwhyourmast er si nt hewor l dshoul d begi vengr eat err espectt hant heCr eat oroft heUni ver se andt her ei snor easonwhyweshoul dal l owot her sshow heant i moder ni st . com Hi mi r r ever encei fwet r ul yl oveHi m. t

1 1

Sai ntPer egri ne

I ti ssai dt hatSt .Per egr i nedi dnotsi tf or t hi r t y year s, whi ch caused hi m t o devel opvar i cosevei nsandt hencancer onhi sl egandf oot .Thesor esbecame pai nf ul and doct or s pr epar ed t o amput at ehi sf oot ,butt heni ghtbef or e t hesur ger ywasschedul edt ot akepl ace Per egr i nedr aggedhi msel ft ot hef ootof a cr uci f i x and spentmany hour si n pr ayer .Whenhef el lasl eepher ecei ved avi si onofChr i stt ouchi nghi sf oot .I nt he mor ni nghi sf ootwascompl et el yheal ed. He i st her ef or e consi der ed t he pat r on sai ntoft hose suf f er i ng f r om cancer , AI DSandot herchr oni cdi seases.

Cathol i cPr ayerForCancer

O Sai nt Peregri ne,you who have been cal l ed "The Wonder-Worker" because of the numerous mi r acl es whi chyouhaveobt ai ned from God f orthosewhohave hadrecoursetoyou,whof orsomanyyearsborei nyour ownfl eshthi scancerousdi seasethatdes troysthevery fi berofourbei ng,andwhohadrecoursetothesource ofal lgr acewhenthepowerofmancoul d donomore: youwhoweref avored wi th thevi si onofJesuscomi ng downfrom Hi sCrosstohealyouraffl i cti on,askofGod and OurLadythecureofthesesi ckpersonswhom we entrus t to you ( names of those f or whom you are pr ayi ng,i ncl udi ngyoursel fi fneedbe) .Ai dedi nthi sway by yourpowerfuli ntercessi on,we shal lsi ng pr ai se to Godf orHi sgreatgoodnessandmercy.Amen.

Cathol i cChari ti esOffersPregnancyCounsel i ng

Cathol i cChari ti esoftheRi oGrande Val l eyoffersfree,confi denti al , andprofessi onalpregnancy counsel i ngtofami l i eswhoareexpect i ngachi l dandwhomaybefaci nga cri si s( from unbornuptothei rfi rst yearsofl i fe).Thegoali stohel pi ndi vi dual sovercomethei rcri ses,offeri ngal ternati vestoaborti on, savi ngl i ves,andl i vi ngoutourpro-l i feconvi cti ons. Pl ease cal l (956) 702-4088 to schedul e an appoi ntment. Counsel i ngi sofferedattwosi tes:Cathol i cChari ti esi nSanJuan, 700 N.Vi rgen de San Juan Bl vd. and Cathol i c Chari ti es i n Brownsvi l l e,955W.Pri ceRoad.

St r e s sBas i c s

ByMay oCl i ni c

St r essi sanor malpsychol ogi calandphysi calr eact i ont ot heever i ncr easi ngdemandsofl i f e.Sur veysshowt hatmostAmer i cansexper i encechal l engeswi t hst r essatsomepoi ntdur i ngt heyear .I nl ooki ng att hecausesofst r ess,r emembert hatyourbr ai ncomeshar dwi r ed wi t hanal ar m syst em f oryourpr ot ect i on.Whenyourbr ai nper cei vesa t hr eat ,i tsi gnal syourbodyt or el easeabur stofhor monest of uelyour capaci t yf ora r esponse.Thi shasbeen l abel ed t he " f i ght or f l i ght " r esponse.Oncet het hr eati sgone,yourbodyi smeantt or et ur nt oa nor malr el axedst at e.Unf or t unat el y ,t henonst opst r essofmoder nl i f e meanst hatyoural ar m syst em r ar el yshut sof f . That ' swhyst r essmanagementi ssoi mpor t ant .St r essmanagement gi vesyouar angeoft ool st or esetyoural ar m syst em.Wi t houtst r ess management ,al lt ooof t enyourbodyi sal waysonhi ghal er t .Over t i me,hi ghl evel sofst r essl eadt oser i ousheal t hpr obl ems.Don' twai t unt i lst r esshasanegat i vei mpactonyourheal t h,r el at i onshi psor qual i t yofl i f e.St ar tpr act i ci ngar angeofst r essmanagementt echni quest oday . Doyouknowanyonewhoi sn' tatt i messt r essedoutt hesedays?The paceofmoder nl i f emakesst r essmanagementanecessar yski l lf or ever yone.Manypeopl ej uggl emul t i pl er esponsi bi l i t i es,wor k,home l i f e,car egi vi ngandr el at i onshi ps.Lear ni ngt oi dent i f ypr obl emsand i mpl ementsol ut i onsi st hekeyt osuccessf ulst r essr educt i on. Thef i r stst epi nsuccessf ulst r essr el i efi sdeci di ngt omakeachange i nhow youmanagest r ess.Thenextst epi si dent i f yi ngyourst r ess t r i gger s.Somecausesofst r essar eobvi ousâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; j obpr essur es,r el at i onshi ppr obl emsorf i nanci aldi f f i cul t i es.Butdai l yhassl esanddemands, suchascommut i ng,ar r angi ngdaycar eorbei ngover commi t t edat wor k,canal socont r i but et oyourst r essl evel .Posi t i veevent sal socan best r essf ul .I fyougotmar r i ed,st ar t edanew j obandboughtanew housei nt hesameyear ,youcoul dhaveahi ghst r essl evel .Whi l e negat i veevent si ngener alar emor est r essf ul ,besur et oal soassess posi t i vechangesi nyourl i f e. Once you' ve i dent i f i ed yourst r esst r i gger s,you can st ar tt hi nki ng aboutst r at egi esf ordeal i ngwi t ht hem.Somet i mest hesol ut i onmaybe aseasyast ur ni ngof ft heTVwhent heeveni ngnewsi st oodi st r essi ng.Or ,whenyoucan' tavoi dast r essf ulsi t uat i on,t r ybr ai nst or mi ng wayst or educet hei r r i t at i onf act or .Anddon' tf eell i keyouhavet o f i gur ei toutal lonyourown.Seekhel pandsuppor tf r om f ami l yand f r i ends.Youmaywantt oaskt hem whatst r essr el i eft echni queshave wor kedwel lf ort hem.Andmanypeopl ebenef i tf r om dai l ypr act i ceof st r essr educt i ont echni ques,suchasmi ndf ul ness,t aichi ,yoga,medi t at i onorbei ngi nnat ur e.

ThisHealthTipCourtesyofYourFriendsAt

PrayerOpenst heWayt ot he Myst eryofGod' sPl an byPopeBenedi ctXVI

StPaul usest hever b“ eul oghei n” ,whi chmor eof t ent r ansl at est heHebr ewt er m“ bar ak” ;i ti spr ai si ng,gl or i f yi ngand t hanki ngGodt heFat herast hesour ceoft hegoodsofsal vat i on,l i ket heOnewho“ hasbl essedusi nChr i stwi t h ever yspi r i t ualbl essi ngi nt heheavenl ypl aces” .

TheApost l et hanksandpr ai ses,butheal sor ef l ect sont he r e a s o n s t h a t s p u r t h e h u ma n b e i n g t o o f f e r t h i s p r a i s e , t h i s Ourpr ayer sar ever yof t enr equest sf orhel pi nat i meof t h a n k s g i v i n g , p r e s e n t i n g t h e f u n d a me n t a l e l e me n t s o f t h e need.Mor eover ,t hi si s nor malf ormen and women vi nepl anandi t sst ages.Fi r stofal lwemustbl essGod becauseweneedhel p,weneedot her s,weneedGod. di t h e F a t h e r b e c a u s e , S t P a u l w r i t e s , “ h e c h o s e u si nhi m Thusi ti snor mal f orust oaskGodsomet hi ng,t oseekhel p b e f o r e t h e f o u n d a t i o n o f t h e w o r l d , t h a t w e s h o u l d b e h o l y f r om hi m;andwemustbeari nmi ndt hatt hepr ayert he a n d b l a me l e s s b e f o r e h i m” ( v . 4 ) . Wh a t ma k e s u s h o l y a n d Lor dt aughtus,t he“ OurFat her ” ,i sapr ayerofpet i t i on. amel essi sl ove.Godcal l edust oexi st ence,t ohol i ness. Wi t ht hi spr ayert heLor dt eachesust hepr i or i t i esofour bl A n d t h i s c h o i c e e v e n p r e c e d e s t h e f o u n d a t i o n o f t h e w or l d. pr ayerandcl eansesandpur i f i esourdesi r esandi nt hi s We h a v e a l w a y s b e e n i n h i s p l a n a n d i n h i s mi n d . Wi t h t h e wayhecl eansesandpur i f i esourhear t s.Ther ef or eeven P r o p h e t J e r e mi a h w e t o o c a n s a y t h a t h e k n e w u s b e f o r e t houghi ti si ni t sel fnor malt hatweshoul daskf orsomehef or medusi nourmot her ’ swomb( cf .Jer1: 5) ;andi n t hi ngi npr ayer ,i tshoul dnotbeexcl usi vel yso. knowi ngushel ovedus.Thevocat i ont ohol i ness,t hati s, ocommuni onwi t hGodbel ongst oanet er naldesi gnof Ther ei sal socausef ort hanksgi vi ngandi fwepayal i t t l e t t h i s G o d , a d e s i g n t h a t e x t e n d s t h r o u g h h i s t o r y and at t ent i onweseet hatwer ecei vever ymanygoodt hi ngs i n c l u d e s a l l t h e me n a n d w o me n o f t h e w o r l d , b e c a u s e i ti s f r om God.Hei ssogoodt oust hati ti sr i ghtandnecessar y a u n i v e r s a l a p p e a l . G o d e x c l u d e s n o o n e , h i s p l a n i s s o l e l y t osay“ t hankyou” . Andourpr ayershoul dal sobeapr ayer o f l o v e . S t J o h n C h r y s o s t o m s a y s : G o d h i ms e l f “ r e n d e r e d ofpr ai se:i fourhear t sar eopeni nspi t eofal l t hepr obl ems ybutt henwemustcont i nuet obehol y .Ahol yman weal soseet hebeaut yofhi scr eat i on,t hegoodnesst hat ushol i s h e w h o i s a p a r t a k e r o f f a i t h ” ( H o mi l i e s o n t h e L e t t ert o i sr eveal edi nhi scr eat i on.Ther ef or ewemustnotonl yask t h e E p h e s i a n s , 1 , 1 , 4 ) . butal sopr ai seandgi vet hanks,onl yi nt hi swayi sour pr ayercompl et e.I n hi s Let t er s StPauldoes notonl y i nues,“ hedest i nedusi nl ovet obehi ssons speakofpr ayer ;heal sor ef er st opr ayer sandofcour se Paulcont t h r o u g h J e s u s C h r i s t ” , t o b e i n c o r p o r a t e d i n hi s pr ayer s ofpet i t i on as wel l ,butpr ayer s ofpr ai se and O n l y B e g o t t e n S o n . T h e A p o s t l e u n d e r l i n e s t h e g r a t u bl essi ngf oral l t hatGodhaswor kedandcont i nuest owor k i t o u s n e s s o f t h i s ma r v e l l o u s p l a n o f G o d f o r h u ma n i t y . G o d i nhumani t y’ shi st or y . di dnotchooseusbecausewear egood,butbecausehe i s g o o d . A n d a n t i q u i t y h a d a p h r a set osayongoodness: Andt odayIwoul dl i ket or ef l ectont heFi r stChapt eroft he b o n u m e s t d i f f u s i v u m s u i ; g o o d n e s s i scommuni cat ed,i t Let t ert ot he Ephesi ans t hatbegi ns,pr eci sel y ,wi t ha s p r e a d s . A n d t h u s , s i n c e G o d i s g o o d n e s s , h e i s t h e c o mpr ayerwhi chi sahymnofbl essi ng,anexpr essi onofgr at i cat i onofgoodness,hewi shest ocommuni cat e;he t ude,ofj oy .StPaulbl essesGod,t heFat herofourLor d muni c r e a t e s b e c a u s e h e w a n t s t o c o mmu n i c a t e h i s g o o d ness JesusChr i st ,becausei nhi m hehasmadeus“ know t he t o u s a n d t o ma k e u s g o o d a n d h o l y . myst er yofhi swi l l ”( Eph1: 9) .Ther et r ul yi sar easont o expr essgr at i t udei fGodenabl esust oknow al lt hati s hehear toft hepr ayerofbl essi ng,t heApost l ei l l ushi dden:hi swi l lwi t hus,f orus;“ t hemyst er yofhi swi l l ” . Att t r a t e s t h e w a y i n w h i c h t h e F a t h e r ’ s p l a n o f s a l v a t i o n i s “ Myst er i on”or“ Myst er y” :at er mt hatr ecur sf r equent l yi n b r o u g h t a b o u t i n C h r i s t , i n h i s b e l o v e d S o n . H e w r i t e s : “ i n Sacr edScr i pt ur eandi nt heLi t ur gy . hi m wehaver edempt i ont hr oughhi sbl ood,t hef or gi ven e s s o f o u r t r e s p a s s e s , a c c o r d i n g t o t h e r i c h e s o f hi s Ido notwantt o ent eri nt o phi l ol ogy her e,buti nt he g r a c e ” ( E p h 1 : 7 ) . T h e s a c r i f i c e o f t h e C r o s s o f C h r i s t i s t h e common l anguage i ti ndi cat eswhati ti si mpossi bl et o que and unr epeat abl e eventwi t h whi ch t he Fat her know,ar eal i t ywear eunabl et ogr aspwi t hourowni nt el - uni s h o w e d h i s l o v e f o r u s i n a l u mi n o u s w a y , n o t o n l y i n w o r ds l ect .Thehymnt hatopenst heLet t ert ot heEphesi ans b u t i n p r a c t i c e . G o d i s s o r e a l a n d h i s l o v e i s s o r e a l t h at t akesusbyt hehandandl eadsust owar damor epr of ound h e e n t e r s i n t o h i s t o r y , h e b e c o me s a ma n t o f e e l w h a t i t i s, meani ngoft hi st er m andoft her eal i t yt hati tpoi nt soutt o h o w i t i s t o l i v e i n t h i s c r e a t e d w o r l d , a n d h e a c c e p t s t h e us.“ Myst er y” ,f orbel i ever s,i snotsomucht heunknown p a t h o f s u f f e r i n g o f t h e P a s s i o n a n d e v e n s u f f e r s d e a t h . asr at hert hemer ci f ulwi l lofGod,hi spl anofl ovewhi ch G o d ’ s l o v e i s s o r e a l t h a t h e d o e s n o t o n l y p a r t i c i p a t e i n wasf ul l yr eveal edi nJesusChr i standof f er sust hepossi ngbutal soi noursuf f er i ngandourdyi ng.Thesacbi l i t y“ t ocompr ehendwi t hal l t hesai nt swhati st hebr eadt h ourbei r i f i c e o f t h e C r o s s e n s u r e s t h a t w e b e c o me “ God’ s andt hel engt handhei ghtanddept h,andt oknowt hel ove p r o p e r t y ” b e c a u s e t h e B l o o d o f C h r i s t h a s r e d e e me d u s ofChr i st ”( Eph3: 1819) .The“ unknownmyst er y”ofGodi s f r o m s i n , c l e a n s e s u s f r o m e v i l , r e mo v e s u s f r o m t h e r eveal ed,i ti st hatGodl ovesusandhasl ovedusf r om t he sl aver yofsi nanddeat h.StPaul i nvi t esust oconsi dert he begi nni ng,f r om et er ni t y . dept hsofGod’ sl ovet hatt r ansf or mshi st or y ,t hatt r ansor medhi sver yl i f ef r om bei ngaper secut orofChr i st i ans Letust her ef or er ef l ectal i t t l eont hi ssol emnandpr of ound f t o b e i n g a n u n f l a g g i n g a p o s t l e o f t h e G o s p e l . pr ayer .“ Bl essedbet heGodandFat herofourLor dJesus Chr i st( Eph1: 3) . 13

Pr a y e rOp e n st h eWa yt ot h e My s t e r yo f Go d ' sPl a n ,( c o n t i n u e d )

Her eonceagai nt her eassur i ngwor dsoft heLet t ert ot he Romansr esound:“ I fGodi sf orus,whoi sagai nstus?He whodi dnotspar ehi sownSonbutgavehi m upf orusal l , wi l l henotal sogi veusal l t hi ngswi t hhi m?. . .ForIam sur e t hatnei t herdeat h,norl i f e,norangel s,norpr i nci pal i t i es, nort hi ngspr esent ,nort hi ngst ocome,norpower s,nor hei ght ,nordept h,noranyt hi ngel sei nal lcr eat i on,wi l lbe abl et osepar at eusf r om t hel oveofGodi nChr i stJesus ourLor d”( Rom 8: 3132;3839) .Wemusti nt egr at et hi s cer t ai nt y–Godi sf orusandnocr eat ur ecansepar at eus f r om hi m becausehi sl ovei sst r onger–i nourbei ng,i nour awar enessasChr i st i ans. Last l y ,t hedi vi nebl essi ngendswi t ht hement i onoft he Hol ySpi r i twhohasbeenpour edouti nt oourhear t s;t he Par acl et ewhom wehaver ecei vedasapr omi sedseal : “ whoi st heguar ant eeofouri nher i t anceunt i lweacqui r e possessi onofi t ,t ot hepr ai seofhi sgl or y”( Eph1: 14) . Redempt i oni snotyetf i ni shed–asweknow –butwi l l r eachi t sf ul f i l mentwhent hosewhom Godhasr ansomed ar et ot al l ysaved.Wear est i l lont hepat hofr edempt i on, whoseessent i al r eal i t yhasbeengi venwi t ht hedeat hand Resur r ect i onofJesus.Wear eonourwayt owar dsdef i ni t i ve r edempt i on,t owar ds t he f ul ll i ber at i on ofGod’ s chi l dr en.Andt heHol ySpi r i ti st hecer t ai nt yt hatGodwi l l br i nghi spl anofsal vat i ont ocompl et i on,whenhewi l l br i ng backt oChr i st ,t heonl yhead,ofal l“ t hi ngsi nheavenand t hi ngs on ear t h” ( Eph 1: 10) . St John Chr ysost om comment sont hi spoi nt :“ Godhaschosenusf orf ai t hand hasi mpr essedi nust hesealoft hei nher i t anceoff ut ur e gl or y”( Homi l i esont heLet t ert ot heEphesi ans,2,1 114) . Wemustacceptt hatt hej our neyofr edempt i oni sal soour j our ney ,becauseGodwant sf r eecr eat ur eswhof r eel ysay “ yes” ;buti ti saboveal landf i r stofal lhi sj our ney .Wear e i nhi shandsandt owal kont hewaydi scl osedbyhi mi s nowourf r eedom.Letuswal kont hi spat hofr edempt i on, t oget herwi t h Chr i stand under st and t hatr edempt i on i s br oughtabout .

Wel ear ni npr ayert oseet hesi gnsoft hi smer ci f ulpl ani n t heChur ch’ sj our ney .Thuswemaygr ow i nt hel oveof God,openi ngt hedoorsot hatt heBl essedTr i ni t ymay comeanddwel l wi t hi nus,mayi l l umi nat e,war m andgui de ourl i ves.“ I famanl ovesme,hewi l l keepmywor d,andmy Fat herwi l l l ovehi m,andwewi l l comet ohi m andmakeour homewi t hhi m”( Jn14: 23) ,Jesussai d,pr omi si ngt hedi sci pl est hegi f toft heHol ySpi r i twhowast ot eacht hem al l t hi ngs.StI r enaeusoncesai dt hati nt heI ncar nat i ont he Hol ySpi r i tbecameaccust omedt obei ngi nman.I npr ayer wemustbecomeaccust omedt obei ngwi t hGod.I ti sver y i mpor t ant ,t hatwel ear nt obewi t hGodandt her ebysee howbeaut i f uli ti st obewi t hhi m,whoi st her edempt i on. Dearf r i ends,whenpr ayernour i shesourspi r i t uall i veswe become capabl e ofpr eser vi ng whatStPaulcal l s“ t he myst er yoff ai t h”wi t hapur econsci ence( cf .1 1Ti m 3: 9) . Pr ayerasawayof“ accust omi ng”onesel ft obei ngwi t h Godbr i ngsi nt obei ngmenandwomenwhoar enotmot i vat edbysel f i shness,byt hedesi r et opossessorbyt he t hi r stf orpower ,butbygr at ui t ousness,byt hedesi r et o l ove,byt het hi r stt oser ve,i not herwor dswhoar emot i vat edbyGod;andonl yi nt hi swayi si tpossi bl et obr i ng l i ghtt ot hedar knessoft hewor l d. Iwoul dl i ket oendt hi sCat echesi swi t ht heepi l ogueoft he Let t ert ot heRomans.Wi t hStPaul ,l etust oogl or i f yGod f orhehasexpr essedhi msel fent i r el yt ousi nJesusChr i st andhasgi venust heConsol er ,t heSpi r i toft r ut h.StPaul wr i t esatt heendofhi sLet t ert ot heRomans:“ t ohi m who i sabl et ost r engt henyouaccor di ngt omyGospelandt he pr eachi ngofJesusChr i st ,accor di ngt ot her evel at i onof t hemyst er ywhi chwaskeptsecr etf orl ongagesbuti snow di scl osed and t hr ough t he pr ophet i c wr i t i ngs i s made knownt oal lnat i ons,accor di ngt ot hecommandoft he et er nalGod,t obr i ngaboutt heobedi enceoff ai t h–t ot he onl y wi se God be gl or yf orevermor et hr ough Jesus Chr i st !Amen”( 16: 2527) .

Thevi si onwhi chStPaul pr esent st ousi nt hi sgr eatpr ayer ofbl essi nghasl edust ocont empl at et heact i onoft he t hr eePer sonsoft heBl essedTr i ni t y:t heFat herwhochose usbef or et hecr eat i onoft hewor l d,whot houghtofusand cr eat edus;t heSonwhor edeemedust hr oughhi sBl ood andt heHol ySpi r i t ,t hepl edgeofourr edempt i onandof ourf ut ur egl or y .I nconst antpr ayer ,i nourdai l yr el at i onshi p wi t hGod,l etusl ear n,asStPauldi d,t oper cei veever mor ecl ear l yt hesi gnsofhi spl anandhi sact i on:i nt he beaut yoft heCr eat ort hatemer gesf r om hi scr eat ur es( cf . Eph3: 9) ,asStFr anci sofAssi sisi ngs:“ Laudat osi emi ’ Si gnor e,cum t ut t el eTuecr eat ur e”( f f263) . I ti si mpor t antt obeat t ent i veatt hi sver ymoment ,al soi n t hehol i dayper i od,t ot hebeaut yofcr eat i onandt osee God’ sf aceshi ni ngouti nt hi sbeaut y .Thesai nt sshowed cl ear l yi nt hei rl i veswhatGod’ spowercandoi nhuman weakness.Andhecanal sodoi ti nus.I nt hewhol eoft he hi st or yofsal vat i on,i nwhi chGodhasmadehi msel fcl ose t ousandpat i ent l ywai t sf orust ot akeourt i me.Heunder st andsouri nf i del i t i es,he encour agesourcommi t ment andgui desus. 14

Leader :GI VEUSOURDAI L YBREAD Al l :Youknowwhatweneedf orunder st andi nganddoi ng Yourwi l l .Hel pusal lt or ecei vei tandbenour i shedbyi t . Leader :OURFATHER Evi l doer sar est ar vi ngf orYou;uset heci r cumst ancesof Al l :Daddy ,Fat herofusal l ,Youl oveal lofyourchi l dr en, t hei rdayt odayt ohel pt hem f i ndYou. event hosewhodon' tknowYou. Leader :FORGI VEUSOURSI NS Leader :WHO I SI NHEAVEN Al l :For gi veusf orsuccumbi ngt ot empt at i onandf or Al l :Youar eLor doveral l .Event ual l y ,wewi l lal lcome al l owi ngour sel vest obeconf usedaboutwhati sr i ghtand f acet of acewi t hYouri nf i ni t el oveandr eal i zehowl i t t l ewe whati swr ong.For gi veusf orcont r i but i ngt oevi li nt he havel oved.Hel pusal lt odi scoverYourl oveher eonear t h wor l dbyourunl ovi ngact i onsandbyourl ackofl ovi ng andconver tt oi tbef or ei t ' st ool at e. act i ons. Leader :HOL YI SYOURNAME Leader :ASWEFORGI VETHOSEWHO SI NAGAI NSTUS Al l :Hel pusal lt or ever eYouandt or ecogni zeYourgr eat Al l :Lor d,Idof or gi ve.IaskYou,mer ci f ulFat her ,t of or gi ve mer cy .Hel pt hosewho,becauseoft hei ri nvol vementi n t hosewhohavei nf l i ct edevi luponme.Br eakt hechai nsof evi l ,ar emosti nneedofYourmer cy .Hel pusal lt ot ur n hat r edandvi ol encet hathol dsomanypeopl ei nSat an' s awayf r om ever yt hi ngt hati snotofYou. gr i p. Leader :YOURKI NGDOM COME Leader :DO NOTSUBJECTUSTO THETRI AL Al l :What everi sf i ght i ngagai nstYourki ngdom,Jesushas Al l :Donotl etanyonef orwhom I ' m pr ayi ngdi ebef or e al r eadydef eat edi tt hr ought hecr ossandhi sr esur r ect i on. t heyhaver ecogni zedandaccept edYourl ove.Hel pusal l Mayhi sPr eci ousBl oodcoverever yevi l doerf orwhom I t obecomel i keJesus,whoi st hehumanembodi mentof am pr ayi ng:Br eakSat an' sst r onghol dsandhealt hei r Per f ectLove. mi ndsandsoul s. Leader :DELI VERUSFROM EVI L Leader :YOURWI LLBEDONE Al l :Del i vermeandt hewhol ewor l df r om al lt act i csoft he ONEARTHASI TI SI NHEAVEN devi l .Rescueevi l doer sf r om l i vi ngasSat an' si nst r uAl l :Hel pusal lt oknowYourwi l l ,cl ear l yandaccur at el y , ment s;sett hem f r eet oseeenj oyJesusChr i sther eon andf i l luswi t hazealf ordoi ngwhatYouaskofus.Gi veus ear t handt henet er nal l yi nheaven. speci algr acest ohearandgr aspYourwi l lmor epr oAl l :AMEN! f oundl y . ©2 0 0 7b yT e r r yMo d i c a -Ca t h o l i cDi g i t a l Re s o u r c e s ™: c a t h o l i c d r . c o m 15

TheLor d' sPr ayerofEvangel i zat i on

Euc h a r i s t i cAd o r a t i o n Iencour ageChr i st i ansr egul ar l yt ovi si tChr i stpr esenti n t heBl essedSacr ament ,f orwear eal lcal l edt oabi dei n t he pr esence ofGod.I n cont empl at i on,Chr i st i answi l l per cei veevermor epr of oundl yt hemyst er yatt hehear tof Chr i st i anl i f e. et heval ueofEuchar i st i cAdor at i on.I Teachyoungpeopl ur ge pr i est s,r el i gi ousand l aypeopl et o cont i nue and r edoubl et hei ref f or t st ot eacht heyoungergener at i onst he meani ngandval ueofEuchar i st i cador at i onanddevot i on. Howwi l l youngpeopl ebeabl et oknowt heLor di ft heyar e noti nt r oducedt ot hemyst er yofHi spr esence?Li ket he youngSamuel ,byl ear ni ngt hewor dsoft hepr ayeroft he hear t ,t heywi l lbecl osert ot heLor d,whowi l laccompany t hem i nt hei rspi r i t ualandhumangr owt h.TheEuchar i st i c myst er yi si nf actt he" summi tofevangel i zat i on"( Lumen Gent i um)f ori ti st hemostemi nentt est i monyt oChr i st ' s PopeJohnPaulI I ) r esur r ect i on.( Whati sEuchar i st i cAdor at i on?Cat hol i csbel i evet hat dur i ng t he Mass,t he pr i est( dur i ng t he consecr at i on) speakst hesewor dsashehol dst hecommuni onhost , " . . . He t oo k br ead and gav e you t hanks .He br o k et he br ead,gav ei tt ohi sdi s c i pl es ,ands ai d:T ak et hi sal lo f you,andea ti t :t hi si smybodywhi c hwi l lbegi v enup f oryou " .Whent hepr i estsays" t hi smybody" ,i ti satt hat hr ought hemi r acl eoft r ansubst ant i at i on, i nst antwhen,t t hebr eadandwi newhi chweof f erast hebl oodl esssacr i f i cet oourLor dt r ul ybecomet heBody ,Bl ood,Souland Di vi ni t yofJesus.I ti sHi st r uePr esencei nt hef or m of br eadandwi ne.I ti sChr i st . Per pet ualAdor at i oni swhent hepr i estt akesaconsecr at edhost ,suchast heonedescr i bedabove,andpl aces i ti n a monst r ance.( monst r ance comesf r om t he Lat i n " monst r ar e"t oshow,t oexposet ovi ew. )Themonst r ance i st henpl acedi nf r ontoft het aber nacl e( anor nat ebox whi chhol dst hemonst r anceandanyconsecr at edhost s) oront heal t aroft hechur chorchapelf orador at i on. Whatdoyouact ual l ydodur i ngador at i on?Youmay si gnupt obean" ador er "whi chal l owsyout oschedul e your sel ff oroneormor ehour sperweekt opr aybef or et he ver ypr esenceofOurLor d,exposedi nt hemonst r ance.I t meanst hatyoucanhavesomet i meal onewi t hJesust o r eci t eyourf avor i t epr ayer s,r eadt hebi bl e,cont empl at e act soff ai t h,hope,char i t y ,t hanksgi vi ng,r epar at i on,pr ay ar osar yordowhat evert ypeofpr ayer f uldevot i ont hat sui t syoubef or eOurLor d. Youcanj ustsi tandsaynot hi ng si mpl ykeepi ngHi m company ,j ustasyouwoul dwi t ha dearf r i end. 12 ReasonsFr om TheTeachi ngsOfTheChur chForWant i ng ToSpendOneHourWi t hJesusI nTheBl essedSacr ament 1.Youar egr eat l yneeded! " The Chur c h and t he wor l d hav e a gr ea t need o f PopeJ ohnPaul I I ,Domi ni c aeCenae) Euc har i s t i cAdor a t i on. "( 2.Thi si saper sonali nvi t at i ont oyouf r om Jesus. PopeJ ohn " Jes uswai t sf orusi nt hi sSac r amen to fLov e . "( Paul I I ,Domi ni c aeCanae)

3.Jesusi scount i ngonyoubecauset heEuchar i sti st he cent erofl i f e. 16

10.I fJesus wer e act ual l y vi si bl ei n chur ch,ever yone woul dr unt owel comeHi m,butHer emai nshi ddeni nt he Sacr edHostundert heappear anceofBr ead,becauseHe i scal l i ngust of ai t h,t hatwemanycomet oHi mi nhumi l i t y . TheBl es s edSac r amen ti st heLi v i ngHear to feac ho f " ourc hur c hesandi ti sourv er ys wee tdu t yt ohonorand ador et he Bl es s ed Ho s t , whi c h our ey es s ee, t he I nc ar na t eWor d,Whom t heyc anno ts ee . "( PopePaul VI , Cr edooft hePeopl eofGod) 1 1.Wi t ht r ansf or mi ngmer cy ,Jesusmakesourhear tone wi t hHi s. " He pr opo s esHi sown e xampl et ot ho s e whoc ome t o Hi m,t ha tal lmay l ear nt obel i k eHi ms el f ,gen t l eand humbl eo fhear t ,andt os eekno tt hei rowni n t er es tbu t t ho s eo fGod. "( PopePaulVI ,Myst er i um Fi dei ) 12.I ft hePopehi msel fwoul dgi veyouaspeci ali nvi t at i on t ovi si thi mi nt heVat i can,t hi shonorwoul dbenot hi ngi n compar i sont ot hehonoranddi gni t yt hatJesusHi msel f best owsuponyouwi t ht heI nvi t at i onofspendi ngonehour wi t hHi mi nt heBl essedSacr ament . " TheDi v i neEuc har i s tbes t owsupont heChr i s t i anpeopl e t he i nc ompar abl e di gni t y . "( Pope PaulVI ,Myst er i um Fi dei )

Twel veBi bl i calReasonsForWant i ng To Spend OneHourWi t hJesusI nTheBl essedSacr ament

5.Each momentt hatyou spend i n Hi s Euchar i st i c Pr esence wi l li ncr ease Hi s Di vi ne Li f e wi t hi n you and deepenyourper sonalr el at i onshi pandf r i endshi pwi t hHi m. " Ihav ec omet ha tyoumayhav el i f e,andhav ei tmor e abundan t l y . "" Iam t heVi neandyouar et hebr anc hes . Who ev err emai nsi nMeandIi nHi ms hal lbearmuc h f r ui tbec aus ewi t hou tMe,youc andono t hi ng. "( Jn15: 5) 6.Eachhouryouspendwi t hJesuswi l l deepenHi sDi vi ne Peacei nyourhear t . " Comet oMeal lo fyouwhoar ewear yandf i ndl i f ebur dens omeandIwi l lr ef r es hyou. . . "" Cas tal lo fyouanxi e t i esupont heOnewhoc ar esf oryou. . . "" MyPeac ei s MyGi f tt oyou. "( Mt1 1: 28;5: 7;Jn14: 17) 7.Jesuswi l lgi ve you al lt he Gr acesyou need t o be happy! " TheL amb ont heThr onewi l ls hepher dt hem.Hewi l l l eadt hem t ot hes pr i ngso fl i f egi v i ngwa t er . "( Rev7: 17) 8.Jesusi si nf i ni t el ydeser vi ngofourunceasi ngt hanksgi vi ngandador at i onf oral lHehasdonef oroursal vat i on. " Wor t hy i st he L amb t ha twass l ai nt or ec ei v e honor , gl or yandpr ai s e . "( Rev .5: 12) 9.ForPeacei nourcount r y!

" WhenMypeopl ehumbl et hems el v esands eekMyPr es enc e . . . 2Chr7: 14) Iwi l lr ev i v et hei rl and. "(

10.Eachhouryouspendwi t hJesusonear t hwi l ll eave yoursoulever l ast i ngl y mor e beaut i f uland gl or i ous i n heaven! "Theywhohumbl ethems el vess hal lbeexal t ed. . . . "" Al lofus , 2.Dayandni ghtJesusdwel l si nt heBl essedSacr ament gazi ngontheLor dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; sgl orywi thunvei l edf aces ,ar ebei ngtr ans becauseofhi sI nf i ni t el ovef oryou! f ormedf r om gl oryt ogl oryi nt oHi sveryi mage. "( Lk18: 14; 18) " Beho l dIwi l lbewi t hyoual waysev ent ot heendo ft he 2Cor3: wor l d, "bec aus e" Ihav el ov edyouwi t hanev er l as t i ng 1.Jesuswi l lbl essyou,yourf ami l yandt hewhol ewor l d l ov e,andc ons t an ti sMyaf f ec t i onf oryou. "( Mt28: 20; 1 f ort hi shouroff ai t hyouspendwi t hHi mi nt heBl essed Jer31: 3) Sacr ament . Bl es s ed ar et hey who do no ts ee and y e tbel i ev e . . . " 3.Thespeci f i cwayt hatJesusasksyout ol oveHi mi n " F ai t hc anmov emoun t ai ns . . . ""Wha ti sneededi st r us t . . . r et ur ni st ospendonequi ethourwi t hHi mi nt heBl essed " " Beho l dIc omet omak eal lt hi ngsnew. "( Jn20: 29;Mk Sacr ament . 1: 23;Mk5: 36;Rev21: 5) " Wher eyourt r eas ur ei s ,t her ei syourhear t . . . . "" Coul d 1 youno twa t c honehourwi t hMe? "( Mt6: 21;26: 40) 12.Eachmomentyouspendwi t hJesusi nt heBl essed amentbr i ngsj oy ,pl easur e,anddel i ghtt oHi sSacr ed 4.Whenyoul ookupont heSacr edHost ,youl ookupon Sacr Hear t ! Jesus,t heSonofGod. My j oy ,My pl eas ur e,My del i gh ti st obe wi t h you. " " I ndeed,t hi si st he wi l lo fMy F a t her ,t ha tev er yone " Pr ov8: 31) whol oo ksupont heSonandbel i ev esi nHi ms hal lhav e ( e t er nall i f e .Hi m Iwi l lr ai s eupont hel as tday . "( Jn6: 40) 1.Hei sr eal l yt her e! " Imys el fAm t heLi v i ngBr eadc omedownf r om Heav en. " ( Jn6: 35)

www. medj ugor j e. or g/ ador e. ht m

c r eat ed t he wor l di ns i xday sand s aw t hati twas good.Luc i f erant heot herbadangel swer eor i gi nal l y Whydoesi tseem l i keCat hol i cswor shi pMar y? c r eat edgood,butt heymadeaf r eewi l ldec i s i ont o Cat hol i csdonotwor shi pMar y;r at herwevener at eheras r ebel agai ns tGod.Thei rs i nr es ul t edi nt hec r eat i onof t hemot herofGod,gi vi ngherf i r sthonor s.Cat hol i cs,l i ke hel l .Onc et her e,t hef al l enangel sbec amek nownas al lChr i st i ans,wor shi p God al one.The f i r stt hr ee com- dev i l sanddemons .Luc i f ert henbec ameSat an.

mandment sf ocusonourwor shi poft heonet r ueGod,hi s nameandhi sday .I nLat i n,t het er mf ort hewor shi pofGod Adam andEv e,t hef i r s thumansandt hepar ent sof i sl at r i a.I naddi t i ont ot heCommandment s,bot hpr of es- t hehumanr ac e,wer eal s oc r eat edgood.Cr eat i on si onsoff ai t h,t heApost l e’ sCr eedandt heNi ceneCr eed, ex i s t edi npeac e( t r anqui l i t yofor der )unt i lt hes i nof speakoft hebel i efi noneGod.Cat hol i cLi t ur gy ,t heHol y Adam andEv ec ameal ong.Thei rs i nwasnotj us tdi s Sacr i f i ceoft heMass,Benedi ct i on,t heLi t ur gyoft heHour s obedi enc et ot hedi v i nel aw ofGod,butwasal s oan andt hecel ebr at i onoft heot hersi xsacr ament sal lgi ve ac tofr ebel l i onandani nf ec t i ont ot hei rs oul s .The wor shi p,gl or y and honort ot he Tr i une God.I n our ent i r ec r eat eduni v er s ewast ai nt edbyor i gi nals i n. doct r i ne,l i t ur gy ,chur chl aw,bel i efandwor shi poft heone Humannat ur ewaswounded,andt hec os moswas Godi st ant amountt owhati tmeanst obeCat hol i cand s hak enupanddi s t ur bed.Nomor eper f ec thar mony , Chr i st i an. andhenc et her eex i s ts omeoc c as i onalc at as t r ophes

l i k ef l oods ,ear t hquak es ,f i r esdr ought ,bl i z z ar ds ,av a-

TheChur chusest heLat i nwor dhyper dul i at oi ndi cat et he l anc hes ,t or nadoes , hur r i c anes ,t s unami s , and r el at i onshi pwehavewi t ht hemot herofGod.I tmeanst hat , me t e o r c o l l i s i o n s . T h e s e a r e s o me t i me s k n o wnas wegi vef i r sthonor saf t erAl mi ght yGodt oMar ybecauseof p h y s i c a l o r e a r t h l y e v i l s . Wa r , c r i me , v i o l e n c e , t er r or herr ol ei n sal vat i on hi st or y .Hyper dul i ai snotwor shi p; i s m, h a t r e d , b i g o t r y , r a c i s m, a n d a b u s e a r e mo r al r at her ,i ti sr espectwe gi ve t o an i mpor t antf i gur e.I n e v i l s c a u s e d b y ma n . Amer i canhi st or ywehonorandr espectt ot hef oundi ng f at her sofourcount r y ,andwegi veespeci al l yhi ghr egar d Hadt her ebeennos i n,Adam andEv ewoul dhav e t oGeor geWashi ngt on,ourf i r stpr esi dent .Si mi l ar l y , we gi ve f i r stadmi r at i on t o Mar yabove al lsai nt s.Fi r st , nev erbeenex pel l edf r om t heGar denofPar adi s e. becauseshesai d“ yes, ”ori nLat i n“ f i at , ”whi chmeans,“ t hy Ther ewoul dhav ebeennopai n,nos uf f er i ng,andno wi l lbedone. ”Byheraf f i r mat i veaccl amat i on,shebecame phy s i c alev i l swhat s oev er .Thebl amef ort hei rex i s t hemot herofGod. Al l ofMar y’ st i t l es,at t r i but es,andpr i vi -t enc ei snotont heCr eat orwhomadet hewor l d,but l egescent eron t hi st heol ogi calf act .Second,she i sa on t he c r eat ur es t hatf r eel yc hos et o do and t o modelf oral lChr i st i anst of ol l ow onhow t oat t ai nheaven b e c o me e v i l . andbecl oset oherSon. Thi r d,asMot heroft heRedeemer andsai nti nheaven,shei sapower f uladvocat eandi nt er hol i cchur cheshavecr uci f i xeswhi l e cessorf orusonear t h.Thi nkoft hef i r stpubl i cmi r acl eof WhydoCat P r o t e s t a n t c h u r c h e s h a v e c r o s s e s ? Jesus,t heweddi ngf eastofCana.Thef ami l ywentt oMar y uc i f i x esar ec r os s eswhi c hhav et hec or pus( body ) wi t ht hepr obl em ofwi ne.Shei nst r uct ed,“ Dowhat everHe Cr J es usont hem t or epr es entt hehi s t or i c al c r uc i f i x i on t el l syou t o do. ”She began herpr ayer sf orusatt hat of weddi ng. ofOurLor d.Thec r os sal one,wi t hnobody ,hasbeen

as y mbolofChr i s t i ani t ys i nc e ant i qui t y .The v er y

I nAmer i canhi st or y ,af t erwehonorGeor geWashi ngt on, i ns t r umentofc api t alpuni s hmentandhor r i bl et or t ur e wet henpayt r i but et ot heot hersi gner soft heConst i t ut i on byt hepaganRomanEmpi r ebec ameas y mbol oft he f orhowt heywi t nessedt oourr i ght st ol i ber t y ,l i f e,andt he l ov i ngandf or gi v i ngc r uc i f i edSav i or . pur sui tofhappi ness.Si mi l ar l y ,dul i ai st heaf f ect i onwe gi vet oal lot hersai nt sbesi desMar y .I nourCat hol i cf ai t h, Cat hol i c s ar e nott he onl y Chr i s t i ans t o us et he sai nt Joseph i st he f i r st t or ecei ve dul i a.As wi t h c r uc i f i xi nc hur c hf orpubl i cwor s hi pori nt hei rhomes hyper dul i a,i ti snotwor shi pbutaccl amat i onoft hef act f or per s onal pi et y . Eas t er n Or t hodox ,Angl i c an t hatt hi sper soni nherl i f el i vedt hequal i t yoft heGospel t o ( Epi s c opal i an)andLut her anChr i s t i ansal s ous et he t hef ul l estandi sal i vi ngt est i monyofhow wecanf ol l ow c r uc i f i x , wher eas mos t Ref or med Pr ot es t ant s Jesusbyhi sl i vi ng exampl esand t est i mony .A Cat hol i c Chr i s t i answi l lonl yhav eac r os sandnev erwi t ha wor shi psonl yGod,andr ever esMar yandt hesai nt s. c or pus .Thos ewhooppos et hec r uc i f i xc ons i deri ta

mor bi ddeni aloft heRes ur r ec t i on( ands omeex t r em-

I fGodi sal lgood,t henwhyi st her eevi li nt hewor l d? i s t sev enc ons i deri ti dol at r y ) ,wher east het r uei nt enGoddi dnotcr eat eevi l , r at her ,goodbei ngs ( angel sand t i onoft hos eChr i s t i anr el i gi onswhi c hdous ei ti st o men)chose t o become evi l , and t hei revi ldeeds( si ns) r emi ndt hei rf ol l ower st hatJ es usr eal l yandac t ual l y caused a r apt ur ei nt he peace and har mony oft he di ddi eahor r i bl edeat ht os av eusf r om s i ns .Ther es uni ver se.Thef i r stbookoft heBi bl et el l sust hatGod 18ur r ec t i oni snotdeni ed,mer el yt hePas s i onandDeat h

ar e emphasi zed, especi al l y near t he al t ar wher ei n Cat hol i ct heol ogy ,t heMassi sconsi der edt heunbl oody r eenact mentofCal var y . Themai ngoaloft hecr uci f i xi snott oshockorf r i ght en bel i ever s,butt or emi ndt hem oft heul t i mat epr i cepai df or t hei rsal vat i on.Redempt i onwasexpensi ve.Jesussacr i f i cedHi sver yl i f eandHeendur edapai nf ulandhor r i bl e deat hj ustsowecoul dgot oheaven.Thecr uci f i xbr i ngs homet her eal i t yt hatsi ncausedust obel ostandonl yt he deat hoft heSavi orcoul dsaveus.Cel ebr at i ngChr i st i an wor shi p on Sunday ( r at hert han on t he Sabbat h day , Sat ur day)and cal l i ng i tt he day oft he Lor di s how Chr i st i anshonort heResur r ect i on. Mostcr uci f i xeshaveasi gnabovet hecor pusofChr i st whi ch r eadsI NRI .Thati san abbr evi at i on f ort he Lat i n ESVS NAZARENVS REX I VDAEORVM ( t her e phr ase I wasno“ U”i nanci entLat i n,sot he“ V”i susedi nst ead) whi cht r ansl at esJESUS OFNAZARETH KI NG OFTHE JEWS.Pont i ousPi l at ehador der edt hi ssi gnsi gnpost edi n Lat i n,Hebr ewandGr eek.

Whocanbeagodf at herorgodmot her ?

t hequal i f i c at i onsofgodpar ent s .Fi r s t ,t heyc annotbet he par ent soft hec hi l ds i nc epar ent sal r eadyhav eauni que and s pec i alr el at i ons hi p wi t ht hei rs on or daught er . Sec ond,godpar ent shav et obes i x t eeny ear sofageor ol der .Thi r d,t heyhav et o made t hei rFi r s tCommuni on andhav ebeenc onf i r med.Four t h,t heyhav et obepr ac t i c i ngCat hol i c s . Whatdoesi tmeant obeapr ac t i c i ngCat hol i c ?Fi r s t ,y ou s houl dbear egi s t er edpar i s hi oneri ny ourl oc al c hur c hand at t endMas sev er yweekandonHol yDay sofObl i gat i on. Sec ond,i fmar r i ed,t hemar r i agehast ober ec ogni z edby t heCat hol i cChur c hasbei ngv al i d.Ther ef or e,di v or c ed andr emar r i edpeopl ewi t houtt hebenef i t sofanannul ment ar enotper mi t t edt obes pons or s .Aper s onwhomar r i es out s i det heCat hol i cChur c hwi t houtper mi s s i oni sal s oi n ani nv al i dmar r i ageandc annotber ec ogni z edasagodpar ent .Cat hol i c swhodonotr egul ar l ygot oMas sand r ar el y ,i fatal l ,got oc onf es s i onar enots ui t abl ec andi dat es .Thi si snotaques t i onofwhos et ur ni ti st obegodpar ent .J ohnnyorJ oeymi ghtbet he br ot herofoneoft he par ent s ,buthi sr el at i ons hi pasunc l eoft hebapt i z edi snot s uf f i c i enti nandofi t s el ff orhi mt obegodpar ent .I fhedoes notgot oChur c h,i fhel i v esani mmor all i f es t y l e,i fhe es pous esopi ni onsand v al uest hatc ont r adi c tChr i s t i an doc t r i ne ( r ac i s m, abor t i on, pr omi s c ui t y , dr unk ennes s , et c . ) ,t henhes houl dnotbeas k edt oas s umet hes c ar ed ( TheCat hol i c i s m Ans werBookbyRev .J ohn dut i esofgodpar ent .

Thenew( 1983)CodeofCanonLawi squi t especi f i cabout Tr i gi l i oJ r . ,PhD,ThD&Rev .Kennet hBr i ghent i ,PhD. )

T T N E I M L U N N A N A P S

U n d e r s t a n d i n g t h e S a c r a m e n t o f M a r r i a g e c oer c i on, bei ng t oo y oung, al r eady bei ng T hev al ue&per manenc eofmar r i age r i ed, bl ood or i nl aw r el at i ons , hav i ng T ounder s t andCat hol i cannul ment ,y ouhav e mar r ec ei v ed hol y or der s ,bei ng under v ows of t ounder s t andmar r i age. c has t i t y ,orbei ngi mpot ent( per manent l yunabl e oengagei ns ex ual i nt er c our s e) . Mar r i age bet ween a man & woman i nt he t Cat hol i cChur c hi sas ac r ament .I t ' sbot ha i dest hes es pec i f i ci mpedi ment s ,al l f our s i gn oft he l ov e bet ween Chr i s tand hi s Butbes heabov er equi r ement shav et obemet .I f Chur c h,andal s oapar t i c i pat i oni nt hatl ov e. oft heyar eal l met ,t hent hemar r i agei t s el fi sv al i d. Real l y !St .Paul c al l st hi sa" gr eatmy s t er y "i n t I fnot ,i t ' si nv al i d. Ephes i ans5: 32.

hol i cannul ments i mpl ydec l ar est hatt obe Cat hol i c sbel i ev et hatmar r i agei sper manent , ACat hec as e. " t i l ldeat hdouspar t . "Thi st eac hi ngc omes t f r om Chr i s t ,asr ec or dedi nSc r i pt ur e( SeeMt Whati famar r i agef ai l s? 5: 3132and19: 39,Mk10: 212,Lk16: 18) . TheChur c hk nowst hatt hewor l di s n' tper f ec t . Ourmar r i agev owsr ef l ec tt hi s .Wepr omi s e I nf ac t ,t hat ' sabas i cpoi ntofourt heol ogy !We ours pous e: c al li tt he" f al l enwor l d" ,t her es ul tofouror i gi nal s i n.I tmeans t hatt hi ngs don' tal way sf ol l ow Fi del i t y God' sor i gi nalpl an,anddon' tt ur noutt heway I ndi s s ol ubi l i t y( per manenc e) t heys houl d. Opennes st oc hi l dr en Thi si snotal i s tofr ul esc ook edupbyt he Somet i mest hi shappensi nmar r i age— ev en Cat hol i cChur c h! v al i dmar r i ages . I t ' ss i mpl yades c r i pt i onofwhatmar r i agei s . hol i cChur c hdoesnots ayt hatac oupl e Realmar r i age,asGodi nt ended,aswef eel TheCat houl dal way ss t ayi naf ai l edmar r i age.Yes ,we nat ur al l ydr awnt o.AsJ es uss ai d," Sot hey s t r ongl yenc our age peopl et ot r yt or ec onc i l e ar enol ongert wobutonef l es h.Whatt her e- s hi ngs ,es pec i al l yi fc hi l dr enar ei nv ol v ed. f or eGodhasj oi nedt oget her ,l etnotmanput t as under . "( Mt19: 6) Buts omet i mesi ti snec es s ar yt os epar at ef or er i ousr eas ons ,and ev en s eekc i v i ldi v or c e. That ' s why we s ay t hatt he s ac r amentof s Thi si s es pec i al l yt r ue i nc as es wher e one mar r i agei si ndi s s ol ubl e. s pous ei sabus i nganot her . Andev enCat hol i cannul mentc an' tdi s s ol v ea t hat doesnot c hanget hef ac t t hat t hec oupl e v al i dmar r i age!Annul ments i mpl ys ay st hata But ss t i l lmar r i ed.Godhasj oi nedt hem t oget her , t r ue, s ac r ament al mar r i age was nev er i hatbondc annotbebr ok en. c r eat edi nt hef i r s tpl ac e— i twasnev erv al i d. andt

O N S E E K I N G

tt hi nkCat hol i cannul mentaf f ec t st hebond Don' Whatmakesaval i dmar r i age? al i d mar r i age!Not hi ng c an br eak t hat Cat hol i c annul mentdec l ar es t hata c oupl e ofa v asl ongasy oubot hs hal l l i v e. " di dn' thav es omei ngr edi entnec es s ar yf ora bond," v al i dmar r i age. Pr ac t i c al l y ,t hi s means t hata s epar at ed or v or c edper s ons houl dl i v ei nawayt hat r ef l ec t s Foramar r i aget obev al i d— f ori t t obes ome- di hef ac tt hatt hey ' r es t i l lmar r i ed.Theys houl dn' t t hi ng" Godhasj oi nedt oget her "— ac oupl e t mar r y ,l i v ewi t h,orev endat es omeoneel s e.T o needst o. . . do s o woul d be adul t er ous .Someone who i s v or c edors epar at eds houl dbec el i bat e. Be abl et o ex c hange c ons ent ,and do s o di f r eel yandunc ondi t i onal l y now:t hats ounds c ol d & unf eel i ng.I fa Cons ent t o f i del i t y , i ndi s s ol ubi l i t y , and Ik mar r i agef ai l s ,wewantt hi ngst ogetbet t erf or opennes st oc hi l dr en s el v esorourf r i ends .Wewantt obeabl et o Nothav eanyi mpedi ment st omar r i age( s ee our " mov eon. " bel ow) Fol l owt hes ac r amentpr oper l y otofpeopl et hi nkt hat ' swhatCat hol i cannul Chur c hl awr ec ogni z est wel v es pec i f i ci mped- Al menti sal l about— t heequi v al entofCat hol i c i ment st omar r i age.Theyi nc l udet hi ngsl i k e

I fahusbandhasanaf f ai r ,t hatdoesnotnecessar i l y meanhedi dn' ti nt endf i del i t ywhenhegotmar r i ed.Nor f e' sr ef usalt ohavemor echi l dr enl at eri na annul menti sal l about— t heequi val entofCat hol i cdi vor ce.I t doesawi ma r r i a g e me a n t h a t s h e d i d n ' t r e a l l y i n t e n d f e r t i l i t y w h en i snot . shemadeherweddi ngvows. When we mar r y ,we pr omi se nott oj ust" move on. "We t i ngoutquest i onsl i ket hi si sdi f f i cul t . pr omi set ost ayt oget hert hr ought hi ck&t hi n,andt or emai n Sor f ai t hf ul .Thi si si mpor t antnotj ustbecauseoft hatpr omi se. . . That ' swhyt heChur chhasaf or mal pr ocessf orCat hol i c a n n u l me n t t o d e t e r mi n e , o n a c a s e b y c a s e b a s i s , . . . butal sobecausewe' vepr omi sedt obeasi gnt ot hewor l d w h e t h e r a n i n d i v i d u a l ma r r i a g e o r i g i n a l l y me t t h e c r i t e r i a ofGod' sf i del i t yt ous.Ourmar r i agei savi si bl esi gnoft hel ove i dmar r i age. bet ween Chr i stand hi s Chur ch.You know. . .wher e he ofaval r emai nsf ai t hf ult ous,evenwhenwef ai l . Thepr esumpt i oni sal wayst hati twasaval i dmar r i age, a n d i t i s u p t o t h o s e s e e k i n g a n n u l me n t t o p r o v e o t her Butmar r i agei smor et hanj ustasi gn— mar r i agei sal sot he w i s e . sacr ament alchannelt hr oughwhi chGodgi vest hegr aceof f i del i t yandl ovet oabr okenwor l d.Remai ni ngf ai t hf ul ,eveni n Thepr ocessf orCat hol i cannul mentact ual l ymakesal ot adi f f i cul torbr okenmar r i age,keepst hatchannelopen. ofsense.Per hapsi ti sabusedatt i mesbyt hosewho ustwant" Cat hol i cdi vor ce. "Butover al l ,i tseemst obe Tr ut hf ul l y ,t hi scanbever yhar dt ounder st andi nacul t ur et hat j a g o o d b a l a n c e b e t w e e n u p h o l d i n g t h e t r u t h a bout doesn' tval uepr omi se,f i del i t y ,orper manence. mar r i ageandal l owi ngf ort hei mper f ectwayt hatpeopl e s o me t i me s e n t e r i n t o c o mmi t me n t s . Whi chi swhyt hatsi gnofper manencei ssoi mpor t antt oday . Ti psonSeeki ngAnAnnul ment ,cont ’ d

Annul mentf orani nval i dmar r i age

" Doesannul mentmakeourchi l dr eni l l egi t i mat e?"

Cat hol i cannul mentmeanst hatacoupl ewasnevermar r i edi n t hesacr ament alsense.Goddi dnotcr eat et hatunbr eakabl e bondbet weent hem becauset hesacr amentofmar r i agewas notact ual l yf ul f i l l ed.Thet er m" annul ment "i sact ual l yal i t t l e mi sl eadi ng.I tsoundsl i ket heChur chi sact i vel ycancel i ng,or nul l i f yi ng,t hemar r i age.Thepr opert er mf orCat hol i cannul menti s" decl ar at i onofnul l i t y"t heChur chdecl ar est hatt he mar r i ageneverwasval i di nt hef i r stpl ace.

No— chi l dr enofamar r i aget hat ' sdet er mi nedt obe i nval i d by a Cat hol i c annul ment ,ar e st i l ll egi t i mat e. ( CodeofCanonLaw,canon1 137) Whenacoupl emar r i es,t heyassumet hemar r i agei s val i dandwasent er edi nt oi ngoodf ai t h.Chi l dr enconcei vedundert hi sassumpt i onofaval i dmar r i age,ar e consi der edt obel egi t i mat e.

Thi sbecomescl ear erwhenwecompar eCat hol i cannul ment Thi sf actdoesnotchangeeveni ft hemar r i agei sl at er t oci vi ldi vor ce. f oundt obenotval i d. A di vor cei sef f ect i veasoft hedat eoft hedi vor cedecr ee. I nt heUni t edSt at es,Cat hol i cannul mentdoesnotaf f ect Bef or et hat ,t hecoupl ewasst i l lmar r i ed. a n y s t a t e c i v i l l a w s . I t i s u n r e l a t e d t o c i v i l c o n c e r n s s u ch Adecl ar at i onofnul l i t yaf f ect st heper i odoft i mest ar t i ngf r om a s i l l e g i t i ma c y , c h i l d c u s t o d y , a l i mo n y , v i s i t a t i o n r i g h t s, t heor i gi naldat eoft heweddi ngcer emony .Thecoupl ewas o r d i v i s i o n o f p r o p e r t y . nevermar r i ed. begi nni ngcat hol i c. com Whatmakesamar r i agei nval i d? WHO CANAPPLYFORANANNULMENT? Somecommonr easonsf orannul menti nt heCat hol i cChur ch Usual l ya per son seeki ng an annul menti ssomeone ar e: whohasbeenmar r i ed,i snow di vor cedandwi shest o ma r r y a g a i n , s p e c i f i c a l l y i n t h e C a t h o l i c C h u r c h . A n y o n e Atl eastonepar t nerdi dn' tf ul l y&f r eel yconsent . ma r r i e d i n t h e C a t h o l i c C h u r c h a n d n o w d i v o r c e d c a n Someonewasn' tmat ur eenought ounder st andt hef ul lext ent r e q u e s t a n a n n u l me n t w h e t h e r t h e y a r e w i s h i n g t o ofwhatt heywer edoi ng. ma r r y a g a i n o r n o t . Ther ewasneveri nt entt obef ai t hf ul . Oneorbot hpar t ner sdi dnoti nt endt obeopent ochi l dr en. NVOLVEMENTOFFORMERSPOUSE. Obvi ousl y ,t he Chur ch pl aces a t r emendous val ue on I mar r i age.Coupl esseeki ngmar r i agear er equi r edt oat t end chr equi r est hatt hef or merspousebe pr emar r i age educat i on sessi onspr eci sel yso t heycan be Yes,TheChur n o t i f i e d t h a t t h e a n n u l me n t p r o c e s s h a sbegunandt o f ul l yi nf or medaboutwhatt hey' r ecommi t t i ngt o. of f erhi m/ heranoppor t uni t yt omakear esponse.Your l lbesental et t erexpl ai ni ngt hepr ocess Not et hati t ' si mpor t antt o di st i ngui sh bet ween whatt he exspousewi t h a t w a s i n i t i a t e d . Y o u r e x s p o u s e d o e s n o t h a ve t o coupl ei nt endswhent heymar r y ,anddevi at i onsl at eri nt he a g r e e t o t h e a n n u l me n t . T h e y a l s o d o n ’ t h a v e t o a g r e e mar r i age.

i ngi nf avorofal lt hef act st hatsuppor tt heval i di t yoft he mar r i age.Af t ert hej udger eachesadeci si on,bot hyou andyourexspousewi l l benot i f i edoft hedeci si on,unl ess t hef or merspousedoesnotwi sht obenot i f i ed.

DOCUMENTSYOUWI LLNEED Copi esoft hebapt i smalcer t i f i cat esofal lCat hol i c Par t i esi nvol ved Copyofci vi lmar r i agel i cense Copyofchur chmar r i agecer t i f i cat e Copyoft hedi vor cedecr eecer t i f i edorsi gnedbyt he Judgesubmi t t i ngyourcase.

HOW MUCHTI MEDOESI TTAKE?

Ther ei s no way t o puta t i me l i ne on t he pr ocess. However ,i tnor mal l yt akesappr oxi mat el y16mont hs.The i od f ora decl ar at i on ofnul l i t y depends on many I ft hecasebegi nsont hePar i shl evel ,t hepr i est ,deacon, per act or s.Fori nst ance,i ft hepet i t i onerdoesnotcompl et e orpast or alassoci at ewi l lsubmi ti tt ot heTr i bunal .I fyou f henecessar ydocumentgat her i ngi nat i mel yf ashi on,t he chooseyoucangost r ai ghtt ot heTr i bunal andnotbegi nat t annul menti sdel ayed. t hePar i shl evel . WI TNESSES

HOW MUCHDOESI TCOST?

You ar e asked t o cont actt wo ormor e peopl e who ar e wi l l i ngt ohel pyouwi t hyourcase.Theyshoul dbepeopl e who know somet hi ng abouttt he mar r i age i n quest i on, especi al l yt he per i od r i ghtbef or e and r i ghtaf t ert he weddi ng.These peopl e usual l y ar ef r i ends orf ami l y member s.Youshoul dt el l al l wi t nessest hatt heyhaveyour per mi ssi ont ospeakf r eel y .

Thecostcanvar yf r om chur cht ochur ch.Theaver age costi sar ound$500wi t hapor t i ondueatt het i met hecase i ssubmi t t ed.The r estcanbepai di nmot hl yi nst al l ment s. I fyoucannotpayt hef ul lamount ,ar r angement scanbe made,t hr ought hechur ch,t odef r aysomeoft heexpense. Nocasei st ur neddownduet oaper son’ si nabi l i t yt opay t hef ee. i nf or mat i onpr ovi dedbyusccb. or g

WHENTO EXPECTADECI SI ON. Af t eral li nf or mat i oni sgat her ed,aj udgeorpanelwi l lwr i t e t hedeci si on.Theywi l l deci dewhet herornott hemar r i age wasi ndeedi nval i df r om t hest ar t .Anot herper sonwhoi s knownast heDef enderoft heBondal sopar t i ci pat es.The Def enderoft he Bond r epr esent st he mar r i age i t sel f ,

“ Andwek nowt hati nal lt hi ngsGodwor ks f ort hegoodoft hos ewhol oveHi m, whohav ebeenc al l ed ac c or di ngt oHi spur pos e. ” Romans8: 28

T e e nDa t i ng

unt i lmar r i age. I ft hesui t ort henput spr essur eonyout ocompr omi sei nt hi s r egar d,di t chhi m orheri mmedi at el y .

b yPe t e rJ o h nnVe r e , J CL / M( Ca no nL a w)

Ther ei sagr owi ngdebat ewi t hi nCat hol i cci r cl essur r oundi ng t he mer i t sofcour t shi p asopposed t o dat i ng.Ast he youngestcanonl awyeri nNor t hAmer i ca,Iam l esst hana decader emovedf r om myt eenageyear s,andIal soser ved as a canoni caladvi sert o var i ous adol escent or i ent at ed Cat hol i capost ol at es.Ther ef or e,Ikeepi nt ouchwi t hwhati s cur r entamongt oday' syout h.YetIam al soexper i encedwi t h mar r i age t r i bunalmi ni st r y ,wher e Ir egul ar l y encount er br okenmar r i ages.

Agai n,t hi si sbot hmyt r i bunalexper i enceandmypast or al exper i encewi t ht eenager s:I fyoursui t ordoesnotr espect yourCat hol i cmor al i t yeven af t eryou have war ned hi m, ei t heryouwi l l event ual l ygi vei nort her el at i onshi pwi l l event ual l yf ai l .Mor eof t ent hannot ,t her esul ti sbot h.

Myexper i enceswi t hcanonl aw andt eenager shavet aught meat hi ngort woaboutwhatconst i t ut esunheal t hyt eenage dat i ngbehavi or ,aswel laswhatt ypeofcour t shi pl eadst o heal t hymar r i ages.Al l ow met oshar et hi sadvi cewi t ht eenager sandpar ent swhoset eenager sar eofcour t i ngage.

Adul tSuper vi si on St aynearadul t s.I not herwor ds,got omovi es,gooutf or di nnerorcof f ee,butdosoi nwel l popul at edar easwher e t her ear eal waysadul t snear by .Youdonothavet odr agyour mom al ong,butkeept opubl i cpl aces.I fyourpot ent i al sui t or wi shes t ot al k pr i vat el y ,di scussi on can t ake pl ace i na r est aur antboot h.I fyourpot ent i alsui t orwant st ogosomewher equi etwi t hyou,f i ndani ceconcer thal lormuseum.

DoNotDat e Don' tdat e.Thi swi l lseem l i ker at herst r angeadvi ce,gi ven t hef actt hi sr ef l ect i oni saboutt eenagedat i ng.Whenone t al ks aboutboyf r i ends orgi r l f r i ends i n ourcur r entage, however ,t ooof t ent heemphasi si sont he" boy"or" gi r l " r at hert hant he" f r i end. "

Youcant al kpr i vat el yandspendqui ett i met oget heri nt hese pl aces,becauset hepeopl ear oundyouwi l lnotnot i cewhen youdoexact l yt hatâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; spendqui ett i met oget herandt al kpr i vat el y .Thesamepeopl e,however ,wi l lnot i cei ft hi si snot whatyouar edoi ng.Thi si swhyyouar ei nf i ni t el yl essl i kel y t omor al l ycompr omi seyour sel fwhenadul t sar enear by .

Iof t en wi t ness r el at i onshi ps f ai lbecause t he coupl ei s Zer oTol er anceForVi ol ence r omant i cal l yi nvol vedbef or et heygett hechancet oknow Onepunchi sonet oomany .I fyourpot ent i alsui t orhi t sor oneanot her .WhatdoIsuggestt ot eenager sasasubst i t ut e physi cal l yabusesyouonce,i twi l lhappenagai n.I nal lmy f ordat i ng?Bef r i endswi t hmember soft heopposi t egender , exper i encesdeal i ngwi t hmar r i aget r i bunal sandyout haposhangout ,butdonotcal lt hesesoci alout i ngsdat esort hi nk t ol at es,Ihave neverseen physi calabuse end wi t h one oft heseassuch.Rat her ,t hi nkoft heseout i ngsasanoppor -i nci dent ,unl esst hevi ct i m endedt her el at i onshi paf t ert hat t uni t yt odeepenyourf r i endshi ps.Soonerorl at er ,youwi l l onei nci dent .Soi fyougetpunched,ei t hergetr i doft he f i ndyour sel fhangi ngoutmor eandmor ewi t honepar t i cul ar per son i mmedi at el yorpr epar e your sel ff orf ut ur e abuse. f r i end,and t hi si smuch mor el i kel yt ol ead t o a heal t hy Yourpot ent i alsui t orwi l lsayt he vi ol ence wasacci dent al mar r i age. becausehewasangr y ,andhemayapol ogi ze,pr of esshi s l ove,andpr omi seyoui twi l lneverhappenagai n. ASi ngl eWar ni ngSuf f i ces Whi l et eenageboysar eal i t t l edi f f er ent ,mostadol escent Hepr obabl ymeansi tandi nt endst of ol l owt hr ough.I fhehi t s gi r l sIknowdonotsetouti nar el at i onshi pt ol oset hei rvi r gi n- youonce,however ,hei snoti ncont r ol ofhi st emper .Unt i l he i t y .Rat her ,i thappensi namomentofweakness,usual l y get shel pandbr i ngshi st emperundercont r ol ,hei si nno al onesomewher east hecoupl ecar ouse,af t ert hegi r lhas condi t i ont ocour t .Ther ef or e,outofChr i st i anchar i t yyou i ncr ement al l y yi el ded t o a ser i es ofmor alcompr omi ses. shoul df or gi vehi m;however ,outoft hi ssamel oveyouneed Ther ef or e,Isuggestt eenager sgi vet heobj ectoft hei rcour t -t odumphi m andcar ef ul l yt el lhi mt het r ut h:Unt i lheget s shi ponewar ni ngt hatt heyi nt endt osavesexuali nt i macy counsel i ngf orhi svi ol entt emper ,hei snotr eadyt ocour t . www. c a t h o l i c c u l t u r e . o r g

3122Nor t h10t hSt r e e t Mc Al l e n,Te xas78501 956. 686. 8313 Fax:956. 686. 8814 25

JustSayNo Lear nt osayno.Thi sappl i est oanysi t uat i oni nwhi chyou bel i eveyourpot ent i alsui t ori sl eadi ngyout ocompr omi se yourCat hol i cf ai t handmor al s. Agai n,mostt eenager sdonot gooutl ooki ngf orcompr omi si ngsi t uat i ons;r at hert hesesi t uat i onsar i sebecauseadol escencei sanawkwar dt i mewhen youngpeopl ear et r yi ngt of i ti n,whi chl eadst oacer t ai n gr oupment al i t yt aki ngover .

Of t en,suchanadol escentbecomesdesper at et ol at chont o t hef i r stpot ent i alsui t orwhogi veshi m orhert hesl i ght est at t ent i on.Usi ngt heexampl eofat eenagegi r l ,t heboyf r i end wi l l assur eherhel ovesher ,whi l easser t i ngt hatnobodyel se wi l ldat e her because she i s over wei ght ,unat t r act i ve, soci al l yi nept ,orsomeot herr eason.I fshedoesnotwi sht o l ose hi m,he st at es,she mustpr ove herl ove f orhi m by engagi ngi npr emar i t alsexualr el at i ons.

Beani ndi vi dual ,andl ear nt osaynoi nawkwar dsi t uat i ons. Gr ant ed, adol escence can be cr uel f or t hose whom Hol l ywood deemsl esst han cosmet i cal l yper f ect ,butt hi s NoPor nogr aphy usual l ypassesbyone' sseni oryear ,whenmanyanugl y I fyourpot ent i alsui t ori si nt opor nogr aphy ,ei t herhedi t ches duckl i ngbecomesabeaut i f ulswan. i toryoudi t chhi m.Thi smayseem l i keahar ml essact i vi t y , butf r om myt r i bunalexper i enceIhavecomet or eal i zej ust Fur t her mor e,Godl ovesyou,asdoest hatspeci alper son howunheal t hyar et heexpect at i onspor nogr aphycr eat esi n whom Godhaschosenf oryout omar r y ,pr ovi dedHehasnot mar r i age.I tsever el y under mi nes t he mar r i age covenant cal l edyout oahi ghervocat i onoft hepr i est hoodort her el i becauseonespousel ooksupont heot herasanobj ectof gi ousl i f e.Whodoesnotl oveyoui st hepot ent i al sui t orpr espl easur e,r at hert hanasaspouse. sur i ng you t o compr omi se your sel fbef or e mar r i age.So beyondt heusualmor alandr el i gi ousi ssues,pausef ora Qui t eof t en,t headdi ct edspouseget sbor edwi t ht heot her secondandaskyour sel fwhyyouwoul dgi veyour sel ft oa af t era yearort wo,and asa r esul tpr essur est he ot her per sonwhot hi nksyouar eanunat t r act i vel oserandwhol i es spousei nt odoi ngt hesamet hi ngswi t nessedi nt hosef i l t hy aboutl ovi ngyou. magazi nes. GoDut ch I fyour eadPopeJohnPaul I I ' sFami l i ar i sConsor t i o,youwi l l Thi si st hemostcont r over si alpi eceofadvi ceIgi vet eenagl ear nt hati nmar r i aget hecoupl egi vet hemsel vesovert ot he er sl ooki ngt ocour t .Gr ant ed,i tgoesagai nstourest abl i shed ot hert ot al l y .Thi smeansphysi cal l y ,ment al l y ,emot i onal l y , cust om i nNor t hAmer i ca,buti ti sal soapi eceofadvi ceI spi r i t ual l y ,andpsychol ogi cal l y .Spi r i t ual l y ,however ,por nog- r ecei vedf r om ayout hmi ni st erwhosepast or alexper i ence r aphycan,andof t enwi l l ,pr eventasacr ament almar r i age wi t hi nner ci t yyout hmi ni st r ycor r obor at esmyexper i enceon f r om bei ng ent er ed i nt o.I n shor t ,por nogr aphy cr eat es t het r i bunal .Thus,gi venourpr esentcul t ur al expect at i ons,a ment al ,emot i onal ,spi r i t ual ,andpsychol ogi calbar r i er st hat l i t t l eadj ust mentt ot hecust om ofcour t shi pi swar r ant ed. pr eventonespousef r om t ot al l ygi vi nghi msel fovert ot he ot her .Por nogr aphy f r agment st he f ocus ofone' s sexual Toexpl ai n,guyswer eor i gi nal l yexpect edt opayt hegi r l ' s desi r e,andt husonenol ongerf ocusesexcl usi vel yonone' s waybecauset hi sof f er edanoppor t uni t yf ort hegi r lt oj udge spouse. t heguyasapot ent i al pr ovi derf ort hef ami l y .Thi swasbef or e ourcul t ur edegener at edt ot hepoi ntwher ei nst antgr at i f i caJesusLovesYou t i onmaybepur chased. " Jesusl ovesyou" :Thi si st hemostgent l ewayIcoul dt hi nk oft oi nt r oduce t he subj ectof" f atand ugl y"comment s. I nshor t ,qui t eof t enwhenaguypaysagi r l ' sway ,heunconNever t hel ess,t hi si ssomet hi ngIwi t nessedal lt het i measa sci ousl yexpect ssomet hi ngbywayofsexualgr at i f i cat i oni n t eenager ,aswel lassomet hi ngIr egul ar l ycomeacr ossi n r et ur n.Ther ef or e,gi r l s,payyourownway .I fyoudot hi s,a t r i bunalmi ni st r y .Manyt eenager sar epr essur edt ocompr o- guyi sl essl i kel yt oexpectsomet hi ngi nr et ur n.Thi sal so mi set hei rmor al vi r t uebecauset hei rdat et el l st hem t heyar e makesyoumor easser t i ve,andt husmor er esi st ant ,shoul d f at ,ugl y ,goof y ,orsomeot herder ogat or ycomment ,whi ch asi t uat i onar i sei nwhi chyouar epr essur edt ocompr omi se pl aysof fadol escenti nsecur i t y . yourCat hol i cf ai t handmor al s. Ont heot herhand,i nkeepi ngwi t ht hespi r i toft hef or mer cust om,donotpayaguy' sway .I fheneverhasmoney , ei t herbecausehehasnotear nedi torbecausehecannot r esi stspendi ng i t ,t hen he pr obabl y wi l lnotbe a good pr ovi deri nmar r i age. Concl udi ngRemar ks Noneoft hi sadvi cei st ot al l yi nf al l i bl e.Asl ongashuman bei ngspossessf r eewi l l ,andasl ongasourf al l ennat ur es t emptust osi n,l i keever yoneel set eenager sar ef r eet o choosebet weengoodandevi l . Never t hel ess,when you ar e cour t i ng a pot ent i alspouse, t hesepoi nt swi l l hel pyoumaket her i ghtdeci si onbypr ot ect i ngyouf r om si t uat i onsi nwhi chi tbecomeseasi ert omake t hewr ongdeci si on. Thi si t em 4384di gi t al l ypr ovi dedcour t esyofcat hol i ccul t ur e. or g

2624

A reYou Succes s ful ?

How GodMeasur esSuccess

Whati ssuccess?Mostpeopl edef i nesuccessi n t er msofachi evi ng goal s,acqui r i ngweal t h,and havi ngpr est i ge,f avor ,st at us,and power . " Successf ul "peopl eenj oyt he" goodl i f e"-bei ng f i nanci al l y secur e,emot i onal l ysecur e,bei ngsur r oundedbyadmi r er s,andenj oyi ng t he f r ui t sof t hei rl abor .Thei rexampl ei semul at edandt hei r accompl i shment sar enot i ced.Mostpeopl e' sdef i ni t i onsofsuccessonl y dealwi t ht he" her eandnow" oft hi sl i f e.Eveni nmanychur chest oday t hedef i ni t i onofsuccessi si nt er msofnumber s,si ze, dol l ar sand pr est i ge. Butsuccessi smeasur edanddef i neddi f f er ent l yby God.God' smeasur eofsuccessi nvol vesourobedi enceandf ai t hf ul nesst oHi m,r egar dl essofopposi t i onandper sonalcost .Hi smeasur eofsuccessi s whet herornotwe ar e bei ng l oyalt o Hi mi n our per sonalr el at i onshi pwi t hHi m andi nourl i f e,and whet herwear eaccompl i shi ngHi sgoal s&pur poses f orourl i f e.Someexampl esi nt heBi bl e: Jer emi ahwasanabsol ut ef ai l ur ewhenj udgedby peopl e' s def i ni t i on ofsuccess.For40 year s he ser vedasGod' ss pok es man,butwhenhes pok eno

onel i s t enedandr es ponded.Hewasr ej ec t edbyhi s nei ghbor s ,hi sf ami l y ,t he pr i es t s and pr ophet s , f r i ends ,hi saudi enc es ,andt hek i ngs .Hewaspoor andunder wents ev er edepr i v at i ont odel i v erGod' s mes s ages .He wast hr own i nt o pr i s on and i nt oa c i s t er n.Buti nGod' sey eshewasas uc c es s .He f ai t hf ul l yandc our ageous l ypr oc l ai medGod' swor d and Hi s mes s ages ,and he was obedi entt o hi s c al l i ng. J es uswasal s oaf ai l ur e,i fy oumeas ur ehi sl i f eher e onear t hbypeopl e' s meas ur eofs uc c es s .Hehad l i t t l ei nmat er i alpos s es s i ons ,anddi dnotev enown ahome.Hewasr ej ec t edbymos tpeopl e,andwas ev enhat ed bys ome.Ther el i gi ousl eader soft he t i me des pi s ed hi m.Ev en hi sf r i ends and t hos e c l os es tt ohi m des er t edhi m.Hewasac c us edand f oundgui l t y oft hi ngshedi dnotdo.Hewasbeat en, s pi ton,c ur s ed,moc k ed,andhe s uf f er edt er r i bl y anddi edt hemos thor r i bl ek i ndofdeat hk nownt o manatt hatt i me,deat hont hec r os s .Meas ur ehi m byt hewaymos tofus meas ur es uc c es s ,andhe wasaf ai l ur e.Buti nGod' sey es ,t her edempt i onand s al v at i on of al lof mank i nd was ac c ompl i s hed t hr oughHi ss onJ es us .ByGod' sgr ac eandgr eat l ov ef ory ouandI ,Hes entJ es ust opayf orours i ns , andnow t hegi f tofar es t or edper s onalr el at i ons hi p wi t hGodandet er nal l i f ec anbeour s-al l bec aus eof J es usChr i s t . Intimacywithgod.com

RCI Acont i nedf r om page6

Af t ert he per son i si ni t i at ed,f or mat i on and educat i on cont i nuei nt heper i odoft hepostbapt i smalcat echesi s, whi ch i scal l ed " myst agogy . "Thi sper i od cont i nuesat l eastunt i lPent ecost .Dur i ng t he per i od t he newl y bapt i zed member sr ef l ecton t hei rexper i encesatt he East erVi gi land cont i nue t ol ear n mor e aboutt he Scr i pt ur es,t he Sacr ament s,and t he t eachi ngsoft he Cat hol i cChur ch.I naddi t i ont heyr ef l ectonhowt heywi l l ser ve Chr i stand hel pi nt he Chur ch' s mi ssi on and out r eachact i vi t i es. Whati smeantwhenpeopl er ef ert omenandwomen comi ngi nt o" f ul lcommuni onwi t ht heChur ch? Comi ng i nt of ul lcommuni on wi t ht he Cat hol i cChur ch descr i bes t he pr ocess f orent r ance i nt ot he Cat hol i c Chur chf ormenandwomenwhoar ebapt i zedChr i st i ans butnotRomanCat hol i cs.Thesei ndi vi dual smakeapr of essi onoff ai t hbutar enotbapt i zedagai n.Topr epar ef or t hi sr ecept i on,t hepeopl e,whoar ecal l ed" candi dat es, " usual l y par t i ci pat ei naf or mat i onpr ogr am t ohel pt hem under st andandexper i encet het eachi ngsandpr act i ces oft heCat hol i cChur ch.Somepr epar at i onmaybewi t h cat echumenspr epar i ngf orbapt i sm,butt hepr epar at i on f orcandi dat esi sdi f f er entsi ncet heyhaveal r eadybeen bapt i zedandcommi t t edt oJesusChr i st ,andmanyhave al sobeenact i vemember sofot herChr i st i ancommuni t i es.

Whati st heEast erVi gi lonHol ySat ur dayl i ke?

The East erVi gi lt akes pl ace on Hol y Sat ur day ,t he eveni ng bef or e East erSunday .Thi si st he ni ghtt hat " shal lbeasbr i ghtasday"aspr ocl ai medbyananci ent chur ch hymn as we j oyf ul l y ant i ci pat e Chr i st ' s Resur r ect i onTheHol ySat ur dayLi t ur gybegi nswi t ht he Ser vi ceofLi ght ,whi chi ncl udest hebl essi ngoft henew f i r eandt hePaschal candl ewhi chsymbol i zesJesus,t he l i ghtoft heWor l d.Thesecondpar tconsi st soft heLi t ur gy oft heWor dwi t hanumberofscr i pt ur er eadi ngs. Af t ert he Li t ur gyoft heWor d,t hecat echumensandcandi dat es ar e pr esent ed t ot he par i sh communi t y ,who pr ayf or t hem andj oi ni nt heLi t anyoft heSai nt s.Next ,t hepr i est bl essest hewat er ,pl aci ngt heEast erorPaschalcandl e i nt ot hebapt i smalwat er .Thoseseeki ngbapt i sm t hen r enouncesi nandpr of esst hei rf ai t haf t erwhi cht heyar e i mmer sedi nt ot hebapt i smalwat ert hr eet i meswi t ht he cl er gypr onounci ngt hewor ds," Ibapt i zeyoui nt hename oft heFat her ,andoft heSon,andoft heHol ySpi r i t . "I n somesi t uat i onst hewat ermaybepour edovert hehead oft hoseseeki ngbapt i sm whi l et hecl er gypr onounces t hewor dsofBapt i sm. Af t ert hebapt i sm t henewl ybapt i zedar edr essedi nwhi t e gar ment sandpr esent edwi t hacandl el i ght edf r om t he Paschal Candl e. Theyar et henconf i r medbyt hepr i estor bi shopwhol ayshandsont hei rheads,andi nvokest he out pour i ngoft heHol ySpi r i t .Het henanoi nt st hem wi t h t heoi lcal l edSacr edChr i sm.TheMasscont i nueswi t h t henewl ybapt i zedpar t i ci pat i ngi nt hegener ali nt er cessi onsandi nbr i ngi nggi f t st ot heal t ar . AtCommuni on,t he newl ybapt i zedr ecei vest heEuchar i st ,Chr i st ' sBodyand Bl ood,f ort hef i r stt i me.

Whatdoest hewhi t er obesymbol i z e?

Thenewl ybapt i zedar edr essedi nawhi t egar mentaf t er bapt i sm t osymbol i zet hatt heyar ewashedcl eanofsi n and t hatt hey ar e cal l ed t o cont i nue t o wal ki nt hi s newnessofl i f e. 26

Whatdoest hecandl esymbol i z e?

Asmal lcandl ei sl i tf r om t heEast ercandl eandgi vent ot he newl y bapt i zed as a r emi ndert ot hem al ways t o wal k as chi l dr enoft heLi ghtandt obet hel i ghtofChr i stt ot hewor l d.

Whatdoest heSacr edChr i sm symbol i z e?

TheSacr edChr i sm,oroi l ,i sasi gnoft hegi f toft heHol y Spi r i tbei nggi vent ot henewl ybapt i zed.I ti sal soasi gn oft hecl osel i nkbet weent hemi ssi onofJesusandt he out pour i ngoft heHol ySpi r i t ,whocomest ot her eci pi ent wi t ht heFat heri nBapt i sm.

Whywast hi sanci entr i t er est or ed?

I twasr est or edi nt heChur cht ohi ghl i ghtt hef actt hatt he newl ybapt i zedar er ecei vedi nt oacommuni t yoff ai t h, whi chi schal l engedt or eal i zet hatt heyt oohavebecome di f f er entbecauseoft hi snewl i f ei nt hecommuni t y . I st her eacer emonyorpr epar at i onf orbapt i zedCat hol i cs whoneverorsel dom havepr act i cedt hef ai t h? ForCat hol i cswhohavebeenBapt i zed,Conf i r medand madeFi r stCommuni onbutt hendr i f t edf r om t hef ai t h, t he way t hey r et ur ni st hr ough t he Sacr amentof Penance. Cat hol i cs who wer e bapt i zed but never r ecei vedConf i r mat i onand/ orEuchar i stcanpar t i ci pat ei n t he pr ocessofcont i nui ng conver si on.Thi spr ocessi s compl et edwi t ht her ecept i onoft hesacr ament sofconf i r mat i onandHol yCommuni onatt heEast erVi gi l ordur i ng t heEast erSeason.

Whati st her ol eofagodpar entf oranadul tbei ng bapt i z ed?

Godpar ent s,al socal l edsponsor s,accompanyt hecandi dat est hr ought heRCI Apr ocess. Theyar ecal l edt oshow t he candi dat es good exampl e oft he Chr i st i an l i f e, sust ai nt he candi dat es i n moment s ofhesi t ancy and anxi et y , bear wi t ness, and gui de t he candi dat e' s pr ogr essi nt hebapt i small i f e.

byBi shopMi chaelJ.Sher i dan Por nogr aphyi soneoft hemostser i ouspr obl emsf aci ngour soci et yt oday .Por nogr aphy has made i t s way i nt o our medi a,ourschool s,andourhomes.Thequest i onofhowt o combatpor nogr aphyi scr i t i cal l yi mpor t ant .I nmanyways,i t i sal i f eanddeat hquest i on.Acul t ur eaddi ct edt opor nogr aphywi l lnothaveheal t hyr el at i onshi psbet weenmenand women.Acul t ur eaddi ct edt opor nogr aphywi l lnotpr omot e heal t hyf ami l i es. Acul t ur eaddi ct edt opor nogr aphyi ssl owl y butsur el ydyi ngf r om t hei nsi deout .Recogni zi ngt hei mpor t ance oft hi si ssue,Ir ecent l ybegan an i ni t i at i ve i n our di oceset odr aw at t ent i ont ot hedest r uct i veef f ect sofpor nogr aphyandt oof f erhopef ort hosest r uggl i ngwi t ht hi s pr obl em.

andespeci al l yt heyoung,whoar esoexposedt ot empt at i on—needi ncent i vest okeept hemor all aw,andi ti s anevi lt hi ngt omakei teasyf ort hem t obr eakt hatl aw" ( HV,no.17) .Evi lhasf l our i shedi noursoci et ybecause sof ewhavehadt hecour aget ost andupf ort het r ut h. Anot her f act or i nt he gr owt h of t he por nogr aphy epi demi ci st he anonymous nat ur e oft he I nt er net . Peopl e who wantaccesst o por nogr aphi ci magesno l ongerhavet ogoi nt oseedypar t soft ownorr i skpubl i c di sappr oval i nvi deost or es.Teenager snol ongerhavet o pl uckupt hecour aget opur chaseashamef ulmagazi ne overast or ecount er .Themostgr aphi ccont enti magi nabl enowar r i vesdi r ect l yandanonymousl yi nt hepr i vacy oft hehome.

Today ,i ti s al lt oo easy f ora husband t ol eave t he bedr oom he shar eswi t h hi swi f e and t o pl ug i nt oa namel esswor l dwi t hnor ul esorpr ohi bi t i ons.Cl osi ngt he Whi l epr epar i ngouri ni t i at i ve,Ihear dmanypai nf ul st or i es.I dooronhi sspouse,however ,causesi ncr edi bl ewounds. l ear nedhowpor nogr aphycor r upt edyoungpeopl e,t wi st i ng Awi f e,l ef tal one,mi ghtwonderwhati swr ongwi t hher . t he beaut i f ulgi f tofourhuman sexual i t yi nt o somet hi ng Whyi sshenotgoodenough?Thet r ut h,ofcour se,i s obscene and shamef ul .I mages f r om movi es and t he t hatnot hi ngi swr ongwi t hher .Herhusbandhast r aded I nt er nethavescar r edourchi l dr en,maki ngheal t hymar i t al t hegoodnessandbeaut yofconj ugall ovef ort hesel f i sh r el at i onshi psdi f f i cul tf ort hem t oi magi ne.Ial sol i st enedt o andf l eet i ngsat i sf act i onofl ust . mar r i edcoupl est hatst r uggl edwi t hpor nogr aphyaddi ct i ons t hatnear l yshat t er edt hei rl i ves.Si ngl emenandwomenf el t TheLogi calResul tofaCont r acept i veMent al i t y ashamedt oadmi tt heamountoft i meandmoneyt heyspent I nmanyways,t heuseofpor nogr aphyi samani f est at i on onpor nogr aphy .Ever ycl er gyman( Cat hol i candnonCat ho- oft hecont r acept i vement al i t yt hati gnor est henat ur al l i c)Ispokewi t hconf i r medt hathi spar i shi oner swer est r ug- mor all aw.Any aut hent i c expr essi on ofmar r i ed l ove gl i ngwi t ht hi spr obl em. cannotsepar at et heuni t i veandpr ocr eat i veaspect sof t he conj ugalact ." The f undament alnat ur e of t he RootCauses mar r i age act ,whi l e uni t i ng husband and wi f ei nt he cl osesti nt i macy ,al sor ender st hem capabl eofgener at Howhaspor nogr aphygr ownt osuchepi cpr opor t i ons? i ngnewl i f e—andt hi sasar esul tofl awswr i t t eni nt ot he Recal lEdmundBur ke’ sadmoni t i on:" Al lt hati tt akesf or act ualnat ur eofmanandofwoman"( HV,no.12) .Once evi lt of l our i shi sf orgoodment odonot hi ng. "For t yyear s acoupl ehasel i mi nat edt hepr ocr eat i veaspectoft hei r ago,i nhi swat er shedencycl i calHumanaeVi t ae( HV) , mosti nt i mat eact ,whati st opr eventt hem f r om t aki ng PopePaulVIadvi sedgoodpeopl et hat" ever yt hi ng... t henextst epandel i mi nat i ngeveni t suni t i venat ur e? whi char ousesmen’ sbaserpassi onsandencour agesl ow mor alst andar ds,aswel lasever y...f or m ofi ndecencyon Somemayar guet hatt hel ovi ngembr aceofahusband t hest ageandscr een,shoul dbecondemnedpubl i cl yand andwi f ewhochoosear t i f i ci al cont r acept i oncanst i l l bea unani mousl y"( no.22) .For t yyear sofmanygoodpeopl e pur e and hol y act .Such a uni on,however ,al ways r emai ni ngsi l enthascont r i but edt oamul t i bi l l i ondol l ar i nvol vest hepar t ner shol di ngsomet hi ngbackf r om each por nogr aphyi ndust r yt hatdebaseswomen,men,and ot her —namel y ,t hei rf er t i l i t y .I n hi sbookTowar d God: chi l dr enbyt r eat i ngt hemasobj ect sf orpl easur eandnot TheAnci entWi sdom ofWest er nPr ayer,Mi chael Casey ashumanbei ngs. wr i t es:" Whati snotshar edt endst odi vi de.Somet i mes l ovewi l lper cei vei nt ui t i vel ywhatcannotbef r amedi n Fr om a pr act i calst andpoi nt ,accessi bi l i t yand anonymi t y wor ds.Butof t enwhati swi t hhel dact sasabar r i eri nt er havepl ayedal ar ger ol ei nal l owi ngt heevi lofpor nogr aphy r upt i ngar el at i onshi pi nwaysnei t herpar t ycanunder t ogr owunchecked.Twent yyear sago,eveni nhomeswi t h st and,andcausi ngpai nt obot h. "Ahusbandaddi ct edt o cabl et el evi si on,t her aci estpr ogr amsai r edl at eatni ght . por nogr aphyhast akent henextl ogi calst epi nwi t hhol dToday , near l y ever y net wor k br oadcast s pr i met i me i nghi msel f .Byr ef usi ngt oshar eevent heuni t i veaspect pr ogr amsl acedwi t hsexuali nnuendosandpor nogr aphi c oft hemar i t al embr ace,hecr eat esanot herbar r i ert ot he i mages.Today ,ever yhomewi t hanI nt er netconnect i onhas mar i t alr el at i onshi p.Thi si nevi t abl yr esul t si n pai nf ul i nst antaccesst o ever yconcei vabl e sexualact .Gr aphi c di vi si on. i magesoft hemostper ver seki ndar ej ustaf ewcl i cksaway . BeNotAf r ai d Such easy access t o por nogr aphy vi ol at es f undament al Becausepor nogr aphyi saddi ct i ve,i tsomet i messeems pr i nci pl esofmor al i t y .Accor di ngt oPopePaul ," notmuch i mpossi bl et o over come.I ti s di f f i cul tt of eelsaf e exper i encei sneededt obef ul l yawar eofhumanweakness anywher e.Por nogr aphi ci magesbombar dusevenas andt ounder st andt hathumanbei ngs-aul ," notmuchexpe- west andi nl i neatt hegr ocer yst or e.I nt hel i ghtofsuch r i encei sneededt obef ul l yawar eofhumanweaknessand27per vasi ve t empt at i on,r esi st ance can seem a f ut i l e

ThePr obl em wi t hPor nogr apyc ont i nued

Ourl at eHol yFat herPopeJohnPaulI Ir emi ndedusso of t en," benotaf r ai d! "" Wi t hment hi si si mpossi bl e,but wi t h God al lt hi ngs ar e possi bl e"( Mt .19: 26) .Pope Benedi ct ’ sr ecentencycl i calpr ocl ai mst hatChr i sti sour hope,and" i nhopewear esaved"( SpeSal vi ,no.1) . Thef i r stt hi ngr equi r edt oover comeanyt empt at i oni s pr ayer .Wehavet obewi l l i ngt ohumbl eour sel vesand r ecogni zet hatwecannotr esi stt empt at i onbyourown r esour cesal one.Byopeni ngour sel vesi npr ayert ot he channel sofgr acet hatf l owf r om Chr i st ’ sdi vi nemer cy ,we canr ecei vet hest r engt ht oper sever eevenwhensi t uat i ons seem i mpossi bl e.Pr ayer st o ourmot herMar y aski ngf orheri nt er cessi onandst r engt hcanal sopr ovi de apower f ulshi el dagai nstt empt at i on. Pr act i calAdvi ce Anyat t emptt ocombatpor nogr aphymustbepr act i calas wel last heol ogi cal l ysound.Ther e ar e sever alsi mpl e wayst obegi nt hebat t l e.Fi r st ,t opr ot ectt heyoung,i ti s cr i t i cal t hat par ent s know what t hei r chi l dr en ar e wat chi ng.Movi ng comput er swi t hI nt er netaccessi nt o shar edar easoft hehousecanhel p.Thesamei st r uef or t el evi si ons.When chi l dr en hi de i nt hei rr oomsbehi nd cl oseddoor s,t het empt at i onsofmoder nt echnol ogyof t en becomeover whel mi ng. Forol dert eensandadul t s,suppor tgr oupsmayhel p r ei nf or ceani nt er nalcommi t mentt ochange.Sever al

I nt er net moni t or i ngser vi cescansendr epor t sofwebsur f i nghabi t sdi r ect l yt oaccount abi l i t ypar t ner s.Li ke ot heraddi ct i ve behavi or s,pr obl ems t hatar e mor e ser i ousmi ghtr equi r epr of essi onalcounsel i ng. Ofcour se,wecannotr el ysol el yonourowndevi ces.The Sacr amentofPenancei sGod’ sownmer cyandf or gi veness.Regul arconf essi onnotonl yf or gi vesourpastsi ns, butal sohel psst r engt henourr esol vet oavoi dt henear occasi onsofsi ni nt hef ut ur e.Fr equentr ecept i onofHol y Communi on i s al so a sour ce ofgr eatst r engt h and comf or t .Byt hewor t hyr ecept i onoft hebodyandbl oodof Chr i st ,we ar e st r engt hened t o over come seemi ngl y i mpossi bl et empt at i ons. Concl usi on I ti sver ydi f f i cul tt of aceupt oanddi scusst hesubj ectof por nogr aphy .Wei nst i nct i vel yr ecoi lf r om t hei ssue.I ti s nott he subj ectofpol i t e conver sat i on.However ,our si l encewi l lonl yal l owt hescour get ogr ow.Wemustt ake ast andagai nstt hi sevi l . I ti si mpor t antf orcl er gyandl aypeopl et owor kt oget hert o f acet hi sgr eatchal l enge.Sever aldi ocesesar oundt he count r yhaveal sodevel opednewandi nnovat i vewayst o bat t l e por nogr aphy .We shoul d be r eadyand wi l l i ng t o shar ewhatwor kswi t heachot her .Fi nal l y ,wemustnever f or gett opr ayt hatt hel or dwi l lbl essal lt hosewhoseekt o f ol l owHi spat handanswert heuni ver salcal lt ohol i ness.

Wa ntt oP r i ntaMa ga z i neF orYourBus i ne s s ? Ne e dHe l pC r e a t i nga ndP r oduc i ngYourMa ga z i ne ? WeC a nDoI tF orYou! C a l lUsF orAF r e eQuot e S CDe s i gns( 9 5 6 )3 3 2 2 7 4 2

Grandparents: Models,MentorsandMemory-Makers

ByDe aconGar yAi t chi s on

Gr andpar ent sasModel sandMent or s Gr andpar ent shavemanyt hi ngst ot eacht hei rgr andchi l dr en,bot hbyt hei rmodel i ngandt hei rment or i ng.Havi ngl i ved manyyear sandexper i encedagr eatdeal ,t hei rknowl edgecaneaseandenr i cht hei rgr andchi l dr en’ sl i vesi navar i et y ofways.Gr andpar ent sar epower f ulmodel sf ort hei rgr andchi l dr en,andt hei ract i onsandexampl eof t enspeakl ouder t hant hei rwor ds.Fr om gr andpar ent s,chi l dr enl ear nbot hat t i t udesandval ues.Gr andpar ent sshowgr andchi l dr enhow t obegoodci t i zens;t heyar ewi t nessest ot hei rf ai t h;andt heyar emodel sf oragi ng.Thei rver ypr esenceexposes chi l dr ent ot heseasonsofl i f eandt eachest hem r espectf orot heragesandst agesofl i f e. Gr andpar ent sar emadet oor derment or s.Theyhaveast or ehouseofwi sdom t oshar e.Overt heyear s,t heyhave honedt hei rgi f t sandt al ent s,l ear nedval uabl eski l l sanddevel opedi nt er est st hatar eadvant ageous,educat i onaland benef i ci alt ot hei rgr andchi l dr en.Thei rl i f eexper i encecangui deandt eacht hei rgr andchi l dr en.Gr andpar ent sment or gr andchi l dr enwhent heyshar easki l lornewact i vi t y ,suchasbaki ngcooki es,kni t t i ngascar f ,bui l di ngabi r dhouse, vi si t i ngamuseum,ort aki nganat ur ewal k.Gr andpar ent shaveanabundanceofexper i ence,whi cht heyof t ent akef or gr ant ed,andt heyal mostal wayshavemor et i met hanpar ent s.Mostgr andchi l dr enwel comet heoppor t uni t yt ot r y somet hi ngnewwi t hagr andpar ent . Gr andpar ent sBui l dMemor i es Gr andpar ent sar ei dealmemor ymaker s.Byspendi ngt i meandment or i ngt hei rgr andchi l dr en,t heycanbui l dval uabl e memor i est hatwi l ll astal i f et i me.Theydon’ tneedat r i pt oDi sneyl andt odoso,butt heydoneedawi l l i ngnesst o shar et hei rt i meandt al ent .I fyouar eagr andpar entwhowant st ot r ysomet hi ngnew,bi r t hdaysandhol i daysar e oppor t unet i mes.Consi dermaki ngabi r t hdaybannerwhi cht hegr andki dsmi ghtevenhel pcr eat e.Makeoneof aki nd per sonal i zedbi r t hdaycar dswi t hapi ct ur eoft hebi r t hdaychi l d.Gi vegi f tcer t i f i cat esf orover ni ght satgr andma’ sand gr andpa’ shouseoraspeci aldat e.Wr i t eal et t ert oyourgr andchi l dexpl ai ni ngyourexci t ementwhenheorshewas bor n.Takeyourgr andchi l donamemor abl et r i poradvent ur ef orami l est onebi r t hday . Or gani zi nganannualcousi ns’ camporf ami l yr euni onatt hegr andpar ent s’ houseoranawaypl acei sasur ewayt o bui l dmemor i es.Desi gnaf ami l yTshi r tf orever yone,est abl i shspeci algamesandact i vi t i essuchasascavenger hunt ,bi ngogameort ugof wart hatcanber epeat edyearaf t eryear .Makespeci alf oods.Anot herongoi ngmemor ymakeri st ocr eat eaf ami l ycal endareachyearwi t hpi ct ur esoft hef ami l yandbi r t hdayshi ghl i ght ed.I nvi t egr andchi l dr enandt hei rpar ent st osubmi tf ami l yphot os. Gr andpar ent scanbui l dmemor i esbywor ki ngonaj oi ntpr oj ectordevel opi ngamut ualhobbyl i kest amporcoi ncol l ect i ng.Gr andki dswhoar ei nt ospor t sl ovet ohavet hei rgr andpar ent sf ol l owt hesamespor t st eamsandcompar e not es.Gr andpar ent sbui l dmemor i eswhent heyi nvi t eagr andchi l dt oshar ei naser vi cepr oj ectorj oi nt hem i nsponsor i ngachi l df r om anot hercount r y . Today ,f ewerandf ewergr andpar ent sandgr andchi l dr enl i vei nt hesamecommuni t y .Agr eatmanyoft hemor et han 70mi l l i ongr andpar ent si nt heU. S.ar el ongdi st ancegr andpar ent s.Bot hpar ent sandgr andpar ent smustbecr eat i ve t okeept het wogr andsconnect ed.Emai l ,skype,t ext i ng,cel lphonesandsnai lmai lbecomei mpor t antavenuesf or st ayi ngi nt ouch.Thel i nesofcommuni cat i oncanbekeptopenbysendi ngst or i es,j okes,r i ddl esorcr eat i ngan ongoi ngt al ebyemai l .Onegr andmot her ’ snewsyl et t er st ohergr andchi l dr en,aboutGod,nat ur e,andever yday f ami l yhappeni ngs,becameabook:“ Let t er st oGr andChi l dr en”byEl ai neMayerwaspubl i shedi n2009byTr af f or d. Gr andpar ent sar euni quemodel sandment or s.Theagesoft hei rgr andchi l dr enwi l ldet er mi net heexper i ences,act i t i vi esandadvent ur est hatcanbeshar ed.Aschi l dr engr owoutofsomeact i vi t i es,t heywi l lgr owi nt oot her s.I nt er act i on wi t ht hei rgr andpar ent si sboundt oenr i cht hei rl i vesandl eavet hem wi t hast or ehouseofunf or get t abl ememor i es.