"A voice of one crying out in the desert: 'Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight His paths....'"

2nd Sunday Advent, 12/5/21

• An upcoming case has the potential to alter the nationwide anti life trajectory seen since Roe v Wade.  
• As per the Pa Pro Life coalition, "December 1, 2021 has become a highly significant date for the pro-life movement at the local, state and national levels. On this date, the U.S. Supreme Court has scheduled oral arguments in Dobbs v. Jackson. This case involves a Constitutional challenge to Mississippi's law banning post 15-week gestation abortions. Mississippi's Attorney General, Lynn Fitch, has submitted a brilliant and zealous petition that requests the Court to reverse Roe v. Wade....[We] have scheduled a Prayer Vigil and Public Witness at Planned Parenthood's Center City abortion chamber at 12th and Locust Streets, from 10:00-11:00 AM on Wednesday, December 1, 2021."
• As per Live Action, "On December 1, the Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on Dobbs v Jackson.  Join us at a Pro-Life Rally from 8am-1pm [on the steps of the Supreme Court] where we will hold signs depicting Baby Olivia at 15 weeks."
• There appears to be an Amtrak Acela train ($60) scheduled to leave Trenton at 6:49 am that morning and arrive at Washington's Union Station at 8:50 am.  From there, it is a short walk to the Supreme Court.
• There appear to be two Amtrak Northeast Regional trains ($58 for coach) scheduled to leave Union Station at 1:25 pm & 2:05 pm, arriving in Trenton at 3:52 pm and 4:26 pm, respectively.

Amtrak ticketing must be done in advance.  Especially with the short notice and expense, it is probable that few will make the trip.  To have a representation, isn't it incumbent on the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and the Diocese of Trenton to sponsor people?  If you agree, please email Archbishop Nelson Perez (Absp.nperez@archphila.org; sbozza@archphila.org) and Bishop David O'Connell (doconn@dioceseoftrenton.org; rhendr@DioceseofTrenton.org)

• Stop Taxpayer Funding of Abortion in PA!

• FDA Petition - Natural Womanhood

• "all those who believe in the sanctity of life, regardless of whether they support or oppose the theoretical validity of brain-death criteria, [should] oppose the use of brain-death criteria to obtain organs for transplantation in clinical practice. We can then, as a single voice, support medical research seeking innovative, morally uncontentious ways to replace failing organs" (National Catholic Register, 10/25/21)

• Letters to Pharmaceutical Companies ["to protest the use of abortion-derived cell lines and advocate for the development of vaccines with no connection to abortion."] (USCCB)

Can. 915 Those who have been excommunicated or interdicted after the imposition or declaration of the penalty and others obstinately persevering in manifest grave sin are not to be admitted to holy communion.

Can. 916 A person who is conscious of grave sin is not to celebrate Mass or receive the body of the Lord without previous sacramental confession unless there is a grave reason and there is no opportunity to confess; in this case the person is to remember the obligation to make an act of perfect contrition which includes the resolution of confessing as soon as possible.

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P.S. Witness for Life on December 1

An upcoming case has the potential to alter the nationwide anti life trajectory seen since Roe v Wade.  As per Live Action, "On December 1, the Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on Dobbs v Jackson.  Join us at a Pro-Life Rally from 8am-1pm [on the steps of the Supreme Court] where we will hold signs depicting Baby Olivia at 15 weeks."

• There appears to be an Amtrak Acela train ($60) scheduled to leave Trenton at 6:49 am that morning and arrive at Washington's Union Station at 8:50 am.  From there, it is a short walk to the Supreme Court.
• There appear to be two Amtrak Northeast Regional trains ($58 for coach) scheduled to leave Union Station at 1:25 pm & 2:05 pm, arriving in Trenton at 3:52 pm and 4:26 pm, respectively.

Amtrak ticketing must be done in advance.  Especially with the short notice and expense, it is probable that few will make the trip.  To have a representation, isn't it incumbent on the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and the Diocese of Trenton to sponsor people?  If you agree, please email Archbishop Nelson Perez (Absp.nperez@archphila.org; sbozza@archphila.org) and Bishop David O'Connell (doconn@dioceseoftrenton.org; 

rhendr@DioceseofTrenton.org)

 

"RFK Jr.: Fauci And Bill Gates Should Be Criminally Prosecuted For Gross Negligence And Profiting Off COVID" (RealClearPolitics, 11//22/21)

"In those days, in that time, I will raise up for David a just shoot" (11/22/21)

"In those days, in that time, I will raise up for David a just shoot"

First Sunday of Advent

Thanksgiving!

• Biden's OSHA vaccine mandate holds public comment period

• Home for the Holidays: How to Reach Your LGBTQ Loved Ones This Season (11/18/21)

• Stop Taxpayer Funding of Abortion in PA!

• FDA Petition - Natural Womanhood

• "all those who believe in the sanctity of life, regardless of whether they support or oppose the theoretical validity of brain-death criteria, [should] oppose the use of brain-death criteria to obtain organs for transplantation in clinical practice. We can then, as a single voice, support medical research seeking innovative, morally uncontentious ways to replace failing organs" (National Catholic Register, 10/25/21)

• Letters to Pharmaceutical Companies ["to protest the use of abortion-derived cell lines and advocate for the development of vaccines with no connection to abortion."] (USCCB)

Can. 915 Those who have been excommunicated or interdicted after the imposition or declaration of the penalty and others obstinately persevering in manifest grave sin are not to be admitted to holy communion.

Can. 916 A person who is conscious of grave sin is not to celebrate Mass or receive the body of the Lord without previous sacramental confession unless there is a grave reason and there is no opportunity to confess; in this case the person is to remember the obligation to make an act of perfect contrition which includes the resolution of confessing as soon as possible.

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Viva Cristo Rey!

THE SOLEMNITY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, KING OF THE UNIVERSE

 St Michael the Archangel @Princeton University Art Museum

• "Cooperation" and Parishes Partnering with Amazon (Catholic Stand, 11/19/21)

• Morally Responsible Investing: Catholics in the Contemporary Economy (Institute for Human Ecology, November 2021)

• November 18: 43rd anniversary of the U.S. Bishops' Pastoral Statement on People with Disabilities:

"Concern for people with disabilities was one of the prominent notes of Jesus' earthly ministry. When asked by John's disciples, 'Are you He who is to come or do we look for another?' Jesus responded with words recalling the prophecies of Isaiah 'Go back and report to John what you hear and see; the blind recover their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, dead men are raised to life, and the poor have the Gospel preached to them.' (Mt. 11:3-5) Persons with disabilities become witnesses for Christ, His healing of their bodies a sign of the spiritual healing He brought to all people. 'Which is less trouble to say, ''Your sins are forgiven'' or ''Stand up and walk?'' To help you realize that the Son has authority on earth to forgive sins' -- He then said to the paralyzed man -- 'Stand up! Roll up your mat and go home' (Mt. 9:5f)....

"All too often, abortion and postnatal neglect are promoted by arguing that the infant will survive only to suffer a life of pain and deprivation. We find this reasoning appalling....

"It is not enough merely to affirm the rights of people with disabilities. We must actively work to make them real in the fabric of modern society....

"Accessibility involves far more than physical alterations to parish buildings. Realistic provision must be made for persons with disabilities to participate fully in the Eucharist and other liturgical celebrations such as the sacraments of Reconciliation, Confirmation and Anointing of the Sick. The experiences and needs of individuals with disabilities vary, as do those of any group of people. For some with significant disabilities, special liturgies may be appropriate. Other will not require such liturgies, but will benefit if certain equipment and services are made available to them. Celebrating liturgies simultaneously in sign language enables the deaf person to enter more deeply into their spirit and meaning. Participation aids such as Mass books and hymnals in large print or Braille serve the same purpose for blind or partially sighted members."

• Our Treatment of People with Disabilities (Catholic Stand, 9/24/21)

• Silenced but Unquiet: a Faithful Jesuit’s Witness (Catholic Culture, 11/17/21)

• "Is sodomy a sin? Perplexed readers of Fr. James Martin, S.J.’s latest book will want to put the question to him, if only to understand why he felt it important to write at all" (Paul Mankowski, S.J., 8/2017)

• 2 men convicted of killing civil rights leader Malcolm X are set to be exonerated (NPR, 11/17/21)

• ‘Stop Murdering for Organs’: NBA Player Tells Beijing to End Forced Organ Harvesting (Epoch Times, 11/16-17/21)
• "all those who believe in the sanctity of life, regardless of whether they support or oppose the theoretical validity of brain-death criteria, [should] oppose the use of brain-death criteria to obtain organs for transplation (National Catholic Register, 10/25/21)

• Respect for the Body: A Response to Archbishop Jackels (National Catholic Register, 11/15/21)
• "....in a couple of hours I head to the airport to go to the USCCB meeting....

"You may notice in the Diocese of Tyler we have ceased to collect for Campaign for Human Development and for (Catholic Relief Services) CRS. You may not have even noticed, but I made that decision because there are too many allegations of corruption....That [alleged] corruption must be addressed. If the allegations are false, I will be the first to say the bishops of the USCCB need to sue those making false allegations....

"can anyone who aggressively and vehemently opposes Catholic teaching come forward and receive the Body of Christ in Communion? The answer is an emphatic, 'No!' I don’t care whether they are President or a world global leader or an unknown child of God in the pew that only Christ knows is there, for any of us to vehemently call for abortion, support the desecration of marriage between a man and a woman thus saying anyone can get married, when we support teachings that are contrary to the Catholic faith, again going back to the solitary life with the Lord, we must ask ourselves, 'Am I in Communion?'

"The greatest love, the greatest mercy, the greatest charity is to teach another person the truth. The truth sets us free. There isn’t enough truth in the world, in the Church and government and commerce and whatever aspect of the world, we need truth.

"We have Him. He is the face of truth. Look to Christ and know that I have to make my choice to follow Him as you do....

"I will not mandate a mask or a vaccine because it is your free will choice. Yes, it is my obligation to urge you to form your conscience, to learn what you need to know to make a well-informed free choice decision, but mandates are evil....

"The global or the national leader that is living contrary to the faith cannot simply be welcome to the Eucharistic altar without an examination of their conscience, without Confession, without reforming their life, as I hope to reform mine. But ultimately whether a president or a monarch or a world leader or a cardinal or a bishop, whether any of us make it to the Lord and the gates of Heaven are open for us, is up to us. That is ultimately what matters for each of us as a child of God....

"none of us are worthy to approach this Eucharistic altar. In a few moments, I will take bread and wine in my sinful hands, but I assure you, I have gone to Confession, I have done my best to be cleansed especially of any mortal sin, but even of the simplest venial sin. We must be as purified as we can be and then trust in the mercy. This is the mercy-seat of the Lord. Mercy flows from His altar. But it is a desecration to make no attempt to repent and reform our lives and come here to receive Him" (from Bishop Strickland’s Homily, Children of God for Life, 11/14/21).

• Catholic-Funded Organizations and Networks Financially Tied to Massive Pro-Abortion Initiative (Lepanto Institute, 11/14/21)

• Cleveland priest gets life. Victims’ mother: ‘God is with us' (The Pillar, 11/9/21)
• Opinion: How do you know there were no red flags? (Catholic World Report, 11/14/21)

• Letters to Pharmaceutical Companies ["to protest the use of abortion-derived cell lines and advocate for the development of vaccines with no connection to abortion."] (USCCB)

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Spiritual Weapons

23RD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

(1st reading)

(@ Princeton University Art Museum)

• "During his 25-year reign (1878-1903), Pope Leo XIII saw major dangers arising in the world. After an alarming vision right after saying Mass — 33 years to the day of the final vision of Fatima on Oct. 13, 1917 — he gave us the Prayer to St. Michael to be recited after Masses beginning in 1886. After being sidelined a few decades ago, this prayer is making a strong comeback in some dioceses.
  
  "In several of his encyclicals, Leo XIII did not mince words about the dangers of communism, socialism, Freemasonry and their path to destruction. He also saw and warned of severe dangers to society in his 10 encyclicals on the Rosary....
  'These are evils that cry aloud, that cry of themselves with a daily increasing voice. … It is absolutely necessary that the Catholic voice should also call to God with unwearied instance, ‘without ceasing;’ that the faithful should pray not only in their own homes, but in public, gathered together [in church, and] should beseech urgently the all-foreseeing God to deliver the Church from evil men and to bring back the troubled nations to good sense and reason, by the light and love of Christ'....
  "Leo XIII makes it perfectly clear how we must respond in combating the evils: With the Holy Rosary" (National Catholic Register, 11/9/21)

• "all those who believe in the sanctity of life, regardless of whether they support or oppose the theoretical validity of brain-death criteria, [should] oppose the use of brain-death criteria to obtain organs for transplantation in clinical practice. We can then, as a single voice, support medical research seeking innovative, morally uncontentious ways to replace failing organs" (National Catholic Register, 10/25/21)

• Letters to Pharmaceutical Companies ["to protest the use of abortion-derived cell lines and advocate for the development of vaccines with no connection to abortion."] (USCCB)

Can. 915 Those who have been excommunicated or interdicted after the imposition or declaration of the penalty and others obstinately persevering in manifest grave sin are not to be admitted to holy communion.

Can. 916 A person who is conscious of grave sin is not to celebrate Mass or receive the body of the Lord without previous sacramental confession unless there is a grave reason and there is no opportunity to confess; in this case the person is to remember the obligation to make an act of perfect contrition which includes the resolution of confessing as soon as possible.

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New Jersey Matters






Pennsylvania Matters






Church leadership matters



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11/14, 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

  In those days, I Daniel, 

    heard this word of the Lord:

"At that time there shall arise

    Michael, the great prince,

    guardian of your people;

it shall be a time unsurpassed in distress

    since nations began until that time.

At that time your people shall escape,

    everyone who is found written in the book.

“Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake;

    some shall live forever,

    others shall be an everlasting horror and disgrace.

“But the wise shall shine brightly

    like the splendor of the firmament,

and those who lead the many to justice

    shall be like the stars forever."

• St. Frances Cabrini Shrine in NYC
• On this Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica, take a virtual tour of it!
• Salvation History through the Eyes of Cinema (Catholic Stand, 11/7/21)
• Attn Climate Changers: NJ's Coldest Winter was 1779/1780 (11/7/21)
• Draft statement stresses Eucharist’s importance, not a need to deny it (CNS, 11/4/21)

Can. 915 Those who have been excommunicated or interdicted after the imposition or declaration of the penalty and others obstinately persevering in manifest grave sin are not to be admitted to holy communion.

Can. 916 A person who is conscious of grave sin is not to celebrate Mass or receive the body of the Lord without previous sacramental confession unless there is a grave reason and there is no opportunity to confess; in this case the person is to remember the obligation to make an act of perfect contrition which includes the resolution of confessing as soon as possible.

• "all those who believe in the sanctity of life, regardless of whether they support or oppose the theoretical validity of brain-death criteria, [should] oppose the use of brain-death criteria to obtain organs for transplantation in clinical practice. We can then, as a single voice, support medical research seeking innovative, morally uncontentious ways to replace failing organs" (National Catholic Register, 10/25/21)
• Letters to Pharmaceutical Companies ["to protest the use of abortion-derived cell lines and advocate for the development of vaccines with no connection to abortion."] (USCCB)

National and International Matters

New Jersey Matters

Pennsylvania Matters

Church leadership matters

(Click above image for more bishop contact info)

"EPHPHATA" - A STUDY GUIDE

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Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church