Happy Mother's Day from Fr. Corapi
This Sunday we once again have the joy of celebrating Mothers Day. It is certainly fitting enough that this falls in the month of May, the month the Church dedicates to the Mother of Jesus and our Spiritual Mother. It’s a beautiful month dedicated to what is perhaps the most beautiful reality I can imagine—mothers. In the often misguided and morally confused society we live in, the vocation and blessing of being a mother isn't esteemed highly enough by many individuals that are so preoccupied with making a living and accumulating material things. Sometimes motherhood isn't respected enough by men. Even more baffling—sometimes women don't themselves value this calling and honor as they ought. As far as I'm concerned, it would be hard to imagine a more noble, more necessary, and more beautiful calling in life. Moms, only in Heaven will you realize just how pleasing you are to God. You have collaborated with God our Father in bringing new life into the world. You have given our heavenly Father children, and these children He treasures more than you could ever imagine. “Mother—“ Perhaps the most beautiful word in all of language. It expresses life. It expresses love. It expresses cooperation with God. It speaks of something that will never end. One day, moms, you'll be honored by God himself for your many sacrifices. For now, accept our thanks, our love, and our tribute. We salute you, Moms, this day and for all eternity. God bless you for all you've done for us. In Jesus’ Love through Mary our Mother, Fr. John Corapi Back to top FR. CORAPI'S STATEMENT ON BEHALF OF THE CARDINAL NEWMAN SOCIETY NOTE: Father Corapi also prepared a video on behalf of the Cardinal Newman Society - <http://www.fathercorapi.com/notredamescandal.aspx>You can view it on Father's website and find more information and SIGN THE PETITION by clicking here. It is my privilege to be able to deliver the following message on behalf of the Cardinal Newman Society: As you know, the University of Notre Dame—an old and honored Catholic institution of higher learning in the United States—recently dishonored itself, and to some extent the entire Catholic world, by inviting President Barack Obama to receive an honorary Doctor of Laws degree, and to deliver the commencement address on May 17th. Mr. Obama will be the ninth U.S. president to be awarded an honorary degree by the University and the sixth to be the Commencement speaker. He is the first to be so honored, however, that has such an obviously public and pernicious anti-life, and anti-Catholic/Christian bias. The Catholic Church has taught and does teach that every human life must be respected and protected absolutely from the moment of conception. From the first moment of his existence, a human being must be recognized as having the rights of a person—among which is the inviolable right of every innocent being to life (CCC 2270). Since the first century the Church has affirmed the moral evil of every procured abortion. This teaching has not changed and remains unchangeable. Direct abortion is gravely contrary to the moral law (CCC 2271). On more than one occasion Pope John Paul II and Mother Teresa of Calcutta called it “murder.” No president in history has been so damaging to the cause of respect for life than this one, and he’s only just begun. His constant and unwavering support for the right to choose the homicide of abortion is a matter of record—and not only abortion, but partial-birth abortion, infanticide, fetal stem cell research, and even removing the right of medical professionals to act in accordance with their conscience marks him as a singular enemy of essential elements of the Catholic Church’s moral teaching. This man the University of Notre Dame invites to receive an honorary doctorate degree and deliver the commencement address? Whether intended or not, this sends a terrible message to the Catholic world and to the world at large. A picture is worth a thousand words. Which thousand words will be articulated to an already morally relativistic culture by the picture of Mr. Obama receiving such honors from a Catholic University? Metaphorically and morally it’s like shooting yourself in the foot. So Notre Dame limps on. Many of you did what you could to prevent this travesty from actually happening, and at this moment barring a bolt of lightning or divine intervention, it looks like it will happen. We want to sincerely thank the more than 350,000 people that signed the petition of protest against Notre Dame’s obvious lack of good judgment in making a singularly public statement that not only dilutes the University’s Catholic credibility and identity, but undermines the authentically Catholic identity and credibility of the Church in this country. Almost 70 bishops have likewise voiced their disapproval in no uncertain terms, thereby demonstrating their courage and strong pastoral leadership. We are very thankful to them as well. This strong and courageous witness is truly a sign of hope. It needs to grow. Authentic Catholic identity has to be restored in our Catholic Universities and other institutions of learning. If it is restored, our nation will be restored. If it is not restored we shall have much to answer for in the moral unraveling of a great nation, and ultimately the loss of souls. The Catholic Church and its educational institutions must return to a position of strong and uncompromising moral leadership, integrity, and credibility. If we stand for nothing we begin to fall for everything. If, indeed, we “choose prestige over principles and popularity over morality” then we become part of the problem, not part of the solution. Pray for the University of Notre Dame, its president, its board of directors, and students. And pray for our bishops, for in the end the burden will rest on their shoulders to decide whether the University of Notre Dame, and others like it, are Catholic or not. The battle is not over, my friends, it’s just now begun in earnest. So, fight the good fight, and run the race to the finish line, for in the end we have the certain knowledge that truth will triumph over lies, light over darkness, and good over evil. God love you. God bless you. Good bye. Fr. John Corapi Father Corapi also prepared a video on behalf of the Cardinal Newman Society - <http://www.fathercorapi.com/notredamescandal.aspx>You can view it on Father's website and find more information and SIGN THE PETITION by clicking here. <http://www.notredamescandal.com/SignthePetitiontoFrJenkins/tabid/454/Default.aspx>Click here to visit NotreDameScandal.com directly and SIGN THE PETITION "Behold Your Mother" A Compilation for Mother's Day <http://www.fathercorapi.com/Behold-Your-Mother-Compilation-DVD-4-Talks---513DVDS-P307C0.aspx> Behold Your Mother By Father John Corapi, SOLT When Jesus saw his mother, and the disciple whom he loved standing near, he said to his mother, "Woman behold, your son!" Then he said to the disciple, "Behold your mother!" (Jn 19:26-27) The Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Jesus Christ, Mother of the Church, spiritual Mother of each one of us, cannot be ignored without doing violence to the Gospels. She is surely at the very heart of salvation history, if for no other reason that she is with her Son from beginning to end. To gain an appreciation of just how involved she is in the history of our redemption, meditate on the twenty mysteries of the Rosary. This will give us a good look at her true place in the Gospels. Although she is surely the Mother of God as the great Church councils have asserted, and she is the Mother of the Church, as Pope Paul VI proclaimed, she is also a personal spiritual Mother to each and every one of us. To enter into the mystery of Mary is to enter into the mystery of Jesus Christ. Her only true desire is to bring Jesus to us and to bring us to Jesus. One of the great secrets of the spiritual life is to enter into a true and personal relationship with Mary our Mother. Once the soul seeks to draw close to Mary great things will begin to happen. She will intercede for us and great strides in the spiritual life will take place if we take care to follow her, especially in her humility. Since the very beginning of his priesthood Fr. John Corapi has emphasized this relationship with Our Lady, and the prayer of her Rosary. It is one of the three pillars of his preaching. "Everything for Jesus through the hands of Mary, His Mother and ours." May almighty God bless you and yours: the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen. A great Mother's Day gift! In honor of our Blessed Mother, Father Corapi has compiled this 4 part set dedicated to Our Lady. <http://www.fathercorapi.com/Behold-Your-Mother-Compilation-DVD-4-Talks---513DVDS-P307C0.aspx>Order online or call 1-888-800-7084 to order by phone (M-F 8am-4pm EST). Click Below To Order Online: <http://www.fathercorapi.com/Behold-Your-Mother-Compilation-CD-Set-P308C0.aspx>CD Audio Set- $39.00 <http://www.fathercorapi.com/Behold-Your-Mother-Compilation-DVD-P307C0.aspx>DVD Video Set- $45.00 Back to top Other Marian Material by Fr. Corapi Fr. Corapi's love and devotion for the Blessed Mother is evident in these single talks and series covering the many blessings and graces we receive from Our Lady. <http://www.fathercorapi.com/The-Blessed-Mother-C32.aspx>Click here for a list of all Fr. Corapi's Marian material! <http://www.fathercorapi.com/The-Blessed-Mother-C32.aspx> Immaculate Heart of Mary Back to top Weekly Wisdom Schedule: * <http://www.fathercorapi.com/wwhome.aspx>Click here to learn more about Weekly Wisdom <http://www.fathercorapi.com/wwschedule.aspx> SOCOM - Social Commentary April 25th: "Introduction to SOCOM + Questions and Answers" In this episode of Weekly Wisdom Fr. Corapi introduces a new 3 part format for Weekly Wisdom. SOCOM (Special Operations Command in the armed forces) will be a new Social Commentary (SO-COM) segment. This week Father continues to speak on the evils of Socialism in the Western World for the first SOCOM segment. Father then moves into a Question and Answer segment, covering such topics as trouble with keeping in a state of grace after confession, bishops who are unfaithful to the Holy Father, how to get more out of the Catechism and much more. He then finishes this episode with a bit of spiritual direction on a most important virtue, Humility. <http://www.fathercorapi.com/wwschedule.aspx> Immaculate Heart of Mary May 2nd: "Cultivating Our Relationship with the Blessed Mother"--In this episode of Weekly Wisdom for the beginning of the month of May Fr. Corapi speaks about the Blessed Mother. Some of the essential elements of a relationship and devotion to Mary that Father speaks about are the Rosary, the Immaculate Heart of Mary, the Blessed Mother’s role as a leader of God’s army in fighting the forces of evil, especially in our times. In addition, Father relates some of the personal events in his life where the Blessed Virgin Mary played such an important role, such as his baptism, First holy Communion, protecting him through a very dangerous life, Conversion, etc. This is a subject dear to Father Corapi’s heart and it shows. <http://www.fathercorapi.com/wwschedule.aspx> Earth and Fire May 9th: "Principles of the Founding Fathers, Questions & Answers and more"--Father begins this episode discussing some of the principles upon which the great nation of the United States is founded. He uses the best-selling book "The 5000 Year Leap" as a guide for this weeks SOCOM (social commentary) segment. This weeks questions follow some of the same subject matter, such as how a good Catholic can participate in a government that our conscience tells us acts immorally. Finally, in this weeks Spiritual Directions, Fr. gives us a "no pain, no gain" approach to advancing in the spiritual life. <http://www.fathercorapi.com/wwschedule.aspx>Click here to view the current schedule online Back to top <http://www.fathercorapi.com/contact.aspx>Click here for the Web Contact Form. www.fathercorapi.com • USA - 1-888-800-7084 (M-F 8am-4pm EST) • International-1-406-751-1900 <*}}}>< <http://www.holypostage.com/>Custom Faith-based U.S. Postage <*}}}>< + <*}}}>< <http://astore.amazon.com/halthekin-20>Catholic on Amazon <*}}}>< <*}}}>< <http://www.halfthekingdom.org/on+allposters+today.html>on AllPosters today <*}}}>< + <*}}}>< <http://www.holypostage.com/>Holy Postage <*}}}>< <*}}}><<http://www.halfthekingdom.org/>Half the <http://www.halfthekingdom.org/>Kingdom!<*}}}>< + "A person is a person, no matter how small." Dr. Seuss --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ Please note that I do not send or open attachments sent to this list. 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