Sonora Louise Smart Dodd is known as the “Mother of Father’s Day.” In 1909, she heard a sermon on the need to set aside a day to honor mothers. She agreed, but she wondered why there wasn’t a day to honor fathers.
Her father, William Jackson Smart, left indelible marks of love on her heart.
He was a Civil War veteran and a widower for 21 years who heroically raised Sonora and her five younger brothers after their mother died while giving birth to her brother Marshal.
By Abbot Marcel Rooney, OSB
We have seen in a previous reflection that the first thing the Holy Eucharist does is proclaim God’s great love for us, above all through the Paschal Mystery of Jesus (i.e., His Death, Resurrection, and Ascension) which is the means of our eternal salvation.
In the light of that great divine love coming to us, through sacramental signs, we need to respond in faith and in love.
On June 2, we celebrate Corpus Christi, the feast of the Eucharist. In Latin Corpus Christi means the Body of Christ. The full Latin name of this feast is “Corpus et Sanguis Christi’’ — “The Body and Blood of Christ.”
In some countries and sometimes in our diocese, during this feast there are edifying processions when the sacred host is carried outdoors or around the church.
Resuscitating a patient who undergoes a cardiac arrest or stops breathing often involves multiple procedures.
When a resuscitation “Code Blue” is called in the hospital (or on a TV show), something like a medical “flash mob” comes together to try to save the patient.
The sequence of events typically involves a combination of CPR, airway assistance, medications, and shocks to the heart when the resuscitation is performed in a clinical setting.
I would like to congratulate Rev. Mr. Vince Brewer, Rev. Mr. Garrett Kau, and Rev. Mr. Steve Petrica on their upcoming ordination to the Priesthood of Jesus Christ. What an event of great joy for the diocese in this Year of Faith to have three men ordained for the ministry of the word and sacraments.
The trial of abortionist Kermit Gosnell is about much more than the man himself. In a painful way, it brings America face to face with abortion, which, as the defense argued, is “bloody” and “real.”
For those who have had abortions, it brings them again in touch with a pain that is never really far away, and it brings them in touch yet again with their need for healing.
Q: This is a very hard question to ask, but here goes. I have been helping my mom for the past couple of years. So far it has been house cleaning, laundry, and grocery shopping — that kind of help. Lately I have noticed a strong smell of urine on her. I also notice it when I do her laundry and I think she is having problems with incontinence. I asked her if she had problems getting to the bathroom on time and she shrugged it off saying, “You have to expect that kind of thing when you are my age.” She is in pretty decent health for her age (86) so I don’t want to push this, but is it normal to lose some bladder control as you age? (From a daughter in Lodi).
Author’s note: This is the third in our series of interviews on Heroes for Life — Catholics who are doing extraordinary things for the pro-life movement. Below are comments from Lila Rose, a recent graduate from UCLA and the founder of Live Action, a pro-life youth organization, Lila Rose is a veteran activist at age 23.
Lies and Live Action
I found out about abortion at a young age and it changed me; I wanted to do something. After six years of being active in our local community, I founded Live Action in 2003 when I was 15. That was the beginning of my vision of approaching pro-life activism with aggressive education by using the truth revealed through undercover investigations in abortion centers.
 |
|
“This case is about a doctor who killed babies and endangered women. What we mean is that he regularly and illegally delivered live, viable babies in the third trimester of pregnancy — and then murdered these newborns by severing their spinal cords with scissors,” states a Pennsylvania grand jury report regarding the alleged procedures of Dr. Kermit Gosnell.
From his Philadelphia abortion mill euphemistically named “Women’s Medical Society,” Gosnell performed late term abortions with few questions asked. “Too young? No problem. Didn’t want to wait? Gosnell provided same-day service,” states the report.
Enrico Caruso, the great tenor, grew up in poverty. His mother sacrificed to pay for his first singing lesson. However, his voice teacher told him, “You can’t sing. Your voice sounds like the wind in the shutters.”
Enrico walked home discouraged, with shaky steps and tearful eyes. “Mamma” he sobbed, “My teacher said that I can’t sing! I want to quit singing lessons.”
Enrico’s mother hugged him and said, “My son, you’ve got a great voice. Don’t give up. Someday you’ll be a great singer!
