The Great Week

Palm Sunday, outside the Basilica of the Blessed Sacrament, Sacramento, California
(C) 2013 On Being Roman Catholic in America

For Catholics, the focus of the entire year is found in Holy Week, or what is sometimes referred to as "the Great Week"--as we re-live the Passion of Our Lord, Jesus Christ and ponder the power of unconditional love and utter freedom found in obedience to the will of the Father.

Pater, si non potest hic calix transire, nisi ibam illum: fiat voluntas tua. (Luke 22:42)

After the Green Beer

St. Patrick, Patron Saint of Ireland
(statue in the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, Sacramento, California)
(C) 2013 On Being Roman Catholic in America 

Never canonized by the Church, but affirmed as a saint, St. Patrick is dear to the hearts of the Irish and Irish-Americans.  Click here to learn why.

No News?

Life advocates march in downtown San Francisco
(C) 2013 On Being Roman Catholic in America

Despite some 50,000 people in support of life flowing like a river down Market Street in San Francisco, California, on a beautiful Saturday afternoon on January 26, 2013, it hardly made the news at all. 

Odd.  No news?

First, news because the event marked the 40th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade 1973 legal ruling by the United State Supreme Court that set into motion the legal-ized killing in the United States of an estimated 55,000,000 human lives to date--with no end in site. 

Second, news because the number of life advocates continues to appear on the rise in polls and, over this weekend, in person.  In Washington, D.C., on Friday, January 25, some 500,000 people marched in protest to the steps of the United State Supreme Court.  The next day, on the West Coast, in the City of Saint Francis, some 50,000 showed up, but, thanks to the mainstream media, unaccounted for.

Third, news because technological changes, such as 3-D ultra sound imaging, is offering stark truth about the reality of abortion on demand.  And changing hearts--and minds.

Fourth, news because a growing number of young women--and young men--are rejecting the false truths of our "culture of death"--as evidenced especially in advertising, movies, television, and video games--in favor of choosing life.

Fifth, news because recent legal decisions and legislative actions are, at last, beginning to cause the unravelling of Roe '73.

At least five news angles for a thoughtful exercise in journalism.  And here's one more:  the fact that there was hardly any reported news over this weekend from our "Fourth Estate," well, that's the real story!   Need pictures?

Hold the press!

-30-

55 Million

January 22, 1973

55,000,000

If a number like “55 million” is hard to grasp, think of it this way—if you added together the populations of New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, Philadelphia, Phoenix, San Antonio, San Diego, Dallas, Jacksonville, Indianapolis, and San Francisco, you would only have about 26.1 million people—less than half the number aborted. –LifeNews.com

Throughout the United States, there are established memorial sites for the victims of the abortion holocaust.  Let us remember.

Let us pray.

JMJ

Creche at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church, Pismo Beach, CA
(c) 2012 On Being Roman Catholic in America

JMJ - Jesus, Mary and Joseph.  The Holy Family.  Years ago, and perhaps still today, Catholic school children wrote JMJ across the top of every paper.  The Most Reverend Fulton J. Sheen popularized JMJ as he wrote the initials across the top of the blackboard during his weekly television series.  Once, as he "signed in" as a guest on the popular television show, What's My Line? he wrote JMJ and then his own name.

The Holy Family--Jesus, Mary and Joseph--models the love of the family unit, which instructs us in the perfect Love of our Triune God found in the relationship of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.  During Christmastide, we are reminded of the formational love of the Christian family, which love, by its example, teaches us to reach out to all "men of good will."  

In establishing the tradition of the nativity scene, St. Francis continues to teach the world about the love of the Holy Family.