Fr. James's Sunday Homily: The First Sunday of Advent

Advent and our preparation for Christmas
The first Sunday of Advent marks the beginning of a new liturgical year. It is interesting to note how the liturgical year ends with the theme of the Second Coming, while at the same time, the new liturgical year also focuses on the same theme.

Since we are about to celebrate Christmas, we would suppose that the new liturgical year would begin chronologically with a reflection on the Incarnation. However, that is not the case. The reason why the liturgical year ends and begins with the same theme is clear: if we have already embraced Jesus in his first coming, we will have no fear of his second coming.

What is a personal relationship with Jesus?

We need to understand that Jesus is really alive. He is both divine and human. He is really with us. Because he is truly a living person, he can be our best friend. This why Christianity is about a whom rather than a what.

It is also interesting to note that the new liturgical year begins with a penitential season; i.e. the season of Advent. The priest and deacon now use purple colored vestments. As the world around us prepares for Christmas with an ever increasing emphasis on material things, the Church directs our gaze toward the spiritual. The liturgical calendar begins differently from the secular calendar precisely because the Church, while in the world, is not of the world. Advent is a penitential season because Christmas is about our personal relationship with Jesus Christ, not about external celebrations. "God is faithful, and by him you were called to fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. (1 Corinthians 1: 9) The external celebrations should be seen as a visible manifestation of our joy of being disciples of Jesus Christ.

However, during the later part of November... (Continued here)

The "Crew" on Thanksgiving...

YES, I was in my glory having all of my "kids" around me! We have a few other pics too. I had to choose one that didn't have "bunny ears" over my head and that everyone basically had their eyes open and were facing the camera!

A side note to Joseph: there were other pics with a better smile from you, however the "bunny ears" over my head, (which I can't even imagine how that happened) prevented me from using at least that photo.

My review of Prince Caspian at Catholic Exchange today...

Based on one of C. S. Lewis’s classic and religiously symbolic novels in his Chronicles of Narnia series, the film, The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian, hit movie theatres in May of this year. Produced by Walt Disney Studios and Walden Media, directed by Andrew Adamson, and written by Christopher Markus, Stephen McFeely and Andrew Adamson, it will soon debut on DVD and Blu-ray Hi-Def, as well as a special two-disc Collector’s Edition. Interviews and deleted scene extras are featured. Included is a special Disney File, a digital copy of the movie that can be viewed on a variety of portable devices. A release date of December 2, 2008 is anticipated for the United States and Canada.

The Chronicles of Narnia novels are considered classic children’s literature and also C. S. Lewis’s best known work. Lewis uses traditional Christian themes and symbolism to enhance the messages of his stories with the help of some ideas from Greek and Roman mythology, as well as traditional British and Irish fairy tales.

As we sit down with our popcorn and prepare to become engrossed in another of C. S. Lewis’s brilliant creative visions and anticipate being drawn into this timeless fantasy coming to life, we... (Continued here at Catholic Exchange)

With Advent around the corner..."Blessed are they who hope in the Lord,"

Go on over to my blog, "Embracing Motherhood" to read my article on hope which appeared yesterday in Barry Michael's "Festival on Hope." Just click here for Embracing Motherhood.

Happy Thanksgiving and COOL contest to recieve my books!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Enjoy the day. Try not to strive for perfection, rather, BE with your loved ones and try not to DO so much! It's difficult, I know. However, you'll regret late in the day that you didn't stop to enjoy a game with the kids or a walk with the family because you were too busy trying to make everything PERFECT! There's no such thing as perfection on Thanksgiving day! It will all come out wonderful...take a breath...say a prayer and BE TOGETHER!!

Oh, and by the way, go on over to Barry Michael's special Festival of Hope when you have a moment to read my piece on HOPE and where he is giving out copies of my two new books, Grace Cafe and The Domestic Church. If you leave a comment, you'll be put in his drawing!

Check out Barry's Festival of Hope and introduction of my piece by clicking here

And the article I wrote on HOPE by clicking here.

This is from Barry's blog about his cool contest and giving away my books TODAY...

"Donna-Marie Cooper O’Boyle’s two newest books are Grace Cafe: Serving Up Recipes for Faithful Mothering and The Domestic Church: Room by Room. And they’re both going to one fortunate visitor this Thanksgiving Day. But feel free not to enter to win them, because we’d love to keep them in this house. I’m kidding, come get them, you’ll be glad you did. (Or one visitor will, anyway.)

To enter, leave a comment in this comment box of this post, naming one thing for which you are thankful today (of course!). As usual, you’ll have to include your e-mail address so that I can contact you if you win, but it will not be viewable publicly. The winner will not be chosen randomly this time; rather, my kids will pick the response they like best."

So, go over to Barry's blog (link above) and leave a thankful comment!




God bless your day!

Hugs,

Donna-Marie

My recent interview on the Catholic Spotlight

When you have time to sit with a cup of tea, coffee, or hot chocolate, pull up your chair or rocker and click here to hear my recent interview with Chris Cash on the Catholic Spotlight talking about my two new books, Grace Cafe: Serving Up Recipes for Faithful Mothering and The Domestic Church: Room By Room

Fr. James's Sunday Homily

The Feast of Christ the King


God wants you to be happy and overflowing with joy. He wants you to fulfill your destiny and purpose in life by reaching eternal life in heaven. He is so interested in you that he sent his only begotten Son to save you from sin. Remember, God’s love for you is unconditional. Think about this for a moment: God’s love for you is unconditional. In reality, Christianity is a love story: God loves you unconditionally and he calls you to love him unconditionally.

Up until the time of the first Christmas when Jesus was born in Bethlehem, the road to salvation was rather confusing, but now, with the coming of Jesus, the way that leads to eternal life is clear. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life.

In this Sunday’s gospel passage Jesus tells us exactly what we need to do to enter into the glory of heaven: feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, welcome the stranger, clothe the naked, care for the sick, and visit those who are in prison. Christianity is very practical and it is to be lived within the ordinary circumstances of every day life.

Too many times we might fall into the trap that Christianity is lived out only in the special moments, like when you see someone in need on the side of the street, or when there are natural disasters. But, we can only respond to those special moments if we are living the gospel each and every day, and in a very practical and concrete manner.

We are called to love. This is the meaning of our lives. Every act of service, every act of kindness, every act of self giving must be seen as an act of love.

And who do we love? “Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me” (Matthew 25: 40).

Before his conversion, Francis of Assisi was riding his horse through the countryside. Suddenly he came upon a leper. Despite the ugliness of the terrible disease, Francis was so moved with pity, that he jumped off of his horse and flung his arms around the unfortunate man. As Francis looked at the leper, the man’s face changed and it appeared as the face of Jesus.

Is Christianity really possible? Yes, of course it is. We need to show the world that love is possible and that we believe in love.

I think one of the greatest acts of charity that you can do when you get up in the morning, or when you go to work, or to school, or to church, or even when you do your shopping, is to do something so simple: just smile and say hello to people. Show everyone that you are a living member of the kingdom. Yes, you are a member of a beautiful kingdom, a kingdom that God has prepared for you “from the foundation of the world” (Matthew 25: 34).

The kingdom that we belong to is “a kingdom of truth and life, a kingdom of holiness and grace, a kingdom of justice, love, and peace” (Preface). Show everyone that you are happy to be a follower of Jesus Christ. Let everyone know that you are excited about the Kingdom of Christ.

Selfishness can be our biggest obstacle from truly experiencing the exuberant joy of Christianity. We need to forget ourselves completely. The Second Vatican Council said, “It follows, then, that if human beings are the only creatures on earth that God has wanted for their own sake, they can fully discover their true selves only in sincere self-giving (Gaudium et Spes, 24).

John Paul II echoed these words when he said, “Man cannot live without love. He remains a being that is incomprehensible for himself, his life is senseless, if love is not revealed to him, if he does not encounter love, if he does not experience it and make it his own, if he does not participate intimately in it” (Redemptor Hominis, 10.1)

This Sunday’s gospel narrative also teaches us that sins are not only the bad things that we do, but that sin also consists of those things that we should have done. This type of sin is called sin of omission.

Then he will say to those at his left hand, “Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me” (Matthew 25: 41-43).

Selfishness, when it is deeply rooted in our souls, prevents us from loving the way we should. It keeps us from being aware of the needs of others.

Blessed Mother Theresa certainly showed the modern world how to love. She once said, “What I can do, you cannot. What you can do, I cannot. But together we can do something beautiful for God. Yes, you must live life beautifully and not allow the spirit of the world that makes gods out of power, riches, and pleasure make you to forget that you have been created for greater things – to love and to be loved”.

Praise God, a Life Saved!

Washington DC, Nov 20, 2008 / 03:39 am (CNA).- Following international attention which included the protests of U.S. Congressmen, China has released a detained ethnic minority Uyghur woman who was scheduled to undergo a coerced abortion.

Arzigul Tursun, who lives in China’s northwestern Xinjiang region, is about 26 weeks pregnant with her third child. Chinese authorities tried to pressure her to have an abortion, but she refused and fled her home. According to a backgrounder from the office of Rep. Joe Pitts, authorities interrogated and threatened her relatives.

After fleeing from population control authorities, Arzigul was taken into custody on November 11. A relative was reportedly forced to sign a document authorizing the abortion, which was originally scheduled for November 13.

She then fled Gulja's municipal Water Gate Hospital, after which authorities found her at a friend’s house, Radio Free Asia reports.

Tursun’s father Hasan Tursunjan told Radio Free Asia that between 20 and 30 police cars came to the family home to search for his daughter and take her to the hospital to undergo an abortion.

“It was a big operation—and they treated us very rudely,” he said. “They confiscated all our cell phones, but I hid one. One of them was pushing my forehead and saying, ‘You have connections with the separatists in America—see if they can come and rescue your daughter or not.’”

“I was very upset at what he did to me and said, ‘I believe they will rescue us, if not today then tomorrow, and if not tomorrow then the day after tomorrow—they will eventually rescue us,’” Tursunjan said.

“My youngest son was upset and rushed to us and shouted… ‘Don't touch my father!’ The [official] immediately called a few police over and they arrested him. They took him away with a car.”

He and some family members left for a relative’s house in the city, but police afterwards took him to a neighborhood where his daughter was found at a friend’s house.

“I saw many police cars,” Tursunjan reported to Radio Free Asia. “Many people from the neighborhood were watching. My daughter was leaning against the wall of one the buildings and crying. I was very sad…I rushed... (Continued here)

Vatican Cardinal comments on Obama's stem cell research...

Rome, Nov 12, 2008 / 07:16 am (CNA).- Cardinal Javier Lozano Barragan, the President of the Pontifical Council of Health Care, has responded to reports that President-elect Obama’s future administration will reverse a federal ban on human embryonic stem cell research funding. Saying that the stem cells produced by the destruction of embryos “serve no purpose,” he argued that embryonic stem cell research has not resulted in any significant cures so far and was “good for nothing.”

In comments made to reporters at the presentation of a conference on protecting children from diseases, Cardinal Lozano Barragan added that research on adult stem cells and umbilical cords has been shown to have “positive value,” though he recognized they too were not a “panacea.”

Professor Alberto Ugazio, Coordinator of the Department of Pediatrics in the Child Jesus Hospital of Rome, supported the cardinal’s remarks, saying according to SIR:

“In the medical field, we are always amazed at the excessive fuss ‘the media’ are making over fetal stem cells whose ineffectiveness is proved.”
(Continued here at the Catholic News Agency)

I'll be on "Kresta in the Afternoon" tomorrow

I will be chatting with Al Kresta on his show "Kresta in the Afternoon" on Ave Maria radio tomorrow (Thursday) afternoon at 3:20 until 4:00 PM Eastern Standard Time. I hope you will join us LIVE tomorrow. I had the distinct pleasure of being a guest on Al's show earlier this year when I was signing my new saints' book, Catholic Saints Prayer Book at the Religious Booksellers Trade Exhibit (RBTE) near Chicago, IL. It was great to be with Al then and I am looking forward to conversing with him again tomorrow.

To tune in from your computer, just click here on the Ave Maria website and then click the "listen live" button at the top of the screen.

Talk to you then!

hugs,

Donna-Marie

PS Here's a bit about Al Kresta:

"Al Kresta is a broadcaster, journalist and author who is, first of all, a missionary. He draws upon his unique faith background to create what is, arguably, the most fascinating — and most spiritually constructive — talk show on radio today.

A 1976 honors graduate of Michigan State University, Al has also done graduate work in theology at both Catholic and Protestant seminaries. He became well known in the Detroit area for his program, “Talk from the Heart,” one of the top-rated Christian talk shows during the 1980s and 90s. When he began the program, Al was a Protestant pastor. The questions forced upon him as pastor, however, led him to return to the Catholic Church. His profound personal conversion to Christ and return to the Catholic Church is told in the best-selling anthology Surprised By Truth."

To learn more go to Ave Maria here and see more of his amazing Bio

Obama's tranistion team prepares first actions...

Washington DC, Nov 11, 2008 / 05:02 am (CNA).- President-elect Barack Obama’s transition team is preparing the first actions of his presidency, planning to lift embryonic stem cell research funding restrictions and rules which prevent international organizations that receive U.S. aid from counseling women about the availability of abortion.

The latter rules, known as the “Mexico City Policy,” were developed under the Reagan administration, revoked by the Clinton administration, and restored by President George W. Bush’s administration.

Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America said her organization had been communicating with Obama’s transition staff almost daily. “We expect to see a real change,” the Washington Post reports.

John Podesta, Obama’s transition team co-chair, spoke about these changes on Fox News Sunday with Chris Wallace.

“I would say that as a candidate, Senator Obama said that he wanted all the Bush executive orders reviewed, and decide which ones should be kept, and which ones should be repealed, and which ones should be amended,” Podesta said.

Podesta characterized Bush’s stem cell research policy as “probably not in the interest of our country,” also naming oil and gas drilling policy and health care.

“There's a lot that the president can do using his executive authority without waiting for congressional action,” Podesta continued, “and I think we'll see the president do that to try to restore the — a sense that the country is working on behalf of the common good, that we're going to try to restore wages, give people the right kind of ways that they can build on their own lives, and when they work hard that they'll be rewarded for it.”

Rev. Patrick J. Mahoney, Director of the Christian Defense Coalition, responded to the reversal of the “life affirming executive orders” with a “profound sense of disappointment.” (Continued here)

If you didn't catch it yesterday...you can listen here

Here's a link to listen to Teresa Tomeo and me on our "Mom's Corner" segment yesterday. We chatted about various Catholic and current topics including a prayer table I suggested to draw your family together in prayer in your domestic churches.

Teresa and I also chatted a bit about my new books too.

Just click here to listen.
Enjoy the show!

Donna-Marie

PS I will be posting my long segment with Dina Marie Hale from Oregon a bit later this week after I receive the CD or mp3 of the show.

The USCCB's meeting...

Baltimore, Nov 9, 2008 / 11:08 pm (CNA).- Since the election of Barack Obama as the next President of the United States, several Catholic commentators have speculated on how the original agenda of the annual Fall General Assembly of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) will change.

According to bishops involved in the organization of the three-day meeting, which starts this Monday, the agenda, including a public discussion of abortion and politics, is fully on track.

Speculation that the agenda might change came late last week when several prominent Catholic commentators argued that the bishops had "lost authority" by speaking out strongly against Catholics voting for pro-abortion politicians, like Sen. Barack Obama and other mostly Democratic candidates, who were elected to office last Tuesday.

On Friday, Religion News Service reported that the USCCB “has scuttled plans to discuss abortion and politics next week in Baltimore,” citing the bishops' spokeswoman, Sister Mary Ann Walsh. RNS also quoted Sister Walsh saying that the agenda had yet to be finalized.

Moreover, according to the National Catholic Reporter's John Allen Jr., “some analysts, especially those of a more liberal bent, are spinning the election of Barak Obama as a ‘repudiation’ of what they see as an overly strident and partisan tone from the bishops, especially on abortion. A few ardently pro-life Catholics, meanwhile, actually believe that what they call ‘silence and treachery’ from the bishops on abortion helped pave the way for Obama’s success.”

On Friday, Peter Steinfels argued in his regular New York Times column that "anyone constructing a list of the big losers on Tuesday would probably include the nation’s Roman Catholic bishops."

Steinfels served as editor of “Commonweal” magazine before landing a job at The New York Times in 1988 and still frequently contributes to the magazine that he and his wife, former editor Margaret O'Brien Steinfels, have helped shape since 1964.

During the election season, Commonweal's blog openly wooed Catholics to vote for Obama and harshly criticized bishops who took a strong stand on life and family issues.

Steinfels supported his assertion that the bishops were “defeated” on the grounds that nominal Catholics voted 52 percent to 45 percent for Obama.

“Will that fact be candidly addressed when the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops meets next week in Baltimore?,” he asked, suggesting that the bishops should “change strategy.”

A similar suggestion was made by Fr. Thomas Reese S.J. of Georgetown University in an article published by the Dallas Morning News on Sunday... (Continued here at the Catholic News Agency)

Free Books and Inspiring Fun Monday Morning!

I think you'd better get a steaming cup of coffee or tea ready and give yourself a treat to listen in to some good Catholic stuff to get your Monday morning going!

Tune in on Monday morning TWICE! I will be interviewed by the inspiring Dina Marie at 8:00 Central time and for me it's 11:00 Eastern time.

I will also be doing my "Mom's Corner" radio segment with Teresa Tomeo on her show on "Catholic Connection" Ave Maria Radio at 9:15 AM Eastern time. It should be informational, inspiring, and lots of fun! It always is! Teresa and I are really like Lucy and Ethel and recount the story every once in a while about our trip to the Vatican congress earlier this year and all of the bloopers and blunders we experienced together - all good stuff! It was at that point that we nicknamed ourselves Lucy and Ethel. She's Lucy and I am Ethel.

As a matter of fact, one time Teresa surprised me when I was about to come on her show with the theme song to the "I Love Lucy" show. She's a riot! You can hear the segment by checking the archives I have posted on my blogs and website.

I hope that you will tune in to both shows! Did I mention that we are giving away books?? I will be giving away a lot of my saints' books, Catholic Saints Prayer Book on Dina Marie's show since November is a great month for the saints. We may be giving out some of my other titles as well. You'll have to tune in to find out. I hope you may be one of the fortunate callers who wins! :)

Who knows, I may give out some more books on Teresa's show, our "Mom's Corner" too! Tune in to find out!

So here are the details for the shows:

November 10, 2008, 8:00 AM (Pacific Time)
Catholic Radio
click here at “KBVM Live” (88.3 FM)
with Dina Marie Hale
http://www.kbvm.fm/
Portland, Oregon


Also November 10, 2008 9:15 AM Eastern time
"Mom's Corner" on "Catholic Connection"
with Teresa Tomeo
click here at avemariaradio.net


You can tune in LIVE to each of these shows by clicking on the links and then hit the "listen live" button on the websites.

Talk to you soon!

God bless!

Donna-Marie

Vatican has high hopes that Obama will have respect for human life

Vatican City, Nov 5, 2008 / 11:45 am (CNA).- Speaking to Vatican Radio on Wednesday, the Director of the Press Office of the Holy See, Fr. Federico Lombardi, announced that Pope Benedict XVI has sent his greetings to President-elect Barack Obama, the content of which will not be made public "because of its personal nature."

“The duty that the President of the United States has is a task of the highest responsibility not only for his country but for the whole world, given the importance that the U.S. has in every field of the world scene," Fr. Lombardi said in Spanish.

“For this reason, we all hope the new President Obama will be able to respond to the expectations and hopes placed in him, by effectively serving what is right and just, finding adequate ways to promote world peace, favoring the growth and dignity of the human person, in full respect of the essential human and spiritual values,” the Vatican spokesman remarked.

“Believers pray that God may enlighten and assist him in this greatest responsibility," Lombardi concluded.

Jane Roe's video - please watch now!

From the Catholic news Agency:

CNA STAFF, Nov 4, 2008 / 11:26 am (CNA).- Norma McCorvey, the anonymous plaintiff in the Roe v. Wade case that legalized abortion 35 years ago, has released a video encouraging Americans to cast their ballot for a candidate who will appoint pro-life Supreme Court justices.

In the video, produced by Just ONE Judge, McCorvey emphasizes the importance of today’s election as the next president’s Supreme Court nominations will likely have far-reaching effects on life issues. “This is the first time I’ve felt really had a voice in what was going on in terms of really reversing the decision of the Supreme Court,” said McCorvey. “I’m proud to be pro-life now rather than pro-abortion.”

According to a press release from Just ONE Judge, McCorvey began speaking out against abortion nearly ten years ago after a conversion to Christianity.

Just ONE Judge, a non-partisan, non-denominational group, is working to educate voters and is asking them to support candidates who support the nomination of Supreme Court Justices who are pro-life. In McCorvey’s video, the group emphasizes the importance of each individual’s vote for life and encourages voters to sign an online petition which will be presented to the new U.S. president and Senate to demonstrate that citizens are passionate about life issues.

“I’m working as a catalyst to assist other pro-life individuals and organizations in their particular areas of expertise. Just ONE Judge is so important because it emphasizes how one person can make a difference. I know how important one person is and I want to do what I can to get 2 million individuals to sign the pledge,” said McCorvey.

The National Grassroots Director of Just ONE Judge, Joe Condit, also noted that today’s election is not just about politics, “but something far more important. It’s about preserving Life, from natural conception to natural death. And it is about redeeming America as a nation committed to life and liberty and justice for all.”

Get ready for the Festival of Hope

Be looking for the Festival of Hope and Barry Michael's launch of his new book...

Your Guide to Spe Salvi: Saved in Hope

By Barry Michaels

"If you are considering a journey through Pope Benedict XVI’s second encyclical, Spe Salvi, you will find no better companion than Barry Michaels. Spe Salvi is a challenging but nonetheless truly rewarding endeavor for any reader. Michaels’ convenient guide breaks down each of the encyclical’s complex topics, providing essential background information and clear explanations. An essential reading companion that makes the profound thought of Benedict XVI simple and accessible for readers everywhere." (from Pauline website)

Go to Barry's website for information on the Festival of Hope here.

check this out...

Check out this short video.


The Hour of Decision from Mark Mallett on Vimeo.

Please pass this on to help others in voting their decision.

Brief Catechism for Catholic Voters...

Brief Catechism for Catholic Voters

Fr. Stephen F. Torraco, PhD


1. Isn’t conscience the same as my own opinions and feelings? And doesn’t everyone have the right to his or her own conscience?


Conscience is NOT the same as your opinions or feelings. Conscience cannot be identical with your feelings because conscience is the activity of your intellect in judging the rightness or wrongness of your actions or omissions, past, present, or future, while your feelings come from another part of your soul and should be governed by your intellect and will. Conscience is not identical with your opinions because your intellect bases its judgment upon the natural moral law, which is inherent in your human nature and is identical with the Ten Commandments. Unlike the civil laws made by legislators, or the opinions that you hold, the natural moral law is not anything that you invent, but rather discover within yourself and is the governing norm of your conscience. In short, Conscience is the voice of truth within you, and your opinions need to be in harmony with that truth. As a Catholic, you have the benefit... (Continued here)

Vote as if lives depended on it..because they do!

Please take a moment to read this and then go to the link below to read the remainder. Pass it on to your friends and family.

"On Tuesday, we will participate in a historic election.
The stakes are high, and the campaign hard-fought. Already, in states like North Carolina and Florida, early
voting has drawn record-smashing crowds. The nation’s voters are engaged in this election to a degree rare in
American history, and pro-life voters must play their part. It is of paramount importance that values voters go to
the voting booth on November 4th, and that they bring their pro-life convictions with them.
There are stark differences between the two candidates on the life issues. John McCain has a perfect pro-life
voting record in his years in the Senate, and has chosen a committed social conservative as his running mate.
Barack Obama, for his part, has a record of consistently voting against the unborn. His radical stance in favor
of abortion is illustrated by his insistence, at a Planned Parenthood function, that on the "fundamental issue" of
choice, he 'will not yield and Planned Parenthood will not yield.'" Continued here to read more on each candidate.