array_files=new Array();
array_files[0]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/168/01.asp","2009-08-03","10K","Victim of Rights by Reverend Raymond Petrucci, Spirituality for Today July 2009 - A Monthly Christian Internet Magazine    ","Raymond, Petrucci, Victim, Rights,     ","Victim of Rights by Reverend Raymond Petrucci is about     "," Victim of Rights by Reverend Raymond Petrucci, Spirituality for Today July 2009 - A Monthly Christian Internet Magazine Spirituality for Today – July2009 – Volume 13, Issue 12 About This Site Contact Us Home Large Text--Search: Victim of Rights By Rev. Raymond Petrucci The most lethal terrorists operating globally today could be ones rights. Incredibly, those cherished products of the political process are capable of delivering immense devastation. People think of their rights as a birthright, or even as divine extensions of their being human. If, however, the impetus behind a right is a twisted, self-serving, or psychotic need of power, the right is terribly wrong. The ethicists of the Third Reich felt no scruples in designing and carrying out a plan for the extermination of those people that they determined had no right to live. The existence of those individuals challenged by certain physical or mental disabilities, belonging to a particular ethnic background, holding specific religious beliefs, or in some way out of step with the Nazi program was forfeit. One might declare that in the twenty-first century nothing like that could happen. Human nature, however, remains human nature. The quest for power, pleasure, and riches can cause a human being to turn a deaf ear and a blind eye to the presence of many an abomination. No matter how humane and beneficial a project may be, a society bent on its own selfish goals will reject and eventually destroy itself. In 1968, Eunice Kennedy Shriver founded and heavily funded the organization known as Special Olympics. Today, the program includes two and a half million participants throughout the world. A section of the Philosophy of Special Olympics states, Special Olympics believes that through sports training and competition, people with intellectual disabilities benefit physically, mentally, socially, and spiritually; families are strengthened; and the community at large, both through participation and observation, is united in understanding people with intellectual       ");
array_files[1]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/162/archive.asp","2009-08-03","20K","Archive, Previous Issues, Spirituality for Today January 2009 - A Monthly Christian Internet Magazine    ","Spirituality for Today, previous issues, archive, Spirituality.org, January, 2009     ","This is a list of previous issues of Spirituality for Today internet magazine, January 2009.     "," Archive, Previous Issues, Spirituality for Today January 2009 - A Monthly Christian Internet Magazine Spirituality for Today – January2009 – Volume 13, Issue 6 About This Site Contact Us Home Large TextSearch: Advanced Search-- Previous Issue Archive 2009 January February March April May June July August 2008 January February March April May June July August September October November December 2007 January February March April May June July August September October November December 2006 January February March April May June July August September October November December 2005 January February March April May June July August September October November December 2004 January February March April May June July August September October November December 2003 January February March April May June July August September October November December 2002 January February March April May June July August September October November December 2001 January February March April May June July August September October November December 2000 January February March April May June July August September October November December 1999 January February March April May June July August September October November December 1998 January February March April May June July August September October November December 1997 January February March April May June July August September October November December 1996 January February March April May June July August September October November December 1995 August September October November December PrayerfulnessBy Rev. Mark Connolly The Year Of Saint Paul: A 20–Part SeriesPart 7: Mystery!By The Most Reverend William E. Lori, S.T.D., Bishop Of Bridgeport The Year Of Saint Paul: A 20–Part SeriesPart 8: Have a Kenotic ChristmasBy The Most Reverend William E. Lori, S.T.D., Bishop Of Bridgeport The AlternativeBy Rev. Raymond K. Petrucci The Day a Saint Came to Corpus ChristiBy Sister Lou Ella Hickman, I.W.B.S. The Path of Simplicity 1By Deogracias Aurelio V. Camon Editorial – LeadershipBy Rev. Raymond       ");
array_files[2]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/162/linksin.asp","2009-08-03","5K","Inspirational Links, Spirituality for Today January 2009 - A Monthly Christian Internet Magazine    ","Inspirational sites, links, January, 2009     ","This is a list of links to Inspirational sites, Spirituality for Today internet magazine, January 2009.     "," Inspirational Links, Spirituality for Today January 2009 - A Monthly Christian Internet Magazine Spirituality for Today – January2009 – Volume 13, Issue 6 About This Site Contact Us Home Large TextSearch: Advanced Search-- Inspirational Links www.ourjourneyofhope.comOur Journey of Hope is a spiritual outreach of Cancer Treatment Centers of America to cancer patients and their families. www.elmistico.com.arElmistico es un sitio español dedicado a poemas de spritual y escrituras.Elmistico is a Spanish site dedicated to spritual poems and writings. If you would like your site added to this list, please email Dorthy Riera for consideration. PrayerfulnessBy Rev. Mark Connolly The Year Of Saint Paul: A 20–Part SeriesPart 7: Mystery!By The Most Reverend William E. Lori, S.T.D., Bishop Of Bridgeport The Year Of Saint Paul: A 20–Part SeriesPart 8: Have a Kenotic ChristmasBy The Most Reverend William E. Lori, S.T.D., Bishop Of Bridgeport The AlternativeBy Rev. Raymond K. Petrucci The Day a Saint Came to Corpus ChristiBy Sister Lou Ella Hickman, I.W.B.S. The Path of Simplicity 1By Deogracias Aurelio V. Camon Editorial – LeadershipBy Rev. Raymond Petrucci Thought for the Month – Happy New YearBy Yolanda Cohen Saint of the MonthSt. Elizabeth Ann Seton The 29th PopeSaint Marcellinus Our Authors Submit An Article Catholic Web Site Links Inspirational Links Issue Archive Spirituality for Today contents copyright 1996-2009 Clemons Productions Inc. and the Diocese of Bridgeport unless otherwise noted     ");
array_files[3]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/162/links.asp","2009-08-03","8K","Links to other Catholic Web Sites, Spirituality for Today January 2009 - A Monthly Christian Internet Magazine    ","Catholic, Web, sites, links, January, 2009     ","This is a list of links to other Catholic sites, Spirituality for Today internet magazine, January 2009.     "," Links to other Catholic Web Sites, Spirituality for Today January 2009 - A Monthly Christian Internet Magazine Spirituality for Today – January2009 – Volume 13, Issue 6 About This Site Contact Us Home Large TextSearch: Advanced Search-- Links To Other Catholic Web Sites Diocese of BridgeportDiocese of Bridgeport official Web-Site Fairfield County CatholicDiocese of Bridgeport official newspaper Archdiocese of New YorkDiocese of New York official Web-Site Sacred Heart Universitys Center for Spirituality and Lay MinistryOffers a variety of ministry programs to enhance your ministry skills and develop a renewed theological and spiritual sense. America, The National Catholic WeeklyPrint and on-line Catholic magazine Renewal MinistriesProclaiming Jesus Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit through Catholic renewal and evangelization Padre Pio DevotionsA Web-Site dedicated to the life and spirituality of St. Pio of Pietrelcina The Sunday MassPassionist Community of the Province of St. Paul of the Cross offers a televised Sunday Mass across the United States Saint Anns MediaShare with all people, especially the aging and infirm, Gods greatest gift--the daily Eucharist Sisters of Mount CarmelSisters of Mount Carmel Official Web-Site Mystical Philosophy of St. John of the CrossThe Metaphysics of Mysticism A Commentary on the Mystical Philosophy of St. John of the Cross Ask Knock SeekOfficial site for Catholic author Cheryl Dickow. Office of Vocations, Diocese of BridgeportHome of the Saint John Fisher Seminary Residence & the Vocations Office of the Diocese of Bridgeport, Connecticut Apostles of Divine MercyOur Lords Mercy grants forgiveness of all sins and punishment on Feast of Divine Mercy, Mercy Sunday, mercy for even the most hardened sinners! Catholic ResourcesChurch, Religion, Saints, Scholarly, and Spiritual Resources Divine Mercy ApostolateLearn more about the Divine Mercy Message which St. Faustina received from Jesus and how to start your own Divine Mercy Apostolate, particularly for the Sick and the Dying.      ");
array_files[4]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/162/submitart.asp","2009-08-03","5K","Submit An Article, Spirituality for Today January 2009 - A Monthly Christian Internet Magazine    ","submit, article, Spirituality, Clemons Productions     ","Guidelines for submitting articles to Spirituality for Today.     "," Submit An Article, Spirituality for Today January 2009 - A Monthly Christian Internet Magazine Spirituality for Today – January2009 – Volume 13, Issue 6 About This Site Contact Us Home Large TextSearch: Advanced Search-- Guidelines for Submitting Articles If you would like to submit an article to Spirituality for Today please read our guidelines. Articles must be 1,000 to 1,300 words. If your article is copyrighted by another organization, then the authorization to use the article must be included and an email address provided to verify. We do not hold exclusivity on your article. It may be reprinted by other sources. Please also provide a bio with the article. There are no stipends for articles as Clemons Productions, Inc., is a not-for-profit, tax exempt organization. Submitting an article does not guarantee that it will be included in the monthly magazine. The decision is made by the Editor. A member of the staff will contact you prior to using the article. Please email Dorothy Riera for more information or write us at: Clemons Productions, Inc.PO Box 7466Greenwich, CT 06836 PrayerfulnessBy Rev. Mark Connolly The Year Of Saint Paul: A 20–Part SeriesPart 7: Mystery!By The Most Reverend William E. Lori, S.T.D., Bishop Of Bridgeport The Year Of Saint Paul: A 20–Part SeriesPart 8: Have a Kenotic ChristmasBy The Most Reverend William E. Lori, S.T.D., Bishop Of Bridgeport The AlternativeBy Rev. Raymond K. Petrucci The Day a Saint Came to Corpus ChristiBy Sister Lou Ella Hickman, I.W.B.S. The Path of Simplicity 1By Deogracias Aurelio V. Camon Editorial – LeadershipBy Rev. Raymond Petrucci Thought for the Month – Happy New YearBy Yolanda Cohen Saint of the MonthSt. Elizabeth Ann Seton The 29th PopeSaint Marcellinus Our Authors Submit An Article Catholic Web Site Links Inspirational Links Issue Archive Spirituality for Today contents copyright 1996-2009 Clemons Productions Inc. and the Diocese of Bridgeport unless otherwise noted     ");
array_files[5]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/162/pope_29.asp","2009-08-03","6K","The Twenty-Ninth Pope - Saint Marcellinus, Spirituality for Today January 2009 - A Monthly Christian Internet Magazine    ","29, Twenty, Nine, Pope, Saint, Marcellinus, Catholics, Church     ","This story is about Saint Marcellinus the Twenty-Ninth Pope.     "," The Twenty-Ninth Pope - Saint Marcellinus, Spirituality for Today January 2009 - A Monthly Christian Internet Magazine Spirituality for Today – January2009 – Volume 13, Issue 6 About This Site Contact Us Home Large TextSearch: Advanced Search-- The 29th PopeSaint Marcellinus Pope Saint Marcellinus Pope St. Marcellinus (296-304) – In the year 303, the Emperor Diocletian initiated his first persecution of the Church. What the emperor required was the destruction of churches, the handing over of any book considered to be sacred (including the Scriptures), and the offering of incense to the pagan gods. There is little about the reign of Pope Marcellinus that can be verified, but it is held that he complied with the demands of Diocletion to turn over sacred books and to offer incense to the gods. Because of these acts, it is possible that Pope Marcellinus either abdicated or was deposed. The successor of Marcellinus was vigorous in his condemnation of lapsed Catholics and actually removed the name of Marcellinus from the list of popes. One may wonder how Pope Marcellinus was restored to the papal list and venerated as a saint of the Church. From a number of sources, it was reported that Pope Marcellinus repented from his acquiescence to the last two mandates of Diocletians edict and that he suffered a martyrs death. He is mentioned in the Roman Canon. The emperor had confiscated the cemeteries belonging to the Church. Therefore, Pope Marcellinus was buried in a private cemetery. Habemus papam! PrayerfulnessBy Rev. Mark Connolly The Year Of Saint Paul: A 20–Part SeriesPart 7: Mystery!By The Most Reverend William E. Lori, S.T.D., Bishop Of Bridgeport The Year Of Saint Paul: A 20–Part SeriesPart 8: Have a Kenotic ChristmasBy The Most Reverend William E. Lori, S.T.D., Bishop Of Bridgeport The AlternativeBy Rev. Raymond K. Petrucci The Day a Saint Came to Corpus ChristiBy Sister Lou Ella Hickman, I.W.B.S. The Path of Simplicity 1By Deogracias Aurelio V. Camon Editorial – LeadershipBy Rev. Raymond Petrucci Thought for th      ");
array_files[6]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/162/saint.asp","2009-08-03","7K","Saint of the Month - Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, Spirituality for Today January 2009 - A Monthly Christian Internet Magazine    ","Saint, Month, Elizabeth, Ann, Seton, Bayley, 1774, Charity, New York, Catholicism, children, Maryland, Christ, parochial     ","This article is about Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton; Saint for the Month, Spirituality for Today, January 2009     "," Saint of the Month - Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, Spirituality for Today January 2009 - A Monthly Christian Internet Magazine Spirituality for Today – January2009 – Volume 13, Issue 6 About This Site Contact Us Home Large TextSearch: Advanced Search-- Saint of the MonthSt. Elizabeth Ann Seton - January 4 Elizabeth Ann Seton, the first American saint, was born in New York City as Elizabeth Ann Bayley in 1774. Brought up as an Episcopalian, she married William M. Seton, heir to a wealthy family, at age 19. With her sister-in-law Rebecca, she went on missions of mercy to help poor widows and children of New York, earning them the nickname th eProtestant Sisters of Charity. When her husband contracted tuberculosis in 1803, the couple sailed for Italy so he could recuperate. Months later, in Pisa, her husband died. Even then, she continued to believe that the tragedies set before her would one day lead to some good. While in Italy, Elizabeth was taken in by her husbands friends, and introduced to Catholicism. Upon returning to New York, she joined the Catholic Church. St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Looking toward a new future, Elizabeth and her five children moved to Maryland, where she opened a school for girls and formed a community based on the rules of the Sisters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul of France. The rule was officially adopted - and the Sisters of Charity became Americas first congregation of women religious. Elizabeth was named Superior, and she worked to establish St. Joseph Academy, a school for indigent children in Emmitsburg, Maryland. For the remaining years of her life, Mother Seton, as she was called, and the Sisters worked tirelessly to teach children and establish orphanages, including one in New York. Through their love of Christ, they brought education to the poor and set the groundwork for the parochial school system in the U.S. Lord God, You blessed Elizabeth Ann Seton With gifts of grace as wife and mother, educator and foundress, So that she might spend her life in service to Your people. Th      ");
array_files[7]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/162/thought.asp","2009-08-03","5K","Thought for the Month - Happy New Year by Yolanda Cohen, Spirituality for Today January 2009 - A Monthly Christian Internet Magazine    ","Thought, Month, Happy, New, Year, Yolanda, Cohen, snow, hope, heart, Bless, prayer     ","Thought for the Month, Happy New Year Yolanda Cohen is about starting the New Year fresh similar to a fresh blanket of white snow.     "," Thought for the Month - Happy New Year by Yolanda Cohen, Spirituality for Today January 2009 - A Monthly Christian Internet Magazine Spirituality for Today – January2009 – Volume 13, Issue 6 About This Site Contact Us Home Large TextSearch: Advanced Search-- Thought for the MonthBy Yolanda Cohen Happy New Year Like a balm on the ground lies a blanket of snow cleansing the earth from its sin As the old year moves on making way for new hope And the New Year comes rushing in May a candle of hope burn bright in each heart and for all those that you hold dear Bless you and keep you now is my prayer til this season comes around next year PrayerfulnessBy Rev. Mark Connolly The Year Of Saint Paul: A 20–Part SeriesPart 7: Mystery!By The Most Reverend William E. Lori, S.T.D., Bishop Of Bridgeport The Year Of Saint Paul: A 20–Part SeriesPart 8: Have a Kenotic ChristmasBy The Most Reverend William E. Lori, S.T.D., Bishop Of Bridgeport The AlternativeBy Rev. Raymond K. Petrucci The Day a Saint Came to Corpus ChristiBy Sister Lou Ella Hickman, I.W.B.S. The Path of Simplicity 1By Deogracias Aurelio V. Camon Editorial – LeadershipBy Rev. Raymond Petrucci Thought for the Month – Happy New YearBy Yolanda Cohen Saint of the MonthSt. Elizabeth Ann Seton The 29th PopeSaint Marcellinus Our Authors Submit An Article Catholic Web Site Links Inspirational Links Issue Archive Spirituality for Today contents copyright 1996-2009 Clemons Productions Inc. and the Diocese of Bridgeport unless otherwise noted     ");
array_files[8]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/162/editorial.asp","2009-08-03","8K","Editorial - Leadership by Rev. Raymond Petrucci, Spirituality for Today January 2009 - A Monthly Christian Internet Magazine    ","Editorial, Leadership, Raymond, Petrucci, responsibility, Spirit, God, Jesus     ","Editorial - Leadership by Rev. Raymond Petrucci is about what it takes to be a leader and compares the role of leadership to the life of Jesus.     "," Editorial - Leadership by Rev. Raymond Petrucci, Spirituality for Today January 2009 - A Monthly Christian Internet Magazine Spirituality for Today – January2009 – Volume 13, Issue 6 About This Site Contact Us Home Large TextSearch: Advanced Search-- Editorial - LeadershipBy Rev. Raymond Petrucci Not surprisingly, the topic of leadership currently is on the mind and on the lips of the nation. Whether the mantle of leader is placed upon the shoulders of another or of ones self, the characteristics of being a leader and the nature and quality of leadership becomes the paramount concern of both the leader and the led. Being empowered by the people to act in their best interest is an overwhelming responsibility. Those who seek that mandate are bound morally to be introspective and evaluative about the policies they pursue and the motives for pursing them. Chosen officials always need to be cognizant of the fact that they are a conscience filled with values and beliefs for which they have received the trust of the people. Throughout history, leaders have respected and also have ignored that trust. Thus, many leaders are being cheered on by an electorate with their fingers crossed. Being empowered by the people to act in their best interest is an overwhelming responsibility In Mein Kampf, Adolf Hitler wrote thus of leadership, The art of leadership consists in consolidating the attention of the people against a single adversary and taking care that nothing will split up that attention… The leader of genius must have the ability to make different opponents appear as if they belong to one category. From this quotation, intrigue and deceit are noted as essential aspects of Hitlers understanding of leadership. In the nineteenth century, the author and traveler, M. E. W. Sherwood remarked, I would say tact was worth more than wealth as a road to leadership… I mean that subtle apprehension which teaches a person how to do and say the right thing at the right time. It coexists with very ordinary qualities; and yet many gre      ");
array_files[9]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/162/06.asp","2009-08-03","12K","The Path of Simplicity 1 by Deogracias Aurelio V. Camon, Spirituality for Today January 2009 - A Monthly Christian Internet Magazine    "," Path, Simplicity, Deogracias, Aurelio, Camon, simplicity, lifestyle, financial, crisis     ","The Path of Simplicity 1 by Deogracias Aurelio V. Camon is about simplicity as a lifestyle.     "," The Path of Simplicity 1 by Deogracias Aurelio V. Camon, Spirituality for Today January 2009 - A Monthly Christian Internet Magazine Spirituality for Today – January2009 – Volume 13, Issue 6 About This Site Contact Us Home Large TextSearch: Advanced Search-- The Path of Simplicity 1By Deogracias Aurelio V. Camon Is renunciation still relevant in this modern world? Is simplicity as a lifestyle still viable today? In the era of globalization and so called self-actualization, is there any room for a life of renunciation? The recent US financial crisis with its global repercussions moves us to reflect regarding how we live our lives. Our world praises the wealthy, the famous and the powerful while the path of poverty with its demand for simplicity of lifestyle and renunciation of worldly goods is seen with suspicion in contemporary society. The world is in a rat race towards the goal of material advancement whether individually or as a nation. The Wall Street is the temple of success with which blessings are measured in the rise and fall of the stocks value. While it is good that we strived to advance towards the improvement of life we have sometimes adopted a method that has caused many to suffer. In the country where I live there is so much oppressive poverty brought about not by lack of natural resources or indolence but by corruption and greed. A lot of my countrymen and women, specially the children are victims of this oppressive poverty which seems to have no end or resolution. It is cliché to say but it is true that in my country the rich only gets richer while the poor gets poorer year by year. The majority of my people do not mind anymore whether the stock market rises or falls, becoming resigned to the fact that prosperity is only for the few. Whatever little good that results from our economy that comes their way is reduced to trickles that they can barely feel. Many hinged their hope of prosperity in the dream of getting out of this country. One of the most famous exports, which my country is known for      ");
array_files[10]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/162/05.asp","2009-08-03","8K","The Day a Saint Came to Corpus Christi by Sister Lou Ella Hickman, Spirituality for Today January 2009 - A Monthly Christian Internet Magazine    ","Day, Saint, Corpus, Christi, Sister, Lou, Ella, Hickman, Katherine, Drexel, Native, Americans, generosity     ","The Day a Saint Came to Corpus Christi by Sister Lou Ella Hickman is a biographical story about Saint Katharine Drexel     "," The Day a Saint Came to Corpus Christi by Sister Lou Ella Hickman, Spirituality for Today January 2009 - A Monthly Christian Internet Magazine Spirituality for Today – January2009 – Volume 13, Issue 6 About This Site Contact Us Home Large TextSearch: Advanced Search-- The Day a Saint Came to Corpus ChristiBy Sister Lou Ella Hickman, I.W.B.S. She arrived on an ordinary day. And like most ordinary days in Corpus Christi, it must have been hot for a woman draped in a floor-length black habit sitting in a pre-climate controlled car. I have often wondered what St. Katharine Drexel thought about as she rode around Corpus Christi looking for that suitable plot of land that was her latest pet project. Did the Texas sun make her eyes narrow to tiny slits every time she got out of the car? Did someone offer her a cool glass of water? More importantly, did she experience the same insults she and her other sisters often experienced in their years of ministry to Native and Afro-Americans? St. Katharine Drexel Yet this day would in one sense be extra ordinary. This saint in the making crossed into our city limits and with her presence shared her vision of the kingdom of God. Then she gifted us with a visible sign-a new church named Holy Cross; a legacy of compassion that was the hallmark of her calling as a religious. Yet who was she-this one time heiress turned religious? Who was this woman who gave away her vast fortune of 20 million dollars so that thousands of Americas forgotten poor might live in their God-given dignity? Her biography is simple enough. Katharines mother died shortly after she was born. Francis Drexel, her father remarried and Katharines stepmother, Emma Bouvier, became part of a family not only of immense wealth but also one of long standing spirituality and charity to the poor. This wealth sent the family on trips that gave Katharine as a child her first painful encounters with Native Americans. Years later, Katharine pleaded with Pope Leo XIII during a private audience to send missionaries to the Ind      ");
array_files[11]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/162/04.asp","2009-08-03","9K","The Alternative by Reverend Raymond Petrucci, Spirituality for Today January 2009 - A Monthly Christian Internet Magazine    ","Alternative, Raymond, Petrucci, Mortality, Christ, death     ","The Alternative by Reverend Raymond Petrucci is about living for Christ as ones constant motive for being and dying in Christ as ones ultimate goal in believing     "," The Alternative by Reverend Raymond Petrucci, Spirituality for Today January 2009 - A Monthly Christian Internet Magazine Spirituality for Today – January2009 – Volume 13, Issue 6 About This Site Contact Us Home Large TextSearch: Advanced Search-- The AlternativeBy Rev. Raymond Petrucci Each stage of life presents its own package of age-appropriate talking points. The time of grey hair, wrinkles, and a groan attached to every movement of the body is no exception. Mortality is making its appearance. Against all the aches and pains of aging, one commonly hears the allegedly consoling words, Well, it beats the alternative. The alternative, of course, is death. In the secular world, a new year is beginning. Liturgically, the year that has been devoted by Pope Benedict XVI to Saint Paul has reached its midpoint. The prodigious apostolic zeal of Saint Paul touched every aspect of life including how to truly live and die. Writing to the church community in Caesarea Philippi, he viewed the alternative in a more interesting and a decidedly Christian way: Brothers and sisters: Christ will be magnified in my body; whether by life or by death. For to me life is Christ, and death is gain. If I go on living in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. And I do not know which I shall choose. I am caught between the two. I long to depart this life and be with Christ, for that is far better. Yet that I remain in the flesh is more necessary for your benefit.Philippians 1:20c-24 A devout Christian can look forward to death, because it is the only way of reaching the fullness of life. Calling upon Gods mercy, one stands before the dark and mysterious doorway of death as it opens to the hope of eternal joy in the sunshine of Gods love. This is the faith of Easter. This is the faith in which we entrust our hopes and prayers for loved ones who have passed through that inevitable gateway. In Saint Pauls words, however, there is an equal emphasis on life – here and now. How that indwelling energy of the Spirit affects ones daily li      ");
array_files[12]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/162/03.asp","2009-08-03","16K","The Year of Saint Paul - Part 8: Have a Kenotic Christmas by William E. Lori Bishop of Bridgeport, Spirituality for Today January 2009 - A Monthly Christian Internet Magazine    ","Year, Saint, Paul, Kenotic, Bishop Lori, Bethlehem, Virgin, Mother, Joseph, Son, Father     ","The Year of Saint Paul: A 20-Part Series, this is Part 8: Have a Kenotic Christmas by William E. Lori Bishop of Bridgeport     "," The Year of Saint Paul - Part 8: Have a Kenotic Christmas by William E. Lori Bishop of Bridgeport, Spirituality for Today January 2009 - A Monthly Christian Internet Magazine Spirituality for Today – January2009 – Volume 13, Issue 6 About This Site Contact Us Home Large TextSearch: Advanced Search-- The Year of Saint Paul:A 20-Part Series - Part 8: Have a Kenotic ChristmasBy The Most Reverend William E. Lori, S.T.D., Bishop Of Bridgeport Search though we may, we will never find in the letters of Saint Paul any heartwarming description of that first Christmas night. We look in vain for images of a star-lit winters night through which a young couple traveled toward Bethlehem. We do not meet the unaccommodating innkeeper. We neither hear the angels nor see the shepherds approaching the manger to see the Babe in swaddling clothes. We do not meet the mysterious kings who came from afar. Nowhere does Saint Paul paint an image of the Virgin Mother and her husband, Joseph, caring for the newborn Son, the Prince of Peace, the long-desired of the ages. He simply says, ...when the fullness of time had come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to ransom those under the law, so that we might receive adoption. Paul adds, As proof that you are children, God sent the spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying out, Abba, Father! So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child, then also an heir, through God (Galatians 4:4-7). At this point, you might be tempted to imagine Saint Pauls saying to us, Have a merry, theoretical Christmas! It seems as if Saint Pauls words are far removed from the warmth and humanity that we associate with the birth of Jesus. But lets not sell Saint Paul short, especially in this Year of Saint Paul! What he is doing in Galatians and in the other passages we are about to consider is helping us see the truth and beauty that lay behind the Christmas scene which the Evangelists Matthew and Luke, inspired by the Holy Spirit, have depicted in their Gospels. To demonstrate this po      ");
array_files[13]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/162/02.asp","2009-08-03","16K","The Year of Saint Paul - Part 7: Mystery! by William E. Lori Bishop of Bridgeport, Spirituality for Today January 2009 - A Monthly Christian Internet Magazine    ","Year, Saint, Paul, Mystery, Bishop Lori, God, Father, Christ     ","The Year of Saint Paul: A 20-Part Series, this is Part 7: Mystery! by William E. Lori Bishop of Bridgeport     "," The Year of Saint Paul - Part 7: Mystery! by William E. Lori Bishop of Bridgeport, Spirituality for Today January 2009 - A Monthly Christian Internet Magazine Spirituality for Today – January2009 – Volume 13, Issue 6 About This Site Contact Us Home Large TextSearch: Advanced Search-- The Year of Saint Paul:A 20-Part Series - Part 7: Mystery!By The Most Reverend William E. Lori, S.T.D., Bishop Of Bridgeport The First Preface for Advent (the introduction to the Eucharistic Prayer) contains a compact phrase which all but the most attentive worshipper is likely to miss. Addressing God the Father, here is what it says: When [Christ] humbled himself to come among us as a man, He fulfilled the plan you formed long ago and opened for us the way to salvation. Being trained as we are in the school of Saint Paul, we can see how this brief statement is saturated with Pauls theology. Take the phrase, When [Christ] humbled himself to come among us as a man... This phrase itself refers to the Incarnation of the Son of God: His becoming man by the power of the Holy Spirit in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary and being born some 2,000 years ago in Bethlehem. But if we look a bit deeper, we see a flash of the kenotic hymn in Saint Pauls letter to the Philippians: Though He was in the form of God, He did not deem equality with God something to be grasped at. Rather, He emptied Himself (ekénosen) and took the form of a slave being born in the likeness of men... (2:6-7). In this little liturgical phrase we can also find a trace of 2 Corinthians 8:9: You are well aware of the favor shown you by our Lord Jesus Christ: how for your sake He made Himself poor though He was rich, so that you might become rich by His poverty. As the fourth-century bishop, Saint Gregory Nazianzen, said of those two passages: He who makes rich is made poor; he takes on the poverty of my flesh, that I may gain the riches of his divinity. He who is full is made empty; he is emptied for a brief space of his glory, that I may share in his fullness. In the li      ");
array_files[14]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/162/authors.asp","2009-08-03","10K","Our Authors, Spirituality for Today January 2009 - A Monthly Christian Internet Magazine    ","Spirituality for Today, Authors, Spirituality.org, January, 2009, Mark, Connolly, Bishop, William, Lori, Raymond, Petrucci, Deogracias, Aurelio, Camon, Lou Ella, Hickman, Yolanda, Cohen     ","This page is about Spirituality for Today Authors for January 2009.     "," Our Authors, Spirituality for Today January 2009 - A Monthly Christian Internet Magazine Spirituality for Today – January2009 – Volume 13, Issue 6 About This Site Contact Us Home Large TextSearch: Advanced Search-- Our Authors Rev. Mark Connolly Born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts Rev. Mark Connolly started THE SUNDAY MASS on television in the New York Area in 1970. In 1993, Fr. Connolly was named the Director of Radio and Television in the Diocese of Bridgeport. He is well known in the field of Radio and Television. Presently, Father is the host of an ABC syndicated show called THOUGHTS FOR THE WEEK which is aired every Sunday morning throughout the country. Email Rev. Mark Connolly The Most Reverend William E. Lori, S.T.D., Bishop of Bridgeport The Most Reverend William Edward Lori, S.T.D., was installed as the Fourth Bishop of the Diocese of Bridgeport, Connecticut, on March 19, 2001. A native of Louisville, KY, Bishop Lori, 53, obtained a Bachelors Degree from the Seminary of Saint Pius X in Erlanger, KY, in 1973, and a Masters Degree from Mount Saint Marys Seminary in Emmitsburg, MD, in 1977. In 1982, Bishop Lori received his Doctorate in Sacred Theology (S.T.D.) from The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. Bishop Lori was ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Washington by William Cardinal Baum on May 14, 1977, in Saint Matthew Cathedral in Washington. His first assignment was as Associate Pastor of Saint Joseph Parish in Landover, MD, a position he held for five years. Thereafter, Bishop Lori held a number of official chancery positions in the Archdiocese, including Vicar General, Moderator of the Curia, and Secretary to His Eminence, James Cardinal Hickey. In 1995, Bishop Lori was ordained to the episcopate as Auxiliary Bishop of Washington and Titular Bishop of Bulla, an ancient suffragan see in modern-day Tunisia. Bishop Lori is Chairman of the Board of Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, CT, and of The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC. Since 2001, Bi      ");
array_files[15]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/162/01.asp","2009-08-03","10K","Prayerfulness by Reverend Mark Connolly, Spirituality for Today January 2009 - A Monthly Christian Internet Magazine    ","Prayer, Mark, Connolly, God, Church, Catholic, Christ, apostles, Heaven, faith     ","Prayerfullness by Reverend Mark Connolly discusses prayer which Christ repeatedly taught to his apostles     "," Prayerfulness by Reverend Mark Connolly, Spirituality for Today January 2009 - A Monthly Christian Internet Magazine Spirituality for Today – January2009 – Volume 13, Issue 6 About This Site Contact Us Home Large TextSearch: Advanced Search-- PrayerfulnessBy Rev. Mark Connolly One of the greatest values anyone can develop this coming year of 2009 is a sense of prayerfulness. We know prayer links us to God. Prayer anchors us to Christ. Prayer, in time of panic, helps us to have peace of mind when everything else fails. Every major religion relies, and has for centuries, on the power of prayer. History and theology are filled with lessons on how the power of prayer helps us when everything else fails. So it seems to me quite contradictory that so many in this time of a sagging stock market or a predicted recession have such a feeling of helplessness. Our whole religion has been based on the fact that every Good Friday is followed by an Easter Sunday. Our whole religion is based on the words Christ spoke pertaining to prayer when he said, ask and you will receive; seek and you shall find; knock and it shall be open to you. All we have been hearing about for the last several months is the repetitious story of an economy in peril. Today our unemployment rate is about 6.7%. During the depression in 1932 it was 25%. Through the years, I have gone to Sloan Kettering and see people filled with cancer fighting for their lives. I have gone to St. Vincents in Silver Hill and see people fighting for peace of mind. When you see people in ordinary hospitals trying to cope with a stroke or an Alzheimer condition, really these things are the real problems of life. The sense of prayerfulness gives us a sense of balance. A sense of balance reminds us, yes, we have wonderful things happening in our own life, but not every day is going to be perfect. Go back into the history of the Church and read the lives of certain people like a saintly mother in the Fourth Century. Here was an example of a woman who had the most delinquent son      ");
array_files[16]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/162/index.asp","2009-08-03","7K","Spirituality for Today January 2009 - A Monthly Christian Internet Magazine    ","January, 2009, Editorial, Mark, Connolly, Bishop, Lori, Bridgeport     ","Spirituality for Today is a monthly Christian internet magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age. This is the January 2009 issue.     "," Spirituality for Today January 2009 - A Monthly Christian Internet Magazine Spirituality for Today – January2009 – Volume 13, Issue 6 About This Site Contact Us Home Large TextSearch: Advanced Search-- January2009 PrayerfulnessBy Rev. Mark Connolly The Year Of Saint Paul: A 20–Part SeriesPart 7: Mystery!By The Most Reverend William E. Lori, S.T.D., Bishop Of Bridgeport The Year Of Saint Paul: A 20–Part SeriesPart 8: Have a Kenotic ChristmasBy The Most Reverend William E. Lori, S.T.D., Bishop Of Bridgeport The AlternativeBy Rev. Raymond K. Petrucci The Day a Saint Came to Corpus ChristiBy Sister Lou Ella Hickman, I.W.B.S. The Path of Simplicity 1By Deogracias Aurelio V. Camon Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age. We welcome your comments and reflections. Editorial – LeadershipBy Rev. Raymond Petrucci Thought for the Month – Happy New YearBy Yolanda Cohen Saint of the MonthSt. Elizabeth Ann Seton The 29th PopeSaint Marcellinus Thoughts for the Week Weekly Radio Program January 4Center for Christian-Jewish Understanding January 11What is FOCUS? January 18Challenges to Christian Jewish Relationships January 25Seton Hall University Missionary Program & Recruitment Our Authors Submit An Article Catholic Web Site Links Inspirational Links Issue Archive Spirituality for Today contents copyright 1996-2009 Clemons Productions Inc. and the Diocese of Bridgeport unless otherwise noted     ");
array_files[17]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/162/about.asp","2009-08-03","6K","About This Site, Spirituality for Today January 2009 - A Monthly Christian Internet Magazine    ","Spirituality for Today, about, Spirituality.org, January, 2009     ","This page is about Spirituality for Today internet magazine, January 2009.     "," About This Site, Spirituality for Today January 2009 - A Monthly Christian Internet Magazine Spirituality for Today – January2009 – Volume 13, Issue 6 About This Site Contact Us Home Large TextSearch: Advanced Search-- About This Site Spirituality for Today is underwritten by Clemons Productions, Inc., a not-for-profit, tax exempt organization dedicated to spreading the Gospel of Christ. Clemons Productions also produces Thoughts for the Week which can be heard on the ABC Satellite Network throughout the United States, on WVOX-AM (1460) in New Rochelle, New York; WGCH-AM (1490) in Greenwich, Connecticut; WSTC-AM (1400) in Stamford, Connecticut; WNLK-AM (1350) in Norwalk. Clemons Productions, Inc.PO Box 7466Greenwich, CT 06836 Editor-in-chief: Rev. Mark ConnollyEmail Rev. Mark Connolly Assistant Editor and Research: Dorothy RieraEmail Dorothy Riera Typist: Jean HughesEmail Jean Hughes Production: Clemons Produtions, Inc. Design, Coding, Scripting: Robert GrassoEmail Bob PrayerfulnessBy Rev. Mark Connolly The Year Of Saint Paul: A 20–Part SeriesPart 7: Mystery!By The Most Reverend William E. Lori, S.T.D., Bishop Of Bridgeport The Year Of Saint Paul: A 20–Part SeriesPart 8: Have a Kenotic ChristmasBy The Most Reverend William E. Lori, S.T.D., Bishop Of Bridgeport The AlternativeBy Rev. Raymond K. Petrucci The Day a Saint Came to Corpus ChristiBy Sister Lou Ella Hickman, I.W.B.S. The Path of Simplicity 1By Deogracias Aurelio V. Camon Editorial – LeadershipBy Rev. Raymond Petrucci Thought for the Month – Happy New YearBy Yolanda Cohen Saint of the MonthSt. Elizabeth Ann Seton The 29th PopeSaint Marcellinus Our Authors Submit An Article Catholic Web Site Links Inspirational Links Issue Archive Spirituality for Today contents copyright 1996-2009 Clemons Productions Inc. and the Diocese of Bridgeport unless otherwise noted     ");
array_files[18]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/005/page14.asp","2009-08-03","2K","Love Casts Out Fear, Page 14    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Love Casts Out Fear, Page 14 Love Casts Out Fear: Sacred Music by The Passionists The Passionists were founded by St. Paul of the Cross in Italy in 1720. His followers undertook their mission of evangelization by preaching the Word of God to the poor and marginalized of society. In the contemplative setting of their Retreats or Monasteries, they pondered the Word and and prepared themselves to go forth and preach the mystery of the Passion and Resurrection of Christ. The Passionist Community came to America in 1852. This recording was produced by the Passionists of the Eastern Province of St. Paul of the Cross. This recording of sacred music celebrates the liturgical tradition of the Passionist Community, and keeps alive the memory of the Passion. Much of the music on this recording was composed by Passionists or inspired by themes which are central to Passionist life. Some traditional changes have been arranged with new texts and in a contemporary style. May this music be a source of prayer for those who listen to it; may it nurture the spirit of the Passion of Christ Crucified.     ");
array_files[19]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/005/page13.asp","2009-08-03","4K","The Other Wise Man, Page 13    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," The Other Wise Man, Page 13 The Other Wise Man Rev. Mark Connolly Stories simply written can teach many lessons. The Story of the Other Wise Man by Henry Van Dyke proves this point clearly. The story is simply this. A well educated astronomer and physician by the name of Artaban has planned to join his colleagues, the three wise men, to go in search of Jesus Christ, the new born king of the Jews. Artaban starts off to meet Caspar, Melchior and Balthazar. He brings with him three gifts: a sapphire, a ruby and a pearl. His colleagues are bringing the Christ Child gold, frankincense and myrrh. Artaban was to meet the three wise men in ten days. He never meets them. The wise men saw Christ in Bethlehem. Artaban never sees the child. Artaban fails to meet the three wise men and Christ because along the way he is delayed. Why didnt he meet the wise men at the appointed time? He met a man along the way who was sick and dying. Artaban ministered to him, took care of him and restored him to life. But in doing so he missed the three wise men who had to leave without him. And so the search for the person of Christ was something Artaban had to do on his own. He gives the sapphire to a small caravan to help them go across the desert. He takes counsel from a scholarly Jewish Rabbi who tells him that the new born king is not to be found in a palace, nor among the rich and powerful. His kingdom is a new kingdom, the royalty of perfect and unconquerable love. Artaban followed the counsel of the Rabbi and though, as Van Dyke says, he found more to worship, he found many to help. He fed the hungry, he clothed the naked and healed the sick and comforted the captive. His ruby was given to a soldier to protect a small child from being slaughtered. His last gift, the pearl, was given to prevent a young woman from being taken into slavery. The quest for Christ continues for some 33 years. One day, at Passover, people were talking about a crucifixion that was taking place. The earth started to quake. The sky darkened. Artaban and the       ");
array_files[20]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/005/page12.asp","2009-08-03","2K","Christmas Poems, Page 12    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Christmas Poems, Page 12 Christmas Poems At thy Nativity a glorious Quire Of Angels in the field of Bethlehem sung To Shepherds watching at their folds by night, And told them the Messiah now was born, Where they might see him, and to thee they came; Directed to the Manger where thou laist, For in the Inn was left no better room: A Star, not seen before in Heaven appearing Guided the Wise Men thither from the East, to honour thee with Incense, Myrrh, and Gold, By whose bright course led on they found the place, Affirming it thy Star new gravn in Heaven, By which they knew thee King of Israel born. -Paradise Regaind by John Milton (1608-1674) The time draws near the birth of Christ: The moon is hid; the night is still; The Christmas bells from hill to hill Answer each other in the mist. Four voices of four hamlets round, From far and near, on mead and moor, Swell out and frail, as if a door Were shut between me and the sound: Each voice four changes on the wind, That now dilate, and now decrease, Peace and goodwill, goodwill and peace, Peace and goodwill, to all mankind. In Memoriam: XVIII by Alfred Lord Tennyson (1809-1892)     ");
array_files[21]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/005/page11.asp","2009-08-03","3K","Gift of the Magi, Page 11    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Gift of the Magi, Page 11 Gift of the Magi Rev. Mark Connolly In this day and age it is hard to believe of a person, on Christmas eve, having only 1.87 to buy a Christmas gift for the husband she loved. From this small insignificant fare, O. Henry wrote a story called The Gift of the Magi that has been read by millions ever since it was first written. The story is a simple one. Its lessons are many. Della is married to Jim, and they are deeply in love. They live together in a flat for which they pay 8.00 a week. Jim only earns 20.00, so life is a long financial struggle. Della is attractive and has one physical quality that Jim loves -- her long beautiful, rippling, cascading hair. Not only Jim, but everyone admires her beautiful hair. Della knows that Jim has a beautiful gold watch handed down by his grandfather. And he seems to take it out of his vest pocket a hundred times a day just to look at it. It is Christmas time, and the story goes on to find Jim going out to sell the watch he likes so much to buy a gift for the wife he loves so much. And what did he buy her? A magnificent set of combs for her beautiful hair. At almost the same time, Della has gone to the beauty salon of Madame Sofronie to have all her hair cut off and bought by the famous Madame Sofronie for a meager twenty dollars. But with this money she went to a store to buy a gold chain for Jims watch. The next part of the story finds Della in her home, her hair all cut and curled waiting for Jim to come home. Jim is rushing home faster to bring his gift to Della, anxious to see how beautiful she will look with the combs in her long and beautiful hair. He puts the key in the lock, opens the door and looks at his wife -- stunned, almost speechless -- partially shocked. When Dellas sees his look, she reassures him; her hair will grow back fast. She wanted to buy him a special gift so she sold her hair. And then she presents him with the gold chain for the watch that he liked so much. Each one then explains to the other how Della sold her hair to       ");
array_files[22]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/005/page10.asp","2009-08-03","3K","Christmas Masterpiece, Page 10    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Christmas Masterpiece, Page 10 Christmas Masterpiece Dorothy Riera The scene of the Nativity of Jesus has been prolific throughout the ages. It has inspired painters, writers and musicians to create magnificent works of art that have become an intrinsic part of our Christmas tradition. The vibrancy of Handels Messiah, the individuality of The Adoration of the Shepherds by Murillo, the pageantry of The Adoration of the Magi by Di Farbriano, the simplicity of The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry, are monumental achievements of the human soul to manifest the greatest event of all times -- the birth of Jesus Christ. It is true that the majority of us are not capable of creating such masterpieces. Yet, all of us can experience the birth of Jesus within our hearts. We are also capable of extending this experience to others in many different ways. The core of the Christmas season falls upon the simple Nativity scene: the glorious rapture of the shepherds, the angels singing, the Kings paying homage to a child. A child who forever changed the destiny of mankind. This experience can and should bring depth and meaning to our life. The celebration of Jesus birth is called Christmas or Cristes maesse which means Mass of Christ. For many this is a wonderful season filled with hope and expectations. It is a season filled with laughter, joy, love of family and friendships. We are so enthralled by the magic of the season that we become oblivious to the loneliness and the sadness that others bear. But, if the divine radiance of the newborn Child is to affect and touch our lives, we cannot set aside or forget the lonely, the sad, the homeless. These are not some distant people that we cannot reach. They live in our midst. They are our friends, our neighbors, our family. How often we tend to ignore or not realize that the ones closest to us are the ones that are experiencing loneliness, sadness and despair. How perceptive we need to be to observe and act upon these carefully guarded feelings. We cannot permit indifference to their p      ");
array_files[23]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/005/page09.asp","2009-08-03","4K","Our Ladys Juggler, Page 9    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Our Ladys Juggler, Page 9 Our Ladys Juggler Rev. Mark Connolly One of the most simple stories pertaining to Christmas is the story of the juggler of our Lady. This story applies to everyone whether you are Christian or non Christian. The story is simply this. Many centuries ago, as written by Anatole France, there lived a man by the name of Barnaby. He was a juggler who lived from day to day on the small donations he received. He went from town to town and he would take knives or balls and juggle them. And that is all that he could do. He felt embarrassed over his lack of talent. He almost felt totally useless. People in the town in which he juggled would be involved in their business work. Some would run small little shops. Some were doctors and teachers. And Barnaby would see all these people working every day and be more discouraged with each passing day. One day on his travels he was passing a huge monastery and he started to think and pray. Maybe, if they let me enter this monastery I can do the most menial tasks, do something positive and save my soul and have more meaning and happiness in my life. He knocked on the monastery door and was greeted by the brother who was in charge of all the monastic duties. Barnaby told him he would perform the most menial tasks for just a place to sleep and a little something to eat. He was admitted and was given a small place in which to live and told when meal time was to happen. He did this for months and seemed to find more meaning and happiness to his life. But then his sense of meaning and happiness started to lessen. He knew all around him that the brothers of the monastery were preparing for Christmas. One brother was writing a new musical score for the midnight Mass. Anther brother was making special bread to be given to the poor on Christmas Day. Another brother was making a beautiful Christmas crib for the birth of the Christ Child. Barnaby, in seeing what was done by others so talented, felt more inadequate than ever. His sense of his own inferiority became m      ");
array_files[24]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/005/page08.asp","2009-08-03","3K","The Symphony of Advent, Page 8    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," The Symphony of Advent, Page 8 The Symphony of Advent Rev. William Seifert One of my favorite musical works is Brahms German Requiem. It pulses with an authority. It draws from the rich well of choral and orchestral tones to swaddle the hearer in a warm fabric of sound that refreshes the soul. All truly great music captures the heart of the hearer and converts a passive listener into one who drinks of a mystery -- an event that sounds can barely capture. Advent is symphonic. Like a Brahms chorus, the harmonies are lush and the changes subtle but full of vibrant life. The motif of the Creation heard in throughout season. The choirs of heaven sing the opening chords of redemption -- the promises made through the prophets of the Messiah -- and forecast of the reign of God. Advent is symphonic. It is not a time to merely ready oneself for Christmas. It is a time to be riveted by the majesty of the Incarnation, by the truth that Once in Davids Royal City stood a lowly cattle shed, where a Mother laid her baby in a manger for his bed. Mary was that Mother mild, Jesus Christ her little Child. Yet, the reality remains that Advent has become a muffled carol, overcome by blaring commercial festivity and a secularized vision of holiday. A time of the year when warm feelings, fond friends and ones family get exalted and people can be openly kind and cheerful. Theres more to the Hymn of Advent than that, but the warmth rises from coals of Faith that need the breath of God to break into a blazing flame -- giving Light in the darkness. Maybe thats what Christmas Carols are for. . . the breath of the Spirit arrives in the songs that lift the Worlds heart and mind beyond the mustered pettiness of daily life. The whole of Advent lifts our eyes once more to the God who saves us and to the hope of our ultimate salvation -- the coming of the Lord in glory. Thats the point of Advent after all. The Christ who was once born in Bethlehem calls us to himself even now and our hope is fixed heavenward. Nobody sings six verses of the Once      ");
array_files[25]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/005/page07.asp","2009-08-03","2K","Do You See What I See?, Page 7    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Do You See What I See?, Page 7 Do You See What I See? Fr. Roy Henderson Each of us knows that Christmas is a special season. It brings desire and the hope to be blessed with gods unyielding grace. I would like to offer a means of acquiring this unique grace. This year as the readings are being done at Mass, close your eyes and listen. If you listen carefully and let your imagination go, the words will evoke images of hills bathed with the glow of an unusual light in the sky. Yet, this picturesque image is disturbed by the soft echo of a childs cry. You are compelled to discover where this cry is coming from. Soon, you find yourself at a stable. As you venture into this hovel, you smell the dampish straw amid the animals. Inside you see a small crowd that must have been drawn as you are drawn to the cries of this child. You gently advance your way to the head of the crowd. From this first Christmas, the child will grow and spread his gospel of love. For the first time the world will know a new kind of charity, a new kind of compassion. Call it what you like, the First Christmas, the Christmas season, it was a time when the world became Christened by the birth of this child. AN ADVENT PRAYER Fr. Roy Henderson Heavenly Father, during this season of Advent prepare me for the coming of your Son. He was born in a stable... Make me a stable open to receive him. He was placed in a manger... Humble my heart to be a manger, so that on Christmas day Mary may place the child Jesus in the manger of my heart. Amen.     ");
array_files[26]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/005/page06.asp","2009-08-03","2K","Thought for the Month, One Solitary Life, Page 6    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Thought for the Month, One Solitary Life, Page 6 Thought for the Month He was born in an obscure village, the child of a peasant woman. He grew up in another obscure village, where he worked in a carpenter shop until he was thirty. Then for three years he was an itinerant preacher. He never set foot inside a big city. He never traveled two hundred miles from the place he was born. He never wrote a book, or held an office. He did none of these things that usually accompany greatness. While he was still a young man, the tide of popular opinion turned against him. His friends deserted him. He was turned over to his enemies, and went through the mockery of a trial. He was nailed to a cross between two thieves. While he was dying, his executioners gambled for the only piece of property he had - his coat. When he was dead, he was taken down and laid in a borrowed grave. Nineteen centuries have come and gone, and today his is the central figure for much of the human race. All the armies that ever marched, and all the navies that ever sailed, and all the parliaments that ever sat, and all the kings that ever reigned, put together have not affected the life of man upon this earth as powerfully as this One Solitary Life.     ");
array_files[27]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/005/page05.asp","2009-08-03","2K","One Blessing After Another, Page 5    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," One Blessing After Another, Page 5 One Blessing After Another Fr. James Turro Christmas is a celebration of a loving presence. The presence of God came down to earth in Jesus Christ so that God might be near us to support us and enliven our existence in a thousand ways. Benjamin Disraeli once wrote these astonishing words: Youth is a blunder; [adulthood] a struggle: Old age a regret. How bleak, how dismal these sentiments. They express the hopelessness and the meaninglessness of life as some people experience it. Part of the joy of Christmas is in fact that Christ comes to rescue us from such a fate. His coming has put meaning and purpose into our lives: The Word became flesh... and lived among us... Out of the fullness of his grace he has blessed us all, giving us one blessing after another. Thank God we shall never have to say: Our youth was a blunder; Our adulthood, a struggle; and our old age, a regret.     ");
array_files[28]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/005/page04.asp","2009-08-03","7K","Wrappings, page 4    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Wrappings, page 4 Wrappings Most Rev. Edward M. Egan In the fall of 1958 I was assigned, fresh from the seminary, to Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago, as the ninth curate. Among my duties were assisting with the convert classes four nights a week and serving as chaplain for the fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth floors of Wesley Memorial Hospital, a splendid facility four blocks east of the Cathedral. The eighth floor of Wesley was dedicated to broken bones, and especially broken hips. The patients were mostly women and mostly up in years. On a cold day a few weeks before Christmas I walked into one of the double rooms on the eighth floor of the hospital to greet the two ladies who were lodged there. My eyes were tearing from the frigid air outside; but my spirits were high, as spirits often are when one comes inside on a wintry day. In my hand was a card issued by the hospital concerning the lady in Bed B. She was a Catholic of Slovak background who was evidently in a good deal of pain. There was no card for the lady in Bed A, and from this I concluded that she was probably not Catholic. How are you, ladies, this nice freezing day? I asked in a less than successful attempt at cheeriness. The lady in Bed B responded, Not so good, Father. Not so good at all. The lady in Bed A was silent. Is it the hip? I asked the lady in Bed B. Its the hip, Father, she replied. And I broke it in my own kitchen. Mary, Mother of the Lord, I broke it in my own kitchen! I inquired if the lady in Bed B would like to receive Holy Communion the next morning. She said that she would. I drew the white canvas curtain around her bed and heard her Confession. As the curtain was being put back in place, the lady in Bed B presented me to the lady in Bed A. This is the Father, the priest, she said. He will be bringing me Holy Communion tomorrow morning. I dont believe in priests, the lady in Bed A retorted. And I dont believe in all the Christmas decorations they have put up in this hospital either, she added. Theyre an offense to those of us wh      ");
array_files[29]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/005/page03.asp","2009-08-03","3K","Preparation for the Coming of the Kingdom of God, Page 3     ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Preparation for the Coming of the Kingdom of God, Page 3 Preparation for the Coming of The Kingdom of God Lani Jo Leigh In traditional Christianity, the Old Testament is significant in that through the Law, the Prophets, and the history of Israel, a profound system of oracles and prophecies is built symbolically foreshadowing the coming of Christ. The Old Testament period was one of anticipation. God was Sovereign over all His creatures, but His people sensed that the Kingdom had not yet come and would only be truly inaugurated by the coronation of a Davidic King or by the glorious descent of the Celestial Son of Man. Prophets, such as Isaiah, also testified to the One who would come as a Suffering Servant, ushering in a Kingdom with personal liberation, but the majority of the Jews looked for a temporal king who would bring liberation from political, economic and social oppressors. The liturgy of Advent stresses the hope for liberation and deliverance by referring again and again to captive Israel and to the people that walked in darkness. However, being on this side of the resurrection in history, the Church knew that true deliverance would come from the Suffering Servant, and that even in the midst of painful, destructive political, economic and social oppression, a new and almost unimaginable freedom would be found. This new-found freedom comes from the forgiveness of our sins and our subsequent reconciliation with God. Thus, the forerunner of Jesus Christ, St. John the Baptist, preached a message of repentance in preparation for the coming of Him who would be the Savior of the world. Advent gives special emphasis to John the Baptists mission, and beautifully combines images from Isaiah of the arid ground of the desert waiting for the winter rains with the preaching of John the Baptist in the wilderness. Christs coming will liberate us from the arid past and revive us with the water of eternal life. Finally, as Advent draws to a close the Church begins to focus on the blessed Virgin Mary, for it is in obed      ");
array_files[30]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/005/authors.asp","2009-08-03","3K","About the Authors, Page 15    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," About the Authors, Page 15 About the Authors Rev. Mark Connolly was born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts. In 1970 he started THE SUNDAY MASS on television in the New York metropolitan area. In 1993, Fr. Connolly was named the Director of Radio and Television for the Diocese of Bridgeport. He is well known in the field of Radio and Television. Presently, Father is the host of an ABC-syndicated show, THOUGHTS FOR THE WEEK , which airs every Sunday morning throughout the country. Father Connolly is the senior editor of SPIRITUALITY FOR TODAY . Most Rev. Edward M. Egan, D.D., J.C.D. , was consecrated a bishop in 1985. In 1988 he was installed as the Third Bishop of Bridgeport. Bishop Egan has a degree in philosophy; licentiate in Sacred Theology and a Doctorate in Canon Law. He has overseen the regionalization of the diocesan elementary schools, established an active Hispanic Apostolate, and founded the St. John Fisher Residence for young men considering the priesthood. Rev. Roy Henderson was ordained in 1990 and is currently serving in a parish in Wilton, Connecticut. He is founder of CathPriest Online, an interactive ministry available on America OnLine, Wednesday night to Sunday night, under the member name of CathPriest. He also serves as a consultant and contributing editor to SPIRITUALITY FOR TODAY. Dorothy L. Riera is a graduate of the University of Puerto Rico and the State University of New York. Mrs. Riera is on the parish council at St. Michael the Archangel in Greenwich. She is a Dame of Malta and is fluent in Spanish, English and French. Rev. James Turro, M.A., S.T.L., S.S.L., Ph.D., teaches New Testament at Immaculate Conception Seminary, Seton Hall University, South Orange, New Jersey. Rev. William Seifert is the Director of Spiritual Life at Bethlehem Catholic High School in Pennsylvania. He is professor for Christian Vocation and Family Life. Father Seifert was ordained in 1981 in the Diocese of Allentown and has spent many years in education and youth ministry. Lani Jo Leigh is a parishioner       ");
array_files[31]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/005/page02.asp","2009-08-03","4K","Silent Night, Page 2    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Silent Night, Page 2 Silent Night Rev. Mark Connolly When you finish reading this short meditative story you might wonder how this little story applies to you. But just go back to the year 1818. That year probably means nothing to most reading this article. Now add two names to the year 1818, the name of Father Mohr and Franz Gruber, an organist and musician. Put them all together, the year 1818, Father Mohr, Franz Gruber and Austria and you have the background and birth of one of the most famous Christmas carols ever written, Silent Night. Fr. Mohr wrote the words. Franz Gruber contributed the music. Neither one ever thought the song would become a favorite all over the world. Neither one ever made a penny on what they composed. The song was originally written with the idea that the great organ in the Church would accompany the words and music. But when Father Mohr and Franz Gruber went to the Church to play their song on the magnificent Church organ, the organ was broken. No matter what they did to repair it, it just would not work. The Christmas Mass was to start in a few hours. The crowds would be large. And so the two men took the old guitar they had been using for years and for the first time played their song, Silent Night for the packed Church. Silent Night from that Christmas Mass began to spread all over the world. No one ever knew the chaos that was experienced when the organ did not work. But no one ever anticipated that from these two unknown men, from their unknown town in Austria, this song would generate so much peace and serenity. It would be easy to draw many meditative lessons from this song. The chaos of doing without the beautiful organ to being relegated to the use of their old guitar. So many circumstances could have caused the delay in singing Silent Night. The greatest spiritual lessons really do not come from the birth and the background of Christ. It is a meditation filled with peace and serenity about the entrance of Christ into the world. It is a song, unlike most Christmas carols,      ");
array_files[32]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/005/page01.asp","2009-08-03","3K","Introduction to December Issue, Page 1    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Introduction to December Issue, Page 1 Introduction to Decembers Issue: The Christmas Story Rev. Mark Connolly Probably no other day in the world calendar has been written about more than the day we celebrate the Birth of Christ. Christians and non Christians have for centuries heard about the crib, the star, the Holy Family, and the angels that are all part of the Christmas story. Christmas, with all that has been said about it for centuries, has an impact on just about every family. At Christmas families get together, truces are established and attempts are made to bring the peace of the first Christmas into our land and our lives. The Christmas story is told in a hundred different ways. For the Holy Family, it is a story of faith. It is a story of hope as seen from the eyes of the wise men. It is a story that reminds the world of a child who became a leader and spent his whole life bringing love and peace into the world. We all know of the wars that countries have experienced since that first Christmas. But if it had not been for the birth of the Christ child, wars would have been more plentiful and violence always based on the theology of an eye for an eye. Christmas should find us reflecting on the Christ child who tried to teach us to be better than we are. The Birth of Christ is the most outstanding birth in history. The world was made better by a God who loved us so much that he died for us. The Birth of Christ came at a time when the problems of the people in the time of Christ were more painful than our every day living. People were in darkness. And a light, the light of Christ came into their lives. May that same light, may that same love, may the Spirit of Christ be with all of us during this Christmas Season. In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. Joseph also went. . . to Bethlehem. . . with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. -Luke 2:1,4-5     ");
array_files[33]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/004/page11.asp","2009-08-03","2K","Advent, Page 11    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Advent, Page 11 Advent Rev. Mark Connolly It is easy to criticize all the material preparation on behalf of Christmas. There is nothing to be gained by decrying it and lashing out against it. No matter what happens, no matter how commercial Advent and Christmas become, we are still in control of our own lives. It can be made sacred and spiritual if we make the preparations for Christmas a true celebration of Advent - a time of reflection on the beautiful mystery of the birth of Christ. Advent is a time of meditating on our relationship with Christ. Advent is a time of spiritually attuning ourselves to what this event should mean in our lives. In the first Advent people were made aware that a great event was to take place. There was anticipation and preparation. However, others ignored it. Advent should find us preparing for the entrance of Christ into our lives and homes. Advent is a time to remind us of the sacredness of the birth of Christ. It is more than a festive day. It is more than a holiday. It should be a holy day in our lives and to make it holy we have to start now. If we do, Christmas will be a happier and a holier one. Grant, Almighty God, that looking forward in faith to the feast of our Lords birth, we may feel all the happiness our Savior brings, and celebrate his coming with unfailing joy.     ");
array_files[34]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/004/page10.asp","2009-08-03","3K","Thanksgiving, Page 10    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Thanksgiving, Page 10 Thanksgiving Rev. Mark Connolly One of the great contradictions in the Catholic Church today is that oftentimes regular holy days do not have too many people showing up for the daily mass schedule. Yet, at Thanksgiving in most Churches it is certainly not a holy day, but there is an outpouring of people who attend Mass with a great sense of gratitude. In their own way they make Thanksgiving a holy day and it should be for all of us. Every one of us who has the gift of sight or the gift of hearing or the gift of good health has a lot to be thankful for. Most of us have never gone hungry and we know that the people in Bosnia cannot say the same thing. Most of us have never lived under oppression as the people have lived when Russia was such a controlling force. Our country gives us the freedom to worship, assemble and the opportunity to care for millions. We are thankful we have so many wonderful people who do have a sense of compassion and charity to those who are in want and need. It is easy to criticize those who do not do anything for any body, but in our country with all its faults and failures we do help the distant corners of the world. We do help people we never see and we do it in our own way to be a good samaritan to many. Thanksgiving should remind us not only what the pilgrim fathers brought to us, but of what so many bring to others in their own unsung way. Thanks be to God there are many people who try to bring the Gospel of Christ to others. For these and so many other blessings we should all be very grateful. How far you go in life depends On your being tender with the young, Compassionate with the aged, Sympathetic with the striving and Tolerant of both the weak and strong Because someday in life You will have been one or all of these. --George Washington Carver     ");
array_files[35]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/004/page09.asp","2009-08-03","2K","Thought for the Month: Consider . . ., Page 9    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Thought for the Month: Consider . . ., Page 9 Thought for the Month Consider . . . by Christopher Revel Have you ever considered what is important to you? Where does religion fit into your life? For most people it was probably somewhere above politics, yet below shopping. As I look out into the world, I see a nation in which God and His word no longer pull weight. Dwindling religious importance and increasing secularism have taken hold of our great nation. I am sure there are many great excuses for this trend, but what almost all of them boil down to is whats in it for me? The answer, however, is not so simple to convey in words. All relationships are based on a certain amount of give, take and love. We would never develop productive relationships without these qualities. If, for example, your best friend and you were to get into a fight, why did it happen? The reason could be because you were both trying to take too much from each other. Love is always the overriding factor. The more love someone has for you, the more they will let you take in a relationship. God, however, has much more love for all of us and as a result allows us to take more than any human relationship would allow. Therefore, we need to give back to God in order to maintain this special relationship. When you think about this, it is such a small sacrifice just pray or talk to God. It is your response to His love for you.     ");
array_files[36]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/004/page08.asp","2009-08-03","3K","Precepts of the Church, Page 8    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Precepts of the Church, Page 8 Precepts of the Church The following are the specific duties expected of Catholics today. The first six are traditionally known as Precepts of the Church. To keep holy the day of the Lords Resurrection: to worship God by participating in Mass every Sunday and Holy Day of Obligation. To lead a sacramental life; to receive Holy Communion frequently and the Sacrament of Penance regularly - minimally, to confess our sins at least once a year. To receive Holy Communion at least once a year between the First Sunday of Lent and Trinity Sunday. To observe the marriage laws of the Church. To strengthen and support the Church. To do penance, including abstaining from meat and fasting from food on the appointed days. To study Catholic teaching in preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation, to be confirmed and continue to advance the cause of Christ. To join in the missionary spirit and apostolate of the Church. Act of Contrition O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended You, and I detest all my sins because I dread the loss of heaven and all the pains of hell, but most of all because they offend You, my God, who are good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Your grace, to confess my sins, to do penance and to amend my life. Amen.     ");
array_files[37]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/004/page07.asp","2009-08-03","1K","Pope John Paul II, Page 7    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Pope John Paul II, Page 7 Pope John Paul II Rev. Mark Connolly Television has given us many wonderful memories over the years. One in particular has been the memorable visit of Pope John Paul II. While he was here, his inspiration, his humility, his spirituality had an impact on believers and non-believers. Almost no one disliked him. No one complained about the amount of coverage television gave him. His presence seemed to be a refreshing and uplifting experience. Whenever you watched him - whether it was Central Park or St. Patricks - he captured the attention of hundreds of thousands of people. He shared with us many of the qualities he believes in. His talks to the U.N. about the compassion of Christ. His talks to the young seminarians about the importance of commitment. His talks to everyone about having family values. When you put them all together, he gave us a legacy. He gave us spirituality for today in his own simple humble way.     ");
array_files[38]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/004/page06.asp","2009-08-03","2K","Questions and Answers: Purgatory, Page 6    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Questions and Answers: Purgatory, Page 6 Questions and Answers Many people have questions on the catholic faith and issues related to our faith. This section will attempt to answer those questions. Q. What happens to the poor souls in purgatory who have no one to pray for them? I was told as a child that they were lost, never to see Gods face. Is that true? A. No. The souls in purgatory are already saved, but they are undergoing a period of purification that will enable them to see God face-to-face. The Catholic Church prays for all those in purgatory at every Mass. In Canon II, for example, the priest says, Remember our brothers and sisters who have gone to their rest in the hope of rising again. And, of course, on All Souls Day, November 2, the Church especially remembers and prays for the souls in purgatory. Purgatory is defined this way: The state or condition in which those who have died in the state of grace, but with some attachment to sin, suffer for a time before they are admitted to the glory and happiness of heaven. In this state and period of passive suffering, they are purified of unrepented venial sins, satisfy the demands of divine justice for temporal punishment due for sins, and are thus converted to a state of worthiness of the beatific vision. Catholics see purgatory as one more sign of Gods love and mercy. Because God is all holy and nothing unclean or sinful can stand before him, he would be justified in condemning even those who had lived good lives if they died unrepentant for venial sins. Instead, in his mercy, he provides for the purification of these souls, so that they may be able to see him face to face. This months answer was provided by Rev. John Patrick Bertolucci.     ");
array_files[39]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/004/page05.asp","2009-08-03","8K","The Peter Pan Syndrome, Page 5    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," The Peter Pan Syndrome, Page 5 The Peter Pan Syndrome William J. OMalley, S.J. Editors Note: Whats the matter with young people today? is the cry echoing across the country from parents, educators, law enforcement and clergy. We inwardly shudder as we take note of the rising incidences of teen violence, suicide, drug use, and pregnancy. Worse still, and more pervasive, is the apathy and complacency that expresses itself in a lack of involvement in the community. This concerns us all, but few know fully what to do. Father OMalley, in his thought-provoking, four-part article, The Peter Pan Syndrome, explores these issues. In the August issue, Part I examined how adolescence should be the time for preparing a child to take part in the adult world. In Part II, Father OMalley focused on what is happening instead, what he describes as the Peter Pan Syndrome -- the commitment to non-commitment. Last month, in Part III he probed the heart of the problem, our mangled notion of what freedom really means. This month, in Part IV, Father OMalley offers suggestions for the future. Part IV. What, Then, Do We Do? If the problem is as widespread as Ive painted it, at least a year of public service might be a good--if probably impractical idea. Our young have to get on with their careers, making a living, even if at the end of their education they havent the slightest idea what living is for. An equally unlikely solution in the realm of religious commitment might be to postpone confir- mation until an individual asks for it. But Church folk want to make sure the young are confirmed by the end of grade school, even though they are children incapable of knowing yet to what they are committing themselves, even though there has been no internal change whatever. One realistic solution is that every youngster ought to have at least a part time job, and the parent ought to insist that half the salary can be for personal expenses but the other half goes into the bank, earmarked untouchably for college tuition. Well pay two-thirds--or t      ");
array_files[40]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/004/page04.asp","2009-08-03","2K","Father Turro reflection, page 4    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Father Turro reflection, page 4 Blessed are they... Fr. James Turro Everyone knows of Galileos experiments with a feather and a stone dropped from the top of the leaning tower of Pisa. Scholars consider these experiments marked the beginning of modern science. It is stunning to reflect: The progress of science would have been slower if that tower had stood straight and tall. As it is, the very fault of the tower - its crookedness - has contributed richly to the enhancement of human life. How often it happens that some flaw in our own lives serves in the same way. An illness - a setback of any sort that at first blush could seem to be an irredeemable tragedy - turns out to be productive of a great good. There is much meaning in that an old saw that runs: God writes straight with crooked lines.     ");
array_files[41]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/004/page03.asp","2009-08-03","5K","In Memory of My Grandfather, Page 3    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," In Memory of My Grandfather, Page 3 In Memory of My Grandfather Dorothy Riera He died when I was only six. The year was 1957. Yet his image and gentleness remain vivid in my mind. I can still see him walking down the street all garbed in white and holding onto his cane. He was tall, with deep set dark eyes, a huge moustache, an elongated face full of wrinkles. He always wore a white panama hat to protect him from the burning rays of our hot Caribbean sun. He was born in Nazareth of Christian parents. Seeking new adventures and maybe fortune, he left his native land and traveled to a distant country. There he settled leaving behind family and friends. He earned a living from door to door as a salesman. It was this way he met my grandmother. She was much younger than he and the day she opened her parents door changed her life forever. They married soon after and had five daughters, having lost two boys at birth. Life was not easy for my grandfather, who came to this new country with so many hopes and illusions. He struggled to make ends meet and after losing his small business during a hurricane, he was forced to separate his most precious gift - his family. My mother recalls it being one of the saddest moments of her life. She was sent to a school for needy children. Her sisters were sent to live with other friends and relatives. But, ever slowly, and desperately finding menial works, he was able to reunite his family. In spite of adversity, my grandfather was a unique man. He was deeply rooted in values and traditions. He never forgot the background from whence he had come. Sunday dinners were sacred and prayer was part of his daily life. He was a simple man, but out of this simplicity came his grandeur. Friends and neighbors were always welcomed at the dinner table. No invitations were necessary because everyone knew Don Jorge had a place for them. Maybe he never made the fortune he set out to find. But his life was far richer than many others. The inheritance he left his family went beyond material wealth -       ");
array_files[42]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/004/page02.asp","2009-08-03","8K","Holy and Wholesome, Page 2    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Holy and Wholesome, Page 2 Holy and Wholesome Most Reverend Edward M. Egan, Bishop of Bridgeport It was to be my first funeral. I was home from the seminary but a few weeks and was still trying to learn to be a curate at Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago. The announcement on the rectory bulletin board was quite clear: Funeral Mass tomorrow morning at 10:30, Father Egan. Somewhat unnerved, I spent several hours that night reviewing the rubrics and preparing my sermon. The following morning, robed in the black vestments of the time and led by two servers in starched, white surplices, I made my way to the altar, eyes cast down and chalice firmly in hand. Not until the Collect or Prayer of the Mass did I turn around to see the congregation. It was two ladies and two gentlemen, all very much up in years, kneeling in the front row. In the center aisle there stood a metal cart upon which had been placed a modest coffin covered in grey felt. At the rear of the cathedral two young men were making a quiet visit and above the choir loft, the organist sat motionless. The name of the deceased was written on a card which the sacristan had placed upon the altar. I took the card with me to the pulpit. Next to the name were the words: Catholic Charities Funeral. No known relatives or friends. That evening at supper the senior curate asked me how the funeral had gone. We have three or four of those Charities funerals a week, he observed, and the congregation is always pretty much the same. Did you meet Emily? one of the other curates inquired. Who is Emily? I asked. She usually sits in the front row with a few of her friends, I was told. Every morning she checks with Lillian at the switchboard to find out if there is to be a Catholic Charities funeral the next day. Emily doesnt want anyone going to the Lord alone. As it happened, that week I was assigned to two other such funerals, and the congregation was always the same. They followed the coffin in. They prayed the Mass devoutly. And they followed the coffin out. Anyone happenin      ");
array_files[43]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/004/authors.asp","2009-08-03","4K","About the Authors, Page 11    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," About the Authors, Page 11 About the Authors Rev. Mark Connolly was born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts. In 1970 he started THE SUNDAY MASS on television in the New York metropolitan area. In 1993, Fr. Connolly was named the Director of Radio and Television for the Diocese of Bridgeport. He is well known in the field of Radio and Television. Presently, Father is the host of an ABC-syndicated show, THOUGHTS FOR THE WEEK , which airs every Sunday morning throughout the country. Father Connolly is the senior editor of SPIRITUALITY FOR TODAY . Most Rev. Edward M. Egan, D.D., J.C.D. , was consecrated a bishop in 1985. In 1988 he was installed as the Third Bishop of Bridgeport. Bishop Egan has a degree in philosophy; licentiate in Sacred Theology and a Doctorate in Canon Law. He has overseen the regionalization of the diocesan elementary schools, established an active Hispanic Apostolate, and founded the St. John Fisher Residence for young men considering the priesthood. Rev. Roy Henderson was ordained in 1990 and is currently serving in a parish in Wilton, Connecticut. He is founder of CathPriest Online, an interactive ministry available on America OnLine, Saturday through Wednesday night, under the member name of CathPriest. He also serves as a consultant and contributing editor to SPIRITUALITY FOR TODAY. Rev. Christopher Walsh, ordained in 1987, is the Editor of the Fairfield County Catholic, the official diocesan newspaper. He can also be heard on THOUGHTS FOR THE WEEK with Fr. Mark Connolly every Sunday morning. Dorothy L. Riera is a graduate of the University of Puerto Rico and the State University of New York. Mrs. Riera is on the parish council at St. Michael the Archangel in Greenwich. She is a Dame of Malta and is fluent in Spanish, English and French. Rev. John Patrick Bertolucci is a nationally know speaker, teacher and evangelist. He has been a priest for more than thirty years and a preaching evangelist for nearly twenty-five years. His current book, Questions and Answers about the Faith, can be p      ");
array_files[44]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/004/page01.asp","2009-08-03","4K","Introduction to November Issue, Page 1    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Introduction to November Issue, Page 1 Introduction to Novembers Issue Rev. Mark Connolly Many of us have heard the expression, we are standing on the shoulders of giants. Usually that refers to people like Einstein, Salk, Edison and Beethoven. With their accomplishments in science, medicine, technology, and art they have had a tremendous influence on all our lives. But, on a closer inspection, the people who have had the most profound influences on our lives are often forgotten. They are the unknown people who traveled to our country. They are our forgotten grandparents, even our forgotten parents. That is why the month of November has been selected by the Church to consider those who might have been forgotten by us, especially those in the state of purgatory. There are generally only two days when a priest, by Canon Law, can say three Masses. One is Christmas and the other is All Souls Day. All of the Masses on All Souls are filled with prayers on behalf of those who have lived on this earth. We thank God on their behalf and pray they will see Him. We thank God that His mercy will enrich them. We thank God that they will one day be in the His arms. When you analyze it, it would be a cruel God who forgets people who tried to do his work on earth. However, no matter what our sins might be, God is a God of mercy and of love. With Gods grace, we work to bring those who are now in purgatory into his eternal kingdom. We pray on their behalf. Our masses, offered up for them, are of tremendous help to those who too often are forgotten. The souls in purgatory need our prayers. We seem to give them back to You, O God, Who gave them to us. Yet what You give, You do not take away, For what is Yours is ours also If we are Yours. For Life is eternal and love is immortal, And death is only a horizon, And a horizon is nothing But the limit of our sight. Lift us up, strong Son of God, That we may see further; Draw us closer to Yourself That we may know ourselves To be nearer to our loved ones Who are with You. And prepare us      ");
array_files[45]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/003/page10.asp","2009-08-03","3K","Questions and Answers, Page 10    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Questions and Answers, Page 10 Questions and Answers Many people have questions on the catholic faith and issues related to our faith. This section will attempt to answer those questions. Q. I am quite perplexed. I thought the cross was something sacred and yet I see it being used in a superficial manner by young people and adults. What is the symbolism of the Cross? A. Most of us cannot make judgements concerning the state of spirituality of other people. Inasmuch as Christ died upon the cross for every one, every one feels that he or she has the right to wear that cross. Basically, the symbol of the cross is a reminder of the love of Christ for each of us. It is a reminder that if Christ had to hang on the cross today as he did 2,000 years ago, he would. It is a sign of Christs great personal love for us. It is not a good luck charm; it has nothing to do with superstition. It is just a reminder of the infinite love that Gods son showed for us on Good Friday. It is also a reminder of our call to holiness, our call to be generous, our call to bring that same love of Christ into this world. It is a sacred symbol. It commemorates the greatest love story in the world. Q. Can you share some thoughts with me on prayer? I pray, but often times it seems my prayers are not answered. A. Prayer, basically as we were taught, is the lifting of our minds and hearts to God. It is our way of growing in spirituality and holiness while we are on this earth. Prayer links us to God. Prayer unites us to God. Our personal prayer does not mean God will stop everything and give us the particular request we are asking for. Prayer, more often, is not a matter of what we expect from God. Prayer is a reminder of what God expects from us. Every prayer might not be answered our way, but every prayer is answered according to the plan of God. A good prayer life demands a lot of trust; a good prayer life demands confidence in God. A good prayer life demands patience. God has told us in the New Testament that He will not leave us orphans. We       ");
array_files[46]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/003/page08.asp","2009-08-03","1K","Thought for the Month, Page 8    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Thought for the Month, Page 8 Thought for the Month No matter who we are, every one carries some kind of a cross. Some are light. Some are heavy. Those who are carrying a light cross can certainly reach out to those who are carrying a heavier cross. Those who are carrying the heavier cross can offer a prayer for those who are helping you carry your cross. Prayer of St. Therese of Lisieux O my God, I ask of you for myself and for those whom I hold dear the grace to fulfill perfectly your holy will, to accept for love of you the joys and sufferings of this passing life, so that we may one day be united in heaven for all eternity. Amen.     ");
array_files[47]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/003/page07.asp","2009-08-03","3K","Questions and Answers: Annulment, Page 7    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Questions and Answers: Annulment, Page 7 Questions and Answers Many people have questions on the catholic faith and issues related to our faith. This section will attempt to answer those questions. Q. I divorced my husband five years ago, and now would like to find out if I can have my marriage annulled. What does it involve? Also, how much does it cost? A. An annulment is an official declaration of the Catholic Church that one or more of the conditions necessary for a valid, sacramental marriage were never met. To begin the process, you should contact your diocesan tribunal, the ecclesiastical court of the Church. Usually, you will be asked to fill out a questionnaire tracing the history of your courtship, marriage, and the breakdown of the relationship. Your answers will be reviewed to determine if grounds for annulment exist. Some cases are fairly straightforward and involve a simple process: It could be easily proven if, for example, you had entered your marriage while still validly married to someone else. Other cases, such as those involving coercion, defective consent, fraud, or psychic incapacity to assume and fulfill the essential obligations of marriage, are more complex and require a more formal process. If it is judged that grounds for annulment do exist and that the case can probably be proved, the other party is notified and given a chance to respond. Evidence is gathered, witnesses assembled, the case is heard by the tribunal, and the judges decide if the evidence for nullity is persuasive or not. All affirmative decisions for nullity are automatically reviewed by a higher court. If the decision is confirmed, the annulment is granted. If the decision is negative, the annulment is not granted, you have a couple of options. You can challenge the decision on procedural grounds or, even if the decision is procedurally correct, you may appeal it if you believe it to be unjust. This process - and my description is greatly simplified - can take many months. The cost of an annulment differs from diocese      ");
array_files[48]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/003/page06.asp","2009-08-03","6K","The Peter Pan Syndrome, Page 6    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," The Peter Pan Syndrome, Page 6 The Peter Pan Syndrome William J. OMalley, S.J. Editors Note: Whats the matter with young people today? is the cry echoing across the country from parents, educators, law enforcement and clergy. We inwardly shudder as we take note of the rising incidences of teen violence, suicide, drug use, and pregnancy. Worse still, and more pervasive, is the apathy and complacency that expresses itself in a lack of involvement in the community. This concerns us all, but few know fully what to do. Father OMalley, in his thought-provoking, four-part article, Peter Pan Syndrome, explores these issues. Last month, in Part I, he examined how adolescence should be the time for preparing a child to take part in the adult world. In Part II, Father OMalley focused on what is happening instead, what he describes as the Peter Pan Syndrome -- the commitment to non-commitment. This month he probes the heart of the problem, our mangled notion of what freedom really means. Finally, in Part IV, Father OMalley offers suggestions for the future. Part III. Freedom The core problem seems to be a mangled notion of what freedom really means. Any limitation whatever leaves many of our young feeling trapped and taken over. They want to keep an open mind, keep their options unencumbered, because something better might just come along. And so, like Hamlet and Holden, they continually postpone. I guess Im lazy; I procrastinate a lot. (Funny. Even the least verbal know that big word.) No, youre not lazy. Youre just plain selfish and just plain scared. Howdya like them apples? The first step toward wisdom is to call a thing by its right name. They seem impregnable to the realization that freedom exists only when it ceases to be, that we can be free only at the moment we expend our freedom on something we want. Only when we deprive ourselves of the other options and commit ourselves to one option can we truly be free. And rather than being a constraint, commitment to one choice liberates us to be better selves. But for al      ");
array_files[49]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/003/page05.asp","2009-08-03","3K","The Family and Parenting, Page 5    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," The Family and Parenting, Page 5 The Family and Parenting Dorothy Riera A few days ago I shared with my husband and children that I was about to write an article concerning todays family. My daughter, Melanie, who is 13 years old looked at me directly and without hesitation said that was a very difficult task. I did not understand her comment and I asked her to explain her statement. She immediately pointed out that todays family does not conform to our old traditional families. There are children that have only one parent. Some live with their grandparents. Some of my friends, she said, live with a parent and a step parent. Some children have deceased parents and some children live with parents of the same sex. I immediately realized how perceptive our young children can be. They are very aware that we cannot generalize the concept of the family in the 1990s. Since the background of each family differs, we cannot make comparisons. Each family needs to determine which guidelines work in their specific situation. Even companies are trying to encourage its employees to be better parents. In a recent article in Business Week I read that Motorola has started a course for its employees on the difficult art of raising children. Each employee is required to take 40 hours in parenting classes. It also mailed out a booklet to every employee entitled The role of the adult in the life of the child. Nevertheless, my daughter did point out that in every family regardless of its components there needs to be the unmistakable qualities of love and trust amongst its members. A family thrives on these two qualities. If the trust part is broken by a member, the love is there for understanding, compassion, punishment and for giving the person another chance. If the love is broken, then trust plays a major role in recapturing that lost love. One must hope and believe that the person who has alienated his love from the family will find it again. Love is the quality that binds the family together. It is the quality that enhances our      ");
array_files[50]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/003/page04.asp","2009-08-03","2K","Keeping Your Home Sacred, Page 4    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Keeping Your Home Sacred, Page 4 Keeping Your Home Sacred Rev. Mark Connolly Every persons home has to be considered sacred. No matter what attacks are waged against the home, none of us can sit back and fail to protect our mother, father, brothers and sisters. Wars destroy our homes and corrupt our values. Television does a lot of damage, but I think one of our greatest enemies is our apathy toward each other. If our home is to be sacred, you must not take any members of your family for granted. If you read the gospel of Christ where he mentions that certain people have five talents, others have two talents and others have one talent, that is a lesson for all of us. We can never stop using our talents to protect our homes and the forces that have a tendency to destroy our homes. How do you keep a home together? You assume personal responsibility. No one, no matter how few talents he might have, is exempt from trying to work for the salvation of the home. Every person can bring a degree of Christlike charity, Christlike compassion and Christlike consideration into their homes. This is the obligation and responsibility incumbent upon all of us so that our home is well protected against many of the factors and values that can so easily destroy our homes. In the gospel of the talents, God reminds us to use our talents whether we are extremely gifted, average in our gifts or even below average. Those talents should first of all be directed toward the protection of the home. We can no longer blame all the external forces outside our home for the corruption of our value system. Every one has to analyze his conscience and decide if he is doing the best for his home or family. If you are indifferent or apathetic about your home, it does not take too long for it to disintegrate. Every person must see in the other the image and likeness of God. This is how a Christlike home starts to develop.     ");
array_files[51]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/003/page03.asp","2009-08-03","9K","No Telescoping, Page 3    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," No Telescoping, Page 3 No Telescoping Most Reverend Edward M. Egan, Bishop of Bridgeport She was a nurse working in an elegant hospital on the Near North side of Chicago. The afternoon she came to see me at the Cathedral rectory, she was in a white uniform with a coat thrown over her shoulders. From her manner and tone of voice it was clear that she was not at all happy about the visit. I am going to be married in a Catholic church in Michigan, she announced. My fiance is Catholic, I am not, and I understand that the Catholic church requires me to have six lessons on Catholic teachings about marriage before we can have the wedding. Where does one take these lessons? I will be happy to give them to you whenever you like, I replied. Have you any times in mind? My fiancé is coming to Chicago next week, she answered, give me your telephone number. We will call you for the necessary appointments. I handed her the number on a sheet of rectory stationery. She took it, turned on her heel, and strode out on to the street without so much as a goodbye. The following week she telephoned to say that she would like to see me that evening. I told her that I was free and looked forward to our getting together again. At the appointed hour she appeared with her fiancé following unenthusiastically behind. He is here, she observed with a meaningful, not to say menacing, edge to her voice, because I dont want him to miss even a word. I forced a smile, and the three of us sat down around my desk. On the desk were several copies of a little blue handbook entitled Six Lessons in Preparation for a Mixed Marriage . I gave one to each of my guests. When there is sufficient cause, such as when one or both parties are living at a distance, I noted, Church law permits us to telescope the six lessons into three. Perhaps under the circumstances we could. . . . The nurse interrupted vigorously. No telescoping! she cried. I dont want him to miss even a word. The fiancé kept his eyes fixed nervously on the ceiling. We agreed on five more appoin      ");
array_files[52]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/003/page02.asp","2009-08-03","2K","The Prayer of St. Frances, Page 2    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," The Prayer of St. Frances, Page 2 The Prayer of St. Frances The Prayer for Peace Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy. O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled, as to console; to be understood, as to understand; to be loved, as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.     ");
array_files[53]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/003/authors.asp","2009-08-03","4K","About the Authors, Page 11    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," About the Authors, Page 11 About the Authors Rev. Mark Connolly was born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts. In 1970 he started THE SUNDAY MASS on television in the New York metropolitan area. In 1993, Fr. Connolly was named the Director of Radio and Television for the Diocese of Bridgeport. He is well known in the field of Radio and Television. Presently, Father is the host of an ABC-syndicated show, THOUGHTS FOR THE WEEK , which airs every Sunday morning throughout the country. Father Connolly is the senior editor of SPIRITUALITY FOR TODAY . Most Rev. Edward M. Egan, D.D., J.C.D. , was consecrated a bishop in 1985. In 1988 he was installed as the Third Bishop of Bridgeport. Bishop Egan has a degree in philosophy; licentiate in Sacred Theology and a Doctorate in Canon Law. He has overseen the regionalization of the diocesan elementary schools, established an active Hispanic Apostolate, and founded the St. John Fisher Residence for young men considering the priesthood. Rev. Roy Henderson was ordained in 1990 and is currently serving in a parish in Wilton, Connecticut. He is founder of CathPriest Online, an interactive ministry available on America OnLine, Saturday through Wednesday night, under the member name of CathPriest. He also serves as a consultant and contributing editor to SPIRITUALITY FOR TODAY. Rev. Christopher Walsh, ordained in 1987, is the Editor of the Fairfield County Catholic, the official diocesan newspaper. He can also be heard on THOUGHTS FOR THE WEEK with Fr. Mark Connolly every Sunday morning. Dorothy L. Riera is a graduate of the University of Puerto Rico and the State University of New York. Mrs. Riera is on the parish council at St. Michael the Archangel in Greenwich. She is a Dame of Malta and is fluent in Spanish, English and French. Rev. John Patrick Bertolucci is a nationally know speaker, teacher and evangelist. He has been a priest for more than thirty years and a preaching evangelist for nearly twenty-five years. His current book, Questions and Answers about the Faith, can be p      ");
array_files[54]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/003/page01.asp","2009-08-03","2K","Introduction to October Issue, Page 1    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Introduction to October Issue, Page 1 Introduction to Octobers Issue Rev. Mark Connolly As you know, the title of this magazine is SPIRITUALITY FOR TODAY . So that spirituality does not become an unappreciated word, I would like to share a few thoughts with you as to what spirituality should mean in your life. Spirituality is being anchored to God. Spiritituality is being grafted to Christ. Spirituality is a solid relationship between you and the values of both God and Christ. You not only know these values, but you live them and bring them into your society. Spirituality is Christlike language. All of us live in a time where the four letter words are common place. Whether it is the home, movies or television, this kind of language is an impediment to true spirituality. If your spirituality is genuine and it is linked to Christ, then you have to remember the Christ who walked the extra mile and turned the other cheek. Spirituality is generosity of heart. Spirituality is the willingness to forgive seventy times seven. Spirituality, we know, has to become a reality if Northern Ireland is to have peace. Spirituality has to work the same way in the Middle East. Through spirituality we become an instrument of peace to those who live in darkness. Without spirituality we perpetuate the ignorance and darkness that has ripped apart our country. With spirituality the values of Christ live in each one of us and make our Church and country a better place to live.     ");
array_files[55]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/017/page09.asp","2009-08-03","6K","One Womans Conversion - pt.2    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," One Womans Conversion - pt.2 One Womans Story of Conversion Part II by Julie Green O God, you are my God; for you I long; for you my heart is thirsting. My heart pines for you like a dry, weary land without water. . . . So the psalmist writes, and so the next part of this, for the goal of saving my soul does not explain the why of my wanting to do so, or how I began to understand that only the Catholic Church would be instrument to that. The fact is that I was passionately in love with God. It wasnt a passing fancy or a matter of being saved; I had prayed for years, with or without a church, even in the days that I hated Christianity. He was. . .everything. Nothing wasnt related to him in some way, though I understood little of what that meant. I wanted him to be central in my life, wanted to understand what he wanted of me, wanted to stop my stupid resistance when I knew he was asking something of me. Saving my soul became my way of understanding the commitment that I wanted to make. Getting to heaven meant living with him forever; isnt heaven, after all and most importantly, the place where he is? Isnt heaven not just the reunion with old friends and family, but the being with them and with him, in his presence, because of him? Not just the place of no-pain because all is perfect in him there? That was what I wanted: him, always there, to be with in whatever way that would most be. And being, or becoming Catholic, would be part and parcel of that being. It was very hard. I was in a church where I had a vital, loving community; how could I bear to leave? I was active -- leading prayer groups and lots of adult classes, a lay speaker, organizing prayer vigils and lots of other activities and having a tremendously fulfilling time doing it, but something was missing. It wasnt that what I was doing was bad; it was just. . .insufficient. Not enough. Yet to leave a place that was home in so many ways was scary; leaving the people I loved was wrenching even just in the thinking. Then one night, while I was praying, I      ");
array_files[56]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/017/page08.asp","2009-08-03","6K","Poems for the Christmas Season    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Poems for the Christmas Season Poems for the Christmas Season The House of Christmas There fared a mother driven forth Out of an inn to roam; In the place where she was homeless All men are at home. The crazy stable close at hand, With shaking timber and shifting sand, Grew a stronger thing to abide and stand Than the square stones of Rome. For men are homesick in their homes, And strangers under the sun, And they lay their heads in a foreign land Whenever the day is done. Here we have battle and blazing eyes, And chance and honour and high surprise, But our homes are under miraculous skies Where the yule tale was begun. A Child in a foul stable, Where the beasts feed and foam, Only where He was homeless Are you and I at home; We have hands that fashion and heads that know, But our hearts we lost-how long ago!- In a place no chart nor ship can show Under the skys dome. This world is wild as an old wives tale, And strange the plain things are. The earth is enough and the air is enough For our wonder and our war; But our rest is as far as the fire-drake swings And our peace is put in impossible things Where clashed and thundered unthinkable wings Round an incredible star. To an open house is the evening Home shall men come, To an older place than Eden And a taller town than Rome. To the end of the way of the wandering star, To the things that cannot be and that are, To the place where God was homeless And all men are at home. Gilbert K. Chesterton, 1874-1936 Nativity Ode Saint Cosmas (Died 760) The Holy Children boldly stand Against the tyrants fierce command: The kindled furnace they defy- No doom can shake their constancy; They in the midmost flame confessed, God of our Fathers! Thou art blessed! The Shepherds keep their flocks by night; The Heaven glows out with wondrous light; The glory of the Lord is there, The Angel-bands their Lord declare: The watchers of the night confessed, God of our Fathers! Thou art blessed! The Angel ceased; and suddenly Seraphic legions filled the sky; Glory to God, they cry again      ");
array_files[57]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/017/page06.asp","2009-08-03","6K","Maria Goretti - A Story    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Maria Goretti - A Story Maria Goretti - A Story by the Rev. Mark Connolly I think all of us know that as the day called Christmas approaches many of us get tired because of the extra responsibilities we have, but we still have to keep in mind it is an important day not only in the life of the Church, it is an important day in the lives of each one of us. You know about 70 years ago in the Basilica of St. Peters in Rome an unusual situation took place. It is the story of an elderly mother who was assisted to the altar by an elderly man. The woman who was assisted to the altar was the mother of St. Maria Goretti. You might recall that it was Maria who was brutally assaulted, brutally raped and eventually killed by a man whose name we have forgotten in history. It was the same man that night on that Christmas eve that accompanied Mrs. Goretti, the mother of Maria, to the altar to receive communion. As the reporters found and looked they recognized this man as the same man who killed her daughter years before. When Mrs. Goretti was asked how she could ever allow herself to be brought to the altar by the man who killed her daughter, she simply replied, if my daughter Maria could forgive him before she died, then so can I. When you recognize the teachings of Jesus Christ concerning love and forgiveness that are always talked about during this season, they are more than just theories, they are more than just ideas. They are more than just philosophies and theologies. They should become ways of life for each one of us. There is a basic principle that if you follow the teachings of Christ you might recall that Christ said forgive us in Our Lords prayer, forgive those who trespass against us, we must be willing to forgive seven times seventy times a day. The last few words that he spoke upon the cross, Father forgive them for they know not what they do. When you take the whole series of themes associated with Christ, the two themes that come forth are forgiveness and love. If there is any one who is carrying a grudge to      ");
array_files[58]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/002/page09.asp","2009-08-03","4K","College Students: Go With God, Page 9    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," College Students: Go With God, Page 9 College Students: Go With God Rev. Mark Connolly Everyone who goes to college, whether one locally or far away, generally faces adjustment problems. Every day demands adapting to the new environment in which you are now living and working. Academic adjustments can be quite difficult, and all you can do each day is your best; leave the rest in the hands of God. Here are a few ideas to take some of the tension out of your adjustment period. First, you have to establish your priorities. Second, you and you alone must implement them. So, what can you do to implement your priorities? First of all, develop a sense of duty. This enables you to fulfill your daily obligations and responsibilities. We can only prepare for tomorrow by being responsible today. Secondly, develop a sense of determination. This enables you to think for yourself and not to follow the crowd -- what we call a herd mentality. You must resolve on a daily basis to stick to your own priorities, convictions and values, and try every day to reinforce these values in your thoughts, words, and deeds. Thirdly, develop a sense of dedication. It is wonderful in college to get great marks and to be popular, and all of us strive for these qualities. In college we also gain new values and ideas, some of which can help us throughout our professions and careers. But the qualities that really last are the qualities of Christlike charity, Christlike compassion and Christlike consideration. Strive to dedicate yourself to expressing these qualities to all those around you -- those in your own home and in your college community. This will prepare you for being the man or woman God intends for you to be in the home that one day will be yours. Finally, develop a sense of devotion. Find the link that exists between your daily activities and the God who gave you the ability to perform. For Catholics the way to deepen spirituality is through Mass and the Eucharist, and all of us can deepen our spirituality through daily prayer. God       ");
array_files[59]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/017/page05.asp","2009-08-03","5K","Some Christmas Thoughts    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Some Christmas Thoughts Some Christmas Thoughts by the Rev. Charles Allen, S.J. At approximately six oclock every morning I drag myself out of bed and with minimal enthusiasm set out across the campus of Fairfield University on what only an optimist would call a morning job. As late November becomes early December I view the first rays of sunlight with only the sad thought that for at least another month the days will continue to grow shorter and the little bit of light which now greets me when I exit my residence will soon be totally gone. For those of us forced to live out our lives in the more northerly latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere this is a particularly difficult time of the year. Our bodies, having grown accustomed to the warm days of summer, must now adjust to the coldness of winter and our spirits, after six months of wonderful sunlight, must now cope with an abundance of darkness. To help us through these dark, cold days of late fall I would suggest that during each of the four weeks of Advent one have a short prayer - a simple statement of faith - that one repeats and then reflects upon. My suggestion for these prayers would be: Christ is Light, Joseph is Fortitude, Mary is Openness, and God is Love. Christ is Light: Four months from now, at the Easter Eve liturgy the deacon will sing out: Light of Christ and the congregation will respond: Thanks be to God. Throughout the gospels there is the often repeated message that Christ is the light of the world come to bring brightness where in the past darkness has prevailed. The early Christians were quick to note that Christ rose from the dead at dawn, when the first light of day was appearing in the east, and that he arose in the spring, when the first warmth of the sun was touching the earth. Consequently, it was only natural that when it came time to choose a date for the celebration of Christs birth they chose a time of year when the days are just beginning to lengthen and despite the darkness and the cold the first hope of spring enters into th      ");
array_files[60]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/017/page04.asp","2009-08-03","7K","The Family    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," The Family The Family by the Rev. Mark Connolly All of us know that the Christmas story was made up of different personalities that have been remembered throughout history. Next to Christ no one played a more important role than Mary the mother of Christ. The profile of Mary, the story of Mary at the birth of her son on Christmas has been told for centuries in different forms and in different ways. Artist like Raphael, Churches and Cathedrals all over the world, places like Fatima, Lourdes and Guadalupe, have for centuries been telling of the role that Mary had, not only in the birth of her son, but in the birth of the Church. Just about every theologian from St. Jerome to St. Augustine to St. Thomas has written about the birth of Christ and the role of Mary. There was never any doubt in their minds about her importance. There was never any doubt about the role that she would play in the life of the Church. Christmas carols, shepherds, wise men, all might accentuate the importance of the birthday of Christ, but no woman has had the responsibility of Mary. Think of it. To be the mother of Gods only son. Every country has described her. Every country has written about her. Every country has prayed to her according to their own particular customs and their own particular cultures. For Anglo-Saxons when we look at pictures of Mary, she might be dressed in a cloak or a contemporary dress. But each country has an unusual approach to the different dress style of Mary. For example, if you look at Italy Mary was always considered dark, fair haired in Holland, thin in Spain, and plumb in France. In Mexico she was an Aztec maiden, the virgin of Guadalupe. In Warsaw, Poland she was a polish woman who went about in a very ordinary unknown fashion. Chinese artist made her an almond eyed lady in flowing robes and placed her in a Chinese setting, a moon gate, a pagoda and a lantern festival. African carvers have made her a negro and put heavy coils of beads around her neck. Sometimes they showed her as a simple worker. Indian      ");
array_files[61]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/002/page08.asp","2009-08-03","2K","Cana Thoughts, Page 8    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Cana Thoughts, Page 8 Cana Thoughts Fr. James Turro All your life you have been wanting something. At first, it was toys. Then, it may have been good grades. Later, a job that was fulfilling and paid well. But, more than anything, you wanted a person with whom to share your life in a deep and loving way. And now that person is sitting next to you - someone eager to step into your life and be dear and close to you; someone who will put a strong arm around you and hug you in difficult times; someone to laugh with you in lighter moments; someone to cry for joy in moments of great happiness. That someone is Gods very special gift to you this day. Thank God for that gift; love and treasure that gift     ");
array_files[62]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/002/page07.asp","2009-08-03","3K","Marriage: Entering into a Sacrament, Page 7    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Marriage: Entering into a Sacrament, Page 7 Marriage: Entering Into A Sacrament Deacon Brian J. Kelly, Ed.D. Recently while driving down an interstate highway with my 23 year old daughter, an interesting and unexpected discussion of the Sacrament of Marriage developed. It began when static forced a change of radio stations. The new station was one of those call in talk shows. The caller, a female named Gloria, stated that her husband had beaten her. The host immediately urged her to dump the bum. Get out and dont look back. Divorce is the only option in such cases, subsequent callers all agreed. No one had any other suggestions or ideas. Divorce was the only option. What, I wondered, happened to the idea of marriage as a promise to overcome the problems of life with Gods Grace? What information might be offered that would allow people to see other alternatives? The information is available. We know that marriage and family relationships can be viewed as single emotional units. It is a fact that relationships are mutually influencing. The end product of any relationship would be different if the involvement of either of the two partners participating were different. This was a startling view. It is counter cultural. It is a view unacknowledged on the radio talk show. To voice this view in such emotional settings is risky business. Yet it must be stated because it opens up people to Gods Grace promised in the Sacrament of Marriage. The spirituality of St. Ignatius teaches that when one prays that person offers himself (or herself) to be the instrument God employs to bring about the prayed for change. When one prays for a spouse with the view that relationships are mutually influencing, that prayer is to see ones own part in the problem. It is empowering. It prevents one from being a helpless victim because it keeps ones thoughts on ones self. It means that there is always something constructive to be done as we remove the plank from our own eye to avoid criticism of our mate (Luke 6:37-42). To always ask what is      ");
array_files[63]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/017/page03.asp","2009-08-03","9K","Christmas Card    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Christmas Card The First Christmas Card by the Most Rev. Edward M. Egan Holy Cross Parish on the West Side of Rome is immense. Indeed, it is so immense that scattered about the parish there are several chapels and churches smaller than the main parish church which serve rather large congregations of the faithful. One of the chapels is dedicated to Saint Angeline, seats four hundred, and is attached to a day-care center conducted by a community of dedicated religious women. Until I left Rome in 1985, it was my privilege and joy to attend to the Masses and Confessions on weekends in this little known sector of the Lords Roman vineyard. Early in December of 1984 I was standing one Sunday in front of the chapel chatting with people leaving the eleven oclock Mass. Out of the corner of my eye I noticed a man of about thirty years of age who had stationed himself just inside the door of the chapel. I suspected that he was waiting for me, and my suspicion proved to be correct. Father, he whispered as I approached him. I need to speak with you. Its urgent. We went into a parlor attached to the sisters convent and sat down, each in an overstuffed chair. The introductions were brief. He was anxious to get right to the point. Ten years before, he and his wife had married. They had been engaged but advanced the date of their wedding because she was pregnant. Shortly thereafter he was offered an excellent position overseas. They left their families, moved to a land in which neither spoke the native language, rented an apartment, and within six months were forced to return home because the company that had hired him was in financial trouble. Back in Italy she had their child discreetly in the home of relatives South of Rome and finally, after an extended stay with friends, returned to the Eternal City where he had found a job. The job, however, paid poorly; and the family was living in what my friend in the other overstuffed chair described as a very humble home. Were ashamed to have our relatives see it, he told me, his fac      ");
array_files[64]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/002/page06.asp","2009-08-03","8K","The Peter Pan Syndrome, Page 6    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," The Peter Pan Syndrome, Page 6 The Peter Pan Syndrome William J. OMalley, S.J. Editors Note: Whats the matter with young people today? is the cry echoing across the country from parents, educators, law enforcement and clergy. We inwardly shudder as we take note of the rising incidences of teen violence, suicide, drug use, and pregnancy. Worse still, and more pervasive, is the apathy and complacency that expresses itself in a lack of involvement in the community. This concerns us all, but few know fully what to do. Father OMalley, in his thought-provoking, four-part article, Peter Pan Syndrome, explores these issues. Last month, in Part I, he examined how adolescence should be the time for preparing a child to take part in the adult world. Here, in Part II, Father OMalley focuses on what is happening instead, what he describes as the Peter Pan Syndrome -- the commitment to non-commitment. Part III probes the heart of the problem, our mangled notion of what freedom really means. Finally, in Part IV, Father OMalley offers suggestions for the future. Part II. The Commitment to Non-Commitment When young mothers are expecting, they read every book available on child care and belabor their friends with questions. I dont know many parents, though, who read every book available on adolescence, trying to find how they can best continually challenge their children to become more and more responsible, committed, and adult. Parenting is a very difficult, time- (and patience-) consuming job, but we cant let young people coast, any more than a good parent can let a baby just eat and vegetate. We have to challenge them. Every day. The results show, however, that our whole society has failed to do that; the moratorium--the commitment to non-commitment-- goes on even after the college diploma. Recently the Times Mirror research group published a study of the changes in young adults attitudes over the last 20 years and found them not so much disillusioned as disinterested. There is far less likelihood today than 20 years ago tha      ");
array_files[65]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/002/page05.asp","2009-08-03","4K","A City Within A City, Page 5    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," A City Within A City, Page 5 A City Within A City: Le Beguinage de Brugge Dorothy Riera It was early afternoon on a sunny breezy day in Brugge. People were strolling through the streets of one of the oldest medieval cities in Europe. Set upon the Flemish countryside and surrounded by countless canals, Brugge is often referred to as the Venice of the North. It is a cobblestone city filled with religion, tradition and history. The Market Place is the most important square of the town. Here the economic, social and political life of the city is determined. The Basilica of the Holy Blood was erected during the 12th Century. It is believed to guard the Holy Blood of Jesus brought back from Jerusalem during the Crusades. The Church of Notre Dame is a unique Gothic monument and among its treasures one can admire the marble masterpiece by Michelangelo - Our Lady and the Infant. But, what interested me the most was the Beguinage. It is a simple place, yet majestic in scope. It is a mystical place full of solace, and it plunges its visitors into times long past, yet ever present, enveloping them in an extraordinary atmosphere. It is here where past and present meet in a unique harmony. Le Beguinage is a small village within the village. It is surrounded by an enormous wall. The entrance is marvelously carved in stone and bears the words Sauvegarde over the threshold. Ever since the Middle Ages this has been a protected place giving asylum to anyone in need. Upon entering one encounters an ancient wooden crucifix with the inscription the Christ of the dying sinners. Surrounding the crucifix texts are engraved such as: you who go by, detain yourself and see if there is a greater pain than mine. The Beguinage has been a house to many woman throughout the centuries. These are special woman, pious and exceptional, who led an apostolic life in a fashion generally chosen by themselves. During the early Middle Ages, the beguines (the name probably given to some women who dressed in gray robes) were women who were alone and freq      ");
array_files[66]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/002/page04.asp","2009-08-03","3K","The Magnificat, Page 4    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," The Magnificat, Page 4 The Magnificat The Magnificat is a prayer of joy that reminds us of the role of Mary as the Mother of Christ, and her future role as mother of the Church. It incorporates the theme of her devotion to her son, and to the sons and daughters to follow for centuries onward. Mary becomes the source of strength to her son and a source of strength to us. Mary, in this prayer, fulfills the words of her son, I will not leave you orphaned. I will be with you until the end of the world. It is a prayer of joy for all of us. My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my Savior for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant. From this day all generations will call me blessed: the Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his Name. He has mercy on those who fear him in every generation. He has shown the strength of his arm, he has scattered the proud in their conceit. He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, and has lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. He has come to the help of his servant Israel for he has remembered his promise of mercy, the promise he made to our fathers, to Abraham and his children for ever. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. Canticle of Mary Luke 1:46-55     ");
array_files[67]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/015/page06.asp","2009-08-03","4K","You Must See Rent    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," You Must See Rent You Must See (Yourself In) Rent by the Rev. Msgr. Kevin M. Wallin Initially, the thought of seeing Rent was not appealing to me. A rock musical would be unbearable if it was as loud as Tommy. I was not sure I wanted to sit through anything that might be on the cutting edge, as Hair was in its day. On the other hand, I like Jesus Christ Superstar and so was hoping that Rent would be somewhat like that. In reality, it stands in between any extremes. The decibel level is comfortable but there is not as much compassion and reflection as there is in Superstar. It is not so much cutting edge as refreshing. All in all, I have now seen Rent twice and like it. The second time was more enjoyable than the first, not only because I knew the plot but also because the acoustics were better in the area of the theater where I was sitting. Rent is loosely based on the classic opera La Bohème, however one does not need to be familiar with the opera to follow the plot. (For those who know Bohème, this Mimi doesnt die). It is the story of seven friends, three couples and one single person. Set in the East Village of New York City and revolving around the bohemian life style of the characters, not all relationships would be in keeping with Catholic morals and values. In spite of that, Rent has a strongly religious theme. The play deals with loneliness, disappointment, sickness, trust, joy, compassion, human dignity and all of lifes dimensions. It even has a clear reference to resurrection. One has only to put oneself in the place of the characters to understand that we and they are one and the same. It is the universal human story being played out on the stage. The second act opens with a musical number which poses the question: how does one measure the value of a year in a persons life. That proposition is raised throughout the second act and answered in a variety of ways. The clearest answer is easily appreciated - the primary measure of a persons life is the love it contains. As I listened, I was reminded of w      ");
array_files[68]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/002/page03.asp","2009-08-03","6K","Four Languages in June, Page 3    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Four Languages in June, Page 3 Four Languages in June Most Reverend Edward M. Egan, Bishop of Bridgeport It was in June of 1975 or 1976. With a group of Italians I was on a tour of Czechoslovakia. There were 14 in the party, and for about half of us this was our second visit together behind the Iron Curtain. In Prague our guide was a tall, rather stately lady. She dutifully led us from palace to palace, from museum to museum, from church to church, repeating in heavily accented Italian the standard line prepared for all official guides by the government tourist office. In Iron Curtain churches of the time, a stop before an altar dedicated to Mary was commonly accompanied by an explanation of this kind for the tourist: This altar has to do with the so-called Virgin Mary, whom Catholics adore as though she were a god or a goddess. It was designed by so-and-so and was for hundreds of years before the Revolution a center of Catholic superstition. Our guide seemed to be extremely tired and burdened. Accordingly, the group soon got into the habit of hearing her official comments and then listening to a jeweler from Milan, who was a member of our group, read what his guidebook had to say about what we were seeing. The jeweler in question enjoyed kidding me, the Monsignore, about matters religious, always attempting to create the impression that he did not take his Catholic faith much to heart. Hence, none of us suspected that he was making up what he seemed to be reading from his guidebook about an altar dedicated to Mary in the Cathedral of Saint Vitus in Prague, after our guide had finished some particularly ugly, government-authorized remarks. This altar, he announced, was built as a testimony of the Catholic Faithful to their belief in the Incarnation of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and in the holiness of His Mother, the Virgin Mary. It should remind us that God is holy and that He expects us to be holy too. Here, `Monsignore, the jeweler continued, read it for us in English. He handed me the guidebook and point      ");
array_files[69]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/017/page02.asp","2009-08-03","10K","Essay Contest Winners    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Essay Contest Winners Winners Of Our First Annual Essay Contest 6th Grade 7th Grade 8th Grade 6th Grade What Does My Family Mean To Me? by Pierre Hernandez St. Gregory the Great School It is pretty odd that not everybody has a family. As a young child my family broke up. From then until now Ive been living in foster homes for a period of two years at a time. My goal is to reunite with my brothers and to stay in touch with my present family. To me a family means a place where I am secure, cared for, and loved. To some kids, they think a foster home is just a place where you are disciplined and treated unfairly. Im not saying this is my opinion. But I dont think it is so far off the mark. It all depends on how much and how long you know the people with whom you are living. The point that Im trying to get across is that you dont have to be the same blood or race to be in a family. All you have to do is just love the parents that love you. The main reason why I am writing this is the following. A family is not a word in the dictionary with thousands of meanings. You just dont say oh this looks like a good definition. Family is a word which embodies love, friendship, caring and achievement of goals. God recommended it to be just a word which provides a path to love and joy. Finalists: Christopher CatropaSt. Mark Ashley ZawadzkiSacred Heart 7th Grade What My School Means To Me by Megan Lilliedahl All Saints Catholic School For so many students school means having to wake up early, spend six hours or more being somewhere they do not want to be, watching the clock until the bell rings for them to leave. I consider myself one of the fortunate students who looks forward to waking up every day and going to All Saints Catholic School. My years at All Saints Catholic School have touch many different aspects of my life. Not only am I receiving a tremendous education, but the friends I have made, the teachers I have been blessed with, the strengthening of my faith through the Christian environment, all the more meaningful to      ");
array_files[70]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/002/authors.asp","2009-08-03","4K","About the Authors, Page 12    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," About the Authors, Page 12 About the Authors Rev. Mark Connolly was born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts. Father Connolly, whose background is in the field of clinical psychology, has been involved in radio and television for most of his years in the priesthood. In 1970 he started THE SUNDAY MASS on television in the New York metropolitan area. In 1993, Fr. Connolly was named the Director of Radio and Television for the Diocese of Bridgeport. Presently, Father Connolly hosts the ABC-syndicated show, THOUGHTS FOR THE WEEK , which airs every Sunday morning throughout the country. Father Connolly is the senior editor of SPIRITUALITY FOR TODAY . Most Rev. Edward M. Egan, D.D., J.C.D. , was ordained a bishop in 1985. In 1988 he was installed as the Third Bishop of Bridgeport. Bishop Egan has a degree in philosophy; licentiate in Sacred Theology and a Doctorate in Canon Law. He has overseen the regionalization of the diocesan elementary schools, established an active Hispanic Apostolate, and founded the St. John Fisher Residence for young men considering the priesthood. Rev. Roy Henderson was ordained in 1990 and is currently serving as Parochial Vicar at Our Lady of Fatima Church in Wilton, Connecticut. He is founder of CathPriest Online, an interactive ministry available on America OnLine, Saturday through Wednesday night, under the member name of CathPriest. He also serves as a consultant and contributing editor to SPIRITUALITY FOR TODAY. Father James Turro, M.A., S.T.L., S.S.L., Ph.D. , teaches New Testament at Immaculate Conception Seminary, Seton Hall University, South Orange, New Jersey. Brian J. Kelly, Ed.D. received his doctorate in counseling psychology in 1972. Subsequently, he studied Family Systems Theory under Murray Bowen, M.D., at Georgetown University. He has taught at several universities, served as a psychologist in a maximum security hospital and a student health center. In 1992, Dr. Kelly was ordained a permanent deacon. He currently serves as a deacon at St. Luke Parish in Westport, Connect      ");
array_files[71]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/015/page05.asp","2009-08-03","3K","Family Life    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Family Life Family Life by the Rev. Charles Allen, S.J. Jesus had all kinds of problems with families. In the first place, he had a problem with his own family. As the only child of a widowed mother he had the sole responsibility for her well-being as she entered into her later years. The tragedy of his own untimely death was only heightened by his concern for his beloved mothers unsettled situation. If you think that yours is the only family where brothers and sisters love to fight with each other, then remember the questions put to Jesus: How often should I forgive my brother, and Jesus response: Seventy times seven. Family feuds were not invented in the twentieth century. They were very much a part of the problems which Jesus faced. Jesus had many problems with families which were too tightly knit together. Over and over again, he called individuals to follow him, only to have them excuse themselves for fear of offending a mother or father. His frightening words, unless you hate mother and father, you cannot be my disciple, describe the frustrations he felt as he tried to draw followers away from overly strong family ties and devote themselves to the work of God. Jesus had problems with families that were not close together. Mosaic law allowed for a relatively easy divorce procedure which was often invoked by the men and women of his day. Jesus, who taught the sanctity and permanent nature of marriage, was not about to let such practices go unchallenged. He condemned divorce and called people to live together in permanent union which truly God had joined together. Finally, at the wedding feast of Cana, Jesus involved himself in the day-to-day financial problems of a young couple. Just getting their marriage underway, they had obviously underestimated the costs of this new relationship and only Jesus, with the encouragement of his mother, was able to save them the embarrassment of being miserly hosts. Too often, we of the twentieth century, think that we have invented all of the worlds great problems. We wou      ");
array_files[72]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/017/authors.asp","2009-08-03","2K","About the Authors    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," About the Authors About the Authors Rev. Mark Connolly was born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts. In 1970 he started THE SUNDAY MASS on television in the New York Area. In 1993, Fr. Connolly was named the Director of Radio and Television in the Diocese of Bridgeport. He is well known in the field of Radio and Television. Presently, Father is the host of an ABC syndicated show called THOUGHTS FOR THE WEEK which is aired every Sunday morning throughout the country. Father Connolly is the senior editor of SPIRITUALITY FOR TODAY . Most Rev. Edward M. Egan, D.D., J.C.D., was consecrated a bishop in 1985. In 1988 he was installed as the Third Bishop of Bridgeport. Bishop Egan has a degree in philosophy; licentiate in Sacred Theology and a Doctorate in Canon Law. He has overseen the regionalization of the diocesan elementary schools, established an active Hispanic Apostolate and founded the St. John Fisher Residence for young men considering the priesthood. Rev. Charles Allen, S.J., was born in Boston and ordained to the Society of Jesus in 1973. Since then Fr. Allen has held numerous educational and administrative positions within the Jesuit educational system. He is presently the Executive Assistant to the President of Fairfield University. Julie Green is a writer, retreat leader, teacher and mother of two teenagers who lives in Edinboro, Pa. She once spent two years doing community development work in Lac La Marte, N.W.T.     ");
array_files[73]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/002/page02.asp","2009-08-03","3K","Family Life, Page 2    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Family Life, Page 2 Family Life Rev. Mark Connolly Many years ago preachers used the following story to illustrate a familys impact on the world: A small boy in one family loved to do jig-saw puzzles. One day, in order to keep his son occupied while he read his Sunday newspaper, the boys father tore up a page containing the map of the world and gave the pieces to his son. He told the young boy, Lets see if you can assemble this. Within a few minutes, however, the boy was back and the newspaper page was completely put together. The father was amazed and said, How did you assemble this so quickly? The boy gave his father a simple answer, Dad, when you were tearing up the picture of the map of the world I noticed that on the other side there was a picture of a family. I found out that if I put the family back together again, the rest of the world would take care of itself. This story is an old one, but so very true. Every one of us can be concerned about the terrible plight of the people in Bosnia and Sarejavo and how their families are being hurt. When we analyze it from a distance, we know we can do very little for those families except through our prayers. For our own families, however, our prayers are lived out in our actions. There is much talk these days about the dysfunctional family, the separated family and the unhappy family. We pray to God that our own families are spared. But are we doing enough? Just take a moment to look at your family and realize that there are people in it who love you, who work for you, who would even die for you. This should prompt us to ask ourselves what are we doing for each other in our homes? Am I high in self-centered love? On charity? Do I have an abundance of selfishness and a lack of compassion? We all need to reflect on these themes. The teachings of St. Thomas concerning charity can teach us a lot about loving each other. He said, It is far better to sin by excessive practices of charity, than to be defective when it comes to charity. It might sound a little simplisti      ");
array_files[74]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/017/page01.asp","2009-08-03","6K","Introduction    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Introduction   Introduction by the Rev. Mark Connolly Christmas is just around the corner so to everyone reading this magazine, Spirituality for Today, our sincere wishes to you for a very happy, beautiful, sacred Christmas Day. To all of you, a very, Merry Christmas. To make it a more sacred day and a more Merry Christmas with you, I would like to share a few thoughts with you concerning the meaning of Christmas, especially the personalities that make up the Christmas story. No matter where you go today there is no person in history that has captured the mind, the imagination, the thoughts of Jesus Christ whose birthday we celebrate. Personalities come and go in history, but his name, his personality goes on and on as it has been for about two thousand years. Imaginations are stimulated probably more at this season and for this event than at any time throughout the year. All of the Christian world has heard the expression, Glory to God in the highest and peace to people of goodwill. All of the Christian world knows that the hills of Judea were alive with the music of Angelic Choirs singing in the world of the birth of Messiah, in the birth of Jesus Christ. This is the story of the Christ child who would tremble as a piercing wind swept through an unprotected stable. The story of the boy carpenter, the boy and the man, who had compassion on the multitude. The man whose blood would spill on the marble pavement of Herods palace. This is the adult who would hang from a cross on Good Friday, nailed between two thieves. It is quite a story. Can you think of any birth in history that has captured the imagination of the entire Christian world? He has prompted that volumes be written about him; Churches and Cathedrals be dedicated in his memory; schools and colleges be named after him. Millions would follow him. Thousands would die for him and people would just plain love him. It is quite a story. Angels, shepherds, wise men, stables, creches would never have the role to play in history if it were not for the Christ c      ");
array_files[75]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/002/page01.asp","2009-08-03","2K","Introduction, Page 1    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Introduction, Page 1 Introduction to Septembers Issue Rev. Mark Connolly This month we highlight themes that benefit every family. Over the past decade we have been hearing what the government should do for the family, what the state should do for the family, and what the Church should do for the family. When you come right down to it, however, the most important thing is what you are doing for your family. No individual is so old or so young that he or she cannot make a contribution to the health of the family. No person is so poverty stricken that he or she cannot offer a word of charity or encouragement to members of his or her family. In reading the gospel of Christ, you find a simple rule of life: By this shall all know that you are my disciples; if you have love for one another. If you love one another as I have loved you. It is the leadership of Christ and his quality of love that must be implemented in every home. This love is not the same as romantic or biological love. It is the virtue that Christ brought into this world. Love is the foundation on which we should build our homes. No matter how beneficial government or state programs might be, none will ever be a substitute for the kind of love that Christ expects us to share with our parents, sisters, brothers. If you study the life of Christ you will find that on the way to Calvary he was helped by Simon of Cyrene, Veronica and the women of Jerusalem. Almost every family today has its own Calvary and each person in that family is in need of the Christlike help that can come from your personal Christlike love. It might not have any great impact on the world, but it certainly will have a powerful impact on your own family. When a family brings the spirit of Christ to each other, it is a taste of heaven on earth.     ");
array_files[76]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/015/page04.asp","2009-08-03","8K","Judgments    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Judgments Judgments by the Most Rev. Edward M. Egan The old passport case had been a gift of a friend in 1954 when I was leaving for Rome to complete my seminary studies. I found it a few weeks ago in a tattered box along with two well-worn wallets and a badly torn coin purse. Inside the passport case were vaccination certificates of the kind that were required years ago for travel in certain countries of Europe, a miniature map of Scotland, and in the innermost pocket a copy of a letter to the Cardinal Archbishop of Glasgow. The letter was from the Dean of the Sacred Roman Rota, the highest tribunal of appeal in the Catholic Church. It introduced me as a judge of the Rota who would be representing his fellow judges at the funeral in Scotland of Monsignor Gerard Rogers. When I was appointed to the Rota by Pope Paul VI in 1972, Monsignor Rogers was the only other English-speaking judge. He was a Scot twenty years my senior who had been serving in Rome for over a decade. Before becoming a priest, he had been a civil lawyer, well on his way toward a successful legal career. Among his Roman friends, however, he was best known as an avid golfer who prided himself on the fact that his father had been for many years the sports editor of the largest daily newspaper in Glasgow. * * * * * * Shortly after my arrival in the Eternal City, Monsignor Rogers suggested that we have dinner together on Wednesday evenings. Ordinarily we would meet at his apartment on the Via Aurelia and walk to a nearby trattoria where, in his words, we could enjoy a healthy plate of pasta. Early on, I brought to one of these Wednesday evening meals two decisions I had written regarding cases assigned to me at the Rota. One concerned the nullity of a marriage in Australia, and the other had to do with unpaid debts of a monastery in North Africa. I asked Monsignor Rogers if he would be kind enough to read them so that I might know whether I was handling my new responsibilities properly. He put on his glasses, leaned forward in his chair, and slowl      ");
array_files[77]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/015/page03.asp","2009-08-03","1K","Thought for the Month    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Thought for the Month Thought for the Month `The Prayer Slow me down, Lord. Ease the pounding of my heart by the quieting of my mind. Steady my hurried pace with a vision of the eternal reach of time. Give me, amidst the confusions of the day, the calmness of the everlasting hills. Break the tensions of my nerves and muscles with the soothing music of the singing streams that live in my memory. Help me to know the magical and restoring power of sleep. Teach me the art of taking minute vacations, of slowing down to look at a flower, to chat with a friend, to pat a dog, to read a few lines from a good book. Slow me down Lord, and inspire me to send my roots into the soil of lifes enduring values that I may grow toward the start of my greater destiny. Never the end.     ");
array_files[78]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/015/page02.asp","2009-08-03","7K","Family Loyalty    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Family Loyalty Family Loyalty by the Rev. Mark Connolly At this time I would like to share a few thoughts with you on the subject of your family. All of us know there are many attacks and many assaults being waged against our family value system especially our religious value system. With that thought in mind I would like, during the course of these few moments that I have with you, to impart some ideas that will help keep our family more united and more solid and more in tune with the mind of Christ concerning family loyalty. With all the mistakes and the foibles that a family has for the most part, there is still no place like home. When we hear about all the assaults being made on the family today by different kinds of philosophies and psychologies, you really wonder why the family and how the family survives as well as it does. Is this age more assaulted than ages past? Are our family values being more attacked than in previous ages? In order to be able to understand these questions, you have to look back on the history of the family in the last 200 years. It is fine to be nostalgic and somehow think that family life was better then, but in many cases it was not. Every age has had its share of pressure, financial, moral and ethical and all of them have hit the families in different ways. If you go back to the early days of our country, the family was just a minimal labor force for the industries that came into the area where they were living. We all know of the father of the home who worked in conditions that were inhumane and filled with drudgery. We all know their life span was shorter. We know that human labor, human life, was a cheap commodity. If you read much of Charles Dickens, you can compare what he wrote about the exploitation of the family in his time with the same exploitation that has been taking place in our country for the past 200 years. At times it is amazing that the families of certain ages ever survived. The family was dispensable. The factories ground down the worker. The mining places      ");
array_files[79]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/015/authors.asp","2009-08-03","2K","About the Authors    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," About the Authors About the Authors Rev. Mark Connolly was born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts. In 1970 he started THE SUNDAY MASS on television in the New York Area. In 1993, Fr. Connolly was named the Director of Radio and Television in the Diocese of Bridgeport. He is well known in the field of Radio and Television. Presently, Father is the host of an ABC syndicated show called THOUGHTS FOR THE WEEK which is aired every Sunday morning throughout the country. Father Connolly is the senior editor of SPIRITUALITY FOR TODAY. Most Rev. Edward M. Egan, D.D., J.C.D., was consecrated a bishop in 1985. In 1988 he was installed as the Third Bishop of Bridgeport. Bishop Egan has a degree in philosophy; licentiate in Sacred Theology and a Doctorate in Canon Law. He has overseen the regionalization of the diocesan elementary schools, established an active Hispanic Apostolate and founded the St. John Fisher Residence for young men considering the priesthood. Rev. Charles Allen, S.J., was born in Boston and ordained to the Society of Jesus in 1973. Since then Fr. Allen has held numerous educational and administrative positions within the Jesuit educational system. He is presently the Executive Assistant to the President of Fairfield University. Rev. Msgr. Kevin M. Wallin was ordained to the priesthood in December, 1984. He served as secretary to the Bishop of Bridgeport and in 1995 was appointed Vice-Chancellor and Director of Ministry for the Diocese of Bridgeport. In May 1996 he was named pastor of St. Peters in Danbury, Connecticut.     ");
array_files[80]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/001/page12.asp","2009-08-03","2K","Questions and Answers, Page 12    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Questions and Answers, Page 12 Questions and Answers Many people have questions on the catholic faith and issues related to our faith. This section will attempt to answer those questions. Q. Why do Roman Catholics pray to statues? A. We do not pray to statues. That would be a sin, the sin of idolatry. We use statues: To honor those we believe are in Gods presence. We believe the saint is in Gods presence because of the grace demonstrated in his or lifetime; and because of the responses received in our lifetime through the saints prayers of intercession. To focus our attention not only on the person that God blessed in this life, but beyond the plaster or wood to the giver of all gifts, God himself. Q. Why do Catholics pray to Mary? A. The easiest way to explain this is in the form of an example. Many times when people undergo hardship or difficulty in their life; or if they have something in their life they feel they need help with in a spiritual way, they often ask their friends to pray for them. To intercede as it were. We as Catholics believe what better person to ask to intercede for us than the Mother of God. She, who interceded at the wedding of Cana, continues to go to her Son for us. So, we do not pray to Mary but through her. We ask her to pray with us and for our needs.     ");
array_files[81]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/001/page11.asp","2009-08-03","3K","Connecticuts Special Olympics, Page 11    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Connecticuts Special Olympics, Page 11 Connecticuts Special Olympics: Bridging Barriers With Love Rev. Chris J. Walsh July 1-9 was a week that thousands of youth will never forget. That was the week that over 7,00 young athletes, coaches, and chaperones from around the world assembled in New Haven, Connecticut, for the Special Olympics World Games. Residents of Connecticuts towns opened their hears and their homes to host the Special Olympians - and they were repaid with friendship and love in return. I was at Waveny Park in New Canaan, Connecticut, on a beautiful New England evening, sunny and cool, when the Special Olympics team from Bolivia showed up for the towns country music concert. The 42 young, brown-skinned athletes walked out, shy and awkward, onto the big back porch of the old Waveny mansion. Knowing they came from a predominantly Catholic country, I -- dressed in my black clerics as a Catholic priest -- felt an obligation to try to break the ice. In halting Spanish I went around introducing myself as Padre Cristobal. That seemed to be all it took. Soon they were engaged in rapid-fire Spanish conversation with padre. Most of it I couldnt decipher at all, but the smiles and laughs managed to carry us through. With one 15-year-old boy, however, that was not enough. He had an important message to tell me and wouldnt stop until I understood. The boy, gesticulating with his hands, kept stressing the word monaguillo. I called over one of the bilingual host parents, and then an American official sporting and impressive badge that said Translator. But both of them were stumped by monaguillo, too. Finally, I found the pastor of St. Aloysius Church in New Canaan, whom, I recalled, had spent some time doing ministry in Puerto Rico. After talking with the boy a few moments, the pastor turned to me with a smile. Monaguillo means altar boy, he said. Manuel wants you to know that he is a very experienced altar boy back in Bolivia, and would be very pleased to make himself available to serve at any of your Masses.      ");
array_files[82]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/001/page10.asp","2009-08-03","2K","Imitate Christ, Page 10    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Imitate Christ, Page 10 Imitate Christ Rev. Mark Connolly If you read the writings of St. Paul, he makes it very clear that one of the secrets of happiness is to imitate the mind of Christ. If you analyze that expression, the mind of Christ, it simply means his value system, his principals and his convictions. If you study the life of Christ you see that he only spent three years of his public life in active ministry. Much of the time was spent in prayer and meditation. If you read the New Testament you will find he taught charity, compassion and consideration. He wrote no books. He had no pulpit. He just preached and lived these qualities. These same qualities have outlasted any book for over two thousand years. This same Christ taught us the value of the sacred. We all know he underwent an agony, a scourging, a crowning and a crucifixion. As suffering did not pass by Christ, it will not pass by us. He taught us very clearly that suffering is not always meaningless. The life of Christ demonstrates a man who lived with hope. This was a man who could cure and forgive ten lepers knowing that ninety percent of them would walk away without thanking him. A man who, from the cross, could completely forgive the crowd of men and women who on Palm Sunday threw palm branches in his path while singing Hosanna, then shouted Crucify him! on Good Friday. This person called Jesus Christ was more than an historical figure. This same person, Jesus Christ, must become a reality in our lives. Without the mind of Christ influencing our mind there is chaos and confusion. With our mind being united with the mind of Christ, however, we can fulfill what St. Paul said, With Christ I can do everything.     ");
array_files[83]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/001/page09.asp","2009-08-03","3K","Gratitude, Page 9    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Gratitude, Page 9 Gratitude Rev. Mark Connolly Many years ago there was a poem that went something like this: There was a time when faith began to slip, when I had lost all that I could afford to lose. I had no home, no food, no shoes. And suddenly I chanced to meet upon the busy highway of life a man who had no feet. The last line of that poem, I complained because I had no shoes, until I meet a man who had no feet, serves as a reminder of the generosity God has shown to us over the years. There is no war in our country. We have problems, but they are not like the problems of Bosnia, Sarajevo and Calcutta. There is no question that we have a lot of people struggling to make ends meet, but again, we do not have the poverty of many of the third world nations throughout the world. For many of us, however, gratitude has become a virtue for the future. We will be thankful when everything in our life is stabilized, and we have everything we want. If you look at the gospel story of the ten lepers, where is the gratitude that Christ deserved on this occasion? Imagine, he cured ten men who had a hideous disease of leprosy. No one was going near them. He did. Nine walked away never to thank him or show any gratitude for what he did. But Christ didnt cure them in order to be thanked. He cured them because of who He is and because of what He had received from the Father. No one wants to see any one live in poverty. No one wants to see any one living in pain. All of us should help any one in that kind of situation. Whether you are poor or not, whether you are in pain or not, dont forget that in gratitude for the spiritual riches you have received, you can care for those more unfortunate than yourself -- including the poor, homeless beggar on the street. Everyone deserves respect. Every life has value in Gods eyes; no one should be taken for granted. Gratitude reminds us of what God has given us. Gratitude reminds us that more of us may not have all the things we want, but most of us have the things that we need.     ");
array_files[84]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/001/page08.asp","2009-08-03","6K","The Peter Pan Syndrome, Page 8    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," The Peter Pan Syndrome, Page 8 The Peter Pan Syndrome William J. OMalley, S.J. Editors Note: Whats the matter with young people today? is the cry echoing across the country from parents, educators, law enforcement and clergy. We inwardly shudder as we take note of the rising incidences of teen violence, suicide, drug use, and pregnancy. Worse still, and more pervasive, is the apathy and complacency that expresses itself in a lack of involvement in the community. This concerns us all, but few know fully what to do. Father OMalley, in his thought-provoking, four-part article, Peter Pan Syndrome, explores these issues. In Part I, he examines how adolescence should be the time for preparing a child to take part in the adult world. Part II focuses on what is happening instead, what Father OMalley describes as the Peter Pan Syndrome -- the commitment to non-commitment. Part III probes the heart of the problem, our mangled notion of what freedom really means. Finally, in Part IV, Father OMalley offers suggestions for the future. Part I. Grownup and Adult Grownup happens automatically; adult takes effort. Without any cooperation on our part, secret distilleries in our bodies start pumping out magic juices to turn us into physical grownups. Physical maturity is only a small part of the process, however, and even the young see the real difference between people who have grownup bodies and people who act like human adults. We all know people well past 50 who are less psychologically mature than many teenagers. An individual must choose to be a human adult, and work at it. The difference between grownup and adult is a matter of self-possession: taking responsibility for who one is and what one does--no excuses, no fudging, no lies. Every grownup has a personality, but an adult has character. To the dismay of the young, character involves a great many qualities they have always found irksome: commitment, accountability, involvement--irksome because these qualities involve surrendering the blissful (if only apparent) freedo      ");
array_files[85]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/001/page07.asp","2009-08-03","2K","Dag Hammarskjold, page 7    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Dag Hammarskjold, page 7 The Quest Rev. Mark Connolly The longest journey, wrote Dag Hammarskjold, is the journey inward. It is a quest that drives us to search within our souls for the light that will enhance our lives. During our lifetime we journey in a spiritual quest hoping it will change or affect our lives. Each of our lifes experiences should inspire us to continue this sublime quest. It is a seed planted in a garden. It is watered, nurtured and grown under the golden rays of the sun. It flourishes and bears its fruit. Each challenge, great or small, should be accepted knowing we are strong in our faith and our beliefs. The journey never ceases, the quest is unending. As we go forth in the different paths of life, choosing sometimes the road less traveled, we accept the quest, we reach out to enrich our spiritual life and we evoke the verses of Dag Hammarskjold: ...Give us A pure heart That we may see Thee, A humble heart That we may hear Thee, A heart of love That we may serve Thee, A heart of faith That we may live Thee. Thou Whom I do not know But whose I am. Thou Whom I do not comprehend But who has dedicated me To my fate. Thou...     ");
array_files[86]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/001/page06.asp","2009-08-03","2K","Father Turro reflection, page 6    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Father Turro reflection, page 6 The Person Who Sees Me... Fr. James Turro Some years ago, the chief of a remote and primitive tribe in Africa was asked about his peoples notion of God. This was the chiefs reply: We know that at nighttime somebody goes by in the trees out there but we never speak of it. That was all they knew of God. For them, God was a formless mystery, deeply unknown like the wind rustling in the trees in the dark of night. How ghastly it would be, if this were all that we could say of God. Happily it is not. For us, God is not a vague reality. We know God to have a substance, shape, and personality. Best of all, we know that God has care and compassion for us. All this we know because God came down to earth in Jesus Christ. And countless people living in Palestine at the time saw God and heard God, touched God and loved God. And so we never speak of God as being the wind rustling in the trees. Instead, we say that Word became flesh and dwelt here among us.     ");
array_files[87]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/001/page05.asp","2009-08-03","3K","Why This Medium?, Page 5    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Why This Medium?, Page 5 Why This Medium? Rev. Roy Henderson Shortly before Christ ascended, he commanded his disciples, Go forth and proclaim the good news. This directive, however, was not only for the listeners on that day. In every generation and throughout the world, the charge to go forth has been given and undertaken. St. Paul shared the Good News. It reached the corners of the globe through the gospels. It was found in papyrus scrolls. Itinerant, traveling artists in every culture communicated the story of Christ. Popular songs bear witness to the love of Christ; the Good News shines through panes of stained glass. On the stage and around a familys hearth, actors, musicians, mothers and fathers tell the remarkable stories of Gods salvation again and again. Cloistered monks laboriously copied Gods word until the arrival of the printing press when it could be easily available to all willing to receive. With the arrival of radio and television, Catholic clergy and laity persevere in proclaiming the Good News through an electronic medium. Now, as the 21st century approaches, the Internet opens up new roads to walk. We have before us a super-highway of communication from which to share a message that is as vibrant today as it was two thousand years ago. Despite differing cultures and religious backgrounds, human beings feel a deep need for spirituality. This yearning is at the core of every individual, and can serve as our common ground. Through this new electronic medium, an Internet magazine, we seek a more comprehensive way to express and share our spiritual yearnings. As we work together for a better understanding of ourselves, of each other and our commonalties, we can become the people our Creator intended us to be. This is the thrust, the meaning of the word Ecumenism. Therefore, in response to that first call to go forth and spread Good News, we hope to share our message of faith. At the same time, we also want to share the spiritual messages of our brothers and sisters of other faiths and tradition      ");
array_files[88]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/001/page04.asp","2009-08-03","5K","Book Review, Page 4    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Book Review, Page 4 The Apostle to the Apostles Dorothy Riera She has been known through the ages as the repentant sinner, yet St. Augustine called her the Apostle to the Apostles - Mary Magdalen. Her name conjures many images that have permeated our history and our tradition for centuries. But, who exactly is this woman who ultimately became the first person to witness the Risen Lord? Susan Haskins in her book, Mary Magdalen, Myth and Metaphor, presents an exhaustive research on the subject of Mary Magdalen. It is evident that women during the time of Christ had a secondary role in Jewish society. They sat separately from men at the Temple, they were not permitted to read the Torah and they were excluded from the priesthood. In spite of this, Jesus clearly accepted women and included them in his salvific mission. They played an active role in his parables and were treated equally to the men that surrounded him. He was sensitive to their needs even though they were culturally ostracized. St. Matthew writes in his Gospel that harlots and tax collectors were closer to the Kingdom of God than the Pharisees. In exploring the image of Mary of Magdala, we are presented with a courageous woman who is inspired by Jesus to change her ways and who chooses to follow him. She is also, as Jesus, a radical, an outcast. She did not fit into the pattern of the women in Jewish society. According to Church tradition, we know for a fact that she was one of Jesus followers. She was present at the Crucifixion and according to the Gospel of St. John, she was not only the witness to the Resurrection, she was also charged with spreading the Word. But, Mary Magdalen was much more than a mere prostitute who had been forgiven. The portrait of the repentant sinner who inspires because she has sinned, so enhanced during the Middle Ages, remains insignificant compared to the scope of her spiritual journey. Her love for the young Rabbi was unequaled. She remains at the foot of the Cross during his crucifixion. She refuses to abandon him and      ");
array_files[89]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/015/page01.asp","2009-08-03","2K","Mary and the Rosary    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Mary and the Rosary Mary and the Rosary by the Rev. Mark Connolly As you know this is the month devoted to Mary and the recitation of the Rosary. In the letters we receive we get many requests for prayers. We are asking you who are saying the Rosary to remember those who are carrying the cross of cancer, family problems, heart attacks or terrible situations during the month of October. We dedicate this issue to our families and to those who are bearing any kind of family disruption. Rosary Prayer O God, whose only-begotten Son, by His life, death and resurrection has purchased for us the rewards of eternal life; grant, we beseech You, that meditating upon these mysteries of the most holy rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we may learn to imitate what they contain and obtain what they promise, through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.     ");
array_files[90]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/001/authors.asp","2009-08-03","3K","About the Authors, Page 13    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," About the Authors, Page 13 About the Authors Rev. Mark Connolly was born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts. Father Connolly, whose background is in the field of clinical psychology, has been involved in radio and television for most of his years in the priesthood. In 1970 he started THE SUNDAY MASS on television in the New York metropolitan area. In 1993, Fr. Connolly was named the Director of Radio and Television for the Dicoese of Bridgeport. Presently, Father Connolly hosts the ABC-syndicated show, THOUGHTS FOR THE WEEK , which airs every Sunday morning throughout the country. Father Connolly is the senior editor of SPIRITUALITY FOR TODAY . Most Rev. Edward M. Egan, D.D., J.C.D. , was ordained a bishop in 1985. In 1988 he was installed as the Third Bishop of Bridgeport. Bishop Egan has a degree in philospophy; licentiate in Sacred Theology and a Doctorate in Canon Law. He has overseen the regionalization of the diocesan elementary schools, established an active Hispanic Apostolate, and founded the St. John Fisher Residence for young men considering the priesthood. Rev. Roy Henderson was ordained in 1990 and is currently serving as Parochial Vicar at Our Lady of Fatima Church in Wilton, Connecticut. He is also founder of CathPriest Online, an interactive ministry available on America OnLine, Saturday through Wednesday night, under the member name of CathPriest. Fr. Christopher Walsh, Ph.D., ordained in 1987, is Director of Communications for the Diocese of Bridgeport. He is also the Editor of the Fairfield County Catholic, the official diocesan newspaper. Fr. Walsh resides at St. John Fisher Seminary Residence in Stamford, where he serves as spiritual director and lecturer in theology. He can also be heard on THOUGHTS FOR THE WEEK with Fr. Mark Connolly every Sunday morning. Father James Turro, M.A., S.T.L., S.S.L., Ph.D. , teaches New Testament at Immaculate Conception Seminary, Seton Hall University, South Orange, New Jersey. Dorothy L. Riera is a graduate of the University of Puerto Rico and the State U      ");
array_files[91]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/001/page03.asp","2009-08-03","2K","The Beatitudes, Page 3    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," The Beatitudes, Page 3 The Beatitudes Rev. Mark Connolly Many of you have heard of the Beatitudes of Christ. They are eight statements reminding us of the virtues Christ taught and the way to implement those virtues. The Beatitudes are a map of life, a series of directives helping us on our journey back to God. They are simply stated, but profound in meaning. Almost every great spiritual writer has written about the Beatitudes. Every Saint has lived the Beatitudes. They guide. They point. They teach the values of Christ. Those same values can bring us all into the Kingdom of God after our journey on this earth is over. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are the meek, for they shall possess the earth. Blessed are they who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for justice, for they shall be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the clean of heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God. Blessed are they who suffer persecution for justice sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.     ");
array_files[92]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/001/page02.asp","2009-08-03","7K","Bishops Letter, Page 2    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Bishops Letter, Page 2 Very Special Prayers Most Reverend Edward M. Egan, Bishop of Bridgeport When I first met him, he was seventy-five years of age and retired. I had just arrived in Rome of 1972 to begin my new duties as a judge of the Tribunal of the Sacred Roman Rota. The day after my arrival, he telephoned to ask if he might come to see me. I was both delighted and flattered. His name was famous among canon lawyers across the world. Before being named a judge of the Rota in 1948, he had been a celebrated professor at a law school in the Midwest; and while serving on the Rota, he had authored a dozen or more books on religious ethics, tribunal procedure, and marriage law as well as scores of judicial decisions that were quoted far and wide. After retiring, he had continued to live in the Eternal City where, in the judgement of many, he was the most Roman of the Romans. He arrived at my apartment at five-thirty in the evening, the Roman visiting hour. He was wearing a black cassock, a black tasseled sash, and a broad-rimmed Roman hat. In a few minutes I felt as though I had known him all my life. Salve, Reverendissime Pater, he intoned in Latin with a chuckle and an embrace. I welcome you and I assure you that I am anxious to be of help in any way I can. With that he sat himself down on the sofa in my study and opened a huge briefcase from which he extracted about one hundred type-written pages containing what he described as all you need to know, as far as procedure is concerned, to get a case started properly and to bring it to a wise and brisk conclusion. The pages having been consigned to a table next to the sofa, he then produced a shopping-bag and drew from it three packages that he had evidently wrapped himself. He beamed as I opened each. The first contained a pair of carpet-slippers; the second, a fountain pen; and the third, a two-volume Latin-Italian dictionary. Now, he inquired, settling back into the sofa, how do you feel about your new assignment, and how can I give you a hand? The conversati      ");
array_files[93]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/001/page01.asp","2009-08-03","3K","Statement of Purpose, Page 1    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Statement of Purpose, Page 1 Statement of Purpose Rev. Mark Connolly With this issue we launch our Internet Magazine, SPIRITUALITY FOR TODAY. No matter what our professed faith might be, each one of us is on a journey back to God that began at the moment of our birth. This journey home, with its many peaks and valleys, demands a spirituality that draws us closer to God every day. Our hope is that SPIRITUALITY FOR TODAY will encourage us on that journey. Throughout the coming months, we will share the values, principles and precepts taught by Jesus Christ two thousand years ago. We will highlight the love of God towards us, and remind us to bring the love of Christ, and his compassion, to others. Our journey on this earth is a short one. Just as we are taught in childhood not to waste food, energy or clothing, we cannot afford to waste the most precious commodity, time. Therefore, this month and in the months to come, SPIRITUALITY FOR TODAY will also reflect on the importance of simplicity and solitude. Simplicity leads us to become more like Christ, and it is in solitude that we discover the vigorous prayer life that enables us to learn simplicity. When we die, our achievements on this earth -- degrees, medals, wealth and possessions -- will have no meaning. Our lives will be examined in light of how we brought the love of Christ, Gods Son, to others. How well did we live out the Beatitudes? What kind of sacramental life did we have with Him and the Eucharist? We do not intend this magazine to be a forum for controversy or divisive debate. We envision SPIRITUALITY FOR TODAY as a source of both comfort and support; an instrument of peace for all who walk this sacred journey. Remember, all of us are walking this journey together. So let us go forth, rejoicing in the power of the Spirit.     ");
array_files[94]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/016/page07.asp","2009-08-03","4K","Annie Has An Eternal Message    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Annie Has An Eternal Message Annie Has An Eternal Message by the Rev. Msgr. Kevin M. Wallin On August 10, 1976 Annie had its world premier at the Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam. It was a less than auspicious occasion. Scenery fell, actors got hurt and few present believe that the show would succeed. In addition, the critics were not enthusiastic. However, the charm and clever musicality of the show prevailed. The public were excited and Annie was to go on to Broadway and London and eventually to join the ranks of classical American musicals. In honor of Annies twentieth anniversary, Goodspeed has mounted a new production under the direction of Martin Charnin, who also directed and wrote the lyrics for the original Goodspeed and Broadway productions. In the current revival, the costumes, lighting and in particular the sets are all designed to remind one that Annie is a comic strip. Much of the show is done in shades of gray to simulate newsprint. Coincidentally, these creative elements also serve to remind the audience that the action takes place during the great depression. The occasional use of highly stylized choreography, including some frozen action, adds to this comic strip effect. The particular charm of this production is the central role played by orphans. Clearly the seven little girls in the cast are its greatest asset. They are adorable and their performances entertaining. Indeed, they provide the best musical number in the show, the second acts Youre Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile. If Annie is about the indomitable character of the human spirit, then these girls radiate that message with zest and sincerity. The element of hope which they portray, so central to the shows theme, come to life when they are on stage. Message of Hope There is no message more christian than that of hope. Our belief in the saving death and resurrection of the Lord is only sustained in hope. That virtue that keep us going even when life is dark and difficult. Although presented in purely secular terms, that reli      ");
array_files[95]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/016/page06.asp","2009-08-03","5K","One Womans Story of Conversion    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," One Womans Story of Conversion One Womans Story of Conversion by Julie Green Ironically, my becoming Catholic was one of the most selfish things Ive ever done: I wanted, above all and passionately, to save my soul. To preserve it. To make sure that I had the best possible chance of getting to heaven. And I came to understand that that was most possible, and even most likely, within the Catholic Church. One of the events that led to this was my reading a sermon entitled Almost a Christian by John Wesley, founder of the Methodist Church. In it, he stated that even if we fed the hungry, clothed the naked, tended the sick and visited those in prison, and did those things regularly but not for the love of Jesus, we were almost -- but only almost -- Christian. That set me to thinking, hard, about my motivations as well as my behavior; what I was choosing and why, how even my motivations could influence other people, and how what I did affected other people. Some of what I came up with was good; some was pretty awful. Somewhere in there, for this was not a quick process, I realized that souls were real, and that I had one. That may sound silly -- its one of those things that we take for granted; everyone has a soul. But all of a sudden mine became very important to me, for I also realized that what happened to it would be my doing, the result of my thoughts that led to my choices that led to my actions, all of which would lead me to heaven -- or not. I began looking much harder, then, at a couple of things: the first was what Jesus wanted for me and of me, and the second, was how he provided me the help that I would need. I could see what a mess I had made of so many things -- even, sometimes, with good intentions. I could see that left on my own, I didnt have a chance; I was far too subject to cultural influences, to my own will, to bad habits, to prior experiences, to my own opinions, to my resistance when I knew he wanted me to do something that was difficult. Yet if he really thought I could change and come close      ");
array_files[96]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/016/page05.asp","2009-08-03","2K","Thought for the Month    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Thought for the Month Thought for the Month Prayer for a Loved One You are going now, perhaps to the brightness of the day, perhaps to the quiet watches of the night. Out of my sight for a little while you must go, and out of the reach of my hands. But He that is with me is with you also. Where is it that He is not? Therefore in trust and thankfulness I give you into His care, who made the world and made it very good. I know that nothing whatever can harm you, neither the tangible forces of the material world nor the fear of things unseen. When men think of you, they think in terms of kindness, for His love surrounds you. When men have dealings with you, they deal fairly, for you know and express His justice. In the morning when you awake and in the evening when you close your eyes, you are sustained and strengthened. You enjoy clearness of vision, stength of limb, soundness of both mind and body, for His wholeness is in you. Though you may not always know your destination, nor the manner of your going, you are at peace. For He in whom you trust is all-knowing, and paths are opened to you where before there were none. From harm of the body and confusion of the spirit you are protected. From belief in the worlds shadows or doubt of divine truth you are delivered. Upright you walk and confident, knowing your heritage. And those who walk with you and love you are uplifted also, for the mantle of His love is very wide and the power of His word eternal. Lo, I am with you always. ---R.H. Greenville     ");
array_files[97]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/016/page04.asp","2009-08-03","4K","The Feast of All Souls    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," The Feast of All Souls The Feast of All Souls by the Rev. Charles Allen, S.J. The best friend of my childhood was my paternal grandfather. He had retired from working in the train yards outside of Boston just about the time that I was born and with my grandmother he lived in a small house only two houses away from my own. During those warm leisurely summer days when a five year old doesnt have a care in the world my grandfather would take me on long walks. Normally, there would be a purpose in the walk; to visit a local doctor, do some shopping for my grandmother, or visit the hardware store. On other occasions we would walk just for the sheer joy of the walk itself. My grandfather used to love to talk about his own childhood on a farm in Vermont and, with the eagerness of youth, I was delighted to listen. As I grew into my teenage years I saw less and less of my grandfather. He was moving into his eighties and was becoming much slower mentally and physically. I was making a host of new and far more exciting friends and I was quick to forget the happy times that we had once had together. During my second year of college I received a call from my father telling me that his father, my grandfather, had died. Because of the cost and time of travel, I was unable to attend his funeral. Ever since receiving that telephone call, somewhere, in the far recesses of my heart, there has been a touch of sadness at losing a close friend which the presence of a thousand other friends cannot erase. On November 2, All Souls Day, the Church encourages us to once again be close to those whom we loved in the past but who no longer grace us with their physical presence. Some Catholics heed this call in a far more direct way than do we Americans. For example, in the Philippines Catholic families spend the night before All Souls Day at the graveside of their relatives. I am not about to try to convince American Catholics to camp out at a favorite graveside, but we should certainly try to spend part of All Souls Day once again talking      ");
array_files[98]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/016/page02.asp","2009-08-03","8K","Well and Always    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Well and Always Well and Always by the Most Rev. Edward M. Egan The Cardinal came lumbering down the stairs with an uncharacteristic smile on his face. Good morning, Father, and Happy Thanksgiving, he said. I have a little something for you. With that he handed me two small, cloth-bound books, each about six inches by four, and both written by Reverend Raoul Plus, S.J. One was entitled How to Pray Well and the other, How to Pray Always. You will enjoy these wonderful little volumes, he announced. They are filled with spiritual wisdom. I thanked him, helped him with his overcoat, and followed him out to a waiting car. We were on our way to the cathedral for Thanksgiving Day Mass at 9:00 a.m. * * * * * * Ordinarily, the Cardinal preferred to ride in silence. I had learned from experience not to try to initiate conversations. This day, however, he was all talk. He would be going to the home of relatives for Thanksgiving dinner, he observed. This cousin would be there. This other would not. His priest nephew would probably arrive late. His youngest niece would undoubtedly sing for the family. And on and on. I could scarcely recognize the somber prelate for whom I had been working as secretary and with whom I had been residing for a little over two months. * * * * * * When the Mass was finished, I wished His Eminence a pleasant day, left the cathedral by a side door, and hurried toward the subway. It was to take me to the elevated which, in its turn, was to bring me home to the first Thanksgiving with my family since leaving for the seminary seven years earlier. At my side I had a small suitcase in which were packed the cassock and surplice I had used for Mass, my Breviary, the two books the Cardinal had given me, and a rather elaborately wrapped box of chocolates for my mother. In the last car of the elevated there were only two passengers besides myself. They were women who appeared to be in their early sixties. They sat together across from me, chatting quietly, their breath forming little clouds of vapor in the      ");
array_files[99]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/016/authors.asp","2009-08-03","3K","About the Authors    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," About the Authors About the Authors Rev. Mark Connolly was born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts. In 1970 he started THE SUNDAY MASS on television in the New York Area. In 1993, Fr. Connolly was named the Director of Radio and Television in the Diocese of Bridgeport. He is well known in the field of Radio and Television. Presently, Father is the host of an ABC syndicated show called THOUGHTS FOR THE WEEK which is aired every Sunday morning throughout the country. Father Connolly is the senior editor of SPIRITUALITY FOR TODAY . Most Rev. Edward M. Egan, D.D., J.C.D., was consecrated a bishop in 1985. In 1988 he was installed as the Third Bishop of Bridgeport. Bishop Egan has a degree in philosophy; licentiate in Sacred Theology and a Doctorate in Canon Law. He has overseen the regionalization of the diocesan elementary schools, established an active Hispanic Apostolate and founded the St. John Fisher Residence for young men considering the priesthood. Rev. Msgr. Kevin M. Wallin was ordained to the priesthood in December, 1984. He served as secretary to the Bishop of Bridgeport and in 1995 was appointed Vice-Chancellor and Director of Ministry for the Diocese of Bridgeport. In May 1996 he was named pastor of St. Peters in Danbury, Connecticut. Rev. Charles Allen, S.J., was born in Boston and ordained to the Society of Jesus in 1973. Since then Fr. Allen has held numerous educational and administrative positions within the Jesuit educational system. He is presently the Executive Assistant to the President of Fairfield University. Julie Green is a writer, retreat leader, teacher and mother of two teenagers who lives in Edinboro, Pa. She once spent two years doing community development work in Lac La Marte, N.W.T.     ");
array_files[100]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/016/page01.asp","2009-08-03","3K","Thanksgiving    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Thanksgiving Thanksgiving by the Rev. Mark Connolly The season of Thanksgiving singles out one quality that all of us have to reflect upon, the quality of gratitude. Thanksgiving reminds us that as a country we are free to worship, free to assemble, free to vote. Our country opened its arms to millions of immigrants and those same immigrants from different parts of the world, cherishing the freedom they found here, have expressed their gratitude in a hundred and one different ways. The universities, the schools, the churches, the temples, people of all faiths have added to the greatness of America. Thanksgiving was made meaningful to us by what those immigrants handed down to us. We are grateful to these giants of generosity from the past. Our generation will one day have people hundreds of years from now grateful for what we will hand down to them. There is not any one group of immigrants from the past that had an easy time of it. Prejudice, bigotry, a lack of education, lack of money were all considered liabilities and yet think of what we have received from them. Our generation is still a grateful one. We are grateful for people. We are grateful for a religion that gives us the Eucharist. We are grateful for the vast majority of teenagers who know what the right thing in life is and do it. We are grateful for the vast majority of teachers who open our minds to knowledge. We are grateful for the vast majority of police who uphold the law and guide us and protect us. It is so easy in life to highlight the negatives that are so common. Bad news seems easier to talk about. The media thrives on news casts to emphasize the negative. But Thanksgiving does remind us of the millions of people who came to our country and gave us the great legacy of their generosity and the great country that they were grateful to live in. As in the past we were so fortunate to have many wonderful people, in the present we have many dedicated ones. They are God-loving, hard working people who like their forbearers are trying to make t      ");
array_files[101]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/014/page07.asp","2009-08-03","2K","Time and Age, Page 7    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Time and Age, Page 7 Time and Age by Joan Maddy Why is it that time is valued and viewed somewhat differently according to ones age. In youth time is hardly worth a thought because it will never run out. It is a fundamental right, an accident of living. Only in certain precise endeavors does it constrain or inhibit, but ultimately the young feel fully the master in any conflict. As we mature, time receives consideration, even respect. The realization that there will be a limit to our mortality makes time a casual acquaintance. At various moments we are jolted by its transience and fleeting qualities. It causes us to pause and reflect. In old age time becomes a very close friend. One is always aware of the intimacy. Grudgingly, we must allow that we have lost the leadership role in the relationship and a dependence has developed. Time is a gift. When it is appreciated it uplifts, enhances and puts us in contact with the Eternal. * * * * * We are not the same persons this year as last; nor are those we love. It is a happy chance if we, changing, continue to love a changed person. --Somerset Maugham (1874 - 1965)     ");
array_files[102]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/014/page06.asp","2009-08-03","3K","Forum - A Timeless Message    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Forum - A Timeless Message Forum - A Timeless Message by the Rev. Msgr. Kevin M. Wallin Revivals are a challenge. They invariably invite comparisons with the original, as recollections of actors, designers and directors who forever shape the concepts of characters and settings are recalled and involved vis-a-vis any new production. The current revival of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum meets and exceeds the challenge. This production is a triumph. The team which brought to Broadway such recent outstanding revivals as Guys and Dolls have collaborated again to breathe new life into a musical that is too rarely restaged, but which brims over with zest and wit. From the opening moments it is clear that this Forum, while essentially faithful to the original book by Burt Shevelove and Larry Gelbart, has new sparkle and a life all its own, due in no small measure to the skillful direction by Jerry Zaks. Forum is based upon several farcical plays by the Roman author Titus Maccius Plautus, written about two hundred years before the birth of Christ. Classically comic, often lowbrow and bawdy, the plays use every stock character imaginable, from young starry-eyed lovers to muddled old men. The foibles of everyday living, as well as the joys and tragedies of life, are presented in humorous and uplifting ways. First explored by Shevelove when he was at Yale, what Plautus had to say about the personalities which populate society is cleverly captured in Forum. These characters are as present today as they were two millennia ago. The trick, now as then, is to capture the remarkable and worthwhile aspects of life, be it easy or difficult. As is too often repeated throughout the show, tragedy is for tomorrow, Comedy Tonight The Forum Today Visit Rome today and one can see the remnants of the ancient Forum. They are a reminder of what was once a glorious civilization. Although much of first century Rome has disintegrated, there remain elements of that society which will forever endure. Principles of Roman law, mil      ");
array_files[103]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/014/page05.asp","2009-08-03","2K","Wasted Time, Page 5    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Wasted Time, Page 5  Wasted Time How much time is lost in useless regrets; I have made a fool of myself — even done something wrong — wasting time instead of going back straight to God with an act of contrition. Never go back on the past. Dont stop, thinking over something foolish you have done or said and regretting it. We are very poor creatures, and there is nothing so wise as to live in the present. Another fruitful waste of time is day dreaming: holding imaginary conversations, or fancying ourselves in positions where we play a very satisfactory part. It softens the mind. Another is fussing. Fussing never saved time. A very celebrated surgeon, on the point of performing a critical operation, is said to have addressed the students about him with: Now, gentlemen, dont let us hurry, because we have no time to lose. There are some people who are never quite self-possessed — always in a flurry. You know the saying, If you want a letter answered, write to a busy man. These people hurry to Mass, hurry to meditation, hurry to breakfast, hurry all day long. A saint couldnt remain a saint under those conditions. Hurry is an enemy to the interior life. - from Confidence in God printed by Passionist Missionaries     ");
array_files[104]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/014/page04.asp","2009-08-03","4K","The Passage of Time, Page 4    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," The Passage of Time, Page 4 The Passage of Time by the Rev. Charles Allen, S.J. I wont tell you how old I am. You can presume, however, that since I am a devoted fan of Pat Boone, grew up listening to Jack Benny on the radio, wear reading glasses, and have frequent temptations to try Grecian Formula, I am probably well into my fifth or sixth decade. One of the difficulties of growing old is that one becomes much more conscious of the rapid passing of time. First, one worries about ones parents. People, who were once so young and vigorous are now slowed down with age and you realize that with each passing day the opportunity of enjoying their beloved company is passing quickly. You watch your children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews maturing. You share their excitement about going to school, choosing a college, finding a job, getting married and having children of their own, but all the time their growth is a reflection of your aging. Less than a week after the tragic crash of TWA 800 into Long Island Sound, I found myself on a flight from Newark to Quito, Ecuador. I was going to Quito to spend part of the summer working with a group of Jesuit priests at a trade school and to make my annual eight day retreat. Despite the lovely day of my departure and the thrill of going to a new continent, I couldnt help thinking of the people on TWA 800. How few of them realized that tragic July evening how little time they had left in this life. Later in the summer, as I made my retreat amongst the snow-capped peaks of the Andes, I spent time in prayer reflecting upon my own mortality. I began to write out a document of instructions to be opened at the time of my death. First, I thought about the many friends that I have made over the years. The members of my own family who are so dear to me, the many men and women whose weddings I have blessed, the children whom I have baptized, and my brother priests whose happiness and heartaches I have had the privilege of sharing. Certainly, I wanted each of them to know how much the      ");
array_files[105]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/014/page03.asp","2009-08-03","10K","A Prayer Of Praise, Page 3    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," A Prayer Of Praise, Page 3 A Prayer of Praise by The Most Rev. Edward M. Egan Neither I nor the friend with whom I was traveling had ever experienced anything like it. We were standing on the Brazil side of the Iguassú Falls, looking toward Argentina in the distance. A swirling river, two miles wide, rushed beneath us. From one side of it to the other stretched 275 mammoth waterfalls, each plunging 280 feet over black basalt rock. A rainbow encircled the scene. Bright, cobalt-blue butterflies glided carelessly above the mist. And the roar of the plummeting water was unlike any sound I had ever heard. A group of tourists came up behind us as we approached a catwalk that led under one of the gigantic cascades. Who can witness this, their guide asked somewhat theatrically, without praising the glories of the Creator? As we made our way back to the tourist lodge in which we were staying, I drew from my camera case a guidebook about the Falls which I had purchased the day before from a street vendor. `Iguassú means `Great Water, I declaimed, gently mimicking the guide. No one can admire it without. . . . My mimicking came to an abrupt end as I read the altogether unexpected words that followed: without shouting into the heaven, `O Lord, how great Thou art! * * * * * * After supper that evening we sat on the porch of the lodge paging through newspapers that had been left here and there on tables for the guests. On the front page of one from Sao Paulo was a photograph of two young soldiers, each with a child in his arms. According to the story beneath the photograph, the soldiers had rescued the children from a collapsing building at great risk to themselves. One was asked to explain his action. I did it because I knew from something inside me that it was right, he replied. Nothing more than that. I just knew that it was the right thing to do. I leaned over to my friend to read the story aloud. He was, however, absorbed in deciphering the sports page of another Brazilian newspaper. Hence, I decided not to disturb him      ");
array_files[106]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/014/page02.asp","2009-08-03","1K","Thought For The Month, Page 2    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Thought For The Month, Page 2 Thought For The Month Ecclesiastes 3, 1-9 There is an appointed time for everything, and a time for every affair under the heavens. A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to uproot the plant. A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to tear down, and a time to build. A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance. A time to scatter stones, and a time to gather them; a time to embrace, and a time to be far from embraces. A time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away. A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to be silent, and a time to speak. A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.     ");
array_files[107]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/014/authors.asp","2009-08-03","2K","About the Authors, Page 9    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," About the Authors, Page 9 About the Authors Rev. Mark Connolly was born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts. In 1970 he started THE SUNDAY MASS on television in the New York Area. In 1993, Fr. Connolly was named the Director of Radio and Television in the Dicoese of Bridgeport. He is well known in the field of Radio and Television. Presently, Father is the host of an ABC syndicated show called THOUGHTS FOR THE WEEK which is aired every Sunday morning throughout the country. Father Connolly is the senior editor of SPIRITUALITY FOR TODAY. Most Rev. Edward M. Egan, D.D., J.C.D., was consecrated a bishop in 1985. In 1988 he was installed as the Third Bishop of Bridgeport. Bishop Egan has a degree in philospophy; licentiate in Sacred Theology and a Doctorate in Canon Law. He has overseen the regionalization of the diocesan elementary schools, established an active Hispanic Apostolate and founded the St. John Fisher Residence for young men considering the priesthood. Rev. Charles Allen, S.J., was born in Boston and ordained to the Society of Jesus in 1973. Since then Fr. Allen has held numerous educational and administrative positions within the Jesuit educational system. He is presently the Executive Assistant to the President of Fairfield University. Rev. Msgr. Kevin M. Wallin was ordained to the priesthood in December, 1984. He served as secretary to the Bishop of Bridgeport and in 1995 was appointed Vice-Channcellor and Director of Ministry for the Diocese of Bridgeport. In May 1996 he was named pastor of St. Peters in Danbury, Connecticut. Joan Maddy is a parishioner of St. Marys Church in Greenwich, Connecticut. She has taught CCD for many years and is a Dame of Malta.     ");
array_files[108]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/014/page01.asp","2009-08-03","9K","Time, Page 1    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Time, Page 1 Time Rev. Mark Connolly All of us hear throughout the year, my gosh the time is going by faster than ever. Where does all the time go? For a few moments I would like to spend and share a few thoughts with you on the subject of time. God gives to each one of us 24 hours a day. 1440 minutes and basically we are free to do with it whatever we want to do. All during the course of our lives you have heard people say, the years as you get older go faster. Yet we know we have the same 24 hours, the same 1440 minutes. A few years ago an organization from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, started to analyze how our time is spent and how often so much of that time is out of control. What I am going to say applies to a life span of 70 years or 75 years. In the course of that 70 or 75 years, just think of all the time that is spent on activities such as washing dishes, mopping out the bathroom floor, vacuuming the rug, taking out the garbage. Totally, collectively, all those activities take about four years out of your life. Four years out of 70 or 75 years that we have. The amount of time that we spend in eating, just figure this, takes about six years. This is one that always gets me, standing in line at the bank or the post office or tickets to a movie, takes about five years out of our life if we are talking about a life span of 70 to 75 years. I do this too. Americans spend about one year of their lives looking for misplaced objects such as eye glasses, wallets, car keys, cleaner slips and check books. Almost two years of ones life are lost trying to return the phone calls of people who never seem to be in. Then if you take the amount of time, some five or six hours per day, that the average person watches television, when you think of all these things that fragment our time or give us the feeling that we never have enough time, then you have your own answer to the question, where does the time go. Another part of that statistical analyzes about the subject of time is that the average person over a span of 70 ye      ");
array_files[109]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/009/page07.asp","2009-08-03","1K","Sonnet XLIII, from the Portuguese, Page 7    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Sonnet XLIII, from the Portuguese, Page 7 Sonnet XLIII, from the Portuguese How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. I love thee to the depth and breadth and height My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight For the ends of Being and ideal Grace. I love thee to the level of everydays Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light. I love thee freely, as men strive for Right; I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise. I love thee with the passing put to use In my old griefs, and with my childhoods faith. I love thee with a love I seemed to lose With my lost saints! - I love thee with the breath, Smiles, tears, of all my life! - and, if God choose, I shall but love thee better after death. Elizabeth Barret Browning, 1806-1861     ");
array_files[110]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/009/page06.asp","2009-08-03","6K","After Death - Heaven, Page 6    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," After Death - Heaven, Page 6 After Death - Heaven Rev. Mark Connolly One of the most difficult meditations a person can have concerns his life after his time on earth is over. The Easter season, with the themes of Alleluia and Resurrection, remind us of a better life or an after life. All sorts of questions come into our minds about our death and what happens after we die. If you read the gospels and the New Testament, you will soon find that the writers of these pages strongly believed in a life after this one on earth. In the New Testament the words Heaven and eternal life are mentioned over 600 times. For the writers of the New Testament, after our death, a new form of existence takes place. There is a life style unlike any we have ever experienced. When St. Paul wrote that after death your eyes will see and your mind will understand what God has in store for you, he was telling his followers of the glorious home called Heaven that awaits those who loved and served God on earth. The followers of Christ and St. Paul believed that the Bible was the inspired word of God, that there was no deception in it, and that Heaven would be a reality after their death. St. John in his description of the world that awaits us said there would be neither mourning nor grieving, the former things of earth will have passed away. If his words were to be made more contemporary, he could say look there is a place waiting for you where there is no cancer, where there is no stress or pain, where joys unlike anything on earth will be experienced by you. These themes from the Gospels and the New Testament have been written and spoken about for centuries. From the time of St. Jerome, St. Augustine, St. Thomas, Mother Teresa, the teaching about life after death has been constant. All of these beliefs demand faith and hope. All of these teachings are based on the teachings of Christ and his victory over death. Either you believe and trust in the person of Christ and his teachings or you dont. The teachings about Heaven as taught by Chri      ");
array_files[111]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/009/page05.asp","2009-08-03","3K","The Eucharist, Page 5    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," The Eucharist, Page 5 The Eucharist Joseph A. Hickey Throughout my life I have been a laborer, of the blue collar variety, you might say. I have worked hard since I was 18 years old, as an electrician, and installing alarm systems, tiles and carpets. During these past 12 years, my daily life has been one of hard work, exact measurements, and hands-on experience. Never trust any measurement you think is correct, unless you check it three times, is the basic rule of thumb. My belief in the Eucharist is, therefore, a hands-on one. What is the Eucharist? It is more than a symbol, I know that! If it is only a symbol of the presence of Christ, then it is a poor one. A crucifix reminds me more clearly of Christ; a statue or a picture also reminds me more of Christ than does a small round piece of unleavened bread. If at all, it is a symbol. If the Eucharist simply is a sign of a community, shared faith, then it is once again a poor one. Why not have a regular meal, with real food? A good Saturday night at a sports bar is more moving than Mass as a meal, if it is only a sign of community! If the Eucharist is only these things, then it fails, at least to a man used to hard work and exact measurements. But, if it is the Body and Blood of the Risen Lord; if it is as the Gospels say the Real Presence of Him who created us and redeemed us by His Blood on the Cross, then it is believable. Gods greatest works are done in unnoticeable ways. He spoke to Ezekiel, not in the storm or earthquake, but in the whisper of a breeze. He saved us, not by heavenly theater, but by sending His Son to be born quietly in an obscure village of a woman of no social standing or power. He paid for our sins dying as a sacrifice, but as someone of no importance to the world, ignored. So now He should come to us in the same manner, and remain with us in a way He can get into our bones and into the folds of our soul. He comes as food. God who humbled himself to be born of the Virgin, who further humbled himself for us, his imperfect image, becoming       ");
array_files[112]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/009/page04.asp","2009-08-03","2K","Hope - Thought for the Month, page 4    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Hope - Thought for the Month, page 4 Thought for the Month Light your lamps, my dear ones, See, the Lord is coming, is already here. On the day of his appearance he will place the just in the paradise of the blessed ones. At his coming all who awaited him, and trusted him, will thrill with unending joy. He will weave a garland of praise for the good who have trusted his Name and his salvation. The Firstborn went down to the world below and when they saw him, they longed to rise with him. He came down from heaven, saved us, and arose; now he is seated again at the Fathers side. He was slain by the fruit that Adam tasted; he came to us, like fruit falling from a tree. Behold, it is coming, it is near at hand, that blessed day of final resurrection! Great is the day of his appearance, when all that is hidden will be revealed. Then shall we rise and meet him, and hear his voice over all creation. We shall rise from death and hasten home, where all treasures there await us. The Lord has been taken from the tomb! He shall come again, and we will be with him! -from the Syriac Liturgy     ");
array_files[113]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/009/page03.asp","2009-08-03","3K","Chapel, Page 3     ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Chapel, Page 3 The Chapel at the End of the Hallway Rev. Stephen M. DiGiovanni There is a chapel at the end of my hallway in the seminary. Each week more than 700 people come to visit it. Twenty-four hours, seven days a week, these people come, each to his or her assigned hour for one reason -- to be with God in the Eucharist. The faith of these people is the faith of the Church, unchanged since the time of Christ Himself, who said He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has everlasting life, and I will raise him up on the last day. For my flesh is real food and my blood real drink. He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me and I in him. (John 6:54-56) The language of Our Lord in the Gospels is graphic and startling, so much so that He could not have been speaking symbolically. His meaning is as real regarding the reality of the Eucharist, therefore, as was his taking on human flesh and blood and his dying on the cross and rising from the dead. He entered his creation in order to make us more like himself. St. Augustine taught that God became man so that mankind could become God. He transforms us by giving us himself in the Eucharist. It is there that he waits for us and there that he remains with us until the end of time, beckoning us to allow his presence to make us like himself. The Lord, truly present in the Eucharist, is the heart of the Churchs life and mission. His presence is the reason why those 700 people come every week to the chapel at the end of my hallway. They believe as the Church has believed for nearly two millennia. The Church believes because Our Lord taught it the reality of his love, at his birth, on the Cross and in his words that he would remain with us until the end of time. He remains with us, not in our memory, nor as an idea, nor as printed word, but in the reality of his flesh and blood. God became man so that mankind can become God. He loves us, in the flesh. That is the Eucharist -- God with us.     ");
array_files[114]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/009/authors.asp","2009-08-03","2K","About the Authors, Page 8    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," About the Authors, Page 8 About the Authors Rev. Mark Connolly was born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts. In 1970 he started THE SUNDAY MASS on television in the New York metropolitan area. In 1993, Fr. Connolly was named the Director of Radio and Television for the Diocese of Bridgeport. He is well known in the field of Radio and Television. Presently, Father is the host of an ABC-syndicated show, THOUGHTS FOR THE WEEK , which airs every Sunday morning throughout the country. Father Connolly is the senior editor of SPIRITUALITY FOR TODAY . Most Rev. Edward M. Egan, D.D., J.C.D. , was consecrated a bishop in 1985. In 1988 he was installed as the Third Bishop of Bridgeport. Bishop Egan has a degree in philosophy; licentiate in Sacred Theology and a Doctorate in Canon Law. He has overseen the regionalization of the diocesan elementary schools, established an active Hispanic Apostolate, and founded the St. John Fisher Residence for young men considering the priesthood. Rev. Stephen M. DiGiovanni studied at the Pontifical North American College Rome. He was ordained in 1977 and received his doctoral degree in Church History in 1983. Father has been the Rector of St. John Fisher Seminary since 1989. He is the author of various books and articles related to Church history. Joseph Hickey is a native of New York and is currently studying for the priesthood at St. John Fisher Residence in Stamford, Connecticut.     ");
array_files[115]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/009/page02.asp","2009-08-03","7K","Offertory, Page 2    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Offertory, Page 2 Offertory Most Rev. Edward M. Egan It was a warm Saturday afternoon in May of 1988. I was ordaining deacons for a religious community of priests who work with the Missionaries of Charity, the congregation of sisters founded by Mother Teresa of Calcutta. In the front rows of Sacred Heart Parish Church in the South Bronx were the relatives and friends of those to be ordained, along with Mother Teresa and several of her sisters. The church was filled to capacity. We had listened to the Readings. I had delivered my homily. And the actual ordination, with its litany, laying on of hands, and prayer of consecration, had been solemn and moving. It was time for the Liturgy of the Eucharist. The gifts of bread and wine were brought to the altar by the parents of the newly ordained. A Gospel choir and an Hispanic chorus from the parish accompanied the procession magnificently. Silence ensued. I lifted the paten to begin the Offertory. Blessed are You, Lord, God of all creation, I prayed. Through your goodness we have this bread to offer. * * * * * Suddenly from the rear of the church there came a shriek. All turned to see what was happening. In the center aisle a man, who appeared to be in his early thirties, was hurling himself toward the sanctuary, frequently falling and struggling to his feet. His face was covered with blood, as was a cloth which he grasped in his flailing left hand. At the end of the aisle he fell facedown. His head landed just short of the stairway leading to the sanctuary. The blood-soaked cloth escaped from his hand and came to rest on the top step. Mother Teresa and three of her sisters rushed to his side. He was sobbing bitterly. With the help of two men from the congregation, they assisted him into the sacristy. Even after the door was firmly closed, we could hear him crying and calling out for help. When all had returned to their places, I picked up the paten and began again: Blessed are You, Lord, God of all creation. Through your goodness we have this bread to offer. * * *       ");
array_files[116]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/009/page01.asp","2009-08-03","6K","Introduction to April Issue, Page 1    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Introduction to April Issue, Page 1 Introduction to Aprils Issue: The Eucharist Rev. Mark Connolly Holy Thursday night, the institution of the Eucharist, the Body and Blood of Christ, is one of the most famous and dramatic nights in history. Christians all over the world have been influenced by the event that found Christ and twelve fishermen gathered in an upper room. From that night when Christ took bread and wine in his hands, gave the apostles the privilege of being there and then gave them the power to change lifeless bread into the Bread of Life, from that night the world has never been the same. When you think of Christ, the High Priest, taking twelve men and making them priests, this has to be one of the most important nights in the history of mankind. Because from that night came the Body and Blood of Christ and twelve men who bring his body and blood wherever they would be as priests. Two thousand years later, this mystery of the Body and Blood, this mystery of the Eucharist, is still being made known especially to the followers of Christ. The Eucharist is at the heart of what Catholics believe. Almost any Catholic who has made his First Communion, almost any Catholic who frequently receives the Body and Blood of Christ, feels special. And well, they should. For at the moment the host is received that Catholic can say it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives within him. That person who receives Christ is having a private audience with the Son of God. For the Catholic who receives the Eucharist, there is the feeling I am welcoming the Christ of the Eucharist into my heart. The thought of Christ living within one, the thought of this intimacy between Christ and man makes every Catholic realize the factor of closeness to God. Almost every Catholic can recall the story of the Last Supper. Almost every Catholic realizes when he receives communion he is not only re-establishing a closer friendship with Gods Son, but that he is taking part in that event that started on that first Holy Thursday. In t      ");
array_files[117]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/008/page07.asp","2009-08-03","5K","Lent, Page 7    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Lent, Page 7 Lent Rev. Mark Connolly Lent for most Catholics is a special time. No matter how far removed they might be from their studies of Lent, most Catholics know that the forty days of Lent remind them of giving up something that is a sacrifice, acts of self-denial, acts that are geared to remind them of Christ. Lent is sacred and spiritual for every Christian. This is the season that reminds us of the great sacrifice of Christ for each one of us. Centuries ago Jesus Christ went through an agony, a scourging, a crowning and a crucifixion. The tragedy of Good Friday led to the triumph of Easter Sunday. The acts of self-denial, the acts of sacrifice we make during this season helps us identify with the sacrifices of Christ. Uniting our sacrifice with that of Christ, uniting our pain with his, Lent is set aside just to remind us of these factors. Lent is not just a season we reflect upon and apply only to ourselves. Our acts of self-denial, our acts of sacrifices not only are directed to Christ, but to our neighbor. Christ himself told us wherever two or three are gathered in my name there I am in the midst of them. If you go back to the life of Father Damien, the Leper Priest, you might recall his whole life was to identify himself with Christ and this he did working with the lepers of Molokai. If you study the life of Mother Teresa, the pattern is the same. Whatever sacrifices she makes are identified with Christ. And she finds Christ in the poor people of Calcutta. The whole thrust of the season of Lent is to increase ones spirituality. To make one more aware of the great events that took place centuries ago. Just think of this. The Eucharist that has nourished hundreds of million, the body and blood of Christ that is the core of our Christian belief, is recalled and re-presented for us during the season of Lent. The death of Christ on Good Friday, the worlds greatest act of Love, is represented to us during this Lent. The victory of Christ over death, the words of Christ reminding us that he is the resu      ");
array_files[118]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/008/page06.asp","2009-08-03","3K","Obtaining a sense of hope, Page 6    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Obtaining a sense of hope, Page 6 Obtaining a Sense of Hope Dorothy Riera One of my favorite parables from the Gospels is the parable of the Prodigal Son. It is rich in thematic and human emotions. Of all the characters that are presented it is the figure of the father that has always attracted my attention. As a parent, I can imagine the anguish and the enormous sadness the father experiences at the loss of his son. Yet, I believe it is his sense of hope that sustains him during this moment of his life. Parenting is not an easy task. We all have great expectations and hopes for our children. We want them to strive, succeed and be happy. When these expectations are shattered, for whatever reasons, we cling unto the only virtue that in some way brings us to the other side of the tunnel - Hope. Of the three virtues, hope is the one that assures us there is something more in the midst of our tragedy. Even when we suffer the loss of a loved one we hope that we will someday be reunited again. Without hope we fall into despair. We allow ourselves to be trapped into the existentialism of Jean-Paul Sartre plagued with anguish. But anguish and despair are conquered by hope. Jürgen Moltmann, the German theologian, in his book Experiences of God says we are called to hope. . . . It is a call: the call to divine life. Having a strong spiritual life, no matter what religion you profess, only enhances your capacity to hope. Having a strong spiritual life is the antidote for despair. Charles Péquy, the French poet, wrote that hope was given to us one Christmas Eve. Hope encompasses all. Faith sees he who is; hope sees he who shall be. Charity loves he who is; hope loves he who shall be. And so, the father, filled with hope, awaited the Prodigal Son seeing he who would be and loving he who would come home. An Act of Hope O my God, relying on Thy almighty power and infinite mercy and promises, I hope to obtain pardon for my sins, the help of Thy grace, and life everlasting, through the merits of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Redee      ");
array_files[119]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/013/page05.asp","2009-08-03","2K","A Psalm of Life, page 5    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," A Psalm of Life, page 5 A Psalm of Life What the Young Man said to the Psalmist Tell me not, in mournful numbers, Life is but an empty dream! For the soul is dead that slumbers And things are not what they seem. Life is real! Life is earnest! And the grave is not its goal; Dust thou art, to dust returnest, Was not spoken of the soul. Not enjoyment, and not sorrow, Is our destined end or way; But to act, that each to-morrow Find us further than to-day. Art is long, and Time is fleeting, And our hearts, though stout and brave, Still, like muffled drums, are beating Funeral marches to the grave. In the worlds broad field of battle, In the bivouac of Life, Be not like dumb, driven cattle! Be a hero in the strife! Trust no Future, howeer pleasant! Let the dead Past bury its dead! Act,-act in the living Present! Heart within, and God oerhead! Lives of great men all remind us We can make our lives sublime, And, departing, leave behind us Footprints on the sands of time; Footprints, that perhaps another, Sailing oer lifes solemn main, A forlorn and shipwrecked brother, Seeing, shall take heart again. Let us, then, be up and doing, With a heart for any fate; Still achieving, still pursuing, Learn to labor and to wait. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807 - 1882)     ");
array_files[120]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/008/page05.asp","2009-08-03","1K","Thought for the Month, Page 5    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Thought for the Month, Page 5 Thought for the Month Prayer of Saint Francis De Sales Do not look forward to the changes and chances of this life in fear; rather, look to them with full hope that, as they arise, God, whose you are, will deliver you out of them. He has kept you until now - do you but hold fast to His dear hand and He will lead you safely through all things; and when you cannot stand, He will bear you in His arms. Do not look forward to what may happen tomorrow; the same everlasting Father who cares for you today will take care of you tomorrow and every day. Either He will shield you from suffering or He will give you unfailing strength to bear it. Be at peace, then, and put aside all anxious thoughts and imaginations.     ");
array_files[121]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/013/page04.asp","2009-08-03","1K","Thought for the Month, page 4    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Thought for the Month, page 4 Thought for the Month My life shall touch a dozen lives Before this day is done; Leave countless marks for good or ill, Ere sets the evening sun. So this the wish I alway wish, The prayer I ever pray;; Lord, may my life help other lives, It touches by the way. My Influence O. Knight     ");
array_files[122]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/008/authors.asp","2009-08-03","2K","About the Authors, Page 8    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," About the Authors, Page 8 About the Authors Rev. Mark Connolly was born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts. In 1970 he started THE SUNDAY MASS on television in the New York metropolitan area. In 1993, Fr. Connolly was named the Director of Radio and Television for the Diocese of Bridgeport. He is well known in the field of Radio and Television. Presently, Father is the host of an ABC-syndicated show, THOUGHTS FOR THE WEEK , which airs every Sunday morning throughout the country. Father Connolly is the senior editor of SPIRITUALITY FOR TODAY . Most Rev. Edward M. Egan, D.D., J.C.D. , was consecrated a bishop in 1985. In 1988 he was installed as the Third Bishop of Bridgeport. Bishop Egan has a degree in philosophy; licentiate in Sacred Theology and a Doctorate in Canon Law. He has overseen the regionalization of the diocesan elementary schools, established an active Hispanic Apostolate, and founded the St. John Fisher Residence for young men considering the priesthood. Dorothy L. Riera is a graduate of the University of Puerto Rico and the State University of New York. Mrs. Riera is a member of the parish council at St. Michael the Archangel in Greenwich. She is a Dame of Malta and is fluent in Spanish, English and French. Mildred Ix was born in Boston, Massachussets. She resides in Greenwich and is a parishioner in St. Marys Church in Greenwich. Mildred is the Hospitaller for the Order of Malta. In 1991 she was conferred the medal Pro il Papa e Pro lEcclesia by Pope John Paul II.     ");
array_files[123]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/008/page04.asp","2009-08-03","5K","Hope - Gods Great Gift, page 4    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Hope - Gods Great Gift, page 4 Hope - Gods Great Gift Mildred G. Ix Hope deferred makes the heart sick, Hope fulfilled is a tree of life. Proverb 13:12 The spiritual care-giver knocked on the door. The AIDS patient sat alone in the dark room. He wanted to learn the Creed. He was French; and she wished she knew the Creed in French. It would be easier for him to learn it, and his memory was still good. He began to repeat after her, I believe in God. . . . The care-giver moved on to the woman in the next room. She was blind but her fingers could dance on the beads as she recited the Rosary. She was so happy - - The operation on her breast was a success. They were able to get the whole tumor! The next patient was a man of sixty who had had his arm and leg amputated. When asked by the care-giver how he was coping, he said, The Lord never gives you more than you can endure. The young mother of two little children was next. She was waiting for a bone marrow transplant. She explained to the care-giver that only a few years ago there was only a 30 percent cure rate but now it was over 50 percent -- I know Im going to be in the 50% who live. What did these patients have in common? They had hope -- hope for the future. Each patient viewed the future differently. The AIDS patient knowing that his illness was terminal wanted to learn about God by memorizing the Creed. The blind woman was grateful that her cancer had been surgically removed. The sixty year old man believed that God would always protect him from pain he could not endure, and the young mother hoped she would live to see her children grow up. Everyone wants to believe that there is something beyond human experience. This gives them a sense of hope. In Catholicism, Christ is our role model for hope. Through his teaching, suffering, dying and resurrection, we enter into the mystery of faith and find God. Our religion reinforces our Christian hope everyday of our lives. A spiritual care-giver to the sick must recognize the significance of hope. Not only must he o      ");
array_files[124]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/013/page03.asp","2009-08-03","9K","In Gratitude: Our Readers E-Mail, Page 3    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," In Gratitude: Our Readers E-Mail, Page 3 In Gratitude Dorothy Riera As we celebrate the first anniversary of SPIRITUALITY FOR TODAY on the Internet, we would like to share with you, our readers, some of the e-mail we received throughout the year. Your response was overwhelming and we wish we could print all of it. We thank you for your words of encouragement, your opinions and your time. You, the readers, have made it possible for us to continue our endeavor. We feel we have achieved our purpose, to inspire and bring a sense of spirituality and relief into the very hectic life we all live. And so, we hope you continue to read and enjoy the magazine in the year to come. Our desire is to reach out to people of diverse religions and we ask you to let us know what subject matters you would like to see in the future issues of SPIRITUALITY FOR TODAY. Once again, from all of us, thank you for a wonderful year. * * * * * * I really enjoyed your article on students heading off to college. During my first semester it was difficult to find a spiritual home outside of my church back home. Your article really inspired me to find one while Im away. - 20 year old student. Interesting. My works as a Campus Minister at a Catholic University means that I am always on the lookout for good sites to suggest to staff and students! - Teacher in Austria Thanks for this online magazine. Great material. I am director of an Interfaith AIDS Network. We are a day program that addresses the spiritual and emotional needs/dimension of people living with AIDS. Spirituality for Today is very helpful for this ministry. Thanks for the good work. I really enjoyed reading the issue on the Priesthood and vocations. As a possible seminarian, it helped me with some answers to some questions I had. Fabulous - especially this issue with articles on Eucharist, which has been the center of my life for the past 40 years - indeed, it is my very life. I am very impressed! Im printing a couple of the articles to show a friends -- we were talking about the po      ");
array_files[125]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/008/page03.asp","2009-08-03","5K","The Way of the Cros, Page 3     ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," The Way of the Cros, Page 3 The Way of the Cross This is a spiritual meditation to do during the Season of Lent. Just read it and reflect. I. Pilate Condemns Jesus to Die Meditation: Lord Jesus, often I judge others and fail to be understanding or loving. Help me to see the people in my life through your eyes, not the eyes of a Pontius Pilate. II. Jesus Accepts His Cross Meditation: Lord Jesus, you embraced your cross to redeem the world. Help me to embrace the crosses in my life -- the hardships, struggles, disappointments, pain. Only by recognizing my own weakness, can I discover your strength. III. Jesus Falls the First Time Meditation: Lord Jesus, you know how often I fall trying to follow you. Yet you are always there to life me up. Help me always to trust in your loving care for me. IV. Jesus Meets His Mother Meditation: Lord Jesus, your mother Marys grief was surpassed by her love for you. So often you come to me in others and their love gives me new life. Help me to see how often you love me through the people in my life. V. Simon Helps Carry the Cross Meditation: Lord Jesus, sometimes I am indifferent to the needs of others in my life. I even neglect those whom I love. Help me to see that loving others is the surest way to find you in my life. VI. Veronica Wipes the Face of Jesus Meditation: Lord Jesus, at times I am afraid to reach out to others. I do nothing when I should act, I say nothing when I should speak out. Give me a deeper and more courageous faith. Help me to trust that you are with me. VII. Jesus Falls the Second Time Meditation: Lord Jesus, failure and disappointment sometimes lead me to despair. I hide behind my pride and self-pity, withdrawing from you and others. Give me the hope I need and help me never to be afraid to begin again. VIII. Jesus Speaks to the Women Meditation: Lord Jesus, your great compassion for others overwhelms me. I feel petty and selfish when I think of you and the way you love. Help me to pour out my love, that you might fill me with your love. IX. Jesus Falls t      ");
array_files[126]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/013/page02.asp","2009-08-03","4K","Questions Concerning Church Theology    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Questions Concerning Church Theology Questions Concerning Church Theology These were some of the questions concerning Church Theology we received. If you have any questions or comments concerning Church Theology, do not hesitate to e-mail us. We will certainly try to answer them. Q. Why do Roman Catholics pray to statues? A. Catholics do not pray to statues. This would be a sin, the sin of idolatry. The reasons for the statues are: 1. To honor those we believe who are in Gods presence. We believe this because of the grace worked in their lives while they were alive. We also believe this because of the response received from their prayers of intercession. 2. Statues direct our attention, not only to the person that God has blessed in this life, statues help the people who are praying to look beyond the plaster or wood to the giver of all gifts, God himself. Q. Why do Catholics pray to Mary? A. The easiest way to explain this is in the form of an example: Many times when people are undergoing hardship or difficulty in their life they will ask prayers from their friends, they ask them to intercede. For Catholics, next to Christ, there is no better person to ask then the Mother of God. She interceded at the wedding feast of Cana. She continues to intercede for us today. We do not pray to Mary, but through her. We ask her to pray with us. Q. I am quite perplexed. I thought the cross was something sacred and yet I see it being used in a superficial manner by young people as well as adults. What is the symbolism of the Cross? A. Most of us cannot make judgements concerning the state of spirituality of other people. Inasmuch as Christ died upon the cross for everyone, every one feels that he or she has the right to wear that cross. Basically, the symbol of the cross is a reminder of the love of Christ for every one of us. It is a reminder that if Christ had to hang on the cross today as he did 2000 years ago he would. It is a sign of his great personal love for us. It is not a good luck charm. It has nothing to do wit      ");
array_files[127]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/008/page02.asp","2009-08-03","7K","In the Holiness of Truth - Stations, Page 2    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," In the Holiness of Truth - Stations, Page 2 In the Holiness of Truth Stations Most Rev. Edward M. Egan The senior judge of the Vaticans highest judicial tribunal, the Roman Rota, was greatly concerned. One of our fellow judges, a Scot who was a dear friend of mine, was in a hospital in London with a brain tumor. The senior judge felt that I should go to see him and assure him of the prayers of best wishes of all at the Rota. It was April, and I was only too willing to accept the assignment. Thus, reservations were quickly made at a hotel in Russell Square, a short distance from the Queens Hospital where my colleague was confined; and I was on my way. London can, of course, be cold and rainy; but this April it was marvelously warm and sunny. Never had I found the city more beautiful. I arrived at Heathrow Airport late in the morning, checked into my hotel around two, and hurried over to the hospital for the afternoon visiting hours. My friend was in a ward. His head had been shaved for an operation that was scheduled for the next day, and he wore a kind of nightcap about which the two of us did much joking. I brought him the greetings of the judges and staff of the Rota, and we chatted until a rather severe nurse invited me to leave. The next day was as splendid as the day before. Early in the morning I made my way to the local Catholic church. It was a small English-Gothic edifice with two saints as patrons whose names have slipped from my memory. To enter, one crossed a flagstone porch on either side of which large wooden benches had been installed. At the end of the porch were black, wrought-iron gates which stood wide open and led into the vestibule. I went in; and as I moved up the aisle, a tall man in a smock that reached well below his knees approached to introduce himself as the sexton of the church. Did I wish to celebrate Mass, he inquired. I replied that I did. Accordingly, he directed me to a tiny sacristy, laid out a set of vestments, and served at the altar with the air of a seasoned professional.      ");
array_files[128]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/013/authors.asp","2009-08-03","2K","About the Authors, Page 8    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," About the Authors, Page 8 About the Authors Rev. Mark Connolly was born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts. Father Connolly, whose background is in the field of clinical psychology, has been involved in radio and television for most of his years in the priesthood. In 1970 he started THE SUNDAY MASS on television in the New York metropolitan area. In 1993, Fr. Connolly was named the Director of Radio and Television for the Dicoese of Bridgeport. Presently, Father Connolly hosts the ABC-syndicated show, THOUGHTS FOR THE WEEK , which airs every Sunday morning throughout the country. Father Connolly is the senior editor of SPIRITUALITY FOR TODAY . Dorothy L. Riera is a graduate of the University of Puerto Rico and the State University of New York. Mrs. Riera is a member of the parish council at St. Michael the Archangel in Greenwich. She is a Dameof Malta and is fluent in Spanish, English and French.     ");
array_files[129]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/008/page01.asp","2009-08-03","5K","Introduction to March Issue, Page 1    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Introduction to March Issue, Page 1 Introduction to Marchs Issue: Hope Rev. Mark Connolly One of the most difficult virtues to cultivate is the virtue of hope. Each day the news we hear is more tragic than the preceding day. Radio and television constantly bring us a diet of negative imprints and this, joined with some of the adverse experiences in our personal and family life, makes this virtue we call hope more elusive with each passing day. If you really are going to learn how to acquire and cultivate hope you really have to make Christ a daily reality in your life. When his apostle Peter denied him there was always hope in his heart that Peter would return. When his apostle Thomas doubted there was always hope in the heart of Christ that his doubts could be changed. When his apostle Judas betrayed him there was always hope that Judas would have a change of heart. And Judas did. He confessed that he sinned in betraying innocent blood. Hope is that quality that Erick Ericson speaks about when he says that no matter how many failures you have, no matter what hangups you have, each one is given a second chance to make life better for yourself and those in your life. Hope is that quality that men like Victor Frankel speak about. He says, look, I dont care if you have cancer. I dont care if your marriage is on the rocks. As long as you look for a meaning to live, you will find the means to live life. In his work on logotherapy there was no life that could be lived unless it was grounded in hope. If there is any organization that has learned the value of hope it is the Catholic Church. The tragedy, the so called hopelessness of Good Friday, has been replayed in the triumph of Easter Sunday all throughout the history of the Catholic Church. Liberals and conservatives, enemies within and outside the Church, religious wars, scandals, all have been part of the fabric of the Church - but because people in every country and civilization have imitated the hope taught by Christ during his suffering - the Church continues      ");
array_files[130]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/013/page01.asp","2009-08-03","4K","Introduction to a New Year, Page 1    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Introduction to a New Year, Page 1 Introduction to A New Year Rev. Mark Connolly One year has passed since we started bringing you SPIRITUALITY FOR TODAY. During that time we have received hundreds of pieces of e-mail. During that time we have received hundreds of suggestions as to how to improve SPIRITUALITY FOR TODAY. For all of your letters, for all of your suggestions, we are grateful, very grateful. The next year we hope to bring you a series of topics that you will find equally rewarding, equally challenging. If there is a certain degree of success due to SPIRITUALITY FOR TODAY it is because of readers like yourself and we need more of them. Your ideas, your suggestions for themes, the topics you want discussed have been of tremendous help to us and we hope you will continue sending in your suggestions and e-mail letters. One of the problems we have in producing a magazine like SPIRITUALITY FOR TODAY (in addition to the financial) is making this magazine more widely known and it is here that we need your help. Again, word of mouth, making people aware of this magazine, bringing it into wherever you work, all of these increase our circulation. We have a very selective, highly intelligent audience. We would like you to share SPIRITUALITY FOR TODAY with more of them. In the spirit of being apostles, you are asked to bring the Gospel of Christ to different parts of the environment in which you work. Your neighbor, your co-worker, your friends, all can be enriched by this magazine and the missionary work of Christ is done when you bring this magazine to others. Most of us will never have the chance to be foreign missionaries bringing the Gospel to people of different lands, but some of us have the opportunity to be local missionaries in bringing the message of Christ through our magazine, SPIRITUALITY FOR TODAY, to others. Just think of the good you are doing when you recognize in your own, quiet, silent, apostolic way, you bring the spirit of Christ to others. You can do it by spreading the knowledge of SPIR      ");
array_files[131]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/010/page05.asp","2009-08-03","2K","How to Pray the Rosary, Page 5    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," How to Pray the Rosary, Page 5 How to Pray the Rosary THE MYSTERIES OF THE ROSARY The Joyful Mysteries 1. THE ANNUNCIATION 2. THE VISITATION 3. THE BIRTH OF JESUS 4. THE PRESENTATION 5. THE FINDING OF THE CHILD JESUS IN THE TEMPLE The Sorrowful Mysteries 1. THE AGONY IN THE GARDEN 2. THE SCOURGING AT THE PILLAR 3. THE CROWNING WITH THORNS 4. THE CARRYING OF THE CROSS 5. THE CRUCIFIXION The Glorious Mysteries 1. THE RESURRECTION 2. THE ASCENSION 3. THE DESCENT OF THE HOLY GHOST 4. THE ASSUMPTION 5. THE CROWNING OF MARY How to pray the Rosary 1. Make the Sign of the Cross and say the Apostles Creed. 2. Say the Our Father. 3. Say three Hail Marys. 4. Say the Glory be to the Father. 5. Announce the First Mystery; then say the Our Father. 6. Say ten Hail Marys, while meditating on the mystery. 7. Say the Glory be to the Father. 8. Announce the Second Mystery, then say the Our Father. Say ten Hail Marys, while meditating on the mystery. Repeat this for the remaining Mysteries.     ");
array_files[132]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/010/authors.asp","2009-08-03","2K","About the Authors, Page 6    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," About the Authors, Page 6 About the Authors Rev. Mark Connolly was born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts. In 1970 he started THE SUNDAY MASS on television in the New York metropolitan area. In 1993, Fr. Connolly was named the Director of Radio and Television for the Diocese of Bridgeport. He is well known in the field of Radio and Television. Presently, Father is the host of an ABC-syndicated show, THOUGHTS FOR THE WEEK , which airs every Sunday morning throughout the country. Father Connolly is the senior editor of SPIRITUALITY FOR TODAY . Most Rev. Edward M. Egan, D.D., J.C.D. , was consecrated a bishop in 1985. In 1988 he was installed as the Third Bishop of Bridgeport. Bishop Egan has a degree in philosophy; licentiate in Sacred Theology and a Doctorate in Canon Law. He has overseen the regionalization of the diocesan elementary schools, established an active Hispanic Apostolate, and founded the St. John Fisher Residence for young men considering the priesthood. The Rev. Msg. Kevin Wallin was ordained to the priesthood in December, 1984. He served as secretary to the Bishop of Bridgeport since 1987 and in 1995 was appointed as Vice-Chancellor and Director of Ministry for the Diocese of Bridgeport.     ");
array_files[133]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/010/page04.asp","2009-08-03","10K","A visit to Lourdes, Page 4    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," A visit to Lourdes, Page 4 A Visit to Lourdes Rev. Msgr. Kevin Wallin Mention the name Lourdes to anyone familiar with this famous place of pilgrimage in Southern Frances and, immediately, the image of miraculous cures comes to mind. Best known as a place for such Divine intervention, Lourdes is, in fact, a source of far greater and more frequent spiritual renewal and strengthening than the occasional supernatural cure. Indeed, since the first apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary to Bernadette Soubirous, only 65 certifiable miracles have been attributed to the intercession of Our Lady of Lourdes. However, day after day, year after year, decade after decade, millions of people have been touched and healed by visits to this spiritual wellspring. The religious story of Lourdes began on Thursday, February 11, 1858, when three girls, one of whom was the fourteen year old Bernadette Soubirous, went to collect wood along the shores of the river Gave. In the course of that outing Bernadette heard a noise and, looking up, saw a woman dressed in white and praying the rosary. Following that first apparition, Bernadette was to see her beautiful Lady 17 times more. However, it was not until the third appearance, on February 18th, that the Lady finally spoke to Bernadette and asked her to come to the grotto every day for two weeks. In return, if Bernadette did as she was asked, the Lady said that while she could not promise Bernadette happiness in this life, she could and would do so in the next. Bernadette followed the Ladys direction and began to visit the grotto daily. As word of the story spread, crowds began to accompany Bernadette. In the course of these visits, the Lady revealed that she had come primarily to communicate a message of repentance and prayer for the conversion of sinners. Bernadette relayed this message, and others, to those who watched her mysterious conversations. On one occasion, the Lady instructed Bernadette to wash at the spring. There being no spring, Bernadette dug a small hole, and in the mudd      ");
array_files[134]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/011/page05.asp","2009-08-03","2K","Poems on Immortality, page 5    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Poems on Immortality, page 5 Poems on Immortality Death, be not proud Death, be not proud, though some have called thee Mighty and dreadful, for thou art not so; For those whom thou thinkst thou dost overthrow Die not, poor Death; nor yet canst thou kill me. From rest and sleep, which but thy pictures be, Much pleasure; then from thee much more must flow; And soonest our best men with thee do go - Rest of their bones, and souls delivery! Thourt slave to fate, chance, kings, and desperate men, And dost with poison, war, and sickness dwell; And poppy or charms can make us sleep as well And better than thy stroke. Why swellst thou then? One short sleep past, we wake eternally, And Death shall be no more: Death, thou shalt die. -- John Donne (1573-1631) From Intimations of Immortality Our birth is but a sleep and a forgetting; The Soul that rises with us, our lifes Star, Hath had elsewhere its setting And cometh from afar; Not in entire forgetfulness, And not in utter nakedness, But trailing clouds of glory do we come From God, who is our home: Heaven lies about us in our infancy! Shades of the prison-house begin to close Upon the growing Boy, But he beholds the light, and whence it flows, He sees it in his joy; The Youth, who daily farther from the east Must travel, still is Natures priest, And by the vision splendid Is on his way attended; At length the Man perceives it die away, And fade into the light of common day. -- William Wordsworth (1770 - 1850)     ");
array_files[135]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/010/page03.asp","2009-08-03","1K","Thought for the Month: Mothers Day, page 3    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Thought for the Month: Mothers Day, page 3 Thought for the Month Mothers Day Thank you, dear Lord, for our mothers Who were brave enough to give birth Who loved through many growing-up years Who taught about God and love and being good Who often got no thanks Whose ears could hear the slightest cry Whose eyes didnt miss much either Whose hands held and bathed and picked up Whose heart was often broken Who always forgave and forgot Who encouraged when things went bad Who always had time to listen Who worked so hard to make things go Who make the world so much better Who deserve our love on Mothers Day And Every day Even for eternity. Amen.     ");
array_files[136]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/010/page02.asp","2009-08-03","8K","FIAT, Page 2    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," FIAT, Page 2 FIAT Most Rev. Edward M. Egan Husband and wife, they worked in a little Roman store that sold postcards, guidebooks, and inexpensive engraving of churches and monuments. I first met them in 1973 and occasionally joined them in their apartment for dinner and family celebrations. In 1976 they made a pilgrimage to Lourdes, a town in Southwestern Frances where the Virgin Mary was said to have appeared several times in 1858 to Bernadette Soubirous, a girl of fourteen who later became a religious sister and still later a canonized saint. A few days after their return to Rome, I was invited to their home. The husband suffered from chronic back pain, and the wife from occasional attacks of asthma. Both alleged that they were feeling better after their visit to Lourdes and with much faith and warmth presented me with a rosary they had purchased there. It was a most unusual rosary, for in place of the medal that ordinarily joins the five sets of beads with the four beads that lead to the crucifix, this rosary was fitted with a plastic bubble inside which one could see a drop of water. Its water from the grotto where Bernadette saw the Virgin, I was told. I thanked the couple profusely. * * * * * Later that same year a priest friend of mine and I decided to join a group that was making a brief tour of Hungary. Because of the religious persecution in that Communist country, we obtained new passports in which our occupation was professor rather than clergyman and our photographs showed us in open-collar shirts. We had agreed to be as discreet as possible, never saying anything negative about the local Communist regime and bringing with us absolutely nothing of a religious nature. In the course of our exploring Budapest one afternoon, we passed by the American Embassy in which Jozsef Cardinal Mindszenty, the Primate of Hungary, had found refuge in 1956 at the conclusion of the popular revolt. We stayed on the opposite side of the street, taking in the scene with as casual an air as we could manage. Fifty feet a      ");
array_files[137]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/011/page04.asp","2009-08-03","2K","After Life, Page 4    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," After Life, Page 4 AFTERLIFE Fr. Stephen M. DiGiovanni Many religions view the afterlife as eternal, totally spiritual, one in which the individual somehow sheds all vestiges of the present physical existence, and finally succeeds in liberating oneself from imperfection, if not from ones own self and individual identity. The individual is reduced from being a person to a force, spending all eternity with other powers in the universe. The afterlife promised by Our Lord, Jesus Christ, is something totally different. The Lord took on flesh so as to offer himself to the Father in payment for the sins of the flesh, and, in exchange, offered to us an eternity with God. We who are baptized into Christs death and resurrection, therefore, do not strive to lose ourselves, or annihilate our identities. Rather, it is our entire selves, body and soul, which, through Christ, will be reunited after death, not in a timeless, impersonal perfection, but by sharing the very life of the Divine Persons of the Trinity. St. Augustine once wrote that God became man so that Mankind could become God. In other words, we were created by God in His image, recreated by His Son who revived us from our sins by becoming like us, dying on the Cross and rising on the third day in the flesh and, at the end of time, will be drawn from the grave by the Holy Spirit so as to live with God forever. No reincarnation is necessary, since we are already remade in Christ. No self-annihilation, since we are precious in the eyes of God through Christ. No losing of oneself into the powers of the universe, since we will find perfection, body and soul, sharing Gods life as His beloved. That is eternal life -- Gods love poured out for us in the flesh, so that we can be with God, in the flesh, loving Him and He loving us, His image, forever.     ");
array_files[138]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/010/page01.asp","2009-08-03","5K","Introduction to May Issue, Page 1    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Introduction to May Issue, Page 1 Introduction to Mays Issue: Mary, our role model Rev. Mark Connolly Almost any Catholic knows the word Litany. In Church language it is a series of short prayerful expressions, directed to God and asking His help. Recently in the Litany of Our Blessed Mother, the prayerful expression, Queen of all families, was inserted. And it is so appropriate. If you go back into the life of the Church at almost any age, respect and reverence were always directed towards Mary of Nazareth, the Mother of Christ. Almost every section of Europe has a shrine or a Church which reminds the tourist of a place that once honored Mary. If you look at the words of Michelangelo and Leonardo Da Vinci, Raphael and Tintoretto, great painters of the past, there is no doubt of the role Mary played in their lives. If you go back even further, after the death of Christ, when the Apostles were fearful of their future, it was Mary who, with the help of the Holy Spirit, set the stage for the first Pentecost. Going back even further into her history we recall that her son, Jesus, and her husband, Joseph, experienced tragedies and hardships most families never imagine. Imagine the feelings a new mother must have when she is told in a dream that her son is to be killed. They had just gone through the harsh experience of being forced to give birth in a stable. Then, they being Jewish, had to go to Egypt which at the time was anti-semantic. Imagine Joseph, the carpenter, trying to find a job in a climate such as this. The experience of being lost in the Temple for three days, wondering and searching for him. Wondering whether he was kidnapped, searching and wondering when and how they would find him. Imagine what he must have sounded like when Mary heard the crowd speaking on Good Friday about her son and saying, Crucify him, crucify him. Go one step further in your imagination and picture Mary watching her son take his last breath on the cross, and then realizing and knowing he was totally innocent. All of us know fr      ");
array_files[139]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/011/page03.asp","2009-08-03","2K","Thought for the Month: Safely Home, page 3    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Thought for the Month: Safely Home, page 3 Thought for the Month Safely Home I am home in Heaven, dear ones; Oh, so happy and so bright! There is perfect joy and beauty In this everlasting light. All the pain and grief is over, Every restless tossing passed; I am now at peace forever, Safely home in Heaven at last. Did you wonder I so calmly Trod the valley of the shade? Oh! but Jesus love illumined Every dark and fearful glade. And He came Himself to meet me In that way so hard to tread; And with Jesus arm to lean on, Could I have one doubt or dread? Then you must not grieve so sorely, For I love you dearly still: Try to look beyond earths shadows, Pray to trust our Fathers Will. There is work still waiting for you, So you must not idly stand; Do it now, while life remaineth- You shall rest in Jesus land. When that work is all completed, He will gently call you Home; Oh, the rapture of that meeting, Oh, the joy to see you come!     ");
array_files[140]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/011/authors.asp","2009-08-03","2K","About the Authors, Page 6    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," About the Authors, Page 6 About the Authors Rev. Mark Connolly was born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts. In 1970 he started THE SUNDAY MASS on television in the New York metropolitan area. In 1993, Fr. Connolly was named the Director of Radio and Television for the Diocese of Bridgeport. He is well known in the field of Radio and Television. Presently, Father is the host of an ABC-syndicated show, THOUGHTS FOR THE WEEK , which airs every Sunday morning throughout the country. Father Connolly is the senior editor of SPIRITUALITY FOR TODAY . Most Rev. Edward M. Egan, D.D., J.C.D. , was consecrated a bishop in 1985. In 1988 he was installed as the Third Bishop of Bridgeport. Bishop Egan has a degree in philosophy; licentiate in Sacred Theology and a Doctorate in Canon Law. He has overseen the regionalization of the diocesan elementary schools, established an active Hispanic Apostolate, and founded the St. John Fisher Residence for young men considering the priesthood. Rev. Stephen M. DiGiovanni studied at the Pontifical North American College Rome. He was ordained in 1977 and received his doctoral degree in Church History in 1983. Father has been the Rector of St. John Fisher Seminary since 1989. He is the author of various books and articles related to Church history.     ");
array_files[141]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/011/page02.asp","2009-08-03","8K","Tributes, Page 2    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Tributes, Page 2 Tributes Most Rev. Edward M. Egan The mail had been placed on my desk in the Education Office of the Archdiocese of New York. It was the usual collection of business correspondence and advertisements, plus a mailing tube almost two feet long. Inside the tube was a large, blank piece of mounting paper to which was attached a memorandum dated August 5, 1985. As a friend of Count Enrico Galeazzi, the memorandum read, we would be grateful if you would write a tribute to him in your own hand on the attached page and send the page to us in the mailing tube in which you received it. The tribute will be included in a large, bound book that will be presented to the Count in Rome next month on the occasion of his ninetieth birthday. I had never considered myself in any sense a close friend of Count Enrico Galeazzi. He was the architect who had designed the North American College in Rome where I had studied as a seminarian and later served as a faculty member. I admired him greatly as a gifted architect, a trusted adviser of Pope Pius XII, and a distinguished Catholic layman. Still, contacts between us were quite formal and usually limited to occasions of celebration at the College. There was, however, one exception. Serving on the faculty with me in the early 1960s was a brilliant, young priest who was extraordinarily zealous in his work and inclined to be rather nervous. One day in Saint Peters Basilica the Count approached me, chatted for a while, and then extracted from his pocket a key which he pressed into my hand. Your colleague needs to get away every so often, he announced. Here is a key to my home in Circeo. It is on the water, and there is a family living at the end of the property who will be happy to prepare meals for the two of you. Take some time off when you see your colleague getting overly tired. It will do both of you a lot of good. In point of fact, it did us both immense good. When there was a break in the College schedule, we would drive to Circeo, about an hour and half Southeast o      ");
array_files[142]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/012/page04.asp","2009-08-03","2K","Thought for the Month: Footprints, page 4    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Thought for the Month: Footprints, page 4 Thought for the Month Footprints One night a man had a dream. He dreamed he was walking along the beach with the Lord. Across the sky flashed scenes from his life. For each scene, he noticed two sets of footprints in the sand; one belonging to him, and the other to the Lord. When the last scene of his life flashed before him, he looked back at the footprints in the sand. He noticed that many times along the path of his life there was only one set of footprints. He also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times in his life. This really bothered him and he questioned the Lord about it. Lord, you said that once I decided to follow you, youd walk with me all the way. But I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life, there is only one set of footprints. I dont understand why when I needed you most you would leave me. The Lord replied, My precious, precious child, I love you and I would never leave you. During your times of trial and suffering, when you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you.     ");
array_files[143]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/011/page01.asp","2009-08-03","6K","Introduction to June Issue, Page 1    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Introduction to June Issue, Page 1 Introduction to Junes Issue: Life After Death Rev. Mark Connolly One of the greatest lines in any novel or story is that written in the work of Lourdes and the story of St. Bernadette. Concerning Lourdes, the author said to those who have faith, no explanation is necessary; to those who do not have faith, no explanation will satisfy. And this rhetoric can be applied to the subject of life after this life is over. The subject of death and resurrection, the subject of what kind of a lifestyle we will have in the place called heaven is always going to be a mystery to us as long as we are on the other side of heaven, namely earth. This subject of life after death has been debated for centuries. We have the guarantee of Christ that he had to prepare a place for those who served him on earth. He told us that he would not leave us orphans and that if we believed in him, even though we might be dead, that he would raise us up on the last day. Scripture is filled with reminders of a life after this one on earth. God gave his only son so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life (John 3:16). Everyone who believes has eternal life. Reading and researching this subject of life after life on earth you soon find out that those who believe in the life and teaching of Christ, those who are anchored to God and live by faith and trust, do not have too many problems with this subject. Those who do not believe in Christ, those who do not have that sense of trust and faith in Him and his teachings, are always going to have problems with this subject of life after life on earth. In the field of scripture and theology, this subject has been discussed for centuries. For the group that maintains that there is not enough evidence to prove a life after this one, there are also just as many that vehemently talk about the Heaven and the eternal life that awaits them. Outside the field of Scripture and theology, there are many who in their own personal lives have come to the conclusion that       ");
array_files[144]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/012/authors.asp","2009-08-03","2K","About the Authors, Page 4    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," About the Authors, Page 4 About the Authors Rev. Mark Connolly was born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts. In 1970 he started THE SUNDAY MASS on television in the New York metropolitan area. In 1993, Fr. Connolly was named the Director of Radio and Television for the Diocese of Bridgeport. He is well known in the field of Radio and Television. Presently, Father is the host of an ABC-syndicated show, THOUGHTS FOR THE WEEK , which airs every Sunday morning throughout the country. Father Connolly is the senior editor of SPIRITUALITY FOR TODAY . Most Rev. Edward M. Egan, D.D., J.C.D. , was consecrated a bishop in 1985. In 1988 he was installed as the Third Bishop of Bridgeport. Bishop Egan has a degree in philosophy; licentiate in Sacred Theology and a Doctorate in Canon Law. He has overseen the regionalization of the diocesan elementary schools, established an active Hispanic Apostolate, and founded the St. John Fisher Residence for young men considering the priesthood.     ");
array_files[145]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/012/page03.asp","2009-08-03","8K","Five Ks, Page 3    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Five Ks, Page 3 Most Rev. Edward M. Egan The three days in Bombay had been delightful. The eight of us, six from Rome and two from Milan, had visited the citys immense port, explored Malabar Hill, and even traveled by boat to the mysterious Elephant Isle. We were forecasting to one another that the next stop on our journey, Srinagar, the capital of Kashmir, would probably be somewhat of a letdown. Happily, the dreary forecast proved to be altogether mistaken. The flight from Bombay with a stop at Delhi was long; but what awaited us in Kashmir more than made up for the tedium and discomfort. Srinagar is a city of almost 50,000 inhabitants. It boasts extensive public gardens filled with fountains and cascades, and it is dotted throughout with colorful Hindu temples and imposing Muslim mosques. But what captures the attention of the Western tourist above all else is that large segment of the citys populace which is known as Sikhs. They are, as a rule, taller and sturdier than their fellow citizens and easily identified by the huge, tightly-wound turbans which all of their adult males proudly sport. In our hotel we engaged a guide who, in turn, obtained for us a kind of mini-bus driven by a young, powerfully built Sikh who wore a bright, purple turban. From the earliest minute of our first excursion into the city, the eight of us all sensed a tension between the guide and the driver, a tension which by the end of the second day had led the guide into a number of statements that were clearly offensive to Sikhs. The next morning one of our number warned the guide that we would tolerate no more unpleasantness. The admonition, however, was to no avail. By noon the guide had made several additional insinuations about the driver and his Sikh heritage which caused all of us to fear that the two might come to blows. Thus at lunch we informed the guide that we had been invited to visit the home of the Italian Consul General in the afternoon, that we wanted the Sikh driver to accompany us, and the we would be grateful if th      ");
array_files[146]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/012/page02.asp","2009-08-03","2K","If by Rudyard Kipling, Page 2    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," If by Rudyard Kipling, Page 2 IF If you can keep your head when all about you Are losing theirs and blaming it on you, If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you, But make allowance for their doubting too; If you can wait and not be tired by waiting, Or being lied about, dont deal in lies, Or being hated, dont give way to hating, And yet dont look too good, nor talk too wise: If you can dream-and not make dreams your master; If you can think-and not make thoughts your aim; If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster And treat those two impostors just the same; If you can bear to hear the truth youve spoken Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools, Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken, And stoop and build em up with worn-out tools: If you can make one heap of all your winnings And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss, And lose, and start again at your beginnings And never breathe a word about your loss; If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew To serve your turn long after they are gone, And so hold on when there is nothing in you Except the Will which says to them: Hold on! If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue, Or walk with Kings-nor lose the common touch, If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you, If all men count with you, but none too much; If you can fill the unforgiving minute With sixty seconds worth of distance run, Yours is the Earth and everything thats in it, And-which is more-youll be a Man, my son! --Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936)     ");
array_files[147]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/012/page01.asp","2009-08-03","9K","Introduction to July Issue, Page 1    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Introduction to July Issue, Page 1 Introduction to Julys Issue: Aging Rev. Mark Connolly Today I would like to share a few thoughts with you on the subject of ageism and your spirituality. Without a deep rooted spirituality the process of aging becomes more complicated. Now for some hard facts about aging in our country. Years ago as a young man or woman when you left high school you could get a job in a place like AT & T, work there for over 30 years, retire with what was then a good pension and live the rest of your life without too much financial stress. Today we have a relatively new word in our vocabulary that affects both men and women. Most of the companies and most of the jobs that in the past provided a substantial living have disappeared. We call that word downsizing. The mentality of thinking that you can stay on the job until you were sixty five in these days for many men have gone. If you have been at a job for twenty years or so, and the philosophy of downsizing hits your company, you with your law degree, you with your CPA degree are move vulnerable at 45 than you might have thought. Our culture, for many psychological and sociological reasons, has relegated the aging person to realize that he or she is disposable. The affect of downsizing on men, what has it been? When I started at St. Michaels in Greenwich over 20 years ago, in the category of what is called Depression, of ten women who came to my office seven were diagnosed as having depression. Today, years later in the same category of depression, of ten men who come to my office seven of the ten have depression. We can say in talking about men and women that their chemical and hormonal changes have played a role. That we do not deny. But if you look for another reason, it is the impact of forced retirement, leverage buy outs that bring downsizing into the lives of men who thought their talents made them secure or less vulnerable than their peers. As regards women, society is even harder on the aging woman. Society rewards women in the firs      ");
array_files[148]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/007/page07.asp","2009-08-03","5K","Your Thoughts on Friendship, Page 7    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Your Thoughts on Friendship, Page 7 Your Thoughts on Friendship Rev. Mark Connolly Almost every time I write an article for Spirituality for Today, I try to share my thoughts with you on whatever the subject is. The article that I write is based on my own education, background and life experiences. In this edition I would like you to share a few thoughts on a subject that should be meaningful to both of us. It is the subject of friendship, solid friendships. Here are some of the qualities that I think should contribute to the cultivation of a solid friendship. Before I start I know, as you probably know, that a solid friendship can be an antidote for loneliness or depression or even boredom. But it should be just more than an antidote for these problems. What are the qualities that lead to a solid friendship? First of all, friendship must be genuine. In friendships we reveal what we are and who we are capable of becoming. Friendships demand that we reveal ourselves without pretenses or masks, without affection or deception. G.K. Chesterton knowing the risks involved in cultivating a solid friendship, summed it up when he said, Friends are those with whom our faults are safe. Another ingredient necessary for the cultivation of a solid friendship is that one must be generous. The friendship is its own reward. The element of generosity was summed up by Christ when he said, greater love than this no one has than he who lays down his life for his friend. Another quality needed for a solid friendship is that it be gratuitous. It is a free donation or offering of one person to another. Friendship is never marred by jealousy. There must be a certain freedom between the two friends. Otherwise, there could be the problem of possessiveness or even suffocation of the friendship. We both know that other qualities could be mentioned so that solid friendships can be cultivated. A sense of humor, charity, understanding, compassion are only some of the ingredients that have to be cultivated for a solid friendship with another.      ");
array_files[149]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/007/page06.asp","2009-08-03","8K","Literary Thoughts on Friendship, Page 6    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Literary Thoughts on Friendship, Page 6 Literary Thoughts on Friendship Dorothy Riera Friendship is a very simple word, very commonly used. The word friend is almost used on a daily basis. Yet, the depth and meaning of friendship certainly go beyond the simple and the common. Throughout history friendship has been a favorite theme for many writers. The following passages highlight what others have said about friendship in the past. Sonnet XXX When to the sessions of sweet silent thought I summon up remembrance of things past, I sigh the lack of many a thing I sought And with old woes new wail my dear times waste. Then can I drown an eye (unusd to flow) For precious friends hid in deaths dateless night, And weep afresh loves long since cancelld woe, And moan th expense of many a vanishd sight. Then can I grieve at grievances foregone, And heavily from woe to woe tell oer The sad account of fore-bemoaned moan, Which I new pay as if not paid before. But if the while I think on thee, dear friend, All losses are restord and sorrows end. William Shakespeare (1564-1616) Every deed and every relationship is surrounded by an atmosphere of silence. Friendship needs no words - it is solitude delivered from the anguish of loneliness. Dag Hammarksjöld (1905-1961) A true friend unbosoms freely, advises justly, assists readily, adventures boldly, takes all patiently, defends courageously, and continues a friend unchangeably. William Penn (1644-1718) Only solitary men know the full joys of friendship. Others have their family - but to a solitary and an exile his friends are everything. Willa Cather (1876-1947) The supreme happiness of life is the conviction of being loved for yourself, or, more correctly, in spite of yourself. Victor Hugo (1802-1885) A faithful friend is a strong defense: and he that hath found one hath found a treasure. Ecclesiastes 6:14 The world is so empty if one thinks only of mountains, rivers and cities; but to know someone who thinks and feels with us, and who, though distant is close to us in spirit,      ");
array_files[150]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/007/page05.asp","2009-08-03","3K","Friendship, Page 5    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Friendship, Page 5 Friendship Rev. Stephen M. DiGiovanni The classic English linguistic definition of friendship is Websters: friendship is a relationship of mutual regard. Webster is concise, but emotionless, and falls short of the rich reality of friendship. Friendship is not simply a relationship, knowing someone, conversing with that person, or dealing with that person in business, school, or in casual acquaintance. True friendship is not just a relationship, but self-sacrificing love. St. Thomas Aquinas taught that friendship is the highest form of love for another human person, since it is totally without self-interest. It is a relationship that rejoices in the other person, without any requirement that the friend do something in return. The providing of entertainment or pleasure, or the gratifying of the desires or wants of the other is not a basic requirement for true friendship. True friends find joy simply in being with each other, and full joy in giving of themselves for each other. St. Augustine saw friendship as a spiritual relationship between two people, one that was based on love, leading each friend to work for the others happiness. Friendship is an image of Gods love for us, according to Augustine, since authentic, self-sacrificing friendship mirrors the love that Christ showed for us on the Cross, and which He described teaching that no greater love can one have than to lay down ones life for ones friend (John 15:13). Augustine even believed that only true friendship, of everything that exists in the natural, created world, could lead one to God. What is friendship? It is more than Webster described, because it is a reciprocal love of one person for another, which is disinterested. It is a love that does not look for anything in return for the love given, and finds happiness in promoting the interests and happiness of the other. Such a love warms the heart, thrills the mind, and urges the friend to give everything for the other--just as Christ does for us--and leads to happiness in this worl      ");
array_files[151]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/007/page04.asp","2009-08-03","2K","A friend is a treasure, page 4    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," A friend is a treasure, page 4 A Friend Is A Treasure Joan Maddy I asked a wise old Filipino woman what friendship meant to her. She responded quickly, a friend is someone who comes running when you need her. I pondered her answer for some time and the word running captured my thoughts. Most of us would probably help another in difficulty. But for whom could we conceive our response to be eager, devoid of self-interest, immediate and total self-giving? It could only be for those whom we term friends. Why is this so? What is the difference in how we react to people and they to us? For the intimacy of this relationship there probably is a chemistry that must exist, very difficult to describe, but it is there, a uniqueness of fit. There must be trust, at times blind, but is as unflinching as human confidence can be. There must be exclusivity, a quality of specialness that sets it apart from all other encounters. Friendship must be fulfilling - in joy, in sorrow, in disappointment. It must enrich both parties. It must ennoble. A pearl of great price; indeed worth all the risks, a friend is a treasure. So long as we love, we serve. So long as we are loved by others, I would say we were indispensable; and no person is useless while he or she has a friend. Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-1894)     ");
array_files[152]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/007/page03.asp","2009-08-03","2K","Thought for the Month, Page 3     ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Thought for the Month, Page 3 The Parting of Friends Sermon XXVI (Preached on the Anniversary of the consecration of a Chapel) And, Oh my brethren, O kind and affectionate hearts, O loving friends, should you know anyone whose lot it has been, by writing or by word of mouth, in some degree to help you thus to act; if he has ever told you what you knew about yourselves, or what you did not know; has read to you your wants or feelings, and comforted you by the very reading; has made you feel that there was a higher life than this daily one, and a brighter world than that you see; or encouraged you, or sobered you, or opened a way to the inquiring, or soothed the perplexed; if what he has said or done has ever made you take interest in him, and feel well inclined towards him; remember such a one in time to come, though you hear him not, and pray for him, that in all things he may know Gods will, and at all times he may be ready to fulfill it. John Henry Cardinal Newman (1801-1890)     ");
array_files[153]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/007/page02.asp","2009-08-03","5K","Altars are to make us strong, Page 2    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Altars are to make us strong, Page 2 Altars Are To Make Us Strong Most Rev. Edward M. Egan It was the summer of 1943. The nation was preoccupied with a war that was not going well and an epidemic of poliomyelitis. I was one of the victims of the epidemic. After three weeks in the Cook County Contagious Disease Hospital in Chicago, the medical authorities allowed my family to take me home. In my bedroom, on top of a chest of drawers, there had been placed a small plaster altar sent to me by one of my many aunts. It was white with a green and gold angel on each side and a relief of Da Vincis Last Supper on the front. On the top there stood a crucifix with six glass candles that glowed when the altar was plugged in, thanks to a light-bulb hidden inside. For the first six months of my convalescence, a doctor came to our house once a week, sent by the local health commission and, as we were told, the March of Dimes. He was a tall, quiet man with a large moustache; and his visits followed a pattern. I would be taken out of the Sister Kenny packs of hot, wet wool in which I spent my days and carefully examined. Then, at the end of the session, the doctor would put one hand behind my neck and the other under my legs to see how high I could raise my head and shoulders. Though ten years old, I must confess that I often cried, not because of the seeming hopelessness of it all. After three full months, I still could not be pulled into a sitting position. One day the doctor gave me a kindly lecture, the theme of which was that only courageous people contract polio. His argument centered upon the president who was then in office, Franklin Roosevelt, and others whose names I no longer recall. It was clear that I was not much impressed. So he sat silent for awhile, then rose, went over to the chest of drawers, bent down, and plugged in the plaster altar. Altars are to make us strong, he announced. And with that he launched into a rather involved theological disquisition. I remember only three points. First, Jesus Christ suffe      ");
array_files[154]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/007/authors.asp","2009-08-03","2K","About the Authors, Page 8    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," About the Authors, Page 8 About the Authors Rev. Mark Connolly was born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts. In 1970 he started THE SUNDAY MASS on television in the New York metropolitan area. In 1993, Fr. Connolly was named the Director of Radio and Television for the Diocese of Bridgeport. He is well known in the field of Radio and Television. Presently, Father is the host of an ABC-syndicated show, THOUGHTS FOR THE WEEK , which airs every Sunday morning throughout the country. Father Connolly is the senior editor of SPIRITUALITY FOR TODAY . Most Rev. Edward M. Egan, D.D., J.C.D. , was consecrated a bishop in 1985. In 1988 he was installed as the Third Bishop of Bridgeport. Bishop Egan has a degree in philosophy; licentiate in Sacred Theology and a Doctorate in Canon Law. He has overseen the regionalization of the diocesan elementary schools, established an active Hispanic Apostolate, and founded the St. John Fisher Residence for young men considering the priesthood. Dorothy L. Riera is a graduate of the University of Puerto Rico and the State University of New York. Mrs. Riera is a member of the parish council at St. Michael the Archangel in Greenwich. She is a Dame of Malta and is fluent in Spanish, English and French. Rev. Stephen M. DiGiovanni studied at the Pontifical North American College in Rome. He was ordained in 1977 and received his doctoral degree in Church History in 1983. Father has been the Rector of St. John Fisher Seminary since 1989. He is the author of various books and articles related to Church history. Joan Maddy is a parishioner at St. Marys Church in Greenwich, Connecticut. She has taught CCD for many years and is a Dame of Malta.     ");
array_files[155]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/007/page01.asp","2009-08-03","5K","Introduction to February Issue, Page 1    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Introduction to February Issue, Page 1 Introduction to Februarys Issue: Solid Friendships Rev. Mark Connolly One of the greatest treasures a person can have is a solid friendship. The husband and wife having a solid friendship, the individual having a solid friendship with God, are an inspiration. Friendships do not come easy. We have to work every day to cultivate a solid friendship with another. Whether we like to admit it or not, the requirements of a friendship are so demanding that most people have few friends. In a beautiful article written by Henry Adams many years ago, he said, to have one friend in life is much, two are rare, three are hardly possible. We could easily apply the words of the Gospel to friendship. Many are called, but few are chosen. This is the fact of our life. Many people come into our lives, we become close to them and form the bonds of friendship, and then we part company. There is no doubt in my mind that if the young were taught the importance of friendship or if the elderly had one solid friendship, their lives would not only be different, but happier. As Catholics, in particular, we are taught there are seven sacraments. Somewhere along my training, I remember a theologian saying that there should be eight. The eighth sacrament in his mind was the sacrament of friendship. I am always inspired by the frequent uses of the word friend by Christ in the New Testament. I did not come to call you my servants, but my friends. Greater love than this no one has than he who lays down his life for a friend. I also believe that Christ, in the betraying act of Judas, must have experienced great sorrow and disappointment in being betrayed. When Christ said to Judas in the Garden of Gethsemane, Friend, for what purpose have you come? he was showing how hurt he was. Friendship helps us cope with loneliness and depression. Friendships do not totally remove loneliness and depression, but they strengthen us along the journey of life. One French writer said, there is no life worthwhile unless it is      ");
array_files[156]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/006/page10.asp","2009-08-03","1K","St. John Fisher, Page 10    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," St. John Fisher, Page 10 St. John Fisher, Seminary Residence St. John Fisher Seminary Residence 894 Newfield Avenue Stamford, CT 06905 A Prayer for Vocation for the Priesthood Father, in your plan for our salvation you provide shepherds for your people. Fill your church with the spirit of courage and charity. Raise up worthy priests for your altars and ardent but gentle servants of the Gospel. We ask through Christ our Lord. Amen.     ");
array_files[157]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/006/page09.asp","2009-08-03","9K","Interview with Seminarians, Page 9    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Interview with Seminarians, Page 9 Interview with Seminarians The following is an interview with Joe, Jim and Jeff, three residents of St. John Fisher. We asked them a series of questions to get their insights and their reasons for choosing the priesthood. When did you realize that you wanted to join the priesthood and how did this come about? Joe: The earliest recollection I have of wanting to be a priest probably was about the fifth grade. I guess maybe at first it kind of haunted me, it just never went out of my mind. You go through life, you grow up and it came back about three years ago. I decided that was the time to look into it. It was then I found out about St. John Fisher Residence. I have been here three years now. Jim: I was about the same age. One of my influences was Msgr. Mc Guire of St. Aloysius and he was an older man, about 70. Serving underneath him was a very humble experience. Everybody listened to him. It seemed he had a sense of command of the entire parish. As time went on and I became a little older, it was still in my thoughts. Throughout high school I had persistent thoughts of the priesthood. It never really left. But also within that time I did fulfill a lot of things I felt I had to. Jeff: I was an altar boy and I guess I had that in the back of my mind. I lived with an aunt who encouraged me. How has John Fisher Residence changed your life? It is interesting. Talk about Fr. Dowling, a St. Marys type of priesthood, I think it is the idea you sort of have to just wait and see. You do not realize it. I think as a little boy you are fascinated by the whole thing and you see this man up there. Wow, I want to do that. When you come to the Fisher Residence you come with everything that you think you are and have and you come here and you realize there is a lot of growing you have to do. I thought I had grown up and matured and had been responsible with a house and sisters, my mother, job and the whole experience. Then you come here and you take that attitude in with you and all of a sud      ");
array_files[158]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/006/page08.asp","2009-08-03","7K","Seminarians Today, Page 8    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Seminarians Today, Page 8 Seminarians Today Rev. Chris J. Walsh During the 1985-1986 academic term I was in a seminary, completing my third year of theological studies for the priesthood. Now, ten years later, I find I am still in a seminary! But now I am there not as a student, but as a spiritual director preparing other young men for the priesthood, at the St. John Fisher Seminary Residence in Stamford, Connecticut. Over the last five years I have had the privilege of serving as spiritual director or occasional advisor to about 25 seminarians of the Diocese of Bridgeport, Connecticut. I have seen many of these young men up close, while living with them at what is familiarly called the Fisher House, a house of studies and spiritual formation for young men aged 18-39 who come to discern a vocation to the diocesan priesthood. I would like to share some of the observations that I have come to about seminarians today. On the one hand, of course, these young men are not all that different from other young people of America in the nineties. Some like to wear Walkmans on their heads as they go about the seminary doing their assigned daily chores. Some, I have no doubt, say an extra prayer to their patron saint when they have to face the daily struggle of getting out of bed in time for 7 oclock morning prayer and Mass. Many enjoy going out with one another on the weekends for a movie, a pizza, or a beer. And when the seminary cook makes her dessert specialty - a rich chocolate cream pudding - these guys can devour it in minutes! But on the other hand, there are some characteristics about todays crop of seminarians which mark them as rather special members of the generation of those aged 18 to 39: They are men of prayer. Early in the morning or late at night, one will often find a seminarian, or maybe several, kneeling silently in the chapel before the Blessed Sacrament. There is a grace that is palpable when one kneels silently in the dark, save for the flicker of the sanctuary lamp, with young persons who are seekin      ");
array_files[159]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/006/page07.asp","2009-08-03","3K","The Priesthood, Page 7    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," The Priesthood, Page 7 The Priesthood Teak Murphy The priesthood is an aspect of Church life which is vitally important to the community. Priests administer the sacraments, serve Mass and have a wide variety of other jobs that are necessary to keep the Church running smoothly. However, in my experience, the most important function of a priest is the spiritual link which he provides to God. When a person has a dilemma and is not sure which path to choose, priests are able to provide this person with the decision which would be most beneficial to them. This is because it is what God would want them to choose. A priest might be able to refer to a passage in the Bible that deals with the problem the person is facing. After seeing how Jesus says to act in a certain situation, it will become clear which is the best choice. In todays society it is easy to lose touch with God if one becomes too caught up in the craziness of life. In these times it is often difficult to understand how God is present in us. A priest will be able to show the person that God is in fact helping through all the pain and troubles, and if one chooses to follow God, choices will be easier to make. I have attended a Jesuit high school and have had a number of priests for teachers. In addition to this I have grown close to my parish priests through my participation in a Church Youth Group. As a result of my interaction with these priests I have learned a great deal about God and His importance in my life. It is amazing to hear some of the stories the priests have to tell. For them, to have chosen to follow God, make it their career and the focus of their life, something very profound must have driven them. Listening to their stories about how God has led them through life and all the hardships they have encountered along the way makes it blatantly clear that not only there is a God, but if we follow Him we will attain eternal happiness. Priests have truly been touched by God. If they have been touched by God, then through our relationships with       ");
array_files[160]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/006/page06.asp","2009-08-03","3K","The Challenge of the Priesthood, Page 6    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," The Challenge of the Priesthood, Page 6 The Challenge of the Priesthood Dorothy Riera The new catechism of the Catholic Church states clearly that Holy Orders is one of two sacraments that is directed towards the salvation of others. It is the sacrament through which the mission entrusted by Christ to his apostles continues to be exercised. . . until the end of time. The men who answer this calling are challenged in a special way to spread the Gospel of our Lord. They leave their families behind and journey for the sake of others. The priest thus becomes the representative of Jesus in our lives. As Jesus, he teaches us and celebrates with us the greatest gift of all - the Mass. He transforms simple bread into the Body of Christ. He encourages us during moments of trial and comforts us in moments of grief. He receives our children into the Church and he buries our parents, children and friends. As I ponder on the life of the Church, I realize how much it means to me and my family to participate and be a part of a parish life. Having traveled and moved to different parts of the country, I have always found that through the Parish we have been able to adapt ourselves easier to our new surroundings. Each human being carries within himself a sense of belonging. The priest is called to build a community and thus satisfies this sense of belonging we all experience. We certainly owe a great deal to these men who dedicate their lives for others. We also sometimes expect them to be above all human weaknesses. We tend to forget that they, too, have their own frailties. This is a vocation that we so admire but unfortunately we debase it after someone commits a transgression. Ours tend never to be publicized. We forget that it is by rectifying our ways that we achieve salvation. After all, were not compassion and forgiveness the teachings of Jesus Christ? As I look back upon the Church and recall the dark moments of its history - the Inquisition, the Religious Wars, the Reformation - I see a Church that has withstood. It h      ");
array_files[161]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/006/page05.asp","2009-08-03","9K","Interview with Fr. Di Giovanni, Page 5    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Interview with Fr. Di Giovanni, Page 5 Interview with Fr. Stephen Di Giovanni Fr. Mark: Everywhere you look there seems to be bad news on the shortage of men being called to the vocation of priest. In your observation, is that a true picture of what is happening in the priesthood today? Fr. Stephen: No. I think there are a lot of men out there thinking of the priesthood. One of the first difficulties comes from the negative press. There are also negative feelings on the part of some clergy which tends to dissuade men from the priesthood. In addition, there are negative feelings from society about the priesthood; and families are no longer willing to encourage their sons or nephews to go on to the priesthood. I think part of the difficulty in recruiting young men for the priesthood is that some dioceses and bishops do not do enough to help young men on the local level consider the priesthood and pursue their interest in it. In spite of this, I think there are a lot of men thinking of the priesthood. To give you an idea, this house has been open seven years. I have had 432 men come into this office for an interview. They were all from Fairfield County in Connecticut. Well, that seems to indicate that there is no shortage of interest. We took 110 of those men into the residence in the past seven years to study for the priesthood. Fr. Mark: The image of the priesthood portrayed in movies and television is totally erroneous to those who are priests. Take for instance the going my way priesthood of Fr. Dowling, or Fr. Mulcahy on Mash . Have the young men who are your applicants seen this kind of priesthood on the television and in movies, and does this influence them in any way? What kind of applications are you getting today? What kind of men are the applicants? Fr. Stephen: Right across the board, most of the men coming in do not know who going my way was, and they are not really too familiar with Fr. Mulcahy and the television image of priests. Some of our applicants have been lawyers, weve had a couple of applic      ");
array_files[162]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/006/page04.asp","2009-08-03","4K","The Call to the Priesthood, page 4    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," The Call to the Priesthood, page 4 The Call to the Priesthood Fr. Stephen M. Di Giovanni Have you ever considered the priesthood? Some may ask the reason for such a question, or even for the priesthood. After all, one can be holy and close to the Lord without being a priest. So, why bother? The question is basic and clear. However, the emphasis is upside-down. The real question is not about MY choosing anything; the question is about GODS choice of me, and my willingness to serve Him as His priest. As He Himself tells His Apostles, the first priests, You did not choose me. No, I chose you. Why be a priest? Because it might please the Lord. All are called to holiness and offered His grace by the Church. Such gifts are personally given by Christ to us through the services and ministry of His priest. Priests continue Christs personal work on earth. Just as Marys yes to Gods invitation to participate in His work of salvation gave flesh to God at the first Christmas, so now a similar invitation to say yes to Gods personal call to the priesthood allows His chosen men to put flesh on their faith, becoming priests in order to bring forth the presence of grace of the Eternal Son. When the priest absolves sins, it is God who forgives; when he celebrates Mass, it is Christ at the altar offering Himself anew; when he anoints the sick and prepares the dying, when he counsels the sorrowful, feeds the hungry, visits those in prison, houses the homeless, comforts the poor, works for justice and peace, it is the person of Jesus at work in the priest. All talents and training of the priest are useful to spread the Word of God. Whether trained as a plumber, doctor, carpenter, lawyer, architect or journalist, all talents, skills and knowledge are useful in preaching the Word. Your ministry may lead you to parish work, or to teaching, preaching the Gospel in the latest of communications media, or to a variety of other ministries, bringing Christ to all, wherever and however possible. You may ask, If I become a priest, what about m      ");
array_files[163]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/006/page03.asp","2009-08-03","1K","Thought for the Month, Page 3     ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Thought for the Month, Page 3 A Meditation by Cardinal Newman God has created me to do Him some definite service; He has committed some work to me which He has not committed to another. I have my mission - I may never know it in this life, but I shall be told it in the next. I am a link in a chain, a bond of connection between persons. He has not created me for naught, I shall do good, I shall do his work. I shall be an angel of peace, a preacher of truth in my own place while not intending it - if I do but keep His Commandments. Therefore, I will trust Him. Whatever, wherever I am, I can never be thrown away. If I am in sickness, my sickness may serve Him; in perplexity, my perplexity may serve Him; if I am in sorrow, my sorrow may serve Him. He does nothing in vain. He knows what He is about. He may take away my friends. He may throw me among strangers. He may make me feel desolate, make my spirits sink, hide my future from me - still He knows what He is about.     ");
array_files[164]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/006/page02.asp","2009-08-03","9K","Calling Cards, Page 2    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Calling Cards, Page 2 Calling Cards Most Rev. Edward M. Egan Do you know how I got here? he asked me as I was vesting for Mass in the sacristy of the Saint John Fisher Seminary Residence in Stamford. No, I replied. Tell me the story. Well, he said, I met you three years ago in a church in Manhattan where you had come to preach one evening. I told you that I wanted to be a priest but didnt know how to go about it. He helped me with my chasuble and went on. You wrote the address of this place on the back of one of your calling cards and gave it to me. So I came here a few days later, met with the rector, and did my year of pre-theology under his guidance. In just two years, with the help of the Lord, you will be ordaining me a priest for the Diocese of Bridgeport. I walked from the sacristy into the chapel of the seminary residence. There the priests who had been ordained for the diocese a month earlier and twenty-three young men on their way to the priesthood were kneeling in their places. It was August 4th, the Feast of Saint John Vianney, the patron of parish priests. I suspect that all assumed that my homily would be about him. In a sense it was. At the beginning I recounted the saints life in broad strokes. He had been born, the fourth of six children, in 1786 in a town near Lyons in southeastern France, I explained. His parents were peasant farmers who had remained true to the Church throughout the so-called Terror of the French Revolution and throughout the persecutions of the Napoleonic era, as well. Thus, their economic and social prospects were limited at best. John spent most of his youth herding cattle. As a consequence, his formal education was regularly interrupted by farm duties; and his scholastic abilities were generally thought to be rather poor. Nevertheless, at the age of twenty he received the Sacrament of Confirmation and, deeply moved, decided to try to become a parish priest. In his seminary years he experienced one academic failure after another largely, it is said, because of his diffic      ");
array_files[165]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/006/authors.asp","2009-08-03","3K","About the Authors, Page 11    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," About the Authors, Page 11 About the Authors Rev. Mark Connolly was born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts. In 1970 he started THE SUNDAY MASS on television in the New York metropolitan area. In 1993, Fr. Connolly was named the Director of Radio and Television for the Diocese of Bridgeport. He is well known in the field of Radio and Television. Presently, Father is the host of an ABC-syndicated show, THOUGHTS FOR THE WEEK , which airs every Sunday morning throughout the country. Father Connolly is the senior editor of SPIRITUALITY FOR TODAY . Most Rev. Edward M. Egan, D.D., J.C.D. , was consecrated a bishop in 1985. In 1988 he was installed as the Third Bishop of Bridgeport. Bishop Egan has a degree in philosophy; licentiate in Sacred Theology and a Doctorate in Canon Law. He has overseen the regionalization of the diocesan elementary schools, established an active Hispanic Apostolate, and founded the St. John Fisher Residence for young men considering the priesthood. Dorothy L. Riera is a graduate of the University of Puerto Rico and the State University of New York. Mrs. Riera is on the parish council at St. Michael the Archangel in Greenwich. She is a Dame of Malta and is fluent in Spanish, English and French. Rev. Stephen M. DiGiovanni studied at the Pontifical North American College Rome. He was ordained in 1977 and received his doctoral degree in Church History in 1983. Father has been the Rector of St. John Fisher Seminary since 1989. He is the author of various books and articles related to Church history. Rev. Christopher Walsh, Ph.D., ordained in 1987, is Director of Communications for the Diocese of Bridgeport. He is also the Editor of the Fairfield County Catholic, the official diocesan newspaper. Fr. Walsh resides at St. John fisher Seminary Residence in Stamford, where he serves as spiritual director and lecturer in theology. He can also be heard on THOUGHTS FOR THE WEEK with Fr. Mark Connolly every Sunday morning. Teak Murphy is a senior at Fairfield Prep and a member of Our Lady of Fatima Par      ");
array_files[166]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/006/page01.asp","2009-08-03","5K","Introduction to January Issue, Page 1    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Introduction to January Issue, Page 1 Introduction to Januarys Issue: Thoughts on the Priesthood Rev. Mark Connolly If you look back and analyze the history of the priesthood, you will find a remarkable record of men who worked for God, their Church, their community. Before I get into this article on the priesthood, let me say that I know their frailties, their faults, their sins, their weaknesses. But to this I add which of us can throw the first stone? Shortly after the institution of the priesthood, Jesus Christ, while knowing the weaknesses of the priests he ordained, sent them to the ends of the earth. Now these were the same men who deserted him in the agony in the Garden and one denied, one betrayed and one doubted him. But with the exception of Judas, they left the upper room in Jerusalem and lived and preached his Gospel. Think of this, from that upper room in Jerusalem every country in the world, some 700 million people, have heard the story of how Jesus Christ took in his hands lifeless bread and changed it into the Bread of Life in the Eucharist. And the priesthood played the greatest role in this achievement. The priesthood over the centuries has meant many things to many people. Every priest knows his strength and weaknesses. Every priest from the moment of ordination hopes that God will help him use his strengths and talents and give him the strength to lessen his weaknesses. He is as human as the reader of this article. He is aware of what God wants him to do. And most, thank God, try to walk worthily in the vocation to which God has called them. History has always reminded us of the great priest and Bishop, St. Augustine. How his intellectual works, his Confessions, his City of God and other writings had such a powerful impact on the culture of his society. And priests could tell you of the great works by St. Thomas, an ordinary priest and the theological insights he gave in his sermons. If you go throughout history you will read about the great Jesuit priests, teachers, astronomers and other       ");
array_files[167]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/025/page06.asp","2009-08-03","4K","Leisure Renews Body and Soul    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Leisure Renews Body and Soul Leisure Renews Body and Soul by the Rev. Paul D. Griffin Whenever someone mentions the word leisure, I immediately think of those hideous polyester leisure suits that were so popular back in the 1970s - not that I had ever actually worn one, mind you. Yet, despite this words intimate association with one of mankinds lowest points of fashion history, the important role which leisure plays in the overall health and well-being of every individual cannot be diminished. As Christians, we have long known that the human person is composed of both a body and a soul. However, while each person has been formed from the unity of these two elements (body and soul), there are in fact four dimensions to each of us - physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. And, while each of these dimensions is distinct, they are interconnected and dependent upon one another due to the fact that each human being is a unified whole. Thus, if one or more of these dimensions within and individual has been neglected or impaired in any way, his or her overall health, well-being, and, quite naturally, happiness, will be adversely affected. We humans are rather complex beings, and for us to live integrated, balanced and whole lives, we must continually work to develop and nourish each of these four dimensions within ourselves. In other words, the development of our full human potential as individuals does not simply happen on its own as a result of nature, as we are instead obligated to ensure that such development occurs continuously throughout our lives. So, what does leisure have to do with all of this? Well, quite a bit, actually, as the time that we spend in leisure activities (or, more importantly, the lack thereof), has a rather substantial impact upon these four dimensions of our existence. The role of leisure in our physical dimension should be rather obvious. The human body is not a robot or machine, as it is instead a highly complex organism which requires an adequate amount of both exercise and rest to co      ");
array_files[168]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/029/authors.asp","2009-08-03","2K","Spirituality for Today, Volume 3, Issue 5, Authors    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Spirituality for Today, Volume 3, Issue 5, Authors Home About the Authors Rev. Mark Connolly was born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts. In 1970 he started THE SUNDAY MASS on television in the New York Area. In 1993, Fr. Connolly was named the Director of Radio and Television in the Diocese of Bridgeport. He is well known in the field of Radio and Television. Presently, Father is the host of an ABC syndicated show called THOUGHTS FOR THE WEEK which is aired every Sunday morning throughout the country. Most Rev. Edward M. Egan, D.D., J.C.D., was consecrated a bishop in 1985. In 1988 he was installed as the Third Bishop of Bridgeport. Bishop Egan has a degree in philosophy; licentiate in Sacred Theology and a Doctorate in Canon Law. He has overseen the regionalization of the diocesan elementary schools, established an active Hispanic Apostolate and founded the St. John Fisher Residence for young men considering the priesthood. Sister Helen Margaret Feeney is a Sister of St. Joseph of Chambery, a former assistant superintendent of elementary schools and, for eight years, Chancellor of the Archdiocese of Hartford. Presently, Sister is the Archbishops Delegate for Special Needs and Director of the Office for Religious. Peter J. Lynch is a seminarian studying for the Diocese of Bridgeport. He is entering his third year of priestly formation at the Pontifical North American College and his third year of theological studies at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. He will be ordained a transitional deacon in the summer of 1998 and a priest in the summer of 1999. copyright © 1997-2005, Spirituality for Today     ");
array_files[169]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/029/page08.asp","2009-08-03","2K","Spirituality for Today, Volume 3, Issue 5, One Solitary Life    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Spirituality for Today, Volume 3, Issue 5, One Solitary Life Home One Solitary Life He was born in an obscure village, a child of a peasant woman. He grew up in another obscure village where he worked in a carpenter shop until he was thirty. Then for three years he was an itinerant preacher. He never had a family. Or owned a home. He never set foot inside a big city. He never traveled two hundred miles from the place he was born. He never wrote a book or held an office. He did none of the things that usually accompany greatness. While he was still a young man, the tide of popular opinion turned against him. His friends deserted him. He was turned over to his enemies. He went through the mockery of a trial. He was nailed to a cross between two thieves. While he was dying his executioners gambled for the only piece of property he had, his coat. When he was dead, he was taken down and laid in a borrowed grave. Nineteen centuries have come and gone and today he is still the central figure for much of the human race. All the armies that ever marched, All the navies that ever sailed And all the parliaments that ever sat And all the kings that ever reigned Put together have not affect the life of man Upon this earth As powerfully as this One Solitary Life. copyright © 1997-2005, Spirituality for Today     ");
array_files[170]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/026/page06.asp","2009-08-03","2K","A Tribute to Mother Teresa    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," A Tribute to Mother Teresa JESUS IS GOD, THEREFORE HIS LOVE, HIS THIRST IS INFINITE. HE THE CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE, ASKED FOR THE LOVE OF HIS CREATURES. HE THIRSTS FOR OUR LOVE….THESE WORDS: I THIRST - DO THEY ECHO IN OUR SOULS? Prayer of Mother Teresa (of Calcutta, India) A Tribute to Mother Teresa by the Rev. Mark Connolly One of the greatest gifts God has given to each of us is our memory. Because of it we have images of wonderful things that have happened to us in the past by people who were so concerned about us. On a larger scale, the world now has a great memory of a woman called Mother Teresa. A simple nun who lived a simple life not just preaching the gospel, but living the gospel she preached. Anyone who has seen a picture in the newspaper about her or a television show about her has a great memory. She not only brought Christ to the people of the world, she was Christ in the memory of many who were touched by her. The leper, the Aids patient, the poor, the indentured, many of them have had dismal memories of the past, but this woman gave them a memory they will cherish forever. They will have a reason for hope. They will have a better life waiting them. They will have a God deep in love with them. No woman in the last one hundred years has created an impact on the memory of mankind as has Mother Teresa. When Christ gave the words, when I was hungry, you gave me to eat; when I was thirsty you gave me to drink and naked you clothed me, Mother Teresa helped those words become reality in the lives of the unfortunate who had very few good memories. If she is canonized, and I hope she will be, her legacy will be known for compassion. Thousands of words have been spoken about her and what she has done for the downtrodden and the unfortunate. She gave love and it was unconditional. Dylan Thomas once said that love is gratitude with a memory. To Mother Teresa we can simply say, thanks for the memories.     ");
array_files[171]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/029/page07.asp","2009-08-03","6K","Spirituality for Today, Volume 3, Issue 5, The Greatest Gift of Christmas    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Spirituality for Today, Volume 3, Issue 5, The Greatest Gift of Christmas Home The Greatest Gift of Christmas by Peter J. Lynch I remember new Christmas Eve, filled with all the awe and excitement that surrounds a child at Christmas: thoughts of snow and hot chocolate; a fir tree and decorations. The buzzing excitement of last minute preparations such as shining the silver, cleaning the house; finding the good candles; the baking and the cooking (especially the taste-testing!); and lets not forget the all important last minute shopping! For a child at the age of five, all this can come to a fever pitch! This particular Christmas I had asked my parents permission if I could sleep out in the living room on Christmas Eve. My plan was to keep an all night vigil in expectation of St. Nick coming down the chimney. Surprisingly they agreed! I immediately went to work on putting together my provisions. I dug out an old sleeping bag, found a flashlight and made sure that there was plenty of milk and cookies put out for the jolly old man. When morning came I realized I was not up to the challenge of keeping awake like I am these days when exams come. When I awoke I found that I had missed him! He came and left, and I slept right through it! But he was there because there were new packages pouring out from under the tree - of course I took a careful inventory the night before. It was as if the room had been transformed and we had a touch of Santas workshop with us. Now it was time to take a new inventory! Well, that was the first and last time my parents allowed me to sleep out in the living room on Christmas Eve. That night they had to wait up pretty late until I fell asleep, and then, without waking me, they had to step over me each time they went back and forth bringing out arms full of the other gifts. But they got smart the following years and told me that St. Nick wouldnt come if I wasnt in bed...and by a certain hour! You can bet I was in bed, but I still couldnt stay up long enough to hear St. Nick in the living       ");
array_files[172]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/025/page03.asp","2009-08-03","2K","Thought For The Month    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Thought For The Month Thought For The Month The Day is Done Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807 - 1882) The day is done, and the darkness Falls from the wings of Night, As a feather is wafted downward From an eagle in his flight. I see the lights of the village Gleam through the rain and the mist, And a feeling of sadness comes oer me That my soul cannot resist: A feeling of sadness and longing, That is not akin to pain, And resembles sorrow only As the mist resembles the rain. Come, read to me some poem, Some simple and heartfelt lay, That shall soothe this restless feeling, And banish the thoughts of the day. Not from the grand old masters, Not from the bards sublime, Whose distant footsteps echo Through the corridors of Time. For, like strains of martial music, Their mighty thoughts suggest Lifes endless toil and endeavor; And to-night I long for rest. Read for some humbler poet, Whose song gushed from his heart, As showers from the clouds of summer, Or tears from the eyelids start; Who, through long days of labor, And nights devoid of ease, Still heard in his soul the music Of wonderful melodies. Such songs have power to quiet The restless pulse of care, And come like the benediction That follows after prayer. Then read from the treasured volume The poem of they choice, And lend to the rhyme of the poet The beauty of thy voice. And the night shall be filled with music, And the cares, that infest the day, Shall fold their tents, like the Arabs, And as silently steal away.     ");
array_files[173]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/029/page06.asp","2009-08-03","3K","Spirituality for Today, Volume 3, Issue 5, Advents Message of Peace    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Spirituality for Today, Volume 3, Issue 5, Advents Message of Peace Home Advents Message of Peace by Sr. Helen Margaret Feeney, CSJ Over the hillside country Mary went. She had not meant to tell she carried Christ, but the Christ she bore gently bestowed his love on all she met....* Like Mary, pregnant with Christ, it is for us to use this special season of Advent to allow Christ to grow daily within us. With Christ, we will create the fruit of peace -- the peace that flows from love. Peace arises from harmony, through communion with God. Prayer alone will put us in contact with His presence. In loving union with Him, we will be able to establish a quiet serenity that no one can take from us. Only then, we will be able to act out of the center of peace. God loves us dearly and fully comprehends the special beauty of each and every one. Has He not made us to His own image and likeness? Through quiet moments of prayer with Him, nourished by the Eucharist, we can begin to know our own inner beauty, our worth, our being in God. United with Mary, we will become conscious that when she carried Christ within her womb, her breathing was His every breath, her voice was His voice. Suddenly we will realize that He could go only where she chose to take Him. Is not Christ dependent upon us today? This utter dependence places a great trust in us. As Christ bearers, He will guide us into the way of peace. With Mary as our role model, we must carry Him wherever He wants to go. There may be places He will never go unless we bring Him there. Surely He wishes to go to our workplace -- the office, factory or classroom. Or it may be He has a strong desire to visit the wretched lodging of a derelict, an elderly neighbor in a nursing home, a drug or AIDS victim, a whimpering child, or a forgotten alcoholic. If our being there means that Christ is present, that alone makes it worthwhile. Indeed, each of us can be a minister of love and bring Christs peace to the lives of others. We just have to welcome them with a caring love and bri      ");
array_files[174]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/026/page05.asp","2009-08-03","7K","The Joy of Graduate Work    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," The Joy of Graduate Work The Joy of Graduate Work by James E. Gabriel I think people are starting to refer to me as their `professional student-friend. They dont say this to my face, you understand, but I see them look at me with that `Youre going-to-school-again? look when I tell them that I am returning for my fifth and (hopefully) final academic experience. I didnt plan to be an eternal student, but it seems that I was always being led into the throes of yet another degree program. So, since I have been through so many schools, I tend to look at the scholastic experience with perhaps a different perspective from the first-time student. I didnt initially intend to return to school. The reason is because of the job market within my profession. I am a musician and I perform on both the piano and pipe organ. People have always warned me that finding a good job in music would be difficult. I took them seriously with this warning, but I never knew what the job market was truly like until I decided to work a little bit in between schools. After being a personnel manager of a symphony orchestra and music director of a church, I realized that, although I enjoyed the jobs, I needed to re-evaluate my goals. I think the biggest problem is that I enjoy so many activities: teach, performing, working with people, writing music, organizing events...etc. So I had to evaluate what I REALLY want to do for the rest of my life. I found it interesting that when I asked my five year-old nephew what he wanted to do with his life, he would answer and then ask me the same question. The problem was that I wasnt sure! So I decided to phone a professor who I trusted to find out where the best professors of organ are located. He gave me a list of about five schools with great teachers, and a-hunting I went. Auditions followed, I was awarded a scholarship, and now I just have to pack! I have to say that since I have been so busy, and since the program I am entering doesnt begin until October 1st, Ive had little time to get nervous about       ");
array_files[175]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/029/page05.asp","2009-08-03","5K","Spirituality for Today, Volume 3, Issue 5, Serenity    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Spirituality for Today, Volume 3, Issue 5, Serenity Home Serenity by Rev. Mark Connolly As we prepare for the season of Christmas, I would ask that you try to cultivate one quality that many Catholics never achieve, the quality of serenity. All of us, throughout the year, use the energy we have for our family, our job, our lifestyles, and then are asked to scrape up some extra energy for all the added responsibilities and obligations of the season. As a result there is often more fatigue than enjoyment, more chaos and less peace or serenity. No one wants to scrimp or be a scrooge during the holidays, but you cannot let, in the language of Alex Greenspan, all irrational exuberance ruin our holidays. Serenity has to be our goal during this festive and holiday season. For years I have worked with AA people all over the country. With all the extra energy demanded of them, they cannot forget one point, they can never lose their serenity during this season, when alcohol is more plentiful than ever, when liquor flows more freely. They have to take not just one day at a time, but sometimes one hour at a time to achieve the serenity that helps them protect their sobriety. You and I might not have a problem with liquor, but we could all learn during this season the importance of taking not just one day at a time, but one hour at a time. If someone or something takes your serenity away, then you are partially at fault for allowing it. During this season you have to develop a personal spirituality. How? By realizing the power of personal prayer in your life. If you are not anchored to God, if you are not grafted to Christ, then serenity will never be yours. Prayer gives you an awareness of what your priorities should be. Prayer helps you to live with the unanswered problems of your life. Prayer helps you to realize that there are times when you dont have a solution for every problem. There is a word that has been used for centuries that helps us develop a sense of prayerfulness. It is the word mantra. It is a personal pra      ");
array_files[176]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/025/page02.asp","2009-08-03","8K","Wonders of the World    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Wonders of the World Wonders of the World by the Most Rev. Edward M. Egan The bus from the capital of Nepal, Katmandu, to the town of Bhaktapur, nine miles to the east, moved slowly over a road of stones and dust. It was an extraordinarily bright and fresh morning in July. My two companions and I were somewhat tired from three days of exploring the sights of Katmandu. We were looking forward to a more relaxed program in Bhaktapur. Our bus pulled into a parking lot about 300 yards from Durbar Square at 7:00 a.m. We were informed that another would be waiting in the same place at 7:00 p.m. to take us back to Katmandu. As we descended from the bus, a Nepalese man of about fifty years of age approached, wearing a green and yellow plastic sign on his white pajama-like shirt. It read: Excellent Guide. He would give the three of us the best one-day tour available in all of Nepal, he announced in a polished English accent. He was an expert in Nepalese art. His hobby was Nepalese history. He knew where to eat and, perhaps more importantly, where not to eat. His price would be reasonable, and he was sure we realized that we were indeed fortunate to have met him. As we followed the guide into Durbar Square, one of our number settled upon the reasonable price. The negotiations were quite detailed. A guide of his stature would, of course, eat lunch at the same table as his clients and at a restaurant of his choosing, we were informed. The same would hold true for tea. Moreover, at the conclusion of our tour it was understood that, in his words, the gratuities would not be ungenerous. * * * * * * Durbar Square in Bhaktapur is often said to be the architectural and artistic masterpiece of Nepal. It boasts a royal palace decorated with a multitude of intricately carved windows, a museum filled with colorful miniature paintings, an imposing pagoda guarded by huge stone soldiers and elephants, a triumphal arch, and much more. About each of the sights our guide offered an engaging commentary; and when we were in a Buddhist or Br      ");
array_files[177]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/026/page03.asp","2009-08-03","1K","Thought For The Month    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Thought For The Month Thought For The Month THE ROAD NOT TAKEN Robert Frost (1874-1963) Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, long I stood And looked down one as far as I could To where it bent in the undergrowth; Then took the other, as just as fair, And having perhaps the better claim, Because it was grassy and wanted wear; Though as for that, the passing there Had worn them really about the same, And both that morning equally lay In leaves no step had trodden black. Oh, I kept the first for another day! Yet knowing how way leads on to way, I doubted if I should ever come back. I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I- I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.     ");
array_files[178]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/029/page03.asp","2009-08-03","3K","Spirituality for Today, Volume 3, Issue 5, Thought for the Month - `Twas The Night Before Jesus Came    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Spirituality for Today, Volume 3, Issue 5, Thought for the Month - `Twas The Night Before Jesus Came Home Thought for the Month `Twas The Night Before Jesus Came `Twas the night before Jesus came and all through the house Not a creature was praying, not one in the house. Their Bibles were lain on the shelf without care In hopes that Jesus would not come there. The children were dressing to crawl into bed, Not once ever kneeling or bowing a head. And Mom in her rocker with babe on her lap Was watching the Late Show while I took a nap. When out of the East there arose such a clatter, I sprang to my feet to see what was the matter. Away to the window I flew like a flash, Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash! When what to my wondering eyes should appear But angels proclaiming that Jesus was here. With a light like the sun sending forth a bright ray, I knew in a moment this must be THE DAY! The light of His face made me cover my head. It was Jesus! returning just like He had said. And though I possessed worldly wisdom and wealth, I cried when I saw Him in spite of myself. In the Book of Life which He had in His hand, Was written the name of every saved man. He spoke not a word as He search for my name; When He said, Its not here, my head hung in shame. The people whose names had been written with love He gathered to take to His Father above. With those who were ready He rose without a sound, While all the rest were left standing around. I fell to my knees, but it was too late; I had waited too long and thus sealed my fate. I stood and I cried as they rose out of sight; Oh, if only I had been ready tonight. In the words of this poem the meaning is clear; The coming of Jesus is drawing near. Theres only one life and when comes the last call Well find that the Bible was true after all! 1984 Bethany Farms copyright © 1997-2005, Spirituality for Today     ");
array_files[179]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/025/authors.asp","2009-08-03","2K","About The Authors    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," About The Authors About the Authors Rev. Mark Connolly was born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts. In 1970 he started THE SUNDAY MASS on television in the New York Area. In 1993, Fr. Connolly was named the Director of Radio and Television in the Dicoese of Bridgeport. He is well known in the field of Radio and Television. Presently, Father is the host of an ABC syndicated show called THOUGHTS FOR THE WEEK which is aired every Sunday morning throughout the country. Most Rev. Edward M. Egan, D.D., J.C.D., was consecrated a bishop in 1985. In 1988 he was installed as the Third Bishop of Bridgeport. Bishop Egan has a degree in philosophy; licentiate in Sacred Theology and a Doctorate in Canon Law. He has overseen the regionalization of the diocesan elementary schools, established an active Hispanic Apostolate and founded the St. John Fisher Residence for young men considering the priesthood. Rev. Charles Allen, S.J., was born in Boston and ordained to the Society of Jesus in 1973. Since then Fr. Allen has held numerous educational and administrative positions within the Jesuit educational system. He is presently the Executive Assistant to the President of Fairfield University. Rev. Paul D. Griffin is currently the parochial vicar of St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Fairfield, CT. He holds a Bachelors Degree in Economics from St. Lawrence University, a Doctorate in Jurisprudence from New England School of Law in Boston, and a Bachelors Degree in Sacred Theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome.     ");
array_files[180]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/029/page02.asp","2009-08-03","7K","Spirituality for Today, Volume 3, Issue 5, Chapters    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Spirituality for Today, Volume 3, Issue 5, Chapters Home Chapters by Most Rev. Edward M. Egan It was almost too small to be called a hotel, for it boasted only twenty-two rooms, a tiny lobby, and an even tinier breakfast area on the top floor. Still, because it was marvelously clean and located in the center of Paris, a few blocks away from the Place de la Concorde, I considered it just about ideal. A week before Christmas in 1957, my parents and I, reservations in hand, arrived as guests. On December 15th I had been ordained a priest in Rome, and we were taking advantage of the Christmas break to see some of France and England together after four years of my being away from home. Each morning we would meet in the hotel lobby to go out to Mass in one of the nearby churches. This practice caught the attention of the director of the hotel and his wife who, after the first day, joined us each morning for breakfast when we returned from mass. Before long they were becoming fast friends with my father, myself, and especially my mother who spoke French quite well. You American Catholics put us to shame, the director announced one morning We French have had the Faith so long that we no longer cherish it as we should. We need to be learning from you. The learning climaxed the last morning of our stay when the director and his wife went with us for Mass at the Church of the Madelaine. At breakfast afterwards the wife of the director presented my mother with a coffee cake wrapped in white paper and a blue ribbon. We would enjoy it in London because, she confided, the cuisine there leaves much to be desired. Six years later almost to the day I checked into the same hotel. I was in Paris, again during a Christmas break, to work in the National Library on my doctoral dissertation. The director of the hotel and his wife recognized me immediately. Before giving me my key, they brought me up to the breakfast area, sat me down, and questioned me at length about my parents. Some years before, they reported, my mother had sent t      ");
array_files[181]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/025/page01.asp","2009-08-03","2K","Introduction    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Introduction Introduction by the Rev. Mark Connolly Recreation and vacation are words of magic that give a zest to everyones life. We might complain about the preparation, but fundamentally, all of us like recreation and vacation time. Whether it breaks up a busy working year or a dull job, vacation does stimulate each one of us. And God knows because of all the pressures and demands placed on peoples vacation this isnt just a luxury, it is a necessity. Recreation time helps us to get in touch with our feelings. Very few people think of vacation time and connect it with spirituality. But recreation and spirituality are so interconnected. A sunrise in California, a sunset in Cape Cod, the beautiful power of the Atlantic Ocean waves, the serenity of a lake remind us of a God who created colors and patterns that make up the tapestry we call earth so that we could enjoy his work and artistry. And vacation time does help us enjoy all these artistic works of God in a less hurried way throughout the year. With all of the beauty of nature, mans relationship to God has to be uniquely experienced. God and man are united in the majestic view of a sunset. God and man experience a kinship in the power of an ocean. After a vacation we go back to our routine way of life. But a good vacation does help our spirituality. God is seen from a different way of life. We know from our basic theological training that God is everywhere. But vacation time, when we see the power and majesty of Gods handiwork, vacation time reminds us of the spiritual in a most personal way.     ");
array_files[182]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/026/page02.asp","2009-08-03","8K","Three-Dimensional    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Three-Dimensional Three-Dimensional by the Most Rev. Edward M. Egan The Cardinal Archbishop of Chicago had friends in the hierarchy across the world. One of them was a Canadian bishop who toward the beginning of the 1970s wrote a letter to several bishops both in Canada and in the United States asking them to send representatives from their diocesan staffs to participate in a seminar which he and the president of a university in his diocese were planning. The purpose of the seminar was to provide background information about certain currents of contemporary philosophy which were thought to be the cause of much of the social turmoil of the era. At the time I was a co-chancellor of the Archdiocese of Chicago, and it was I whom the Cardinal chose to attend the seminary. It will last only a week, he observed, and it might be quite helpful. With that he handed me a list of books that I was to buy and read before leaving for Canada. They were five or six in number, of which I now recall only three. One was by Michel Foucault, another by Jean-Paul Sartre, and a third by Herbert Marcuse - all authors whom I considered quite radical. * * * * * * In Canada the participants included twenty-five members of both clergy and laity. We were housed in the university dormitory and immediately upon arrival given a detailed schedule of the events we were expected to attend. Each day there were two lectures in the morning and two in the afternoon, and it was noted on the schedule that there would be ample opportunity for questions and comments. * * * * * * The lecturer who spoke about Foucault was perhaps the least doctrinaire of all. He freely confessed, for example, that his subject was a rather uncritical disciple of Nietzsche, Marx, and Freud. All the same, he evidenced a good deal of sympathy for Foucaults denial of immutable truths and his belief that all human activity must be understood in terms of a pursuit of power. Moreover, while he tolerated a few questions, it was apparent that he preferred that we simply listen to w      ");
array_files[183]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/029/page01.asp","2009-08-03","5K","Spirituality for Today, Volume 3, Issue 5, Introduction - The Magic of Christmas    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Spirituality for Today, Volume 3, Issue 5, Introduction - The Magic of Christmas Home Introduction - The Magic of Christmas by Rev. Mark Connolly There is no doubt that the Christmas Season touches the imagination of the world. It is magic. It is a fantasy season. It is myth and reality all coming together in the minds of children as well as adults. People of all walks of life are influenced by Christmas, whether they are Christians or not. Toynbee, the famous historian called it the most important day in the calendar of the world. Siegmund Freud questioned why Christians in their conduct could let this day and its meaning be forgotten so quickly and so easily. Christmas is an important time of reflection and meditation. It is the time when God decided his son and his sons gospel should be introduced to the world. The shepherds in the Judean hills, the angels singing about the birth of Christ, the story of the wise men - all of us have been the beneficiaries of this story for centuries. Because of this birth event, nations have temporarily stopped wars, people show more civility and the spirit of this first family Christmas is experienced in many of our own families. But God never intended that the birth of Christ should just appeal to our imagination. When the son of God entered this world, he brought a new gospel, a whole new set of values. And this gospel was not only intended to reach our imagination, but our intellect and our wills. The gospel of Christ has but one goal, to bring people to everlasting joy. He could speak to the poorest of the poor and give them hope by telling them that he would not leave them orphans. He could speak to the lepers, the outcasts of society and tell them have confidence in me and I will help you overcome the world. To the families, where brother was angered by another brother, he taught we must forgive those who have trespassed against us. This gospel theme of forgiveness went through his public ministry, always based on love. He taught that if necessary we must be willing       ");
array_files[184]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/026/authors.asp","2009-08-03","2K","About The Authors    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," About The Authors About the Authors Rev. Mark Connolly was born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts. In 1970 he started THE SUNDAY MASS on television in the New York Area. In 1993, Fr. Connolly was named the Director of Radio and Television in the Dicoese of Bridgeport. He is well known in the field of Radio and Television. Presently, Father is the host of an ABC syndicated show called THOUGHTS FOR THE WEEK which is aired every Sunday morning throughout the country. Most Rev. Edward M. Egan, D.D., J.C.D., was consecrated a bishop in 1985. In 1988 he was installed as the Third Bishop of Bridgeport. Bishop Egan has a degree in philosophy; licentiate in Sacred Theology and a Doctorate in Canon Law. He has overseen the regionalization of the diocesan elementary schools, established an active Hispanic Apostolate and founded the St. John Fisher Residence for young men considering the priesthood. James E. Gabriel received his undergraduate degree from Youngstown State University in Piano Performance and his masters degree from the University of Notre Dame. He was a member and personnel manager of the South Bend Symphony Orchestra, taught English in Mexico City and worked with inner city youth in Chicago.     ");
array_files[185]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/026/page01.asp","2009-08-03","4K","Introduction    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Introduction Introduction by the Rev. Mark Connolly Carl Jung once said that if he had the time and the opportunity, he would establish a college for people over 40 years of age. He felt there would be no need for exams or final papers. Just a collection of people who would share their life experiences, their hopes, their dreams. This college would not be interested in thesis being written or papers being delivered, but ideas that would help people over 40 grow spiritually, morally and emotionally. When you analyze our culture the experience of starting to school or starting back to school is quite mixed. Fear, anticipated joy, reunion with friends, all are part of the back to school experience. All of us cherish the knowledge and wisdom we received from that favorite teacher who took an interest in us. The one who worked us the hardest, the one who inspired us, who motivated us. Our formative years of education for most of us have many wonderful memories. Maybe in retrospect, we have been given more practical information to prepare us for our future, our jobs, our career. Most of us, if we are honest, can say that most of the teachers, on a small salary, with overcrowded classrooms, did a very good job. Education is a many faceted word. It applies to the teacher and the student. The teacher guides the student and prepares him for the journey of life. That student will go into the world following the instructions and lessons, develop his own philosophy and psychology of life and impact the society in which he lives and works. No one questions the need for students to be formally trained and prepared for life. Life demands a well formed mind. Truthfully one can never get enough knowledge or education. Every age of life is so different and so challenging. The adolescent, the teenager, the young adult have to be prepared for life. And this is done through education, formal or informal. Formal through our education system. Informal through the life experiences we have in every facet of life. The child going back t      ");
array_files[186]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/028/authors.asp","2009-08-03","2K","Spirituality for Today, Volume 3, Issue 4, Authors    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Spirituality for Today, Volume 3, Issue 4, Authors Home About the Authors Rev. Mark Connolly was born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts. In 1970 he started THE SUNDAY MASS on television in the New York Area. In 1993, Fr. Connolly was named the Director of Radio and Television in the Diocese of Bridgeport. He is well known in the field of Radio and Television. Presently, Father is the host of an ABC syndicated show called THOUGHTS FOR THE WEEK which is aired every Sunday morning throughout the country. Most Rev. Edward M. Egan, D.D., J.C.D., was consecrated a bishop in 1985. In 1988 he was installed as the Third Bishop of Bridgeport. Bishop Egan has a degree in philosophy; licentiate in Sacred Theology and a Doctorate in Canon Law. He has overseen the regionalization of the diocesan elementary schools, established an active Hispanic Apostolate and founded the St. John Fisher Residence for young men considering the priesthood. Peter J. Lynch is a seminarian studying for the Diocese of Bridgeport. He is entering his third year of priestly formation at the Pontifical North American College and his third year of theological studies at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. He will be ordained a transitional deacon in the summer of 1998 and a priest in the summer of 1999. Mary Beth Hoffman is a parishioner of St. Mary Church in Greenwich, and a member of the choir. Recently she worked for the Provincial of a small internationl congregation whose U.S. Headquarters are located in New York City. She graduated from Harrison High School and attended Katharie Gibbs School and has had over twenty years experience working as an administrative assistant. copyright © 1997-2005, Spirituality for Today     ");
array_files[187]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/028/page07.asp","2009-08-03","4K","Spirituality for Today, Volume 3, Issue 4, Thanksgiving Day Away from Home    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Spirituality for Today, Volume 3, Issue 4, Thanksgiving Day Away from Home Home Thanksgiving Day Away from Home by Peter J. Lynch Being away from home can make some of the holidays difficult. At the major holidays, like Thanksgiving, the entire family would get together; and at the same time we are catching up on whats new, we find we are still the same. In my family we are all grown now and moved away from home. There is so much that happens in our lives in between these precious times that change us, our views, our tastes or simply make us really different somehow. So in another sense we are getting to know each other all over again. But there is always that foundation of familiarity. We are immediately accepted, we dont need to put on airs, though we may fall back into the petty sibling rivalries. All in all, we can be who we are, and we can get back in touch with where we come from, which helps us not take ourselves too seriously. It is a place and a time where we can leave our masks at the door, and if we want, pick them up again as we leave. More often I think we wish we could leave them there. Thanksgiving is a holiday that is a real eye-opener for me while I am away in seminary. This is so mostly for the reason that it is not a holiday where we give gifts trying to guess what everyone needs or think they want. Rather, at the end of the celebration, the treasures we go home with cannot be held in the trunks of our cars, or in our pockets, but are held and cherished in our hearts. No value can be put on the love found in a family, and it is the gift that can be given ever anew. This is what I have come to miss most not being home for such holidays. To come together with those I love and coming away with the greatest treasure; to be with those who know me better than anyone, and yet still love me despite it all. Being far away during these precious times allow me to know other blessings as well. In this time of formation to the priesthood of Jesus Christ, the pain of separation is at the same time the swe      ");
array_files[188]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/028/page06.asp","2009-08-03","2K","Spirituality for Today, Volume 3, Issue 4, Gratitude Is An Attitude Of The Heart    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Spirituality for Today, Volume 3, Issue 4, Gratitude Is An Attitude Of The Heart Home Gratitude Is An Attitude Of The Heart by Mary Beth Hoffman Its the everyday things which often go unnoticed and taken for granted, and sometimes its difficult to think of all the things we should be grateful for when we get so wrapped up in the business of living and working and making appointments and meeting schedules. However, I think its also important to take a few minutes out of each day and jot down a few things for which we are most grateful during that particular day. In doing so, it puts a lot of things into perspective...it helps us to focus in on the virtue of humility by becoming more aware of all the things we depend on to keep us on track; and more importantly, it allows us to realize how important people are in our lives. One of the greatest needs in our society at all levels, I believe, is the need to be loved, to be appreciated, to be encouraged, to be believed in, and to respond to these acts of kindness in the same manner. It has been said that the best way to have a friend is to be one. Likewise, the best way to receive love is to go out of yourself and give it away. Its one of the few things in life that multiples as we give it away. So, this Thanksgiving do be grateful and have an attitude of gratitude, but also give some love away, youll be the richer for it. copyright © 1997-2005, Spirituality for Today     ");
array_files[189]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/028/page05.asp","2009-08-03","6K","Spirituality for Today, Volume 3, Issue 4, The Meaning of Thanksgiving Through the Ages    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Spirituality for Today, Volume 3, Issue 4, The Meaning of Thanksgiving Through the Ages Home The Meaning of Thanksgiving Through the Ages by Rev. Paul D. Griffin As every schoolchild knows, Thanksgiving Day in America commemorates the celebratory meal of thanksgiving that the Pilgrims enjoyed with the Americans who were native to the area of what is now known as Plymouth, Massachusetts. There can be little doubt that these early settlers and their gracious hosts could not possibly have envisioned the tremendous effect that their small gathering continues to have upon our American psyche and culture. Yet, while the image of these settlers gathered around several tables with their hosts in an effort to give thanks to God for his many blessings upon them may appear rather novel to many contemporary Americans, the practice of giving thanks to God while sharing a meal has its origins in the Jewish Passover meal, which many scholars believe Jesus was celebrating when He instituted the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist (which is a Greek word for thanksgiving) on Holy Thursday, the eve of His crucifixion. For people of the Jewish faith, the Feast of Passover celebrated the Exodus event in which the Israelites were released from their slavery to the Egyptians. This dinner, in which the posture and dress of the diners recalls the hasty flight of the Israelites into freedom, also serves as a thanksgiving to God for His having orchestrated this event on behalf of His chosen people. The Old Testament provides us with many other examples of men and women giving thanks to God in response to His benevolence towards them. However, because there is no specific word for thanksgiving in the Hebrew language, in the early writings of the Old Testament such thanks are oftentimes expressed in the psalms, wherein the Israelites praise and glorify God for His goodness. For example, Psalm 48 states that Great is the Lord and wholly to be praised...O God, we ponder your kindness within your temple. As your name, O God, so also your praise       ");
array_files[190]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/028/page03.asp","2009-08-03","1K","Spirituality for Today, Volume 3, Issue 4, Thought for the Month    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Spirituality for Today, Volume 3, Issue 4, Thought for the Month Home Thought for the Month PSALM 100 A Psalm of thanksgiving. Shout joyfully to the Lord, all you lands; worship the Lord with cries of gladness; come before him with joyful song. Know that the Lord is God, our maker to whom we belong, whose people we are, Gods well-tended flock. Enter the temple gates with praise, its courts with thanksgiving. Give thanks to God, bless his name; good indeed is the Lord, Whose love endures forever, whose faithfulness lasts through every age. copyright © 1997-2005, Spirituality for Today     ");
array_files[191]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/028/page02.asp","2009-08-03","3K","Spirituality for Today, Volume 3, Issue 4, Her Magic    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Spirituality for Today, Volume 3, Issue 4, Her Magic Home Her Magic by Most Rev. Edward M. Egan, D.D., J.C.D. The month of November is filled with all sorts of nostalgic moments. For the Catholic family it is a reminder to remember the souls in purgatory. Non-Catholics oftentimes dont understand why this is done. But the simple theological fact is that Catholics pray for their deceased relatives and friends who still are waiting to enter the Kingdom of Heaven and have an eternal private audience with God. For centuries, the praying for All Souls, that is those who have left this world and in need of our prayers, is one of the oldest customs in the Catholic Church. All of us feel a debt of gratitude to those parents and friends who helped us and guided us while they were on earth. Many of the wonderful things we have in life is due to the value system and guidance they gave us. Teachers, parents, priests and nuns, all who helped us are remembered in our prayers during the month of November. This month of November is another reminder of the gratitude we owe to the millions of American men and women who fought for us and our country. I think many of us have seen the famous Norman Rockwell pictures illustrating freedom from want, freedom of speech, freedom to assemble, freedom to worship. All of these four freedoms have been defended by millions of men and women in the Armed Forces who gave their lives so that we could be free. November as we all know highlights the Feast of Thanksgiving. Our country, with all its problems, is still the greatest country on earth. In our own way, we try to feed the sick and clothe the naked. We might not be perfect, but we still try to help the downtrodden and unfortunate. Whether we talk about the gratitude that we owe to our friends and family who have left us, whether we constantly thank God for our armed service members in the past for protecting us, whether we thank our own family and God for all our material blessings, all of this comes right down to the value system of the r      ");
array_files[192]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/028/page01.asp","2009-08-03","3K","Spirituality for Today, Volume 3, Issue 4, Introduction    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Spirituality for Today, Volume 3, Issue 4, Introduction Home Introduction by Rev. Mark Connolly The month of November is filled with all sorts of nostalgic moments. For the Catholic family it is a reminder to remember the souls in purgatory. Non-Catholics oftentimes dont understand why this is done. But the simple theological fact is that Catholics pray for their deceased relatives and friends who still are waiting to enter the Kingdom of Heaven and have an eternal private audience with God. For centuries, the praying for All Souls, that is those who have left this world and in need of our prayers, is one of the oldest customs in the Catholic Church. All of us feel a debt of gratitude to those parents and friends who helped us and guided us while they were on earth. Many of the wonderful things we have in life is due to the value system and guidance they gave us. Teachers, parents, priests and nuns, all who helped us are remembered in our prayers during the month of November. This month of November is another reminder of the gratitude we owe to the millions of American men and women who fought for us and our country. I think many of us have seen the famous Norman Rockwell pictures illustrating freedom from want, freedom of speech, freedom to assemble, freedom to worship. All of these four freedoms have been defended by millions of men and women in the Armed Forces who gave their lives so that we could be free. November as we all know highlights the Feast of Thanksgiving. Our country, with all its problems, is still the greatest country on earth. In our own way, we try to feed the sick and clothe the naked. We might not be perfect, but we still try to help the downtrodden and unfortunate. Whether we talk about the gratitude that we owe to our friends and family who have left us, whether we constantly thank God for our armed service members in the past for protecting us, whether we thank our own family and God for all our material blessings, all of this comes right down to the value system of the reader of this       ");
array_files[193]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/027/authors.asp","2009-08-03","3K","Spirituality for Today, Volume 3, Issue 3, Authors    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Spirituality for Today, Volume 3, Issue 3, Authors Home About the Authors Rev. Mark Connolly was born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts. In 1970 he started THE SUNDAY MASS on television in the New York Area. In 1993, Fr. Connolly was named the Director of Radio and Television in the Diocese of Bridgeport. He is well known in the field of Radio and Television. Presently, Father is the host of an ABC syndicated show called THOUGHTS FOR THE WEEK which is aired every Sunday morning throughout the country. Most Rev. Edward M. Egan, D.D., J.C.D., was consecrated a bishop in 1985. In 1988 he was installed as the Third Bishop of Bridgeport. Bishop Egan has a degree in philosophy; licentiate in Sacred Theology and a Doctorate in Canon Law. He has overseen the regionalization of the diocesan elementary schools, established an active Hispanic Apostolate and founded the St. John Fisher Residence for young men considering the priesthood. Rev. Germán Martínez is a diocesan priest serving in the Diocese of Bridgeport, Connecticut, as a resident at St. Mary Parish in Greenwich, Connecticut. He is responsible for Hispanic ministry and education at the parish and is Associate Professor of Religious Education at Fordham Universitys Rose Hill Campus in the Bronx, New York. At present Father Martinez is writing his second book on sacramental theology. Sr. Vincent McCarthy, O.S.U., was born in Tipperary, Ireland and has celebrated her sixtieth year in religious life as an Ursuline sister. She has spent many years as an educator in various grammar schools. At present she is on the pastoral staff at Our Lady Star of the Sea Parish in Stamford, Connecticut. Joan Maddy is a parishioner at St. Marys Church in Greenwich, Connecticut. She has taught CCD for many years and is a Dame of Malta. copyright © 1997-2005, Spirituality for Today     ");
array_files[194]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/027/page07.asp","2009-08-03","5K","Spirituality for Today, Volume 3, Issue 3, Bendita María, Símbolo De Nuestra Libertad    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Spirituality for Today, Volume 3, Issue 3, Bendita María, Símbolo De Nuestra Libertad Home Bendita María, Símbolo De Nuestra Libertad by Rev. German Martinez La búsqueda de la libertad ha sido una de las características más acuciantes de nuestro siglo. Hoy en muchas partes del mundo ya no se lucha por la libertad política, o incluso enconómica, excepto en algunas regiones del planeta como Africa. Sin embargo, la persona de finales del segundo milenio lucha por la libertad del espíritu encadenado por el nuevo materialismo del consumerismo, o del individualismo galopante, o de la soledad del alma, o de cualquier otra clase de esclavitud del mundo postmoderno. Como fue el caso de generaciones pasadas, María sigue siendo hoy el símbolo luminoso de la verdadera libertad. El mes de octubre está dedicado a Mariá bajo la advocación de Nuestra Señora del Rosario que se celebra el 7 de octubre. Precisamente esta fiesta fue instituida en 1572 por el Papa Pio V para recordar la liberación de la Cristiandad en la decisiva batalla de Lepanto, cuyo triunfo fue atribuido a la Santísima Virgen. La recitación del rosario está vinculado a esta fiesta. El rosario, o recitación del Ave María, es una de las devociones más populares del Catolicismo, arraigada sobre todo en la oración familiar. Una mirada retrospectiva a las fuentes bíblicas del Cristianismo, a la devoción a María a través de los siglos, a los santuarios marianos, y sobre todo a la figura de María como Madre de Dios en Cristo su hijo y Madre de la iglesia, nos hace vislumbrar el resplandor del símbolo de la libertad que representa la Bendita María. María proclama la libertad del poder de Dios para la humanidad en el Magnificat. Ella puede proclamarla porque es parte de su experiencia de vida, de su maternidad mesiánica, pero sobre todo de su aceptación, su Fiat, de la volundad de Dios. El Magnificat es una de las oraciones por excelencia de la Biblia, centrada en la gratitud por los dones recibidos de Dios y el consiguiente gozo de ser amada por él: Proclama mi alma       ");
array_files[195]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/027/page06.asp","2009-08-03","2K","Spirituality for Today, Volume 3, Issue 3, October - Month Of Our Lady    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Spirituality for Today, Volume 3, Issue 3, October - Month Of Our Lady Home October - Month Of Our Lady by Sr. Vincent McCarthy, O.S.U. Mary. This very human Jewish woman stood before us in the flesh, she gave her son, stands before us now not as a lifeless statue, but as a living example. Mary - Gods finest example of what it means to be a disciple, how we should live here and now if we want to follow Christ. In a word, Our Lady, mother of the Church, stands before each and all of us who claim to be Christian, ceaselessly urging on us what she said to the servants at Canas wedding feast: Do whatever he tells you. Reflecting on the prayer of St. Francis Make me and instrument of your peace we can certainly say Mary, the Mother of Jesus, is the instrument of peace for the Church. She can bring into your life light where where there is darkness. She can bring love and dissapate hate. She was the one who consoled the apostels in their loss of Jesus - she gave them hope and carried to the fullest the work of God on earth. Mary speaks to us not from book learning, but from human experience, from first order language. In the story of humankind, no human being has listened to the word of God more intently. Precisely for that reason the fathers at the Second Vatican Council enclosed Our Lady within a document on the Church. They wrote: ... the Mother of God is a model of the Church in the area of faith, of love, and of perfect union with Christ. Mary does not sit on a golden throne in splendid isolation. What we ought to recapture during this month of October is a warm relationship with her through prayer, through devotions, through contemplation. Let the mysteries of Our Lady inhabit the screen of your imagination. copyright © 1997-2005, Spirituality for Today     ");
array_files[196]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/027/page05.asp","2009-08-03","2K","Spirituality for Today, Volume 3, Issue 3, The Secret Treasure    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Spirituality for Today, Volume 3, Issue 3, The Secret Treasure Home The Secret Treasure by Joan Maddy If there is any person that has been misunderstood over the centuries it is Mary, the Mother of Christ. Over the ages because of the many accolades we have given her, she doesnt seem real to us as she was to the Apostles. To them, Mary was warm and maternal. She was the one who quietly led the Apostles after the death of Christ. To them she wasnt one who was out of touch. She wasnt one who wore a crown. She was real, she was understanding. She was compassionate. Mary, like her Son, cried. Think of all she had gone through. At the most important moment of her life she had to deliver her son to the world in a stable. She was a victim of gossip and prejudice. As the Scriptures tell us she kept many of these things in her heart. We have to meet Mary through a deep personal prayer life. The Apostles found guidance and direction from and through her. Mary wasnt just on this earth to work a few miracles now and then. Her role is much larger. She took the first Apostles family and taught them values that have been handed down over the centuries. When the great writers of the past referred to our life, our sweetness and our hope they were referring to a woman whom God had selected to be the Mother to us all and our families. Mary is a treasure for all ages. Mary lived and loved. She did this for Christ her son. Her role in the past was to bring the love of Christ to others. She is still doing it for us. All we have to do in our prayers is to ask her for whatever we need. She never let the first Apostle family down. She certainly wont let down ours. copyright © 1997-2005, Spirituality for Today     ");
array_files[197]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/027/page03.asp","2009-08-03","1K","Spirituality for Today, Volume 3, Issue 3, Thought For The Month    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Spirituality for Today, Volume 3, Issue 3, Thought For The Month Home Thought for the Month Lovely Lady dressed in blue teach me how to pray! God was just your little Boy, tell me what to say! Did you lift Him up sometimes gently, on your knee? Did you sing to Him the way Mother does to me? Did you hold His hand at night? Did you ever try telling stories of the world? O! And did He cry? Do you really think He cares if I tell Him things - little things that happen? And Do the Angels wings make a noise? And can He hear me if I speak low? Does He understand me now? Tell me, for your know! Lovely Lady dressed in blue, teach me how to pray! God was just your little Boy and you know the way. copyright © 1997-2005, Spirituality for Today     ");
array_files[198]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/027/page02.asp","2009-08-03","9K","Spirituality for Today, Volume 3, Issue 3, From Atlas to Mary    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Spirituality for Today, Volume 3, Issue 3, From Atlas to Mary Home From Atlas to Mary by Most Rev. Edward M. Egan, D.D., J.C.D., My dear friends in Jesus Christ: This morning as you entered Saint Patricks Cathedral, you may have noticed across Fifth Avenue an imposing collection of buildings, Rockefeller Center, in front of which is to be found a huge, bronze statue of Atlas struggling to hold the universe on his shoulders. If you came early to explore the splendors of the cathedral before Mass, you may have made your way down the center aisle, past the altar, and all the way back into the Lady Chapel, as far back as the cathedral goes, there to inspect the exquisite windows, copies of the fabled stained-glass of the Cathedral of Chartres. In the center, high over the chapel altar, you may have noticed another globe, like Atlass, symbolizing the universe. It is in the left hand of the Virgin Mary, who has on her lap the Child Jesus, upon whom her gaze is fixed in peace and love. The globe seems to be preoccupying her not at all. She carries it securely but without strain. Two works of art, both depicting how one might deal with the universe, the world, or - if you will - life. In the one case, the enterprise is an unremitting struggle. In the other it is somehow lost in a second effort far more important, that of looking upon ones God and loving Him. I would recall, however, that even in this cathedral the journey from Atlas to Mary is not unimpeded. To get to the Virgin one must confront an altar, a place of sacrifice, upon which stands a cross, an instrument of torture and death whereby that Child on Marys lap gave His life for our salvation. And thus it always is. The journey from Atlas to Mary - the journey, that is, from life as a cruel and meaningless struggle to life as an adventure full of hope and wrapped up in God - inevitably entails confrontation with an altar. There is no Easter Sunday without Good Friday, the classic preachers loved to remind us. There is no peace, no joy, no security with ones s      ");
array_files[199]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/027/page01.asp","2009-08-03","3K","Spirituality for Today, Volume 3, Issue 3, Introduction    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Spirituality for Today, Volume 3, Issue 3, Introduction Home Introduction by Rev. Mark Connolly All of us grew up in the Catholic tradition with the awareness that May and October were special times set aside to honor our Blessed Mother. All of us grew up hearing about Fatima and Lourdes. So many of us know about the miraculous medal novena devotions, novenas in honor of Mary, rosaries in honor of Mary and how our formality was to link us to Mary, the mother of God. When you think of this woman who had to take flight, have her baby born in a stable, escape into Egypt, see her son die on a cross and then guide and direct the form of the Church after Christs death, you cannot but be amazed at her strength. It is a unique story of an amazing woman. You can understand why the great architects, the great painters and great sculptors of the past have honored her in their work - Mary, the friend of the poor; Mary, the teacher of modesty and purity; Mary, the consolation of all. There probably is not one emotional sadness that she did not experience. St. Bernard, St. Augustine, St. Thomas all wrote about her beautiful simplicity, her deep faith and her devotion to continue the work of her son on earth. October and May were set aside to remind us we have a great heritage from this great woman of Nazareth. To implement what she taught, to expose her value system and in doing so make this a better place in which to live. That would be what Mary would be asking us to do in our time. Tintoretto, Raphael and the great painters of the time have, by their canvas, given us a great memory of this woman of Nazareth. They were that enthralled by her. None of us will ever paint, none of us will ever build a Church bearing her name, but all of us have the opportunity to bring into our lives what she brought into the lives of the early apostles - faith, love and trust. The closeness we have to Mary is one of the greatest treasures we can have in this life. St. Bernard said it beautifully when he said, she can anticipate our petition      ");
array_files[200]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/024/page05.asp","2009-08-03","3K","The Sacrament of Holy Matrimony    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," The Sacrament of Holy Matrimony The Sacrament of Holy Matrimony by the Rev. John D. Byrnes The catechism of the Catholic Church begins with the description of the role of marriage within human life and the role of the Sacrament of Marriage within the Christian life (1601). This is an important distinction. Marriage is a part of all human life; the Sacrament of Marriage is part of a Christian life. Many theologians, who discuss the Sacrament of Marriage, begin their presentation with an overview of the Old and New Testament descriptions of marriage. When reading these overviews, one might want to separate the religious truths found in the material in Genesis on Adam and Eve from an overly simplistic approach to the historical validity of the Adam and Eve story. The reader should realize that religious truths do not depend on whether Adam and Eve really existed or not. Even though the Adam and Eve account might be mythological, there are still religious truths about the dignity of the human person both male and female, about marriage and about sexuality that the account clearly presents. The New Testament material well deserves special attention. The presence of Jesus at the wedding in Cana should not be presented as an institution of the Sacrament of Marriage. Neither the text nor the context exegetically allow this. Theoretically, however, many Church rights have described Jesus presence at Cana as the beginning of the sacrament, but today this scriptural interpretation would not be a solid position to take. Jesus seems to have been unequivocally insistent on the indissolubility of marriage. Because of his reference to Genesis, to the very beginning of a union of a man and a woman, his insistence on indissolubility seems to apply to all marriage, not just Christian marriages. Jesus taught that all marriages should be a life-long, mutual commitment of husband and wife. What really happens in true Christian marriage is that a man and woman abandon their own individual life, give themselves completely to one anot      ");
array_files[201]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/024/page03.asp","2009-08-03","1K","Thought For The Month    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Thought For The Month Thought For The Month SONNET CXVI Let me not to the marriage of true minds Admit impediments, love is not love Which alters when it alteration finds, Or bends with the remover to remove. O no! it is an ever-fixed mark, That looks on tempests and is never shaken; It is the star to every wandring bark, Whose worths unknown, although his height be taken. Loves not Times fool, though rosy lips and cheeks Within his bending sickles compass come, Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks, But bears it out even to the edge of doom: If this be error and upon me proved, I never writ, nor no man ever loved. William Shakespeare,English, 1564-1616     ");
array_files[202]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/024/page02.asp","2009-08-03","9K","No Heroes?    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," No Heroes? No Heroes? by the Most Rev. Edward M. Egan The talk-show host sounded particularly abrasive as I drove home from the Catholic Center one evening. A caller had suggested that the young people of our nation are much in need of heroes to imitate, and the host was evidently not in agreement. Youre probably one of those lightweights who are always talking abut `role-models, he sneered, his voice rising in anger. There are no heroes. There are no role-models. This is the twentieth century. Wake up, and smell the coffee. At home that night I re-read the section of the new Catechism of the Catholic Church that has to do with the Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Commandments. The obligations it identified as deriving from just these three ordinances of the Lord were both weighty and numerous. I could not help but agree with the man who had telephoned the radio talk-show: We need all the assistance we can get, including the inspiration of heroes. * * * * * * Take, for instance, the Fourth Commandment, I mused to myself. It requires that we not only obey our parents and legitimate superiors but that we also accord them honor, affection, and gratitude. The obligations, however, do not stop there. Parents too, the Catechism teaches, are the subjects of serious duties rising out of the Fourth Commandment. They must provide their offspring with food, clothing, and shelter, of course; but they must also evangelize them in the basics of the Faith, choose for them schools which correspond to their (the parents) convictions, and - perhaps most importantly - accept the grave responsibility of giving them good example. Nor is the Catechism content with even all of this. It further insists that, in virtue of the Fourth Commandment, it is the duty of citizens to contribute along with civil authorities to the good of society, but not to follow the directives of civil authorities when they are contrary to the demands of the moral order. As for civil authorities themselves, the Catechism adds that they are held to respect the fundam      ");
array_files[203]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/024/authors.asp","2009-08-03","2K","About The Authors    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," About The Authors About the Authors Rev. Mark Connolly was born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts. In 1970 he started THE SUNDAY MASS on television in the New York Area. In 1993, Fr. Connolly was named the Director of Radio and Television in the Diocese of Bridgeport. He is well known in the field of Radio and Television. Presently, Father is the host of an ABC syndicated show called THOUGHTS FOR THE WEEK which is aired every Sunday morning throughout the country. In May 1997, he celebrated his fortieth year in the priesthood. Most Rev. Edward M. Egan, D.D., J.C.D., was consecrated a bishop in 1985. In 1988 he was installed as the Third Bishop of Bridgeport. Bishop Egan has a degree in philosophy; licentiate in Sacred Theology and a Doctorate in Canon Law. He has overseen the regionalization of the diocesan elementary schools, established an active Hispanic Apostolate and founded the St. John Fisher Residence for young men considering the priesthood. Rev. John D. Byrnes is a priest of the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown, Pennsylvania, stationed at Our Mother of Sorrows Parish in Johnstown. He received his S.T.B. and J.C.L. degrees from the Pontificial Gregorian University in Rome. At present he serves in a parish, teaches high school and serves in the diocesan tribunal.     ");
array_files[204]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/024/page01.asp","2009-08-03","9K","Marriage    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Marriage Marriage by the Rev. Mark Connolly I would like to share a few thoughts with you on a quality that should be in everyones marriage and home. The subject can be summed up in one word - honor. The basic theme is that as you increase honor, you increase harmony in the home. The more you understand about the subject of honor, the more you try to bring it into the lives of those with whom you live and work. Honor breeds and generates harmony in marriage and the home. On the day of your wedding each spouse said, I will honor you all the days of my life. In your early Catechism days you knew from your commandments that you must honor your mother and father. People receive honors. People are called honorable. But what does this quality of honor mean in our relationship with your spouse and family? The word honor as it applies to your partner in marriage means that that partner is not of the ordinary cut of cloth. That partner has nobility, chivalry in their personality. You honor a partner not because that partner is awesome and is of extraordinary value, but because that person embodies in his or her psyche a collection of values that can be found in no one else. To honor a person is more than just to respect or reverence, but it is more like cherishing a treasure that generally comes only once in a lifetime. If you do not make the efforts to honor your spouse, no matter how long you are married, then you bring dishonor into your relationship. If you refuse to change or adapt from where you were when you were first married, then dishonor can easily erode the relationship. Why do you honor? Because you see the image of Christ in your spouse. How do you cultivate this quality of honor towards your spouse so that your marriage grows strong with each passing day? First, by realizing the fact that each partner comes into a marriage with the same ideals and has the same goals to have a marriage of harmony filled with love and commitment. That having been said, then the next step that husbands and wives have to con      ");
array_files[205]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/021/page07.asp","2009-08-03","1K","I thank you God    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," I thank you God I thank you God i thank you God for most this amazing day: for the leaping greenly spirit of trees and a blue true dream of sky; and for everything which is natural which is infinite which is yes (i who have died am alive again today, and this is the suns birthday; this is the birth day of life and of love and wings: and of the gay great happening illimitably earth) how should tasting touching hearing seeing breathing any - lifted from the no of all nothing - human merely being doubt unimaginable You? (now the ears of my ears awake and now the eyes of my eyes are opened) - e.e. cummings (1894-1963)     ");
array_files[206]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/021/page06.asp","2009-08-03","5K","The Sacraments    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," The Sacraments The Sacraments by the Rev. Charles H. Allen, S.J. Every professional has that one special moment when he feels that all of his training, his experience and his intelligence is put to the test. If only he can survive that test, the lives of so many other people will be the better for it. The soldier finds that moment on the battlefield, the surgeon in the operating room, the policeman at a crime scene, the fireman in the midst of a blazing building. I, as a priest, find my moment of greatest challenge at wedding rehearsals. Now, to the eye of the uninitiated, the wedding rehearsal must seem like a very prosaic event: happy in-laws greeting each other warmly, a dozen or so bestmen and bridesmaids sullenly obeying the priests pleas to form a straight line, a giggly young couple trying, without much success, to look serious as they promise life-long fidelity to each other, and finally a nice meal in a local restaurant. Would that it were so! Jesus instituted the sacraments in order to give us the gift of Gods grace, Gods assistance. And he so distributed them that they would be there for us always at the times of our greatest needs: the moment of birth into this life, the time of forgiveness after a sin committed, the first steps into adulthood, the final departure from this life, and, of course, the beginning of ones vocation. The wedding rehearsal is the beginning of a twenty-four hour period which will culminate in the sacrament of matrimony and the commitment of two people to live their lives together until death do them part. These are words that we have heard so often that we can easily ignore the difficulties that lead up to them and the great need for Gods assistance to make them ring true. One of my first challenges at a rehearsal is with the in-laws. How much easier it would be to have a wedding if only the couple were present. In my naivete as a young priest, I was amazed at how many parents are not totally supportive of their sons or daughters choice for a life-long mate. They seem to be      ");
array_files[207]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/021/page05.asp","2009-08-03","3K","An Interlude In Our Lives    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," An Interlude In Our Lives An Interlude In Our Lives by Dorothy Riera The sacraments are the legacy that Jesus left behind so that our lives would continue to be enriched during our earthly journey. Each sacrament unto its own, fills our life with Gods divine grace. They are the vehicle through which we bond our lives to Christ. Even though grace is an abstract concept and difficult to comprehend, the nourishment it gives the soul is somewhat understood when seen through the prism of one person dramatically changing the life of another. Recently I saw an Italian film call Il Postino. It recounts the life of a simple postman living in an obscure Italian village. This illiterate peasant befriends the most illustrious poet of his time, Pablo Neruda. It is an interlude that will dramatically change his life. Neruda, one of the worlds most prolific poets, is living in exile because of political ideologies in Italy. This simple man delivers the mail and slowly but inexorably they befriend each other. The postman is avid of learning and enhancing his ordinary existence. Ultimately, intimacy with the poet will leave his indelible mark. Day after day, the rugged peasant seeks the knowledge to grow beyond his daily existence. Through the interaction with the poet, the postman discovers within himself his hidden talent. Writing poetry becomes a divine obsession. Neruda has crowned the postman with convictions, understanding and passion. Exile ends for the poet and he returns to his native Chile never to be seen again by the uneducated peasant. Nevertheless, this obscure man understands in his mind, heart and soul what his transformation has been. He has discovered that within him lies a unique human being capable of giving from the ordinary to the extraordinary. This poet friend helped him to grow in grace and wisdom beyond the realms of daily life. The inner potential that was subdued, flourishes by this unexpected but destined interlude. And so it is with the opportunities we have through the sacraments to discover our       ");
array_files[208]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/021/page03.asp","2009-08-03","1K","Thought For The Month    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Thought For The Month Thought For The Month A Tryst in the Spring Hark! my lover - here he comes. springing across the mountains, leaping across the hills. My lover is like a gazelle or a young stag. Here he stands behind our wall, gazing through the windows, peering through the lattices. My lover speaks; he says to me, Arise, my beloved, my beautiful one, and come! For see, the winter is past, the rains are over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth, the time of pruning the vines has come, and the song of the dove is heard in our land. The fig tree puts forth its figs, and the vines, in bloom, give forth fragrance. Arise, my beloved, my beautiful one, and come! -- The Song of Songs 2:8-13     ");
array_files[209]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/021/page02.asp","2009-08-03","7K","Another Star    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Another Star Another Star by the Most Rev. Edward M. Egan Twenty years ago, for the first time, I visited Prague, the capital of what was then called The Peoples Republic of Czechoslovakia. The Soviet army occupied the land, and the Soviet government was siphoning off whatever resources it could in order to sustain its tottering empire. Nonetheless, Prague retained much of its traditional charm. With a modicum of effort one could look past the general disrepair of things and imagine quite well what this celebrated capital of Bohemia had once been and what it might one day be. This past summer I returned to Prague, now the capital of what is known as The Czech Republic. With friends I once again explored the ancient Cathedral of Saint Vitus, the massive Hradcany Castle, and the splendid Strahov Abbey. We ate Bohemian strudel in the Town Hall Square. We even heard an opera by Mozart in a little theater in which the composer first conducted it. For me, however, the highpoint of the visit was a brief encounter on the Charles Bridge, which spans the Vlata or Moldau River dividing the city in two. * * * * * The Charles Bridge was constructed in the second half of the 1300s by Charles IV, King of Bohemia and later Holy Roman Emperor. It is 570 yards long and 33 feet wide, closed to vehicular traffic, and adorned with 30 huge statues of saints, 15 on either side. In front of each of the statues artists have set up stands at which they hawk paintings, etchings, and engravings of Prague and especially of the Charles Bridge. On a cool, cloudless morning I stood before the statue of Saint John Nepomucene bargaining in my faltering German over a small, colored engraving of the Cathedral of Saint Vitus. An American man of perhaps forty years of age tugged at my sleeve. When youre finished, he said, would you mind asking the lady how much she wants for this engraving? I did as he requested. She responded 170 korunas or about 6.50, the same price she was asking of me. I suggested that she make it 150 korunas if we each bought      ");
array_files[210]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/021/authors.asp","2009-08-03","2K","About the Authors    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," About the Authors About the Authors Rev. Mark Connolly was born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts. In 1970 he started THE SUNDAY MASS on television in the New York Area. In 1993, Fr. Connolly was named the Director of Radio and Television in the Diocese of Bridgeport. He is well known in the field of Radio and Television. Presently, Father is the host of an ABC syndicated show called THOUGHTS FOR THE WEEK which is aired every Sunday morning throughout the country. Father Connolly is the senior editor of SPIRITUALITY FOR TODAY. Most Rev. Edward M. Egan, D.D., J.C.D., was consecrated a bishop in 1985. In 1988 he was installed as the Third Bishop of Bridgeport. Bishop Egan has a degree in philosophy; licentiate in Sacred Theology and a Doctorate in Canon Law. He has overseen the regionalization of the diocesan elementary schools, established an active Hispanic Apostolate and founded the St. John Fisher Residence for young men considering the priesthood. Rev. Charles Allen, S.J., was born in Boston and ordained to the Society of Jesus in 1973. Since then Fr. Allen has held numerous educational and administrative positions within the Jesuit educational system. He is presently the Executive Assistant to the President of Fairfield University. Dorothy L. Riera is a graduate of the University of Puerto Rico and the State University of New York. Mrs. Riera is a member of the parish council at St. Michael the Archangel in Greenwich. She is a Dame of Malta and is fluent in Spanish, English and French.     ");
array_files[211]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/021/page01.asp","2009-08-03","2K","Introduction    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Introduction Introduction by the Rev. Mark Connolly To many Catholics and non-catholics, the seven sacraments of the Church are hard to explain. Theologians have for centuries taught that these seven sacraments cannot be isolated from the theology of Gods mercy and love. Theologians have also taught that all the seven sacraments are interlinked, intimately connected with the suffering and resurrection of Christ. From Tertullian, to Augustine, to St. Thomas, these themes have been repeated. The sacraments for centuries have been ingredients of spirituality. When you go back through the centuries to the canonized and uncanonized saints, the sacraments have been seven signs leading the followers of Christ to the kingdom of God. All the seven sacraments derive their powers from Christ. The Church, the Mystical Body of Christ, extends the work of Christ through the sacraments. The missionaries who brought the sacraments to pagan lands, the priest who brought the sacraments to the local parish, the nuns who taught the sacraments in parochial schools, all those parents and grandparents who lived the life of the sacraments, they also in their own way brought the love and mercy of God into our society and civilization. For centuries the true meaning of the sacraments has not been fully understood. These seven sacraments have brought spirituality into our homes and hearts. They have given us a sample of the love and mercy of God. They have helped the sacred become reality. They have given us a taste of heaven on earth. They have made Christ real. The Sacraments of the Church are: 1. BAPTISM 2. RECONCILIATION 3. HOLY EUCHARIST 4. CONFIRMATION 5. MARRIAGE 6. HOLY ORDERS 7. ANOINTING OF THE SICK     ");
array_files[212]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/023/page05.asp","2009-08-03","3K","The Annulment Procedure    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," The Annulment Procedure The Annulment Procedure By the Rev. John D. Byrnes Many people do not know where to start in order to obtain an annulment or even what is involved. Hopefully the following will act as a guide to help those seeking an annulment. Consult your local parish priest or any priest in a parish near your home to find out the procedures in your Archdiocese/Diocese. Eventually you will need to provide him with a summary of the principal facts concerning the courtship, marriage and breakup. What happened around the time of the marriage is especially relevant. You will be asked to fill out an initial short questionnaire, giving salient facts related to a possible annulment. Church law requires that the other partner must be contacted and informed of the petition. The partners active cooperation will help the tribunal in its decision. Non-cooperation of a spouse is not always a drawback. The other partner has the right to oppose the granting of an annulment. It is necessary to complete an extensive questionnaire reviewing the family life of the partners before marriage, the courtship and the marriage itself. Some dioceses also employ psychological testing at times to better understand the personality of one or both partners. After this written testimony has been obtained there is a review by the tribunal staff members to determine whether it has sufficient information to proceed to a formal hearing. Witnesses are needed who can corroborate or add to the information. Persons who knew the parties before marriage usually are more helpful. The strictest confidentiality is maintained. The formal hearing, held at the diocesan tribunal office includes tribunal judges who ultimately hand down a decision, an advocate who presents the petitioners case, possibly an advocate for the other party and a Defender of the Bond who monitors the proceeding so that both partners rights are protected and Church Law is observed. There are court costs involved. All judgments of nullity are reviewed by another court. In addi      ");
array_files[213]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/023/page03.asp","2009-08-03","2K","Thought For The Month    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Thought For The Month Thought For The Month Dear God, with you everything is possible. Let the cup of war, killing, and destruction, the cup of bloodshed, human anguish and desolation, the cup of torture, breakage in human relationships and abandonment... Dear God, let this cup pass us by. We are afraid. We are trembling in the depths of our being. We feel the sweat and tears of thousands of people all over the world, people who are afraid - afraid to fight, afraid to kill, afraid of being killed, afraid of an uncertain future. Henri J.M. Nouwen This and this alone Is true religion - To serve thy brethren: This is sin above all other sin, To harm thy brethren: In such a faith is happiness, In lack of it is misery and pain: Blessed is he who swervth not aside From this strait path: Blessed is he whose life is lived Thus ceaselessly in serving God: By bearing others burdens, And so alone, Is life, true life, to be attained: Nothing is hard to him who, casting self aside, Thinks only this - How may I serve my fellow-men. Tulsidas (translated from the Sanskrit by Mohandas Gandhi)     ");
array_files[214]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/023/page02.asp","2009-08-03","4K","Did the Second Vatican Council Change The Churchs Understanding of Marriage?    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Did the Second Vatican Council Change The Churchs Understanding of Marriage? Did the Second Vatican Council Change The Churchs Understanding of Marriage? by the Rev.Michael J. King I understood that marriage is forever - for better or worse, for richer, for poorer. Now the Church is granting annulments right and left. Whatever happened to `let no man put asunder? This is not just a question. It is a cry of anguish from many sincere Catholics who are confused, upset, at times angry when they hear that someone who has been married five, then, even twenty five years, obtained a Church annulment and remarried with Catholic rites. How could a marriage go on for years and still be invalid, they want to know. Certain factors have brought about the considerable increase in church annulments over the past two decades. First, the Second Vatican Council fostered development in the theology of marriage by interpersonally restoring the relationship of the spouses as an essential component of marriage. Secondly, advances in psychology having provided a deeper understanding of the complexity of both human decision making and interpersonal relationships. And so the Church has new insights for appraising a marriage. Marriage, after all, in the most important decision most people make, and marriage is the most intimate of adult relationships. The Second Vatican Council Fathers repeated that marriage is ordained for the begetting and education of children, the supreme gift of marriage. But the Fathers also noted that some other purposes of matrimony are not of less account. Marriage, they said, is a communion of life, and maintains value and indissolution even when offspring are lacking. . . (Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World #50). The Council Fathers thereby returned to the teaching of medieval theologians like St. Bonaventure and St. Thomas who taught that the relationship between the spouses who girds traditional ends of marriage namely, children, fidelity and permanence. Most fundamentally, the Council       ");
array_files[215]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/023/authors.asp","2009-08-03","2K","About The Authors    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," About The Authors About the Authors Rev. Mark Connolly was born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts. In 1970 he started THE SUNDAY MASS on television in the New York Area. In 1993, Fr. Connolly was named the Director of Radio and Television in the Diocese of Bridgeport. He is well known in the field of Radio and Television. Presently, Father is the host of an ABC syndicated show called THOUGHTS FOR THE WEEK which is aired every Sunday morning throughout the country. Father Connolly is the senior editor of SPIRITUALITY FOR TODAY. Rev. Michael J. King is a priest of the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C. and Pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Largo, Maryland. He holds a doctorate in Canon Law from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome. At present he is also an instructor in the diocesan permanent diaconate program. Rev. John D. Byrnes is a priest of the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown, Pennsylvania, stationed at Our Mother of Sorrows Parish in Johnstown. He received his S.T.B. and J.C.L. degrees from the Pontificial Gregorian University in Rome. At present he serves in a parish, teaches high school and serves in the diocesan tribunal.     ");
array_files[216]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/023/page01.asp","2009-08-03","8K"," Annulment    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    ","  Annulment Annulment by the Rev. Mark Connolly I would like to share some thoughts with you on the subject of annulment, one which needs a great deal of clarification. Everyone knows that a marriage involves hardships as well as joys and beauties. Couples must learn to cope with those hardships. Serious illness and sickness of a mental and emotional kind very often unite a couple, rather than divide them. Everyone knows, too, that a valid marriage in the sight of God and the Church, is one in which a spiritually, morally and emotionally mature couple pledge their lives to Christ through the Church. So where does that leave us with the subject of annulment? First of all, what is an annulment? An annulment, in the Catholic Church, is a declaration by a competent ecclesiastical tribunal that a marriage in question was invalid in the true sense of the word. There are many different reasons for annulment, such as immaturity or lack of true marital commitment. Any priest who has done work with a marital tribunal knows that this can be one heartbreak case after another. In gathering testimony from various couples you often wonder how they could possibly stay together. Oftentimes, a tribunal is a place for healing badly damaged lives and giving people a second chance. Years ago, I am sure most Catholics had the feeling, and a true one, that it was quite difficult to get an annulment. There was no doubt about it. The common complaint was that the Church made it look difficult to get an annulment. Now we, in the field, wonder if we should make it more difficult for people to get married in the Catholic Church. Lest you ask why, last year the statistics from New York State alone showed that of the individuals who in the last five years got married who were male (21) and female (20), over eight out of ten of those marriages collapsed within those five years. Just over a month ago New York and California led the nation in that one out of every two marriages failed. (These eight out of ten marriages apply not only to Cathol      ");
array_files[217]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/018/page07.asp","2009-08-03","2K","Commitment    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Commitment Commitment by the Rev. Mark Connolly The great poet Shelley once said that the most abused word in the English language is the word love. He felt that the word love was so intertwined with romance and biology that its true meaning was lost. I think if Shelley were living today he could also say that the word commitment is equally abused. Commitment is an umbrella word that incorporates many qualities such as loyalty, perseverance and willingness to work very hard especially when things are not going as one thought they would go. The couple who took that vow which said, for better or worse, know what the reality of commitment is all about. To work at a marriage year after year, to sacrifice for another in a marriage year after year, these are the ingredients of a true commitment. There is no vocation that is easy. And to succeed at any vocation, married, single or religious life, demands commitment. Commitment to a vocation means that you make every effort to succeed at it. Commitment is just plain hard work. We have by reason of our Baptism as Catholics an obligation to fulfill our commitment to Christ and his Church. We have the same obligations as citizens born in this country to do the best we can to nurture, to help our country. We cannot take anything for granted in our relationship with Christ, nor our country. These are blessings that God has given to us and denied to others. Commitment then is fidelity to a promise. It is perseverance to that promise. It incorporates the quality of trust that God will help you achieve that goal. Commitment in any vocation demands a strong sense of work and prayer. St. Augustine once said that we must work at everything as if it depended on us and pray as if everything depended on God. These words apply to commitment no matter what your vocation in life might be.     ");
array_files[218]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/018/page05.asp","2009-08-03","2K","Spiritual Journey    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Spiritual Journey Spiritual Journey by Ilene T. Gallo We pilgrims on the journey need many things to ease the way; The light, the path, sustenance, and some kindred spirits for company. The reason for the journey is never clear when we start out; Awakened we find the road ahead without knowing what its about. Trudging on--sometimes light-hearted; sometimes tired, cold, and worn, Many attractive places beckon us to rest and of cares be shorn. Sometimes we stop and find ourselves caught in a web of deceit; Other times by luck we have found a place of sanctuary and retreat. Sometimes we take the wrong path and feel it in heart and limb, We turn around and start again it seems an awful climb. Our hearts begin to notice one day the light is especially warm; We recognize transcendence in other-worldly form. When we realize Gods magnanimous love and overwhelming generosity, Overwhelming grief for sin and wrong are what we have to confess and remedy. Gods eager reconciliation may seem to make us spin We dont deserve to be Gods heirs but Christ took on our sin. And now we know our journey is the means to spread good news Walking taller and full or love we show by example our Christian views. Once our sustenance was earthly bread, but we were hungry again. Only bread and wine of Eucharist sustains us from beginning to lifes end. The World is waiting for us to show her the New Age. It was here all along but many in darkness still do rage. We have the light, and path and food that they are waiting for. Either we are just another pilgrim whom they pass in their search for distance shore, or we can be the doorway to Gods love that makes them search no more.     ");
array_files[219]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/018/page04.asp","2009-08-03","5K","http://www.spirituality.org/is/018/page04.asp    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," One Womans Story of Conversion Part III by Julie Green The son of a friend of a friend went to the doctor, in the course of the examination, it was discovered he needed glasses. When they arrived, the doctor said, You must have had terrible headaches; why didnt you ever tell anyone? The five year old looked up and said, simply, I just thought heads felt like that. Becoming Catholic was a little like that: a hunger whose depth I began to know only as it began to be filled; a need so profound that it could only be realized as it was beginning to be relieved. My eyes were being opened; it was as if I were wholly meeting Jesus for the first time, wholly having access to him, or the possibility of having access to him. But leaving a church is difficult, a process which was further complicated because I had been in candidacy studies (a formal exploration procedure) for the ordained ministry; I had been told that in six months Id go easily through the first steps toward that. It was agonizing. That call to the ministry seemed very real; working toward it was part of how I understood myself. But I hungered for what the Catholic Church offered; I felt gypped of the wealth of the 1,700 years we werent exposed to, that were never touched on, much less discussed. Wasnt that also my heritage? Didnt I, as a Christian, have a right to that? There was so much that was missing, that I wanted and needed so badly. And, the calls to go to Mass as often as possible were at least as powerful as that call to ministry. I suspected that I was the only Protestant I knew whose bedroom walls were covered with posters of the pope; my spiritual director was a priest. I wondered how I would manage to pastor a Protestant church and still get to Mass. Back and forth, to and fro. I went to Mass to be fed; I took what I had learned back to my Sunday school class. Finally, I stopped attending that church; it seems dishonest, for I really didnt know if, or how, I belong there any more. One night a couple of months later, after long prayer, I lay       ");
array_files[220]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/018/page03.asp","2009-08-03","9K","Thought For The Month    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Thought For The Month Thought For The Month Since we dedicate this issue to our journey through life and our committment to others in our lives, we have chosen Francis Thompsons (1859 - 1907) poem The Hound of Heaven as our thought for the month. It is Thompsons portrayal of Gods unrelentless committment to find us and embrace us no matter what our circumstances in life may be. The Hound of Heaven I fled Him, down the nights and down the days; I fled Him, down the arches of the years; I fled Him, down the labyrinthine ways Of my own mind; and in the mist of tears I hid from Him, and under running laughter. Up vistaed hopes, I sped; And shot, precipitated, Adown Titanic glooms of chasmed fears, From those strong Feet that followed, followed after. But with unhurrying chase, And unperturbed pace, Deliberate speed, majestic instancy, They beat - and a Voice beat More instant than the Feet- `All things betray thee, who betrayest Me. I pleaded, outlaw-wise, By many a hearted casement, curtained red, Trellised with intertwining charities (For, though I knew His love Who followed, Yet was I sore adread Lest, having Him, I must have naught beside); But, if one little casement parted wide, The gust of His approach could clash it o. Fear wist not to evade as Love wist to pursue. Across the margent of the world I fled, And troubled the gold gateways of the stars, Smiting for shelter on their clanged bars; Fretted to dulcet jars And silvern chatter the pale ports o the moon. I said to dawn: Be sudden; to eve: Be soon- With thy young skyey blossoms heap me over From this tremendous Lover! Float thy vague veil about me, lest He see! I tempted all His servitors, but to find My own betrayal in their constancy, In faith to Him their fickleness to me, Their traitorous trueness, and their loyal deceit. To all swift things for swiftness did I sue; Clung to the whistling mane of every wind. But whether they swept, smoothly fleet, That the long savannahs of the blue; Or whether, Thunder-driven, They clanged His chariot thwart a hea      ");
array_files[221]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/018/page02.asp","2009-08-03","8K","Profession    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Profession Profession by the Most Rev. Edward M. Egan The evening meal was over. It was the winter of 1956. Three hundred strong, we filed out of the refectory of the Pontifical North American College, a seminary in Rome for students from throughout the United States. A faculty member was waiting at the end of the corridor. He beckoned to me. The Rector is in his room, he said. He would like to speak with you. I made my way to the fifth-floor living quarters of His Excellency, The Most Reverend Martin J. OConnor, Rector of the North American College from 1946. He had been an auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Scranton and pastor of a parish in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, when he was named to the rectorship in his mid forties. Arriving in Rome, he found that the College building near the Trevi Fountain had been taken over by the Italian government during the war and turned into an orphanage. He won it back in court, made it a house of graduate studies for priests, restored the summer residence of the seminarians in Castel Gandolfo, and in 1952 completed construction of a splendid new College building on the Janiculum Hill, a short distance from the Vatican. In later years, remaining as Rector, he became the first President of the Pontifical Commission for Social Communications, virtually the author of Inter mirifica, the first document issued by the Second Vatican Council, the Papal Nuncio to Malta, a titular archbishop, and much more. He was an impressive man, and we seminarians were all quite impressed. * * * * * * I knocked at the door. A voice from within responded with the familiar Italian Avanti! I entered and found Archbishop OConnor kneeling before the altar in his tiny private chapel. The candles on the altar were lit; and the tabernacle door stood open, revealing a ciborium inside. The Archbishop rose and motioned to me to be seated on a chair across from him just outside the chapel. Tomorrow morning, he began in the low, solemn voice we seminarians loved to imitate, I will be celebrating Mass and pre      ");
array_files[222]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/018/authors.asp","2009-08-03","2K","About the Authors    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," About the Authors About the Authors Rev. Mark Connolly was born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts. In 1970 he started THE SUNDAY MASS on television in the New York Area. In 1993, Fr. Connolly was named the Director of Radio and Television in the Diocese of Bridgeport. He is well known in the field of Radio and Television. Presently, Father is the host of an ABC syndicated show called THOUGHTS FOR THE WEEK which is aired every Sunday morning throughout the country. Father Connolly is the senior editor of SPIRITUALITY FOR TODAY. Most Rev. Edward M. Egan, D.D., J.C.D., was consecrated a bishop in 1985. In 1988 he was installed as the Third Bishop of Bridgeport. Bishop Egan has a degree in philosophy; licentiate in Sacred Theology and a Doctorate in Canon Law. He has overseen the regionalization of the diocesan elementary schools, established an active Hispanic Apostolate and founded the St. John Fisher Residence for young men considering the priesthood. Rev. Charles Allen, S.J., was born in Boston and ordained to the Society of Jesus in 1973. Since then Fr. Allen has held numerous educational and administrative positions within the Jesuit educational system. He is presently the Executive Assistant to the President of Fairfield University. Julie Green is a writer, retreat leader, teacher and mother of two teenagers who lives in Edinboro, Pa. She once spent two years doing community development work in Lac La Marte, N.W.T. Ilene Gallo is an American Graduate student at the Milltown Institute of Philosophy and Theology in Dublin, Ireland. A native of San Diego, California, she has worked in a number of parishes as a volunteer for RCIA, Childrens Liturgy teams and Parish councils.     ");
array_files[223]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/018/page01.asp","2009-08-03","5K","Journey    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Journey   Introduction by the Rev. Mark Connolly I would like to share a few thoughts with you on a subject that should be considered by all of us especially with the beginning of the New Year. It is summed up in one word, journey. In the language of the spiritual writers of today they call it mans second journey. Basically the word journey has been appearing in many journals and magazine articles reminding us that each man is on a journey that is divided into three parts. The first journey is that which takes place from the time of adolescence to adulthood. Up until 30 years of age is considered the first journey. During that time just about everything is planned for you. The first journey of life, man is born, his schools are selected for him, he selects that vocation or business, he enters marriage, starts his own business or works for someone else, but fundamentally things are pretty well controlled by others. The second journey is that which is thrust on him, sometimes he has no choice. Often he does not have any major choice. It is a situation that he has never anticipated. It can be the untimely death of a spouse, an illness that will cause not just pain but havoc in his lifestyle and that of his family. It can be a loneliness that he never anticipated. It happens to just about everyone and causes us to have a new lifestyle or change our way of living. When it happens we get angry or frustrated or feel inadequate and often scared. We feel that no one understands our pain. That is what the second journey is all about. The second journey something is unusually thrust into our lives that we have to personally deal with. How do we go about this? We must put the pieces of our life back together no matter how difficult it must be. St. Ignatius, the founder of the Jesuits, was a soldier in Spain. He was wounded, then while in the hospital he reflected and meditated and found the Society of Jesus, the religious group that we call the Jesuits. Cardinal Newman, the man who did such tremendous work in England for       ");
array_files[224]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/022/page05.asp","2009-08-03","2K","Questions and Answers    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Questions and Answers Questions & Answers Q. What made it possible for St. Joachim and St. Anne not to pass on original sin to Mary? A. As is made clear in Pope Pius IXs official definition of the Immaculate Conception of Mary, only Gods intervention made it possible for Mary to be conceived without original sin: The most Blessed Virgin Mary, in the first instance of her conception, by a singular grace and privilege granted by Almighty God, in view of the merits of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the human race, was preserved free from all stain of original sin (December 8, 1854). Although as a descendant of Adam in a sinful human race Mary would naturally have incurred the guilt of original sin, a special divine decree kept her free from it in light of the foresee or anticipated merits of Jesus Christ (The Teaching of Christ, Our Sunday Visitor). Dr. Alan Schreck explains it this way, Mary actually was the first to be saved by the grace of her Son, Jesus. God first applied to Mary the grace that he knew and foresaw that Jesus would gain by his life and death on the cross (Basics of the Faith, Servant). Thus, the fact that Mary was conceived without original sin had nothing to do with the sanctity of her parents or her own holiness, but everything to do with Gods plan for the salvation of the world. Questions and answers supplied by Rev. John Patrick Bertolucci. Basics of the Faith: A Catholic Catechism was be obtained through Servant Publications, P.O. Box 8617, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48107.     ");
array_files[225]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/022/page03.asp","2009-08-03","2K","Thought For The Month    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Thought For The Month Thought For The Month Tree of life, you bore the fruit of our salvation because you believed Gods word to you. Mother of life, Mother of our Salvation, Revealer of Grace, stand by us as we approach your Son. Pray for us sinners. May he see your innocence and forgive our faults; May he remember your humility and pardon our pride. Mother of God, so many graces and privileges are yours. The Lord looked kindly on you. With all the saints intercede for us, your children, that we may be worthy of the promises of Christ. We turn to you for protection, holy Mother of God. Listen to our prayers and help us in our needs. Save us from every danger, glorious and blessed Virgin. from Daily Prayers, Edited by Rev. Victor Hoagland, C.P.     ");
array_files[226]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/022/page02.asp","2009-08-03","9K","A Sistine Catechism    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," A Sistine Catechism A Sistine Catechism by the Most Rev. Edward M. Egan We had only three days in Rome to do what might well have been a whole weeks work. Hence, before our departure all necessary appointments had been made by mail and telephone. It was clear that we would be on a very tight schedule. A priest in one of the Vatican offices contacted us on the morning of our arrival. He wanted to know if we would like to visit the Sistine Chapel now that the cleaning and restoration of Michelangelos Last Judgment had been completed. We thanked him profusely but explained that unfortunately we had no free time during working hours. Then, come over early in the morning, he suggested. You can have a look before the doors are opened. * * * * * * We walked from the Janiculum Hill, where we were staying, to the Bronze Doors of the Vatican, a distance of about twelve city blocks. The sun was already shining quite brightly at 7:30 in the morning, and the flowers were emitting fragrances they ordinarily reserve for the hours just after midnight. The beauty of a glorious Spring day served only to heighten our anticipation. Nor were we to be disappointed. Indeed, upon entering the Chapel I was truly startled by what I saw. For forty years I had been in and out of the Sistina for Masses, with tour groups, and even in connection with two papal elections. Never before, however, had the wonder of the place so gripped me. Michelangelos Creation in the ceiling and his Last Judgment on the back wall had always been soul-stirring but never, at least for me, overwhelming. The general impression was one of a marvelous skill in design but a modest understanding of color. In fact, on more than one occasion I had wondered to myself what might have been the result if a Claude Monet or a Marc Chagall had slipped into the Chapel by night and replaced Michelangelos pigments with theirs. And now I knew! A veil of 350 years of dust and soot had been drawn aside to reveal a masterpiece of incredible vibrancy. As one of the restorers of the C      ");
array_files[227]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/022/authors.asp","2009-08-03","1K","About the Authors    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," About the Authors About the Authors Rev. Mark Connolly was born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts. In 1970 he started THE SUNDAY MASS on television in the New York Area. In 1993, Fr. Connolly was named the Director of Radio and Television in the Diocese of Bridgeport. He is well known in the field of Radio and Television. Presently, Father is the host of an ABC syndicated show called THOUGHTS FOR THE WEEK which is aired every Sunday morning throughout the country. Father Connolly is the senior editor of SPIRITUALITY FOR TODAY. Most Rev. Edward M. Egan, D.D., J.C.D., was consecrated a bishop in 1985. In 1988 he was installed as the Third Bishop of Bridgeport. Bishop Egan has a degree in philosophy; licentiate in Sacred Theology and a Doctorate in Canon Law. He has overseen the regionalization of the diocesan elementary schools, established an active Hispanic Apostolate and founded the St. John Fisher Residence for young men considering the priesthood.     ");
array_files[228]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/022/page01.asp","2009-08-03","6K","Mary, Role and Leadership    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Mary, Role and Leadership Mary, Role and Leadership by the Rev. Mark Connolly Recently I received e-mail from a reader wondering why more sermons are not given concerning the role of Mary, the mother of Christ. Her comment was that Mary, the mother of Christ, should not just be preached about or talked about only during the month of May. And I think this person was right. There is no more important woman in the history of the Catholic Church than Mary, the mother of Christ. To be singled out with the responsibility of bringing Christ into the world, to have the role of raising him, educating him, making his life as peaceful and as meaningful as possible, this was an overwhelming responsibility. And while she was keeping many things in her heart about him, she had a sense of the dreadful ordeal that he was to be subjected to. Imagine any mother realizing that her son would go through an agony, a scourging, a crowning, a crucifixion. This is exactly what Mary was subjected to. She witnessed the tragic ordeal of her son, who was totally innocent, nailed on a cross between two guilty thieves. After the death of her son, she was a widow at the time, God singled her out to be the mother of the Church. If you go back to the early period of the Church when there was chaos in the ranks after the death of Christ, there was one person responsible for keeping the twelve apostles together and that was Mary, the mother of Christ. She guided the twelve apostles with the same inspiration and leadership that she used with her son. Mary, who gave birth to her son, gave birth to the Church. When you think of Marys role, when you think of the role of the Holy Spirit, you soon get an idea of the importance of Mary in the life of Christ and the life of the Church. For the first thirteen centuries of the Church, the influence of Mary in art, in architecture, in books, has been obvious. The great cathedrals in Europe, such as Notre Dame in Paris, the great works of art by Raphael and Leonardo da Vinci, the great writings by St. Thoma      ");
array_files[229]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/022/page00.asp","2009-08-03","2K","A Letter to the Editor    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," A Letter to the Editor A Letter to the Editor CELEBRATING FATHER MARKS 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF ORDINATION TO THE PRIESTHOOD We are deeply honored to write a few words on this, such a memorable and unforgettable occasion. We have known Fr. Mark only a few years. But, he has undoubtedly become a very treasured part of our lives. His boundless kindness and graciousness to all whom he has encountered during his lifetime are unequivocal. His journey has enriched the lives of all the people whom he has touched. The great Spanish poet and essayist, Don Miguel de Unamuno, once said of Don Quixote, Thy triumph, my Don Quixote, was ever a triumph of daring not of succeeding. We respectfully change the words of the most beloved poet and say, Thy triumph, our dearest Fr. Mark, was ever a triumph of daring and of succeeding. Like that errant and valorous knight, who pursued his glorious quest, you battled the windmills and you conquered. You dared to break ground among the media. You had the vision to create a television Mass for the shut-ins when none existed. You succeeded in creating a radio show that is transmitted throughout the country. And not happy with that, you embraced the latest technology and have broken the confines of our country and you have reached the world through the Internet. You have gone beyond the boundaries and beyond the borders and you have brought comfort and spirituality to many. And so our dear friend, like that indelible Man from la Mancha, who dared to fight the unbeatable foe, who dared to dream the impossible dream, you have with kindness, dignity and courage reached the unreachable Star. Thank you, Father, for gracing our lives. Your staff, May 3, 1997     ");
array_files[230]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/020/page06.asp","2009-08-03","3K","Simon the Cyrene    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Simon the Cyrene Simon the Cyrene Kahlil Gibran (1883-1931) I was on my way to the fields when I saw Him carrying His cross; and multitudes were following Him. Then I too walked beside Him. His burden stopped Him many a time, for His body was exhausted. Then a Roman soldier approached me, saying, Come, you are strong and firm built; carry the cross of this man. When I heard these words my heart swelled within me and I was grateful. And I carried His cross. It was heavy, for it was made of poplar soaked through with the rains of winter. And Jesus looked at me. And the sweat of His forehead was running down upon His beard. Again He looked at me and He said, Do you too drink this cup? You shall indeed sip its rim with me to the end of time. So saying He placed His hand upon my free shoulder. And we walked together towards the Hill of the Skull. But now I felt not the weight of the cross. I felt only His hand. And it was like the wing of a bird upon my shoulder. Then we reached the hill top, and there they were to crucify Him. And then I felt the weight of the tree. He uttered no word when they drove the nails into His hands and feet, nor made He any sound. And His limbs did not quiver under the hammer. It seemed as if He sought the nails as the prince would seek the sceptre; and that He craved to be raised to the heights. And my heart did not think to pity Him, for I was too filled with wonder. Now, the man whose cross I carried has become my cross. Should they say to me again, Carry the cross of this man, I would carry it till my road ended at the grave. But I would beg Him to place His hand upon my shoulder. This happened many years ago; and still whenever I follow the furrow in the field, and in that drowsy moment before sleep, I think always of that Beloved Man. And I feel His winged hand, here, on my left shoulder.     ");
array_files[231]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/020/page05.asp","2009-08-03","2K","Good News    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Good News Good News by the Rev. Mark Connolly The Resurrection of Christ has been talked about and studied for hundreds of years. Some will explain the mystery of the empty tomb from their practical vantage point, others will contest that it never really happened. St. Paul has beautifully summed up the resurrection message when he said, if Christ is not risen then our faith is in vain. Every Christian theologian of any good merit constantly reminds us during these days that Christ has risen. He has achieved a great victory over fear and death. He has provided for us a new lifestyle that is unlike anything on earth. We have the eternal life. If you read the New Testament you will find the phrase eternal life is mentioned over 600 times. Matthew, Mark, Luke and John all mention this expression whether you interpret eternal life to be as unending happiness or paradise or home with God, it is a reminder that all of us have an eternal destiny with Jesus Christ. This is the son of God who could never lie to us nor deceive us. He told us that he was going ahead to prepare a place for those who have served and loved him on earth and he reminds us that in his Fathers house there are many missions. And so the Easter Season is one of great joy because it reminds us of the great joy that awaits us. The Easter Season is one of great happiness because it reminds us of a homecoming with Christ who awaits those who find him on earth. There is no such thing as bad news in heaven. The good news is that because of the Resurrection of Christ every reader can look forward to a place of eternal joy prepared for them by the Christ who died on Calvary.     ");
array_files[232]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/020/page03.asp","2009-08-03","1K","Thought For The Month    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Thought For The Month Thought For The Month I See His Blood Upon a Rose I see His blood upon the rose And in the stars the glory of His eyes His body gleams amid eternal snows, His tears fall from the skies. I see His face in every flower; The thunder and the singing of the birds Are but His voice -- and carven by His power Rocks are His written words. All pathways by His feet are worn, His strong heart stirs the ever beating sea, His crown of thorns is twined with every thorn His cross is every tree. - Joseph M. Plunkett     ");
array_files[233]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/020/page02.asp","2009-08-03","11K","Slowly, Thoughtfully, Joyfully    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Slowly, Thoughtfully, Joyfully Slowly, Thoughtfully, Joyfully by the Most Rev. Edward M. Egan The newspapers had been writing about the ceremony for weeks. A torah, that is, a scroll containing the first five books of the Old Testament, was to be installed in the new library of a local college of Hebrew studies. The year was 1967, and the torah was alleged to be among the most ancient treasures to have been spirited out of Hungary since the dropping of the Iron Curtain over Eastern Europe. The executive director of the board of rabbis invited me, as a representative of the Catholic community, to offer a prayer at the beginning of the ceremony. I agreed with the understanding that he would help me choose some appropriate Hebrew words for the conclusion of my prayer and practice me in the proper pronunciation of them. The ceremony went quite well. The mayor spoke, as did the lieutenant governor, several rabbis, and the president of the council of Protestant churches. Of the non-Jewish participants, however, only I had woven any Hebrew into what I had to say. Thus it was that, as I was about to leave, the director of the library rushed over to me and threw his arms about my shoulders. We are most grateful for your being here, he exclaimed, and we were deeply touched by your speaking in the language of our people. Where did you learn your Hebrew? Not a little embarrassed, I replied that I would sometime let him in on my secret. No, no, no, he cried. You must come to my home this very evening to explain it all. His enthusiasm was such that I could not resist. I promised to arrive no later than half-past seven. * * * * * * The home was on the sixth floor of a modern apartment complex. Still, when I entered it, I felt as though I were stepping into a charming Middle-European residence of a century before. The floors were covered with a collection of small Persian carpets. The windows were hung with heavy velvet drapes. The chairs and even some of the tables were adorned with silk throws from which flowed long, gracef      ");
array_files[234]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/020/authors.asp","2009-08-03","1K","About the Authors    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," About the Authors About the Authors Rev. Mark Connolly was born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts. In 1970 he started THE SUNDAY MASS on television in the New York Area. In 1993, Fr. Connolly was named the Director of Radio and Television in the Diocese of Bridgeport. He is well known in the field of Radio and Television. Presently, Father is the host of an ABC syndicated show called THOUGHTS FOR THE WEEK which is aired every Sunday morning throughout the country. Father Connolly is the senior editor of SPIRITUALITY FOR TODAY. Most Rev. Edward M. Egan, D.D., J.C.D., was consecrated a bishop in 1985. In 1988 he was installed as the Third Bishop of Bridgeport. Bishop Egan has a degree in philosophy; licentiate in Sacred Theology and a Doctorate in Canon Law. He has overseen the regionalization of the diocesan elementary schools, established an active Hispanic Apostolate and founded the St. John Fisher Residence for young men considering the priesthood.     ");
array_files[235]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/020/page01.asp","2009-08-03","3K","Introduction    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Introduction   Introduction by the Rev. Mark Connolly Throughout the course of our lives, we meet many different people. Because of the interest in the stock market, some have shares in General Electric, some have shares in General Motors. But just about everyone I know has a share of general trouble. And because trouble hits us in different forms, small packages and big packages, I would like to suggest a few qualities that will enable us to cope with whatever trouble which comes into our lives. The first quality, if you develop a sense of faith, especially in the words of Christ, you know he is going to see you through every crisis. When Christ said be confident in me and I will help you overcome the world, he was not talking about the insurmountable problems of the earth, but the human problems of life. This is Gods son who could not lie or deceive. He told us to deepen our faith. Faith does not mean that we get a now answer to every problem. Faith helps us to live with the unanswered problems of our life. We simply know through faith that God will never abandon us. The second quality to help us cope with the difficulties of life is hope. All we have to do in history is look back at the life of Christ. From the darkness of Good Friday came the joy of Easter Sunday. When you look at the lives of other people in the past, we have benefited from the tragedies of some of their lives. Beethoven when he was going deaf gave us one of the greatest symphonies. Edison when he was going deaf gave us some of the greatest inventions. Hope, when it is directed toward God, does not give us a solution to each problem, hope helps us to live with the unresolved. The third quality to help us cope with the problems of life, total and personal trust in God. Trust is that virtue that teaches us to say, not my will be done, o God, but your will. Trust enables us to develop that sense of acceptance and conformity to the will of God on earth. The person who has true spirituality knows that he becomes more like Christ when personal       ");
array_files[236]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/019/page05.asp","2009-08-03","5K","Poems of Friendship    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Poems of Friendship To be a Friend... Guard within yourself that treasure, kindness. Know how to give without hesitation, how to lose without regret, how to acquire without meanness. Know how to replace in your heart, by the happiness of those you love, the happiness that may be wanting to yourself. --George Sand (1804-1876) ******************************************* The Arrow and the Song I shot an arrow into the air, It fell to earth, I knew not where; For, so swiftly it flew, the sight Could not follow it in its flight. I breathed a song into the air, It fell to earth, I knew not where; For who has sight so keen and strong, That it can follow the flight of song? Long, long afterward, in an oak I found the arrow, still unbroke; And the song, from beginning to end, I found again in the heart of a friend. --Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882) ************************************************ A Temple to Friendship A temple to Friendship, cried Laura, enchanted, Ill build in this garden; the thought is divine.: So the temple was built, and she now only wanted An image of Friendship, to place on the shrine. So she flew to the sculptor, who sat down before her An image, the fairest his art could invent; But so cold, and so dull, that the youthful adorer Saw plainly this was not the Friendship she meant. O, never, said she, could I think of enshrining An image whose looks are so joyless and dim; But yon little god upon roses reclining, Well make, if you please, sir, a Friendship of him. So the bargain was struck; with the little god laden, She joyfully flew to her home in the grove. Farewell, said the sculptor, youre not the first maiden Who came but for Friendship, and took away Love! --Thomas Moore (1770-1852) ********************************************************* Friendship Friendship needs no studied phrases, Polished face, or winning wiles; Friendship deals no lavish praises, Friendship dons no surface smile. Friendship follows Natures diction, Shuns the blandishments of Art, Boldly severs truth from fi      ");
array_files[237]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/019/page04.asp","2009-08-03","4K","Friendship    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Friendship Friendship by The Rev. Charles Allen Throughout the centuries one of the most consistent themes running through the history of Christianity has been the driving power of friendships. Whether it be the friendship between Jesus and his disciples (I will not now call you servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doth. But I have called you friends - John 15:15), between Paul and Timothy, Clare and Francis of Assisi or Ignatius Loyola and Francis Xavier, the affection existing between friends has done much to enrich our religion. While it is not a pleasant way to begin a discussion of friendship, we must admit that most friendships have been strengthened because of common suffering. Soldiers returning from the battlefield will always speak angrily of the ugliness of war and yet, in the same breath, they will talk with warmth about the friends that they made. People, who were initially perfect strangers, having passed together through a terrible storm, an earthquake, or some other natural disaster, will suddenly feel themselves to be the closest of friends and years later will sit and reminisce about their shared experiences. There should be no need to describe in detail the personal rejections which strengthened the friendship of Jesus and his disciples, the dangerous travels that brought Paul and Timothy together, and the struggles to found religious orders that unite Clare and Francis and also Loyola and Xavier. Suffering is not something that any of us like, but one of the interesting fruits of suffering is strengthened friendships. If there is a second quality of friendship, it is communication. As a member of the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits) I cannot help but be moved by the wonderful letters which exist between Loyola and Xavier. St. Ignatius Loyola, the founder of the Jesuits, was probably the most prolific letter writers of the sixteenth century. Over and over again in his exhortations to the members of his young religious order he encouraged them to strengthen the unity of the order      ");
array_files[238]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/019/page03.asp","2009-08-03","2K","Thought For The Month    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Thought For The Month Thought For The Month True Friendship A kind mouth multiplies friends, and gracious lips prompt friendly greetings. Let your acquaintance be many, but one in a thousand your confidant. When you gain a friend, first test him, and be not too ready to trust him. For one sort of friend is a friend when it suits him, but he will not be with you in time of distress. Another is a friend who becomes an enemy, and tells of the quarrel to your shame. Another is a friend, a boon companion, who will not be with you when sorrow comes. When things go well, he is your other self, and lords it over your servants; But if you are brought low, he turns against you and avoids meeting you. Keep away from your enemies; be on guard with your friends. A faithful friend is a sturdy shelter; he who finds one finds a treasure. A faithful friend is a live-saving remedy, such as he who fears God finds; For he who fears God behaves accordingly, and his friend will be like himself. - Sirach 6:5     ");
array_files[239]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/019/page02.asp","2009-08-03","9K","A Proof of Love    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," A Proof of Love A Proof of Love by the Most Rev. Edward M. Egan The group that assembled in a third-floor classroom of Romes Gregorian University in the Fall of 1957 was small and not at all enthusiastic. Along with many other seminarians in the third year of Theology, we had signed up to attend a seminar and write our degree papers under the direction of a well-known moral theologian from the United States. A few months earlier, however, he had passed away; and all were therefore assigned by the university to other professors. Ours was an elderly Jesuit who had published a number of articles concerning devotion to the Sacred Heart. It was on some aspect of this subject, he informed us, that we were to write our papers. Since there were only twenty or so of us in the seminar, a small group by Gregorian University standards, the professor suggested that we sit around a huge table at the back of the classroom. He placed himself in the middle on one side and without notes launched into his first lecture. In a matter of minutes, he held us all enthralled. Devotion to the Sacred Heart, he explained, has been known in the Church for only nine centuries and widely celebrated in only three. Still, he continued, it is firmly rooted in Sacred Scripture, in the writings of the Fathers and Doctors of the Church, and in the sacred liturgy. Moreover, he went on, there is virtually no facet of our life with God that is not illuminated by it. * * * * * * It was this last element of his presentation that particularly engaged our attention. Just a year earlier, in May of 1956, to be precise, the Holy Father, Pope Pius XII, had issued an encyclical letter on devotion to the Sacred Heart entitled Haurietis Aquas (You Shall Draw Water). In it the theological foundations of the devotion were spelled out with a multitude of citations from the Old Testament and the New, from Eastern and Western Fathers of the Church, from classic and modern theologians, and from liturgical texts as well. All of us had read that encyclical with care.       ");
array_files[240]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/019/authors.asp","2009-08-03","2K","About the Authors    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," About the Authors About the Authors Rev. Mark Connolly was born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts. In 1970 he started THE SUNDAY MASS on television in the New York Area. In 1993, Fr. Connolly was named the Director of Radio and Television in the Diocese of Bridgeport. He is well known in the field of Radio and Television. Presently, Father is the host of an ABC syndicated show called THOUGHTS FOR THE WEEK which is aired every Sunday morning throughout the country. Father Connolly is the senior editor of SPIRITUALITY FOR TODAY. Most Rev. Edward M. Egan, D.D., J.C.D., was consecrated a bishop in 1985. In 1988 he was installed as the Third Bishop of Bridgeport. Bishop Egan has a degree in philosophy; licentiate in Sacred Theology and a Doctorate in Canon Law. He has overseen the regionalization of the diocesan elementary schools, established an active Hispanic Apostolate and founded the St. John Fisher Residence for young men considering the priesthood. Rev. Charles Allen, S.J., was born in Boston and ordained to the Society of Jesus in 1973. Since then Fr. Allen has held numerous educational and administrative positions within the Jesuit educational system. He is presently the Executive Assistant to the President of Fairfield University.     ");
array_files[241]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/019/page01.asp","2009-08-03","9K","The Quality of Friendship    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," The Quality of Friendship The Quality of Friendship by the Rev. Mark Connolly One of the most common expressions we have is: As long as you have your health, you have everything. Actually, that expression is not true. You need good health but you also need good friends to share it with. Why? Because a good friendship can make poor health less painful, while a lack of friends can make this earth a living hell. I would like to concentrate on the qualities of friendship each one must cultivate. True friends are like genuine diamonds, they are very rare. In the classical work entitled, The Education of Henry Adams, the author, speaking of friendship, wrote: One friend in a lifetime is much, two are many, three are hardly possible. No matter how people disappoint us, no matter how often we are disillusioned by the conduct of others, each one of us must learn that happiness can never be ours, if we lack friends. If you were to take a trip through some of our state institutions for the aged and the elderly, you would see that their ordinary needs are supplied. The people in these homes never starve to death for lack of food. They never freeze because of lack of heat. As well taken care of as they are, some of them are starving and slowly dying because they lack the affection and warmth that comes from solid friendships and good and true friends. Someone once said that a friend is merely the other side of your own soul. How can you tell if you have what it takes to be a true friend? How can you tell from the conduct of others whether they will be true friends of yours? The only way to find out is to consider what each one needs, if he expects to be a friend to others and others to him. The first quality needed, is a genuine love for sacred things. St. Augustine once claimed that, he who condemns divine things, has not a proper view of human things, nor does anyone know how to love a man aright, who does not love the God who made the man. Briefly speaking, this is just plain love for God, shown in action towards a neig      ");
array_files[242]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/041/authors.asp","2009-08-03","2K","Spirituality for Today, Volume 4, Issue 2, Authors    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Spirituality for Today, Volume 4, Issue 2, Authors Home About the Authors Rev. Mark Connolly was born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts. In 1970 he started THE SUNDAY MASS on television in the New York Area. In 1993, Fr. Connolly was named the Director of Radio and Television in the Diocese of Bridgeport. He is well known in the field of Radio and Television. Presently, Father is the host of an ABC syndicated show called THOUGHTS FOR THE WEEK which is aired every Sunday morning throughout the country. Most Rev. Edward M. Egan was consecrated a bishop in 1985. In 1988 he was installed as the Third Bishop of Bridgeport. Bishop Egan has a degree in philosophy; licentiate in Sacred Theology and a Doctorate in Canon Law. He has overseen the regionalization of the diocesan elementary schools, established an active Hispanic Apostolate and founded the St. John Fisher Residence for young men considering the priesthood. Rev. Raymond K. Petrucci was ordained for the Diocese of Bridgeport in 1973. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from St. Francis College in Loretto, Pennsylvania, a Master of Divinity from St. Mary Seminary and University in Baltimore, Maryland, and a Doctor of Ministry from the Jesuit School of Theology at Berkeley in California. Catherine Gonzalez was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico. She graduated valedictorian from Commonwealth High School and is currently a pre-med student at Princeton University. copyright © 1998-2005, Spirituality for Today     ");
array_files[243]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/041/page09.asp","2009-08-03","2K","Spirituality for Today, Volume 4, Issue 5, The Burning Babe    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Spirituality for Today, Volume 4, Issue 5, The Burning Babe Home The Burning Babe This poem was written by Father Robert Southwell, S.J., in 1594 while awaiting execution in the Tower of London. As I in hoary Winters night Stood shivering in the snow, Surprised I was with sudden heat, Which made my heart to glow; And lifting up a fearful eye, To view what fire was near, A pretty Babe all burning bright Did in the air appear; Who, scorched with excessive heart, Such floods of tears did shed, As though his floods should quench his flames, With which his tears were fed; Alas (quoth he) but newly born, In fiery heats I fry, Yet none approach to warm their hearts, Or feel my fire, but I; My faultless breast the furnace is, The fuel, wounding thorns: Love is the fire, and sighs the smoke, The ashes, shame and scorn; The fuel Justice layeth on, And Mercy blows the coals, The metal in this furnace wrought Are mens defiled souls For which, as now on fire I am To work them to their good, So will I melt into a bath, To wash them in my blood. With this he vanished out of sight, And swiftly shrunk away, And straight I called unto mind, That it was Christmas. copyright © 1998-2005, Spirituality for Today     ");
array_files[244]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/041/page08.asp","2009-08-03","2K","Spirituality for Today, Volume 4, Issue 5, Christmas    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Spirituality for Today, Volume 4, Issue 5, Christmas Home Christmas by Cathy Gonzalez Christmas is one of the most celebrated and longed-for holidays in the world. Millions of people celebrate this holiday in their own ways; but it always symbolizes a moment of joy and celebration. For me, Christmas ultimately means the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, his extraordinary presence in the world and the symbolic meaning of his death. December 25th means love, the magic of Gods love towards us. Many of us have been confused about the true meaning of Christmas as this holidays proximity draws near. Our culture has become impregnated with the commercial aspect of Christmas. Many times, I have been engrossed with the idea of buying and receiving gifts, as well as enjoying the weeks of vacation and relaxation revolving around the frenzy of presents, parties and dinners. We can sometimes forget the true meaning of this holiday. While fun and relaxation are not negative things, we must always remember that Christmas is the birth of Jesus Christ - the Savior of humanity. Gods caring and love are the meaning of Jesus birth, a love that overflows throughout the entire world. Christmas for me will be returning home from college and spending time with my family and friends. It will be a time of joy and happiness and a moment to celebrate and give thanks to Gods love. We must strive to enjoy the holidays with the clear idea that they are a celebration of the love derived from Jesus birth. copyright © 1998-2005, Spirituality for Today     ");
array_files[245]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/041/page07.asp","2009-08-03","8K","Spirituality for Today, Volume 4, Issue 5, Third Sunday Of Advent    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Spirituality for Today, Volume 4, Issue 5, Third Sunday Of Advent Home Third Sunday Of Advent by Rev. Mark Connolly The season of Christmas, more than any other seasons of the year, is something special for all families. Whether it is the reminder of the life of the first Holy Family, Jesus, Mary and Joseph; and what they went through. Whether it is because of the festive spirit is upon us at this time, whatever it is, this is the season for families - your family and mine. There is no other season of the year comparable to it. No matter how far you go back in history, families have had, in each decade or century, a tough going. Believe it or not, at Christmas many elderly people have a tough time. I remember years ago when I conducted the television Mass which went all throughout the country, it was amazing to me to find so many elderly people who just did not like the Christmas holiday. Many of their families and friends had gone or died. It was the end of the year and they were basically quite lonely so Christmas was not a real happy time for many of them. When you go throughout the life of many, many families, not only throughout the Christmas season, but throughout the year, find life is filled with many obstacles and is just plain tough going for them at times. When you analyze it, there are many factors outside your home that influence your family insider your home and make life difficult for you and your family. Whether it is your job or a lack of a job, whether it is your in-laws or other people, oftentimes if we are honest with ourselves family peace is hard to achieve. If you study the first family of history, namely that of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, you recognize that they confronted hardships at every facet and every turn of their lives. First of all, Mary was pregnant and there was no room for them at the inn. Secondly, a king by the name of Herod wanted to kill her child because of the jealousy that this child would encroach upon his kingship. Thirdly, they had to take flight into Egypt and since       ");
array_files[246]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/041/page06.asp","2009-08-03","2K","Spirituality for Today, Volume 4, Issue 5,     ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Spirituality for Today, Volume 4, Issue 5, Home A Hymn On The Nativity Of My Saviour I sing the birth was born to-night, The Author both of life and light; The angels so did sound it, And like the ravished shepherds said, Who saw the light, and were afraid, Yet searched, and true they found it. The Son of God, th` Eternal King, That did us all salvation bring, And freed the soul from danger; He whom the whole world could not take, The Word, which heaven and earth did make; Was now laid in a manger. The Fathers wisdom willed it so, The Sons obedience knew no No, Both wills were in one stature; And as that wisdom had decreed, The Word was now made Flesh indeed, And took on Him our nature. What comfort by Him do we win, Who made Himself the price of sin, To make us heirs of glory! To see this Babe, all innocence, A martyr born in our defence; Can man forget the story? - Ben Johnson (1572-1637) copyright © 1998-2005, Spirituality for Today     ");
array_files[247]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/041/page04.asp","2009-08-03","7K","Spirituality for Today, Volume 4, Issue 5, Second Sunday Of Advent    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Spirituality for Today, Volume 4, Issue 5, Second Sunday Of Advent Home Second Sunday Of Advent by Rev. Mark Connolly One of the most famous lines of Charles Dickens is: it was the best of times, it was the worst of times. Christmas for some this year is the best and the worse. For some this year is the best because our economy is thriving. God has truly blessed America. However, for others, this Christmas, will be in the language of Charles Dickens, the worst of times. We still have homeless, aids victims, drug problems, the elderly who have no one. This Christmas, indeed, for them is the worst of times. Over the centuries with a sense of fantasy, magic and nostalgia, most of us have considered their first Christmas so much happier than ours of today. But in reality, it was not. Just think of the first Christmas scene. A young mother by the name of Mary is forced to have her only child in a stable, a cold stable, surrounded by animals - shepherds who were unclean and smelly. Shepherds also knew nothing of her desire for privacy, simply because there was no room in the inn. The first family was a homeless family. The Christ child had to be rushed to Egypt for the sake of his life. The Holy Innocents, about thirty infants, were killed because a jealous King did not want to be threatened by one who was called a king. Joseph, out of work, his family forced to live in a country that was bigoted and anti-semetic. So for the first family and for many of todays families, Christmas was not the best of times. From that first family with all the pain and adversity they went through, from that first family that experienced hardship and suffering on that first Christmas, came forth a quality that has helped make the world a better place. It is the quality of love as taught by Christ in his life. His concept of love, his practice of love (even amidst the worst of times), has revolutionized civilizations, cultures, countries, your family and mine. This was the same Christ who taught us to forgive seventy times seven times.       ");
array_files[248]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/041/page03.asp","2009-08-03","2K","Spirituality for Today, Volume 4, Issue 5, Thought For The Month - On The Morning Of Christs Nativity    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Spirituality for Today, Volume 4, Issue 5, Thought For The Month - On The Morning Of Christs Nativity Home Thought For The Month On The Morning Of Christs Nativity This is the Month, and this is the happy morn Wherin the Son of Heavns eternal King, Of wedded Maid, and Virgin Mother born Our great redemption from above did bring; For so the holy sages once did sing, That he out deadly forfeit should release, And with his Father work us a perpetual peace. That glorious Form, that Light unsufferable, And that far-beaming blase of Majesty, Wherwith he wont at Heavns high Councel-Table; To sit the midst of Trinal Unity, He laid aside; and here with us to be, Forsook the Courts of everlasting Day, And chose with us a darksom House of mortal Clay. Say Heavnly Muse, shall not thy sacred vein Afford a present to the Infant God? Hast thou no vers, no hymn, or solemn strein, To welcom him to this his new abode, Now while the Heavn by the Suns team untrod, Hath took no print of the approaching light, And all the spangled host keep watch in squadrons bright? See how from far upon the Eastern rode the Star-led Wisards haste with odours sweet, O run, prevent them with thy humble ode, And lay it lowly at his blessed feet; Have thou the honour first, thy Lord to greet, And joyn thy voice unto the Angel Quire, From out his secret Altar toucht with hallowd fire. - John Milton (1608-1674) copyright © 1998-2005, Spirituality for Today     ");
array_files[249]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/041/page02.asp","2009-08-03","8K","Spirituality for Today, Volume 4, Issue 5, Wonder Box    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Spirituality for Today, Volume 4, Issue 5, Wonder Box Home Wonder Box by the Most Rev. Edward M. Egan The Director of Buildings and Grounds for the Diocese of Bridgeport came to my office one rainy Friday evening in December to show me a curious object that had been given to him earlier in the day. It was a wooden box about the size of a Kleenex carton on the front of which was a metal bas-relief of the Last Supper and on top of which was a metal stand broken in several places. A lady found this in her attic tied to some old books, he explained. She was wondering if you would know what it might be. Lets see if there is anything in the back, I replied. We turned the box around and discovered there was a drawer which, when opened, was found to contain four miniature altar linens yellow with age, a small spoon, and a square bottle with crosses etched into its sides. This, I concluded, is a very old Communion set that a family would have used when a priest came to their home to see someone who was ill. The holes in the stand were very likely for a cross and two candles, and the little-metal shell attached to the front was undoubtedly intended for holy water. The Director of Buildings and Grounds handed me the books that had been tied to the box. We opened them. They were printed in the 1860s, and one was embellished with the florid signature of the author across its frontispiece. We can leave the box and the books on my desk until Monday morning, I observed. I have an appointment in Norwalk and do not want to be late. As I drove through the rain that evening, the Communion set brought back events that had long since slipped from my memory. In 1958, when I returned from the seminary as a newly ordained priest, my younger brother presented me with a splendid Communion set. It was made of brightly polished wood and fit snugly into a black leather case. Inside were a silver-plated cross, two silver-plated candlesticks, a bottle for holy water, a prayer book containing Sacramental rituals, a stole that was violet on on      ");
array_files[250]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/041/page01.asp","2009-08-03","5K","Spirituality for Today, Volume 4, Issue 5, First Sunday Of Advent    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Spirituality for Today, Volume 4, Issue 5, First Sunday Of Advent Home First Sunday Of Advent by Rev. Mark Connolly Many years ago the famous Catholic writer, Cardinal Newman of England, once said, As long as we are on this earth, we should never forget that the most important relationship we have is our relationship with God. Our whole life should find us deepening that relationship with God. Advent is that season that reminds us of what our relationship with God is all about. The next few weeks remind us to prepare, to make ready, and to be aware of the coming of Christ on Christmas Day. No matter how busy we are, no matter how demanding our vocation might be, no matter what kind of a sickness we have, the most important relationship we can have is our relationship with Christ. When you read in the gospels how Christ tells us of all the upheavals of nature that could take place in ones life, whether it be earthquake, famine, or the serious illness of a heart or cancerous condition, the most important relationship you have is your relationship with Christ. Christ emphasizes so clearly in the gospel the importance of our personal relationship with God. Of all the upheavals in nature, the upheavals in our families and the upheavals in our personal lives, none of them should prevent us from that solid relationship with God no matter what our vocation is. As you read this, it must sound abstract, even vague. You ask yourself, how do I deepen my relationship with God? The answer is a simple one. No matter what upheavals you experience, there are two ways set before us by Christ that will enable us to deepen our relationship with God. The first is the way of sacrifice. This is the method Christ selected to teach us, by His sacrifice for us on the cross, so that we could have a close relationship with God. The spirit of sacrifice is always associated with the season of Advent, not just for the preparations that we make for the day called Christmas, but for the more important fact of deepening our relationship with G      ");
array_files[251]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/040/authors.asp","2009-08-03","2K","Spirituality for Today, Volume 4, Issue 1, Authors    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Spirituality for Today, Volume 4, Issue 1, Authors Home About the Authors Rev. Mark Connolly was born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts. In 1970 he started THE SUNDAY MASS on television in the New York Area. In 1993, Fr. Connolly was named the Director of Radio and Television in the Diocese of Bridgeport. He is well known in the field of Radio and Television. Presently, Father is the host of an ABC syndicated show called THOUGHTS FOR THE WEEK which is aired every Sunday morning throughout the country. Most Rev. Edward M. Egan was consecrated a bishop in 1985. In 1988 he was installed as the Third Bishop of Bridgeport. Bishop Egan has a degree in philosophy; licentiate in Sacred Theology and a Doctorate in Canon Law. He has overseen the regionalization of the diocesan elementary schools, established an active Hispanic Apostolate and founded the St. John Fisher Residence for young men considering the priesthood. Rev. Raymond K. Petrucci was ordained for the Diocese of Bridgeport in 1973. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from St. Francis College in Loretto, Pennsylvania, a Master of Divinity from St. Mary Seminary and University in Baltimore, Maryland, and a Doctor of Ministry from the Jesuit School of Theology at Berkeley in California. copyright © 1997-2005, Spirituality for Today     ");
array_files[252]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/040/page08.asp","2009-08-03","3K","Spirituality for Today, Volume 4, Issue 4, A Month For Saints    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Spirituality for Today, Volume 4, Issue 4, A Month For Saints Home A Month For Saints by Rev. Raymond Petrucci This month begins with a celebration of the heroes and heroines of the Church. November the first is the Feast of All Saints. This Holy Day of Obligation honors all the men and women who have served God and the Church through lives of holiness. It is well to note that many of these revered figures of the Church have turned from lives of iniquity to embrace lives of sanctity. Throughout the millennia, the biographies of the saints reveal that their gifts of faith have been made manifest not only on a grant scale, but also in the humblest manner. I find it encouraging that these role models of faith have provided so many ways of being other Christs. November the second is the Feast of All Souls. This day is devoted to remembering in prayer all those who have died. As one may expect, the deceased of ones family and of ones friends become the primary focus of the day. We pray that our beloved dead may be with God in heaven. It is also an occasion for recalling what their lives have meant to us and how their lives have touched others. On this somewhat somber yet hopeful day, we pray that these souls have been purified of their sins and have come to the fullness of life with the saints. We pray that they have become saints. Is that not the title given to one who has achieved eternal life in heaven? Therefore, we are all called to become saints. Perhaps we will never have our names inscribed in the liturgical calendar, but we were created to become saints nonetheless. How do we respond to the challenge of becoming a saint? In my opinion, it requires us to make a fundamental decision to live a life in cooperation with Gods grace. In the words of the philosopher, Blaise Pascal, Grace is indeed required to turn a man into a saint; and he who doubts this does not know what either a man or a saint is. Although we may create a strategy envisioning this growth in grace over weeks, months or years, we live second by      ");
array_files[253]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/040/page07.asp","2009-08-03","3K","Spirituality for Today, Volume 4, Issue 4, A Thanksgiving Remembrance    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Spirituality for Today, Volume 4, Issue 4, A Thanksgiving Remembrance Home A Thanksgiving Remembrance by Rev. Mark Connolly One of the greatest women in our age of poverty and world starvation was the woman the people of Calcutta called Mother Teresa. Long before the problem of world starvation became conversation, she had established an order of nuns to help the starving people die with dignity. She said that people who have grown up with poverty and starvation hovering around them accept these conditions, not because they want them, but because they know that there is no immediate relief for them in sight. Her whole concept of helping them die with dignity was to have someone around them at their last moment of life who would offer them the feeling that they were part of a family, that even though their life span was running out, they were among friends, and that God whom they couldnt find in this life has not deserted them at their final moment. In her own life, she did this for over 14,000 people. Her one intention was to make certain that their death should never be taken for granted. They shall die with dignity. I think, as the Thanksgiving holiday comes upon us, we should remember all the starvation and poverty in the world and remind ourselves that we can never take for granted the things that we have, though we might not have all the things we want. The thanksgiving season is always a wonderful opportunity for any speaker to remind us that God could have put us on this earth as hopeless cripples, or as victims of some incurable disease, or as deaf and dumb. God didnt. He spared us the tragedies that a large part of the world experiences. Since we have been spared the tragedies that others accept as commonplace in their lives, we can never run the risk of offending God by taking anyone or anything for granted. If we are to live with dignity in the sight of God, we can never take our families, our friends, or our faith in God for granted. When you think of the beautiful life that God has given to so man      ");
array_files[254]=new Array(0,1,"http://www.spirituality.org/is/039/authors.asp","2009-08-03","3K","Spirituality for Today, Volume 4, Issue 3, Authors    ","","Spirituality for Today is an interactive monthly magazine dedicated to a variety of current themes and questions concerning the Christian faith in this postmodern age.    "," Spirituality for Today, Volume 4, Issue 3, Authors Home About the Authors Rev. Mark Connolly was born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts. In 1970 he started THE SUNDAY MASS on television in the New York Area. In 1993, Fr. Connolly was named the Director of Radio and Television in the Diocese of Bridgeport. He is well known in the field of Radio and Television. Presently, Father is the host of an ABC syndicated show called THOUGHTS FOR THE WEEK which is aired every Sunday morning throughout the country. Most Rev. Edward M. Egan was consecrated a bishop in 1985. In 1988 he was installed as the Third Bishop of Bridgeport. Bishop Egan has a degree in philosophy; licentiate in Sacred Theology and a Doctorate in Canon Law. He has overseen the regionalization of the diocesan elementary schools, established an active Hispanic Apostolate and founded the St. John Fisher Residence for young men considering the priesthood. Rev. Raymond K. Petrucci was ordained for the Diocese of Bridgeport in 1973. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from St. Francis College in Loretto, Pennsylvania, a Master of Divinity from St. Mary Seminary and University in Baltimore, Maryland, and a Doctor of Ministry from the Jesuit School of Theology at Berkeley in California. Nancy Caldwell is the mother of