"¿Por qué lloras mamá?" le preguntó un niñito a su madre.
"Porque soy mujer," le contesto la mujer.
"Pero yo no entiendo," le dijo el niño.
Su madre se inclinó hacia el abrazándolo le dijo, "y nunca lo entenderas..."
Más tarde el niñito le preguntó a su padre, "¿Por qué mamá llora a veces sin ninguna razón?"
"Todas las mujeres lloran siempre por ninguna razón." Era todo lo que el padre le podía contestar.
El pequeño niño crecío y se convertío en todo un hombre preguntándose todavía porque era que las mujeres lloraban.
Un dia el niño convertído en hombre se arrodilló y le pregunto a Dios, "Dios, ¿Por qué lloran tan fácilmente las mujeres?"
Y Dios le dijo... "Cuando hice a la mujer tenía que ser algo especial.
Hice sus hombros lo suficientemente fuertes como para cargar el peso del mundo entero.
Pero a la misma vez lo suficientemente suave para confortar.
Le dí una inmensa fuerza interior para que pudiera sorportar el dar a la luz y hastá el rechazo que muchas veces proviene de sus propios hijos.
Le dí una dureza que le permite seguir adelante y cuidar a su familia a pesar de las enfermedades y la fatiga y sin quejarse a un cuando otros se rinden.
Le dí la sensibilidad para amar a un niño bajo cualquier circunstancia, aún cuando su niño la haya lastimado mucho. Esa misma sensibilidad que hace que cualquier tristeza, llanto, o dolor del niño desaparezca y que le hace compartir las ansiedades y miedos de la adolecencia.
Le di la fuerza suficiente para que pudiera perdonar a su esposo de sus faltas y la moldeé de una de sus costillas para que ella pudiera cuidar de su corazón.
Le dí sabiduría para saber que un buen esposo nunca lastímaría a su esposa y a veces le pongo pruebas para medir su fuerza y su determínacion para mantenerse a su lado a pesar de todo.
Le dí las lágrimas y son de ella exclusivamente para usarlas cuando las necesite.
Es su única debilidad...
Es una lágrima por la humanidad."
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Un Defecto En La Mujer
UN DEFECTO EN LA MUJER
Para cuando Dios hizo a la mujer, ya estaba en su sexto día de trabajo de horas extras.
Un ángel apareció y le dijo: "Por qué pones tanto tiempo en ésta?"
Y El Señor contestó: "Has visto mi Hoja de Especificaciones para ella?"
Debe ser completamente lavable, pero no ser de
plástico, tener más de 200 piezas movibles, todas
cambiables y ser capaz de funcionar con una dieta
de cualquier cosa y sobras, tener un regazo que
pueda acomodar cuatro niños al mismo tiempo,
tener un beso que pueda curar desde una rodilla
raspada hasta un corazón roto y lo hará todo con
solamente dos manos."
El ángel se maravilló de los requisitos.
"Solamente dos manos....Imposible!"
Y este es solamente el modelo estándar?
Es demasiado trabajo para un día...Espera hasta mañana para terminarla."
No lo haré, protestó el Señor. Estoy tan cerca de
terminar esta creación que es favorita de Mi
propio corazón.
Ella ya se cura sola cuando está enferma Y
puede trabajar días de 18 horas." El ángel se
acercó más y tocó a la mujer.
"Pero la has hecho tan suave, Señor
"Es suave", dijo Dios, pero la he hecho también
fuerte. No tienes idea de lo que puede aguantar o
lograr.
"Será capaz de pensar?" preguntó el ángel.
Dios contestó:
"No solamente será capaz de pensar sino que razonar y de negociar.
El ángel entonces notó algo y alargando la mano
tocó la mejilla de la mujer....
"Señor, parece que este modelo tiene una fuga...
Te dije que estabas tratando de poner
Demasiadas cosas en ella"
"Eso no es ninguna fuga... es una lágrima" lo
corrigió El Señor.
"Para qué es la lágrima," preguntó el ángel.
Y Dios dijo:
"Las lágrimas son su manera de
expresar su dicha, su pena, su desengaño, su
amor, su soledad, su sufrimiento, y su orgullo."
Esto impresionó mucho al ángel "Eres un genio,
Señor, pensaste en todo. La mujer es
verdaderamente maravillosa"
Lo es!
La mujer tiene fuerzas que maravillan a
los hombres.
Aguantan dificultades, llevan grandes cargas,
pero tienen felicidad, amor y dicha.
Sonríen cuando quieren gritar.
Cantan cuando quieren llorar. Lloran cuando
están felices y ríen cuando están nerviosas.
Luchan por lo que creen.
Se enfrentan a la injusticia.
No aceptan "no" por respuesta cuando
ellas creen que hay una solución mejor.
Se privan para que su familia pueda tener.
Van al médico con una amiga que tiene miedo de ir.
Aman incondicionalmente.
Lloran cuando sus hijos triunfan y se alegran
cuando sus amistades consiguen premios.
Son felices cuando escuchan sobre un
nacimiento o una boda.
Su corazón se rompe cuando muere una amiga.
Sufren con la pérdida de un ser querido, sin
embargo son fuertes cuando piensan que ya no
hay más fuerza.
Saben que un beso y un abrazo
pueden ayudar a curar un corazón roto.
Sin embargo, hay un defecto en la mujer:
Es que se le olvida cuánto vale.
Para cuando Dios hizo a la mujer, ya estaba en su sexto día de trabajo de horas extras.
Un ángel apareció y le dijo: "Por qué pones tanto tiempo en ésta?"
Y El Señor contestó: "Has visto mi Hoja de Especificaciones para ella?"
Debe ser completamente lavable, pero no ser de
plástico, tener más de 200 piezas movibles, todas
cambiables y ser capaz de funcionar con una dieta
de cualquier cosa y sobras, tener un regazo que
pueda acomodar cuatro niños al mismo tiempo,
tener un beso que pueda curar desde una rodilla
raspada hasta un corazón roto y lo hará todo con
solamente dos manos."
El ángel se maravilló de los requisitos.
"Solamente dos manos....Imposible!"
Y este es solamente el modelo estándar?
Es demasiado trabajo para un día...Espera hasta mañana para terminarla."
No lo haré, protestó el Señor. Estoy tan cerca de
terminar esta creación que es favorita de Mi
propio corazón.
Ella ya se cura sola cuando está enferma Y
puede trabajar días de 18 horas." El ángel se
acercó más y tocó a la mujer.
"Pero la has hecho tan suave, Señor
"Es suave", dijo Dios, pero la he hecho también
fuerte. No tienes idea de lo que puede aguantar o
lograr.
"Será capaz de pensar?" preguntó el ángel.
Dios contestó:
"No solamente será capaz de pensar sino que razonar y de negociar.
El ángel entonces notó algo y alargando la mano
tocó la mejilla de la mujer....
"Señor, parece que este modelo tiene una fuga...
Te dije que estabas tratando de poner
Demasiadas cosas en ella"
"Eso no es ninguna fuga... es una lágrima" lo
corrigió El Señor.
"Para qué es la lágrima," preguntó el ángel.
Y Dios dijo:
"Las lágrimas son su manera de
expresar su dicha, su pena, su desengaño, su
amor, su soledad, su sufrimiento, y su orgullo."
Esto impresionó mucho al ángel "Eres un genio,
Señor, pensaste en todo. La mujer es
verdaderamente maravillosa"
Lo es!
La mujer tiene fuerzas que maravillan a
los hombres.
Aguantan dificultades, llevan grandes cargas,
pero tienen felicidad, amor y dicha.
Sonríen cuando quieren gritar.
Cantan cuando quieren llorar. Lloran cuando
están felices y ríen cuando están nerviosas.
Luchan por lo que creen.
Se enfrentan a la injusticia.
No aceptan "no" por respuesta cuando
ellas creen que hay una solución mejor.
Se privan para que su familia pueda tener.
Van al médico con una amiga que tiene miedo de ir.
Aman incondicionalmente.
Lloran cuando sus hijos triunfan y se alegran
cuando sus amistades consiguen premios.
Son felices cuando escuchan sobre un
nacimiento o una boda.
Su corazón se rompe cuando muere una amiga.
Sufren con la pérdida de un ser querido, sin
embargo son fuertes cuando piensan que ya no
hay más fuerza.
Saben que un beso y un abrazo
pueden ayudar a curar un corazón roto.
Sin embargo, hay un defecto en la mujer:
Es que se le olvida cuánto vale.
Santa Claus V.S. The Easter Bunny
Santa Claus V.S. The Easter Bunny
Which holiday is most important, Christmas or Easter? (Or what came first, the reindeer or the egg?)
As we approach Easter Sunday once again, I'm left with only one question, "What's our brother gotta do to get some attention from secular culture?"
By "our brother" I mean, Jesus. By "secular culture" I mean the bunny-crazy Easter fanatics… By "attention" I mean a little bit of love for all the love He shows us…
Christmas might be the "biggest" holiday in secular society, the most anticipated, most commercial, most celebrated and, generally, the most observed, but it's not Easter.
Sure, Christmas has all the fun songs, the presents, the snow (for some), the tree, the reindeer, etc. but it's not Easter.
Sure, Christmas is supposed to celebrate (although many malls and stores don't show it) the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ and that is an incredibly important, landmark event in the history of humanity. The Incarnation is love in action…but it's not Easter.
Read the above verse again. Why did Christ come? To save sinners. Christmas is the beginning of the story, but Easter is the end...and a new beginning. In short, the cross and resurrection are the point of His coming.
This isn't a competition between holidays. It's not like it's a showdown, a battle royal between Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny. Far from it, those two would both be next to the manger, kneeling like they should be.
Do I have anything against Christmas? No way. I love Christmas, but it's the beginning of the story, not the climax. Christmas is beginning of the movie when you fall in love with the characters, are intrigued by the plot, enraptured by the story and are on the edge of your seat to see what happens next. Easter, though, is even more.
Easter is that part of the movie when you are breathless with anticipation. When the truths you are experiencing are so real and so intense that you smile or laugh only to catch your breath between sobbing. When you feel your stomach turn, the lump build in your throat and the tear form in your eye. The story of Holy Week doesn't "cancel out" the Christmas story it illuminates it. It sets it apart as even more special.
When I said, "What's a brother gotta do?" I meant that reverently. What else would Jesus have had to have done to draw people's attention?
Live a completely selfless life of service and humility? Done.
Give a message of equality and dignity to all He encountered? Done.
Preach peace in a culture of war? Done.
Forgive when others refused to do so? Done.
Speak the truth with unyielding passion and urgency, but also with love? Done.
Reach out to the disenfranchised, the harlots, zealots, lepers and sinners? Done.
Stand "trial" before false witnesses, biased judges and spineless politicians? Done.
Hang before people spitting on Him and killing Him and forgive them? Done.
Helplessly look at His mother as He died? Done.
Rise from the dead…? Done.
What else could Jesus possibly have done to gain people's attention?
More to the point, what else could Jesus possibly have done to gain my attention?
I love Christmas, but Christmas (while fun) is only the beginning of the story. It's the second most important event in the history of the world. What happens this Holy Week-end is the main event. The manger lies in the shadow of the cross. The cave He was born in under the Bethlehem night sky is a foreshadowing of the cave He was resurrected in during a Jerusalem sunrise.
Christmas is not the holiday enemy of Easter, it is the same holiday, just at a different stage in life's journey.
If you have a strong love for Christmas (more so than Easter), the goal should not be "how do I make Christmas less primary" but, rather, how can I make Easter, more primary, more special than it presently is in my home?
Jesus is happy for His birthday party (Christmas), but He wants you to celebrate your birthday party (Easter)…
"Christ came into the world to save sinners." - 1 Tim. 1:15
And thank God He did...
Happy Birthday...Merry Christmas...and Happy Easter.
Which holiday is most important, Christmas or Easter? (Or what came first, the reindeer or the egg?)
As we approach Easter Sunday once again, I'm left with only one question, "What's our brother gotta do to get some attention from secular culture?"
By "our brother" I mean, Jesus. By "secular culture" I mean the bunny-crazy Easter fanatics… By "attention" I mean a little bit of love for all the love He shows us…
Christmas might be the "biggest" holiday in secular society, the most anticipated, most commercial, most celebrated and, generally, the most observed, but it's not Easter.
Sure, Christmas has all the fun songs, the presents, the snow (for some), the tree, the reindeer, etc. but it's not Easter.
Sure, Christmas is supposed to celebrate (although many malls and stores don't show it) the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ and that is an incredibly important, landmark event in the history of humanity. The Incarnation is love in action…but it's not Easter.
Read the above verse again. Why did Christ come? To save sinners. Christmas is the beginning of the story, but Easter is the end...and a new beginning. In short, the cross and resurrection are the point of His coming.
This isn't a competition between holidays. It's not like it's a showdown, a battle royal between Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny. Far from it, those two would both be next to the manger, kneeling like they should be.
Do I have anything against Christmas? No way. I love Christmas, but it's the beginning of the story, not the climax. Christmas is beginning of the movie when you fall in love with the characters, are intrigued by the plot, enraptured by the story and are on the edge of your seat to see what happens next. Easter, though, is even more.
Easter is that part of the movie when you are breathless with anticipation. When the truths you are experiencing are so real and so intense that you smile or laugh only to catch your breath between sobbing. When you feel your stomach turn, the lump build in your throat and the tear form in your eye. The story of Holy Week doesn't "cancel out" the Christmas story it illuminates it. It sets it apart as even more special.
When I said, "What's a brother gotta do?" I meant that reverently. What else would Jesus have had to have done to draw people's attention?
Live a completely selfless life of service and humility? Done.
Give a message of equality and dignity to all He encountered? Done.
Preach peace in a culture of war? Done.
Forgive when others refused to do so? Done.
Speak the truth with unyielding passion and urgency, but also with love? Done.
Reach out to the disenfranchised, the harlots, zealots, lepers and sinners? Done.
Stand "trial" before false witnesses, biased judges and spineless politicians? Done.
Hang before people spitting on Him and killing Him and forgive them? Done.
Helplessly look at His mother as He died? Done.
Rise from the dead…? Done.
What else could Jesus possibly have done to gain people's attention?
More to the point, what else could Jesus possibly have done to gain my attention?
I love Christmas, but Christmas (while fun) is only the beginning of the story. It's the second most important event in the history of the world. What happens this Holy Week-end is the main event. The manger lies in the shadow of the cross. The cave He was born in under the Bethlehem night sky is a foreshadowing of the cave He was resurrected in during a Jerusalem sunrise.
Christmas is not the holiday enemy of Easter, it is the same holiday, just at a different stage in life's journey.
If you have a strong love for Christmas (more so than Easter), the goal should not be "how do I make Christmas less primary" but, rather, how can I make Easter, more primary, more special than it presently is in my home?
Jesus is happy for His birthday party (Christmas), but He wants you to celebrate your birthday party (Easter)…
"Christ came into the world to save sinners." - 1 Tim. 1:15
And thank God He did...
Happy Birthday...Merry Christmas...and Happy Easter.
Overcoming Temptation With and In Christ
Overcoming Temptation with and in Christ Category: Religion and Philosophy
The following homily was given by Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde on February 25, the First Sunday of Lent, at the Cathedral of St. Thomas More in Arlington.
Who are we? No, not our individual names or our family or nationality or ancestry. What is it that identifies us all together, despite the differences I have just mentioned? Are we not, at least most of us, the baptized?
Yes, we are the baptized, members of the Church, which is the Body of Christ. In fact, St. Paul keeps repeating in his letters that we are baptized into Christ Jesus! This implies a real insertion into the Body of Christ, a real union with Christ and through Him with one another in the Community of His Disciples, a real identification with Christ Himself. The conclusion to all this is that we, the baptized, should live, individually and together within His Church, the way He lived. Or, to put this more precisely, we should let Christ live in us! His attitude, thoughts, words, actions must be ours!
But what does our personal experience tell us? Often, we are not living like Christ. This is why each year there is Lent! Lent is that grace-filled season to refocus on our true identity, the time to clarify our vision, a forty-day pilgrimage in which to turn away from sin and to turn back to Christ through prayer, penance and almsgiving and to begin anew to live more genuinely and completely the way He did, to let Christ truly live in us! St. Leo the Great puts it so succinctly: "What the Christian should be doing at all time should be done now with greater care and devotion."
What gets in the way of our identification with Christ? The realities of evil, temptation and, eventually, sin. Jesus Himself, though free from sin, struggled with the powers of evil, indeed with the evil one himself, the devil, and with the enticements of temptations. Baptized into Christ Jesus, we both face temptations as He did and can conquer temptation as He did. This is why in the opening days of Lent, on this First Sunday of Lent each year, the Gospel focuses on Christ being tempted.
By looking at Him and imitating Him, we can learn and relearn how to deal with temptations. Of course, we are tempted in many ways; each one of us knows these particular ways whether in attitude, thought, word, action or omission. However, the root of every temptation for us, as for Christ in today's gospel account, is to deny our radical dependence on God. Notice how the devil tried to make Jesus deny His radical dependence, in His human nature, on God His Father. It is as if the devil were saying: "You do not need God, so change this stone to bread; you do not need to worship God, so me instead; you do not need to trust God and obey Him, so force His hand to protect you." The devil uses the same tactic on us. He tempts us to exaggerated self-importance; to worship false gods, like prestige, power, money and pornography; to mistrust God's loving care and seek instead to do things "my way."
How do we overcome these temptations? We must do what Jesus did. Led by the Spirit, He went into the desert. There He found in prayer and fasting the strength to overcome; there He struggled and overcame the devil. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church tells us, "It is by his prayer that Jesus vanquishes the tempter, both at the outset of his public mission and in the ultimate struggle of his agony" (no. 2849). We too need to go to the desert, that is, to find some moments of quiet for prayer, ten minutes a day, for example. In that solitude, we ponder the Word of God; His Word is near, St. Paul reminds us in today's second reading. There, in that solitude, we recall our identity as children of God and our radical dependence on Him, as the Chosen People were instructed to do in today's first reading. Yes, we need to discover in the desert of our daily quiet prayer the only antidote to temptation: the awareness and admission of our radical dependence on God, of our total reliance on Him for strength. "Be with me, Lord, when I am in trouble." That is what Jesus did in the desert. That is how Jesus in His human nature conquered temptation. And that is the only way we can overcome temptation as well.
After all, we are baptized into Christ Jesus and what He said and did must be what we say and do. St. Augustine summarizes our identification with Christ well when he says to us: "If in Christ we have been tempted, in him we overcome the devil. See yourself as tempted in him, and see yourself as victorious in him."
Yes, Jesus is our model, our Savior and Lord. In Him, we can do all things, even overcoming temptation and turning away from sin. I end with this wise counsel from Venerable Louis of Grenada: "Imitate the example of Christ as much as you can. Pray with him; fast with him; struggle with him; join your labors to his so that all of them will be acceptable in God's sight" (cf. Magnificat, vol. 8, no. 13, p. 358).
This article courtesy of the Arlington Catholic Herald.
The following homily was given by Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde on February 25, the First Sunday of Lent, at the Cathedral of St. Thomas More in Arlington.
Who are we? No, not our individual names or our family or nationality or ancestry. What is it that identifies us all together, despite the differences I have just mentioned? Are we not, at least most of us, the baptized?
Yes, we are the baptized, members of the Church, which is the Body of Christ. In fact, St. Paul keeps repeating in his letters that we are baptized into Christ Jesus! This implies a real insertion into the Body of Christ, a real union with Christ and through Him with one another in the Community of His Disciples, a real identification with Christ Himself. The conclusion to all this is that we, the baptized, should live, individually and together within His Church, the way He lived. Or, to put this more precisely, we should let Christ live in us! His attitude, thoughts, words, actions must be ours!
But what does our personal experience tell us? Often, we are not living like Christ. This is why each year there is Lent! Lent is that grace-filled season to refocus on our true identity, the time to clarify our vision, a forty-day pilgrimage in which to turn away from sin and to turn back to Christ through prayer, penance and almsgiving and to begin anew to live more genuinely and completely the way He did, to let Christ truly live in us! St. Leo the Great puts it so succinctly: "What the Christian should be doing at all time should be done now with greater care and devotion."
What gets in the way of our identification with Christ? The realities of evil, temptation and, eventually, sin. Jesus Himself, though free from sin, struggled with the powers of evil, indeed with the evil one himself, the devil, and with the enticements of temptations. Baptized into Christ Jesus, we both face temptations as He did and can conquer temptation as He did. This is why in the opening days of Lent, on this First Sunday of Lent each year, the Gospel focuses on Christ being tempted.
By looking at Him and imitating Him, we can learn and relearn how to deal with temptations. Of course, we are tempted in many ways; each one of us knows these particular ways whether in attitude, thought, word, action or omission. However, the root of every temptation for us, as for Christ in today's gospel account, is to deny our radical dependence on God. Notice how the devil tried to make Jesus deny His radical dependence, in His human nature, on God His Father. It is as if the devil were saying: "You do not need God, so change this stone to bread; you do not need to worship God, so me instead; you do not need to trust God and obey Him, so force His hand to protect you." The devil uses the same tactic on us. He tempts us to exaggerated self-importance; to worship false gods, like prestige, power, money and pornography; to mistrust God's loving care and seek instead to do things "my way."
How do we overcome these temptations? We must do what Jesus did. Led by the Spirit, He went into the desert. There He found in prayer and fasting the strength to overcome; there He struggled and overcame the devil. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church tells us, "It is by his prayer that Jesus vanquishes the tempter, both at the outset of his public mission and in the ultimate struggle of his agony" (no. 2849). We too need to go to the desert, that is, to find some moments of quiet for prayer, ten minutes a day, for example. In that solitude, we ponder the Word of God; His Word is near, St. Paul reminds us in today's second reading. There, in that solitude, we recall our identity as children of God and our radical dependence on Him, as the Chosen People were instructed to do in today's first reading. Yes, we need to discover in the desert of our daily quiet prayer the only antidote to temptation: the awareness and admission of our radical dependence on God, of our total reliance on Him for strength. "Be with me, Lord, when I am in trouble." That is what Jesus did in the desert. That is how Jesus in His human nature conquered temptation. And that is the only way we can overcome temptation as well.
After all, we are baptized into Christ Jesus and what He said and did must be what we say and do. St. Augustine summarizes our identification with Christ well when he says to us: "If in Christ we have been tempted, in him we overcome the devil. See yourself as tempted in him, and see yourself as victorious in him."
Yes, Jesus is our model, our Savior and Lord. In Him, we can do all things, even overcoming temptation and turning away from sin. I end with this wise counsel from Venerable Louis of Grenada: "Imitate the example of Christ as much as you can. Pray with him; fast with him; struggle with him; join your labors to his so that all of them will be acceptable in God's sight" (cf. Magnificat, vol. 8, no. 13, p. 358).
This article courtesy of the Arlington Catholic Herald.
Diocese of Rome concludes examination of John Paul II's Holiness Category
Diocese of Rome concludes examination of John Paul II’s holiness Category: Religion and Philosophy
Rome, Mar 11, 2007 / 10:52 am (CNA).- The Diocese of Rome has concluded its examination of the life and virtues of the Servant of God, Pope John Paul II. Cardinal Camillo Ruini, Vicar General for the diocese, announced on Saturday that the important investigation had been concluded and will be marked by a ceremony at Rome's Cathedral, the Basilica of St. John Lateran on April 2nd, the AP reports.The study of those who are candidates for being declared "Blesseds" and Saints usually begins at a diocesan level before being passed on to a Vatican congregation which conducts its own study. Whereas all Popes serve as the Bishop of Rome, the study of John Paul II's life began both there and in Poland, where the young Karol Wojtyla grew up and served as a priest and bishop before being elected Pope. In January, Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz, the late Pope's longtime secretary and current Archbishop of Krakow announced that the Polish investigation was nearly complete.Cardinal Ruini emphasized that diocesan officials investigated "the life, virtues and reputation for holiness" of the late Pope. During the diocesan inquiry, church officials interviewed those who knew the Pope and examined documentation.Although the conclusions of diocesan investigations are only one step, they are an important one on the way to the beloved Pope's eventual Beatification and Canonization as a Saint. The Congregation for the Causes of Saints must now conduct a similar investigation and verify miracles attributed to the intercession of Pope John Paul II.Shortly after John Paul's death, with scores of faithful clamoring for quick canonization, Pope Benedict XVI, the Pontiff's successor, waived the customary five-year waiting period to open the case for possible sainthood.According to the AP, in addition to the presentation of the Rome Diocese's study at St. John Lateran, Pope Benedict will preside at a Mass in memory of John Paul in the late afternoon of April 2nd in St. Peter's Basilica. The date marks the 2nd anniversary of Pope John Paul's death.
Rome, Mar 11, 2007 / 10:52 am (CNA).- The Diocese of Rome has concluded its examination of the life and virtues of the Servant of God, Pope John Paul II. Cardinal Camillo Ruini, Vicar General for the diocese, announced on Saturday that the important investigation had been concluded and will be marked by a ceremony at Rome's Cathedral, the Basilica of St. John Lateran on April 2nd, the AP reports.The study of those who are candidates for being declared "Blesseds" and Saints usually begins at a diocesan level before being passed on to a Vatican congregation which conducts its own study. Whereas all Popes serve as the Bishop of Rome, the study of John Paul II's life began both there and in Poland, where the young Karol Wojtyla grew up and served as a priest and bishop before being elected Pope. In January, Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz, the late Pope's longtime secretary and current Archbishop of Krakow announced that the Polish investigation was nearly complete.Cardinal Ruini emphasized that diocesan officials investigated "the life, virtues and reputation for holiness" of the late Pope. During the diocesan inquiry, church officials interviewed those who knew the Pope and examined documentation.Although the conclusions of diocesan investigations are only one step, they are an important one on the way to the beloved Pope's eventual Beatification and Canonization as a Saint. The Congregation for the Causes of Saints must now conduct a similar investigation and verify miracles attributed to the intercession of Pope John Paul II.Shortly after John Paul's death, with scores of faithful clamoring for quick canonization, Pope Benedict XVI, the Pontiff's successor, waived the customary five-year waiting period to open the case for possible sainthood.According to the AP, in addition to the presentation of the Rome Diocese's study at St. John Lateran, Pope Benedict will preside at a Mass in memory of John Paul in the late afternoon of April 2nd in St. Peter's Basilica. The date marks the 2nd anniversary of Pope John Paul's death.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Why do Catholics fast and give things up during Lent? Why are there ashes on Ash Wednesday and palms on Palm Sunday? When does Lent end? Find the answers to these and other frequently asked questions here.
Frequently Asked Questions About Lent
Q U I C K L i n k s
..>..> ..> ..>
Why ashes on Ash Wednesday?
What are the official rules for fasting and abstinence?
Why do we give things up for Lent?
What are the Scrutinies?
Should I go to Confession during Lent?
What are the "three pillars of Lent"?
Why Stations of the Cross?
Why Palms on Palm Sunday?
When does Lent end?
What is the Triduum?
How are Lent and Baptism connected?
Why meatless Fridays?
Are Sundays part of Lent?
Are chicken and fish considered meat?
What feasts are celebrated during Lent?
What determines the date Easter Sunday falls on or when Lent begins?
What does the word Lent mean? ...>..>..>..>..>..>..>URL: http://www.americancatholic.org/Features/lent/faqs.asp
Why do Catholics fast and give things up during Lent? Why are there ashes on Ash Wednesday and palms on Palm Sunday? When does Lent end? Find the answers to these and other frequently asked questions here.
Frequently Asked Questions About Lent
Q U I C K L i n k s
..>..> ..> ..>
Why ashes on Ash Wednesday?
What are the official rules for fasting and abstinence?
Why do we give things up for Lent?
What are the Scrutinies?
Should I go to Confession during Lent?
What are the "three pillars of Lent"?
Why Stations of the Cross?
Why Palms on Palm Sunday?
When does Lent end?
What is the Triduum?
How are Lent and Baptism connected?
Why meatless Fridays?
Are Sundays part of Lent?
Are chicken and fish considered meat?
What feasts are celebrated during Lent?
What determines the date Easter Sunday falls on or when Lent begins?
What does the word Lent mean? ...>..>..>..>..>..>..>URL: http://www.americancatholic.org/Features/lent/faqs.asp
ASH WEDNESDAY
Q: What is Ash Wednesday?
A: Ash Wednesday is the day Lent begins. It occurs forty days before Good Friday.
Q: Is Ash Wednesday based on a pagan festival?
A: Heck, no. Ash Wednesday originated in the A.D. 900s, long after Europe had been Christianized and the pagan cults stamped out.
Q: Why is it called Ash Wednesday?
A: Actually, Ash Wednesday is its colloquial name. Its official name is the Day of Ashes. It is called Ash because, being forty days before Good Friday, it always falls on a Wednesday and it is called Wednesday because on that day at church the faithful have their foreheads marked with ashes in the shape of a cross.
Q: Why do they have their foreheads marked with a cross?
A: Because in the Bible a mark on the forehead is a symbol of a person's ownership. By having their foreheads marked with the sign of a cross, this symbolizes that the person belongs to Jesus Christ, who died on a Cross.
This is in imitation of the spiritual mark or seal that is put on a Christian in baptism, when he is delivered from slavery to sin and the devil and made a slave of righteousness and Christ (Rom. 6:3-18).
It is also in imitation of the way the righteousness are described in the book of Revelation, where we read of the servants of God (the Christian faithful, as symbolized by the 144,000 male virgins):
"Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God upon their foreheads."(Revelation 7:3)
"[The demon locust] were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any green growth or any tree, but only those of mankind who have not the seal of God upon their foreheads"(Revelation 9:4)
"Then I looked, and lo, on Mount Zion stood the Lamb, and with him a hundred and forty-four thousand who had his name and his Father's name written on their foreheads."(Revelation 14:1)
This is in contrast to the followers of the beast, who have the number 666 on their foreheads or hands.
The reference to the sealing of the servants of God for their protection in Revelation is an allusion to a parallel passage in Ezekiel, where Ezekiel also sees a sealing of the servants of God for their protection:
"And the LORD said to him [one of the four cherubim], 'Go through the city, through Jerusalem, and put a mark [literally,"a ] upon the foreheads of the men who sigh and groan over all the abominations that are committed in it.' And to the others he said in my hearing, 'Pass through the city after him, and smite; your eye shall not spare, and you shall show no pity; slay old men outright, young men and maidens, little children and women, but touch no one upon whom is the mark. And begin at my sanctuary.' So they began with the elders who were before the house."(Ezekiel 9:4-6)
Unfortunately, like most modern translations, the one quoted above (the Revised Standard Version, which we have been quoting thus far), is not sufficiently literal. What it actually says is to place a on the foreheads of the righteous inhabitants of Jerusalem. is one of the letters of the Hebrew alphabet, and in ancient script it looked like the Greek letter , which happens to be two lines (like an "x") and which happens to be the first letter in the word "Christ" in Greek <(christos).> The Jewish rabbis commented on the connection between and and this is undoubtedly the mark Revelation has in mind when the servants of God are sealed in it.
The early Church Fathers seized on this cross- connection and expounded it in their homilies, seeing in Ezekiel a prophetic foreshadowing of the sealing of Christians as servants of Christ. It is also part of the background to the Catholic practice of making the sign of the cross, which in the early centuries (as can be documented from the second century on) was practiced by using one's thumb to furrow one's brow with a small sign of the cross, like Catholic do today at the reading of the Gospel during Mass.
Q: Why is the signing done with ashes?
A: Because ashes are a biblical symbol of mourning and penance. In Bible times the custom was to fast, wear sackcloth, sit in dust and ashes, and put dust and ashes on one's head. While we no longer normally wear sackcloth or sit in dust and ashes, the customs of fasting and putting ashes on one's forehead as a sign of mourning and penance have survived to this day. These are two of the key distinctives of Lent. In fact, Ash Wednesday is a day not only for putting ashes on one's head, but also a day of fasting (see below).
Q: What are some biblical examples of people putting dust and ashes on their foreheads?
A: Consider the following verses from the New International Version:
"That same day a Benjamite ran from the battle line and went to Shiloh, his clothes torn and dust on his head."(1 Samuel 4:12)
"On the third day a man arrived from Saul's camp, with his clothes torn and with dust on his head. When he came to David, he fell to the ground to pay him honor."(2 Samuel 1:20
"Tamar put ashes on her head and tore the ornamented robe she was wearing. She put her hand on her head and went away, weeping aloud as she went."(2 Samuel 13:19)
"When David arrived at the summit, where people used to worship God, Hushai the Arkite was there to meet him, his robe torn and dust on his head."(2 Samuel 15:32)
Q: Is there another significance to the ashes?
A: Yes. They also symbolize death and so remind us of our mortality. Thus when the priest uses his thumb to sign one of the faithful with the ashes, he says, "Remember, man, that thou art dust and unto dust thou shalt return, "which is modeled after God's address to Adam (Genesis 3:19; cf. Job 34:15, Psalms 90:3, 104:29, Ecclesiastes 3:20). This also echoes the words at a burial, "Ashes to ashes; dust to dust, "which is based on God's words to Adam in Genesis 3 and Abraham's confession, "I am nothing but dust and ashes"(Genesis 18:27). It is thus a reminder of our mortality and our need to repent before this life is over and we face our Judge.
Q: Where do the ashes used on Ash Wednesday come from?
A: They are made by burning palm fronds which have been saved from the previous year's Palm Sunday, they are then blessed by a priest—blessed ashes having been used in God's rituals since the time of Moses (Numbers 19:9-10, 17).
Q: Why are ashes from the previous year's Palm Sunday used?
A: Because Palm Sunday was when the people rejoiced at Jesus' triumphal entrance to Jerusalem. They celebrated his arrival by waving palm fronds, little realizing that he was coming to die for their sins. By using palms from Palm Sunday, it is a reminder that we must not only rejoice of Jesus' coming but also regret the fact that our sins made it necessary for him to die for us in order to save us from hell.
Q: Is having one's forehead signed with ashes required of the faithful?
A: No, it is not required. However, it is to be strongly encouraged as it is a fitting and visible spiritual reminder that encourages one to adopt an attitude of prayer, repentance, and humility. As James said: "Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up"(James 4:10).
Q: Is Ash Wednesday a holy day of obligation, that is, a day on which we are required to go to Mass?
A: No, it is not a holy day of obligation. However, it is strongly advisable since it is fitting to mark the beginning of penitential season of Lent by going to Mass. The formal, corporate worship of God is a good way to get a good start to the season. Also, even though it is not a holy day of obligation, it is a day of fast and abstinence.
Q: Why isn't Ash Wednesday a holy day of obligation?
A: Holy days of obligation are either commemorations of particular events (such as the birth of Christ or the presentation of Jesus in the Temple), particular people (such as Jesus' earthly father, St. Joseph), or important theological concepts (such as the Kingship of Christ). Ash Wednesday does not commemorate any event (nothing special happened forty days before the crucifixion—at least not that we know of), and could only be said to indirectly commemorate a Person (Christ) since it is the beginning of preparation for the greater celebrations of Christ's saving work, which follow, and although Ash Wednesday is a day of penance (like all of the days of Lent except Sundays, which are feast days no matter when they occur in the liturgical calendar since they celebrate Christ's resurrection), the Church has never chosen to make it or any other specific day the definitive commemoration of the concept of repentance.
Copyright (c) 1996 by James Akin. All Rights Reserved
A: Ash Wednesday is the day Lent begins. It occurs forty days before Good Friday.
Q: Is Ash Wednesday based on a pagan festival?
A: Heck, no. Ash Wednesday originated in the A.D. 900s, long after Europe had been Christianized and the pagan cults stamped out.
Q: Why is it called Ash Wednesday?
A: Actually, Ash Wednesday is its colloquial name. Its official name is the Day of Ashes. It is called Ash because, being forty days before Good Friday, it always falls on a Wednesday and it is called Wednesday because on that day at church the faithful have their foreheads marked with ashes in the shape of a cross.
Q: Why do they have their foreheads marked with a cross?
A: Because in the Bible a mark on the forehead is a symbol of a person's ownership. By having their foreheads marked with the sign of a cross, this symbolizes that the person belongs to Jesus Christ, who died on a Cross.
This is in imitation of the spiritual mark or seal that is put on a Christian in baptism, when he is delivered from slavery to sin and the devil and made a slave of righteousness and Christ (Rom. 6:3-18).
It is also in imitation of the way the righteousness are described in the book of Revelation, where we read of the servants of God (the Christian faithful, as symbolized by the 144,000 male virgins):
"Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God upon their foreheads."(Revelation 7:3)
"[The demon locust] were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any green growth or any tree, but only those of mankind who have not the seal of God upon their foreheads"(Revelation 9:4)
"Then I looked, and lo, on Mount Zion stood the Lamb, and with him a hundred and forty-four thousand who had his name and his Father's name written on their foreheads."(Revelation 14:1)
This is in contrast to the followers of the beast, who have the number 666 on their foreheads or hands.
The reference to the sealing of the servants of God for their protection in Revelation is an allusion to a parallel passage in Ezekiel, where Ezekiel also sees a sealing of the servants of God for their protection:
"And the LORD said to him [one of the four cherubim], 'Go through the city, through Jerusalem, and put a mark [literally,"a ] upon the foreheads of the men who sigh and groan over all the abominations that are committed in it.' And to the others he said in my hearing, 'Pass through the city after him, and smite; your eye shall not spare, and you shall show no pity; slay old men outright, young men and maidens, little children and women, but touch no one upon whom is the mark. And begin at my sanctuary.' So they began with the elders who were before the house."(Ezekiel 9:4-6)
Unfortunately, like most modern translations, the one quoted above (the Revised Standard Version, which we have been quoting thus far), is not sufficiently literal. What it actually says is to place a on the foreheads of the righteous inhabitants of Jerusalem. is one of the letters of the Hebrew alphabet, and in ancient script it looked like the Greek letter , which happens to be two lines (like an "x") and which happens to be the first letter in the word "Christ" in Greek <(christos).> The Jewish rabbis commented on the connection between and and this is undoubtedly the mark Revelation has in mind when the servants of God are sealed in it.
The early Church Fathers seized on this cross- connection and expounded it in their homilies, seeing in Ezekiel a prophetic foreshadowing of the sealing of Christians as servants of Christ. It is also part of the background to the Catholic practice of making the sign of the cross, which in the early centuries (as can be documented from the second century on) was practiced by using one's thumb to furrow one's brow with a small sign of the cross, like Catholic do today at the reading of the Gospel during Mass.
Q: Why is the signing done with ashes?
A: Because ashes are a biblical symbol of mourning and penance. In Bible times the custom was to fast, wear sackcloth, sit in dust and ashes, and put dust and ashes on one's head. While we no longer normally wear sackcloth or sit in dust and ashes, the customs of fasting and putting ashes on one's forehead as a sign of mourning and penance have survived to this day. These are two of the key distinctives of Lent. In fact, Ash Wednesday is a day not only for putting ashes on one's head, but also a day of fasting (see below).
Q: What are some biblical examples of people putting dust and ashes on their foreheads?
A: Consider the following verses from the New International Version:
"That same day a Benjamite ran from the battle line and went to Shiloh, his clothes torn and dust on his head."(1 Samuel 4:12)
"On the third day a man arrived from Saul's camp, with his clothes torn and with dust on his head. When he came to David, he fell to the ground to pay him honor."(2 Samuel 1:20
"Tamar put ashes on her head and tore the ornamented robe she was wearing. She put her hand on her head and went away, weeping aloud as she went."(2 Samuel 13:19)
"When David arrived at the summit, where people used to worship God, Hushai the Arkite was there to meet him, his robe torn and dust on his head."(2 Samuel 15:32)
Q: Is there another significance to the ashes?
A: Yes. They also symbolize death and so remind us of our mortality. Thus when the priest uses his thumb to sign one of the faithful with the ashes, he says, "Remember, man, that thou art dust and unto dust thou shalt return, "which is modeled after God's address to Adam (Genesis 3:19; cf. Job 34:15, Psalms 90:3, 104:29, Ecclesiastes 3:20). This also echoes the words at a burial, "Ashes to ashes; dust to dust, "which is based on God's words to Adam in Genesis 3 and Abraham's confession, "I am nothing but dust and ashes"(Genesis 18:27). It is thus a reminder of our mortality and our need to repent before this life is over and we face our Judge.
Q: Where do the ashes used on Ash Wednesday come from?
A: They are made by burning palm fronds which have been saved from the previous year's Palm Sunday, they are then blessed by a priest—blessed ashes having been used in God's rituals since the time of Moses (Numbers 19:9-10, 17).
Q: Why are ashes from the previous year's Palm Sunday used?
A: Because Palm Sunday was when the people rejoiced at Jesus' triumphal entrance to Jerusalem. They celebrated his arrival by waving palm fronds, little realizing that he was coming to die for their sins. By using palms from Palm Sunday, it is a reminder that we must not only rejoice of Jesus' coming but also regret the fact that our sins made it necessary for him to die for us in order to save us from hell.
Q: Is having one's forehead signed with ashes required of the faithful?
A: No, it is not required. However, it is to be strongly encouraged as it is a fitting and visible spiritual reminder that encourages one to adopt an attitude of prayer, repentance, and humility. As James said: "Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up"(James 4:10).
Q: Is Ash Wednesday a holy day of obligation, that is, a day on which we are required to go to Mass?
A: No, it is not a holy day of obligation. However, it is strongly advisable since it is fitting to mark the beginning of penitential season of Lent by going to Mass. The formal, corporate worship of God is a good way to get a good start to the season. Also, even though it is not a holy day of obligation, it is a day of fast and abstinence.
Q: Why isn't Ash Wednesday a holy day of obligation?
A: Holy days of obligation are either commemorations of particular events (such as the birth of Christ or the presentation of Jesus in the Temple), particular people (such as Jesus' earthly father, St. Joseph), or important theological concepts (such as the Kingship of Christ). Ash Wednesday does not commemorate any event (nothing special happened forty days before the crucifixion—at least not that we know of), and could only be said to indirectly commemorate a Person (Christ) since it is the beginning of preparation for the greater celebrations of Christ's saving work, which follow, and although Ash Wednesday is a day of penance (like all of the days of Lent except Sundays, which are feast days no matter when they occur in the liturgical calendar since they celebrate Christ's resurrection), the Church has never chosen to make it or any other specific day the definitive commemoration of the concept of repentance.
Copyright (c) 1996 by James Akin. All Rights Reserved
What Women Should Know About Contraceptives
What a Woman Should Knowabout Contraceptives
" The Pill"
The birth control pill is used by over 10 million women in the US today and about 4 million of those are under age 25.1 The Pill consists of a combination of two types of artificial hormones called estrogens and progestins. It works by inhibiting ovulation and sperm transport and by changing the lining of the inside of a woman's uterus (called the endometrium) so that if the woman does conceive she will often have an early abortion.
Ethical side effects: It is estimated that women experience at least one very early abortion for every year that they are on the Pill.2 Both pro-abortion and pro-life groups acknowledge that the Pill causes early abortions.3
Medical side effects: The birth control pill increases the risk of breast cancer by over 40% if it is taken before a woman delivers her first baby.4 This risk increases by 70% if the Pill is used for four or more years before the woman's first child is born.5 Other side effects that women have experienced include the development of high blood pressure, blood clots, stroke, heart attack, depression, weight gain, migraine, dark spots on the skin and difficulty with breast-feeding. Diabetics who take oral contraceptives may note increased sugar levels. Some women who stop taking the Pill do not have a return of their fertility (menstrual cycles) for a year or longer. Although the Pill decreases ovarian and some uterine cancers, it increases breast, liver, and cervical cancer.4 At least three studies have noted that the AIDS virus is transmitted more easily to women who are taking the Pill and whose partner(s) has the HIV virus. 6, 7, 8 The cost of using the Pill for five years is over $1,000.
"The Shot" and Norplant
Commonly known as "the shot," Depo-Provera, a long acting progestin hormone, is injected into a woman's muscle every three months. It works by decreasing ovulation, by inhibiting sperm transport and by changing the lining of a woman's uterus. Norplant is another progestin that is placed into silastic (rubber-like) tubes and placed under the skin of a woman and left there for up to five years.
Ethical side effects: By changing the lining of the uterus, Norplant and Depo-Provera both can cause an early abortion when conception does occur. Women who use Norplant will probably experience more than one abortion each year since the average woman ovulates in more than 40% of her cycles while using Norplant.9 Depo-Provera may theoretically cause just as many abortions as Norplant since it is also a type of progestin.
Medical side effects: The results of two major world studies have shown that women who take Depo-Provera for two years or more before age 25 have at least a 190% increased risk of developing breast cancer.10 In addition, Depo-Provera may reduce a woman's bone density, and worsen a woman's cholesterol level. One study found that women who had received injectable progestins (i.e., usually Depo-Provera or norethisterone enanthate) for at least five years and who had used them at least five years prior, suffered a 430% increased risk of developing cervical cancer.11 Several studies have shown that women who receive injectable progestins have a much higher rate of contracting the AIDS virus if their partner is infected, with one study showing a 240% increased risk.12 Norplant, which was developed later than Depo-Provera, has received less scrutiny, but may carry just as high a risk as Depo-Provera. In addition, over 50,000 women have participated in law suits against the manufacturer of Norplant, citing complaints of irregular bleeding, scarring, painful muscles, and headaches.13
Other Hormonal Contraceptives
The same artificial hormones used in the Pill, Depo-Provera, and Norplant are packaged in a variety of other delivery systems: the Patch, the "Morning after Pill," the monthly injection Lunelle, hormone impregnated IUDs and vaginal inserts, and others. More are in development. Most are so new that their side effects have not been well researched. They use the same chemicals as the Pill and can be expected to have generally the same effects. All the hormonal contraceptives can also cause extended periods of infertility after they are discontinued.
Barrier Methods:The Condom and the Diaphragm
The condom has a failure rate that is estimated to be between 10-30%.14, 15 There are several reasons for this such as breakage or slippage during use, defective condoms that have been damaged or poorly manufactured in the factory, and cracked condoms caused by storage in a hot or very cold place.
Medical side effects: The condom does not adequately stop the transmission of the AIDS virus: CM Rowland, Ph.D., editor of the journal Rubber Chemistry and Technology, tells us that electron micrographs (pictures taken with a very powerful microscope) reveal voids (holes) in the condom that are up to 50 times bigger than the HIV particle.16The analogy would be that of throwing a marble at a tennis court fence and expecting it to stop the marble from going through.
The diaphragm is a barrier method of birth control so it theoretically does not cause early abortion. At least one study has noted that women who use barrier methods such as the diaphragm or condom, or the withdrawal method, had a 137% increased risk of developing preeclampsia in future pregnancies.17 Preeclampsia, a complication occurring in some pregnant women, consists of a syndrome of high blood pressure, fluid retention, and kidney damage, which may eventually lead to prolonged seizures and/or coma. It is theorized that exposure to the male's sperm has a protective role against preeclampsia.
Spermicides
Frequently, couples will use a spermicide in conjunction with their barrier method. A spermicide is an agent that is designed to kill the male's sperm and is often sold as a gel or as an ingredient in the vaginal sponge. Toxic Shock Syndrome has been associated with the spermicide sponge.18 One researcher has noted that couples who have used certain spermicides within a month of conception have experienced a doubling in the rate of birth defects as well as a doubling of the rate of miscarriage.19
The IUD (Intrauterine Device)
Most of the information regarding the IUD is taken from the 1997 PDR 20 (Physician's Desk Reference)]. This is a coil-like device made of hard plastic which may also contain copper. A doctor inserts it into a woman's uterus. It works by irritating the lining of the uterus and obstructing sperm transport. When conception occurs in spite of this, it has a secondary function of preventing implantation, thus causing an early abortion.21 Other side effects include uterine perforation which may lead to a hysterectomy, and infection, such as a pelvic or tubo-ovarian abscess. Use of all IUDs has been associated with an increased incidence of PID (Pelvic Inflammatory Disease).20 According to Rossing and Daling, two prominent researchers, women who had previously used an IUD for three or more years were more than twice as likely as women who had never used an IUD to have a tubal pregnancy (adjusted relative risk = 2.5, 95% confidence interval = 1.5-4.3). Among these long-term users of an IUD, risk of ectopic pregnancy remained elevated for many years after the device was removed. [An ectopic pregnancy is one in which the unborn child implants himself/ herself in a location other than in the mother's uterus, usually in the fallopian tube.] Ectopic pregnancy remains the leading cause of maternal death in the United States. In addition the IUD may cause back aches, cramping, dyspareunia (painful intercourse), dysmenorrhea (painful menstrual cycles), and infertility. Since women who have an IUD in place experience a number of early abortions, they theoretically are at increased risk for developing breast cancer, since abortion has been associated with an increased risk of breast cancer.4
"Permanent" Sterilization:Tubal Ligation and Vasectomy
Tubal ligation, the "tying off" or cutting of a woman's fallopian tubes, does not always prevent pregnancy. When pregnancy does occur, it is associated with a much higher incidence of ectopic pregnancy,22 which, as was noted, is the leading cause of death in pregnant women. In addition, women who undergo the procedure may experience complications from the anesthesia or from the laparoscopic technique. Complications of laparoscopy include: bladder puncture, bleeding, and even cardiac arrest after inflation of the abdomen with carbon dioxide.23 In addition, some women who have undergone a tubal ligation experience a syndrome of intermittent vaginal bleeding associated with severe cramping pain in the lower abdomen.24
About 50% of men who undergo a vasectomy will develop anti-sperm antibodies.25 In essence, their bodies will come to recognize their own sperm as "the enemy." This may have far-reaching complications and could theoretically lead to a higher incidence of autoimmune disease. In addition, several studies have noted that men who undergo a vasectomy have a higher incidence of developing prostate cancer especially 15-20 years after their vasectomy26, 27, 28, 29 although a recent large study did not find a link.30 In addition, Giovannucci31 noted that men who died from their prostate cancer had a trend of having undergone vasectomy.
Wise Options
The best option before marriage is abstinence. The obvious benefits include greater self-respect, freedom from the risk of venereal disease especially AIDS, as well as monetary savings and no chance of a surprise pregnancy.
Within marriage it should be noted that an openness towards having children yields specific medical benefits. Having more children reduces the risk of breast cancer, some uterine cancers, and ovarian cancer dramatically.
NFP: Natural Family Planning
Natural Family Planning is a totally natural method by which couples can manage their fertility. In NFP a woman determines when she is either fertile or infertile by observing the consistency of her cervical mucus. The WHO (World Health Organization) has performed several large-scale trials that have had a "failure rate" of between 0.3 and 3%, which is as good as any artificial form of birth control. One very large trial performed on about 20,000 Indian women showed a failure rate of less than 0.3%.32
Some obvious benefits of NFP are that it is free of cost and there is no increased risk of cancer. Couples who use NFP have a divorce rate that is less than 5%33__far lower than the national rate of about 50%.
For more information on NFP or the side effects of a particular contraceptive contact:
The Couple to Couple League(513) 471-2000www.ccli.org
Family of the Americas Foundation(800) 443-3395www.familyplanning.net
Billings Ovulation Method Assn.(651) 699-8139www.Boma-usa.org
Pope Paul VI Institute(402) 390-6600www.popepaulvi.com
Northwest Family Services(503) 215-6377www.nwfs.org
One More Soul NFP Center1846 North Main StreetDayton, OH 45405-3832(937) 279-5433www.OMSoul.com
URL: http://www.omsoul.com/contraception-side-effects.php
" The Pill"
The birth control pill is used by over 10 million women in the US today and about 4 million of those are under age 25.1 The Pill consists of a combination of two types of artificial hormones called estrogens and progestins. It works by inhibiting ovulation and sperm transport and by changing the lining of the inside of a woman's uterus (called the endometrium) so that if the woman does conceive she will often have an early abortion.
Ethical side effects: It is estimated that women experience at least one very early abortion for every year that they are on the Pill.2 Both pro-abortion and pro-life groups acknowledge that the Pill causes early abortions.3
Medical side effects: The birth control pill increases the risk of breast cancer by over 40% if it is taken before a woman delivers her first baby.4 This risk increases by 70% if the Pill is used for four or more years before the woman's first child is born.5 Other side effects that women have experienced include the development of high blood pressure, blood clots, stroke, heart attack, depression, weight gain, migraine, dark spots on the skin and difficulty with breast-feeding. Diabetics who take oral contraceptives may note increased sugar levels. Some women who stop taking the Pill do not have a return of their fertility (menstrual cycles) for a year or longer. Although the Pill decreases ovarian and some uterine cancers, it increases breast, liver, and cervical cancer.4 At least three studies have noted that the AIDS virus is transmitted more easily to women who are taking the Pill and whose partner(s) has the HIV virus. 6, 7, 8 The cost of using the Pill for five years is over $1,000.
"The Shot" and Norplant
Commonly known as "the shot," Depo-Provera, a long acting progestin hormone, is injected into a woman's muscle every three months. It works by decreasing ovulation, by inhibiting sperm transport and by changing the lining of a woman's uterus. Norplant is another progestin that is placed into silastic (rubber-like) tubes and placed under the skin of a woman and left there for up to five years.
Ethical side effects: By changing the lining of the uterus, Norplant and Depo-Provera both can cause an early abortion when conception does occur. Women who use Norplant will probably experience more than one abortion each year since the average woman ovulates in more than 40% of her cycles while using Norplant.9 Depo-Provera may theoretically cause just as many abortions as Norplant since it is also a type of progestin.
Medical side effects: The results of two major world studies have shown that women who take Depo-Provera for two years or more before age 25 have at least a 190% increased risk of developing breast cancer.10 In addition, Depo-Provera may reduce a woman's bone density, and worsen a woman's cholesterol level. One study found that women who had received injectable progestins (i.e., usually Depo-Provera or norethisterone enanthate) for at least five years and who had used them at least five years prior, suffered a 430% increased risk of developing cervical cancer.11 Several studies have shown that women who receive injectable progestins have a much higher rate of contracting the AIDS virus if their partner is infected, with one study showing a 240% increased risk.12 Norplant, which was developed later than Depo-Provera, has received less scrutiny, but may carry just as high a risk as Depo-Provera. In addition, over 50,000 women have participated in law suits against the manufacturer of Norplant, citing complaints of irregular bleeding, scarring, painful muscles, and headaches.13
Other Hormonal Contraceptives
The same artificial hormones used in the Pill, Depo-Provera, and Norplant are packaged in a variety of other delivery systems: the Patch, the "Morning after Pill," the monthly injection Lunelle, hormone impregnated IUDs and vaginal inserts, and others. More are in development. Most are so new that their side effects have not been well researched. They use the same chemicals as the Pill and can be expected to have generally the same effects. All the hormonal contraceptives can also cause extended periods of infertility after they are discontinued.
Barrier Methods:The Condom and the Diaphragm
The condom has a failure rate that is estimated to be between 10-30%.14, 15 There are several reasons for this such as breakage or slippage during use, defective condoms that have been damaged or poorly manufactured in the factory, and cracked condoms caused by storage in a hot or very cold place.
Medical side effects: The condom does not adequately stop the transmission of the AIDS virus: CM Rowland, Ph.D., editor of the journal Rubber Chemistry and Technology, tells us that electron micrographs (pictures taken with a very powerful microscope) reveal voids (holes) in the condom that are up to 50 times bigger than the HIV particle.16The analogy would be that of throwing a marble at a tennis court fence and expecting it to stop the marble from going through.
The diaphragm is a barrier method of birth control so it theoretically does not cause early abortion. At least one study has noted that women who use barrier methods such as the diaphragm or condom, or the withdrawal method, had a 137% increased risk of developing preeclampsia in future pregnancies.17 Preeclampsia, a complication occurring in some pregnant women, consists of a syndrome of high blood pressure, fluid retention, and kidney damage, which may eventually lead to prolonged seizures and/or coma. It is theorized that exposure to the male's sperm has a protective role against preeclampsia.
Spermicides
Frequently, couples will use a spermicide in conjunction with their barrier method. A spermicide is an agent that is designed to kill the male's sperm and is often sold as a gel or as an ingredient in the vaginal sponge. Toxic Shock Syndrome has been associated with the spermicide sponge.18 One researcher has noted that couples who have used certain spermicides within a month of conception have experienced a doubling in the rate of birth defects as well as a doubling of the rate of miscarriage.19
The IUD (Intrauterine Device)
Most of the information regarding the IUD is taken from the 1997 PDR 20 (Physician's Desk Reference)]. This is a coil-like device made of hard plastic which may also contain copper. A doctor inserts it into a woman's uterus. It works by irritating the lining of the uterus and obstructing sperm transport. When conception occurs in spite of this, it has a secondary function of preventing implantation, thus causing an early abortion.21 Other side effects include uterine perforation which may lead to a hysterectomy, and infection, such as a pelvic or tubo-ovarian abscess. Use of all IUDs has been associated with an increased incidence of PID (Pelvic Inflammatory Disease).20 According to Rossing and Daling, two prominent researchers, women who had previously used an IUD for three or more years were more than twice as likely as women who had never used an IUD to have a tubal pregnancy (adjusted relative risk = 2.5, 95% confidence interval = 1.5-4.3). Among these long-term users of an IUD, risk of ectopic pregnancy remained elevated for many years after the device was removed. [An ectopic pregnancy is one in which the unborn child implants himself/ herself in a location other than in the mother's uterus, usually in the fallopian tube.] Ectopic pregnancy remains the leading cause of maternal death in the United States. In addition the IUD may cause back aches, cramping, dyspareunia (painful intercourse), dysmenorrhea (painful menstrual cycles), and infertility. Since women who have an IUD in place experience a number of early abortions, they theoretically are at increased risk for developing breast cancer, since abortion has been associated with an increased risk of breast cancer.4
"Permanent" Sterilization:Tubal Ligation and Vasectomy
Tubal ligation, the "tying off" or cutting of a woman's fallopian tubes, does not always prevent pregnancy. When pregnancy does occur, it is associated with a much higher incidence of ectopic pregnancy,22 which, as was noted, is the leading cause of death in pregnant women. In addition, women who undergo the procedure may experience complications from the anesthesia or from the laparoscopic technique. Complications of laparoscopy include: bladder puncture, bleeding, and even cardiac arrest after inflation of the abdomen with carbon dioxide.23 In addition, some women who have undergone a tubal ligation experience a syndrome of intermittent vaginal bleeding associated with severe cramping pain in the lower abdomen.24
About 50% of men who undergo a vasectomy will develop anti-sperm antibodies.25 In essence, their bodies will come to recognize their own sperm as "the enemy." This may have far-reaching complications and could theoretically lead to a higher incidence of autoimmune disease. In addition, several studies have noted that men who undergo a vasectomy have a higher incidence of developing prostate cancer especially 15-20 years after their vasectomy26, 27, 28, 29 although a recent large study did not find a link.30 In addition, Giovannucci31 noted that men who died from their prostate cancer had a trend of having undergone vasectomy.
Wise Options
The best option before marriage is abstinence. The obvious benefits include greater self-respect, freedom from the risk of venereal disease especially AIDS, as well as monetary savings and no chance of a surprise pregnancy.
Within marriage it should be noted that an openness towards having children yields specific medical benefits. Having more children reduces the risk of breast cancer, some uterine cancers, and ovarian cancer dramatically.
NFP: Natural Family Planning
Natural Family Planning is a totally natural method by which couples can manage their fertility. In NFP a woman determines when she is either fertile or infertile by observing the consistency of her cervical mucus. The WHO (World Health Organization) has performed several large-scale trials that have had a "failure rate" of between 0.3 and 3%, which is as good as any artificial form of birth control. One very large trial performed on about 20,000 Indian women showed a failure rate of less than 0.3%.32
Some obvious benefits of NFP are that it is free of cost and there is no increased risk of cancer. Couples who use NFP have a divorce rate that is less than 5%33__far lower than the national rate of about 50%.
For more information on NFP or the side effects of a particular contraceptive contact:
The Couple to Couple League(513) 471-2000www.ccli.org
Family of the Americas Foundation(800) 443-3395www.familyplanning.net
Billings Ovulation Method Assn.(651) 699-8139www.Boma-usa.org
Pope Paul VI Institute(402) 390-6600www.popepaulvi.com
Northwest Family Services(503) 215-6377www.nwfs.org
One More Soul NFP Center1846 North Main StreetDayton, OH 45405-3832(937) 279-5433www.OMSoul.com
URL: http://www.omsoul.com/contraception-side-effects.php
Sunday, August 26, 2007
Strange How It Worked Out
This is pretty strange how it worked out this way.
Even if you are not religious, you should read this.
Q: What is the shortest chapter in the Bible?
A: Psalm 117
Q: What is the longest chapter in the Bible?
A: Psalm 119
Q: Which chapter is in the centre of the Bible?
A: Psalm 118
Facts: There are 594 chapters before Psalms 118. There are 594 chapters after Psalms 118.
Add these numbers up and you get 1188.
Q: What is the centre verse in the Bible?
A: Psalm 118:8
Does this verse say something significant
about God's perfect will for our lives?
The next time someone says they would like to find
God's perfect will for their lives and that they want to
be in the centre of His will, just send them to the
centre of His Word!
Psalms 118:8 (NKJV)
"It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man."
Now isn't that odd how this worked out… or was God in the centre of it?
Before sending this, I said a prayer for you.
Have you got a minute — 60 seconds for God?
All you do is simply say a small prayer for the person who sent you this to you.
"Father God, bless my friend in whatever
it is that you know
he or she may be needing this day!
May their life be full of your peace,
prosperity, and power as they seek to have a
closer relationship with You.
Amen."
Then send it on to 10 other people.
Within hours, 10 people have prayed
for you, and you caused many people
pray to God for other people.
Then sit back and watch the power of God
at work in your life
for doing the thing that
you know He loves.
When things get tough, always remember...
faith doesn't get you around trouble,
it gets you through it !
"When you relinquish the desire to control your future,
you obtain happiness."
May God bless you!
Even if you are not religious, you should read this.
Q: What is the shortest chapter in the Bible?
A: Psalm 117
Q: What is the longest chapter in the Bible?
A: Psalm 119
Q: Which chapter is in the centre of the Bible?
A: Psalm 118
Facts: There are 594 chapters before Psalms 118. There are 594 chapters after Psalms 118.
Add these numbers up and you get 1188.
Q: What is the centre verse in the Bible?
A: Psalm 118:8
Does this verse say something significant
about God's perfect will for our lives?
The next time someone says they would like to find
God's perfect will for their lives and that they want to
be in the centre of His will, just send them to the
centre of His Word!
Psalms 118:8 (NKJV)
"It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man."
Now isn't that odd how this worked out… or was God in the centre of it?
Before sending this, I said a prayer for you.
Have you got a minute — 60 seconds for God?
All you do is simply say a small prayer for the person who sent you this to you.
"Father God, bless my friend in whatever
it is that you know
he or she may be needing this day!
May their life be full of your peace,
prosperity, and power as they seek to have a
closer relationship with You.
Amen."
Then send it on to 10 other people.
Within hours, 10 people have prayed
for you, and you caused many people
pray to God for other people.
Then sit back and watch the power of God
at work in your life
for doing the thing that
you know He loves.
When things get tough, always remember...
faith doesn't get you around trouble,
it gets you through it !
"When you relinquish the desire to control your future,
you obtain happiness."
May God bless you!
Poems
Reflejos
El obstaculo mas grande, el miedo.
El dia mas bello, hoy.
El mayor error, darse por vencido.
El mas grande defecto, el egoismo.
La mayor distraccion, el trabajo.
La peor bancarrota, el desanimo.
El mejor maestro, Dios.
El sentimiento mas vil, la envidia.
El regalo mas hermoso, el perdon.
El mejor conocimiento, Dios.
Lo mas maravilloso del mundo, el amor.
La felicidad mas dulce, la paz.
-Anonimo
Take Time
Take time to think - it is the source of power.
Take time to read - it is the foundation of wisdom.
Take time to play - it is the secret of staying young.
Take time to be quiet - it is the moment to seek God.
Take time to be aware - it is the opportunity to help others.
Take time to love and be loved - it is God's greatest gift.
Take time to laugh - it is the music of the soul.
Take time to be friendly - it is the road to happiness.
Take time to dream - it is what the future is made of.
Take time to pray - it is the greatest power on earth.
-unknown
Let Go and Let God
As children bring their broken toys with tears for us to mend, I brought my broken dreams to God, because he was my friend.But then, instead of leaving him in peace, to work alone, I hung around and tried to help, with ways that were my own.At last I snatched them back and cried, "How can you be so slow?" He said, "What could I do, you never did let go."
-Kristone
SMILE GOD LOVES YOU
A smile is something nice to seeit doesn't cost a cent.A smile is something on your ownIt never can be spent.A smile is welcomed everywhereit does away with frowns.A smile is good for everyoneto ease life's up and downs.
-Unknown
Letter from a friend
I am writing to say how much I care for you and to say how much I want you to know me better. When you woke this morning I exploded a brilliant sunrise through your window hoping to get your attention, but you rushed off without even noticing. Later I noticed you were walking with some friends, so I bathed you in warm sunrise and perfumed the air with nature's sweet scent, and still you didn't notice me. As you passed by, I showed to you in a thunderstorm and painted a beautiful rainbow in the sky and you didn't even look. In the evening, I spilled moonlight onto your face and sent a cool breeze to rest you. As you slept, I watched over you and shared your thoughts, but you were unaware that I was so near. I have chosen you and hope you will talk to me soon. Until then I will remain near. I am your friend and love you very much.
Your friend,
Jesus
- Unknown
El obstaculo mas grande, el miedo.
El dia mas bello, hoy.
El mayor error, darse por vencido.
El mas grande defecto, el egoismo.
La mayor distraccion, el trabajo.
La peor bancarrota, el desanimo.
El mejor maestro, Dios.
El sentimiento mas vil, la envidia.
El regalo mas hermoso, el perdon.
El mejor conocimiento, Dios.
Lo mas maravilloso del mundo, el amor.
La felicidad mas dulce, la paz.
-Anonimo
Take Time
Take time to think - it is the source of power.
Take time to read - it is the foundation of wisdom.
Take time to play - it is the secret of staying young.
Take time to be quiet - it is the moment to seek God.
Take time to be aware - it is the opportunity to help others.
Take time to love and be loved - it is God's greatest gift.
Take time to laugh - it is the music of the soul.
Take time to be friendly - it is the road to happiness.
Take time to dream - it is what the future is made of.
Take time to pray - it is the greatest power on earth.
-unknown
Let Go and Let God
As children bring their broken toys with tears for us to mend, I brought my broken dreams to God, because he was my friend.But then, instead of leaving him in peace, to work alone, I hung around and tried to help, with ways that were my own.At last I snatched them back and cried, "How can you be so slow?" He said, "What could I do, you never did let go."
-Kristone
SMILE GOD LOVES YOU
A smile is something nice to seeit doesn't cost a cent.A smile is something on your ownIt never can be spent.A smile is welcomed everywhereit does away with frowns.A smile is good for everyoneto ease life's up and downs.
-Unknown
Letter from a friend
I am writing to say how much I care for you and to say how much I want you to know me better. When you woke this morning I exploded a brilliant sunrise through your window hoping to get your attention, but you rushed off without even noticing. Later I noticed you were walking with some friends, so I bathed you in warm sunrise and perfumed the air with nature's sweet scent, and still you didn't notice me. As you passed by, I showed to you in a thunderstorm and painted a beautiful rainbow in the sky and you didn't even look. In the evening, I spilled moonlight onto your face and sent a cool breeze to rest you. As you slept, I watched over you and shared your thoughts, but you were unaware that I was so near. I have chosen you and hope you will talk to me soon. Until then I will remain near. I am your friend and love you very much.
Your friend,
Jesus
- Unknown
Check if this is funny.
There was a guy at a bar. He was drinking a lot. He had not stopped drinking for possibly more than an hour. He finally decided to stop and go home. When he stood up, he quickly fell to the ground.
He decided to try again, he grabbed on by a pole and tried to stand up. When he moved he fell down. He thought to himself that he was too drunk to walk so he decided to go home crawling since his house was only a block away. So, he said goodbye to his friends and went crawling to his house.
When he got home he did not want to go up the stairs so he crashed in his couch, thinking to himself what he would say to his wife in the morning.The morning came and his wife saw him on the couch. She then asked him if he had gone to the bar the night before.
He said "no." She asked him again and he said "no."
She finally said "I know you went to the bar last night." Finally knowing that his wife knew where he was, he asked her how she found out.
She said, "The bartender called and said you left your wheelchair at the bar again."
There was a guy at a bar. He was drinking a lot. He had not stopped drinking for possibly more than an hour. He finally decided to stop and go home. When he stood up, he quickly fell to the ground.
He decided to try again, he grabbed on by a pole and tried to stand up. When he moved he fell down. He thought to himself that he was too drunk to walk so he decided to go home crawling since his house was only a block away. So, he said goodbye to his friends and went crawling to his house.
When he got home he did not want to go up the stairs so he crashed in his couch, thinking to himself what he would say to his wife in the morning.The morning came and his wife saw him on the couch. She then asked him if he had gone to the bar the night before.
He said "no." She asked him again and he said "no."
She finally said "I know you went to the bar last night." Finally knowing that his wife knew where he was, he asked her how she found out.
She said, "The bartender called and said you left your wheelchair at the bar again."
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