Sunday, May 4, 2008
The Ascension of the Lord (Solemnity)
 
St. Matthew 28: 16 - 20
16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them.
17 And when they saw him they worshiped him; but some doubted.
18 And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age."
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Holy Father's Prayer Intentions for May 2008
General: That Christians may use literature, art and the media to greater advantage to favor a culture which defends and promotes the values of the human person
Mission: That just as she accompanied the Apostles in the early stages of the Church, may the Blessed Virgin Mary, Star of Evangelization and Queen of Apostles, continue to guide missionaries throughout the world with maternal affection.
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For Those Who Serve God and Country
PRAYER FOR AMERICA
If you would like to participate, every evening at 9:00 PM Eastern Time (6:00 PM Pacific), stop whatever you are doing and spend one minute praying for the safety of the United States, our troops, our citizens, and for peace in the world. God Bless America!
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Special prayers requested for God’s abundant blessings on the Archdiocese For The Military Services.  The number of their chaplains serving our military requires to be greatly increased and they certainly need our continued contributions and prayers.  http://www.milarch.org
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From:  Sue
Please continue to pray another war may be avoided.
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Please remember the following military members serving overseas or who will be deployed shortly:
For all our troops
All the families left behind
For our President
All heads of government and government officials in those countries involved in warfare
+ Staff Sgt. Matt Maupin (Requiescat in Pacem) and for his family and friends
+ Maj. Troy Gilbert (Requiescat in Pacem) and for his family and friends
+ Ethan Biggers (Requiescat in Pacem) and for his family and friends
+ Army Sgt. Pierre A. Raymond (Requiescat in Pacem) and for his family and friends
+ Army Spc. Casey Austin Sheehan (Requiescat in Pacem) and for his family and friends
+ LCpl. Holly Charette (Requiescat in Pacem) and for her family and friends
+ Sgt. Brian Romines (Requiescat in Pacem) and for his family and friends
+ Chrystal Gaye Stout (Requiescat in Pacem) and for her family and friends
+ Rob Soltes (Requiescat in Pacem) and for his family and friends
+ Jason Hasenauer (Requiescat in Pacem) and for his family and friends
+ Michael Weidemann (Requiescat in Pacem) and for his family and friends
Andrew Gordon – Sadr City
Paul Walker
Michael Sutherland
Charlie Battery 1/103FA and SGT Kevin (he is a team leader in Iraq)
1st Lt. Elizabeth Whiteside and all the military who have come back home broken in mind, spirit or body
Jeff Carty
Fr. Jose A. Bautista-Rojas, Navy chaplain
Adrian Rincon
Spc. Jorge G. Sandoval
Colonel Jeffrey Chessani
Kevin Cottle
Chris Connors
Jason Snyder
Tanner Morris
Randy Hall
Annette Duncan
David Duncan
Chuck Segel and his lieutenant
LCDR Kari Martin, USN - Kuwait
HM1 Peter Melady, USN--Iraq/Afghanistan
Anthony Jasiemme, Security--Iraq
Ritter Sardinha –Iraq
Jason
LCDR Robert Morris -- Saudi Arabia
Sherri Perkins -- Iraq
Brett Nelson
Thomas Babbitt
AJ Bucci
Pvt. Gabriel Becker
Marcelo Medrano
Tommy Turman
Michael Bonapartis
All members of 1st Battalion, 8th Marines, Unit 73195
First Lt. Sean McCaffrey
Lt. Adam Armstrong
Captain Nicholas John Veasey
Rob Glen
Mike Taylor
Jonah Compton
Devon Kielman
John Orlando
Todd Gaunce
John "JD" Swanson
Brandon Benjamin
Rick Gutierrez
Nathan Gordan
Ryan Burke
Tim Smith
Larry Blotzser
Derek Flwler
Rob Glen
Mike Taylor
Pfc. Justin Watt
Paul Lovett
Maj Frank Constantino
Jason Lanham
Joseph Jacavone
Jodie Dove
Baret Nelson
William Relle
Jonathan Bird
Edward Stoltenberg
Victor McKenna
Dan Brady
Matt Devlin
Pat Flavin
Private Andrew Gordon
Army Spc. Chad C. Fuller
SFC Timothy Holcey
Daniel J. Perrotta
Army Lt. Col. Brendan Phelan
Haack
Alpha battery 1st battalion 10th marine regiment
John Terlisner
Denis Coffee
Paul Chadwick
James Magrath
Jeff Capps
Jeff Curtis
Robert Massey
Denis Hazard
Robert Reyes
Jeff Jeffers
Tommy Toppa
Todd Parisi
Michelle Burgess
Chad Snowden – back in the US and in recovery
Mike Bonapartis
Marine Jeff
Cindy and Gary Hogan
Katherine Braun
PFC Guy
PFC Baldwin
Frank V. Sordillo
Vermont National Guard Unit
Dindo Laxamana
David Stubbs
Geoffrey
Jim McMahon
Jeremy Chad Snowden
Pvt. Robert Blinn and the 602 ASB in Korea
Chris Boynton and his unit
Scott Mackenzie
Beau and Christopher Kirtlink
126th Unit of the National Guard being deployed
David
Larry Kerwood
Michael Comstock
Bruce Pino
Jeffrey Cushman
Steven Salamone
Michael Potter
Anthony Goicuria
Dave
Tania Goicuria
Brani Scardino
Brittney Corbin
Jessica Thomas
Victor McKenna
James Fitzpatrick
Thomas Scardino
Barney Corbin, III
Jacob Maury
Kim Sutton
Dave Northrop
Keith Burkhart
Steve Lendbetter
Barney Corbin Jr.
Thomas Scardino Sr.
Mike Estrada
Roonie
Sara Burdrove
Leah Coeen
Carey High
Jen Ferquad
Mr. Rung Rose
Capt. Jacard
Eric Wilson
Rodger Nurse
Frank Baker
Tami LaFrance
Steve LaRoch
Jon Marr
Karie Foster
Carrie Smith
Michaele Vanes
Sarah Burke
Michael Triplett
Cousins Griffen
Manuel
Eric R.
Jennifer R.
Chuck H.
René A.
John
Nathan W.
Pat B.
Mike
Lee
Pat Pelletier's son
Timothy Bosey
Nancy Alain
Darryl
Dan Otero
John, Freida's son
Michael Martin
Mark White
Ryan Kurrus
Jason Vernier
Trey Lehrman
Michael
Tony Mitchell
Carl Roesch
End of request for People in Service of God and Country
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From: Madeline
 
§ Please pray for our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI.
§ May God grant the graces Bishops and priests need.
§ For Kayla who may be pregnant and who wants an abortion if she is. Please pray that she choose life.
§ Continued prayers for Sr. Magdalene Marie, to recover from surgery for multiple abdominal tears.
§ Please pray for additional funds to come in to pay for all the Woman to Woman Support Network (pro-life pregnancy center) renovations. And please pray that these move along without snag so that the relocation may take place as soon as possible. See http://www.womantowomansupport.net for more information.
§ Continued prayers for Jack M. Health problems but doctors cannot pinpoint the cause.
§ For the needs and intentions of the Holy Innocence Prayer line, the Molonlabe Prayer List, Half the Kingdom Prayer line and the Virtual Rosary Prayercast.  Please also pray for the prayer intentions of the prayer lists of The Power of Prayer and Our Lady of Sorrows and Infant Jesus of Prague Prayer List, Haven of Refuge Prayer Group,
§ Many of you have been praying for Korinne McCarthy, the seven-year-old with cancer throughout her body.  Please continue to pray for this child and her family.
§ Continued prayers for Sherri Canada.
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From: Fr. Julian
§ Keep up the prayers for Michael B, I think he was to have his final dose (for a while anyhow) of radiation today.
§ I believe I asked for prayers earlier for Barbara R, she has been released from Houston and is now resting in hospital in Washington. This was not much short of miraculous, she needed a new aorta. Peace and blessings.
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From: Winnie
For my mom who has a bleeding polyp in her cervix. She was taken to the emergency room for treatments.
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It is critical that you pray for the safety of the Holy Father, all bishops and priests and Vatican City, due to Osama Bin-Laden’s threats.  Thank you and God bless.
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Priest assassinated in Mexico
http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=12548
Mexico City, May 5, 2008 / 03:51 pm (CNA).- Two unknown men killed 33 year-old Father Julio Cesar Mendoza, pastor of Our Lady of Fatima, on May 1 in Mexico City.
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From: Barb
I just received the sad news from Fr. Grasing that  Fr. Maraldo died yesterday.  Fr. Maraldo was diagnosed with stomach cancer just 3 weeks ago, and died at the Oblate house in Childs MD. Please hold him, his family and his community in  your prayers.
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From:  Thomas B
In your charity, please continue to pray for my wife Heidi, my family and for me.  We really need and appreciate your prayers.  May our merciful Lord heal our marriage.  Thanks and God bless.
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§ Please keep Society of St. Paul Father Gabriele Amorth, Rome's exorcist, in your prayers.
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From: Mufide
For God's sake please pray for Tahsin R. He has been twice to emergency for his heart and he's been suffering from terrible headache. He is a father of 2 and 5 years children, a young man. Please pray for healing of heart and high blood pressure without operation. the doctor has scheduled him for this Wednesday. And for all his family tree members, for their convertion, healings, forgiveness, Mercy and for excellent health, longest lives and God's Will in their lives. And for Ali for healing of diabetes. And for Fevziye for healing. God Bless you.
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From: AM Padua
Please pray for Fr. J who is facing some conflict in his life.  Thank you.
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From: Ed
Fire Consumes Little Portion Hermitage Buildings - What a sad tragedy for those who have been to Little Portion and are friends of this community.  Keep them in your prayers and please help them if you can by clicking on the link below:
http://www.johnmichaeltalbot.com/
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From: Dave
I will be away from "Ascension" Sunday to Pentecost Sunday with the Poor Clares. Your prayer will be central to my stay. Thanks.
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From: Liz
Would you pray for the repose of the soul of Jeff Urban, 25 year old classmate of my son, who overdosed on heroin leaving behind his young wife and one year old daughter, please? He will have a Catholic Funeral Mass on Tuesday. Thank you.
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From: Marg
Could you please pray for Daniel and his mother. Daniel is a 12 year old but he is only 40 pounds. He has the flu right now. He does not tolerate antibiotics. Nourishment is a big problem. Issues are very complex. Please pray for him and all the family.  God bless you.
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Mob of Hindu radicals attacks nuns, teenage girls
http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=12099

Mumbai, Mar 18, 2008 / 05:14 am (CNA).- A Hindu radical group on Saturday attacked two Catholic nuns and three teenage girls in a western Indian village as they prepared to hold a women’s educational program, UCA News reports.

Sister Merciana Tuscano, one of the Carmelite nuns attacked, told UCA News that radical Hindu men and women attacked the nuns and girls in the village of Sanghoti in the state of Maharashtra.  The mob shouted at the nuns, accusing them of "converting tribal people to Christianity."  According to Sister Tuscano, the mob "told us to leave the village at once and never to come back or else they would break our legs."
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From: Grace
For Russell who seems to have had a slight stroke, his wife Chalya, and friend Lou. God grant them strength in all their trials.
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London, Apr 25, 2008 / 01:27 am (CNA).- Three Catholic priests from Northern Ireland have signed a recording contract worth nearly $2 million for the music giant Sony BMG.
 
Fathers Eugene O’Hagan, 48, his brother Martin, 45, and their old school friend David Delargy, 44, signed the deal near the steps of Westminster Cathedral. The three men, who call their trio "The Priests," said they would donate the money made from the music to charity.
 
Please keep these three talented priests in your prayers. May our Lord abundantly bless them, as well as all who hear them and those who will benefit from this deal. Thanks!
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From: Fran C
I just got back from a three-day stay in the hospital. I spent three days there. I was visiting my son and I had a severe angina attack. They really took care of me but I have to go for more tests to my doctor. Just have difficulty with any kind of stress. I did go on the trip to NYC for the Papal Mass, and that's where it started. Ever since then the angina increased until it peaked! I do have cardio vascular disease...Just need to take it easy...Please hold me in prayer. Thanks.
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From: Sue
Please pray for the eternal rest of baby Robert Alexander, who was born with numerous defects and died shortly after he was baptized. Prayers are also needed for his parents, Ben and Christine, and family members. Thanks!
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From: Tracy
For Mikey, a 4 year old who underwent a kidney transplant with one of his dad's kidneys. He has been having numerous hospitalizations and infections as well as many health and pain problems since the transplant which was months ago. Doctors have now discovered that a needle was sutured into the kidney and it has been removed. Please pray for this brave little guy and his family and thank God for this awful discovery.
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From: Mary Lou
Please pray for my court case, that all be resolved in God's Will and for my peace.
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FREE ROSARY KITS
There is an urgent need for rosaries to help the missionaries. The Family Rosary in cooperation with Lewis and Company, a rosary parts supplier since 1950, is addressing the need with a Free Missionary Rosary Kit for all people who would like to help the missionaries. Call 800.342.2400 and request your free kit if you are willing to make rosaries for the missions. The Rosaries are distributed through the Family Rosary, on the World Wide Web at: www.familyrosary.org
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From:  Mercedes
§ In thanksgiving to the Most Holy Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit for so many mercies.
§ Prayers needed for Alvin and Julieta, and his physicians.
§ For many good and holy vocations to the priesthood and religious life.
§ For the conversion of all Catholics, and especially our fallen-away brothers and sisters.
§ Please pray for all Catholic politicians – that they may always stand for the truth despite external pressures, especially regarding abortion and embryonic stem cell research.
§ Please continue to pray that all bishops be united in strength and humility with our Holy Father Benedict XVI.
§ For all peoples affected by war and conflict.
§ Please also pray for abused infants and children and for their parents.  Lord, have mercy!
§ At the Last Supper Our Lord prayed, "That all may be one."  Let us pray together with our Lord Jesus Christ.
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The road to Emmaus by Rev. Edwin Gordon
Homiletic & Pastoral Review – May 2000
Part V of VI
 
All the prophecies of the Old Testament about the Messiah to come began to be fulfilled when the Blessed Virgin Mary consented to be the Mother of the Most High: "Be it done unto me according to thy word." At that moment the Word was made flesh in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The prophetic vision in the Canticle of Canticles was indeed fulfilled: "Arise my Love, my beautiful one and come. For winter is now past; the rain is over and gone. The flowers have appeared in our land; the time of pruning is come; the voice of the turtle dove is heard in our land; the fig tree hath put forth her green figs; the vines in flower yield their sweet smell. Arise my love, my beautiful one, and come" (Song 2:10-13). The winter of sin was indeed over, and the redemption of fallen man was beginning to take place.
 
God so loved the world that he sent his only-begotten Son to be conceived in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and to be born in the poverty of a stable. The primaeval pride of our first parents was more than made up for by the humility of the Only-begotten of the Father, "Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God; but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant; being made in the likeness of men, and in habit found as a man. He humbled himself, becoming obedient unto death, even to the death of the cross" (Phil. 2:6-8).
St. John the Baptist, the last and greatest of the Prophets, pointing to the Messiah, now truly present, said of him, "Behold the Lamb of God! Behold him who takes away the sins of the world!" This was indeed the Lamb of God, the Lamb to be offered in sacrifice for sin.
 
That sacrifice of infinite value fulfilled all the sacrifices of the Old Testament; the sacrifice of Abel, the sacrifices of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the sacrifices of Moses who freed the Chosen People from slavery, the Passover sacrifice which pointed directly to the Holy Eucharist, the Last Supper: "This is our Passover feast, when Christ the true Lamb is slain, whose blood consecrates the homes of all believers." This one supreme Sacrifice is made present in the Holy Eucharist to the end of time.
 
As on Calvary the death of the Messiah appeared to be a complete and utter failure, so on Easter morning we see that it was not a failure, but the greatest victory of all time, the victory of grace over sin, of life over death, of love over hatred, of light over darkness. On Calvary there was indeed darkness over the whole earth, but on Easter morning, St. Mark tells us "the sun was now risen."
St. John the evangelist on the island of Patmos was given to see the full glory of that victory: "Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness; the first begotten of the dead and the prince of the kings of the earth, who hath loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood" . . . "the lion of the tribe of Juda, the root of David, hath prevailed" (Rev. 1:5).
 
The prophecy of the Lamb by whose blood sin would be washed away and Satan overcome was fulfilled, "I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying: Now is come salvation and strength and the kingdom of our God and the power of his Christ . . . because the accuser of our brethren is cast forth . . . and they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb." St. John goes on to give his prophetic and mystical vision of the "woman clothed with the sun and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars." In mysterious and prophetic language we see described the birth of the Messiah, the Christ, and that of his mystical body, the Church. There is a struggle between the dragon, the serpent, who had been cast down to the earth, "having great wrath, knowing that he hath but a short time," and the woman and her seed (Rev. 12:12). The serpent, Satan, persecutes the woman, who brought forth the man-child. "And the dragon was angry against the woman; and went to make war with the rest of her seed, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ" (Rev. 12:17).
 
The struggle between the serpent and the woman takes us back to the protoevangelium and the words of God to Satan: "I will make enemies of thee and the woman, and her seed and thy seed." "The seed of the woman" refers first of all to Jesus Christ our Savior, and then to his mystical body, delivered in the birth pangs of Calvary.
 
Reverend Edwin Gordon graduated in law at the University of Bristol in 1956 before he began his studies for the priesthood. He has spent many years in pastoral work in England and is now a parish priest at St. Joseph’s, Nympsfield. He is the author of Upon This Rock (1985), which presents an outline of the creed, sacraments and beatitudes. His last article in HPR appeared in February 2000.