Although it seems hard to believe, the Church is still celebrating the Easter season, at least for one more day. Tomorrow, we celebrate the Feast of Pentecost, which officially brings the season to a close. Sadly, for the majority of Catholics, the Easter season ended about 49 days ago or when the last jelly bean was eaten and the baskets were put away. I must admit that it?s very easy to forget our Easter joy as the days pass by.

How about if we reflect on the reason for our joy for one more day? Jesus Christ rose from the dead and opened the gates of Heaven for you and me.

Alleluia!

Father Alberto Cutie (a.k.a. ?Father Opera?), the celebrity Spanish priest who was caught embracing and kissing a woman on a Miami Beach earlier this month, officially joined the Episcopalian Church earlier today. After the scandal broke, Fr. Alberto admitted to being romantically involved with this woman for the past two years.

The sad thing about this case is that, after promising to live a celibate life dedicated to serving God, Fr. Alberto has been romantically involved with this woman for two years. Who knows how much longer the charade would have continued if he wasn?t caught. This isn?t a celibacy issue, it is a faithfulness issue. It is no different than a married man remaining faithful until he meets a ?better wife?.

Now Father Alberto is an Episcopalian, a faith which differs from Catholicism on several doctrinal beliefs. He will continue as a priest, now professing to uphold a different set of moral beliefs. He is also expected to announce he will marry his girlfriend and stated that ?I hope to continue priestly ministry and service in my new spiritual home.?

It?s amazing that once he meets a woman, the teachings of the Episcopal faith all of a sudden make sense to him. Catholicism is no longer the one, true, Apostolic Church founded by Jesus. Now the Episcopalian church is his ?new spiritual home?.

This is not about celibacy?it is about a broken promise?it is about choosing pleasure in this life at the expense of the promise that was made ? a promise to help others reach the next life.

Read the full story at http://www.miamiherald.com/459/story/1070094.html

You may have heard that the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has been granted permission to revise the English order (wording) of the Mass. While the new language is still being voted on by the bishops, they have provided a website that will give you an idea of the proposed changes. Visit http://www.usccb.org/liturgy/missalformation/index.shtml for an idea of what will be changing, as well as some more in-depth information.

This change is a good thing because it reflects an attempt to more accurately represent the Latin text that has been in use by The Church for hundreds of years. The care that is being put into the translation process also emphasizes the sacredness of the Mass and the importance of the language that is used. The Mass is the supreme sacrifice that can be offered to God the Father and it is extremely important that the words convey the appropriate meaning.

This is a really good article that I found on the USCCB website:

PUT ON HOLD? STUCK IN TRAFFIC? MAYBE GOD?S CALLING YOU TO PRAY, SAYS SHEILA GARCIA, USCCB FAMILY LIFE OFFICIAL

WASHINGTON?Long moments on hold or stuck in traffic might be God-given moments for prayer. That?s what Sheila Garcia, wife, mother, commuter and associate director at the U.S. Bishops? Secretariat for Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth, says in ?Ten Pointers for Family Prayer.? The list can be found at http://www.foryourmarriage.org/interior_template.asp?id=20399049 Below are the ten points.

1. Pray as you can, not as you can?t. Lay people can become discouraged when they try to pray like a cloistered contemplative. Be realistic about what?s possible.

2. Take ten?or twenty. How about ten minutes, or twenty for prayer? Choose a time of day and stick with it and designate a special site so it becomes holy. Spouses can help by minding children during respective quiet times.

3. Pray as a family. Build upon rituals such as grace before meals. Encourage family members to offer thanks for the blessings of the day and prayers for those in need. Couples can take a few minutes, perhaps before bedtime, to commend to God the day?s joys and sorrows.

4. Decorate your domestic church. Create an atmosphere for prayer in our home?the domestic church?by displaying a crucifix, icons, the Bible and other holy objects. Take the children to a religious goods store and let them choose a picture or statue for their rooms.

5. Short prayers count, too. When you?re stopped at a long light or put on hold, consider it as God?s invitation to turn your heart and mind to Him, if only for a few seconds.

6. Find God at work. Connecting with God in the workplace takes effort. Try to cultivate a few simple habits. For example, offer the day to God as you turn on your computer.

7. Jump start your prayer life. Praying with Scripture, perhaps the daily Mass readings (www.usccb.org/nab) can help us focus. So, too, can an inspirational book.

8. Ask your Mother for help. The Blessed Virgin Mary offers profound comfort. One family, gathered around the bedside of their dying husband and father, found peace through the rosary. The rosary is ideal for the family since children can be taught the simple prayers at an early age. Instructions on how to pray the rosary can be found at www.usccb.org/advent/rosary.shtml.

9. Read a good story. Children and adults alike enjoy an inspiring story, and few stories are more compelling than those of the saints, such as St. Therese of Lisieux, St. Maximilian Kolbe, St. Francis of Assisi, St. Monica, or St. Thomas More.

10. Walk with a spiritual friend. A friend can help us to work through the concerns that arise in prayer. Good friends will hold each other accountable for their prayer life, making sure that prayer has not been neglected in the busyness of life. For married couples a spouse is often this spiritual friend, but God also puts other wise and holy people in our path when we need them. They can be the answer to prayer.

Today the Church celebrates Our Lord?s Ascension into Heaven (A Holy Day of Obligation?Hope you made it to Mass!). Have you ever thought about how the Apostles must have felt at this time?

First of all, Our Lord told them that He would have to suffer and His followers would do the same. If they didn?t understand what this meant, I?m sure that His crucifixion drove the point home. Once He rose from the dead, they probably thought they “had it made”. For the next 40 days, things were a little more peaceful. Then He told them ?I?m ascending to my Father?you guys take it from here? (I?m paraphrasing a bit!). Can you imagine what went through their minds?

In a way, we are in a similar position today. Even though Jesus still appears to us in The Blessed Sacrament (and also through His written word), He depends on us to actually speak for Him. Sometimes that puts us in a difficult position, especially when we say things that people don?t want to hear. Fortunately, as promised, He sends the Holy Spirit to assist us.

It is important for us to carry on The Lord?s mission and loudly proclaim His truth. It shouldn?t be that difficult as long as we stay united with the teachings of His Catholic Church, which is protected from error by the Holy Spirit. Those of us who are baptized can also call on that same Holy Spirit to give us the courage to speak out?

Even when it?s difficult.

I wasn?t going to address the Notre Dame fiasco again, but I heard some more pro-Obama comments from Catholics and I felt obliged to say a few things. As Catholics, there can be no compromise when it comes to murder. Obama?s attitude of ?let?s compromise, but we?re going to keep abortion legal? doesn?t cut it?

Babies are being brutally murdered every day!

Father Jenkins and all other Catholics who make the ridiculous assertion that Jesus would compromise on this issue are being foolish. Of course Jesus reached out to sinners, but He always told them to repent. In this case, I can guarantee He?d say to Obama?

Stop approving of the murder of babies and we?ll talk!

Catholics need to stop the foolishness, get a backbone and speak out against abortion. Don’t be afraid to offend people. You don?t need to call anyone names or get too personal, but please don?t fall for the empty rhetoric being spewed by those who want to keep abortion legal. This isn?t about being judgmental, this is about saving lives?

Babies are being brutally murdered every day!

Famous Catholic apologist Jimmy Akin (who is calm, level headed and brutally honest) recently stated this on his blog (http://www.jimmyakin.org/):

Anyone who favors babykilling on demand should not be honored by a Catholic institution. Period.

Any Catholic university official who honors such an individual deserves to be removed from his position. Period.

I can?t say it any better. Please take the time to learn exactly what abortion is. Email us at thecatholictruth@yahoo.com and we?ll point you in the right direction. Above all, don?t hesitate to speak out about the evil of abortion?

Babies are being brutally murdered every day!