Divine Mercy - for Our Holy Father and Terri Schaivo

Dear All, As we pray for the soul of our sister in Christ Terri Schiavo, we now have the weight of the imminent death of our beloved Holy Father. Believing in the Resurrection, we must press on in our grief, never giving evil a foothold. A devotion brought to us from a Polish saint a Mass for our Polish Pope. AN EVENING OF DIVINE MERCY MERCY SUNDAY APRIL 3,2005 AT 6 PM SAINT CECILIA'S CHURCH BEAVERTON,OREGON COME AND FIND OUT WHAT'S IT ALL ABOUT--OR JUST COME TO FIND OUT MORE!!! * Father Chester w-ill speak on the Divine Mercy devotion. * A pilgrim to the Basilica in Poland will talk about the area and Saint Faustina *Confessions to be available *Bring your images of Mercy for a blessing * Veneration and Benediction FOR INFORMATION CONTACT: 503-297-2459 ******************************************************** In memory of Terri Schiavo from members of our Oregon Catholic family Water, water everywhere and not a drop to drink. Water, water everywhere but how my skin did shrink. My lips are cracked, my throat is parched, my tongue is dry and hard. My eye lids scratch my withered eyes as they sink into my head. My mucous membranes are no more, they look like dried out bread. My nose could bleed, my innards heave before I'm pronounced dead. The experts say I'll die a painless, peaceful death - I wonder how they know. Would any of them in my footsteps follow and refuse a taste of snow? Before I go you all should know a vegetable I'm not! Like all of you I have a body, mine is bent and broke. But deep inside our souls reside which sets us all apart. From birds and bees and apple trees now and from the start! A word to those so anxious to send me on my way. Some day you'll see the folly, some where along the way. A thanks to all who tried to help me, your efforts aren't in vain. The day won't be forgotten when I'm taken from my pain. I'm not alone in this ignoble death, martyrs there are many. Pray not for me, watch out for thee the slope is steep and steady. My hope resides in my merciful GOD who soon will call me home. Farewell my friends until the end when justice will atone. The Nearly Ancient Mariner - Jim Lessard, Astoria From Redmond In memory of Terri Schiavo, who died from planned negligence on March 31, 2005, we reprint the following commentary. Below the commentary, we also offer an important recommendation for legislation that would guarantee resumption of mouth feeding whenever feeding tube assistance is withdrawn. BE KIND TO "VEGETABLES" By David C. Reardon, Ph.D. Jackie lies motionless, incapable of smiling, or crying, or responding to a gentle touch. She is seemingly dead to all that is around her. Her doctor has diagnosed her as being in an irreversible "persistent vegetative state" (PVS). She is only a "vegetable." Yet she breathes. She sleeps. She can swallow spoon-fed meals of broth and nutrient "shakes." She may live for thirty years like this. Never laughing. Never crying. She is a "vegetable." But she is also a mother. Her children mourn for her. They want her with them, but not like this. Someone suggests that by withholding food and water they would simply be letting nature take its course. Certainly she would not want to live like this. It would be an act of charity to let her die, they say. On the other hand, when is the last time you did something charitable for a carrot? A vegetable cannot suffer. So how can death put a vegetable out of its misery? If she is human enough to suffer, then clearly she is a person, not a "vegetable," and she deserves all the love, care, and respect due all persons. Even like this, she has still been created in the image of God. Are we too blind to recognize anything God-like in her passive silence? Her patient endurance? Her calm acceptance of an undisclosed, divine Will? By withholding food and water, Jackie, like anyone else, will die. But since she is incapable of appreciating the generosity of this refusal to feed her, it is not charity for her sake. At best it is an act of charity toward the family which grows weary at her side. At worst, it is an act of selfishness on the part of a society which does not want to share in the cost and inconvenience of sharing her family's burden of care. When faced with any moral quandary such as this, we must constantly ask ourselves, "What is God's will in this?" Is He somehow shaping her soul, purifying her, preparing her for her day in heaven? Can something be going on behind those sightless eyes, something beyond the knowledge of man? Or is God perhaps using this soul as an instrument of grace for shaping the souls of those around her? Is He using her to call forth compassion, patience, endurance, and love from her family, her caretakers, her society? By causing her to die through our neglect, are we interfering with God's Will for her? Or are we rejecting His Will for us? Are we rejecting an opportunity to practice sacrificial love? What would Jesus do if He were standing at her side? Would he not reach down, take her hand, and call on her to awake? In fact, to those not blind to God's healing hand, this is exactly what Jesus does. According to a recent medical study of 84 PVS patients, over 52% of the patients recovered within one year. After three years, 58% had regained consciousness. After extensive review of the data, researchers were unable to identify any reliable way to predict who might recover and who might not. In other words, every PVS patient has a chance of recovery.1 According to Dr. Keith Andrews, Director of Medical and Research Services at the Royal Hospital and Home, PVS patients "are not being allowed to reach their optimal recovery because they are not offered the opportunity of rehabilitation programs. . . . The experience of our Brain Injury Rehabilitation Unit is that nearly all of those patients admitted in PVS are suffering from under nutrition... and have developed deformities which further inhibit recovery." According to Dr. Andrews, "Rehabilitation for these patients has not been tried and found wanting; it is wanted but, too often, not been tried." By starving our PVS patients to death, are we not denying God the opportunity to work miracles? Are we not denying Him the glory and thanksgiving that is His due? Six weeks after Jackie lapsed into a coma, six days after her family followed their physician's advice and asked a court to authorize withholding of food and water, Jackie woke up. Today, she is fully recovered. Anyone who has seen Robert DeNiro in the film "Awakenings" will appreciate how joyful and awe inspiring such awakenings can be. Truly they are instruments for shaping souls. If nothing else, they teach us humility, reminding us that we have only the faintest understanding of the workings of the human mind, much less the Divine mind. Perhaps we need to be like children, for they often see more clearly than "sophisticated" adults. I am thinking especially of the homeless youth who carried his brother into Boy's Town. If this brave lad had instead been seated at the side of his PVS mother, he may have uttered these simple words for the ages: "She's not a vegetable. She's my mother." Originally published in The PostAbortion Review 5(2) Spring 1997. Copyright 1997 Elliot Institute. http://www.afterabortion.info/PAR/V5/n2/vegetable.htm ***************************************************************** REMEMBER - LIFE LOBBY DAY - next Friday, April 8th. At the Capitol. • Please set this day aside to speak up for those who have no voice. Donations have made it possible for anyone wanting to attend to do so. It's a gift - NO Strings attached. Just email me and you name will be added to the list. • MORE INFO ON MONDAY. This has been an incredible time in history. We are fortunate to be alive to make a difference at such a pivotal time and persevere for the Glory of Christ. May God Bless us all and May God Bless the Soul of His Servant Pope John Paul II Carolyn

Prayers for the Pope

Suggested Prayers for the Pope Pro Pontifice (For the Pontiff) V. Let us pray for John Paul, the Pope. R. May the Lord preserve him, give him a long life, make him blessed upon the earth, and may the Lord not hand him over to the power of his enemies. V. Oremus pro Pontifice nostro Ioanni Paulo. R. Dominus conservet eum, et vivificet eum, et beatum faciat eum in terra, et non tradat eum in animam inimicorum eius. V. May your hand be upon your holy servant. R. And upon your son whom you have anointed. V. Fiat manus tua super virum dexteræ tuæ. R. Et super filium tuum quia confirmasti tibi. Let us pray. O God, the Pastor and Ruler of all the faithful, look down, in your mercy, upon your servant, John Paul II, whom you have appointed to preside over your Church; and grant, we beseech you, that both by word and example, he may edify all those under his charge; so that, with the flock entrusted to him, he may arrive at length unto life everlasting. Through Christ our Lord. R. Amen. Oremus. Deus, omnium fidelium pastor et rector, famulum tuum Ioannis Paulus Secundus, et quem pastorem Ecclesiæ tuæ præesse voluisti, propitius respice: da ei, quæsumus, verbo et exemplo quibus præest, proficere; ut ad vitam una cum grege sibi credito sempiternam. Per Christum Dominum nostrum. R. Amen. For Restoration to Health (1) All-powerful and ever-living God, the lasting health of all who believe in you, hear us as we ask your loving help for your servant, John Paul our Pope; restore him to health, that he may again offer joyful thanks to you in your holy Church. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. For Restoration to Health (2) O God our Father, by whose loving-kindness we are renewed in soul and body, look with mercy on your servant, John Paul, our Pope, that, every cause of sickness being removed, he may be restored to soundness of health. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. For the Holy Father Let us pray. Lord, source of eternal life and truth, give to your shepherd, John Paul II, a spirit of courage and right judgment, a spirit of knowledge and love. By governing with fidelity those entrusted to his care, may he, as successor of the Apostle Peter and Vicar of Christ, build your Church into a sacrament of unity, love, and peace for all the world.

This Good Friday - A Last Plea for Terri and A Plea for Divine Mercy

Dear Advocates for Innocent Life, As we remember the Ultimate Sacrifice. Here's a press release to read and then an action item if you feel lead to act. I have called and the folks are very nice. Also, remember the Divine Mercy Novena and Divine Mercy Chaplet begins today. It ends the Sunday after Easter: DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY, and we really need His Divine Mercy. I will have this at the end of the message for the last plea to save Terri. The EWTN website www.ewtn.com has wonderful information regarding this devotion. The kids don't mind it because it's short! There is an intention for each day and an indulgence that is attached. We need this extra measure of the Lord's Grace. By the way, I did testify yesterday in support of all four of the pro-life House Bills before the House Judiciary Committee. There needed to be a Catholic presence, to be silent would have been a sin of omission and I have enough of them. May God grant us peace as we watch helplessly as a sister in Christ dies of thrist. We remember you Lord, as you said "I thirst". You also said, "Father forgive them, they know not what they do." May those involved come to their senses before it's too late. God Bless you all and Happy Easter. Carolyn Wendell He said, "It is finished." And he bowed His head and gave up His Spirit." John 19:30 Press Release written by: Cheryl Ford RN, nurse activist and spokesperson Fight4Terri@aol.com March 25, 2005 1:00 PM ET Despite the hundreds of pieces of evidence from nurses, physicians, speech pathologists, physical therapists, attorneys, the DCF, along with more recent statements made by: • Expert/specialist Dr. George Eddington McClane, M.D. Director Forensic Medical Unit Department of the Family Justice Center City of San Diego, stating in writing.. " Terri Schiavo's condition is consistent with attempted strangulation. Her healthy heart functioning for the last 14 years is not consistent with a "heart attack from an eating disorder" having ever occurred. Disallowing replacement of the feeding tube in this woman is homicide. Critical facts in plain view must have time to be reviewed. This can be accomplished in 7 days. " • Evidence showing how Terri was fraudulently admitted into a hospice facility by Dr. Victor Gambone in April 2000, admitting in a 2002 evidentiary hearing Terri was placed in into a hospice because Michael Schiavo told him to do so; • Evidence how Victor Gambone and Medical Director William Moore had signed and written on Terri's chart in 4/11/2000 -- "based on the patient's diagnosis and current condition, I expect this patient has a limited life expectancy of (six) months or less, if disease continues to take its usual course, and hereby certify patient as eligible for hospice" ..Yet Terri was NOT and NEVER was terminal or diagnosed with any DISEASE giving her 6 months or less to live... • Despite Evidence that Terri's so called "wishes " were only hearsay and not written testimony of them by her estranged husband was never Admissible under Florida's evidence code under FS 90.602. • Despite the fact that Michael testified that he found Terri face down and rolled her over, yet Paramedics (according to St. Petersburg Police Report) found her face down. • Despite Evidence from NOBEL PRIZE nominee Dr. William Hammesfahr, expert neurologist giving a complete review of his extensive hands on exam of Terri. • Despite evidence that Michael Schiavo announced his engagement to Jodi Centonze and made two children with her, clearly showing that by FLA MARITAL LAW he is an adulterer and has deserted Terri as her husband. • Despite Evidence from several board-certified neurologists that Terri is not PVS and the affidavits of more than 40 physicians that she can be rehabilitated. • Evidence that Michael Schiavo filed a 1992 malpractice suit for 20 million dollars, and was awarded 1.7 million after convincing the jury he needed the money to care for his wife, but later after having the money in his hand placed a DNR on her chart and motioned the courts to remove her feeding tube • Despite evidence that Michael has been carrying on in affairs for almost as long as Terri has had her unexplained tragic accident • Despite the affidavit of nurse Carla who cared for Terri stating Michael tried to harm Terri. • Despite the statement from Michael's previous girlfriend Cyndi Shook stating Michael stalked her and did not care about Terri. • Despite the statement of the recent nurse, Nora Wagner who came forth from Woodside Hospice on March 21, 2005, stating she worked with Terri and Terri laughed at her jokes. (Note: Mrs. Wagner immediately was fired from her job for speaking up about Terri) • Despite recent statement by Dr. Chesire of the Mayo Clinic stating he did not believe Terri was in a PVS • Despite affidavit from Dr. Craddock stating Terri's 5 teeth were extracted due to dental neglect. • Despite the fact that Terri's husband (as her supposed legal guardian) denied her dental care for more than 10 years. • Despite Terri never been allowed her OWN legal representation or DUE PROCESS • Despite the hundreds of other pieces of evidence showing Terri was neglected and there was possible abuse, provided by the DCF(Department of Children and Family) • Despite the majority vote in the United States Congress LAST WEEK passing a bill that would save Terri's life • Despite President Bush's recent statement on national TV" stating it is better "to err on the side of life" and his making a special trip to fly from his vacation home to sign the bill into legislation -Federal Judge Whittemore in Tampa Florida AGAIN DENIED AT 7:30 AM ET hearing what was to be a de novo review (allowing the Schindlers to open the case from the beginning with ALL the EVIDENCE) thus allowing the Schindlers the opportunity to have Terri's tube immediate reinserted while it is reviewed. - The Schindlers' have now filed an appeal with the 11th Circuit court and are awaiting a decision. - Terri lays inhumanely suffering from starvation and dehydration on her 7th day without food and water while the local judicial system denies her parents the legal right to provide ALL the pertinent evidence necessary to give her water and save her life. PLEASE CONTACT THE DCF IMMEDIATELY! CALL: 800.962.2873 TELL THEM 1. YOU KNOW OF A DISABLED WOMAN IN IMMINENT DANGER! 2. SHE IS BEING GROTESQUELY NEGLECTED. 3. SHE HAS NOT RECEIVED WATER SINCE 18 MAR 2005. **FORGET THE FOOD** 4. HER NAME IS TERRI SCHINDLER SCHIAVO. (SPELL SCHIAVO) 5. YOU ARE "FRIENDS OF HER FAMILY" 6. SHE IS LOCATED AT THE WOODSIDE HOSPICE CENTER IN PINELLAS PARK -County Pinellas- 6774 102nd Avenue N. Pinellas Park, Florida 7. YOUR FULL NAME AND PHONE NUMBER Remember to TAKE THE PERSON'S NAME AND EMPLOYEE NUMBER. They are very compassionate! DO NOTHING ELSE - CALL THEM NOW!!! Fight4Terri @aol.com www.fight4terri.blogspot.com Visit Terri's site: www.terrisfight.org Cheryl Ford, RN (Fight4Terri@aol.com) is not affiliated with any other group and works as an independent volunteer promoting the protection of Florida's disabled community. Fight4Terri does not wish to forward unsolicited mail. Please type the word "unsubscribe" in subject heading if you prefer to not receive anymore updates about Terri and your screen name will be immediately deleted from Fight4Terri's address book. DIVINE MERCY NOVENA Jesus asked that the Feast of the Divine Mercy be preceded by a Novena to the Divine Mercy which would begin on Good Friday. He gave St. Faustina an intention to pray for on each day of the Novena, saving for the last day the most difficult intention of all, the lukewarm and indifferent of whom He said: "These souls cause Me more suffering than any others; it was from such souls that My soul felt the most revulsion in the Garden of Olives. It was on their account that I said: 'My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass Me by.' The last hope of salvation for them is to flee to My Mercy." In her diary, St. Faustina wrote that Jesus told her: "On each day of the novena you will bring to My heart a different group of souls and you will immerse them in this ocean of My mercy ... On each day you will beg My Father, on the strength of My passion, for the graces for these souls." The different souls prayed for on each day of the novena are: DAY 1 (Good Friday) - All mankind, especially sinners DAY 2 (Holy Saturday) - The souls of priests and religious DAY 3 (Easter Sunday) - All devout and faithful souls DAY 4 (Easter Monday) - Those who do not believe in Jesus and those who do not yet know Him DAY 5 (Easter Tuesday) - The souls of separated brethren DAY 6 (Easter Wednesday) - The meek and humble souls and the souls of children DAY 7 (Easter Thursday) - The souls who especially venerate and glorify Jesus' mercy DAY 8 (Easter Friday) - The souls who are detained in purgatory; DAY 9 (Easter Saturday) - The souls who have become lukewarm. The Chaplet of Divine Mercy may also be offered each day for the day's intention, but is not strictly necessary to the Novena. First Day "Today bring to Me all mankind, especially all sinners, and immerse them in the ocean of My mercy. In this way you will console Me in the bitter grief into which the loss of souls plunges Me." Most Merciful Jesus, whose very nature it is to have compassion on us and to forgive us, do not look upon our sins but upon our trust which we place in Your infinite goodness. Receive us all into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart, and never let us escape from It. We beg this of You by Your love which unites You to the Father and the Holy Spirit. Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon all mankind and especially upon poor sinners, all enfolded in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. For the sake of His sorrowful Passion show us Your mercy, that we may praise the omnipotence of Your mercy for ever and ever. Amen. Second Day "Today bring to Me the Souls of Priests and Religious, and immerse them in My unfathomable mercy. It was they who gave me strength to endure My bitter Passion. Through them as through channels My mercy flows out upon mankind." Most Merciful Jesus, from whom comes all that is good, increase Your grace in men and women consecrated to Your service,* that they may perform worthy works of mercy; and that all who see them may glorify the Father of Mercy who is in heaven. Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the company of chosen ones in Your vineyard -- upon the souls of priests and religious; and endow them with the strength of Your blessing. For the love of the Heart of Your Son in which they are enfolded, impart to them Your power and light, that they may be able to guide others in the way of salvation and with one voice sing praise to Your boundless mercy for ages without end. Amen. * In the original text, Saint Faustina uses the pronoun "us" since she was offering this prayer as a consecrated religious sister. The wording adapted here is intended to make the prayer suitable for universal use. Third Day "Today bring to Me all Devout and Faithful Souls, and immerse them in the ocean of My mercy. These souls brought me consolation on the Way of the Cross. They were a drop of consolation in the midst of an ocean of bitterness." Most Merciful Jesus, from the treasury of Your mercy, You impart Your graces in great abundance to each and all. Receive us into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart and never let us escape from It. We beg this grace of You by that most wondrous love for the heavenly Father with which Your Heart burns so fiercely. Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon faithful souls, as upon the inheritance of Your Son. For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, grant them Your blessing and surround them with Your constant protection. Thus may they never fail in love or lose the treasure of the holy faith, but rather, with all the hosts of Angels and Saints, may they glorify Your boundless mercy for endless ages. Amen. Fourth Day "Today bring to Me those who do not believe in God and those who do not know Me, I was thinking also of them during My bitter Passion, and their future zeal comforted My Heart. Immerse them in the ocean of My mercy." Most compassionate Jesus, You are the Light of the whole world. Receive into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart the souls of those who do not believe in God and of those who as yet do not know You. Let the rays of Your grace enlighten them that they, too, together with us, may extol Your wonderful mercy; and do not let them escape from the abode which is Your Most Compassionate Heart. Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the souls of those who do not believe in You, and of those who as yet do not know You, but who are enclosed in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. Draw them to the light of the Gospel. These souls do not know what great happiness it is to love You. Grant that they, too, may extol the generosity of Your mercy for endless ages. Amen. *Our Lord's original words here were "the pagans." Since the pontificate of Pope John XXIII, the Church has seen fit to replace this term with clearer and more appropriate terminology. Fifth Day "Today bring to Me the Souls of those who have separated themselves from My Church*, and immerse them in the ocean of My mercy. During My bitter Passion they tore at My Body and Heart, that is, My Church. As they return to unity with the Church My wounds heal and in this way they alleviate My Passion." Most Merciful Jesus, Goodness Itself, You do not refuse light to those who seek it of You. Receive into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart the souls of those who have separated themselves from Your Church. Draw them by Your light into the unity of the Church, and do not let them escape from the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart; but bring it about that they, too, come to glorify the generosity of Your mercy. Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the souls of those who have separated themselves from Your Son's Church, who have squandered Your blessings and misused Your graces by obstinately persisting in their errors. Do not look upon their errors, but upon the love of Your own Son and upon His bitter Passion, which He underwent for their sake, since they, too, are enclosed in His Most Compassionate Heart. Bring it about that they also may glorify Your great mercy for endless ages. Amen. *Our Lord's original words here were "heretics and schismatics," since He spoke to Saint Faustina within the context of her times. As of the Second Vatican Council, Church authorities have seen fit not to use those designations in accordance with the explanation given in the Council's Decree on Ecumenism (n.3). Every pope since the Council has reaffirmed that usage. Saint Faustina herself, her heart always in harmony with the mind of the Church, most certainly would have agreed. When at one time, because of the decisions of her superiors and father confessor, she was not able to execute Our Lord's inspirations and orders, she declared: "I will follow Your will insofar as You will permit me to do so through Your representative. O my Jesus " I give priority to the voice of the Church over the voice with which You speak to me" (497). The Lord confirmed her action and praised her for it. Sixth Day Today bring to Me the Meek and Humble Souls and the Souls of Little Children, and immerse them in My mercy. These souls most closely resemble My Heart. They strengthened Me during My bitter agony. I saw them as earthly Angels, who will keep vigil at My altars. I pour out upon them whole torrents of grace. I favor humble souls with My confidence. Most Merciful Jesus, You yourself have said, "Learn from Me for I am meek and humble of heart." Receive into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart all meek and humble souls and the souls of little children. These souls send all heaven into ecstasy and they are the heavenly Father's favorites. They are a sweet-smelling bouquet before the throne of God; God Himself takes delight in their fragrance. These souls have a permanent abode in Your Most Compassionate Heart, O Jesus, and they unceasingly sing out a hymn of love and mercy. Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon meek souls, upon humble souls, and upon little children who are enfolded in the abode which is the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. These souls bear the closest resemblance to Your Son. Their fragrance rises from the earth and reaches Your very throne. Father of mercy and of all goodness, I beg You by the love You bear these souls and by the delight You take in them: Bless the whole world, that all souls together may sing out the praises of Your mercy for endless ages. Amen. Seventh Day Today bring to Me the Souls who especially venerate and glorify My Mercy*, and immerse them in My mercy. These souls sorrowed most over my Passion and entered most deeply into My spirit. They are living images of My Compassionate Heart. These souls will shine with a special brightness in the next life. Not one of them will go into the fire of hell. I shall particularly defend each one of them at the hour of death. Most Merciful Jesus, whose Heart is Love Itself, receive into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart the souls of those who particularly extol and venerate the greatness of Your mercy. These souls are mighty with the very power of God Himself. In the midst of all afflictions and adversities they go forward, confident of Your mercy; and united to You, O Jesus, they carry all mankind on their shoulders. These souls will not be judged severely, but Your mercy will embrace them as they depart from this life. Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the souls who glorify and venerate Your greatest attribute, that of Your fathomless mercy, and who are enclosed in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. These souls are a living Gospel; their hands are full of deeds of mercy, and their hearts, overflowing with joy, sing a canticle of mercy to You, O Most High! I beg You O God: Show them Your mercy according to the hope and trust they have placed in You. Let there be accomplished in them the promise of Jesus, who said to them that during their life, but especially at the hour of death, the souls who will venerate this fathomless mercy of His, He, Himself, will defend as His glory. Amen. *The text leads one to conclude that in the first prayer directed to Jesus, Who is the Redeemer, it is "victim" souls and contemplatives that are being prayed for; those persons, that is, that voluntarily offered themselves to God for the salvation of their neighbor (see Col 1:24; 2 Cor 4:12). This explains their close union with the Savior and the extraordinary efficacy that their invisible activity has for others. In the second prayer, directed to the Father from whom comes "every worthwhile gift and every genuine benefit,"we recommend the "active" souls, who promote devotion to The Divine Mercy and exercise with it all the other works that lend themselves to the spiritual and material uplifting of their brethren. Eighth Day "Today bring to Me the Souls who are in the prison of Purgatory, and immerse them in the abyss of My mercy. Let the torrents of My Blood cool down their scorching flames. All these souls are greatly loved by Me. They are making retribution to My justice. It is in your power to bring them relief. Draw all the indulgences from the treasury of My Church and offer them on their behalf. Oh, if you only knew the torments they suffer, you would continually offer for them the alms of the spirit and pay off their debt to My justice." Most Merciful Jesus, You Yourself have said that You desire mercy; so I bring into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart the souls in Purgatory, souls who are very dear to You, and yet, who must make retribution to Your justice. May the streams of Blood and Water which gushed forth from Your Heart put out the flames of Purgatory, that there, too, the power of Your mercy may be celebrated. Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the souls suffering in Purgatory, who are enfolded in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. I beg You, by the sorrowful Passion of Jesus Your Son, and by all the bitterness with which His most sacred Soul was flooded: Manifest Your mercy to the souls who are under Your just scrutiny. Look upon them in no other way but only through the Wounds of Jesus, Your dearly beloved Son; for we firmly believe that there is no limit to Your goodness and compassion. Amen. Ninth Day "Today bring to Me the Souls who have become Lukewarm, and immerse them in the abyss of My mercy. These souls wound My Heart most painfully. My soul suffered the most dreadful loathing in the Garden of Olives because of lukewarm souls. They were the reason I cried out: 'Father, take this cup away from Me, if it be Your will.' For them, the last hope of salvation is to run to My mercy." Most compassionate Jesus, You are Compassion Itself. I bring lukewarm souls into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart. In this fire of Your pure love, let these tepid souls who, like corpses, filled You with such deep loathing, be once again set aflame. O Most Compassionate Jesus, exercise the omnipotence of Your mercy and draw them into the very ardor of Your love, and bestow upon them the gift of holy love, for nothing is beyond Your power. Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon lukewarm souls who are nonetheless enfolded in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. Father of Mercy, I beg You by the bitter Passion of Your Son and by His three-hour agony on the Cross: Let them, too, glorify the abyss of Your mercy. Amen. The Divine Mercy Chaplet Using your Rosary 1. Begin with the Sign of the Cross, 1 Our Father, 1 Hail Mary and The Apostles Creed. 2. Then on the Our Father Beads say the following: Eternal Father, I offer You the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your dearly beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world. 3. On the 10 Hail Mary Beads say the following: For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world. (Repeat step 2 and 3 for all five decades). 4. Conclude with (three times): Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world. Catholic Media Coalition: In line with the Church, online with the world

Schiavo means Slave - Coincidence?

Dear Advocates for Innocent Life, As our emotions rise and fall the Holy Week as we watch our sister in Christ, Terri Schiavo, suffer because of evil. Let this give us comfort that our fight is not in vain. We are in the historic spiritual battle between good and evil. And we cannot ever retreat. From Catholic Media Coalition - There is an irony to this case that no one has yet mentioned. In the second reading this Palm Sunday, Paul speaks of Christ coming to us as a slave. The Italian word for "slave" is... "schiavo". The war continues in Florida. We can be proud of the priests that spoke of the connection between Mary Schiavo, Terri's mother, who is searched and watched by Flordia police so she cannot put an ice cube to her daughter's lips, or rub her drying skin with lotion. She must stand by like Our Blessed Mother who could only watch her Beloved Son in His Agony. This is not irony, but we are re-living the Suffering of Christ through Terri Schiavo this Holy Week. Where are the Justice and Peace groups from our churches speaking out? Where are the anti-death penalty supporters who make money off of their endless speaches. Terri is in prison without a fail trial. Where are the animal rights people? What would they do if a dog was being deprived of food and water until it died? HERE ARE SOME THINGS WE CAN DO. FOR TERRI AND FOR OREGON. FAX THE GOVERNOR & PRES At once. YOUR JOB IS TO ENFORCE FLORIDA LAW 765.309 Mercy killing or euthanasia not authorized; (1) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to condone, authorize, or approve mercy killing or euthanasia, or to permit any affirmative or deliberate act or omission to end life other than to permit the natural process of dying. A JUDGE CANNOT NULLIFY LAW Please fax to Jeb Bush. Governor Jeb Bush (850) 488-4441 Fax 850-487-0801 Please fax to Pres Bush: Federal Law Title 28 35.130(e)(2) Nothing in the Act or this part authorizes the representative or guardian of an individual with a disability to decline food, water, medical treatment, or medical services for that individual. President Bush The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington, DC 20500 Comments: 202-456-1111 Switchboard: 202-456-1414 FAX: 202-456-2461 This Thursday, March 24th! Let's get educated about the process of our government and support those fighting for the Culture of Life. We can't get to Florida, but we can do something to bring common sense back to Oregon. Remember, Oregon Catholic Conference is NOT going to lobby on these bills, it's up to us to give a Roman Catholic presence to the hearing rooms. See you there! Legislative Update From Oregon Right to Life PAC Five Pro-Life Bill Hearings on the Same Day! On Thursday, March 24, 2005 five pro-life bills are scheduled to have public hearings in the House Judiciary Committee. There bills are: HB 2531 – Clinic Regulations sponsored by Rep. Brian Boquist (overview below) HB 2532 – Women’s Right to Know sponsored by Rep. Linda Flores HB 2550 – Unborn Pain Awareness sponsored by Rep. Greg Smith HB 2605 – Parental Notice sponsored by Rep. Dennis Richardson (see last week’s Update for overview) HB 2696 – Partial Birth Abortion Ban sponsored by Rep. Donna Nelson If you are in Salem on the day of the hearings Oregon Right to Life would be honored to have you to join us. The hearings will begin at 8:30 a.m. and continue throughout the day. You can come for the entire day or just part. It is always encouraging to be surrounded by fellow pro-lifers! Please contact the Committee members and graciously ask them to support life by voting YES on all five bills. Remember hand written letters are best; followed by phone calls and emails. Snail mail can be sent to: 900 Court St NE – insert office number – Salem, Oregon 97301 Representative Office Number Phone Email Wayne Krieger (R), Chair H-378 503.986.1401 rep.waynekrieger@state.or.us Greg Macpherson (D), Vice-Chair H 376 503.986.1438 rep.gregmacpherson@state.or.us Andy Olson (R), Vice-Chair H-491 503.986.1415 rep.andyolson@state.or.us Robert Ackerman (D) H-389 503.986.1413 Rep.repbertackerman@state.or.us Jeff Barker (D) H-476 503.986.1428 Rep.jeffbarker@state.or.us Linda Flores (R) H-287 503.986.1451 Rep.lindaflores@state.or.us Bill Garrard (R) H-484 503.986.1456 Rep.billgarrard@state.or.us Kim Thatcher (R) H-490 503.986.1425 Rep.kimthatcher@state.or.us Kelley Wirth (D) H-479 503.986.1416 Rep.kelleywirth@state.or.us Regarding HB 2531 – Clinic Regulations Under current Oregon law, performing surgical abortions is not regulated. There are no Oregon Revised Statues (ORS) or Oregon Administrative Rules (OAR) that define sanitation requirements, emergency equipment regulations, etc. In fact, the four most common abortion procedures are specifically excluded from surgical center regulations. The Oregon Administrative Rules 333-076-0101 states: (c) An "ambulatory surgical center" (ASC) means a health care facility which performs outpatient surgery not routinely or customarily performed in a physician's or dentist's office, and is able to meet health facility licensure requirements: (A) In the case of outpatient surgery involving termination of pregnancy, procedures routinely and customarily done in physician's offices are the following: (i) Dilation and curettage; (ii) Suction curettage; (iii) Sharp curettage; (iv) Dilation and evacuation. This standard is unacceptable and dangerous. HB 2531 would place ambulatory surgical center regulations on any facility that meets any of these three qualifications: 1. Performs ten or more abortions a month or 100 or more abortions a year. 2. Advertises as an abortion provider 3. Has a licensed physician contracted to perform abortions either on duty or on call HB 2531 would not affect other – non abortive – procedures This bill is written to only apply to clinics performing the specified number of dilation and curettages, suction curettages, sharp curettages, and/or dilation and evacuations a month/year. Nothing would change for physician’s offices that do not perform these procedures. Notable Quote “The only way we would [investigate] is if we were following up on a complaint on a licensed facility. So if there was a hospital or ambulatory surgical center where we got a complaint about an abortion then we do have authority to go in, follow-up and investigate that complaint. When we’re talking about a physician’s office [and abortion clinics], that complaint would go to the Board of Medical Examiners.” DR. GRANT HIGGINSON. Department of Human Services, Health Services reveals that the DHS has no authority to investigate complaints against free standing abortion clinics. Testimony before the House Committee on Rules and Public Affairs, February 25, 2003. Please put this on your calendar. This is our Day to show our Support for Innocent Life. LIFE LOBBY DAY! Friday, April 8th 2005 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Oregon State Capitol Oregon’s tiniest citizens need your help! Let's get together and meet other pro-lifers. March 24th will get us ready for this great day. Step outside your comfort zone. It is a matter of Life and Death. God Bless Us and May God open the eyes of the blind. Carolyn Wendell VOCAL "Nothing seems tiresome or painful when you are working for a Master who pays well; who rewards even a cup of cold water given for love of Him." St. Dominic Savio Voice of Catholics Advocating Life PO Box 458 Sublimity, OR 97385 Member of Catholic Media Coalition: In line with the Church, online with the world

Hosanna in the Highest! Terri Schiavo!!

Hosanna in the Highest! Dear Friends, President Bush just signed the Terri Schiavo bill. Now she can have her day in court. At this point in time, her family has an ambulance ready to take her to a hospital and resume her feeding. We share their joy. This is a wonderful opportunity for dialogue within our Church regarding "Advanced Directives" and "Living Wills". This is no coincidence. It's amazing to realize the Our Dear Lord wants us to talk about HOW He wants us to depart this life: with true dignity. We can learn His ways. Just recently we heard of a failed assisted suicide in Oregon. The story was also carried in the Catholic Sentinel, the "punch line" was in the last two paragraphs (Catholic Sentinel on page 17 "Suicide") Regarding the natural death of her husband two weeks after the attempt Lynda Prueitt told the Oregonian her husband had been in the Presence of God, who sent him back to die a natural death. Steve Prueitt, the patient's brother, told the newspaper God chose his brother to show that assisted suicide is wrong. We are truly one family. We are One Body in Christ. As we begin this Holy Week, the power of God has already been revealed through prayer and the compassion and courage of the men and women who guide our country. God Bless them and may He open the hearts of those who can't see love and value in the eyes of a bedridden woman. Thank you Lord. Carolyn Wendell "Open wide the doors and gates, life high the ancient portals. The King of Glory enters." Psalm 23:9 VOCAL Voice of Catholics Advocating Life PO Box 458 Sublimity, OR 97385 Member of Catholic Media Coalition "In line with the Church, on line with the world."