[lmc12]

I know I’m posting it to much but I have to cry out to my Co-Religionists, not you guys I know but I just have to.

Before Pope Benedict came to America to celebrate Mass in New York and Washington, it was revealed that as a young boy in Germany he had had a cousin with Down Syndrome. One day a Nazi doctor came and claimed his cousin for the Third Reich. Taken to be “cared for” at the “hospital” young Karl Ratzinger never saw his cousin again: one of the host of “useless eaters” marked for extermination by that brutal regime.

My wife and I operate St. Joseph’s House, a daycare and respite care home for handicapped children. As it happened one of the children we care for, a wheelchair bound young lady, was chosen along with three other handicapped folks to carry the gifts up to the altar before the consecration at the Mass at Nationals Stadium in Washington D.C. on April 17, 2008. One of these was James, a 30ish man who works in the Officer’s Club at Andrews AFB. James has Down Syndrome. He was chosen to carry the large host which would become the Body of Christ lifted up before the assembled. As James with great ceremony advanced toward the Pope, his native enthusi­asm overcame his reserve and he started to run. Simultaneously the Holy Father leapt from his chair and walked towards James with his arms out­stretched. We have a picture of this moment which I cannot look at without tearing up. What did he see as he gazed so lovingly at James? I believe he saw his cousin. I believe he saw the face of Jesus. And I believe that his great prayer as he elevated that host on that impossibly beautiful day was “As long as you did to these the least of my brethren, you did it to Me.”

The next day April 18th, a boy was born to of all people, the Gover­nor of Alaska. They named him Trig.

[Integrityrocks]

Great post. Thank you.

[Savagemom]

Thank you for sharing this!

[bronxville]

I just called my dtr to read your post. We’re both crying. What a beautiful story. Do you have any pictures? A good friend of mine at school had Downes Syndrome. I think of her often may she RIP.

God bless you for all your good work. Taking care of special needs kids has to be very difficult.

[Salvation]

Today's First Readings at Mass -- October 30, 2008.  Words in blue are explained below.

 

Reading 1
Eph 6:10-20

Brothers and sisters:
Draw your strength from the Lord and from his mighty power.
Put on the armor of God so that you may be able to stand firm
against the tactics of the Devil.
For our struggle is not with flesh and blood
but with the principalities, with the powers,
with the world rulers of this present darkness,
with the evil spirits in the heavens. Principalities, powers, darkness, evil spirits all refer to fallen angels or to the devil.
Therefore, put on the armor of God, armor=belief
that you may be able to resist on the evil day evil day=election day
and, having done everything, to hold your ground.
So stand fast with your loins girded in truth, while voting
clothed with righteousness as a breastplate,
and your feet shod in readiness for the Gospel of peace.
In all circumstances, hold faith as a shield,
to quench all the flaming arrows of the Evil One. who wants us to be voting for abortion
And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit,
which is the word of God. the Bible

With all prayer and supplication,
pray at every opportunity in the Spirit.
To that end, be watchful with all perseverance and supplication
for all the holy ones and also for me, Pray for the innocent babies
that speech may be given me to open my mouth,
to make known with boldness the mystery of the Gospel
for which I am an ambassador in chains, Are each of us an ambassador as St. Paul was?
so that I may have the courage to speak as I must.

 

 

I was the reader at Daily Mass today and all these thoughts (in blue) went flashing through my mind as I prepared for proclaiming this reading.  Any thoughts?

 

Pray for the candidates that support life -- McCain-Palin