Bishop Sheridan's office reply to my email (how to help/donate)

For those of you who haven't been following the story, Bishop Michael Sheridan is on of the few brave Bishops who is willing to stand a strong moral stand by publicly stating that politicians and voters who votes pro-death should not present themselves for communion.

I sent an email to Bishop Michael Sheridan's office indicating that although I'm from Florida and I hadn't donated to a NO-parish or diocsese in quite a while, I was very interested in sending a donation to his diocese due to his courageous moral stand on abortion and how it relates to Catholics. I recieved the following email in response:

On behalf of Bishop Michael Sheridan, I would like to convey his personal gratitude and appreciation for your generous offer to support the Diocese of Colorado Springs. Yes, it is always possible that when difficult things are said, there exists the possibility that people may withdrawal their financial contributions to the Church. However, we know that there is no price that can be put on the Gospel but the sacrificial death of Our Blessed Lord who began and ended His earthly life with no material possessions to show us that our true treasure on earth and in heaven is our communion with the Father through Jesus in the Holy Spirit.

As a small, missionary diocese, any contribution to our ministries is very much appreciated. Such offers would help serve our diocesan ministries appeal which helps to support our priests, our seminarians, our educational efforts, and our outreach to the poor and needy within the Diocese of Colorado Springs.

It is always encouraging to receive such loving support from people like you who take the time to express their heartfelt support in advancing the Gospel of Life. May Our Blessed Lord abundantly bless you and provide for all your temporal and spiritual needs. May Our Blessed Mother fill you with the peace of Her Son and strengthen you in your efforts to build up the culture of life.

Peter J. Howard, S.T.L.
Executive Assistant to the Bishop
Diocese of Colorado Springs
228 N. Cascade Avenue
Colorado Springs, Colorado 80903
Tel. 719.636.2345
Fax. 719.866.6488

I'm going on the FR cruise tommorow but will be sending money to this Bishop (directly to the diocese, not individual parishes) when I get back.

Please show your support and donate in order counter the pro-abort leftists "Catholics" who are withdrawing funds because a member of the clergy has dared become a party pooper by saying and doing what is right and holy.

The cause is worthy and here is your chance to make a statement. Please spread the word far and wide. God bless you and God bless our brave bishops.

This is most certainly where the rubber meets the road.

Not only prayer but activism, spiritual warfare and works are going to be needed to change things in our great church. Brave clergy who are willing to stand up to those who are denegrading our faith should be supported in deed as well as prayer.

Many eyes are on this situation, including those of Rome and the media. Make no mistake about it, there is a battle being waged and we have a chance to make a tangible difference.

Donate if you can and please spread the word.

we know that there is no price that can be put on the Gospel

This phrase jumped off the page when I read your post. In the Maronite Rite, after the priest has read the gospel, he holds the book up, blesses the congregation with it and proclaims: "This is the truth!"

It is truly awesome! As he blesses those assembled, they proclaim, in chant: "Praise, thanksgiving and blessing to Jesus Christ, our Lord, for giving us His Words of Life. Praise, thanksgiving and blessing to Jesus Christ, Our Lord".

Pinging the Catholic List.

*It's so wonderful to see you happy with your services as of late and coming here spreading good news.*

It has been a life-altering experience! The depth of spirituality in the Maronite liturgy never ceases to amaze me. It is one of, if not the oldest liturgy in the Catholic Church. Just to cite an example, after the Consecration in Aramaic, comes - the Fraction, Consignation, Intinction, Commixture and Elevation.

During the Fraction, the celebrant takes the host in his right hand, blesses it, and breaks it above the cup into two parts. He then breaks a small particle from the half in his left hand, saying:

We have believed, and we have approached,
and now we seal + and break this oblation,
the heavenly bread and living body
of the Word who is the living God.

During Intinction, he dips the small particle into the cup in the form of a cross, saying:

We sign this cup of salvation and thanksgiving
with the purifying ember
which glows with the heavenly mysteries.

He then dips the body in the blood three times and continues:

In the name of the + Father,
life for all the living;
in the name of the + Son,
who proceeds from him,
and, like him, is life for all the living;
in the name of the + Holy Spirit,
the beginning, the end, and the perfection
of all that was and will be in heaven and on earth,
the one, true, blessed, and exalted God, without division,
from whom comes life for ever.

During Consignation, he marks the offering three times with the small particle dipped into the cup, saying:

The blood of our Lord Jesus Christ
is sprinkled over his holy body,
in the name of the + Father,
and of the + Son,
and of the + Holy Spirit.

And, finally, comes the Commixture. He places the particle in the cup, singing along with the congregation the following:

You have united, O Lord, your divinity with our humanity
and our humanity with your divinity;
your life with our mortality
and our mortality with your life.
You have assumed what is ours,
and you have given us what is yours,
for the life and salvation of our souls.
To you, O Lord, be glory for ever.

Immediately following communion, the celebrant blesses the congregation with the Holy Mysteries. It is just so awesome to have received our Lord in the Eucharist and then be blessed again with the elevated chalice and ciborium. It's like a gift that keeps on giving and giving.

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