Hidden from even the most stellar rumor websites like MacRumors and AppleInsder was a new product developed without anyones knowledge. This product has been under the watchful eye of Jonny Ives within the innermost sanctum of Apple’s headquarters in Cupertino, CA.
Yes, folks, there’s “just one more thing.” The long awaited iPadre mini. Soon to be available at Apple Stores world wide, for a yet to be determined price. Check out all the the product features below.
Photo: Allan Ferguson, Creative Commons
There are a number of large bridges in close proximity to my parish. Every now and than, one of them will be shut down because there is a person threatening to jump, and on occasion, someone will succeed. Leading to the bridges, there are signs that list the phone number for the Good Samaritans and encourage people who are considering taking their lives to call for help.
Many of us have heard news stories about a heroic person, a police officer or firefighter who have talked someone out of leaping off a ledge, or shooting themselves.
The survival instinct is part of our human nature. When there is a major storm, like Hurricane Sandy, or a tragedy like the events of September 11th, people will do almost anything to survive. Whatever the sacrifice, inconvenience or difficulty, people will put up with almost anything to preserve their life. What we will do to survive is unimaginable, and the great heroism that people will show to save another person from ending their life truly inspirational.
Why are we so willing to put our lives are risk to prevent another from taking their own? Because we know it’s the right thing to do. And, we know that someone who is willing to take their own life is not of sound mind. Life is precious. Good people want to help others, especially those who are in pain, preserve their life and sort out their difficulties. With all of that said, I just have to ask how any society could degrade to such an extent that they would want to legalize assisting people to take their own lives. The citizens of Massachusetts are being faced with this ghastly choice in the upcoming election. Suicide goes against the very nature of the human person. I would suggest that anyone who is faced with this question in the upcoming election, look at the person on the bridge, and the person with a gun to their head and ask yourself: “What is the difference between jumping off a bridge or taking a bottle of pills.” Both have the same objective and both are equally wrong. How can society be so opposed to a person taking a gun to their head, and be open to giving them a few pills to meet the same objective? One is very messy and one isn’t. In reality neither form of suicide is good. In one situation, we may not be able to stop the person in time. The other is a cold and inhuman response to a person in need. The use of pills in a hospital bed or on the couch at home doesn’t make the reality any less appalling! The approval of proposition 2 by the people of Massachusetts would only open the door further to the degradation of the most unfortunate people in society. When you vote next Tuesday, will you be saying to the person on the bridge to come down, or to jump?
As we prepare for the arrival of Hurricane Sandy, I was thinking about the Great Hurricane of 1938. People had no idea of what was coming and had no way to prepare. Thank God, we have warning about impending storms. Time to prepare or time to escape. Below is an 8 part series that appeared on the History Channel, documenting the Hurricane of 1938.
In Woonsocket, where I grew up, there were stories of breaking dams, falling chimneys, people crossing live wires and caskets flowing down the Blackstone River.
httpv://youtube.com/watch?v=IRGvSfQarhA
httpv://youtube.com/watch?v=zGu_c67YJis
httpv://youtube.com/watch?v=WWE1NtK0YlU
httpv://youtube.com/watch?v=uNMt_X4rzJc
httpv://youtube.com/watch?v=Dn9raxPP4XA
httpv://youtube.com/watch?v=d9BHp77Ea3s
httpv://youtube.com/watch?v=tof1YKSGg0U
httpv://youtube.com/watch?v=XLaJvqLKSMg
In this episode, we have two interviews. The first is with Fr. John Trigilio from the Confraternity of Catholic Clergy and the second interview is with William B. May from Catholics for the Common Good.
– Music: “Stand Up” by Lisa Bell
– Confraternity of Catholic Clergy
– Catholic Voting Guide app – iOS
– Catholic Voting Guide app – Android
– Catholics for the Common Good
– Getting the Marriage Conversation Right by William B. May
– cast (at) iPadre (dot) net
– Feedback line: (267) 31-Padre (267) 317-2373
iPadre App | Android App
Subscribe to Feed | Subscribe in iTunes
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What are you doing to make a difference in next week’s election? Have you attended any Masses or prayer celebrations. Come and spend an hour with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and pray for our beloved nation.
If you are anywhere near my parish, please join us for a special 40 Hours to pray for the Election. This is the most important election we have faced in our life time.
Our Lady, Queen of Peace Adoration Chapel
at Holy Ghost Church
316 Judson Street
Tiverton, Rhode Island
The Adoration Chapel is in the Parish Center, behind the church.
Holy Ghost Parish Center
Our Lady, Queen of Peace Adoration Chapel
I promised that I would share the celebration of my 20th Anniversary. On June 17th, I offered a Missa Cantata on the External Solemnity of the Sacred Heart at St. Theresa’s Shrine in Nasonville, RI. Twenty years earlier, I offered my 1st Mass in the church on June 14, 1992, the Feast of the Most Holy Trinity, in the Ordinary Form. My anniversary celebration was truly a blessing. There were about 200 people present, three priests in choir and the music was absolutely beautiful. I had to break the video into 5 15 minute segments. Hope you enjoy!
httpv://youtube.com/watch?v=GKuIEN_yja4
httpv://youtube.com/watch?v=jJQz6FCi4XM
httpv://youtube.com/watch?v=3w9r4ZF9lRw
httpv://youtube.com/watch?v=R3YBsXib8g8
httpv://youtube.com/watch?v=3mhFpYPszlU
Before we talk about the creed, I thought it would be good to talk about faith – What is faith? We also have a great interview with John Clem about Catholic Web Service.
– Music: “I’m Amazed” by John Popenhagen
– Catholic Web Services
– Call to Holiness blog by John Clem
– cast (at) iPadre (dot) net
– Feedback line: (267) 31-Padre (267) 317-2373
iPadre App | Android App
Subscribe to Feed | Subscribe in iTunes
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
On Thursday, Pope Benedict XVI opened the special Year of Faith on the 50th Anniversary of the opening of the 2nd Vatican Council. In this episode, we’ll talk about the Holy Father’s Moto Proprio, Porta Fidei.
– Music: “Tears of True Love” by Joanna Fish
– Credo In Unum Deum by J.S. Bach: Mass in B minor
– cast (at) iPadre (dot) net
– Feedback line: (267) 31-Padre (267) 317-2373
iPadre App | Android App
Subscribe to Feed | Subscribe in iTunes
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
I saw this article on Catholic World News.
During its annual fall meeting, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops will discuss whether to approve a document entitled “Preaching the Mystery of Faith: The Sunday Homily.” (Good preaching is important! Every priest may not be animated, but they can present the truths of our faith in a clear and unambiguous way.)
“The ultimate goal of proclaiming the Gospel is to lead people into a loving and intimate relationship with the Lord, a relationship that forms the character of their persons and guides them in living out their faith,” states the draft document, which was prepared by a committee chaired by Archbishop Robert Carlson of St. Louis. “The homilist should strive to live a life of holiness” and “see the world through biblical eyes.”
“Preachers should be aware, in an appropriate way, of what their people are watching on television, what kind of music they are listening to, which websites they find appealing, and which films they find compelling,” the document continues. “References to the more popular cultural expressions—which at times can be surprisingly replete with religious motifs—can be an effective way to engage the interest of those on the edge of faith.”
The homily, the document adds, is not a “time for theological speculation,” (Good! Too many priests of a certain age group, preach their own agenda. It’s not about us, we are only emissaries of Christ & His Church!) and “it is inappropriate for the homilist to impose on the congregation his own partisan views about current issues.” (This last point needs clarification! Some will say you can no longer talk about abortion, contraception, same-sex marriage! What does it mean ‘His own partisan views”,)
This is good! Priests need to prepare to preach, especially through prayer – what does the Lord want to say to His people. And of course through study. I would say it’s more important to read current Church documents and Papal statements than to know what the current music, movies, and other cultural mores are. We need to prepare as did St. John Vianney!
In the book of Exodus, the Lord commanded Moses to build the tabernacle of God’s presence. It was the meeting place between God and His people. At night, the Lord appeared in the pillar of fire and by day in the pillar of the cloud over the tabernacle. As a sign of His presence, the Lord “command the people of Israel that they bring to you pure beaten olive oil for the light, that a lamp may be set up to burn continually.” (Ex 27:20)
In our churches, we have something similar before the altar of the Blessed Sacrament. The Sanctuary Lamp burns night and day before the Lord as a testimony of His presence. In the past, the lamp had to burn pure olive oil, however in recent times, it has been exchanged for a candle. The 1983 Code of Canon Law reads “A special lamp which indicates and honors the presence of Christ is to shine continuously before a tabernacle in which the Most Holy Eucharist is reserved.” (Can. 940)
Although the sanctuary lamp is red in most places, there is no law regarding color of the lamp. The important part is that a lamp “burns”. For the lamp to burn, it must be either oil or wax. In emergency situations, the lamp can be electric. However, the burning of oil or wax signifies sacrifice. The wax and oil are immolated as a sacrifice of honor and love for the Real Presence. Another important note is that the lamp burn “night and day”. It is a perpetual testimony to the Real Presence of Our Lord, who remains night and day with His people.
Sanctuary lamps come in many shapes and sizes. In the past, most sanctuary lamps hung from a chain or cord in the center of the sanctuary. Some of the lamps have stands, attached to the wall and others sit reardos.