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Dear Preachers:
I don’t
have scientific data to support this, but based on my experience, I would say
that the most popular book of the New Testament among maximum-security prisoners
serving life sentences is the Book of Revelation. Why might that be? Consider
the situation of these inmates—and then consider the overall message of
Revelation.
Click here for a link to this Sunday’s readings:
In Memory of Pope Francis On
the Church’s Mission
The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to
anger and of great kindness. The Lord is good to all and compassionate toward
all his works.
Since I write a month ahead of publication, I am writing this column when our beloved Pope Francis has just died. The psalmist seems to capture the God that Pope Francis emulated and modeled for the rest of us. I find myself at a loss for words so, as we approach the 10th anniversary of his ground-breaking encyclical, “ Laudato Si’ : On Care for our Common Home,” I will let his words ring out and pray that, in his honor and memory, more Catholics take responsibility for the care of our common home and all life.
“Saint Francis of Assisi bears witness to the need to respect all that God has created and as he created it, without manipulating and destroying creation; rather to help it grow, to become more beautiful and more like what God created it to be. And above all, Saint Francis witnesses to respect for everyone, he testifies that each of us is called to protect our neighbor, that the human person is at the center of creation, at the place where God – our creator – willed that we should be. Not at the mercy of the idols we have created!” (10/4/13, Assisi)
“It bears repeating that Creation is not a possession that we can dispose of as we please, much less a possession of only a few. Creation is a magnificent gift that God has given us to care for and use to the benefit of all, with respect. I encourage you, therefore, to carry on in your commitment in order so that Creation may continue to be the patrimony of everyone, to hand down in all its beauty to future generations.”(12/4/14)
“We have to realize that a true ecological approach always becomes a social approach; it must integrate questions of justice in debates on the environment, so as to hear both the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor.” (5/24/15, Laudato Si ’, no. 49)
“Everything is connected. Concern for the environment thus needs to be joined to a sincere love for our fellow human beings and an unwavering commitment to resolving the problems of society.” (5/24/15, Laudato Si’, no. 91)
“What kind of world do we want to leave to those who come after us, to children who are now growing up?” (5/24/15, Laudato Si’, no. 160)
Laudato Si’ Week is 5/24-5/31. Be kind to all God’s works.
Barbara Molinari Quinby, MPS,
Director
Mini-reflections on the Sunday scripture readings designed for persons on the run. “Faith Book” is also brief enough to be posted in the Sunday parish bulletins people take home. From today’s Revelation reading:
Then I, John, saw a new heaven and a new earth.
Reflection:
Revelation is the assurance that, despite the apparent victories of evil in our world, God is sovereign and just and will overcome evil in the end and reward the just who have persevered and lived faithful lives. Revelation speaks to those who look to God for a comfort that only God can give. It is a prophetic book urging us to hear the Word of God and stay faithful to the covenant God has made with us in Christ.
So, we ask ourselves:
POSTCARDS TO DEATH ROW INMATES
“One has to strongly affirm that condemnation to the death penalty is an inhuman measure that humiliates personal dignity, in whatever form it is carried out." ---Pope Francis
Inmates on death row are the most forgotten people in the prison system. Each week I am posting in this space several inmates’ names and locations. I invite you to write a postcard to one or more of them to let them know that: we have not forgotten them; are praying for them and their families; or, whatever personal encouragement you might like to give them. If the inmate responds, you might consider becoming pen pals.
Please write to:
----Central Prison P.O. 247 Phoenix, MD 21131
Please note: Central Prison is in Raleigh, NC., but for security purposes, mail to inmates is processed through a clearing house at the above address in Maryland.
For more information on the Catholic position on the death penalty go to the Catholic Mobilizing Network: http://catholicsmobilizing.org/resources/cacp/
On this page you can sign “The National Catholic Pledge to End the Death Penalty.” Also, check the interfaith page for People of Faith Against the Death Penalty: http://www.pfadp.org/
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