The CatholiCity Message
Volume VI, Number 13 – July 11, 2002
Dear CatholiCity Citizen,
Happy Birthday, United States. We're in a good mood because it's summertime. Summer rejuvenates us: lots of sunlight. Playing baseball. Having friends visit. Going to our annual Fourth of July family gatherings to spend time with our siblings, nieces, nephews, uncles, aunts and cousins. In short, summer can be when we feel most connected to that which we love most. We don't feel alone in the summer. So let's get right to it, with a quote from the master...
"This man's spiritual power has been precisely this, that he has distinguished between custom and creed. He has broken the conventions, but kept the commandments...everything is wrong about him, except that he has done no wrong."
G.K. Chesterton, from his novel, Manalive
1. COMING SOON
We've been negotiating with other apostolates for months to prepare our annual summer CatholiCity Discount Message in which we offer you incredible savings on special items as our thank you for being a CatholiCity Citizen–perhaps as soon as our next message, so keep your eye on your in-box.
2. BEST BOOK
We've just finished the best book we've read in years, Gates of Fire, by Steven Pressfield, a novel depicting the Battle of Thermopylae. As with any realistic story about war and the lives of warriors, it is quite violent and authentically conveys the earthy language of soldiers. Okay, so you're not into history, but know this: the heroic stand of 300 Spartans which inspired the Greeks to rally and throw back the seemingly invincible Persians changed all of human history, including your history, because Christian Europe as we know it would not have come into existence. The virtues practiced and sacrifices made by generations in the tiny city of Sparta to preserve their freedom in the face of insurmountable odds inspired me beyond words, and reminded me of the predicament we as faithful Catholics face in our own times. It gave us hope. Courage, virtue and holiness by the few, with God's help, can overcome our enemies. We're sure you can find Gates of Fire in any library or bookstore.
3. THE MITRE
If we were bishops, we would have bags under our eyes–because we would spend so little time sleeping. Our waking hours would be overflowing with two overarching activities: knowing and training our priests, and making sure every one in our flock, including fallen away Catholics and separated brothers (indeed, everyone in our diocese, regardless of creed) knew us personally. We would consider it a tragedy if we lived past sixty because that would mean we had not poured out our health in service to Christ with enough zeal.
SECOND QUOTE OF THE WEEK
"If you are not willing to die for your God and your brothers, at a moment's notice or by a thousand cuts and sacrifices over many years, then you do not have a religion. You have a hobby."
G.K. MacBrien
4. SEE YOU IN TORONTO
Just a reminder that we'll be attending the Greater Toronto Right-to-Life Leaders Convention at the University of Toronto Newman Centre on July 21 and attending the way-cool kick-off event, World Youth for Life Day on Olympic Island on July 22; we're bringing thousands of free books and CDs with us, as always. If you, your family, or a group from your parish are going to World Youth Day, there's still time to register.
JOKE OF THE WEEK
Question: Why do we call seagulls at the ocean seagulls?
Answer: Because if they were at the bay we would have to call them bagels.
5. SUMMER READING
The next two months are primo vacation months for most folks, and it's a great opportunity to give your friends our free novels from Saint Jude Media. Stock up now. Just this past week, we received news of a marriage that was saved after the couple read Conceived Without Sin and read about a woman who was given the grace to go to Confession for an abortion she had many years ago. You can request copies of Pierced by a Sword, Conceived Without Sin, or House of Gold by writing to Saint Jude Media, PO Box 26120, Fairview Park OH 44126 or request them online here:
https://secure.catholicity.com/order.html
Free same-day shipping. Donations are strictly optional for one copy of each book, and all we ask for additional copies is a nominal $2 to $10 each. Oh, here's a way to reach an unsuspecting soul: order copies of each novel and donate them to your local public and school libraries. Thanks. You guys are the best.
6. HAIL TO THE QUEEN
Let us all pray for our Holy Father as he prepares to step onto North American soil later this month. A simple prayer for a saint to his and our mother:
"Hail, holy Queen, Mother of mercy, our life, our sweetness and our hope. To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve: to thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn then, most gracious Advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us, and after this our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary! Amen."
Still with us? Good for you. Good for us. Here's something that will change your life forever–beyond your wildest dreams. If you haven't done so, consider consecrating your heart to Immaculate Mary. Have no clue what that means? That's okay.
Still with us? Thanks. We're with you, and you're the best. Let's continue to break conventions and keep commandments–together. Remember to pray for us. We pray for you. Talk to you soon...
With Christ,
Your Friends at CatholiCity
