The CatholiCity Message
Volume XIV, Number 4 – May 28, 2010
Dear CatholiCity Citizen,
Our warmest welcome to all new readers. Yes, yes, it is, indeed, no more, and surely, no less, than (wait for it...) Recommendation Month! (That is a lot of commas.) One, two, three, Go...
We recommend...
1. A GREAT CATHOLIC WEBSITE
If you have not heard of the Catholic Advocate, then you will surely want to check out their website and sign up for their excellent email updates. In their own words, this organization "tracks the voting records of Catholic members of Congress, addresses current ongoing debates about Catholic political participation, and calls upon Catholic voters to support candidates and policies faithful to the Magisterium of the Catholic Church."
2. FR. MCCLOSKEY'S NEW BOOK
Longtime "resident" of CatholiCity, Fr. C. John McCloskey, whose works are archived on our website, aka "the convert maker," has a timely new book out on Hilaire Belloc:
http://www.catholicity.com/mccloskey/belloc.html
We also recommend Fr. John's book on evangelization:
http://www.catholicity.com/mccloskey/goodnews.html
3. CREAM-FILLED CHOCOLATE CUPCAKES
Little Debbie and Walmart's "Great Value" have recently jumped into the ring dominated by Hostess and TastyKake. It took extensive research by our kids, but the results are in.
First Place: Little Debbie ($3 per box) "Frosting, cream, cake all done well."
Second Place: Great Value ($2 per box) "Best buy, but second best cupcake."
Third Place: TastyKake ($4 per box) "Best frosting. Different from the rest."
Last Place: Hostess ($4 per box) "The granddaddy of them falls behind."
4. GOING TO DAILY MASS
Going to daily Mass is recommended by the popes and saints. We know this is not possible for everyone, but it is possible for most of you. If you used to go to Mass every day, we encourage you to return. If you have never tried it, we warmly encourage you to try it for two or three weeks. As our Mom used to say, "No matter what else happens, if I went to Mass today, it was a good day." One practical step is to put the daily Mass schedule for all the churches near your home and workplace onto your fridge. Need inspiration, listen to this talk:
http://www.catholicity.com/cds/mass.html
5. THIS QUOTE FROM G.K. CHESTERTON
"Anything worth doing is worth doing badly."
6. DOWNLOADING MARY FOUNDATION TALKS
Some of you may not realize that you can now listen to every Mary Foundation talk instantly online or download them to your MP3 player:
http://www.catholicity.com/cds/
7. CONFESSION THIS OFTEN
...at least once or twice per month.
8. THE SPECTACULAR CATHOLIC NOVEL "FATHERLESS"
We know a lot of you love Bud Macfarlane's novels. As with Bud's books, Brian Gail's "Fatherless" is a page-turner, powerful, and a word-of-mouth sensation. We simply could not put it down as it exposed what is perhaps the greatest evil of our age. Glowingly recommended by bishops and pro-life leaders (including Judie Brown of The American Life League and Fr. Euteneuer of Human Life International), you can order it here (as well as watch a powerful YouTube presentation by the author):
THIS PRAYER, TENS OF THOUSANDS PRAYING IT TOGETHER
We love to pray with you, so join us as we pray, as the month of Mary comes to a close:
"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."
If you follow these recommendations, we hope it will help God change your life, and through you, the lives of others. That is what we do here, with you. Until next time, we remain...
With Our Lady,
Your Friends at CatholiCity
