St. Mary's Church

CNA Staff, Oct 7, 2024 / 06:00 am (CNA).

A new film depicting the life and work of Father Edward J. Flanagan titled “Heart of a Servant: The Father Flanagan Story” will be released in theaters across the United States for one night only on Tuesday, Oct. 8.

The film portrays the Catholic priest’s unwavering commitment to caring for abandoned and orphaned youth starting from the Great Depression to after World War II, all while defying racist laws in order to serve the most vulnerable and give them hope for a future. The film covers a range of topics — from Flanagan’s health issues to his immigrating to the United States to his founding of Boys Town, Nebraska.

The film is narrated by popular Catholic actor Jonathan Roumie, known for his role as Jesus Christ in “The Chosen.”

The movie had its premiere on Sept. 13 in Boys Town, where CNA had the opportunity to sit down with the several of the individuals involved in Servant of God Edward Flanagan’s cause for canonization.

CNA spoke with Deacon Omar F.A. Gutierrez, notary in the cause for canonization, Father Ryan Lewis, JCL, the archbishop’s delegate, and Steve Wolf, vice postulator in the cause for canonization and a Boys Town alumnus.

Wolf explained that as with any cause for canonization, Flanagan’s began with a “groundswell of devotion among his former boys and girls, former youth.”

From there, the challenge became quantifying the growing devotion before meeting with the archbishop to present the case. This was done through demonstrating the thousands of prayer cards distributed, nationally and internationally, and presenting anecdotal information about Flanagan from people who had admired him over the years and during his lifetime.

Archbishop George Lucas of Omaha accepted the petition and formally opened Flanagan’s cause in 2012. The diocesan phase included creating a historical and theological commission to dig deeper into his life and teachings. The archdiocese closed the diocesan phase in 2015.

In 2019, Flanagan’s cause advanced with the presentation of the “positio,” which summarizes the records collected by the Archdiocese of Omaha and argues that Flanagan demonstrated heroic virtue. It was presented to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints on July 22, 2019, along with a letter of support from Lucas.  

“It’s been very exciting. Everything that we did with regard to his life — it was very invasive in the sense of its thorough looking into his life — and the more we dug and the deeper we dug the more and more convinced we became of this man’s sanctity, of his holiness,” Lewis said. “We knew he was a good man and a good priest but he really excelled in the life of virtue.” 

Lewis added that those involved in Flanagan’s cause have come to believe that one of the reasons his foundation, Boys Town, has performed so well over the years is because “it was built on the foundation of such a holy man.”

Wolf added that he believes “his example is needed now more than ever.”

“He offers a guide for people that want to help families in crisis, children in crisis,” he said. “He’s as relevant in the things he said, the way he approached youth care, the evolution of his mission here in Boys Town — it’s just so fundamentally needed now as much as ever.”

Lewis also pointed out that highlighting the life of a priest who did such important work with the youth can serve as a “morale boost to the Catholic Church here in America.”

“Here in America where we have the abuse crisis, to lift up a priest like him, an American priest who worked with youth and did so in such a holy, magnificent way, positive way, impacting so many lives,” he said, “I think it would be a wonderful example and what a morale boost to the Catholic Church here in America, to the Catholic Church in Ireland, and even beyond, to be able to lift this American priest up and say look at this positive example and emblematic of all the many priests who serve so faithfully and so well but sometimes get a bad rap.”

Gutierrez, who has been a deacon for seven years, shared that the title of the film, “Heart of a Servant,” “speaks to my diaconate.”

“I think his life of service came from his identity as a priest. He knew he was called to the priesthood, and the film tells the story about how because of health he kept failing out and failing out but he maintained,” he said. “And I think part of the fruit of his life is the fruit of him being faithful to his identity, and as a deacon that’s what we’re called to do as well — to be faithful to our identities as servants and really serve God’s people and allow the Lord to have that bear fruit.”

The three men shared that they hope this movie will help advance his cause by having more people come to know his story and feel inspired to ask for his intercession.

“I think whoever views it, whether they knew Flanagan or not, is going to get not just a look at him but a really excellent view of his life, which should inspire them to pray to him and ask for his intercession,” Lewis expressed.

“We want to lift him up and hopefully count him among the saints in heaven.”

Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Oct 7, 2024 / 04:00 am (CNA).

October is designated by the Catholic Church as the Month of the Rosary and Oct. 7 is the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary. Here are seven common myths and facts about this devotion to Our Lady.

1. Only Catholics can pray the rosary. 

False. While rosaries are typically associated with Catholics, non-Catholics can certainly pray the rosary — and in fact, many credit it to their conversion. Even some Protestants recognize the rosary as a valid form of prayer.

2. Praying the rosary is idolatry. 

False. Some have objections to the rosary, claiming it idolizes Mary and is overly repetitive. 

Just like any practice, the rosary can be abused — just as someone might idolize a particular pastor or priest, a form of worship, or fasting. But the rosary itself is not a form of idolatry. 

The rosary is not a prayer to Mary — it is a meditation on the life of Christ revealed in five mysteries “with the purposes of drawing the person praying deeper into reflecting on Christ’s joys, sacrifices, sufferings, and the glorious miracles of his life.” 

When we pray the Hail Mary, we are not adoring Mary, we are asking for her intercession — just as we might ask a friend or family member to pray for us. 

Second, any prayer can lose its meaning if we do not intentionally meditate on it. Focusing on the mysteries with purpose and intention is key to the rosary’s transforming power. As one author encourages: “The rosary itself stays the same, but we do not.”

3. You can wear a rosary as a necklace.

It depends. It is typically considered disrespectful and irreverent to wear a rosary around one’s neck as jewelry, even though the Church does not have an explicit declaration against doing so. 

However, Canon 1171 of the Code of Canon Law says that “sacred objects, set aside for divine worship by dedication or blessing, are to be treated with reverence. They are not to be made over to secular or inappropriate use, even though they may belong to private persons.”

It is important to treat the rosary with respect and intention. If you intend to wear the rosary as a piece of jewelry, this would not be respectful and should be avoided. It goes without saying that wearing the rosary as a mockery or gang symbol would be a sin.

But if it is your intention to use the rosary and be mindful of prayer, then it could be permissible. It is not uncommon in some cultures, like in Honduras and El Salvador, to see the rosary respectfully worn around the neck as a sign of devotion.

Rosary rings or bracelets might be a better option if you want to keep your rosary close at hand as a reminder to pray, as they are kept more out of sight and would not be as easily misconstrued to be a piece of jewelry. 

4. The rosary is an extremist symbol.

False. A widely-shared 2022 Atlantic article went viral for accusing the rosary of being an “extremist symbol.” 

“Just as the AR-15 rifle has become a sacred object for Christian nationalists in general, the rosary has acquired a militaristic meaning for radical-traditional (or “rad trad”) Catholics,” the article read.

The author also cited the Church’s stance on traditional marriage and the sanctity of life as evidence of “extremism” and claimed that Catholics’ tendency to call the rosary a “weapon in the fight against evil” as dangerous.

As CNA reported in 2022, popes have urged Catholics to pray the rosary since 1571 — often referring to the rosary as a prayer “weapon” and most powerful spiritual tool.

5. The rosary is not biblical.

Untrue! Most of its words come directly from Scripture.

First, the Our Father is prayed. The words of the Our Father are those Christ taught his disciples to pray in Matthew 6:9–13.

The Hail Mary also comes straight from the Bible. The first part, “Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee,” comes from Luke 1:28, and the second, “Blessed art thou amongst women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb,” is found in Luke 1:42.

Finally, each of the decades prayed on the rosary symbolizes an event in the lives of Jesus and Mary. The decades are divided into four sets of mysteries: joyful, luminous, sorrowful, and glorious, the majority of which are found in Scripture. 

6. A rosary bead, or pea, can kill you.

Somewhat true. A rosary pea, or abrus seed, is a vine plant native to India and parts of Asia. The seeds of the vine, which are red with black spots, are often used to make beaded jewelry — including rosaries. Rosary pea seeds contain a toxic substance called “abrin,” which is a naturally-occurring poison that can be fatal if ingested. However, it’s unlikely for someone to get abrin poisoning just from holding a rosary made from abrus seeds, as one would have to swallow them.

Today, most rosaries are made from other nontoxic materials, such as olive wood or glass — eliminating this concern.

7. Carrying a rosary can protect you.

True. The rosary has proven to be a miraculous force for protecting those of faith and bestowing upon them extra graces, such as the victory of the Christian forces at the Battle of Lepanto after St. Pius V implored Western Christians to pray the rosary.

Many great saints across history, including Pope John Paul II, Padre Pio, and Lucia of Fatima, have also recognized the rosary as the most powerful weapon in fighting the real spiritual battles we face in the world. 

We know that spiritual warfare is a real and present danger: “For our struggle is not with flesh and blood but with the principalities, with the powers, with the world rulers of this present darkness, with the evil spirits in the heavens” (Eph 6:11–12). 

“The rosary is a powerful weapon to put the demons to flight and to keep oneself from sin … If you desire peace in your hearts, in your homes, and in your country, assemble each evening to recite the rosary. Let not even one day pass without saying it, no matter how burdened you may be with many cares and labors,” Pope Pius XI said. 

This article was first published on Oct. 1, 2022, and has been updated.

Si bien las “mujeres diaconisas” no están formalmente en discusión en el Sínodo de la Sinodalidad este mes, la conferencia de prensa oficial del Vaticano presentó a una delegada que habló sobre las mujeres que experimentan “un llamado al sacerdocio”.

Los obispos de Estados Unidos anunciaron la segunda novena anual por la salud mental dentro de una campaña nacional para promover esta causa.

La Iglesia Católica en Chilpancingo convocó a los fieles a una jornada de ayuno y oración para pedir el don de la paz, especialmente en el estado mexicano de Guerrero, tras el reciente y cruel asesinato del joven alcalde Alejandro Arcos.

El P. Benigno Condori Chuchi es un sacerdote franciscano que el Papa Francisco ha elegido como nuevo Obispo Prelado de Ayaviri en Perú. “Somos como las fichas de ajedrez: estamos aquí, estamos allá, donde el Señor nos proponga”, afirma.

El Papa Francisco anunció 5 nuevos cardenales de Latinoamérica para la Iglesia Católica, el domingo 6 de octubre en el marco del rezo del ángelus en la Plaza de San Pedro en el Vaticano. Te contamos en esta nota quiénes son estos obispos que podrán ser electores en el siguiente cónclave que elija al sucesor de San Pedro.

Allí, según comenta la Red Nacional de Defensa de los Derechos Humanos de Haití, los hombres armados huyeron del pueblo a través de una granja cercana, matando también a todo el que encontraban a su paso. “Familias enteras fueron diezmadas”, precisó el grupo

CNA Staff, Oct 6, 2024 / 06:00 am (CNA).

The U.S. bishops announced the second annual novena for mental health as part of a national campaign to promote mental health.

Launched in 2023, the National Catholic Mental Health Campaign aimed to address mental illness around the message that “everyone who needs help should receive help.”

Beginning on World Mental Health Day, Oct. 10, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) “will begin nine days of focused prayer, teaching, and actionable steps to engage more intentionally on mental health issues,” according to the USCCB Sept. 23 press release. The novena will conclude on Oct. 18, the feast of St. Luke the Evangelist, the patron saint of health care.

The novena will be a tradition for future years to come, said Paul Jarzembowski, the USCCB associate director for the laity for the Secretariat of Laity, Marriage, Family Life, and Youth.

Jarzembowski told CNA that the Church is seeking “to follow the example of Jesus in responding to the needs of the people of God in real time.”

“Today mental health is impacting the lives of so many people, which was amplified and raised to our consciousness by the global pandemic,” he explained. “The U.S. bishops also took note of the growing epidemic of loneliness across the country, in particular among young people, the elderly, and marginalized populations.”

“People are hurting all around us at this very moment, even if we cannot visibly see it,” Jarzembowski said. “Through this nationwide campaign, the U.S. bishops are asking everyone to join them to respond with greater awareness and action as the mental health crisis unfolds before us every day.”

Each day of the novena has a different theme and focuses on a different saint. For instance, Day 1 of the novena begins with St. Dymphna, the patron saint of those suffering from mental illness and of mental health professionals, and focuses on praying for removing stigmas around mental health.

The goal of the novena is to build up “a lasting way for all Catholics to prayerfully remember those who are most impacted by this crisis and to answer the call of Jesus to respond to those who struggle with tender care and pastoral action,” Jarzembowski noted.

The hope is that the campaign and novena “will be integrated into our homes, our churches, and our work within society,” according to Jarzembowski.

When asked what steps Catholics can take to better support people who struggle with mental health, Jarzembowski suggested becoming “more aware of potential mental health issues” and recognizing “that they can be hidden in plain sight.” 

“Developing habits of being more compassionate and patient with one another, especially online, can go a long way to creating a culture of spiritual and mental wellness,” he continued. “Be mindful of the signs of depression, suicidal ideation, loneliness, and anxiety, and accompany those people who struggle to seek out the help and support they may need.” 

Each day of the novena includes actions that Catholics can take to help address the mental health crisis.

“In our Catholic parishes and dioceses, we can advocate for more mental health ministry,” Jarzembowski added. “From developing mental health support groups to researching health care options in our local community to infusing a spirit of mental wellness into our existing pastoral ministries, especially for young people, families, and the elderly, there are many things Catholics can do to create a culture of responsiveness.”

Resources for the mental health campaign, including the novena, can be found here.

Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Oct 5, 2024 / 09:20 am (CNA).

Pennsylvania pro-life advocate Mark Houck joined panelists at the annual Pray Vote Stand Summit in Washington, D.C., on Friday to call attention to the Biden-Harris administration’s attacks against the pro-life movement.

The founder of The King’s Men, a Catholic men’s apostolate, was featured alongside Janet Durig and Catherine Herring as part of a panel titled “Kamala Harris’ Attacks on Life and the Family” during the annual gathering of mostly evangelical Christian conservatives.

Durig is the executive director of Capitol Hill Pregnancy Center, a Washington, D.C-based pro-life resource center that has recently faced repeated attacks of harassment and vandalism. 

The panel pointed out that Harris is known for making inflammatory statements against pro-life pregnancy centers, including offering words of encouragement to Democrat attorneys general nationwide for “taking on, rightly, the crisis pregnancy centers.”

“We don’t force anything on [pregnant women],” Durig said. “Of course, as a Christian pregnancy center, we would want them to choose life, but we don’t force anything on them.

Houck spoke about his own arrest in which over 25 heavily armed federal agents, including two SWAT team members, raided his home during the early morning hours of Sept. 23, 2022.

Houck described the arrest — which he said took place without a warrant and was witnessed by his wife and children — as “a tyrannical overreach of government” and symbolic of “dictatorship.” 

Looking ahead to the elections in November, Houck told those gathered at the summit that respect for the Constitution must be renewed among elected leaders in order for corrupt targeting of pro-life and pro-family advocates to cease.

“My Fourth Amendment rights [‘the right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects against unreasonable searches and seizures’] were violated the day [the FBI] came to my home,” Houck said. “With any new administration, if there’s going to be a change, we need to get rid of the current FBI director, and we need to get rid of the attorney general.” 

Federal prosecutors charged Houck with violating the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act after he was involved in an altercation with an abortion clinic escort who had been harassing his 12-year-old son. After just an hour of deliberation, a jury unanimously found him innocent of the alleged crime, for which he would have been sentenced to 11 years in prison.

Following his arrest, Houck noted that he spent six hours handcuffed to a chair before anyone spoke to him. In total, he was detained for 10 hours before being released on his own recognizance, thereby signaling that he was never considered a true threat. 

“So why the heavy raid?” he asked. “Because they want to humiliate you, intimidate you, and instill fear in you, and make an example of you.”

For her part, Herring shared the story of how she was able to save her daughter’s life thanks to an abortion pill reversal after her husband poisoned her by dissolving chemical abortion pills in her drink.

Had the Biden-Harris administration kept in place previous distribution restrictions on chemical abortion drugs, she said, the incident would not have happened.