Ite ad Joseph! (Go to Joseph!) It’s the great Latin admonition of the Church, to seek the intercession of the Patron Saint of the Church, and a powerful intercessor at that. Against the backdrop of the new aggressive eugenics that has taken solid root in American medicine, and against the war on the Catholic Church [...]
Archive for the ‘Family’ Category
Redemption, Returning to a New Normal, and a Homily to Bridge the Chasm
Posted in Family on October 23, 2011 | 4 Comments »
Note: It’s been two weeks like no other. Yesterday we had the funeral mass and burial of Jon in Warwick, NY. We also had the memorial for Kortney and Sophy in Virginia. Today, on the Lord’s Day, we rest. Tomorrow, all will return to our lives and a new normal, a phase of healing and [...]
Must-See Video of Jon Scharfenberger in Action on Campus
Posted in Family on October 21, 2011 | 7 Comments »
I was at the wake today for Jon, and will drive back up for the funeral mass in the morning. I sat here tonight and watched this video of Jon doing his thing for SFLA’s Pregnant on Campus Initiative, which he was directing. This is masculinity in action; gentle strength born of a life lived [...]
Trusting God in the Midst of Confusion
Posted in Family on October 20, 2011 |
In the midst of this tragedy, it’s tough to sort it all out. It also precipitates a crisis of faith for many. I’ve posted this video before, but Chuck Girard takes the psalms and drives the message home beautifully.
Funeral Arrangements for Jon Scharfenberger
Posted in Family on October 20, 2011 | 4 Comments »
Jon’s sister, Kim, posted the following funeral arrangements on her FB page tonight: “Thank you for all the prayers and condolences. We are going to need them through this time. For any who are interested, Jon’s wake and funeral will be held in our hometown, Warwick NY. The wake is on Friday the 21st at [...]
A Note About the Blog
Posted in Family on October 18, 2011 | 4 Comments »
There are few things as unbearable as the death of the young, especially a gem like Jon. Last night I posted that I wouldn’t be blogging about the life issues until Jon’s condition resolved. I’ll pick up the blogging again after the burial. For now, I’ll be posting meditations and prayers, as well as beneficial [...]
Jon Scharfenberger, at Safe Harbor
Posted in Family on October 18, 2011 | 9 Comments »
Today was the day all prayed to avoid. Jon Scharfenberger entered his rest slightly before noon. The pro-life community lost a warrior and future general. Students for Life of America lost a beloved colleague. Dr. and Mrs. Scharfenberger lost a son, something I cannot fathom as a father. We’ll finish day nine of our novena [...]
Day Eight: Novena to Our Lady of Lourdes for Jon and the Other Victims
Posted in Family on October 18, 2011 |
We gather in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen. DAY EIGHT O Immaculate Mother of God, from heaven itself you came to appear to the little Bernadette in the rough Grotto of Lourdes ! And as Bernadette knelt at your feet and the miraculous spring burst [...]
Arise From Darkness: Words from Father Benedict Groeschel
Posted in Family on October 18, 2011 | 2 Comments »
For those who are praying for Jon, Father Benedict Groeschel has timely advice in a 1999 broadcast.
Jon Scharfenberger and the Light in the Darkness
Posted in Family on October 17, 2011 | 9 Comments »
I haven’t blogged about any of the life issues since the tragic accident eight days ago that claimed three lives, and critically injured three others. Jon Scharfenberger remains in extremely critical condition, and quite frankly, it doesn’t sound good from what I am hearing. But then, things often swing to those extremes in an ICU. [...]
Day Seven: Novena to Our Lady of Lourdes for Jon and the Other Victims
Posted in Family on October 17, 2011 | 1 Comment »
We gather in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen. DAY SEVEN O Almighty God, who by the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary did prepare a worthy dwelling place for your Son, we humbly beseech you that as we contemplate the apparition of Our Lady [...]
Day Six: Novena to Our Lady of Lourdes for Jon and the Other Victims
Posted in Family on October 16, 2011 | 1 Comment »
We gather in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen. DAY SIX O glorious Mother of God, so powerful under your special title of Our Lady of Lourdes, to you we raise our hearts and hands to implore your powerful intercession in obtaining from the gracious Heart [...]
Day Five: Novena to Our Lady of Lourdes for Jon and the Other Victims
Posted in Family on October 15, 2011 | 1 Comment »
We gather in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen. DAY FIVE O Mary Immaculate, Mother of God and our mother, from the heights of your dignity look down mercifully upon us while we, full of confidence in your unbounded goodness and confident that your Divine Son [...]
Day Four: Novena to Our Lady of Lourdes for Jon and the Other Victims
Posted in Family on October 14, 2011 | 2 Comments »
Day Three Here. We gather in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen. DAY FOUR O Immaculate Queen of Heaven, we your wayward, erring children, join our unworthy prayers of praise and thanksgiving to those of the angels and saints and your own-the One, Holy, and Undivided [...]
Day Three: Novena to Our Lady of Lourdes for Jon and the Other Victims
Posted in Family on October 13, 2011 | 4 Comments »
Day Two Here. We gather in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen. DAY THREE “You are all fair, O Mary, and there is in you no stain of original sin.” O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee. O brilliant star [...]
