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Vol. VII, No. 6 3. May We Suggest Stained Glass? 4. "Tearing Down Walls. Building Up
Hope,"
A Message From The Rev. Nancy Wilson, UFMCC Moderator
-------------------------------------------------- "Leave
results to God." Elizabeth Barrett Browning ***** Welcome once again to the Chi Rho Connection, the
electronic newsletter of Chi Rho Press. Thank you for passing this Chi Rho
Connection on to others. To join our list, send an e-mail message to
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ChiRhoPress-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com. Please visit our Web site at www.chirhopress.com to
see our entire lines of books, handouts, videos, tapes, tchochkas, and stained
glass. Direct all other e-mail to
Adam@ChiRhoPress.com.
Return to table of contents
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support!
Return to table of contents By Adam
DeBaugh [This
article is the third of a series published in the "Epi-Grams," the newsletter of
the health studies area of Westat. Adam is the editor of "Epi-Grams." Since "Epi-Grams"
is only published quarterly, this, the third in the series, was published this
month.]
"Do you
know the difference between a terrorist and an editor? You can negotiate with a
terrorist."
Much to my surprise, I received some e-mails after the last
edition of
"Epi-Grams"
from people who complained that these very personal screeds
"From the
Editor's Cave"
had gone missing. I thought [my boss] was going to fire me for the first two,
starting the Dreaded Termination Interview with his trademark, "Hmm, let's see .
. . ." But alas, I am still here and still editor of
"Epi-Grams."
Alas indeed!
I am grateful that some of you at least have found some merit in
the rantings of this Curmudgeon/Editor. I am feeling a bit mellower today, but
feel moved to mention a couple of things.
"The Screening Center should fill out a NRF." What's wrong with
that sentence?
It should be "an NRF."
Why, I hear you whine? We only use "an" rather
than "a" when the next word begins with a vowel and N is not a vowel. (Sigh)
Yes, but, the Kindly, Long-Suffering Editor opines, it is more about the sound
of the word. When you say the letter N, you are really saying "en," hence the
preceding article should be "an."
Here's a quiz! What other letters would be preceded by "an"
rather than "a" if they lead off an acronym?
Style Book
My newest author at [Chi Rho Press] has asked why we have a style
book. And I am sure my other colleagues also question why Uncle Adam is so durn
fussy about adopting a style book and adhering to it. Why indeed! The easy
answer is that having an arcane Style Book full of obscure and silly rules (like
the Oxford comma, for instance) gives the Curmudgeon/Editor something to do!
The correct answer (or at least a more correct answer) is that
uniformity of style makes a document look more professional. I will freely
admit that I may be the last breathing person in the sentient world to care
about this sort of thing, it's the grisly fate of being a Word Guy in a company
full of Numbers People, but I notice inconsistencies in style when I read a
document. And it drives me bonkers!
Of course, driving me bonkers may be the life goal of some of
you, but the truth is that having a consistent style does make the written word
easier to read and comprehend. Style Books are important. Each study should
have one of its own. And I believe our projects benefit by having a uniformity
of style that is under the oversight of a study editor.
Now it is true that Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote (in the essay "Self
Reliance") that "a foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds."
But are you going to trust a man who not only has
"Waldo" as his middle name, but uses it proudly? And Mr. Emerson doesn't bother
to explain the difference between a "foolish" and a wise consistency.
Nevertheless, I would make bold to suggest that consistency or uniformity of
style in the written word is a very good thing indeed.
Which English?
We have all most likely heard the line, variously attributed to
Winston Churchill, George Bernard Shaw, and even Alastair Cooke, that Great
Britain and the United States are "two nations separated by a common language."
In "The Canterville Ghost,"
Oscar Wilde wrote that Britain has "really everything in common with America
nowadays except, of course, language."
Dylan Thomas is quoted as saying on a radio show in the 50s that
European writers and scholars in America are "up against the barrier of a common
language."
For instance, we Americans think Fall is a season that precedes
winter and follows summer. The British know that season as Autumn and get
confused if you refer to it as Fall.
I have a good friend who spent a day in Washington with an
English visitor, and proudly proclaimed that they had spent the day on the Lube,
until she was corrected by the Brit who explained that she had been calling
Metro, DC's admirable subway system, the Tube, not the Lube.
The British government are always a plural entity. Hence, "the
government are." In the United States, "the government is." Or isn't,
depending on your political point of view. But in any case, we think of our
government as a singular entity. The British like to see their government as a
plural entity.
Even something as simple as a date writ numerically can be
confusing, as in the US it is customary to write mm/dd/yy, whereas in Great
Britain the formulation is usually dd/mm/yy. So 3/6/06 will mean March 6, 2006
in the US and June 3, 2006 in England.
Second quiz question: What are your favorite variances between
US and UK English?
Finally, Vocabulary
I had a complaint from a loyal reader. He protested that he had
to consult a dictionary whilst reading something I had written. I think the
problematic word was "penultimate." Aw.
Well good! At least he did look it up, and hopefully learned
that "penultimate" means "next to last." It is a perfectly good word, lovely
and elegant, and very useful. And fun to say!
There have been many studies that prove that a strong command of
the English language is directly linked to success in one's life. Is this just
the mind-numbing cavil of the resident Word Guy? I don't think so. Having a
good, broad, and diverse vocabulary is fun! It will astound your friends, amaze
your bosses, and infuriate your enemies, not to mention entertain small children
and amuse one's pets.
We live in a society that is increasingly sinking to the lowest
common denominator. We write, talk, and even think more and more in tune with
the least educated of the people we encounter. This is not at all a felicitous
situation. Should we not rather be trying to raise the standards of thought and
expression? Polite discourse can not and should not be reduced to "how r u?"
How does one improve one's vocabulary? There are lots of helpful
aids out there, just browse around Borders or Barnes and Noble. (Oh dear.
Those are bookstores. A bookstore, Inquisitive Mind, is a place where one can
find books to purchase. Um, a "book" is a bound sheaf of printed pages, a
printed literary work. I hope I haven't lost you!)
But here's an easy way to increase your vocabulary: Use your
Thesaurus. No, a Thesaurus is not an extinct breed of dinosaur. It is a
compendium of synonyms and can be quite useful when you find yourself using the
same word over and over again. In Word, highlight the word you want to replace
and hit Shift F7, and the pretty decent Thesaurus will pop up.
Your third and final assignment of the quarter: learn a new word
and use it intelligently in a sentence. It will be a challenge, but it will be
fun. Honest. No, really, it will be. Oh come on, just try it! (But please,
do not let your new word be "probabilistic," an abomination of a word I recently
encountered. It makes me shudder.)
Let me know how you do on your three assignments. Here endeth
the lesson.
Return to table of contents
3.
May We Suggest Stained Glass? Our Web minister, the Rev. Clay Witt
has added eight photos of stained glass windows made by resident stained glass
craftsperson, Adam DeBaugh. Adam specializes in windows and also created the
small pieces that Chi Rho Press sells. The stained glass pieces Chi Rho Press
sells are the basic cross ($12.00), the gay/lesbian rainbow flag ($18.00), the
red stained glass AIDS ribbon ($7.50), the rainbow cross ($18.00), and the
rainbow star of David ($18.00). See them at
http://www.chirhopress.com/products/stainedglass.html . Adam will create windows on
commission. Glass is expensive and commissions generally are $75 a square
foot. It takes up to 100 hours to make a two by three foot window, from design
to framing. He uses the copper foil and solder method of stained glass. Each
piece is cut to fit, then the edges are wrapped with copper foil to have
something for the solder to adhere to, then the pieces are soldered together to
make the window. Finally, the whole piece is outlined in zinc came and framed.
Contact him at
Adam@ChiRhoPress.com for further
information and to discuss commissions. New pictures on the Web site at
http://www.chirhopress.com/products/stainedglass_custom.html . They
include four windows commissioned for Holy Redeemer Metropolitan Community
Church in College Park, Maryland. They are the Communion Window, the Holy
Spirit Window, the Noah's Ark Window, and the Easter Lily Window. In addition
are other windows made as gifts or hanging in Adam's home: Irises, Tulips in a
Blue Vase (made for a wedding gift), a Hummingbird and Wisteria, and a Rocking
Horse made on the birth of Adam's first nephew, Douglas. Please visit the Chi Rho Press Web site
and take a look at the stained glass windows and buy some of the smaller pieces
that are readily available.
Return to table of contents
4.
"Tearing Down
Walls. Building Up Hope,"
A Message From The Rev. Nancy Wilson, UFMCC Moderator
(Chi Rho Press encourages you to send a generous gift that will
bring hope and faith through MCC's Eastern Europe Initiative. Read Elder Nancy
Wilson's
letter:)
I'm writing today to ask for your help.
During this Easter season, I'm inviting
you to make a generous contribution to help MCC launch our vital new outreach in
Eastern Europe. As we celebrate the Resurrection of
Jesus Christ, we also have an opportunity
to nurture the powerful resurrections taking place right now across Eastern
Europe, as spiritual faith, political freedom, human rights,
religious hunger, and LGBT affirmation are all experiencing the new birth of
resurrection. Let me explain why
MCC is ideally poised to nurture the spiritual
and justice resurrections taking place in Eastern Europe: Two years ago, Rev. Elder Diane Fisher
launched MCC-led international actions that changed the course of a nation. The
President of Romania and the Mayor of Bucharest had both refused to allow a
Pride March in Romania. But they yielded to the international pressure brought
of the MCC-led actions. As a result, LGBT people across Romania
held the first Pride March in their nation's history and MCC led public worship
services, offered workshops, and helped organize the LGBT community.
That event was a catalyst across
Eastern Europe. Responses poured in to MCC from people of faith and LGBT
activists asking for MCC's help to organize communities, offer workshops,
support human rights, plant churches, and offer spiritual help to LGBT people.
Now, your generous gift to MCC's Easter
Offering for Eastern Europe will allow MCC to take advantage of these God-given
opportunities and will bring faith and hope to people now experiencing the power
of resurrection.
In fact, your generous gift to MCC's special Easter Offering will
accomplish two important goals: It will be
used to plant new churches in Eastern Europe (churches that will provide
spiritual support to LGBT people and their allies) and it will also advance the
cause of human rights and justice in these emerging democracies. During May and June, Rev. Elder Diane
Fisher and Romanian MCC leader Florin Buhuceneau will travel to Russia, Moldova,
Serbia, Bulgaria, and Romania. We
must raise $20,000 (US) to underwrite the cost of this initiative and to plant
new churches. Can I count on you to make a gift to
this important MCC outreach? To make your gift on-line today, simply
CLICK HERE Let me tell you what you will
accomplish with your special MCC Easter Offering. Your gift will: Plant new MCC congregations in Moldova,
Romania, Bulgaria, and Russia. Provide staffing in Eastern Europe to
support new congregations and to actively address the spiritual and justice
needs in this area. Print MCC materials in local
languages. Be used to conduct a campaign in May
and June 2006 in which Rev. Elder Diane Fisher and Romanian MCC leader Florin
Buhuceanu will train activists, hold local pride events, and help organize LGBT
communities, as well as hold workshops for LGBT people of faith and conduct
local worship services. You can take part by making a
contribution to your local MCC's Easter Offering for Eastern Europe,
or to donate right now,
CLICK HERE. I passionately believe in this new MCC
Eastern European Initiative. We have a wonderful opportunity to carry MCC's
gospel of God's inclusive love for all people to people who are hungry for
faith.
And your generous gift will turn this opportunity into a reality!
Won't you take a minute right now to make your gift on-line by
CLICKING HERE Thank you for your faithfulness to
Jesus' calling, and for your commitment to MCC's "Unfinished World; Unfinished
Calling" program.
The Reverend Nancy L. Wilson,
Moderator, Metropolitan Community Churches P.S. If your browser does not support
clickable links, your can make your gift by entering the following into your web
browser:
https://www.mccchurch.org/eseries/source/EasterDonations/donate.cfm?
P.P.S. If you prefer to send your gift
by postal mail, simply mail your check -- made payable to "Metropolitan
Community Churches" with the notation "Eastern Europe Initiative" -- to
Metropolitan Community Churches, ATTN: Easter Offering for Eastern Europe, P. O.
Box 691728, West Hollywood, CA 90069. Background Information: In 2004, LGBT people in Bucharest,
Romania announced plans for the very first LGBT Pride March in their nation's
history. And very quickly the opposition
galvanized: The state church demanded the March be canceled. The Romanian
President opposed it, as did the Mayor of Bucharest. The police chief refused
to issue the permits announcing he could not protect the safety and lives of the
marchers. Romanian MCC leaders and LGBT activists
asked for MCC's help, believing that MCC's role as a church might give it a
unique voice on behalf of human rights. Rev. Elder Diane Fisher flew to
Romania, where she worked side-by-side with Florin Buhuceanu. Florin is
President of ACCEPT, Romania's LGBT human rights group, and the organizer of
MCC's first congregation in Romania. On-site, Diane worked with Florin to
organize the LGBT community. They trained 40 LGBT activists. They conducted
scores of press interviews for newspapers, magazines, TV, and radio. And they
launched an international campaign to focus attention on the situation including
an e-mail campaign to the mayor of Bucharest and the President of Romania.
The Mayor of Bucharest was so flooded
by incoming international e-mails, he shut down his e-mail account. But that
didn't stop the cause: working with the MCC Communications Department, Diane
sent revised action alerts with alternative e-mail addresses to reach the Mayor
and international response continued to pour in. Within a week, the Romania President
reversed himself and ordered city officials to meet with the LGBT delegation.
The permits were issued. And several hundred Romanians took part in their
country's first-ever Pride March. The day after the march, MCC conducted a
highly visible worship service in the Romanian capital. That event and the international media
attention it received marked a pivotal moment. Activists and LGBT faith leaders
in other countries began to write Rev. Fisher and ask for MCC's support. The
requests rolled in from Bulgaria, Moldova, Russia, Serbia, Slovenia, Bosnia,
Hungary, Latvia, Croatia, and as far away as Sri Lanka. In each case, local LGBT people asked
MCC to come to them, to help them organize, to hold public events, and to
establish MCC churches. Across Eastern Europe, MCC is now known
as "The church that supports human rights." (Note from Adam DeBaugh: While at
MCC's international General Conference last July in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, I
had the privilege of getting to know three of the LGBT activists from Eastern
Europe, Igor from Serbia, Jakob from Croatia, and Dim from Bulgaria. I attended
a meeting with them, Elder Fisher, the Rev. Elder Arlene Ackerman (the Regional
Elder in whose Region I reside and minister), and others. I fully support this
important opportunity and have already made a contribution to the Easter
Campaign. I encourage you to help as well. This is exciting and
ground-breaking ministry for the religious and civil rights of LGBT people in
Eastern Europe!)
Return to table of contents Here is a
selection from our second major book of reflections, "Christian with a Twist:
Reflections on Scripture that are a bit more inclusive, a bit more relevant, and
with a bit of a bite," by the late William Gaston. "Christian
with a Twist" is available for $19.95 each, $14.95 each for six or more copies,
plus shipping and handling. You can read more about it and order it at
http://www.chirhopress.com/products/product_details/BookRevChristianWithATwist.htm
As the
subtitle suggests, Bill's writing has a bit of a bite, and we believe you will
enjoy his sharp, but loving
take on Scripture, life, and faith. Here is a
selection entitled "Joy at the Tomb" from the Easter section of "Christian with
a Twist." Please
read John 20:1-2, 11-13a and Psalm 30:5b During this holy season when we "celebrate" the
death of Jesus on the cross, if celebrate is a word we can use, I cannot help
but compare it to the death of my own companion from AIDS a year ago. Over the
past year I have come to appreciate being a Christian much more fully. It is
ironic that my companion would bring that out of me, his being Jewish, but then
so was Jesus. This appreciation has to do with Easter
Morning, for I know that in some very real way my personal loved one, like
Jesus, has risen to be with the God of Creation. Life does not end with a
tomb. Mary Magdalene, like most of us, went to the
tomb to grieve and to honor the one she loved. Randy's parents and I often go
to his tomb, and it is a good and respectful thing that we do that. But
recently his parents did something that has added much to that experience,
something that I think would make Jesus smile and give Randy a hug. Across from the grave marker, a very proper
bronze plaque with Randy's full name and dates, they placed a beautiful granite
bench with not his formal name but rather the name that those who loved him best
called him, "The Randy Bear." So I go not just to Randy's tomb but to his
bench, and I sit there and feel his presence and his love that comes not from
the tomb, but rather from the sunshine of God's living creation. Jesus is there
too, as he is present whenever God's love takes human form. Jesus left the tomb. He did not want to leave
us with a place to go and weep as respectful as that may be. Rather, he wanted
to teach us that it is the joy of life that is eternal, that God and those of
God's children who have gone before us smile upon us and wish us long, full, and
happy lives. Weeping may linger for a night, but joy comes in the morning.
Happy Easter.
http://www.chirhopress.com/products/product_details/BookRevChristianWithATwist.htm
Return to table of contents As a
regular feature in the Chi Rho Connection, we are offering up traditional saints
listed in the 2006 Liturgical Calendar and Lectionary from today until our next
scheduled electronic newsletter.
***** Sat.,
April 15, Bd. Peter Gonzalez. Preaching: Everything spoken in the name of
Christ that is biblically founded and that spreads His work IS the word of
Christ, from whom all grace comes. Learn from Bd. Peter that none are beyond
the power of such words, modestly but boldly proclaimed. "The sound of the
words strikes the ear; the master teaches within," St. Augustine. Mon.,
April 24, St. Fidelis of Sigmaringen. Neighborly concern: We take great
delight in decorating altars with flowers and pretty things made of gold and
silver, and it is right to do so, but if we want to offer God gifts of greater
value we must, like St. Fidelis, seek to save souls who but for us would be
lost. By offering God these souls, we offer God the jewels of paradise. "And
how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, 'How beautiful are
the feet of those who bring good news!'"
(Romans 10:15).
Tues.,
April 25, St. Mark (Patron saint: lawyers). On Christ's adult life: Learn
from St. Mark to keep the image of Christ constantly before you. Mark provided
numerous slight details that give us vivid coloring in the gospel scenes and
help us picture the very gestures and the look of Christ. "For God, who said,
'Let light shine out of darkness,' made God's light shine in our hearts to give
us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ" (2
Corinthians 4:6).
Wed.,
April 26, St. Frances of Rome. Guardian angels: God appointed an angel to
guard each one of us, who watches and prompts us daily. If we listen to our
angel's voice now, we will be led to the very throne of God. "Reverence your
guardian angel; do not dare to do before him what you would not dare to do
before me," St. Bernard. Thurs.,
April 27, St. Zita
(Patron saint: domestic workers). Prayer and work: "What must I do to be
saved?" asked a despairing person. "Work and pray, pray and work," replied a
voice, "and you will be saved." The whole life of St. Zita teaches us this
truth. "We are no good if we are not industrious; work-shy piety is sham
piety," St. Zita. Fri.,
April 28, St. Paul of the Cross. Devotion to the Passion: St. Paul prayed
and suffered especially for England, where he saw many souls in danger of
perishing through religious error and unbelief. One sign of devotion to the
Passion and all that it means is a love of those for whom Christ died. "I have
been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me"
(Galatians 2:20).
Sat.,
April 29, St. Peter of Verona. Confessing the truth: St. Peter spent his
entire life preaching to heretics. We, too, live surrounded by people who
(mostly through no fault of their own) reject parts or all of the Christian
faith. Are we courageous, firm, zealous, full of prayers for their conversion,
unflinching in our profession of faith? Sun.,
April 30, St. Catherine of Siena (Patron saint: fire preven-tion). The
business of the church: St. Catherine willingly sacrificed the delights of
contemplation to work for the church and the Apostolic See. How deeply do the
troubles of the church, and their inevitable effects on individual members,
weigh on our minds? How often do we pray for our church leaders and their loved
ones? Mon.,
May 1, St. Peregrine Laziosi (Patron saint: cancer and AIDS patients).
Works of wonder: The lesson of St. Peregrine's life is not that God worked a
miracle, but that a faithful, trustful servant placed himself unconditionally in
the hands of God. Peregrine's trust in God can be a model for us in dealing
with the pain, sickness, and the crosses of our lives. Asian
Pacific Islanders Month Tues.,
May 2, St. Athanasius. Standing up for your faith: Christian faith is far
more precious than all of the riches and treasures of earth, more glorious and
greater than all its honors, all its possessions. This is what saves sinners,
gives light to the blind, restores penitents, perfects the righteous, and is the
crown of martyrs. "God has promised to be like a wall of fire round those who
rightly believe in God," St. Athanasius. Wed.,
May 3, St. Catherine of Bologna. Worshipful sprit: We are endowed with
many noble powers and can feel the keen joy in exercising them; but the best joy
comes from concentrating all of our powers of mind and heart in the humblest
worship before God. "Consciousness of my nothingness is a very great force. It
has unbarred all the gates of my soul, and gives entrance to the One who is
infinite," St. Catherine of Bologna. Thurs.,
May 4, St. Anne (Patron saint: Christian mothers). Response to divine
calls: St. Anne, Mary's mother, is glorious among the saints not because God
chose her to be Mary's mother but because she gave Mary to God. Learn from her
to reverence divine vocation as the highest privilege and to sacrifice every
natural tie, however holy, at the call of God. Fri., May 5, St. Dominic Savio.
Seeking and finding the glory of God: St. Dominic was one of the most fragile
men in the church, dying at age 15, but he sought sanctity with unsurpassed
zeal. "Give me souls, Lord; You
take the rest" was his battle cry. "He who seeks the glory of the One who sent
him is truthful and there is no injustice in him" John 7:18. Diversity Date: Cinco de Mayo: Mexico
Sat., May 6, St. Joseph
Calasanctius. Teaching the children: The Cure of Ars used to say that, "I
often think that most Christians who are lost are lost for want of instruction,
they do not know their religion properly." People are better instructed in the
truths of the faith by learning from the examples we set than by all of the
church's teaching. Sun., May 7, St. Stanislaus of
Cracow. Denouncing sin: The best correction as well as the safest of vice is a
blameless life, yet there are times when silence would make us answerable for
the sins of others. At such times we have, in God's name, to rebuke the
offender without fear. Mon., May 8, Sts. Peter and
Dionysia. Patience in suffering: The martyrs were like us, and equally with us
shrank from suffering. They were unmoved under it because they looked to
eternal reward, made strong by seeing God who is invisible. "Be patient, then
brothers and sisters, until the
Lord's coming. … As you know, we
consider blessed those who have persevered" (James
5:7, 11).
Tues., May 9, St. Pachomius.
Humility: "To live in great simplicity," said St. Pachomius, "and in a wise
ignorance, is exceedingly wise." And most people "look for miracles as a sign
of holiness but I prefer a solid, heartfelt humility to raising the dead."
Wed., May 10, St. Antonino.
Alms giving: St. Antonino never refused an alms asked in God's name. When he
did not have money, he gave his clothes or shoes or even his furniture. The
giving of alms includes every kind of service rendered to a neighbor who needs
such assistance. No one is so poor that they can not give something to some
one, even unto the richest people, for they have needs too. Thurs., May 11, St. James the
Less. Purity and simplicity: St. James is remembered for the two major aspects
of Christianity: faith and works, one is holy aspiration and the other purity
of heart. "Come near to God and God will come near to you" (James 4:8).
Fri., May 12, St. Agatha (Patron
saint: breast diseases, nurses). Choosing friends: Purity is a gift from God:
we can gain it and keep it only by the most watchful care by avoiding anything
and anyone that may prove an encouragement to failure. "Make your friends among
people who are good and well-behaved, remember the words whose use was
consecrated by the Apostle, 'bad companionship is the ruin of good morals,'"
Tertullian. Sat., May 13, St. Anthony. Less
is more: St. Anthony is considered the father of Christian monasticism
exercising strict rules and character. He was the epitome of the less is more
concept. Sun., May 14, St. Boniface of
Tarsus. Devotion to the saints: Very little is known of St. Boniface but the
legend should teach us to turn evil into good, make our very sins a motive for
moving ourselves with greater fervor to the intercession of God's saints. "Each
one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the
prayers of the saints" (Revelations 5:8).
Mon., May 15, St. Michael
Garicoits. Interior lives: St. Michael made special retreats based on the
spiritual exercises of St. Ignatius, which strengthened his desire to found the
Society of Priests. He taught that it was important to be deaf to the temptation
to sacrifice the religious life and personal sanctification to the apostolate;
he likened it to gathering flowers from a tree to form a bouquet and afterwards
looking for fruit on the barren branches. Tues., May 16, St.
John of Nepomuk (Patron saint: discretion). Indiscretion: St. John teaches us
that what we hear in confidence must stay in confidence. He was martyred for
refusing to break the seal of confession in Czechoslovakia when the king ordered
him to reveal what his wife had confessed. Wed., May 17, St. Paschal Baylon.
Devotion to the blessed sacrament: St. Paschal believed that we should never
let a day pass without visiting Jesus in the sacrament. If we are not able to
take the sacrament, then we are to turn our minds and thoughts to Jesus at least
once daily. Thurs., May 18, St. Felix of
Cantalice. Being thankful: St. Felix always greeted people with the words
Deo Gratias; he taught all the children he came into contact with to repeat
the words and when they saw him, they would call it out. "I will praise you
forever for what you have done; in your name I will hope, for your name is
good. I will praise you in the presence of your saints" (Psalm 52:9).
Fri., May 19, St. Peter
Celestine (Patron saint: bookbinders). Solitude with God: "To speak heart to
heart with God you must love to be with God alone; they who take pleasure in the
society of the great will never hear God's voice," St. Celestine. Sat., May 20, St. Bernardine of
Siena. Devotion to the holy name: Bernardine was a youth when he undertook the
care of an old woman relation of his, who was destitute, bedridden, blind, and
could hardly speak except to utter the holy name. He watched over her until her
death. To understand the mysteries of Jesus, we too must become families with
his friends, the poor, the suffering, and the sick.
***** Order the
2005-2006 Liturgical Calendar and Lectionary, complete
with the entire year's Sanctoral Cycle, at this link:
http://www.chirhopress.com/products/product_details/BookRevLiturgicalCa05_06.html
Return to table of contents It is
Spring and there is so much going on! We have had little time to get out
mid-month edition of the Chi Rho Connection, so this will have to serve for all
of April. I hope you missed us, even a little!
***** I really
encourage you all to become Guardian Angels of Chi Rho Press. This will help us
a lot as we prepare our next books for publication. Just $150 for a year will
make you an important participant in this ministry. Thank you!
***** I also
hope you read carefully the letter from Nancy Wilson, Moderator of the
Metropolitan Community Churches, concerning MCC's move into Eastern Europe.
This is a very important area of ministry and I encourage your support.
***** Thanks for
your continuing support of Chi Rho Press. Look for the Chi Rho Connection again
in mid May. Have a wonderful Easter Season. ***** Please check out the Chi Rho Cards! Our line of
greeting cards, by the talented New York artist Timothy Leetch, are now
available. See the descriptions of the cards on our Web site at:
http://www.chirhopress.com/products/cards.html. Order some cards today! ***** Gracia y paz, R. Adam DeBaugh, Director, Adam@ChiRhoPress.com. ****************************************** We are glad you are partners in ministry with us here
at Chi Rho Press. We are eager for your comments, your suggestions, your
assistance with selling our books, and your own purchases! And of course, we
covet your prayers for this ministry. If you've received the Chi Rho Connection as a result
of someone passing it along to you and would like to receive it directly from
us, please follow these directions: To SUBSCRIBE send blank e-mail to:
ChiRhoPress-subscribe@yahoogroups.com To UNSUBSCRIBE send blank e-mail to:
ChiRhoPress-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com Please visit http://www.ChiRhoPress.com. You may pay
by credit card on our web page or we will ship your order after receiving your
check or money order. Please always include your e-mail address, mailing
address, and telephone number. For all e-mail correspondence, please write
Adam@ChiRhoPress.com. Our snail mail address is: Chi Rho Press, Inc. P.O. Box 7864 Gaithersburg, MD 20898 Our telephone and fax number is 301/926-1208. Customers outside the U.S. and especially our Canadian
friends can order using credit cards on our Web page. Some of our books are also available through our
Canadian distributor, MAP Enterprises, Mary Ann Pearson, at her Web page,
http://www.christiangays.com. Copyright 2006, Chi Rho Press, Inc.
24 April 2006
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Diversity Date: Older Americans Month
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