A few summers ago our faith community was shaken when two young people experienced life-threatening accidents. In both instances, our community went into action via various social media forums to spread the word and request immediate prayer. Within a few hours, people throughout the country were praying for the healing of these two precious souls. God performed several miracles on both of these individuals that were not expected to survive. Today they are both thankful to alive.

While praying for these two individuals, we were struck by the thousands of equally great tragedies that occur every day yet go largely unnoticed in the Christian community. No one is calling the faithful to pray for these individuals. We are heartbroken over the lack of concern for these suffering souls. Why have we grown so numb to an epidemic that is destroying hundreds of thousands of lives every year? Lord, have mercy on us for being so uncaring for those who are suffering in our midst.

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For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. This is a great mystery, but I speak in reference to Christ and the Church. (Eph 5:31-32)

Do you know the point of marriage? St. Paul is his letter to the Church at Ephesus calls it a “great mystery.” In the original Greek, Paul used the word mystērion, a hidden or secret thing, not obvious to the understanding (Strong’s Concordance G3466). In rabbinic writings, the word mystērion denotes a mystic or hidden sense to a biblical saying. What is this hidden sense of marriage that Paul is speaking about?

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Today the Church celebrates the Feast Day of St. John Paul II. Traditionally, the feast of a saint is held on dies natalis, the day of the saint’s death and his heavenly birthday. St. John Paul II died on April 2, 2005 however that day can fall during Holy Week. To guarantee the day would be solemnly celebrated every year, the Vatican elected to set his day of liturgical memory on October 22, the Anniversary of the Inauguration Mass for his pontificate.

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Several years ago, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops issued a pastoral letter entitled Marriage: Love and Life in the Divine Plan[i]. This document clearly explains the central points of Catholic teaching on marriage. In addition, it identifies the contemporary challenges to marriage and how the Church addresses those challenges.

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After barreling across the Caribbean, Hurricane Matthew, the most powerful storm to threaten the Atlantic coast in more than a decade has left death and devastation in its wake. The World Meteorological Organization, described the storm as “one big, bad beast.” The storm hit Florida this past Thursday night, heading north along the eastern seaboard. Hundreds of thousands homes and untold lives have been ripped apart by the storm.

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Does your marriage need a boost? Has your marriage and family life become routine; lacking the joy it had when you were newlyweds? You can jump start your marriage and revitalize it by living out one simple truth from Sacred Scripture:

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Archbishop Charles J. Chaput of Philadelphia recently gave an address on religious liberty at the University of Notre Dame. The Archbishop’s address included comments on the current state of marriage and family life in the United States and what must be done to fix it. Here are some highlights of his address:

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We are all called to a life of holiness.^[1] That holiness is achieved through our chosen vocation whether we are called to the religious, married or consecrated life. The way in which we live out our vocation is known as our spirituality. The Church has a long history of spirituality for the monastic, religious and consecrated life. However, lay spirituality, particularly in the family, is essentially undeveloped.

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Every few years, I (Dennis) undergo a stress test to determine the condition of my heart. These checkups are required as the result of a heart attack I suffered 20 years ago. The tests show if there is any deterioration in the heart muscle over time and if any intervention is required to ensure the health of my heart.

Jesus said to his disciples: A good tree does not bear rotten fruit, nor does a rotten tree bear good fruit. For every tree is known by its own fruit. For people do not pick figs from thornbushes, nor do they gather grapes from brambles. A good person out of the store of goodness in his heart produces good, but an evil person out of a store of evil produces evil; for from the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks. (Lk 6:43-45)

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