Book cover of “Behold the Handmaid of the Lord,” by Marian theologian Father Edward Looney, published by Ave Maria Press. / Ave Maria Press
Denver Newsroom, Oct 4, 2021 / 01:00 am (CNA).
Very few dispute (I may be one of them, since I am a St. Bernard guy) that St. Louis Grignon de Montfort’s “True Devotion to Mary” is the greatest Marian book ever written. The spiritual fruits, the conversion, the spiritualities and the millions of consecrations to Mary attest to its importance.
But with his new book “Behold the Handmaid of the Lord,” from Ave Maria Press, Marian theologian Father Edward Looney has provided an even more practical way to make progress with this classic by masterfully summarizing the central teachings of St. Louis in a 10-day personal retreat that will bless even those who have completed the full devotion.
The book is indeed, a very practical work book for a personal 10-day retreat to better encounter the presence of Our Beloved Mother in our daily lives.
During the course of those 10 days, you’ll explore 10 different titles for Mary popularized by St. Louis. Each presents a distinct aspect of her motherhood and protection while illuminating the spiritual path to Jesus through Mary.
You’ll get to know Mary and become devoted to her as:
The Queen of All Saints
Our Lady of the Holy Trinity
The New Eve
The Mother of the Interior Life
The Mother of Disciples
The Star of the Sea
The Queen of All Hearts
The Mediatrix of Grace
The Mold of God
Our Mother and Our Queen
Each day you will reflect on Mary’s role in your life and the practical implications of that connection before wrapping up with a brief closing prayer tailored to the day’s title. You’ll come away prepared to begin or renew your consecration to Mary and with a refreshed love for the Mother of Jesus.
Bonus: The book includes an appendix for step-by-step consecration to Mary.
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Former cardinal Theodore McCarrick arrives at Massachusetts’ Dedham District Courthouse for his arraignment, Sept. 3, 2021. / Andrew Bukuras/CNA
Dedham, Massachusetts, Jun 29, 2023 / 15:15 pm (CNA).
Former cardinal Theodore McCarrick is not competent to stand trial on criminal sexual abuse charges in Massachusetts, a mental health expert hired by the state said after examining the disgraced ex-prelate.
The update in the case could lead to the dismissal of the first criminal charges against McCarrick, 92, following several accusations of sexual abuse of minors and seminarians, which led to his removal from the clerical state in 2019. Criminal sexual assault charges filed against McCarrick in Wisconsin in April are still pending, as are a number of civil lawsuits.
McCarrick is charged in state court with three counts of indecent assault and battery on a person over the age of 14 relating to allegations that he sexually abused the teenager who was a family friend at a wedding ceremony in the 1970s at Wellesley College in Wellesley, Massachusetts.
That teenager was identified by NorthJersey.com in February as James Grein, a now-64-year-old former New Jersey resident.
Grein went public with his allegations in 2018 in an interview with the New York Times, which referred to him only by his first name. He told the newspaper that McCarrick had serially sexually abused him beginning when he was 11.
According to a press release from the Norfolk District Attorney Office, the state of Massachusetts had a health expert examine McCarrick in Missouri following McCarrick’s filing of a motion in February claiming he is “legally incompetent” to stand trial, citing “significant, worsening, and irreversible dementia.”
That motion filed by McCarrick’s legal team was supported by a neurological exam of him that was conducted by Dr. David Schretlen, a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
That exam was unavailable to the public, but McCarrick’s lawyers referenced the report in court documents that concluded he has a “severe cognitive disorder” and “everyday functional disability” that classifies as dementia and is most likely due to Alzheimer’s disease.
According to Thursday’s press release, the final report of the state’s exam is not available to the public, either. The health expert who conducted the exam is not identified in the release.
“The report is lengthy and is being evaluated,” the DA’s office said in the release.
The next hearing “on the available reports” in the case is scheduled for Aug. 30, which may include testimony from the state’s examiner, the press release said.
Barry Coburn, a lawyer for McCarrick, declined to comment Thursday.
Former cardinal Theodore McCarrick arrives outside Massachusetts’ Dedham District Courthouse for his arraignment, Sept. 3, 2021. Andrew Bukuras/CNA
Although silent through the whole case, which began in late 2021, McCarrick made comments about the charges in a phone call with NorthJersey.com in February.
McCarrick told the outlet that Grein’s testimony was “not true.”
“Do you remember James Grein?” the NorthJersey.com reporter asked McCarrick on a 10-minute phone call on Feb. 28.
“Yes. I remember him,” McCarrick responded to the reporter. Speaking of the allegations against him, McCarrick said, “It is not true.”
“The things he said about me are not true,” he added. “If you want more information about it, you can talk to my lawyers.”
The outlet reported that it attempted to reach McCarrick by phone several times before he returned the call. McCarrick told the outlet that he was currently in Missouri and that he was “feeling well, considering that I am 92 years old. It’s not like I’m 40 or 50 anymore.”
McCarrick declined to discuss the criminal case against him but answered questions about Grein “politely,” the outlet reported.
“I don’t want to speak of these things,” McCarrick said. “You can speak to my lawyer.”
Before getting off the phone, McCarrick told the outlet, “I hope you will not do a snow job on me.”
Grein told the outlet that McCarrick was a close friend of his family and would attend their gatherings. McCarrick was given the nickname “Uncle Ted,” he said.
“He sexually and spiritually abused me,” Grein said. He said that McCarrick had abused him in his home, hotels, and during confession.
Austin, Texas, Jan 13, 2020 / 04:18 pm (CNA).- Texas’ 16 Catholic bishops on Friday responded to Governor Greg Abbott’s announcement that the state will not participate in the federal refugee resettlement program, calling the decision “deeply discouraging and disheartening.”
“While the Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops respects the governor, this decision is simply misguided. It denies people who are fleeing persecution, including religious persecution, from being able to bring their gifts and talents to our state and contribute to the general common good of all Texans,” the bishops said in a Jan. 10 joint statement.
“As Catholics, an essential aspect of our faith is to welcome the stranger and care for the alien. We use this occasion to commit ourselves even more ardently to work with all people of good will, including our federal, state and local governments, to help refugees integrate and become productive members of our communities.”
Several of the bishops, including Edward Burns of Dallas, noted that Catholic Charities agencies in their dioceses have partnered for years with the federal government to resettle refugees, all of whom have been screened and approved for resettlement by the Department of Homeland Security.
Abbott informed the U.S. State Department Jan. 10 that Texas will not participate in the refugee resettlement program this fiscal year, the Texas Tribune reported. Texas is the first state this year to opt out of the program; more than 40 other state governors have already chosen to opt in, the Texas Tribune reports.
Abbott acknowledged in his letter to the State Department that refugees could still settle in Texas after first arriving in another state that does participate in the resettlement program.
Several Texas bishops also released their own statements on the matter.
Bishop Michael Olson of Fort Worth Jan. 10 echoed the joint statement by noting that refugees are those who have fled life-threatening situations at home, and who have been vetted by the federal government. Many, he said, are Christians fleeing religious persecution.
Olson said current local refugee support services will continue to help refugees in Texas, and if Abbott does not reverse his decision those agencies will have to use local funds to replace lost federal refugee funds.
Bishop Daniel Flores of Brownsville wrote on Twitter Jan. 10 that “the Governor’s decision not to allow the Federal refugee resettlement program to operate in Texas affects refugees vetted by the current administration. They flee violence & persecution, and seek a chance to live, work & contribute in peace. The Governor should reconsider.”
Archbishop Gustavo Garcia-Siller of San Antonio also expressed on Twitter opposition to Abbott’s decision.
Abbott’s veto of the resettlement program was made possible by a September executive order by President Trump which requires written consent from states and local entities before they resettle refugees within their boundaries, the Tribune reports. A federal judge in Maryland is expected to rule this week on whether Trump exceeded his authority with the executive order, the New York Times reports.
The Tribune reports that Texas had been a national leader in resettlement for several years after reaching a high of about 8,212 people in 2009. The number remained around 7,500 from 2012-2016, and in 2016 the governor sued the Obama administration in an effort to prevent Syrian refugees from resettling in Texas.
Despite this, and despite Abbott’s subsequent withdrawal of the state from the resettlement program, local agencies continued to resettle refugees in Texas, which accepted about 1,700 refugees during FY 2018— more than any other state— and about 2,460 in FY2019, the Tribune reports.
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