In Brief...

The Holy Father's Intentions

Pope John Paul II has announced the following general and missionary intentions for December 2000 and January 2001:

December

That the celebration of the Jubilee may become the source of a new commitment in men and women of good will to protect and promote human life.

That children may be respected in their dignity, and that all child abuse may stop.

January

That Christians may foster the evangelization of new generations through the constant search for the unity desired by Christ.

That through civic and religious education, every form of intolerance and discrimination may be uprooted all over the world.

What Are You Doing for the Rest of Your Life?

How briefly a seven-day candle burns, but that is how fast our lives go by here on earth. A teacher once asked a senior student, "After high school what would you like to do?" The student answered, "I would like to go to college." The teacher again questioned, "And then what?"

"Then I would like to get a job, get married, and have children." The teacher continued questioning, "And then what?"

"I would like to see my children grow up, and then retire from my job and enjoy my grandchildren. I would like to grow old gracefully, do some traveling with my wife, and just enjoy life."

The teacher looked the student in the eye after he had finished speaking and said, "Then what? You forgot the most important thing."
"What's that teacher?" the student asked.

"Eternity!" the teacher said.

One day our life will end and eternity will begin for each and every one of us. Remember a hundred million years is just the beginning of eternity. We are talking about forever! The most important person in our short life here on earth should be Jesus. It is very important that we develop a personal relationship with Him, and what better way to do that than to spend time with Him in the Blessed Sacrament? In the Gospels the only time Jesus ever asked for anything was when He asked Peter, James, and John: "Could you not watch one hour with me?" (Mt. 26:40).

But couldn't we take this one step further? Why not go to your pastor and ask to start perpetual Eucharistic adoration in your parish? In this way not only you, but also the whole parish community could take advantage of adoring Our Lord Jesus Christ, really present in the Blessed Sacrament, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The graces and blessings that people receive before the Blessed Sacrament are many. Where there is Eucharistic adoration, there are conversions to the faith, and fallen away Catholics return home. Perpetual adoration increases Mass attendance and weekly collections, and strengthens spiritual community within the parish. Perpetual adoration in parishes around the country has been a catalyst for more vocations to the priesthood and religious life, physical healings, and a much greater awareness of the Real Presence of Christ in the Blessed Sacrament.

Nowhere on earth are you more loved, nowhere on earth are you more welcomed, nowhere on earth is your presence more appreciated than in the presence of Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament. It is there that He loves you with a personal love as if you were the only one in the world. With each hour you spend with Him, you grow in your conviction of His infinite love for you, and the more lovable we see ourselves to be in His eyes, the more loving we can be with each other.

The peace and joy that one experiences by being in the Eucharistic presence of Our Lord Jesus will make all the difference in a person's life. The power of the hour before the Blessed Sacrament has changed many lives. I hope you, dear reader, will take this simple message to heart.
I would like to leave you with these words of our Holy Father Pope John Paul II:

Our essential commitment in life is to grow spiritually in the climate of the Holy Eucharist. . . . The best, the surest, and the most effective way of establishing peace on the face of the earth is through the great power of perpetual adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.

If you are interested in establishing perpetual Eucharistic adoration in your parish, please contact Stephen DiCarlo toll-free at (800) 497-0940 or fax (859) 431-7196 or email stevedicarlo@zoomtown.com.
-Stephen DiCarlo

Sacrament of Unity of the Human Race

Cardinal Francis George of Chicago delivered four public catecheses in the Basilica of St. John Lateran at the International Eucharistic Congress in Rome. In his first talk on June 20, the Cardinal focused on the necessity of the Eucharist in both the Church and the modern world.

To a world doubting the gospel message and steeped in human suffering, the Cardinal affirmed that the "Gospel" is too good to be true "except for those whose hearts have been turned inside out by the unity given to those who know they are loved by God and who have come to sense their unity with the many, who are brothers and sisters of the risen Lord."

That "unity with many" is found only in union with the Eucharist. Cardinal George commented on the unfortunate reality of those who "strongly contest" Eucharistic faith and devotional practices. "Perhaps, at least in the United States, some have been too neglectful of Eucharistic preaching and teaching. Perhaps, some have discouraged Eucharistic devotion apart from the celebration of the Mass itself. Perhaps, liturgical practice suffers from the lack of prayerful preparation and devout attention. Perhaps, some are confused in expressing precisely what the Church teaches about the Holy Eucharist."

His Eminence then reminded us that these tensions concerning the Eucharist should not surprise us: "Tension and confusion were there from the beginning: 'This sort of talk is hard to endure! How can anyone take it seriously?' . . . From this time on, many of his disciples broke away and would not remain in his company any longer' (Jn. 6:60, 66). The tension became unbearable when Jesus began to use realistic language about eating His flesh and drinking His blood. In the face of his disciples' confusion, Jesus only intensified His language; He made no attempt to soften or dilute its meaning."

The "goal of our human unity is already present in the Eucharist itself. Because of the Eucharist," the Cardinal said, "the Church can be the sacrament of the unity of the human race."

For the full text, entitled "The Eucharist in the Church and the World" presented by Cardinal Francis George, OMI International Eucharistic Congress, Rome, Italy June 20, 2000, call CUF toll-free at (800) MY-FAITH (693-2484) , or click here.

From the Cardinal

"The Holy Eucharist is not only the symbol of unity in the Church; the Holy Eucharist is the creator of unity . . . I am not a brave man, and I am embarrassed to pretend to be noble, but with deepest sincerity and without hesitation I can say that I would rather be personally beaten, lacerated, or stamped on a thousand times over than to see one consecrated host desecrated."
-Cardinal John O'Connor
(1920-2000)

Holy See Support Rights of Children to Receive Sacraments

Various people have called CUF for guidance when their children have been denied the sacraments. The most common reasons for such denials are failure to meet diocesan or parish guidelines, such as age requirements, the use of a particular preparation textbook, participation in a specific formation program. In a recent decision involving a family in a U.S. diocese, the Congregation for Divine Worship ruled that diocesan policies must yield to universal norms where there is a conflict, and directed that an adequately prepared 11-year-old girl should receive the Sacrament of Confirmation "as soon as is conveniently possible." The girl was denied Confirmation because she did not meet diocesan age requirements. Highlights of the Congregation's ruling follow:

As has been stated before, the Code of Canon Law legislates that sacred ministers may not deny the sacraments to those who opportunely ask for them, are properly disposed, and are not prohibited by law from receiving them (cf. canon 843 §1). Since it has been demonstrated that the girl possesses these requisite qualities, any other considerations, even those contained in the diocesan policy, need to be understood in subordination to the general norms governing the reception of the sacraments. . . . Consequently, when a member of the faithful wishes to receive this sacrament, even though not satisfying one or more elements of the local legislation (i.e., being younger than the designated age for administration of the sacrament), those elements must give way to the fundamental right of the faithful to receive the sacraments (Jorge A. Cardinal Medina Estevez, Prefect, Congregation for Divine Worship, December 18, 1999; Protocol Number 2607/98/L).
-Thomas J. Nash

End of Year Donations: Helpful Points to Consider

As the end of the year approaches, many members of Catholics United for the Faith (CUF) consider a donation to help offset their year 2000 taxes. As you make these considerations, here are five helpful points to keep in mind:

December 31 Deadline: Only gifts given prior to December 31 can be included in your 2000 tax return.

Reduce Your Adjusted Gross Income: Most people make contributions to CUF with a check or credit card. These are considered cash donations. Depending on your tax bracket, these may be deductible for up to 50% of your adjusted gross income. If you earned a higher income during this past year, you may be in a higher tax bracket. Making a cash contribution to CUF could lower your tax bracket and save you from paying higher taxes.

Reduce Capital Gains Tax: If you own stocks, bonds, mutual funds, or other such investments, you may have seen substantial growth this past year. Such growth often increases your capital gains tax. To reduce the capital gains tax you may owe, gifts to CUF of qualified assets are deductible for up to 30% of your adjusted gross income. Discuss this with your accountant or broker. A donation of stock may be helpful in lowering your capital gains tax. If this is the case, have your broker call Shannon Hughes at (800) MY-FAITH (693-2484).

Cut Investment Losses: You may have experienced a decrease in the value of a particular investment this year. So, you may be able to cut your losses by selling the investment and making a cash contribution to CUF of the cash proceeds. That may allow you the opportunity to deduct both the loss and the cash contribution. The total deduction on your tax return may be more than the value of the investment. Before making this decision, discuss it with your accountant or broker.

Other Considerations: There are other ways to make a tax-deductible gift to CUF. If you are 60 or older, you may withdraw funds from a retirement account and make a gift to us. You then report the income on your tax return and take a corresponding deduction for your gift. This will help you avoid income, gift, or estate taxes down the road. If you own a life-insurance policy that has a cash value but is no longer needed, you can contribute this to CUF and take a tax-deduction. Lastly, many employers will match an employee's charitable gift. Please check with your employer. This is an easy way to double your gift to CUF without loss of available funds.

End of year donations can substantially reduce your tax liability. It also furthers the work of CUF, of which you are a member. As you make careful considerations about end of year donations, please remember us. Most of all, remember us in your prayers this Christmas season, and know that we remember you in ours.

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