Bishops Offer Prayer for Biden on Inauguration Day
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THE CATHOLIC CJanuary 29, 2021ommentator Vol. 58, No. 26 2020 LPA NEWSPAPER OF THE YEAR thecatholiccommentator.org EASING THE PAIN OF LOSS ministry has been “bittersweet” and Couple building beautiful for the Froebas, who began making the caskets for a few people and then started receiving more requests as caskets for the others heard about it. That’s when they joined the efforts of Monica Alley, founder of Anna’s smallest souls Grace Foundation, which offers emotional and financial support to By Debbie Shelley families who experience miscarriage, The Catholic Commentator stillbirth or infant loss, in establishing the mausoleum at St. George. Out of their heartbreak of suffering “Jason and Emily Froeba’s ministry, three miscarriages a ministry was born Carriers of Hope, is guided by their for Emily and Jason Froeba to help own experiences with loss and will provide families experiencing a similar be an important part of the healing loss the comfort of knowing their baby process for so many across our will lay in what the couple says will be a community. Because they have a deep monument of life. understanding of the grief journey Froeba and her husband, Jason, are families are on, I know that each casket making caskets for a new mausoleum will be made with extreme care and that will be constructed at St. George love, each detail reflecting the dignity Cemetery in Baton Rouge that will and value of the baby held within,” said allow for families who have lost a child Alley. “It is truly a gift to be able to work to still birth, miscarriage, Sudden beside them to make a difference in the Infant Death Syndrome or while still in lives of those who have experienced the a womb a free place to bury their child. loss of a precious baby.” “ ‘Carriers of Hope’ builds caskets Jason Froeba builds a casket for couples who have lost a child to still birth, miscarriage, In order to get t he c or rec t d i mensions to honor and lay to rest the smallest Infant Death Syndrome or while still in the womb. Photo provided by Emily Froeba for the caskets, which are about 8x12 souls. Named for our daughter, Cecilia inches and five inches tall, the Froebas Hope – we pray that it will bring hope Emily Froeba. Joseph Patrick and John Benedict contacted Woman’s Hospital in Baton and peace to those who experience the The Froebas’ other children who Froeba. Rouge. The caskets will have linings loss of children from miscarriage,” said passed away during miscarriages are The journey into the making SEE CASKETS PAGE 15 Bishops offer prayer for Biden on Inauguration Day Washington D.C. (CNA) – After remarks when the 9 a.m. embargo initially withholding from publication lifted. The conference published the a prepared statement on Joe Biden’s full statement shortly after noon. inauguration as president, the U.S. “Our commitments on issues of Conference of Catholic Bishops human sexuality and the family, (USCCB) eventually released the as with our commitments in every statement early on the afternoon of other area such as abolishing the Jan .20. death penalty or seeking a health Although it was expected to be care system and economy that truly released at 9 a.m. Eastern time Jan. serves the human person are guided 20, the statement was not published by Christ’s great commandment to by the bishops’ conference at that love and to stand in solidarity with time. According to The Pillar, Vatican our brothers and sisters, especially Father Leo O’Donovan SJ delivers the invocation next to President Joe Biden, left, Secretariat of State officials stepped in the most vulnerable,” Archbishop Jose during the presidential inauguration on Jan. 20. Father O’Donovan is a former to prevent its publication. Gomez of Los Angeles, president of the president of Georgetown University. Photo credit: Patrick Semansky / Pool / AFP via Getty Images. CNA published the prepared SEE BIDEN PAGE 5 2 The Catholic Commentator January 29, 2021 | DID YOU KNOW Jesus’ healing ministry By Dina Dow power of God. Ask yourself, what is possess- ing, owning or taking hold over me? Have I It is inspiring to meditate on the miracles sought help from Jesus asking for protection performed by Jesus. Most powerful are the over the evil one? miracles we will hear during the next two Sick with fever weeks. The 4th and 5th Sunday or Ordinary Moreover, Jesus not only combats demon- Time Mass readings draw us into ic possessions and casts out the deeper mystery of the heal- evil, he also heals physical ing ministry of Christ, where we Life-Giving infirmities. Immediately see Jesus casting out, curing the FAI H following this event, Jesus en- sick and teaching, all with a “new au- ters Simon’s house, along with thority” (Mk 1:27). Andrew, James and John. He Teaching is told Simon’s mother-in-law is sick with After the call of the first disciples the fever. Jesus, having a mother he loved, went Gospel of St. Mark immediately dives into to Simon’s mother-in-law, held her hand and the ministry of Jesus, as he and the apos- helped her up. She was free from fever. Jesus tles enter the synagogue at Capernaum. healed her. And like any great mother-in-law, Here we find Jesus, teaching as “one having she fed them. What a powerful encounter authority” (Mk 1:21-28). Why is this signifi- with Jesus. Of course, word spread through- cant? Comparatively speaking, as the scribes out the entire region of the miracles and all taught, they referenced a reputable rabbi, brought to Jesus those they knew who were Groundhog Day sort of name-dropping for lack of better anal- possessed and sick. All were healed. ogy. Hence, a scribe never taught from their Paragraph 447 of The Catechism of the own authority but always by the authority or Catholic Church states, “Throughout his teaching from another rabbi. As Jesus taught, public life, (Jesus) demonstrated his divine and Catholicism he referenced no one. He spoke by the au- sovereignty by works of power over nature, thority given to him by God. It was unheard illnesses, demons, death and sin.” Pause for a On Feb. 2, a furry rodent, “Punx- procession and blessing of candles of. The people were “astonished” yet unable moment. Whom have I “brought” to Jesus for sutawney Phil,” receives a “rock during Mass on this day. to recognize Jesus beyond a new rabbi. Yet, healing? When have I experienced the heal- star” status among meteorolo- This led to the name “Candle- who in this account did recognize and iden- ing power of God? gists as he ceremoniously predicts mas.” tify Jesus? Jesus’ healing ministry for us whether we will have six more In England, the children were Casting out The sacraments of healing (reconciliation weeks of winter or an early spring. taught about Candlemas through It is rare we experience the casting out and anointing of the sick) were instituted by Traditionally, thousands gather the poem: of a demon. Honestly, I cannot even watch Christ as a continuation of his healing min- in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, “If Candlemas be fair and bright, movies in their entirety when they are istry for the faithful. By the grace and power and others look on through tech- Come winter, have another flight. about exorcisms. As a child my anxiety lev- of the Holy Spirit we are able to participate nology, as Phil emerges (or is awak- If Candlemas bring clouds and rain, els increased as I heard the stories of Jesus in both. We read in CCC #1514, “The anoint- ened) from his winter sleep a little Go winter, and come not again.” casting out demons. It was not that I was ing of the sick ‘is not a sacrament for those after 7 a.m. EST, encircled by peo- Over the years, secular traditions fearful of Jesus but rather fearful of the re- only who are at the point of death. Hence, as ple in top hats. He is cheered and have spun off from Candlemas. ality that demons do exist. With Jesus, I re- soon as anyone of the faithful begins to be in hoisted in the air before making his In France, La Chandeleur has alized as I grew older, there was nothing to danger of death from sickness or old age, the prediction. If he sees his shadow, it also come to be known as Crêpe fear. Without Jesus, as I experienced, there fitting time for him to receive this sacrament means six more weeks of winter. If Day, as the customs of the celebra- was all to fear. has certainly already arrived.’ ” not, it’s an early spring. tion have morphed over time and Casting out demons is bizarre upon first Effects of sacrament of healing But what is interesting about now include the consumption of hearing. What is most incredible is the un- “The special grace of the sacrament of Groundhog Day, in which a humble crepes. clean spirit in this account recognizes who the anointing of the sick has as its effects: mammal, also known as a “Whistle And in the United States, Ger- Jesus really is, “the holy one of God” (Mk the uniting of the sick person to the passion Pig” or “Ground Squirrel,” becomes man settlers in Pennsylvania blend- 1:24). How is this possible? Because this un- of Christ, for his own good and that of the a celebrity for a day, is that the sec- ed the Christian Candlemas holiday clean spirit immediately knows Jesus has whole church; the strengthening, peace and ular tradition has its roots in the with other superstitions, which held power over it.