Marge Fenelon

Some years ago, a wise and seasoned fellow writer told me, “Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.” She was referring to the writing trade and the danger of over-extending oneself. As time has gone by, I’ve found Anne’s words to be true in most situations, especially in the technology fields.

When I noticed the article linked below, “U.S. Military Seeking Implantable Microchips in Soldiers,” a chill went down my spine, and I heard Anne’s words echo again, “Just because we can, doesn’t mean we should.” I encourage you to read the full article and would love to receive your comments on this topic. I’ve heard many people – military as well as non-military – who say that military developments eventually (or not-so-eventually) make their way into the general population and can cite many examples. That makes microchipping soldiers a civilian concern.

Could there be advantages to using nano-technology on our U.S. Military, or could it pose a Big Brother threat to the general population? What do you think?

http://www.thenewamerican.com/tech/computers/item/11286-us-military-seeking-implantable-microchips-in-soldiers

Start your day off right by joining Brian Patrick and I on Sacred Hear Radio’s Son Rise Morning Show tomorrow, Wednesday, May 9, at 6:45am CST. We’ll be discussing ways to gain perspective and clarity on things that hit too close to home. You won’t want to miss it!

What do you do when you’re all knotted up inside, when everything seems to be coming down on you at once, when you’ve got a difficult decision to make or a tough situation to work through? How do you gain clarity?

Here’s my latest column for Integrated Catholic Life, “Therapeutic Thrifting,” in which I write about ways to gain clarity. I’m looking forward to hearing from you about the various methods you use to discover the treasures within.

http://www.integratedcatholiclife.org/2012/05/fenelon-therapeutic-thrifting/

I love hearing stories about married couples recognized by the Church for their holiness! Zelia and Jeronimo Abreu Magalhaes are such a couple. Here’s a wonderful little article about them posted today on ZENIT. I hope it encourages you on your own path to holiness.

A Different Falling in Love Leads to Holiness
Brazilian Spouses Zelia and Jeronimo, Servants of God
By Maria Emilia Marega

ROME, MAY 3, 2012 (Zenit.org).- The experience of marital life of the Servants of God Zelia and Jeronimo, Brazilian spouses of the 19th century, shows that it is possible to be a saint in daily life, regardless of one’s vocation.

Jeronimo de Castro Abreu Magalhaes was born in Mage, and Zelia Pedreira Abreu Magalhaes in Niteroi. They were married on July 27, 1876, in the city of Rio de Janeiro.
He was a civil engineer and she was a lawyer, with a fine artistic, literary and scientific formation, so that at 14 she translated the work of Cesare Cantu Il Giovinetto from Italian to Portuguese.

From the moment they met, Jeronimo and Zelia always wanted to please God, when in their exchange of looks it was already clear that their falling in love would be different, said Father Roberto Lopes, who is in charge of the processes of canonization of the Archdiocese of Rio de Janeiro.

“Zelia and Jeronimo were very passionate. The life of prayer grew in the heart of their home. They educated their children for God, and the Eucharist was something that they tried to make present for the people of God looking for it,” Father Lopes said.

Thirteen children were born from this marriage; four died at an early age, among the others, three boys and three girls entered religious orders, including Franciscan friar Jose Pedreira de Castro, a professor of Biblical sciences who in 1956 founded a Biblical Center and a course by correspondence in sacred Scripture.

In the country estate where they lived there was a chapel in which many times a day the couple was seen praying, as well as their servants, who always began their work of the day with a prayer led by Jeronimo and Zelia in the courtyard of their property.

The historical research on Jeronimo de Castro Abreu Magalhaes and his wife Zelia is being carried out by an archdiocesan commission created on Dec. 23 by Archbishop Orani João Tempesta of Rio de Janeiro.

Zelia’s life was quite well known from the decade of the 30s to that of the 60s. Her biography reached a sixth edition and was translated into several languages.

A music video that you actually want your kids to watch? Impossible, you say? Nope. I’m so happy to be able to share with you news of a new production company committed to promoting the culture of life! The company, Music Visions, seeks to “offer a positive message of faith, joy and hope to youth, by producing videos to entertain and inspire the next generations,” according to the LifeSiteNews article in the link below.

I hope you’ll not only view the video, but also that you will read the article, especially the remarks by Music Visions founder Manuel de Teffé regarding criticism (toward the end of the article). What an awesomeg thing to say, and something for all of us to take to heart, whether or not we’re parents.

Enjoy!

http://www.lifesitenews.com/news/new-pro-life-production-company-aims-to-redeem-music-video-genre

Friends,

May 1 is the feast of St. Joseph the Worker. The feast was originated by Pope Pius XII in 1955 to counter the “May Day” celebrations sponsored by the Communists. But the relationship between St. Joseph and the cause of workers goes further back, all the way to the early Church, which emphasized that Jesus was himself a worker – a humble carpenter – trained by his carpenter father, Joseph.

Here is a nice reflection on this feast, courtesy of Catholic News Agency:

St. Joseph has two feast days on the liturgical calendar. The first is March 19—Joseph, the Husband of Mary. The second is May 1—Joseph, the Worker.

“Saint Joseph is a man of great spirit. He is great in faith, not because he speaks his own words, but above all because he listens to the words of the Living God. He listens in silence. And his heart ceaselessly perseveres in the readiness to accept the Truth contained in the word of the Living God,” Pope John Paul II had once said.

There is very little about the life of Joseph in Scripture but still, we know that he was the chaste husband of Mary, the foster father of Jesus, a carpenter and a man who was not wealthy. We also know that he came from the royal lineage of King David.

We can see from his actions in scripture that Joseph was a compassionate man, and obedient to the will of God. He also loved Mary and Jesus and wanted to protect and provide for them.

Since Joseph does not appear in Jesus’ public life, at his death, or resurrection, many historians believe Joseph had probably died before Jesus entered public ministry.

Joseph is the patron of many things, including the universal Church, fathers, the dying and social justice.

So, on this feast of St. Joseph the Worker, let’s offer a special prayer for all the workers in our lives, especially fathers. Below is a prayer I’ve written for the fathers in my own life:

Dear St. Joseph,

You so humbly, faithfully, worked to serve others, but most importantly to serve your own family. You are an example for all fathers, both actual and spiritual, as they tend to those in their care. Intercede for them in their needs, encourage them in their struggles, rejoice with them in the fruits of their labors, and carry with them the burden of their responsibilities. Ask our Lord to bless them, protect them, and sustain them. St. Joseph, be their every-present companion, co-worker, and guide. Amen.

Happy Feast of St. Joseph the Worker!

Friends,

National Catholic Register correspondent, Barb Ernster, has a great article on motherhood resources in this week’s issue. Of course, it features yours truly and I thank Barb for the opportunity.

Here’s the link: http://www.ncregister.com/site/article/put-the-mother-in-motherhood/

Friends,

Here’s an excellent article by Sam Blumenfeld that I think you’ll appreciate reading. In the article, Mr. Blumenfeld discusses nihilism, a dire threat to our country, and particularly to our young people. I’m interested in knowing your impressions. Here’s the link:

http://www.thenewamerican.com/opinion/sam-blumenfeld/11639-americas-new-religion-nihilism

Here’s a twist to the old adage, “Cleanliness is next to Godliness.” That may be, but not when we’re talking about ingesting hand sanitizer. That’s what some teens in the Los Angeles area have done, and doctors fear this may become a dangerous trend among our nation’s youth. You can read the KTLA.com article for yourself at the link below.

This reminds me of something I heard in a homily some years back about the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well meeting our Lord (cf Jn 4:1-42). Jesus has a conversation with her and discloses her wayward lifestyle.  He then only those who come to him will receive the water of eternal life and will never thirst again. In his homily, the priest explained that the woman’s promiscuity was a result of a deep, inner yearning that could only be fulfilled by our Lord. What she was really searching for, yearning for, trying to obtain for herself, was Jesus Christ.

I think this also is true of anyone obsessed by thrill seeking, and in particular I’m referring to young people who do outrageous things like distilling, ingesting, and getting drunk on hand sanitizer. They’re desperately searching for , yearning for, that which they can never obtain in a high – Jesus Christ. What’s even more sad is that they have no clue that that’s what they really need. Still worse, they have no clue that He’s waiting for them in the nearest tabernacle!

I share this with you in order to warn parents and anyone who deals with young people of this disturbing news, but also to urge you to pray for our nation’s youth, so many of whom are searching desperately for our Lord and cannot find Him.

http://www.ktla.com/news/landing/ktla-hand-sanitizer-threat,0,7136941.story

It’s been Fenelon Clan’s tradition to celebrate Easter from Easter Sunday all the way through to Pentecost. That’s why you’ll see us end letters and messages with “Blessed Easter” or “Easter Joy!” and our prayer corner, or home shrine, decked out in Paschal glory long after the Easter Bunny’s gone back to his burrow.

Today I ran across Cardinal Dolan’s column in Catholic New York in which he talks about that – celebrating Paschaltide, or the days between Easter Sunday and Pentecost. I’d like to share his uplifting words with you. Here’s the link: http://cny.org/stories/Keeping-Easter-Joy-Alive,7343?content_source=&category_id=44&search_filter=&search_headline=&event_mode=&event_ts_from=&list_type=&order_by=&order_sort=&content_class=&sub_type=stories&town_id=

It’s not too late if you’ve already put away the Easter decorations. Get them out again,  re-decorate and begin to re-celebrate. It’s still Easter!

Enjoy, and Blessed Easter!