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Minute Meditations
Peaceful, spiritual reflection that comes to your inbox at no cost. Drawing upon short, inspired thoughts from the popular books and periodicals of St. Anthony Messenger Press, the online edition of Minute Meditations brings directly to you a chance to take a moment from the daily hurry and worry to focus on the place of God in your life. Sign up!

Franciscan Radio
A radio ministry of the U.S. Bishops' Catholic Communication Campaign and the Franciscans, designed to help Catholics know their faith and grow in their faith, American Catholic Radio airs weekly throughout the country on Catholic radio stations. It also can be found at www.FranciscanRadio.org. Our bi-weekly e-newsletter highlights content from coming shows, two weeks out. Host Father Greg Friedman discusses his topics in his blog and alerts listeners and radio station staff to future projects. The e-newsletter is free and comes to your inbox every other week. Sign up!

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Help plan your religious-education and RCIA classes with our monthly free e-newsletter aimed at religious educators. Timed to work within the liturgical calendar, this newsletter will bring you ideas gleaned from experienced teachers. Sign up!

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Improve your Web ministry with this free monthly e-newsletter exploring how Catholics use the Internet. Webmasters and communications professionals can keep up with what's new on the Web for Catholics and learn from their colleagues whose sites are featured. View past "Sites of the Month."

Sunday Soundbite for All Saints
A Story of Real-Life Beatitudes
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Thursday, November 05, 2009

Maine Rejects Gay Marriage; Catholics Win Governor Races

WASHINGTON (CNS)—Maine voters Nov. 3 rejected same-sex marriage, overturning a marriage equality law passed in May. But in Washington state, it appeared that a referendum to uphold a law granting same-sex domestic partners the same rights as married spouses would be narrowly approved, 51 percent to 49 ...
FULL STORY

Miriam Conners and her son Spencer of Stand for Marriage Maine canvass in Yarmouth, Maine.

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All Saints and All Souls

Death Is Not the End
In November, the church celebrates the communion of saints and God's promise of eternal life.

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Solanus Casey: Barney Casey became one of Detroits best-known priests even though he was not allowed to preach formally or to hear confessions!<p>Barney came from a large family in Oak Grove, Wisconsin. At the age of 21, and after he had worked as a logger, a hospital orderly, a streetcar operator and a prison guard, he entered St. Francis Seminary in Milwaukeewhere he found the studies difficult. He left there and, in 1896, joined the Capuchins in Detroit, taking the name Solanus. His studies for the priesthood were again arduous.<p>On July 24, 1904, he was ordained, but because his knowledge of theology was judged to be weak, Father Solanus was not given permission to hear confessions or to preach. A Franciscan Capuchin who knew him well said this annoying restriction "brought forth in him a greatness and a holiness that might never have been realized in any other way." During his 14 years as porter and sacristan in Yonkers, New York, the people there recognized him as a fine speaker. "For, though he was forbidden to deliver doctrinal sermons," writes his biographer, James Derum, "he could give inspirational talks, or <I>feverinos</I>, as the Capuchins termed them" (18:96). His spiritual fire deeply impressed his listeners.<p>Father Solanus served at parishes in Manhattan and Harlem before returning to Detroit, where he was porter and sacristan for 20 years at St. Bonaventure Monastery. Every Wednesday afternoon he conducted well-attended services for the sick. A co-worker estimates that on the average day 150 to 200 people came to see Father Solanus in the front office. Most of them came to receive his blessing; 40 to 50 came for consultation. Many people considered him instrumental in cures and other blessings they received.
<p>Father Solanus sense of Gods providence inspired many of his visitors. "Blessed be God in all his designs" was one of his favorite expressions.<p>The many friends of Father Solanus helped the Capuchins begin a soup kitchen during the Depression. Capuchins are still feeding the hungry there today.<p>In 1946 in failing health, he was transferred to the Capuchin novitiate in Huntington, Indiana, where he lived until 1956 when he was hospitalized in Detroit. He died on July 31, 1957. An estimated 20,000 people passed by his coffin before his burial in St. Bonaventure Church
in Detroit.<p>At the funeral Mass, Father Gerald, the provincial, said: "His was a life of service and love for people like me and you. When he was not himself sick, he nevertheless suffered with and for you that were sick. When he was not physically hungry, he hungere with people like you. He had a divine love for people. He loved people for what he could do for them and for God, through them."<p>In 1960 a Father Solanus Guild was formed in Detroit to aid Capuchin seminarians. By 1967 the guild had 5,000 membersmany of them grateful recipients of his practical advice and his comforting assurance that God would not abandon them in their trials. He was declared Venerable in 1995.

What is the significance of the number three in the Bible?

Loving God, open my heart, mind and being to the unity of all life. Help me to see and hear your Word in myself, my neighbor, in all my relationships and all of creation. Amen.

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CATHOLIC COMMUNITY SPEAKS

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CATHOLIC GREETINGS

	Reconciliation
	Make time this month to be reconciled to God, Church, family and friends. Express your peacefulness with our e-cards.

ENTERTAINMENT

Astro Boy
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Astro Boy (CNS/courtesy of Summit Entertainment)

The young hero in the animated adventure "Astro Boy" is voiced by Freddie Highmore.

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