April is also the kindest month

... mixing as it does the dull roots of Lenten penance for sins past with the Spring rain of Resurrection grace.

The ground newly tilled awaits the planting of life-bearing seed thanks to Richard and Connie.

((((..))))

NEVER tax deductible

As I was gathering info on deductible expenses in preparation for tax day I got a chuckle out of the following information my CPA shared with me:

"Some business expenses, even though they may be directly related to your trade or profession, are never tax-deductible:
Bribes and kickbacks
Contributions to political parties or candidates
Dues and membership fees for social clubs
Lobbying expenses
Penalties and fines"

Question: Would somebody goes so far as to ADMIT to taking bribes and kickbacks in order to claim these crimes in a tax return?

Doh!

With best wishes for a "non-taxing" April 18 to all,

Live Webcast tonight: Stop government funds for abortion and other evils

Watch TONIGHT: "Time to Act: How Big Government is Fiscally and Morally Bankrupting America" Tuesday, April 5, at 8:30 p.m. EDT April 05, 2011 Time to Act: Watch a special program tonight Dear Taxpayer, In the midst of an economy in turmoil, Washington's big government cabal continues to recklessly spend your money on things like abortion, bailing out failed corporate giants, and funding the new health care law. Were the problem only fiscal it would be bad enough, but the moral impact of saddling our children and grandchildren with the financial burden of our irresponsibility is something we cannot afford to explore by experience. We must put a stop to the out of control spending in Washington. Join us tonight -- Tuesday, April 5, at 8:30 p.m. EDT, for "Time to Act: How big government is fiscally and morally bankrupting America" -- a special program where policy experts, Members of Congress, conservative leaders, and FRC Action staff join Tony Perkins to discuss the issues facing American and her future generations with respect to the budget crisis. During this video webcast, you'll be briefed from the front lines of the budget debate, and find out what you can do to help advance a responsible government approach to spending. With me on the webcast will be: Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.) Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) Lila Rose, President, Live Action Tom McClusky, Senior Vice President, FRC Action Other special guests We want to hear from you! We'll answer your questions live on-air as we're able. Send your queries to questions@frcaction.org or ask via Twitter to @frcaction. Watch TONIGHT: "Time to Act: How Big Government is Fiscally and Morally Bankrupting America" Tuesday, April 5, at 8:30 p.m. EDT Sincerely, Tony Perkins President P.S. Let as many of your friends, family and church members as possible know about this webcast. Click here to use our special referral tool.

FRC Action: 801 G Street N.W. Washington, D.C. 20001 P: 202/393-2100 or 877/372-2808 W: frcaction.org unsubscribe You are subscribed as mcitl.blogspot.com@gmail.com

Prenuptials don't just kill romance, they also kill marriages

Media talk about pre-nuptial agreements in lieu of pending marriages of the rich and famous are calling them a romance-killer among other unpleasant names. That is not the only thing that pre-nuptials kill, because they render the marriage vows themselves invalid and thus make the union non-existent.

The vows of a valid, licit marriage demand the full gift of the man for the woman and the woman for the man and thus mention "until death do us part" in order to define what that full gift of self means. Any agreement which contemplates a future possible termination of the union short of death, therefore, vitiates the full gift of self necessary for a valid marriage.

The Catechism has this to say:

"The Lord Jesus insisted on the original intention of the Creator who willed that marriage be indissoluble. He abrogates the accommodations that had slipped into the old Law. Between the baptized, 'a ratified and consummated marriage cannot be dissolved by any human power or for any reason other than death.' " (CCC 2382)

"Divorce is a grave offense against the natural law. It claims to break the contract, to which the spouses freely consented, to live with each other till death. Divorce does injury to the covenant of salvation, of which sacramental marriage is the sign. Contracting a new union, even if it is recognized by civil law, adds to the gravity of the rupture: the remarried spouse is then in a situation of public and permanent adultery:

"If a husband, separated from his wife, approaches another woman, he is an adulterer because he makes that woman commit adultery, and the woman who lives with him is an adulteress, because she has drawn another's husband to herself." (CCC 2384)

Godly love and grace make the tremendous and beautiful vows of marriage possible and desirable:

"Seeing God's covenant with Israel in the image of exclusive and faithful married love, the prophets prepared the Chosen People's conscience for a deepened understanding of the unity and indissolubility of marriage. The books of Ruth and Tobit bear moving witness to an elevated sense of marriage and to the fidelity and tenderness of spouses. Tradition has always seen in the Song of Solomon a unique expression of human love, insofar as it is a reflection of God's love - a love 'strong as death' that 'many waters cannot quench.' " (CCC 1611)

"Corrective" instruction on the motu proprio Summorum Pontificum has been sent to the bishops / L'Istruzione sul motu proprio inviata ai vescovi

"Contains corrective interventions" reports Messa in Latino.it

As referenced also in a dispatch in the flaming language of Kerknet-Apic the awaited Instruction on the motu proprio has been sent in these days, in preview, to the bishops of the world by the Commission Ecclesia Dei. At this point the official publication is a matter of days or at the most a week.

The text being therefore quasi-public, we may be able to anticipate some further contents which have come to our knowledge and that confirm that there are, as has been reported, corrective interventions which are certainly positive. Thanks be to God.

Italian original from Messa in Latino:

Come riferisce anche un dispaccio in lingua fiamminga di Kerknet-Apic, l'attesa Istruzione sul motu proprio è stata inviata in questi giorni, in anteprima, ai vescovi di tutto il mondo da parte della Commissione Ecclesia Dei. A questo punto la pubblicazione ufficiale è questione di giorni o al massimo di settimane.

Il testo essendo quindi quasi pubblico, possiamo anticipare alcuni ulteriori contenuti di cui veniamo a conoscenza e che confermano che sono stati apportati interventi correttivi senz'altro positivi. Deo gratias.

The entire text in Italian:

L'Istruzione sul motu proprio inviata ai vescovi. Breaking news.

Faithful in large numbers for Eucharistic Procession today to Catonsville, Md, abortion mill

Catholic faithful of the Archdiocese of Baltimore celebrate Laetare Sunday by taking the Lord present in the Eucharist through the streets of Catonsville, Maryland, in their efforts joined with pro-lifers everywhere to seek a peaceful, prayerful end to abortion for all time.

Catholic faithful of the parishes of Saint Agnes and Saint William of York, under the leadership of Father DeAscanis in the Archdiocese of Baltimore, participated today in large numbers in a Eucharistic procession from the church to a local abortion mill. In this photo they are returning to the church to conclude the procession with Eucharistic Benediction.

Pro-lifers include many young people, as here, who instinctively reach out in love, prayer and action to help protect vulnerable human life in the womb and everywhere.

Photos thanks to PBC.

Laetare Sunday: He rose, giving Himself for mercy, and we rejoice

Some years ago, now a period of more than two generations, an earthquake swept through the Church. Some called this ground-shaking experience the "spirit of Vatican II" and some called it a very risky business, involving as it did in many places the sweeping away of many traditions and customs in the Church, like a tsunami which leaves the earth bare, swept clean and unrecognizable to those who once called it home.

One of the customs that some thought it necessary to eliminate was the Church's expression of joy on this day which we call Laetare, or "Rejoice", Sunday in the use of rose-colored vestments, more elaborate music and flowers in the midst of the liturgical desert of Lent, bereft as it is of Alleluias and Glorias. Often, young priests found themselves in conflict with an older generation if they wished to explore the potential of this and other customs that help to explain and to make more tangible the mysteries of our Faith. Now this custom is reappearing in many places, embraced anew by a younger generation who are joyfully discovering for themselves the riches of our holy Faith.

For the full text of this Sunday's homily please visit Meeting Christ in the Liturgy.