Houston Prayer Vigil Friday Evening

Planned Parenthood is having its national convention here in Houston this weekend. From TexasFamilies.org:

Not only is Planned Parenthood in the process of remodeling what will be the largest abortion center in the Western Hemisphere here in Houston, but they are also having their national convention here the last week of March!

That means hundreds of Planned Parenthood employees from around the country will be here in Houston.

On Friday March 27th, Planned Parenthood will have their 2009 Gala and Annual Awards ceremony at the George R. Brown Convention Center. They will be honoring Hillary Clinton.

Don't stay home on Friday, March 27th! We need you to join us in a prayer vigil on the sidewalk across the street from the George R. Brown.

The group will gather in the parking lot on Jackson which is directly behind Annunciation Catholic Church at 1618 Texas Ave. at 6:00 PM and walk in a procession. Pro-lifers from every denomination are invited and encouraged to participate.

The Solemnity of the Annunciation

Today, the Dominican Supplement to the Liturgy of the Hours points us to a reading from our dearest sister, Catherine of Siena:

You, O Mary, have been made a book in which our rule is written today. In you today is written the eternal Father’s wisdom; in you today our human strength and freedom are revealed...

O Mary, I see this Word given to you, living in you yet not separated from the Father–just as the word one has in one’s mind does not leave one’s heart or become separated from it even through that word is externalized and communicated to others. In these things our human dignity is revealed–that God should have done such and so great things for us.

And even more in you, O Mary, our human strength and freedom are today revealed, for after the deliberation of such and so great a council, the angel was sent to you to announce to you the mystery of the divine counsel and to seek to know your will, and God’s Son did not come down into your womb until you had given your will’s consent. He waited at the door of your will for you to open to him; for he wanted to come into you, but he would never have entered unless you had opened to him, saying, “Here I am, God’s servant; let it be done to me as you have said.”

The eternal Godhead, O Mary, was knocking at your door, but unless you had opened that door of your will God would not have taken flesh in you. Blush, my soul, when you see that today God has become your relative in Mary. Today you have been shown that even though you were made without your help, you will not be saved without your help.

O Mary, My tenderest love! In you is written the Word, from whom we have the teaching of life. You are the tablet that sets this teaching before us.

Fiat mihi secundum Verbum tuum.

Les Misérables

The Theatre Under the Stars (TUTS) in Houston, a local musical theatre production company, is presenting Les Misérables for the first time, and only until April 5th. We had been thinking about going with my reading group, but it doesn't look like it's going to happen. Anyone been?

Ullamaliztli

I suspect that if Football were like the Aztec game of Ullamaliztli, in which the losing team was sacrificed to the gods, then there wouldn't be as much interest in Football anymore. Or perhaps I am wrong?

Our Lady in Mexico City

Fr. Robert Barron describes his reaction to first seeing the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe and reflects on the power that image has had through the years.