Support Pro-Life and the DAILY CATHOLIC and receive a FREE copy of "I Solemnly Tell You..." by signing-up with a Catholic Pro-Life Phone Company with GREAT RATES at PRO-LIFE COMMUNICATIONS

After reading the fantastic details and the inspiring story of Joe and Jane Dalton, you'll be ready to dump your present pro-abort phone company, not just because Pro-Life Communications is 100% Pro Life, but because they offer what the other phone companies can't, even companies that are also Pro Life but only offer 10% to 20% back to charities and Pro Life causes. Pro-Life Communications offers ALL the net profits back! And they offer the latest technology and personal customer service at an unheard of across-the-board rate of 8.9 a minute 24 hours a day, 7 days a week - no strings attached! See for yourself! if it isn't the best and most honest offer ever by a phone company! To make it even better, we'll send you the attractive coffee table-like book "I Solemnly Tell You..." - valued at $33. - absolutely FREE! That's how much we endorse Pro Life Communications! You will too once you read more!

    We are grateful to the artist Shannon Wirrenga (701-255-7312) for permission to use the phenomenal and touching original painting above of Jesus smiling at a newborn babe full of life, a life that He allows. It is appropriately titled "I Knew You," taken from Jeremiah 1: 5. No entity, matter or energy can exist without God and He alone gives and takes life. Life is the most precious gift we have been given. That is why we dedicate this section to the Sanctity of Life for so few realize the treasures it holds from conception to the grave.

    The elections are over, but the battle for life is not. We cannot give up the fight. Please continue to pray that President George W. Bush and his cabinet will promote legislation for the Sanctity of Life and pray for those pro-abort congressmen, senators and governors that they will have a conversion of heart and recognize the evil of their ways. Remember, nothing is impossible with God. We encourage you to go to the Pro-Life links below to keep up to date on the great battle between life and death - the Sanctity of Life vs. the culture of death. For more see, PRO LIFE FOR LIFE

Through Ordination the priest serves as Alter Christus for he has been given the power by Jesus Christ to forgive sins and thank God this is possible because there are plenty of sinners out there who need the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

FRIDAY'S
LITURGY:

First Reading: 1 John 2: 12-17
Psalms: Psalm 96: 1-3, 5-6
Gospel Reading: Luke 2: 22-35

   Almighty God, You granted the martyr Thomas the grace to give his life for the cause of justice. By his prayers make us willing to renounce for Christ our life in this world so that we may find it in Heaven.

    Today is the 1,599th anniversary of the election of Pope Saint Innocent I He became the 40th successor of Peter on this date in 401. During his sixteen year pontificate he withstood the sacking of Rome by Alaric and his Goths. He also pursuaded the Roman Emperor Honorius to tone down the bloody contests at the Colosseum and other arenas by prohibiting gladiators. He died on March 12, 417. Pope Saint Innocent will forever be remembered as the Supreme Pontiff who established the Roman rite, establishing Latin as the official language of the Church. For other time capsule events that happened Today in Church history, see MILLENNIUM MILESTONES AND MEMORIES

Passion must have compassion

   They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but the words of Bishop Fulton J. Sheen have been known to launch a thousand images in one's mind, one of the ways this late luminary did so much to evangelize the faith. Because of the urgency of the times and because few there are today who possess the wisdom, simplicity and insight than the late Archbishop who touched millions, we are bringing you daily gems from his writings. The good bishop makes it so simple that we have dubbed this daily series: "SIMPLY SHEEN".

"To revive passion in hearts, one must first understand it. Passion signifies receiving or suffering something or submitting to something. From this, follow two indispensable conditions for passion: knowledge, and some organic or physical change in our sensible nature."

NOTE: We respectfully recognize and accept the final authority regarding apparitions, locutions and prophecies presently being reported around the world rests with the Holy See of Rome and the Magisterium of Holy Mother Church to whose judjment we humbly and obediently submit. For Our Lady's message for December and more, see MEDJUGORJE AND MORE