Remember their names and stand up against hatred

 

Mourning for James D. Brown, a Kentucky coal miner...

On the night of Sunday, March 20th, James D. Brown drove from his home in Lynch, Kentucky to the Marathon gas station in Cumberland to grab himself something to eat before work in the Darby Fork coal mine. Normally, when his shift ended and the sun rose, he’d drive himself back over the winding mountain road to get breakfast from the Marathon again.

Brown went into the mine at 10:00 p.m. that night. But he never came out.

Read more here.

In Memory Of Steven H. Hively & An Unnamed Mine Worker, Both Recently Killed In Mining Accidents

 The unidentified mine worker killed in Pennsylvania has been identified as  Paul Springer, 44 years old.

Young Catholics: Enter your original poem about the death penalty for a chance to win!

 The following comes from the Catholic Mobilizing Network website. 

Justice and Mercy Poetry Contest for Young Catholics

Enter your original poem about the death penalty for a chance to win!

Are you an 18-30 year old who is enrolled in college or graduate school and motivated by your Catholic faith? Do you care about justice, especially as it pertains to the U.S. criminal legal system?

Enter Catholic Mobilizing Network’s (CMN’s) Justice and Mercy Poetry Contest for Young Catholics with an original poem about the injustice of capital punishment and become eligible to win up to $1,000 in cash.

The first-place winner will also be invited to read their award-winning poem at CMN’s 13th anniversary celebration on October 10, 2022 at the Apostolic Nunciature of the Holy See in Washington, DC.

Contest winners will be chosen by a diverse group of committee members who bring an array of interest, experience, and skills when it comes to engaging young Catholics, ending the death penalty, and using poetry as a way to nurture the intersection of justice and faith.

Submission Guidelines and Eligibility

This contest is open to Catholics in the United States ages 18-30 who are enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program at an accredited college or university.

Poetry submissions will be accepted from March 1, 2022 - May 31, 2022. Submissions are limited to one poem per person. Formal, rhyming, or free verse poems are welcome.
Contest Prizes

First Place - The first-place winner of the poetry contest will receive a $1,000 cash prize and their poem will be published on CMN’s website and social media channels. The first-place winner will also be invited on an expenses-paid trip to Washington, DC to read their poem live at CMN’s 13th anniversary celebration at the Apostolic Nunciature on October 10, 2022.

Second Place - The second-place winner of the poetry contest will receive a $500 cash prize and their poem will be published on CMN’s website and social media channels.

Third Place - The third-place winner of the poetry contest will receive a $300 cash prize and their poem will be published on CMN’s website and social media channels.

ALL contestants will be invited to an exclusive virtual gathering in the summer of 2022 to hear from death penalty abolition leaders and learn about opportunities for education, advocacy, and prayer in the movement to end the death penalty.

Trio Mandili - Galoba (The Prayer)

 

Saint Maximilian of Tebessa, pray for us!

 

Read the story of St. Maximilian here.

From Catholic Online:

When asked his name, Maximilian replied, "Why do you wish to know my name? I cannot serve (in the army) because I am a Christian." Nevertheless, orders were given for him to be given the military seal. He answered, "I cannot do it: I cannot be a soldier." When told he must serve or die, he said, "You may cut off my head, but I will not serve. My army is the army of God, and I cannot fight for this world," it was pointed out to him that there were Christians serving as bodyguards for the emperors Diocletian and Maximian.

To this he replied, "That is their business. I am a Christian, too, and I cannot serve." Dion then told Victor to correct his son. Victor, who had become a Christian like his son, said, "He knows what he believes, and he won't change his mind." Dion insisted, "Agree to serve and receive the military seal." "I already have the seal of Christ, my God . . . I will not accept the seal of this world; if you give it to me, I will break it for it is worthless. I cannot wear a piece of lead around my neck after I have received the saving sign of Jesus Christ, my Lord, the son of the living God. You do not know Him; yet He suffered for our salvation: God delivered Him up for our sins. He is the one whom all Christians serve; we follow Him as the Prince of Life and Author of Salvation."

Again Dion stated that there are other Christians who are soldiers. Maximilian answered, "They know what is best for them. I am a Christian and I cannot do what is wrong." Dion continued, "What wrong do those commit who serve in the army?" Maximilian answered, "You know very well what they do." Threatened with death if he remained obstinate, Maximilian answered, "This is the greatest thing that I desire. Dispatch me quickly. Therein lies my glory." Then he added, "I shall not die. When I leave this earth, I shall live with Christ, my Lord."

He was sentenced accordingly: "Whereas Maximilian has disloyally refused the military oath, he is sentenced to die by the sword." Just before his execution, Maximilian encouraged his companions to persevere and asked his father to give his new clothes to the executioner. We are told that Fabius Victor "went home happily, thanking God for having allowed him to send such a gift to heaven."

In case of war...

 

The Beatitudes

 

Memorial Wheat: Part of responding to death and comforting those who mourn

In my tradition it's common to offer memorial wheat to mourners when someone dies. It's a good tradition because while you're making this you can think of the person who passed on and those who are mourning them and it gives you something to offer people and comfort them instead of hurrying away from a funeral or memorial service. It's good to make it the day before you share it. Some folks give it two days.

Get about one-and-one-half pounds of brown wheat berries or something similar. I've seen people use kasha or wheat cereals. Wash it thoroughly and have it boil for a few hours until it is done. Pour cold water over it and let it sit over night.

Spread it out in a pan and---this part REALLY matters---sop up any extra moisture with paper towels. Put it in a large bowl and mix in one-pound of fine walnuts, one-quarter pound of chopped pecans, one teaspoon (or a bit more) of honey, a good bit of powdered sugar, one-half teaspoon of salt, and maybe one-half of a carton of plain bread crumbs or so. Some people add pomegranate seeds. Mix it by hand.

Some people mound it on a platter and shape it with wax paper. I always left it in a bowl, but it's good to smooth it out. Use wax paper for all of the smoothing and molding.

Add some more bread crumbs when it's all smooth so that the wheat is covered over by the bread crumbs. Top it with powdered sugar, raisins, and cinnamon. If the person who has passed is a Christian, you can make a cross on top out of raisins, pistachios or Jordan almonds. It's nice to put a beeswax candle in and light it.

It's also nice when one person serves it to others in little paper cups. Give the leftovers to the family in your bowl and then call in a week or so to get your bowl back and check in to see how they're doing.