News today...

Pope Benedict sends his prayers and apostolic blessing to all affected by the earthquake in L'Aquila, Italy.

Kalamazoo, Michigan, gets a new bishop.

Pope Benedict meets with youth from Madrid, Spain.

"At This Moment"- The focus of this week's "Twisted Mystics" with Bill Donaghy

Bill suggests we picture Jesus singing these words to us, rather than Billy Vera. Personally, I far prefer it that way...

Guests for Tuesday, 4/7/2009

Dan Turnwald is online at kofc.org.


Piero Tozzi and C-FAM are online at c-fam.org.

Barry Michaels, author of "Saints for Our Times," blogs about the saints at barrymichaels.wordpress.com.


Michael Walsh is online at yomichael.com.

Bill Donaghy and Christopher West blog at twistedmystics.blogspot.com.
Bill blogs solo at missionmoment.blogspot.com.


Kevin Schmiesing is online at catholichistory.net.

Paula Westwood and Right to Life are online at nrlc.org.

Email your questions for Catholic counselor Kevin Prendergast to sonrise@sacredheartradio.com.

Dr Joe DeCook and AAPLOG are online at aaplog.org.
Sign the petition to protect conscience rights of health care professionals at freedom2care.org.

Jim Steiner and Holy Cross-Immaculata Church are online at hciparish.org.

Jeff Schwehm is online at catholicxjw.com.

Rich Leonardi runs the blog Ten Reasons.

Mike Gonidakis and Ohio Right to Life are online at ohiolife.org.

News today...

Students, faculty and supporters gather on Notre Dame's campus on Palm Sunday to prayerfully protest the decision to honor President Obama at commencement.

New York's Cardinal Edward Egan will receive a pacemaker after spending the weekend in the hospital.

Pope Benedict celebrates Palm Sunday Mass and the diocesan-level World Youth Day.

Guests for Monday, 4/6/2009

Kevin Schmiesing is online at catholichistory.net.

Rita Heikenfeld is online at abouteating.com.

Fr. Rob Jack is online at revrobjack.com.

Teresa Tomeo is online at teresatomeo.com.
For more information about her speaking gig in Columbus on April 18, email mitsch2@humanities.osu.edu.


Piero Tozzi and C-FAM are online at c-fam.org.

Cheryl Dickow and Today's Catholic Woman are online at woman.catholicexchange.com.


Fr Frank Pavone and Priests for Life are online at priestsforlife.org.


Rich Leonardi runs the blog Ten Reasons.

The Columbia Magazine article on contraception by the Knights of Columbus can be found here.

Steven Greydanus is online at decentfilms.com.

Dr. Joe DeCook and AAPLOG are online at aaplog.org.
Sign the petition for rights of conscience for health care professionals at freedom2care.org, and tell everyone you know to do the same.

Contact the Mission Office for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati by calling 513-421-3131.

Seven Last Words

As Lent winds down toward Holy Week, many people turn their thoughts to devotions to Christ's passion -- from the traditional (such as the Stations of the Cross) to the new (sitting down to watch Mel Gibson's film The Passion of the Christ).

One devotion popular for centuries is meditations on the "seven last words" of Christ, which are actually phrases -- not words. If you have trouble remembering them off the top of your head, the Crossroads Initiative has helpfully posted them in English and Latin.

The Latin is especially useful for many musical reflections, which include the classical setting by Haydn, a famous setting by German Lutheran composer Heinrich Schutz, and -- most recently -- contemporary British Catholic composer James MacMillan.

My favorite book on the subject is the late Richard John Niehaus's Death on a Friday Afternoon, a series of of long essays inspired by the words. If you're looking for something shorter, then a new book from Magnificat might be just the thing -- the illustrated book of short reflections is adapted from Romanus Cessario, O.P.'s homilies at St. Patrick's Cathedral in NYC.

Devotees of online devotions should check out this one from Loyola Press, a seven-part program of medications that can be prayed over a week or in one day. And if you like to keep your devotions based on the rosary, Via Rosa has a chaplet devoted to the Seven Last Words that you can print out in English and Spanish.

Today's news...

There's a new Archbishop of Westminster.

The student group, Notre Dame Response, will hold a public prayer rally this Palm Sunday to protest President Obama's invitation to commencement.

Pope Benedict celebrates Mass to mark the fourth anniversary of Pope John Paul II's death.

April Picks of the Month for the Son Rise Morning Show...

Can be found here. While you're there, feel free to browse around the other sections as well to check out some of our hand-picked favorites in different categories.

Guests for Friday, 4/3/2009

Dan Egan writes at bibletidbits.blogspot.com.

Mike Aquilina blogs at fathersofthechurch.com.


Former congressman Steve Chabot is speaking Saturday morning, April 4, at Our Lady of the Holy Spirit Center. For more information, call 513-351-9800.

Steven Greydanus is online at decentfilms.com.

Shawn Carney and 40 Days for Life are online at 40daysforlife.com.

Fr Greg Friedman's Sunday Soundbites are online at franciscanradio.org.

Richard Thompson and the Thomas More Law Center are online at thomasmore.org.

Michael Walsh is online at yomichael.com.

Rich Leonardi runs the blog Ten Reasons.


For more information on the Theater of the Word's presentation of the Passion at the Little Sisters of the Poor this weekend, call (513)281-8001.

Find Cheryl Dickow at bezalelbooks.com and Today's Catholic Woman.

Today's news...

Pope Benedict XVI has urged G20 leaders to remember the poor countries as they attempt to fix the global economic crisis. Here's the text of his letter to British Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

Minneapolis-St. Paul Archbishop John Nienstedt sends a blistering letter to Notre Dame's president over the Obama invitation.

Pope Benedict will preside at Mass today in commemeration of the fourth anniversary of Pope John Paul II's death.

Rita Heikenfeld's Scripture Cake Recipe

Find more at abouteating.com:

2 cups + 1 tablespoon Exodus 29:3
Pinch Leviticus 2:13
1 tablespoon Exodus 23:18
3/4 teaspoon Exodus 16:31
2 teaspoons Kings I, 10:2
2/3 cup Genesis 3:7
2/3 cup Psalms 92:13
2/3 cup Genesis 2:17
3 Isaiah 10:14
1 cup Numbers 18:12
1 cup Isaiah 43:24
1/4 cup Exodus 3:8
1/2 cup Genesis 24:17
1 cup Genesis 43:11

Glaze: Amos 9:13 and Isaiah 43:24 (1-2 cups confectioners sugar thinned with white grape juice or water).

Procedure:

Follow Solomon’s prescription for a good boy in Proverbs 23:14, and bake.

Whisk 2 cups flour, salt, baking powder, coriander and cinnamon. Dredge fruit with a tablespoon of flour. Set aside. Place eggs, oil, sugar, honey and water in large mixing bowl. Blend and beat on medium speed for two minutes. Gradually add flour mixture, blending well. Fold in fruits and nuts. Preheat oven to 350. Pour into greased or sprayed Bundt or Angel food pan. Bake 45-50 minutes. Don’t overbake. When a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, it’s done. Each oven varies. Cool for 10 minutes and then turn out on rack. Cool and drizzle on glaze.

Tips from Rita’s kitchen: I believe you could bake this in a 9x13 sprayed pan as well. Just check it after about 35 minutes. Leave it in the pan and glaze after it cools.

The Holy Father's Prayer Intentions for April

Courtesy of the Apostleship of Prayer:

General:

That the Lord may bless the farmers with an abundant harvest and sensitise the richer populations to the drama of hunger in the world

Mission:

That the Christians who work in areas where the conditions of the poor, the weak and the women and children are most tragic, may be signs of hope, thanks to their courageous testimony to the Gospel of solidarity and love.

Guests for Thursday, 4/2/2009

Anthony Buono blogs at 6stonejars.com.

Fr Phillip DeVous is online at acton.org.

Kevin Wright and the World Religious Travel Association are online at religioustravelassociation.com.


Send your questions for Catholic counselor Kevin Prendergast to sonrise@sacredheartradio.com.

Fr Rob Jack is online at revrobjack.com.

Fr James Kubicki and the Apostleship of Prayer are online at apostleshipofprayer.org.

Rita Heikenfeld is online at abouteating.com.

Dan Egan blogs at bibletidbits.blogspot.com.

Gary Jansen, author of "The Rosary: Journey to the Beloved"


For information on former congressman Steve Chabot's talk this Saturday morning at Our Lady of the Holy Spirit Center, call 513-351-9800.

Tammy Bundy is online at tammybundy.com.


Shawn Carney and 40 Days for Life are online at 40daysforlife.com.

Richard Thompson and the Thomas More Law Center are online at thomasmore.org.

Today's news...

Cardinal Francis George says that it is "clear" that Notre Dame "didn't understand what it meant to be Catholic" when inviting President Obama to be honored at commencement.

The Holy Cross Superior General sent a letter to the president, asking him to reconsider his pro-abortion views.

The Vatican will send apostolic visitors to the Legion of Christ.

Pope Benedict released his prayer intentions for April.

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