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Catholic Bishop Captured, then Released, by Iraqi Terrorists

I am sure bishop Basile Georges Casmoussa thanks everyone for any prayers and support!

From Reuters.co.uk:

"VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - The Iraqi Catholic archbishop of Mosul who was kidnapped at gunpoint on Monday was freed today and said no ransom had been paid.

Archbishop Basile Georges Casmoussa, 66, said on Tuesday he hoped his ordeal would not be seen as an attack on the Church in the predominantly Muslim nation.

The Vatican, which had condemned the abduction as an "act of terrorism", welcomed his release and said Pope John Paul "thanked God for the happy ending".

Casmoussa told Vatican Radio he had been treated well during his one day in captivity.

"As soon as they found out I was a bishop, their attitude changed ... I think that my abduction was a coincidence. In recent times, there have been numerous kidnappings around here," Casmoussa said.

"Based on the conversations I had with them (the kidnappers), it didn't appear to me that they wanted to strike at the Church as such."

Humor for Sunday - Post-Dispatch Article on Life March

Today, as my dad showed my an article in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch's "Metro" section, I noticed one of the two pictures they used has me in it, but you couldn't see my face. Problem was, I was taking a picture at the time. Apparently, the Post's photographer and I were taking pictures of each other taking pictures (albeit unintentionally). It would seem that both I and the Post covered the same story, but with different 'angles'. I've posted both here for your amusement:

The picture in the Post (see me in the blue circle?):

Post-Dispatch Photo

And the picture I snapped (the Post photographer is circled in blue):

2005 St. Louis Pro-Life Mass and March (Updated x2)

Today was the annual Pro-Life Mass and March here in St. Louis.

Life Mass Marchers

The principle celebrant was Archbishop Raymond Burke, and many parish priests concelebrated. Myself and six other seminarians assisted in server's roles (I was a vimp, holding the Archbishop's Mitre). The march began after Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, and we marched from the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis to the Planned Parenthood abortion mill in St. Louis. On the way to PP, we prayed the Joyful Mysteries of the rosary, while standing in front of PP, we prayed the Sorrowful Mysteries, and while returning, we prayed the Glorious Mysteries. We finished the morning with Benediction.

Pope John Paul II Approves Plenary Indulgence for Year of Eucharist (UPDATED)

John Paul II with Monstrance

In honor of the Year of the Eucharist, Pope John Paul II has approved a special plenary indulgence for certain acts of worship and veneration of the Most Holy Sacrament (text from Catholic Online):

"According to a decree of the Apostolic Penitentiary, during the Year of the Eucharist a plenary indulgence may be gained by participating in acts of worship and veneration of the Most Holy Sacrament, as well as by praying vespers and compline of the Divine Office before the tabernacle."

The objective of the papal disposition, the document indicates, is to "exhort the faithful in the course of this year, to a more profound knowledge and more intense love of the ineffable 'mystery of faith,' so that they will reap ever more abundant spiritual fruits."