Prayer for those who suffer from H1N1 Influenza

The patron saint of youth, Prince Casimir succumbed to respiratory disease at the age of 25. Throughout his brief life, he was a sterling example of Christian virtue. He refused orders to lead an unjust war against Hungary and accepted imprisonment as his punishment from his father. His life was simple and chaste. Eschewing the trappings of royalty that were his due, he was known for a life of prayer and service to the poor, who were often plagued with consumption (tuberculosis).

St. Casimir is a patron of Poland and Lithuania.

St. Casimir,

Though a youth, you bore the burden of lung disease in purity and faith. Stand by the victims and families of this scourge of influenza, and strengthen their faith and love of Our Lord by your example. We beg you to add your prayers to ours for all of them, especially (N.) who struggles with this illness this day. Strengthen their trust in God, lend them ease in their suffering, and return them speedily to good health.

We implore the intercession of Our Lady of Sorrows at the altars in heaven. May the the graces of the Holy Spirit be sent to (N.) in this time of need.

Jesus Christ, our Lord, healed the sick and suffering and bade all children come to Him. In His Name, O God, have mercy.

'Hymn of St. Casimir'

Healthcare

It'd be funnier if it weren't so true...

Catholics Bishops: the new MoveOn for health reform?

Catholics are being encouraged to back universal health care reform (see USCCB website: they've advocated for medical care as a basic human right since the 1990s), continue ban on using tax money for abortions, and working to ensure immigrants can get adequate care as well.

The following is from the Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops:

> FCC ADVOCACY NETWORK > Grassroots Action Center WEB ALERT ACTION ALERT: Contact Senator Nelson as Finance Committee takes up health care reform Federal ACTION ALERT Contact Senator Bill Nelson as the Senate Finance Committee takes up health care reform The Florida Catholic Conference has issued several health reform advocacy alerts in recent months. Each alert has been timed to coincide with expected legislative action. Your response to each alert is extremely important. Now is the time to contact Florida Senator Bill Nelson. Senator Nelson serves on the Finance Committee, which is taking up health care reform this week. Please call Senator Nelson's Washington, D.C. office at (202) 224-5274 or send an email message and urge him to: 1. Support long-overdue health care reform that covers all people and protects the life, dignity and health of all. Health care reform is an important national priority and moral imperative. 2. Ensure mandated coverage for abortion is excluded from the bill, and longstanding laws that restrict abortion funding and protect conscience rights are upheld. Imposing abortion coverage or funding is bad morality, bad policy and bad politics. Efforts to expand abortion will undermine attempts to pass needed reform. 3. Support effective measures to safeguard the health of immigrants, their children and all of society, including maintaining an adequate safety net for those who remain uncovered, eliminating the five-year waiting period banning legal immigrants from enrolling in Medicaid and removing barriers to obtaining private health care coverage for immigrants. For more information, see the web site of United States Conference of Catholic Bishops at www.usccb.org/healthcare