The High Cost of Medical Care

Listening to the Dennis Prager radio show this morning he had on a guest who was with the charity Cure International. It was part informational and part solicitation for funds. They were describing the cost of a medical procedure they could provide that would cost about $1000 to perform in some 3rd world country but would cost tens of thousands to $100K in the U.S. Assuming that part of this reduced cost is due to volunteer work and donated goods that is still an incredible difference. There has to be some way to bring down the costs of care in this country. If we were to equate this to another type of product or service then that is approximately a 1000% markup. It would seem that we should figure out a way to lower the costs of this type of care in this country instead of leaving the price as is and demanding more taxes or paying higher insurance premiums.

The High Cost of Medical Care

Listening to the Dennis Prager radio show this morning he had on a guest who was with the charity Cure International. It was part informational and part solicitation for funds. They were describing the cost of a medical procedure they could provide that would cost about $1000 to perform in some 3rd world country but would cost tens of thousands to $100K in the U.S. Assuming that part of this reduced cost is due to volunteer work and donated goods that is still an incredible difference. There has to be some way to bring down the costs of care in this country. If we were to equate this to another type of product or service then that is approximately a 1000% markup. It would seem that we should figure out a way to lower the costs of this type of care in this country instead of leaving the price as is and demanding more taxes or paying higher insurance premiums.

Archbishop Dolan blogs on Jesus' call to "Come Stay with Me"

Archbishop Dolan in his blog, The Gospel in the Digital Age, writes on the fruits of Eucharistic Adoration.

The Church is renowned for all that we do - Catholic charities, health care, schools, youth work, love, service, and evangelization - and rightly so.

But what we do must flow from who we are - people of faith, prayer, adoration, our hearts on fire with our Lord, our best friend, the way, the truth, and the life.

If what we do does not spring from who we are, we are listless and ineffective.

When the first disciples asked Jesus about following Him, He did not say, "Come do a bunch of stuff with me."  Nope - He invited them to "Come, stay with me!"  Eucharistic adoration is a great way to answer that invitation.

Archbishop Dolan blogs on Jesus' call to "Come Stay with Me"

Archbishop Dolan in his blog, The Gospel in the Digital Age, writes on the fruits of Eucharistic Adoration.

The Church is renowned for all that we do - Catholic charities, health care, schools, youth work, love, service, and evangelization - and rightly so.

But what we do must flow from who we are - people of faith, prayer, adoration, our hearts on fire with our Lord, our best friend, the way, the truth, and the life.

If what we do does not spring from who we are, we are listless and ineffective.

When the first disciples asked Jesus about following Him, He did not say, "Come do a bunch of stuff with me."  Nope - He invited them to "Come, stay with me!"  Eucharistic adoration is a great way to answer that invitation.

Archbishop Chaput to Philadelphia

Congratulations to Archbishop Chaput who will be the next Archbishop of Philadelphia.

Archbishop Chaput to Philadelphia

Congratulations to Archbishop Chaput who will be the next Archbishop of Philadelphia.

Bishop Aquila's Case for Earlier Reception of Sacrament of Confirmation

Bishop Aquila of Fargo has made a compelling argument for moving the reception of the Sacrament of Confirmation to coincide with First Communion.

Turning to the present administration of the sacrament, Bishop Aquila questioned whether the common placement of confirmation in late adolescence treats it as “a reward, or worse, as something earned or deserved for attendance and work in a parish catechetical program.”

“Should the fear of not receiving a sacrament ever be used as a means to keep a young person involved in the life of the Church? Should the gift and strengthening of the Holy Spirit be denied young persons in their most formative years?” he asked.

Bishop Aquila also wondered whether the special attention and length of preparation given to confirmation makes many perceive it to be more important than baptism and the Eucharist.

The view that confirmation is a way for young people to make a personal commitment to their faith “distorts” the sacrament, he said.

“Confirmation is not marked by a choice to believe or not believe in the Catholic faith. Rather, as disciples, we are chosen by God to receive the fullness of the Holy Spirit, to be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit generously bestowed by God, and we are called to cooperate with that grace,” he explained.

Confirmation confers a gift of the Holy Spirit that is ordered to “the life of worship,” the bishop said while summarizing Catholic thought. It helps the person achieve a “more perfect integration” into the body of Christ. This helps us understand how confirmation is ordered to the Eucharist.

In this light, it appears “odd” to have someone participate in the Eucharistic life of the Church if he or she has not received “the seal of the Holy Spirit, which perfects the personal bond with the community.”

While some have said that maturity is necessary for the sacrament, the bishop said that children can be mature spiritually.

“If they are mature enough to receive the Eucharist, the crown of the sacraments, are they not mature enough to receive a sacrament that is ordered to it?” he asked.

“I have found the third-graders to be most receptive to the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and their childlike trust and wonder is beautiful to behold. Many times their ability to see the truth and have complete trust in God is strikingly better than our own. It allows for a deeper receptivity of the graces of the sacrament.”

By contrast, he said, too many young adults have regressed spiritually into a state of indifference or despondence towards God.

He suggested that restoring the order of the sacraments of initiation will aid the local community in forming effective catechesis which acknowledges growth in faith as a lifelong process.

Read more: http://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/bishop-aquila-confirmation-should-be-received-before-first-communion#ixzz1RzpoKbXV

I'm surprised that Bishop Aquila remains in Fargo. I met him on a retreat he gave a couple years ago and he is wonderful. No doubt he will one day move on to a much larger Diocese.

Bishop Aquila's Case for Earlier Reception of Sacrament of Confirmation

Bishop Aquila of Fargo has made a compelling argument for moving the reception of the Sacrament of Confirmation to coincide with First Communion.

Turning to the present administration of the sacrament, Bishop Aquila questioned whether the common placement of confirmation in late adolescence treats it as “a reward, or worse, as something earned or deserved for attendance and work in a parish catechetical program.”

“Should the fear of not receiving a sacrament ever be used as a means to keep a young person involved in the life of the Church? Should the gift and strengthening of the Holy Spirit be denied young persons in their most formative years?” he asked.

Bishop Aquila also wondered whether the special attention and length of preparation given to confirmation makes many perceive it to be more important than baptism and the Eucharist.

The view that confirmation is a way for young people to make a personal commitment to their faith “distorts” the sacrament, he said.

“Confirmation is not marked by a choice to believe or not believe in the Catholic faith. Rather, as disciples, we are chosen by God to receive the fullness of the Holy Spirit, to be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit generously bestowed by God, and we are called to cooperate with that grace,” he explained.

Confirmation confers a gift of the Holy Spirit that is ordered to “the life of worship,” the bishop said while summarizing Catholic thought. It helps the person achieve a “more perfect integration” into the body of Christ. This helps us understand how confirmation is ordered to the Eucharist.

In this light, it appears “odd” to have someone participate in the Eucharistic life of the Church if he or she has not received “the seal of the Holy Spirit, which perfects the personal bond with the community.”

While some have said that maturity is necessary for the sacrament, the bishop said that children can be mature spiritually.

“If they are mature enough to receive the Eucharist, the crown of the sacraments, are they not mature enough to receive a sacrament that is ordered to it?” he asked.

“I have found the third-graders to be most receptive to the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and their childlike trust and wonder is beautiful to behold. Many times their ability to see the truth and have complete trust in God is strikingly better than our own. It allows for a deeper receptivity of the graces of the sacrament.”

By contrast, he said, too many young adults have regressed spiritually into a state of indifference or despondence towards God.

He suggested that restoring the order of the sacraments of initiation will aid the local community in forming effective catechesis which acknowledges growth in faith as a lifelong process.

Read more: http://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/bishop-aquila-confirmation-should-be-received-before-first-communion#ixzz1RzpoKbXV

I'm surprised that Bishop Aquila remains in Fargo. I met him on a retreat he gave a couple years ago and he is wonderful. No doubt he will one day move on to a much larger Diocese.

Memorial of Blessed David Gonson - Martyr of the Order of Malta

Sir David Gonson was a member of an English naval family who was received into the Order at the English Auberge in Malta on 20 October 1533. He served on the ships of the Order in the Mediterranean until 1540 when he returned to England. Henry VIII had suppressed the Order in his kingdom by an Act of Parliament of 10 May 1540. David Gunston was imprisoned in the Tower of London in 1540 and was condemned to death by an Act of Parliament in 1541 for denying the authority of the King in spiritual matters. He was hanged, drawn and quartered at St. Thomas' Waterings, Southwark on 12 July 1541. Pius XI declared him Blessed on 15 December 1929.

Prayer:

O God, who made of blessed David a notable champion of the Catholic faith whose martyrdom shed glory on our Order, grant that he may stimulate us to defend the unity of your holy Church. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
(From: The Missal with readings of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem of Rhodes, & of Malta, London 1997)

Memorial of Blessed David Gonson - Martyr of the Order of Malta

Sir David Gonson was a member of an English naval family who was received into the Order at the English Auberge in Malta on 20 October 1533. He served on the ships of the Order in the Mediterranean until 1540 when he returned to England. Henry VIII had suppressed the Order in his kingdom by an Act of Parliament of 10 May 1540. David Gunston was imprisoned in the Tower of London in 1540 and was condemned to death by an Act of Parliament in 1541 for denying the authority of the King in spiritual matters. He was hanged, drawn and quartered at St. Thomas' Waterings, Southwark on 12 July 1541. Pius XI declared him Blessed on 15 December 1929.

Prayer:

O God, who made of blessed David a notable champion of the Catholic faith whose martyrdom shed glory on our Order, grant that he may stimulate us to defend the unity of your holy Church. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
(From: The Missal with readings of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem of Rhodes, & of Malta, London 1997)