Saint Bonaventura, the Patron Invoked for Help with Intestinal Issues, and Saint Monica, Patron of Mothers of Challenging Children 👩‍👧‍👦 are Fully Stocked Once Again

     First, we ran out of Saint Bonaventura, patron saint invoked for help with intestinal disorders and indigestion, but were able to restock before another order arrived (Saint Bonaventura is not one of the Top 28 sellers but he is “moving on up!”) 

     Saint Monica, patroness of mothers facing challenges with their children (often tweens and teenagers is our guess) SOLD OUT on Mother’s Day. But Saint Monica is now back in stock too! 

     Saint Monica is best known for chasing her son, Saint Augustine, across three continents in an effort to curb his wayward ways. He finally saw the light and is now known as one of the greatest philosophers of all time. Saint Monica never gave up or abandoned her son. She kept trying to get him to lead a better life. Finally, she succeeded.

AMERICA MAGAZINE ARTICLE ABOUT
RELIGION & CATHOLICISM

     A journalist with America Magazine, Michael O’Laughlin, presented an article reviewing a survey by the Public Religion Research Group. Their report was titled, “Religion and Congregations in a Time of Social and Political Upheaval.” O’Laughlin noted that a significant number of Catholics have stopped believing in the teaching of their religion. 

    What is particularly interesting about the survey results is the fact that 43 percent of the respondents noted that they objected to the Catholic Church “teaching” or disapproval of the LGBT community. And a significant number of people who took the survey noted that they were sympathetic or empathetic about the judgmental treatment of the transgender community.

    Yet, Pope Francis has invited and met with transgendered people at the Vatican and elsewhere and treated them with love and kindness. So, it really seems that only a small percentage of Catholics have significant bias against or about the transgender topic. 

     The respondents also noted that the issues of poverty, inequality and abortion were the most prevalent topics on the Catholic “Agenda.” However, many said they would like the church to start talking about political division, health care and transgender issues too. 

     Pope Francis has been advocating for building a bigger tent for Catholicism, by raising the roof, stretching its canvas and extending the spikes of its tent. So, there is hope for the revitalization of Catholicism and religion in general. The Pope messages that we do not have to agree with all the “sins” people may commit. But what we can do, like Saint Monica, is accompany people in their course of their life, with hopes for introducing salvation and redemption.

                 Thanks for reading to the bottom line.