"We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed… —the Declaration of Independence As the Founders recognized, the first inalienable right is the Right to Life. Early voting has already begun for the August 4 primary election. Please do not vote before you find out the candidates' positions on legalizing assisted suicide. Details next week. God Bless America!

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1st Reading Question Zechariah speaks of a just and humble king who will lead all people to a future of peace and joy. What are some things that make you genuinely happy? 2nd Reading Question Paul teaches that the Spirit of God dwells in those who believe in Jesus. Where do you see the Holy Spirit active in your life? Gospel Question Jesus speaks of himself as meek and humble of heart, and invites us to find "rest" in him. What are some burdens Jesus could relieve for you?

Have you heard of the patron saint of purity? Born to peasant parents in southern Italy, St. Maria Goretti was a devout girl whose life was marked by difficulty. Her father died when she was nine, leaving her single mother with six mouths to feed. Two neighbors helped on the family farm, including a young man named Alessandro. He began making crude comments towards Maria. She repeatedly denied him. After several years, Alessandro attacked Maria to force himself on her. She resisted and, in his anger, Alessandro stabbed her. Maria died from the wounds' infections, but her last words were "I forgive Alessandro Serenelli, and I want him with me in heaven forever." While he was in prison, Maria appeared to Alessandro with a bouquet of roses, one for each wound he inflicted. In a true miracle of mercy, Alessandro experienced repentance, became a Franciscan brother after his release, and was later present at Maria's canonization. St. Maria Goretti, pray for us!

My children attend Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS) for their faith formation. Because of its Montessori basis, CGS atriums, which are something like classrooms, contain lots of objects made from real materials — authentic glass, wood, and ceramic. This is a polite way of saying there are lots of breakable things in there. So when my four-yearold entered the atrium on her first day of CGS, my whole body tensed, wondering what she would shatter first. I had to restrain myself from crying out, "Don't touch anything!" She spotted the prayer table — the low, wooden stand which holds an open Bible, candles, a vase with flowers and a statue of the Good Shepherd. It's the centerpiece of every atrium. She knelt before the table. She made the sign of the cross. And she sat there, still and silent. I stopped dead in my tracks. How had she known to come here? And where did she learn to make the sign of the cross? (Obviously we've tried to teach her, but she does it wrong every time!) And why was she sitting there so quietly, so expectantly, in front of a book she can't read? A thought came to me so clearly: Well, Colleen, you can read that book. But can you understand it? It is so easy for us to forget that great faith does not require great intelligence. It does not require great knowledge of the world and its workings. Great faith does not require the believer to possess any answers. Great faith only requires the believer to know his own smallness.

O God, as You rested after the creation of the world, remind us to take a sacred pause, too. Surround and support us with Your love, help us to practice holy rest — a practice that renews and recreates. Amen.

In the Sacrament of Confirmation, we receive the seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit. These are: Wisdom; Understanding; Counsel; Fortitude; Knowledge; Piety; and Fear of the Lord. Most of us had to memorize these when we were preparing for Confirmation. But what exactly do they mean? Let's take them one at a time. 1. Wisdom Wisdom is not the quoting of facts. Wisdom is a gift that allows a person to understand things from God's point of view. In other words, Wisdom allows a person to recognize truth. A person with the Gift of Wisdom is able to take this truth and use it to glorify God by choosing Godly solutions to problems. 2. Understanding People sometimes have a hard time understanding (no pun intended) how Understanding differs from Wisdom. While wisdom is the desire to contemplate the things of God, understanding allows us grasp, in a limited way, the very essence of the truths of the Catholic Faith. Through understanding, we gain acertainty about our beliefs that moves beyond faith. 3. Counsel The Gift of Counsel is also known as a Gift of Right Judgment. Counsel is the perfection of the cardinal virtue of prudence. Prudence can be practiced by anyone, but counsel is supernatural. Through this gift, we are able to judge how best to act almost by intuition. Because of the gift of counsel, Christians need not fear to stand up for the truths of the Faith, because the Holy Spirit will guide us in defending those truths. 4. Fortitude The Gift of Fortitude is also known as the Gift of Courage. Through this Gift a person is no longer afraid to stand up for God and His truths. A person who has the Gift of Fortitude will stand up for good against evil and is convicted to take a stand when the occasion arises. 5. Knowledge The Gift of Knowledge allows a person to understand the meaning and purpose God has for them and to live up to this meaning. It differs from wisdom in that it is an action, not just a desire to live up to the ways of God. It differs from Understanding in that it is not just ability, it is a knowing. 6. Piety Piety is the perfection of the virtue of religion. While we tend to think of religion today as the external elements of our faith, it really means the willingness to worship and to serve God. Piety takes that willingness beyond a sense of duty, so that we want to worship God and to serve Him out of love. 7. Fear of the Lord The Gift of Fear of the Lord puts God in the proper perspective. A person with this Gift understands the greatness and awesomeness of the Lord. They want to serve Him because of who He is. A person with the Gift of Fear of the Lord understands that everything they are is due to the wonder, love, grace, and perfection of God. They are totally dependent on the Lord as a child is to a parent. There you have it. One more point needs to be made about these gifts. Using them results in obtaining the Fruits of the Holy Spirit, but that's a subject for another minute. God is good, ALL the time

Many young people want to make a path for themselves in life without the help and guidance of others. My own young adult son oftentimes refuses assistance because he feels that he must learn to go it alone and have his achievements based solely upon his effort. However, few truly get anywhere of circumstance without the aid of others. The body of Christ only functions well when we move together and help each other. Unfortunately, too often parts of the body seek to do their own thing and do not integrate with the other parts. We use our gifts in ways that are only focused on our own gains and our own being. But be mindful, our gifts exist in us to be cultivated and shared with God and his people. In the same manner, with Jesus as the head of this body, he is there for us as well. In Jesus we find our rest and assistance with our burdens. I cannot imagine life without the compassion and aid of our God. If it isn't bad enough that some people fail to lean on their brothers and sisters, some of them fail to ever turn to God. This is never good stewardship. A stewardship way of life seeks to share and integrate with others, especially Jesus. We have been created for community. If we take seriously our discipleship, a true relationship with Jesus always beckons us into community with other believers. Here we are strongest. Here we are the most fruitful. Here we are Christ's body on earth. — Tracy Earl Welliver, MTS ©LPI