Spirit & Life Blog

Back from Africa – Zimbabwe’s Contraception at its Worst

By Fr. Shenan J. Boquet / April 2, 2018 /
flag of zimbabwe

“Large poor families have simply become small poor families.” In all my mission trips I have never encountered such an entrenched contraceptive mindset as in Zimbabwe. The quotes below are a sampling from nursing students at one of the government accredited Catholic nursing schools. The government has for decades, through its ministries of Health and…

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The Annunciation, Inherent Human Dignity, and Mary’s Fiat

By Fr. Shenan J. Boquet / March 25, 2018 /
annunciation

Day of the Unborn I am writing you today from Harare, Zimbabwe where I am on mission with Dr. Brian Clowes, Mr. Emil Hagamu and HLI’s local affiliate. Our mission has been very fruitful because of your prayers and support; however, because of poor catechesis, corruption, economic hardships and decades of “colonization of the mind”,…

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Human Trafficking: The Hidden Assault on Human Dignity

By Fr. Shenan J. Boquet / January 22, 2018 /
teenage girl in blanket

Most believers of any faith and people of all persuasions are shocked, indeed scandalized, when they discover that trafficking occurs in every country and that it represents a most prosperous business on the planet. It is a form of slavery, a crime against humanity, a grave violation of human rights, an atrocious scourge, and it…

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Six New Year’s Resolutions to End Abortion and Defend the Family

By Fr. Shenan J. Boquet / January 1, 2018 /
candles

A few days ago, we posted a video to our website with photos of some of the babies saved from abortion in 2017 thanks to the efforts of the incredible staff and volunteers of Human Life International. Looking at those photos, it amazes me that each of those precious babies was in danger of being…

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The Simplicity and Silence of Bethlehem

By Fr. Shenan J. Boquet / December 22, 2017 /
nativity scene in bethlehem, christmas

“God’s sign is simplicity. God’s sign is the baby. God’s sign is that He makes Himself small for us. This is how He reigns. He does not come with power and outward splendor. He comes as a baby – defenseless and in need of our help. He does not want to overwhelm us with His…

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Our Lady of Guadalupe

By Fr. Shenan J. Boquet / December 11, 2017 /
our lady of guadalupe waist up

“Our gods of wealth, pleasure, and independence demand so much blood in exchange for their poisonous gifts.” Tomorrow we commemorate the feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Our Lady has appeared many times to many different people in many different parts of the world. But, of all the many apparitions, in one alone does…

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Moral Relativism: The Danger of the “Seamless Garment” Mentality

By Fr. Shenan J. Boquet / October 23, 2017 /
God the Father

Proclaim the truth and do not be silent through fear. ~St. Catherine of Siena The resurgence of the dangerous “seamless garment” mentality should cause us grave concern. In its most pernicious form, this philosophy holds that grave intrinsic evils like contraception, abortion and euthanasia and social problems like poverty, immigration, health care and the environment…

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The Message of Fatima, the Family, and the Crisis of Modesty

By Fr. Shenan J. Boquet / October 13, 2017 /
statue our lady of fatima

One hundred years ago, the sun danced. Nowadays you might read people like atheist Richard Dawkins dismissing the miracle in Fatima as a “mass hysteria.” Far more likely, however, you won’t hear about it at all. Or if you do, the media will be sure to give you only half the story. And yet, the…

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Fatima and the ‘Final Battle’ over Marriage

By Fr. Shenan J. Boquet / September 30, 2017 /
statue our lady of fatima

Cardinal Carlo Caffarra – who died just a few weeks ago – revealed in 2008 that shortly after Pope John Paul II charged him with founding the Pontifical Institute for the Studies on Marriage and the Family he had written to Fatima visionary, Sr. Lucia, asking for her prayers. To his surprise, a few days…

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How the Church Must Respond to the Overpopulation Myth

By Fr. Shenan J. Boquet / September 23, 2017 /
glass globe in hand

“The human person is man’s greatest resource.” There are two very important up-coming Vatican meetings we should pay close attention to: the Pontifical Academy for Life (PAV), October 5-7, and the Pontifical Academy of Science (PAS), November 2-4. This will be the first time the PAV meets since Pope Francis inaugurated the Academy’s new statues…

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