Contemplative Haven

Jul 08 2008

Madonna House: “Order of Canada” Returned

Published by gabrielle at 1:34 pm under Canadian, Sanctity of Life

Congratulations to the members of the Madonna House Apostolate (see links in my sidebar) for their decision to return Catherine Doherty’s “Order of Canada”, in protest against its having also been recently awarded to abortionist/abortion rights crusader Henry Morgentaler (as I outlined in this post).

The media is covering the story today. The CBC has an article here, and CTV News has an article as well as an excellent video interview with Susanne Stubbs of Madonna House at Rideau Hall.

Catherine Doherty, whose writings I have often quoted here at the Haven and also at my other blog, “Consecrated to Mary”, received the Order of Canada in 1976, for “a lifetime of devoted services to the underprivileged of many nationalities, both in Canada and abroad”. There is no doubt in my mind that if Catherine were alive today, she would have walked from Combermere to Ottawa to return the award, if there had been no other way.

Let us be done with human respect that bites so deep in our human hearts. Let us cease to be bothered about what people think and worry only about what God thinks. That is all that matters.

[Catherine Doherty: Bogoroditza, pg. 118]

10 responses so far

10 Responses to “Madonna House: “Order of Canada” Returned”

# Carolon 08 Jul 2008 at 9:06 pm

Good.

Now if a few more would follow suit, Mr. Morgentaler might just give it back, to be awarded to more decent people.
# Cathyon 09 Jul 2008 at 7:02 am

More than a gesture, this is a profound statement of the worth and value of human life.

I’m amazed, after reading the article and finding that Mr. Morgentaler is a holocaust survivor, that he has so little regard for human life. The horrors he must have experienced and yet he can kill the unborn.

Though I suspect he would scoff at us, we must pray for him, as we do for all those who are committed to the desecration of human life.
# Carolon 09 Jul 2008 at 8:57 am

Cathy, I have the same bafflement, about Rabbis who are pro-death for the little person who doesn’t seem a real person to those who hold power over his/her life. And again, the little ones end up in experimentation/crematoria. “Never again” my ass. I hadn’t thought to pray for Morgentaler, yet his own grandmother would want that. Thank you for the reminder.
# gabrielleon 11 Jul 2008 at 1:40 am

Carol & Cathy, I appreciate both of you having taken the time to read the articles and comment here. Thank you.

I have often thought over the years (Morgentaler has been in the media since I was in my twenties) that we cannot know the horrors he endured as a Holocaust survivor and how that affected him. So yes, if no one else, at least the Catholics of our nation should be praying for his conversion of heart, and bringing him to Mother Mary.
# freddieon 11 Jul 2008 at 10:16 am

I did not know this woman, is it possibile to find some of her writings on the internet? thanks for letting me know those people!
God bless you
br.freddie
# gabrielleon 11 Jul 2008 at 11:28 am

Br. Freddie, I haven’t come across any of Catherine’s writings online, but if you look in my sidebar under “Madonna House” you will see that on their website you can order her books. Some of her earlier works were also published under the name Catherine de Hueck Doherty. The Madonna House Apostolate serves the poor, so they greatly appreciate the income generated from the sale of Catherine’s books, which they publish themselves. They also have a monthly newsletter called “Restoration”, CDs and beautiful cards, mostly icons.
# aeternuson 12 Jul 2008 at 7:23 pm

Gabrielle,

When I was on retreat last month I picked up a book off the shelf randomly and it was from Catherine D. I happily devoured the book in an afternoon and have thought about her much since. I am so sad for Canada to have this strange and backward cultural event take place. I am GLAD though that you write about it and give voice to the side of right moral understanding of life!

Thank you!
# gabrielleon 14 Jul 2008 at 1:06 am

Aeternus, I wonder more and more how long God will put up with all of this…

I’m glad you found Catherine Doherty, though. I have quite a few of her books, and read them over and over. I was able to visit Madonna House a couple of years ago; it was wonderful.
# Karen Van De Loopon 20 Jul 2008 at 2:19 pm

Hello, I am a member of the Madonna House Apostolate here in Combermere, Ontario, Canada. See our web site: http://www.madonnahouse.org And also http://www.CatherineDoherty.org
We live by what we call our “LITTLE MANDATE”, words Catherine Doherty heard in her heart. Here it is:
“The Little Mandate”
Arise–go! Sell all you posess. Give it directly, personally to the poor. Take up My cross (their cross) and follow Me, going to the poor, being poor, being one with them, one with Me.
Little–be always little! Be simple, poor, childlike.
Preach the Gospel with your life–without compromise! Listen to the Spirit. He will lead you.
Do little things exceedingly well for love of Me.
Love… love… love, never counting the cost.
Go into the marketplace and stay with Me. Pray, fast. Pray always, fast.
Be hidden. Be a light to your neighbor’s feet. Go without fears into the depth of men’s hearts. I shall be with you.
Pray always. I will be your rest.”

Our Catherine Doherty was truly a woman of the 20th century and has a prophetic and consoling message for today’s suffering church. Dip into her writings. Karen
# gabrielleon 21 Jul 2008 at 1:27 am

Karen, thank you for sharing Catherine’s “Little Mandate” with us here. It’s a pleasure to have a member of the Madonna House Apostolate drop by; although the circumstances are not pleasant, we at least can be encouraged and inspired by the decision that the Apostolate made on Catherine’s behalf, and the message that it sent to the Canadian public. May God continue to bless you in your work.