The promotional tour of a recent film on the apparition of Our Lady of Guadalupe has helped reawaken devotion to the Patroness of the Americas, while inspiring a deeper conversion among Catholics. “We need things that are artistic, that leave impressions, that will help guide people back to our faith,” said Tim Watkins, director of 'The Blood and the Rose'. The film centers around three major aspects of the apparition of the Virgin Mother to St. Juan Diego: the historical background; the apparition itself and Mary’s message; and the scientific analysis of the image on the tilma. “Even though this image was made in 1531, there are still things that we found in the twentieth century that made us go, ‘Oh wow,’” Watkins explained. “It begs the question: what else is in this image that hasn’t been discovered yet?” Careful study and inspection of the image throughout recent history has yielded surprising discoveries about the image, such as the tiny human figures and faces that appear in the life-like eyes of the Virgin and the way the stars on her mantle match the constellations at the winter solstice of 1531. In promoting his film, Watkins hopes Catholics will be strengthened in their faith while growing bolder in proclaiming the Gospel. While researching the film, Watkins said he discovered more about the apparition than he could have imagined – something he hopes viewers will experience when they see the film. “They know bits and pieces, but they don’t know the fascinating totality of the story,” he said. “There’s something in (the film) that people do not know.” While the film is meant to be a work of art inspired by the apparition, it also explores the humble sanctity of St. Juan Diego, the faithful messenger to whom the Virgin Mother appeared. “I’m not worthy to touch the tassels of Mary’s gown, but what I am capable of doing is achieving the kind of life Juan Diego lived.” The saint, Watkins added, is an example of “humble, childlike faith,” whom we can all emulate. “What we try to do with the film is inspire people to be like Juan Diego, the servant who heard the word and spread it.” To that end, Watkins has established the Messenger Eagle Foundation – an organization dedicated to catechizing Catholics and helping them spread the Gospel in their parts of the world. The name is taken from St. Juan Diego’s native name, Cauthatlatohuac, which means “the eagle who speaks.” The film, which was released in January, has been shown to audiences nationally as well as in several different countries, including Brazil, where the film was shown to World Youth Day audiences. At each showing, a reflection on St. Juan Diego and the work of a special local charitable organization is given before the film. Following that is a reflection from the local bishop or a priest. “Hopefully it becomes a fulcrum to an awakening to get us out of being pacifists in the pews to a point where we’re helping our priests succeed by getting their message to a bigger community,” Watkins reflected. To learn more about the film, or to request a screening in your area, visit thebloodandtherose.com.

Pro-life lawmakers issued statements supporting a government decision to investigate the federal funding of Planned Parenthood and other organizations that perform abortions. “The federal government providing funding to abortion providers is a serious problem in our nation,” said Rep. Diane Black (R- Tenn.) in an August 5 statement. She said that she is pleased with the Government Accountability Office’s decision to investigate the use of taxpayer funds by abortion groups. The independent study of how much and for what purpose these dollars are allocated to all abortion providers is necessary for Congress to ensure accountability and oversight, she stressed. Earlier this year, more than 50 members of Congress asked the Government Accountability Office to investigate how Planned Parenthood and other organizations that promote or perform abortions use federal funds. Black has also sponsored the Title X Abortion Provider Prohibition Act, which would prevent federal funds from being used to fund organizations that perform abortions. Planned Parenthood’s yearly reports record more than $1.2 billion in net assets to the IRS for the 2011 fiscal year, and $87.4 million in excess revenue. However, the organization still received $542 million in federal funds in 2011-2012 from government grants, contracts, and Medicaid reimbursements. Meanwhile, Planned Parenthood performed more than 300,000 abortions in 2012, and over 1 million since 2010. Rep. Pete Olson (R-Texas) explained that this trend is troubling because federal tax money is “legally prohibited from being used for abortions. Under the U.S. constitution, the Obama Administration has a duty to enforce these laws. And under that same constitution, Congress has a duty to ensure that the executive branch follows the law of the land,” he emphasized. “Planned Parenthood and other organizations that provide abortions clearly benefit from Uncle Sam,” Senator David Vitter commented, “but there’s no accounting to prove how they actually use that money. This GAO report would shine a light on how our tax dollars are being spent.” Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.) added that he is “pleased that the GAO will be investigating how much taxpayer money the abortion industry is receiving. Hopefully this will help us finally put an end U.S. taxpayer support, funding and complicity with this violence against children,” he said. Black agreed, emphasizing that she is looking forward “to reviewing the results and ultimately, mobilizing the support needed to stop federal funding of abortion providers once and for all.”

Pope Francis denounced consumerism as a poison that threatens true happiness, which comes from membership in the church. The pope made his remarks before praying the Angelus with a noontime crowd in St. Peter's Square. "The encounter with the living Jesus, in the great family that is the church, fills the heart with joy, because it fills it with true life, a profound goodness that does not pass away or decay," he said. "But this experience must face the daily vanity, the poison of emptiness that insinuates itself into our society based on profit and having (things), that deludes young people with consumerism," he said. "Young people are particularly sensitive to the emptiness of meaning and values that surrounds them," he said. "And they, unfortunately, pay the consequences."