And leave it to those wacky Brits, (where the Catholics are in the minority, compared to other parts of Europe,) to give the world something like this. Not like it's bad, and actually, and if you look down a bit, (no, not down your nose, necessarily,) I've included the prayer here. Overall, I suppose it constitutes a real break with what one normally thinks of as Catholic doctrine, or maybe just an admission that it really does happen. and not necessarily in altogether scandalous ways. Gutsier than one might take as the normal Catholic stereotype.Give us this day our daily... Catholic church issues prayer for faithful to say before sex
By Simon Caldwell
Roman Catholic couples are being encouraged to pray together before they have sex.
A book published by a prominent Church group invites those setting out on married life to recite the specially-composed Prayer Before Making Love.
It is aimed at 'purifying their intentions' so that the act is not about selfishness or hedonism.
The prayer, which appears in the Prayer Book for Spouses, implores God 'to place within us love that truly gives, tenderness that truly unites, self-offering that tells the truth and does not deceive, forgiveness that truly receives, loving physical union that welcomes'.
It adds: 'Open our hearts to you, to each other and to the goodness of your will.
'Cover our poverty in the richness of your mercy and forgiveness. Clothe us in true dignity and take to yourself our shared aspirations, for your glory, for ever and ever.'
The 64-page book has been published by the London-based Catholic Truth Society.
Marital advice: The prayer book
The group has close links to the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales.
The Rt Rev Paul Hendricks, who is the Auxiliary Bishop of Southwark and sits on the charity's board, said he thought the prayer's inclusion was 'brave but good'.
'I suppose it is a bit idealistic but it is recognising that God is at the heart of the marriage relationship between husband and wife,' he said.
'It is important for the Church to affirm the value of marriage and family life and I suppose this is a particular way of doing that.'
'Perhaps it is something that has not been tried, certainly for a while - I can't remember seeing something like that before.'
The book contains prayers for every stage of marriage and family life, including engagement, planning for parenthood, pregnancy and caring for children and elderly parents.
The prayers, written by a variety of authors, are interspersed with Catholic teaching on the meaning of marriage and family.
The book pushes the message that marriage should be exclusive and life-long and condemns abortion.
It criticises 'those who, in our times, consider it too difficult, or indeed impossible, to be bound to one person for the whole of life, and those caught up in a culture that rejects the indissolubility of marriage and openly mocks the commitment of spouses to fidelity'.
It adds: 'It is a fundamental duty of the Church to reaffirm strongly the doctrine of the indissolubility of marriage.'
By Simon Caldwell
Roman Catholic couples are being encouraged to pray together before they have sex.
A book published by a prominent Church group invites those setting out on married life to recite the specially-composed Prayer Before Making Love.
It is aimed at 'purifying their intentions' so that the act is not about selfishness or hedonism.
The prayer, which appears in the Prayer Book for Spouses, implores God 'to place within us love that truly gives, tenderness that truly unites, self-offering that tells the truth and does not deceive, forgiveness that truly receives, loving physical union that welcomes'.
It adds: 'Open our hearts to you, to each other and to the goodness of your will.
'Cover our poverty in the richness of your mercy and forgiveness. Clothe us in true dignity and take to yourself our shared aspirations, for your glory, for ever and ever.'
The 64-page book has been published by the London-based Catholic Truth Society.
Marital advice: The prayer book
The group has close links to the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales.
The Rt Rev Paul Hendricks, who is the Auxiliary Bishop of Southwark and sits on the charity's board, said he thought the prayer's inclusion was 'brave but good'.
'I suppose it is a bit idealistic but it is recognising that God is at the heart of the marriage relationship between husband and wife,' he said.
'It is important for the Church to affirm the value of marriage and family life and I suppose this is a particular way of doing that.'
'Perhaps it is something that has not been tried, certainly for a while - I can't remember seeing something like that before.'
The book contains prayers for every stage of marriage and family life, including engagement, planning for parenthood, pregnancy and caring for children and elderly parents.
The prayers, written by a variety of authors, are interspersed with Catholic teaching on the meaning of marriage and family.
The book pushes the message that marriage should be exclusive and life-long and condemns abortion.
It criticises 'those who, in our times, consider it too difficult, or indeed impossible, to be bound to one person for the whole of life, and those caught up in a culture that rejects the indissolubility of marriage and openly mocks the commitment of spouses to fidelity'.
It adds: 'It is a fundamental duty of the Church to reaffirm strongly the doctrine of the indissolubility of marriage.'
Included here, straight from the Catholic Truth Society website, http://cts-online.org.uk/news/?p=121, is the prayer in its entirety.
Father, send your Holy Spirit into our hearts.Place within us love that truly gives, tenderness that truly unites, self-offering that tells the truth and does not deceive, forgiveness that truly receives, loving physical union that welcomes.Open our hearts to you, to each other and to the goodness of your will.Cover our poverty in the richness of your mercy and forgiveness.Clothe us in our true dignity and take to yourself our shared aspirations, for your glory, for ever and ever. Mary, our Mother, intercede for us. Amen
And apparently the CTS knows it went out on a limb with this, according to the website, but stands by it, and apparently the associated "Prayer Book for Spouses" is a huge hit because of all the attention. Give 'em Hell, in whatever quantities they seek it in.
Below, here are a few new pix from The Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village's "Cars Stars and Guitars 2" For those who might recognize it, yes, that is indeed the 80s-idol ZZ Top Eliminator '33 Ford, and a sweet Pierce-Arrow, if for no other reason than Martha loves them.
Yet another TV idol that probably requires you to be of a certain age to identify it, The Monkeemobile, from the 60s TV show, snapped at a Detroit-area car show. Wild stuff.
Dementia Cases to Double Every 20 Years
(Sept. 21) -- The number of people with dementia globally is estimated to nearly double every 20 years, according to a report released Monday for World Alzheimer's Day.
Much of the growth will be fueled by longer life spans and population growth, especially in developing nations.Skip over this content
Danny Johnston, AP
A neurobiologist leads volunteers taking part in a study on memory loss in 2008. By 2010, an estimated 35.6 million people worldwide will have dementia; that number is expected to swell to 65.7 million in 2030 and 115.4 million in 2050. Skip over this content
"Over the next 20 years, the numbers of people with dementia are anticipated to increase by 40 percent in Europe, 63 percent in North America, 77 percent in the southern Latin America ... and 89 percent in the developed Asia Pacific countries," said the report, from Alzheimer's Disease International.
"In comparison, the percentage increase is expected to be 117 percent in East Asia, 107 percent in South Asia, 134-146 percent in the rest of Latin America, and 125 percent in North Africa and the Middle East."
By 2010, an estimated 35.6 million people around the world will be living with dementia. The number is expected to hit 65.7 million in 2030 and 115.4 million in 2050.
One in seven Americans age 71 and older, or about 3.4 million, have dementia, according to the National Institutes of Health. In this age group, 2.4 million people have Alzheimer's disease, NIH research has shown. Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Some of the causes of the disease are believed to be genetic, while others are thought to be preventable.
Studies have shown that physical exercise, the kind that keeps the heart healthy, also keeps the brain healthy, according to the National Institutes of Health's Cognitive and Emotional Health Project.
Mental stimulation can help too.Skip over this content
From AOL Health: Reducing Alzheimer's Risk
Some memory loss is a normal part of aging, but accelerated and permanent memory loss are signs of trouble. According to the Alzheimer's Association, as many as 5 million Americans live with the disease. While there's no surefire way to prevent it, you can reduce your risks. Click through for some tips.
According to the Alzheimer's Association, as many as 5 million Americans live with this disease, 500,000 of whom are younger than 65. Unfortunately, there's no surefire way to prevent the disease. But you can reduce your risks with diet and exercise.
"Our brains can be made stronger through exercise," Andrew Carle, assistant professor in the department of health administration and policy at George Mason University, told CNN late last year. "In the same way physical exercise can delay many of the effects of aging on the body, there's some evidence cognitive exercise can at least delay the onset of Alzheimer's."
A combination of antioxidants, supplements and curry may also help.
Vitamins A, C, and E are antioxidants, which prevent cell damage and are believed to slow down diseases of aging, said Edythe London, a professor of psychiatry and pharmacology at the University of California, Los Angeles.
"There are studies that suggest antioxidants might prevent dementia," she said.Skip over this content
Fish oil and phosphatidylserine supplements may also help. Aging brains show signs of inflammation, and fish oil has anti-inflammatory properties, said Gary Small, director of the UCLA Center on Aging.
Phosphatidylserine is a lipid found naturally in the body and is a major component of cell membranes. Small said he's not 100 percent convinced these supplements will help stave off dementia, but they're worth a try.
There's also curry. Small said that as he gets older, he might try eating more foods with curry in them.
"Some studies in Singapore show that those who ate curry once a week had better memory scores," he said.
The only real reason I find myself wondering about the verity of the above has nothing to do with people living longer; we know statisitically, at least at this point in history, they are. Medical techonology has brought us a long way. The bigger problem lies in the fact that the economy as we have all ever known it, has collapsed, taking with it the certainty of proper medical care, and proper care for the aged. And I'm guessing many who are now caring for elderly parents with dementia issues don't want to see it happen to them; if they can't live a life that's long and full to the very end, I'm guessing many would just as soon stand in front of an oncoming train and let God decide, not to go all Anna Karenina on everyone. Tsk.
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