The attack on marriage is really an attack on the human person, and his dignity, for the devil seeks to pervert our true purpose, to pervert God's holy design. For many of us, we cannot march in protests or write dozens of letters or call numerous times to urge legislators to vote for the Truth. But one thing we can all do is pray and fast. We have designated one day each week to fast for these intentions:

1. That marriage may be preserved, promoted, and understood as God's plan for creation.

2. For all marriages that they may reflect the love of the Trinity.

3. For broken marriages that Christ bring healing and conversion to the spouses' souls.

4. For those who are married, for the sanctification of their marriage and their spouse. For those who are single, for their future spouse and vocation.


Thursday, October 6, 2011

October 7th Fast

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JMJ

"But a rosary, dear sons and daughters, also means that the mysteries of your future will not always consist of joy alone; they will sometimes bring providential suffering as well.  It is the law of every human life, as every stem of roses, that flowers are mixed with thorns. . . As you have received and will receive joys - those of today and those of tomorrow- with loving gratitude and wise moderation, so too you will receive in a spirit of faith and submission the sorrowful mysteries of the future, when their hour comes.  Mysteries? This is the name which man frequently gives to grief, for although he does not usually seek a justification for joys, he seeks blindly on the other hand for the causes of his misfortunes, and his suffering is twice as great when he cannot discover the reason here on earth.  The Virgin of the Rosary, who is also the Virgin standing on Calvary, will teach you to stay erect under the Cross, however dark its shadow may be, so that from the example of this "Sorrowful Mother" and "Queen of Martyrs" you may understand that the designs of God are infinitely beyond the comprehension of men, and even though they may break our hearts, they are inspired by the most tender love for our souls." 
(Dear Newlyweds, pp.262-263, Pope Pius XII) 

Marriage and life are full of many joys and sufferings.  We are given foretastes of heaven in the midst of our joys, truly feeling His presence and gladly praising God for his many blessings.  But in the midst of sorrow, we can forget sometimes that God is still with us. But also, we are with God.  If we turn our hearts towards Him, we can see Christ on the Cross, and be with Him, comforting Him as He comforts us.  And we do not need to wait for great sorrows or tragedies to happen, to comfort our dear Lord on the Cross.  The fruit of the fifth sorrowful mystery is perseverance.  Most of our sufferings are our daily sacrifices, the drudgery of the office or the home can be our mini Calvary.  But if we persevere with selfless love on Calvary, we can climb to its heights of True Love.  God always revealed Himself on a Mountain: to Moses on Sinai, to Elijah on Horeb, to Peter, James, and John on Tabor.  He now reveals himself on Calvary to us in the ultimate act of love.  As we fast today, lets remember Ps. 126: “Those who sow in tears will reap in joy.”  

And, on this feast of the Holy Rosary and in this month dedicated to Our Lady, lets place our hearts and our families under her mantle! 
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