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.


Friday, June 21, 2013

June 21st Fast

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JMJ
". . . St. Thomas maintains: "Each one is under obligation to show forth his faith, either to instruct and encourage others of the faithful, or to repel the attacks of unbelievers." To recoil before an enemy, or to keep silence when from all sides such clamors are raised against truth, is the part of a man either devoid of character or who entertains doubt as to the truth of what he professes to believe. In both cases such mode of behaving is base and is insulting to God, and both are incompatible with the salvation of mankind. This kind of conduct is profitable only to the enemies of the faith, for nothing emboldens the wicked so greatly as the lack of courage on the part of the good. Moreover, want of vigor on the part of Christians is so much the more blameworthy, as not seldom little would be needed on their part to bring to naught false charges and refute erroneous opinions, and by always exerting themselves more strenuously they might reckon upon being successful. After all, no one can be prevented from putting forth that strength of soul which is the characteristic of true Christians, and very frequently by such display of courage our enemies lose heart and their designs are thwarted. Christians are, moreover, born for combat. . . " 
(Pope Leo XIII, Sapientiae Christianae, "On Christians as Citizens", No.14, 1890)
In the old rite of the Sacrament of Confirmation, Catholic candidates were given a gentle tap on the cheek to remind them that they would endure sufferings for Christ as one of his soldiers.  Today begins the Fortnight for Freedom, an initiative started by the US Bishops to bring awareness to the threats to religious liberty in our country.  But why should we care about our country?  What prompts us to be concerned about the welfare of our nation?  It is the same commandment that requires us to care for others: Love thy neighbor.  Soldiers do not fight to preserve their life, or just the life of the men in their company; rather, they lay down their lives for the preservation of their country, for its freedom and its ideals.  Just as bullets or planes or tanks do not win a physical war, so too, words and speeches cannot win this spiritual battle.  In any war, noble action and great sacrifice are required to defeat the enemy.

Yes, our own salvation is paramount, but our own comfort is not.  A soldier goes to the trench to replenish his supplies, and wait patiently for the moment to strike; but he does not stay there forever, he must eventually face the enemy.  So too, we must fortify ourselves with the grace of the sacraments, and the consolation of family and friends; but eventually, we must stand up boldly, being unafraid to proclaim the truth. We must always act with charity and humility.  Charity incites us to sacrifice for others' salvation, and speak to them with gently but firmly.  Humility protects us from the pride that hinders us from sharing this Truth with others, thinking them unworthy or unlikely to accept it.  We have been given the great gift of faith, now it is incumbent upon us to defend it and spread it.  Christ commanded the apostles to "Go out into the whole word and spread the Good News"; He did not say "Go back into the upper room and wait until I come to get you".

In July of 1794, the whole of France was in the grips of the Reign of Terror.  Arrests were made without even the pretense of justice, and daily slaughter was routine at the guillotine.  Then on July 17, after previously making a vow of martyrdom to end the terror and save their country, sixteen Carmelite nuns died under the blade of the guillotine.  The Terror ended just eleven days later.  In offering their lives, these women saved the souls and lives of many of their fellow countrymen.  To despair of the state of our country would be to willingly surrender to the enemy, and prevent us from any sacrificial actions, thinking them fruitless.  Instead, let us continue to focus our energies on saving our families, and other families, in order to build back up the beautiful country God has so graciously given us.  As Pope Leo XIII, in the previously cited encyclical, said:
"The family may be regarded as the cradle of civil society, and it is in great measure within the circle of family life that the destiny of the States is fostered. . . If in their early years they find within the walls of their homes the rule of an upright life and the discipline of Christian virtues, the future welfare of society will in great measure be guaranteed." (No. 42)





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