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, July 12, 2013

July 12th Fast

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JMJ
“When we had our children, our ideas changed somewhat.  Thenceforward we lived only for them; they made all our happiness and we would never have found it save in them.  In fact, nothing any longer cost us anything; the world was no longer a burden to us.  As for me, my children were my great compensation, so that I wished to have many in order to bring them up to heaven.”  (Blessed Zélie Martin, Mother of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux)
What a wonderful vocation marriage is!  So many start out their married lives, or their days in courtship, dreaming of the day when they will being a family of their own, and have the great opportunity and responsibility to guide little hearts to heaven. They hope and pray for the great days to come when God will bless them with these great gifts, and so they can return His love by giving their treasures back to Him.  Yet, in those hopeful dreams, actual children do not exist, and daily doldrum is never present.  When children do come, the tediousness and business of the daily routine can unfortunately subdue our early rigor.  We focus on surviving each day, rather than living it for God.  The world and its affairs become a burden, and our fears and anxieties crowd out our hopes and faith-filled desires.

 It is necessary to recover our former fervor, for the task that lies before married couples is a great one.  A marathon is not won in the first few miles, nor in the last, but the greatest runners win because they maintain a steady pace throughout.  Difficulties arise in marriage, unforeseen events affect family life, but one thing must remain constant: that of bringing each soul to heaven.  This is what must guide our thoughts, drive our actions, cloak the manner in which we interact with our family members.

 To maintain this zeal, we must ourselves be filled with the hope of heaven.  This is impossible without prayer, and sacrifice.  Constant prayer must be a daily companion lest love grow cold and weak. Speaking with Him who is Love, confiding in Him, seeking comfort in Him will surely help us bring that Love to those we love.  The gold of our love is refined in the fire of sacrifice.  Perpetual sacrifice complements our prayers, and invigorates our zeal. 

 Today, let us recall again the beautiful calling God has blessed us with, and pray for the gift of perseverance and patience as we live it out.



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