Where Do You Stand?

DAY 9 of the Novena

To Make Our Voices Heard

From DAY 8 of the Novena:

Enable us, then, to speak up
and educate our fellow citizens,
and to make our voices heard to our elected officials.

Just weeks ago, then Cardinal-designate Timothy Dolan, president of the U.S. Conference of Bishops, spoke in plain terms about the need to make our voices heard.

Confiteor

For every moment we lacked courage in the past, give us the grace to repent.

For every time we were silent when we should have spoken, give us the grace to repent.

For every time we could have witnessed to life but did not, give us the grace to repent.

(source: DAY SEVEN of the Novena)

I confess, sometimes are not these the most difficult words from the Confiteor:
and in what I have failed to do

A Righteous Man

Feast of St. Joseph, March 19



St. Joseph, Husband and Father


Much is written of St. Joseph, yet little is recorded about him, either directly in Scripture or by way of tradition. Yet only a few words or phrases speak volumes about St.Joseph:   Of his identity—a Jew, of the House of David and a subject of Rome; of his vocations—husband, father, and carpenter; of his traits—righteous, obedient, loving, faithful, hopeful, courageous, and silent; of his actions—protecting, guiding, and fostering. (Mt 1:16, 18-21, 24; Lk 2:41-51.)   He was, in the truest and best sense, a good, righteous man.


DAY 6 of the Novena

Faithful Servants

In speaking out on the subject of religious freedom, the U.S. Bishops are faithfully serving in their role as priest, prophet, king - as must we all!

Not familiar with the Catholic teaching about “priest, prophet, king”? Read more here and here.

DAY 5 of the Novena

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

In American Catholic culture, St. Patrick is among the most beloved saints--and probably also among the least known!  Apart from the legends of snakes and shamrocks (and the green beer and parades!), the real St. Patrick, whose name was Patricius, has a story worth telling.  Read some of it here.

DAY 4 of the Novena

Support Our Catholic Bishops

U.S Bishops to Speak at Religious Freedom Rally

RCIA  blog sent this “thank you” to the U.S. Bishops on March 15, 2012:

Heartfelt thanks to the U.S. Bishops for their united voice and continued pastoral, courageous leadership on the question of religious liberty, as recently evidenced in the USCCB March 14 Statement on Religious Freedom and HHS Mandate.

Encourage our Shepherds, send your own message of support today!

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For Day Three of the Novena, click here.

Novena

Catholics have many traditions where numbers have significance:  40 days of Lent, 7 sacraments, 10 Hail Marys in a decade of the Rosary, and today, the number is 9 - for novena.  Nine days of prayer in anticipation of the upcoming rally for religious freedom.

Here's Day One:

NOVENA FOR A REVERSAL OF THE HHS MANDATE: DAY 1
Lord God,

You are the Author of Life and Freedom. In Your Spirit, we have the freedom of the children of God, and in Your Name, we promote the freedom of all to seek, embrace, and live the truth of Your Word.

In that freedom, Lord, we your people stand with Life and reject whatever destroys life or distorts the meaning of human sexuality.

In that freedom, Lord, we Your people live our lives in a way that advances Your Kingdom of Life, and we refuse to cooperate in what is evil.

At this moment, therefore, when our government has decided to force us to cooperate in evil, we pray for the grace to be faithful to You and to oppose the unjust laws and mandates that have been imposed upon us and our institutions.

We pray for the conversion of those in civil authority who fail to appreciate the demands of conscience. We pray for the complete reversal of all policies that permit the destruction of life or coerce the cooperation of Your people in practices that are wrong.

Bring us to a Culture of Life.

We pray through Christ our Lord. Amen.