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Catholic people of faith in our country will embrace a mission (Catholic Caucus)
Novena For Our Nation ^ | July 14, 2016 | Fr Stephen Imbarrato

Posted on 08/15/2016 9:22:12 AM PDT by JPII Be Not Afraid

On August 15th, Catholic people of faith in our country will embrace a mission of what I consider self-survival, praying a 54 day Novena for our Nation. ( www.novenaforournation.com). The Novena starts on the great feast day of the Assumption of Our Blessed Virgin Mother Mary and ends on the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, October 7th, a date which memorializes the Battle of Lepanto, the great sea victory of European Christians over the Muslim invaders of Europe in 1571. This well known victory was spurred on by the believers of Christian Europe praying the Rosary, at the behest of Pope Pius V, invoking the intercession of the Blessed Mother to protect Christendom.

The battle of Lepanto and Our Lady of the Rosary is just one chapter of volumes that has been written about the Blessed Mother and her intervention in salvation history since her Assumption into heaven. I also have a reflection about Our Blessed Mother, her role in salvation history, and the conversion of souls.

I mention often in my preaching about how I feel that Our Lord’s Mother was the inspiration of His great teaching, the Sermon on the Mount. I am especially struck by Jesus’ words. “They will persecute you, insult you, and speak falsely about you because of me, rejoice and be glad, your reward will be great in heaven. For they persecuted the prophets before you in the same way.” Matthew 5:10-12

I can picture Jesus saying these words to His Mother in private even before His public sermon, warning her of the great sorrows that she would endure not only on earth through His crucifixion, but also after His Ascension into heaven. Mary’s reward in heaven is greatest among all creatures for her love and obedience was unsurpassed; her 7 Sorrows well documented.

Mary has also been the greatest prophet of the Church since Pentecost yet no one has been denigrated more or slighted in the Christian and secular world than Mary has been in the last centuries. (Enumeration of this is a topic for another day.) Suffice it to say though that an undeniable case can be made that more souls have come into the Catholic Church or returned to the faith because of Mary than any other vessel or means of conversion. Mary always points us to her Son in a clear and determined fashion. Many examples of this can be given for Mary has appeared many, many times in the last 2000 years throughout the world.

For the purposes of this reflection, I would like to concentrate on just one great example, maybe the greatest example, which predated Lepanto by almost 40 years. On December 12th, 1531, the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to St Juan Diego at Tepecac. The story of the miracle of the tilma is well known and the conversions brought about by the miracle well documented.

I feel it is important to focus on the context of this great miracle by our modern day prophet, the Blessed Virgin Mary. Our reflection begins at the beginning of salvation history found Revelation Chapter 12. For me, there can be no denying while reading this chapter of Revelation, two simple, but important facts. 1. “The woman clothed with the sun with the moon under her feet with a crown of 12 stars” is Our Lady of Guadalupe with child. 2. This was the beginning of salvation history, the origin of the battle between good and evil that remains till this day. “Then the dragon stood before the woman about to give birth, to devour her child. . . . She gave birth to a Son destined to rule the world with an iron rod. . . . Then war broke out in heaven.”

Our Lady of Guadalupe appeared a mere 14 years after Martin Luther ignited the Protestant Revolt (Reformation) in Europe. According to various sources, during the decades immediately after the Reformation, between 5 million and 10 million Catholics were lost to various sects of Protestantism. What has always struck me about the miracle of Our Lady of Guadalupe was twofold. 1. The conversion of the pagan culture in central America including the end of child sacrifice. 2. The replenishment of Catholicism with up to 10 million converts in central America in the decades after the miracle.

To this day, Our Lady of Guadalupe remains the patroness of the Americas, her manifestation as the Immaculate Conception being the patroness of our country. Our Lady of Guadalupe is the patroness of the unborn and, of course, along with Jesus and St Joseph, Mary makes up the Holy Family with Mary and Joseph bonded in the perfect marriage of fidelity and chastity.

Today in our country, life at all stages especially in the womb, marriage, and family are all under attack. Religion freedom is under siege! In light of the lessons manifest in the apparition of Our Lady of Guadalupe, her conversion of a pagan culture and the end of their child sacrifice, as well as the restoration of health of the Catholic faith, it seems not only prudent, but a cooperation of the grace of Jesus proclaimed at the Sermon on the Mount for us to pray the Rosary and invoke the intercession of the greatest prophet in the history of our Church, the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Let us invoke Our Mother for the conversion of our country and for the end of all attacks against the sanctity of life, marriage, and family as well as for the protection of our religious freedom. Join us from August 15th till October 7th for the 54 day Novena for our Nation. May Jesus be merciful to us and bring about the desired conversion of souls through the intercession of His Mother and ours.

Fr Stephen Imbarrato

Priests for Life


TOPICS: Catholic; Religion & Politics
KEYWORDS: catholic; nation; novena
DAY 1 – HOLY MARY, HELP US TO STRIVE FOR PERFECTION!

GOD’S WORD

“So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matthew 4:48) HEROES’ WORDS

“If you are what you should be, you will set the whole world ablaze!” -St. Catherine of Siena

“This is the very perfection of a man, to find out his own imperfections.” -St. Augustine

“To live is to change, and to be perfect is to have changed often.” -Bl. John Henry Cardinal Newman

“He who climbs never stops going from beginning to beginning, through beginnings that have no end. He never stops desiring what he already knows.” -St. Gregory of Nissa

“Let us begin in earnest to work out our salvation, for no one will do it for us, since even he himself, who made us without ourselves, will not save us without ourselves.” -St. Margaret Mary Alacoque MEDITATION

“All Christians in any state or walk of life are called to the fullness of Christian life and to the perfection of charity.” All are called to holiness: “Be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (CCC 2013)

Spiritual progress tends toward ever more intimate union with Christ. This union is called “mystical” because it participates in the mystery of Christ through the sacraments – “the holy mysteries” – and, in him, in the mystery of the Holy Trinity. God calls us all to this intimate union with him, even if the special graces or extraordinary signs of this mystical life are granted only to some for the sake of manifesting the gratuitous gift given to all. (CCC 2014)

The way of perfection passes by way of the Cross. There is no holiness without renunciation and spiritual battle. Spiritual progress entails the ascesis and mortification that gradually lead to living in the peace and joy of the Beatitudes. (CCC 2015) PRAY A ROSARY

Choose either:

Rosary of the Day: Joyful Mysteries Traditional 54 Day Rotation: Joyful Mysteries

PRAYERS FOR TRADITIONAL 54 DAY NOVENA

THE JOYFUL MYSTERIES OF THE HOLY ROSARY

Prayer before the recitation: Sign of the cross. Hail Mary.

In petition (first 27 days): Hail, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, my Mother Mary, hail! At thy feet I humbly kneel to offer thee a Crown of Roses, snow white buds to remind thee of thy joys, each bud recalling to thee a holy mystery, each 10 bound together with my petition for a particular grace. O Holy Queen, dispenser of God’s graces, and Mother of all who invoke thee, thou canst not look upon my gift and fail to see its binding. As thou receivest my gift, so wilt thou receive my petition; from thy bounty thou wilt give me the favor I so earnestly and trustingly seek. I despair of nothing that I ask of thee. Show thyself my Mother!

In thanksgiving (last 27 days): Hail, Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, my Mother Mary, hail! At thy feet I gratefully kneel to offer thee a Crown of Roses snow white buds to remind thee of thy joys each bud recalling to thee a holy mystery; each ten bound together with my petition for a particular grace. O Holy Queen, Dispenser of God’s graces. and Mother of all who invoke thee! thou canst not look upon my gift and fail to see its binding. As thou receivest my gift, so wilt thou receive my thanksgiving; from thy bounty thou hast given me the favor I so earnestly and trustingly sought. I despaired not of what I asked of thee, and thou hast truly shown thyself my Mother.

Say: The Apostles’ Creed, Our Father, 3 Hail Marys, Glory Be.

The Annunciation – Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be.

Concluding Prayer: I bind these snow-white buds with a petition for the virtue of humility and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet.

The Visitation – Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be.

Concluding Prayer: I bind these snow-white buds with a petition for the virtue of charity and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet.

The Nativity – Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be.

Concluding Prayer: I bind these snow-white buds with a petition for the virtue of detachment from the world and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet.

The Presentation – Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be.

Concluding Prayer: I bind these snow-white buds with a petition for the virtue of purity and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet.

Finding the Child Jesus in the Temple – Our Father, 10 Hail Marys, Glory Be.

Concluding Prayer: I bind these snow-white buds with a petition for the virtue of obedience to the will of God and humbly lay this bouquet at thy feet.

Say: The Hail Holy Queen.

In petition (first 27 days): Sweet Mother Mary, I offer thee this spiritual communion to bind my bouquets in a wreath to place upon thy brow. O my Mother! Look with favor upon my gift, and in thy love obtain for me (specify request). Hail Mary …

In thanksgiving (last 27 days): Sweet Mother Mary, I offer thee this Spiritual Communion to bind my bouquets in a wreath to place upon thy brow in thanksgiving for (specify request) which thou in thy love hast obtained for me. Hail, Mary, etc.

1 posted on 08/15/2016 9:22:12 AM PDT by JPII Be Not Afraid
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To: JPII Be Not Afraid

But how does anyone follow this Pope?


2 posted on 08/15/2016 9:23:27 AM PDT by stocksthatgoup (Don't argue with a Liberal. Ask him simple questions and listen to him stutter)
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To: stocksthatgoup

We add him to the prayer list.


3 posted on 08/15/2016 9:25:25 AM PDT by JPII Be Not Afraid
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To: JPII Be Not Afraid

I thought it interesting the author refers to “Catholics of faith”, as if not all Catholics follow the faith or have any faith at all. It is true that many do not. Very true.

I just wonder if that was Mr. Imbarrato’s intention to say it that way or just a Freudian slip. Either way he is, sadly, correct.


4 posted on 08/15/2016 9:39:00 AM PDT by MichaelCorleone (Jesus Christ is not a religion. He's the Truth.)
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To: MichaelCorleone

When they say 63% of Catholics are voting for Hillary, I think he is correct. I am not sure what will happen, but it has produced some pretty spectacular miracles in the past, so why should we not expect one now! We know only God can change our nation, it is too big for us, but we must do our part and pray.

Other Christians could join the 54 day novena with their own prayers and sacrifices. Let us all cry out to heaven!!


5 posted on 08/15/2016 9:53:28 AM PDT by JPII Be Not Afraid
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To: stocksthatgoup
But how does anyone follow this Pope?

We'll include him in our prayers, leave the rest to God. We've had problematic Popes before. This one is just a little more creative in a different way than the old problem popes.
6 posted on 08/15/2016 10:11:11 AM PDT by Dr. Sivana (There's no salvation in politics.)
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To: JPII Be Not Afraid

Are you planning to do a ping list for this novena? If so I would love to be on it.


7 posted on 08/15/2016 10:16:34 AM PDT by To Hell With Poverty (Paisley Park is in my heart.)
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To: To Hell With Poverty; All
Are you planning to do a ping list for this novena?

Yes, I did want to make a daily ping list. I will add you.

If anyone wants on the ping list let me know. Thanks!
8 posted on 08/15/2016 10:21:44 AM PDT by JPII Be Not Afraid
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To: JPII Be Not Afraid

Add me please.


9 posted on 08/15/2016 10:34:37 AM PDT by Excellence (Marine mom since April 11, 2014)
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To: JPII Be Not Afraid

Please add me also. Thanks for posting.


10 posted on 08/15/2016 10:39:01 AM PDT by BlatherNaut
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To: JPII Be Not Afraid

Thank you! Thanks for heading this up! :)


11 posted on 08/15/2016 11:44:55 AM PDT by To Hell With Poverty (Paisley Park is in my heart.)
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To: JPII Be Not Afraid

Add me as well! Thank you!


12 posted on 08/15/2016 11:47:31 AM PDT by FamiliarFace
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To: JPII Be Not Afraid

Great idea. Im in!


13 posted on 08/15/2016 7:01:32 PM PDT by Diago
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