NOVENA for the ELECTION -- 54 or 56 days (you choose!) ECUMENICAL

Vanitas vanitatum | 9/1/2012 | Vanity

[Mad Dawg]

Clearly we need to seek, to beg God's help in the coming election. I invite all to join in a "Novena" -- a LONG one -- with just such an intention.

If you start on 9/11 (!) and pray for 56 days, you end the day before election day.
If you start on 9/13 and pray for 54 days... you do the math. :-)

I am asking us to consider ADDING something to our daily prayers. I know you all are busy and I suspect many of you spend a good deal of time in prayer anyway. I do not seek to bind burdens on anyone's back. Though prayer sometimes involves teeth-gritting, that should not be the main theme! The main themes should always be hope, joy, and gratitude, IMHO.

But the prayer of a just man avails much, and we are justified in Jesus! So let us pray! Please consider adding ONE thing -- an act of charity and mercy, a little extra time in prayer and/or with Scripture, maybe a little fast -- or a even little extra physical exercise! But add just one thing to the Glory of our loving God and with a petition that He do HIS will in the coming election.

[Boring technical stuff for non-Catholics. The term "novena" refers to a period of prayer. It derives from, so to speak, riffing on the nine days of prayer between the Ascension and the Pentecost. Hence the name, which pretty much means "niney-thing" -- Mad Dawg translation.

[ Not so long ago, in our tradition, somebody was instructed to pray a novena of 6 novenas -- 3 of petition and 3 of thanksgiving. Good stuff ensued. Thus arose the 54 day novena. With JPII's change of the Rosary, a figure divisible by four is tidier for those who pray the Rosary. Hence my suggestion of 56 days.]

[diamond6]

Post 77 has a link. :)

[Salvation]

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.

For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.

He who believes in Him is not condemned; He who does not believe is condemned already, because He has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

-- John 3:16-18

[SumProVita]

Thank you AGAIN, Mad Dawg.

Rosary for today done....and we will be at a Diocesan conference all day today.

God is GOOD!

[Mad Dawg]

SumProVita, thank YOU for your encouraging words.

Today Catholics observe a memorial of the Sorrows of Mary. Among the many things we learn from the Gospel is that the way to Joy is the Via Dolorosa, the way full of sorrow.

This is because, when we chose, in our first parents, sorrow, alienation, confusion, and death, our Father respected our choice but refused to allow his will for our happiness to be thwarted. So he bent the spiritual universe so the path we take in our parents still can lead to him. Death becomes not the end but the threshold to life, and sorrow breaks the heart only so that the mended heart will be able to contain all the joy for which it was made.

So we can confidently pray that it be done for us, for our nation, and for the world according to God's word because we see in IHS that though weeping may spend the night,joy does come in the morning.

And as we walk in the Way which he is, we walk not only with him, but with his mother and a great crowd part of whose true joy is to share our sorrows.

[netmilsmom]

Checking in!

[Salvation]

The Our Father

Our Father, Who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy Will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

[Mad Dawg]

In many churches today we will hear of the “suffering servant, and of Christ’s challenge to us to take up our crosses daily.

Do the math. :-)

[SumProVita]

Yesterday, my husband and I learned some more about what will take place in the Church during the Year of Faith. One powerful event is that, I believe on the feast of Corpus Cristi, the entire Church will be called to make an hour of adoration TOGETHER, everywhere in the world at the same time in front of the Eucharist! Unity at the feet of the Lord, Jesus Christ!

Do the math, indeed! ;-)))))))))

[Mad Dawg]

WOW! I’m IN!

All I ever do at adoration is doze off, but I wouldn’t miss it for worlds. IHS knows I’m tired and He loves me.

[SumProVita]

Done for today....amidst MANY distractions in prayer. Thanking the Lord for the virtue of persistence. ;-)

[Mad Dawg]

Constitution Day!

A document written with a deep appreciation for the imperfectibility of man and the necessity of moral and religious aspirations.

In how sorry a case is that person who no longer longs for the good and aspires to better himself while admitting his failures?

Let’s pray for those who have lost hope.

[DarthVader]

Amen!

[Salvation]

Say just one Hail Mary to stop an abortion.

The
Hail
Mary

Hail Mary,
Full of Grace,
The Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women,
and blessed is the fruit
of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary,
Mother of God,
pray for us sinners now,
and at the hour of death.

Amen.

[Salvation]

Doctors of the Catholic Church

Saint Robert Bellarmine was the first Jesuit priest to develop the theory of the indirect power of the Pope in temporary affairs. He all but eliminated the Divine-Rights-of-Kings untenable principle that had been in existence many years before we worked at the Vatican.

He described and explained the head of hell-Satan and his cohorts. The titles of Gentle Doctor of The Controversies, one of his more notable writings, and the title "Prince of Apologists" are two of the most known names that identify him.

Robert is the Doctor of Church, State and Country Relations. The pope made him a Cardinal and insisted on having him by his side as his personal theologian. The more he stepped down, the more God raised this humble priest up with greater responsibilities at the Vatican.

This brilliant Jesuit lived in an age of great deflection within the church amidst religious controversy. His writings, intelligence, and character served the church at a time that was most needed.

St Robert Bellarmine, 1542-1621. Doctor of Church State Relations, Feast Sept 17th.

Diplomats, ambassadors, heads of state, government officials and top church decision-makers and ministers can learn much from Robert. He had major responsibilities and used it properly for the development and growth of the church, states and countries. The more authority one exercises, the more divine guidance one needs to serve others in a Christian manner. Plead with St Bellarmine to gain wisdom and discernment leading others and supporting your country. You will definitely receive strength and insight to handle sensitive issues that could affect your church, state and country.

Patriotism is a virtue. It is not only a virtue that displays love for country but also supports the authority and interest of country. Many have died defending our independence, liberty and freedom. We can defend and honor our country and its citizens by upholding everything that makes us free. However, in God's work of salvation, which means freedom from sin, a Christian patriot is one who stands up for any cause which promotes justice, equality and human dignity. That is what St Robert Bellarmine advocated and defended. Saints tell us that there are other battles going on in life. We are Christian protectors and defenders fighting for spiritual values as well as in the armed forces defending our country against oppressors and war. Hopefully, as humankind grows in spiritual perspectives, our struggles are going to be more socially, educationally and mentally rather then physically with forces and arms for war. However, we must be prepared to go to war and fight to defend freedom and destroyers of humanity and offenders of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Vitally important in this manner is the ghastly topic of abortion and the vivid pictures and disfigurement of infants in women's wombs through abortions, clearly witnessed. ABORTION KILLS MORE THAN 46,000,000 BABIES EVERY YEAR WORLDWIDE? That is a sheer horror to the Christian psyche. No educated person can impugn that all human life, no matter the stage, is a gift of God, unequivocally and indisputably, and any laws to the contrary can and must be subject to change.

[Running On Empty]

“....doze off”

Carmelites understand. St. Therese called it sleeping in the Master’s boat :-)

I’m still in. One rosary a day for the novena.

And chocolate only on Sunday

[johngrace]

I am watching the 700club. They have fifty plus days of Prayer till election day. This is very encouraging.

[SumProVita]

Praying for God’s will certainly fits with today’s mysteries doesn’t it?

Rosary done for today.

O Blessed Virgin, Mother of the Savior, scatter the forces of evil so they are not engrossed in darkness but can come to light. Amen.

[Mad Dawg]

Friends,

Sorry for unaccustomed silence. I’m still here and thinking that the mysteries of Glory should remind us that we and the nation are in God’s hands. YES, bad things can happen. Indeed bad things WILL happen, no matter who wins in November.

But eyes on the prize! The Lord is well able to turn evil into good and He is well disposed toward us.

In other news, shoot up a little prayer for me, please? I was asked to give a little speech at the kickoff for 40 days for life. If God gives the words into my mouth, then they will be acceptable in his sight.

[Running On Empty]

My prayers are with you.

Can you give more details?

Where and when?

Will we be able to see/hear it?

[Salvation]

We are praying for you. The words will come from the babies.