Fortnight for Freedom 2013

Today begins the second Fortnight for Freedom, a call for Catholics to Pray, Act, and Be Heard to protect our Religious Freedoms which are being trampled upon. I urge everyone to spend some time in these next to weeks to do just that: PRAY, ACT, and Be HEARD.

Pray:

Find a few moments each day to pray for our religious freedoms. Here is a start:

Litany for Liberty

INTRODUCTION 

Christ the Lord has called us out of darkness into his marvelous light. 

Let us turn to him in humble but fervent petition, 

seeking the grace to root out from our hearts all trace of darkness, 

and all that holds us back 

from walking in the full freedom of the children of God.

As Christ is our great model for that inner freedom, 

which enables us to do the right, 

let us turn to him with confidence 

that we, too, may follow him to the fullness of spiritual freedom. 

Lord, have mercy; Lord, have mercy. 

Christ, have mercy; Christ, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy; Lord, have mercy.

Jesus, victor over sin and death… Free our hearts. 

Jesus, source of light and hope… Free our hearts.

Jesus, fullness of truth and mystery… Free our hearts.

Jesus, teacher of seeking hearts… Free our hearts.

Jesus, healer of body and soul… Free our hearts.

Jesus, bringer of mercy and justice… Free our hearts.

Jesus, who humble the heart and mind… Free our hearts.

Jesus, release of captives… Free our hearts.

Jesus, voice against violence… Free our hearts.

Jesus, courage for the lowly/downtrodden… Free our hearts.

Jesus, origin of all authority and power… Free our hearts.

Jesus, true lawgiver… Free our hearts.

Jesus, unity of order and passion… Free our hearts.

Jesus, freedom of the Spirit… Free our hearts.

Jesus, obedient Son of the Father… Free our hearts.

For the freedom to love… Give us your grace. 

For the freedom to believe… Give us your grace.

For the freedom to hope… Give us your grace.

For the freedom to worship… Give us your grace.

For the freedom to serve in charity… Give us your grace.

For the freedom to care for the suffering… Give us your grace.

For the freedom to comfort the sick… Give us your grace.

For the freedom to feed the hungry… Give us your grace.

For the freedom to shelter the homeless… Give us your grace.

For the freedom to proclaim the Gospel… Give us your grace.

For the freedom to walk in chastity… Give us your grace.

For the freedom to live in peace… Give us your grace.

For the freedom to work in good conscience… Give us your grace.

For the freedom to stand in solidarity… Give us your grace.

For the freedom to seek justice… Give us your grace.

For the freedom to reject sin… Give us your grace. 

For the freedom to reject coercion… Give us your grace.

For the freedom to reject falsehood… Give us your grace.

For the freedom to reject evil temptations… Give us your grace.

For the freedom to reject injustice… Give us your grace.

CLOSING PRAYER 

O God, who gave one origin to all peoples 

and willed to gather from them one family for yourself,

fill all hearts, we pray, with the fire of your love 

and kindle in them a desire 

for the just advancement of their neighbor, 

that, through the good things which you richly bestow upon all, 

each human person may be brought to perfection, 

every division may be removed, 

and equity and justice may be established in human society. 

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, 

who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, 

one God for ever and ever. 

Amen. 

[Collect for the Mass “For the Progress of the Peoples,” 

Masses for Various Needs and Occasions, No. 29, 

Roman Missal, Third Edition]

Act:
Pick an issue that touches your heart. Update yourself with the current news about it. Then write your congressman. Take for example the Morning after Pill. A federal judge has mandated no age restrictions, no parental notification, no prescriptions. We need congress to enact a law that the morning after pill not be made available to anyone under 18 and that a doctor's prescription be necessary. Tell your congressman what you think; that you daughter is not allowed to bring an aspirin to school or be given one by the school without your approval, yet she can obtain this high dose drug.

Make sure you are heard.