Fortnight for Freedom: Freedom to Bear Witness

"Keeping the spirit of the Gospel means that Catholic institutions are to bear witness in love to the full truth about the human person by providing social, charitable, and educational services in a manner that fully reflects the God-given dignity of the human person." - Archbishop William E. Lori, Chairman, Ad Hoc Committee for Religious Liberty, on the "Freedom to Bear Witness"

“The Fortnight for Freedom: Freedom to Bear Witness will take place from June 21 to July 4, 2015, a time when our liturgical calendar celebrates a series of great martyrs who remained faithful in the face of persecution by political power—St. Thomas More and St. John Fisher, St. John the Baptist, SS. Peter and Paul, and the First Martyrs of the Church of Rome. The theme of this year's Fortnight will focus on the "freedom to bear witness" to the truth of the Gospel.”

I have been reporting on the Fortnight for Freedom initiate every year since it started. Anyone with their eyes open would see the many instances that our religious liberties are being curtailed. It continues and is getting worse. That is why I ask you to give this initiative your attention too, to pray daily between June 21 to July 4th, to read up on the subject, and to not be afraid to stand up for your faith even in conversations with friends and relatives. I am reminded of Matthew Kelly’s theme “Be Bold, Be Catholic.” Defend our Church when it is attacked. “From life to the Gospel, from Gospel to life,” is not merely a Franciscan theme, it is a way of life. The Gospel is radical, it is not passive and quiet, it is countercultural, especially in the secular society in which we live.

Freedom to bear witness means to evangelize our message, to bring to others the Good News, of Jesus’ love and great mercy for everyone. And it means to bear witness in our daily conversations with others.

So please say the prayer below every day and find a little time to become more knowledgeable. The USCCB has some great resources (link below), and a quick Web search will provide more. http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/religious-liberty/fortnight-for-freedom/

“Be not afraid.”

Tom


Prayer for the Protection of Religious Liberty
O God our Creator,
from your provident hand we have received
our right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
You have called us as your people and given us
the right and the duty to worship you, the only true God,
and your Son, Jesus Christ.
Through the power and working of your Holy Spirit,
you call us to live out our faith in the midst of the world,
bringing the light and the saving truth of the Gospel
to every corner of society.

We ask you to bless us
in our vigilance for the gift of religious liberty.
Give us the strength of mind and heart
to readily defend our freedoms when they are threatened;
give us courage in making our voices heard
on behalf of the rights of your Church
and the freedom of conscience of all people of faith.

Grant, we pray, O heavenly Father,
a clear and united voice to all your sons and daughters
gathered in your Church
in this decisive hour in the history of our nation,
so that, with every trial withstood
and every danger overcome—
for the sake of our children, our grandchildren,
and all who come after us—
this great land will always be "one nation, under God,
indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Fortnight for Freedom - 2014

I’m late on this. June 21^st began the 3^rd Fortnight for Freedom initiative. Not sure how I missed it. Perhaps it was not publicized enough. Did you hear of it in church, was it in your bulletin?

Our religious liberties are in danger of being taken away. This is real. We need to pray, to know the issues and be actively involved. This is of great concern for me. As a student of history, I've learned how easy it is for a state to take away one’s freedoms and liberty; Nazi Germany is the prominent example. Think of Poland and the other Eastern European countries under communist rule. Please don’t be like an ostrich with your head in the sand, or next you may find yourself attending Mass in someone’s basement.

By the way, if you didn't hear of this in your parish, or the diocese made no efforts to bring this to you, you may want to ask your pastor, or even write the bishop and ask them why not.

Peace and all Good!

Please see the article in the National Catholic Register here.

We Want to be Taught

I just became aware of a site that is encouraging the Magisterium to implement an Ordinary Sunday catechetical lectionary. Here is what I commented on the site:

“I am extremely aware of the need for catechesis for the people in the pews. I can site many reasons, but here are a few: 1) Unless self-motivated Catholics receive no continuing formation after religious studies in grammar school, or for the lucky ones high school; 2) I've often commented on the "la la" homilies especially in liberal dioceses; and 3) Catholics are strongly influenced by the secular culture in which they live, contrary to church teaching and filled with misinformation from the media, and they don't even realize it.”

I encourage everyone to go to this site and learn more: http://www.wewanttobetaught.com/

There has been a lot of talk about the new evangelization; evangelization needs to start within ourselves, then within our local parish communities, then to the world at large.

Do you not see the need Christ has for you, as does His church? At this time when we are trying to protect our religious rights and support the efforts of Fortnight for Freedom, it is necessary for all of us to pray, inform ourselves, take action and be heard.

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.

Fortnight for Freedom

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops is planning the second annual Fortnight for Freedom from June 21 to July 4. For more information go here.

When injustice becomes LAW, resistance becomes DUTY

A Homily on Religious Freedom

A little tardy in posting this, but I just received a copy of this homily by one of my Deacons delivered at the Mass kicking off the Fortnight for Freedom initiative. Just because the FoF initiative is over, does not mean we should stop praying, learning about the issues and taking action. The HHS Mandate is still public law.

Deacon Ken received a strong round of applause after the homily, which is a rarity in a Catholic church after a homily.

A Homily on the Fortnight for Freedom, 6/23/2012

By Deacon Ken

We are all aware of the advice that one should never discuss religion or politics in a social setting, especially in church. It's a sure recipe for immediate controversy. But like all things, there is a time and place to discuss these topics. However, we frequent we seem to take this advice to in extreme — we never talk about faith in public.

We further compound this by mistakenly take the notion of "separation of church and state" to an extent that was never intended by our founding fathers...and to an extent that is not compatible with Catholic teaching.

We are Catholics. We are Americans. We are proud to be both, grateful for the gift of faith which is ours as Christian disciples, and grateful for the gift of liberty which is ours as American citizens. To be Catholic and American should mean not having to choose one over the other. Our allegiances are distinct, but they need not be contradictory, and should be instead complementary.

That is the teaching of our Catholic faith, which obliges us to work together with fellow citizens for the common good of all who live in this land. That is the vision of our founding fathers in our Constitution, which guarantees citizens of all religious faiths the right to contribute to our common life together.

We cannot claim to be true disciples, and at the same time leave our religious principles at the doorstep of our homes or leave them out of certain discussions. To be authentic Christians, every aspect of our lives must be infused with the gospel. Our faith must shape our political views and actions.

Faith is not just a private matter. We cannot be true followers of Jesus and at the same time compartmentalize our lives so that our faith is confined to certain aspects but is included from excluded from others.

Often there are no simple concrete answers, but concerns for the dignity of each person and concern for the poor and needy must be part of what we as Christians bring to our society.

We need to address those areas of our personal and public lives where we justify leaving our faith and morals on the sidelines instead of bringing them into the heart of the fray. We need to bring our faith-based moral principles into the public square and the government and underline should not hinder us in doing so. One step about defending religious liberty is to talk about it, to make sure people understand religious liberty is not given by government, but by God.

The main intention of the First Amendment is to protect our free exercise of religion and prevent the government from enter either promoting or interfering with the practice of religion. In recent years, it seems that various federal, state and local laws and policies have been either attacking or eroding this protection.

As a result, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops is calling for a "Fortnight for Freedom" to focus attention and action on protecting religious freedom in the United States. The fourteen days from June 21 (the vigil of the Feasts of St. John Fisher and St. Thomas more) to July 4, Independence Day, are being dedicated to this effort.

The church's liturgical calendar celebrates many great martyrs who remained faithful in the face of persecution by political power, such as St. John Fisher and St. Thomas more, St. John the Baptist, and SS. Peter and Paul, to name just a few.

Culminating on the day we celebrate our independence and freedom, this special period of prayer, study, catechesis, and public action will emphasize both our Christian and American heritage of liberty. Dioceses and parishes around the country have scheduled special events that support a great national campaign of teaching and witness for religious liberty.

[Our] parish, will be speaking about this topic at a special presentation on Monday, June 25, at 6:30 PM in the large meeting room by Mr. Patrick Cacchione, Executive Director of the Illinois Catholic Health Organization, he will speak on key issues involved in the "Fortnight for Freedom" effort.

Mr. Cacchione will speak on why these important Catholic ministries that serve both Catholic and non-Catholics are essential parts of our church's mission. We invite you to come to learn about the key issue in the "Fortnight for Freedom" campaign.

As we observe this fortnight (and beyond), you and I need to educate ourselves on the issues, which are often only superficially covered (and often slanted from the “right” or "left") in the media, while ignoring the inflammatory, distorting rhetoric used on both sides.

We need to look at societal issues with the moral lens rather than the purely political or financial lens we normally employ. We need to spend time praying over the issues that affect the larger community (and not just those which affect "me" directly). And we need to take action by voicing our consciences to those in leadership roles within our government and society.

You can learn more about the Fortnight for Freedom at the bishops website, www.usccb.org. There you can also find the statement they issued on the topic of religious freedom, entitled "Our First, Most Cherished Liberty."

Religious liberty is not only about our ability to go to Mass on Sunday or pray the Rosary at home. It is about whether we can make our contribution to the common good of all Americans. Can we do the good works our faith calls us to do, without having to compromise that very same faith?

Without religious liberty properly understood,  all-American suffer, deprived of the essential contribution in education, health care, feeding the hungry, civil rights, and social services that religious Americans make every day, both here and at home and overseas.

I would like to close this prayer for our nation:

Almighty God, father of all nations,
For freedom you have set us free in Christ Jesus. We praise and bless you for the gift of religious liberty, the foundation of human rights, justice, and the common good. Grant to our leaders the wisdom to protect and promote our liberties; by your grace may we have the courage to defend them, for ourselves and for all those who live in this blessed land.

We ask this through the intercession of Mary, our patroness of these United States and in the name of your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, with whom you live and reign, one God, forever and ever. Amen

Archbishop Charles Chaput -- Fortnight for Freedom Closing Homily

Archbishop Charles Chaput -- Fortnight for Freedom Closing Homily from Rocco Palmo on Vimeo.

Here is the text:


My dear faithful people of God and people of Good will,

Philadelphia is the place where both the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution were written. For more than two centuries, these documents have inspired people around the globe. So as we begin our reflection on today’s readings, I have the privilege of greeting everyone here today -- and every person watching or listening from a distance -- in the name of the Church of my home, the Church of Philadelphia, the cradle of our country’s liberty and the city of our nation’s founding, so greetings to all of you from the people of Philadelphia. May God bless and guide all of us as we settle our hearts and minds on the Word of God.


Paul Claudel, the French poet and diplomat of the last century, once described the Christian as “a man who knows what he is doing and where he is going in a world [that] no longer [knows] the difference between good and evil, between yes and no. He is like a god standing out in a crowd of invalids . . . He alone has liberty in a world of slaves.”

Like most of the great writers of his time, Claudel was a mix of gold and clay, flaws and genius. He had a deep and brilliant Catholic faith, and when he wrote that a man “who no longer believes in God, no longer believes in anything,” he was simply reporting what he saw all around him. He spoke from a lifetime that witnessed two world wars and the rise of atheist ideologies that murdered tens of millions of innocent people using the vocabulary of science. He knew exactly where forgetting God can lead.

We Americans live in a different country, on a different continent, in a different century. And yet, in speaking of liberty, Claudel leads us to the reason we come together in worship this afternoon.

Most of us know today’s passage from the Gospel of Matthew. What we should, or should not, render unto Caesar shapes much of our daily discourse as citizens. But I want to focus on the other and more important point Jesus makes in today’s Gospel: the things we should render unto God.

When the Pharisees and Herodians try to trap Jesus, he responds by asking for a coin. Examining it he says, “Whose image is this and whose inscription?” When his enemies say “Caesar’s,” he tells them to render it to Caesar. In other words, that which bears the image of Caesar belongs to Caesar.

The key word in Christ’s answer is “image,” or in the Greek, eikon. Our modern meaning of “image” is weaker than the original Greek meaning. We tend to think of an image as something symbolic, like a painting or sketch. The Greek understanding includes that sense but goes much further. In the New Testament, the “image” of something shares in the nature of the thing itself.

This has consequences for our own lives because we’re made in the image and likeness of God. In the Greek translation of the Old Testament, the same word, eikon, is used in Genesis when describing creation. “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness” says God (Gen 1:26). The implication is clear. To be made in the image of God is more than a pious slogan. It’s a statement of fact. Every one of us shares -- in a limited but real way -- in the nature of God himself. When we follow Jesus Christ, we grow in conformity to that image.

Once we understand this, the impact of Christ’s response to his enemies becomes clear. Jesus isn’t being clever. He’s not offering a political commentary. He’s making a claim on every human being. He’s saying, “render unto Caesar those things that bear Caesar’s image, but more importantly, render unto God that which bears God’s image” -- in other words, you and me. All of us.

And that raises some unsettling questions: What do you and I, and all of us, really render to God in our personal lives? If we claim to be disciples, then what does that actually mean in the way we speak and the way we act?

Thinking about the relationship of Caesar and God, religious faith and secular authority, is important. It helps us sort through our different duties as Christians and citizens. But on a deeper level, Caesar is a creature -- a creature of this world -- and Christ’s message is uncompromising: We should give Caesar nothing of ourselves. Obviously we’re in the world. That means we have obligations of charity and justice to the people with whom we share it. For Christians, patriotism is a virtue. Love of country is an honorable thing. As Chesterton once said, if we build a wall between ourselves and the world, it makes little difference whether we describe ourselves as locked in or locked out.

But God has made us for more than the world. Our real home isn’t here. The point of today’s Gospel passage is not how we might calculate a fair division of goods between Caesar and God. In reality, it all belongs to God and nothing – at least nothing permanent and important – belongs to Caesar. Why? Because just as the coin bears the stamp of Caesar’s image, we bear the stamp of God’s image in baptism. We belong to God, and only to God.

In today’s second reading, St. Paul tells us, “Indeed religion” -- the RSV version says “godliness” – “with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, just as we shall not be able to take anything out of it.” My dear friends, true freedom knows no attachments other than Jesus Christ. It has no love of riches or the appetites they try to satisfy. True freedom can walk away from anything -- wealth, honor, fame, pleasure. Even power. It fears neither the state, nor death itself.

Who is the most free person at anything? It’s the person who masters her art. A pianist is most free who -- having mastered her instrument according to the rules that govern it and the rules of music, and having disciplined and honed her skills -- can now play anything she wants.

The same holds true for our lives. We’re free only to the extent that we unburden ourselves of our own willfulness and practice the art of living according to God’s plan. When we do this, when we choose to live according to God’s intentions for us, then -- and only then -- will we be truly free.

This is the freedom of the sons and daughters of God. It’s the freedom of Miguel Pro, of Mother Teresa, Maximillian Kolbe, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and all the other holy women and men who have gone before us to do the right thing, the heroic thing, in the face of suffering, adversity and death.

This is the kind of freedom that can transform the world. And it should animate all of our talk about liberty – religious or otherwise.

I say this for two reasons. Here’s the first reason. Real freedom isn’t something Caesar can give or take away. He can interfere with it; but when he does, he steals from his own legitimacy.

Here’s the second reason. The purpose of religious liberty is to create the context for true freedom. Religious liberty is a foundational right. It’s necessary for the good of society. But it can never be sufficient for human happiness. It’s not an end in itself. In the end, we defend religious liberty in order to live the deeper freedom that is discipleship in Jesus Christ. What good is religious freedom, consecrated in the law, if we don’t then use that freedom to seek God with our whole mind, our whole strength, our whole soul and all that we are?

Today, July 4, we celebrate the birth of a novus ordo seclorum – a “new order of the ages,” the American Era. God has blessed our nation with resources, power, beauty and the rule of law. We have so much to be grateful for. But these are gifts. They can be misused. They can be lost. In coming years, we’ll face more and more serious challenges to religious liberty in our country. This is why the Fortnight for Freedom has been so very important.

And yet, the political and legal effort to defend religious liberty – as vital as it is – belongs to a much greater struggle to master and convert our own hearts, and to live for God completely, without alibis or self-delusion. The only question that finally matters is this one: Will we live wholeheartedly for Jesus Christ? If so, then we can be a source of freedom for the world. If not, nothing else will do.

God’s word in today’s first reading is a caution we ignore at our own expense. “Son of man,” God says to Ezekiel and to all of us, “I have appointed you as a sentinel. If I say to the wicked, ‘you will surely die’ – and you do not warn them or speak out to dissuade them . . . I will hold you responsible for their blood.”

Here’s what that means for each of us: We live in a time that calls for sentinels and public witness. Every Christian in every era faces the same task. But you and I are responsible for this moment. Today. Now. We need to “speak out,” not only for religious liberty and the ideals of the nation we love, but for the sacredness of life and the dignity of the human person – in other words, for the truth of what it means to be made in the image and likeness of God.

We need to be witnesses of that truth not only in words, but also in deeds. In the end, we’re missionaries of Jesus Christ, or we’re nothing at all. And we can’t share with others what we don’t live faithfully and joyfully ourselves.

When we leave this Mass today, we need to render unto Caesar those things that bear his image. But we need to render ourselves unto God -- generously, zealously, holding nothing back. To the extent we let God transform us into his own image, we will – by the example of our lives – fulfill our duty as citizens of the United States, but much more importantly, as disciples of Jesus Christ.
May God brings to completion the good things he begins in us today.

Fortnight for Freedom - Day 14

Happy Independence Day! Thanks for putting up with me these past 14 days. I hope my postings inspired you to pray and take action to protect our religious liberties. History teaches us that religious freedom is a precious gift, and it can be taken away swiftly, Mexico in 1926, or slowly, Nazi Germany. Many say “It cannot happen here.” But it is already happening.

The culmination of the “Fortnight for Freedom” initiative does not mean we can relax, stop praying, stop writing our elected officials, stop learning about the issues, stop exhorting our friends and relatives. It begins.

Taking one word from Scripture “Watch!”

We are Catholics. Our faith teaches us to be good citizens, but we are near the time, perhaps the time is already here, that calls for civil disobedience. The call has been heard: “I will not, I cannot, I should not comply.”

Prayer for the Nation
Archbishop John Carroll of Baltimore (First Bishop of the United States)

We pray, Thee O Almighty and Eternal God! Who through Jesus Christ hast revealed Thy glory to all nations, to preserve the works of Thy mercy, that Thy Church, being spread through the whole world, may continue with unchanging faith in the confession of Thy Name.

We pray Thee, who alone art good and holy, to endow with heavenly knowledge, sincere zeal, and sanctity of life, our chief bishop, Pope N., the Vicar of Our Lord Jesus Christ, in the government of his Church; our own bishop, N., all other bishops, prelates, and pastors of the Church; and especially those who are appointed to exercise amongst us the functions of the holy ministry, and conduct Thy people into the ways of salvation.

We pray Thee O God of might, wisdom, and justice! Through whom authority is rightly administered, laws are enacted, and judgment decreed, assist with Thy Holy Spirit of counsel and fortitude the President of these United States, that his administration may be conducted in righteousness, and be eminently useful to Thy people over whom he presides; by encouraging due respect for virtue and religion; by a faithful execution of the laws in justice and mercy; and by restraining vice and immorality. Let the light of Thy divine wisdom direct the deliberations of Congress, and shine forth in all the proceedings and laws framed for our rule and government, so that they may tend to the preservation of peace, the promotion of national happiness, the increase of industry, sobriety, and useful knowledge; and may perpetuate to us the blessing of equal liberty.

We pray for his excellency, the governor of this state, for the members of the assembly, for all judges, magistrates, and other officers who are appointed to guard our political welfare, that they may be enabled, by Thy powerful protection, to discharge the duties of their respective stations with honesty and ability.

We recommend likewise, to Thy unbounded mercy, all our brethren and fellow citizens throughout the United States, that they may be blessed in the knowledge and sanctified in the observance of Thy most holy law; that they may be preserved in union, and in that peace which the world cannot give; and after enjoying the blessings of this life, be admitted to those which are eternal.

Finally, we pray to Thee, O Lord of mercy, to remember the souls of Thy servants departed who are gone before us with the sign of faith and repose in the sleep of peace; the souls of our parents, relatives, and friends; of those who, when living, were members of this congregation, and particularly of such as are lately deceased; of all benefactors who, by their donations or legacies to this Church, witnessed their zeal for the decency of divine worship and proved their claim to our grateful and charitable remembrance. To these, O Lord, and to all that rest in Christ, grant, we beseech Thee, a place of refreshment, light, and everlasting peace, through the same Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Savior. Amen.

U.S. Constitution - Amendment 1

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.


God bless America. God bless you.

Fortnight for Freedom - Day 13

I would be remiss if I let this religious freedom initiative pass without a day devoted to the Sacred Heart. This devotion has seemed to decline with the excitement of Vatican II, as many traditional rituals/liturgies have; as I've previously mentioned Perpetual Adoration - I wonder why? Then there is some 'competition' with the Divine Mercy devotions. But I think the greater cause is the secularization and hedonism of our society: religious discarding their habits, Mass attendance way down; retreat houses, when you can find one, are more about ecology then renewing our relationship with God.

But I see a revitalization of many of our traditional forms of devotion. I see churches bringing these back. Those that do are growing, those hanging on to the aging liberal movement of the '60s and 70's are declining. Youth want something to hang their hats on, not a constantly changing movement. People are looking for direction from the Vatican, not their liberal pastors or bishops.

My parents had a devotion to the Sacred Heart which I picked up on. It went latent for years passing through young adulthood. But I gradually reacquainted myself and found the devotions rewards and blessings. I'm currently reading "Heart of the Redeemer" by Timothy T. O'Donnell, S.T.D., Ignatius Press, that will tell you all you want to know about the devotion and its history.

With help from Wikipedia, I can express that the Sacred Heart is one of the most famous religious devotions to Jesus' physical heart as the representation of his divine love for humanity. The devotion especially emphasizes the unmitigated love, compassion, and long-suffering of the heart of Christ towards humanity. The origin of this devotion in its modern form is derived from a French Roman Catholic nun, Marguerite Marie Alacoque, who said she learned the devotion from Jesus during a mystical experience.

How soothing and refreshing to contemplate that the Father gave His Son to us, and the Son gave his life for us, out of His great love, so we may share eternity with Him.

Worship of the Sacred Heart mainly consists of the Salutation of the Sacred Heart, and the Litany of the Sacred Heart.

And so I pray for the intention of our religious freedom - join me if you like:

Sacred Heart A Salutation Prayer by Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque:

Hail, Heart of Jesus, save me!
Hail, Heart of my Creator, perfect me!
Hail, Heart of my Saviour, deliver me!
Hail, Heart of my Judge, grant me pardon!
Hail, Heart of my Father, govern me!
Hail, Heart of my Spouse, grant me love!
Hail, Heart of my Master, teach me!
Hail, Heart of my King, be my crown!
Hail, Heart of my Benefactor, enrich me!
Hail, Heart of my Shepherd, guard me!
Hail, Heart of my Friend, comfort me!
Hail, Heart of my Brother, stay with me!
Hail, Heart of the Child Jesus, draw me to Thyself!
Hail, Heart of Jesus dying on the Cross, redeem me!
Hail, Heart of Jesus in all Thy states, give Thyself to me!
Hail, Heart of incomparable goodness, have mercy on me!
Hail, Heart of splendor, shine within me!
Hail, most loving Heart, inflame me!
Hail, most merciful Heart, work within me!
Hail, most humble Heart, dwell within me!
Hail, most patient Heart, support me!
Hail, most faithful Heart, be my reward!
Hail, most admirable and most worthy Heart, bless me!


The Litany of the Sacred Heart of Jesus:

Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, graciously hear us.
God, the Father of Heaven, have mercy on us.
God, the Son, Redeemer of the World, have mercy on us.
God, the Holy Ghost, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, Son of the Eternal Father, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, formed in the womb of the Virgin Mother by the Holy Ghost, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, united substantially with the word of God, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, of infinite majesty, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, holy temple of God, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, tabernacle of the Most High, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, house of God and gate of heaven, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, glowing furnace of charity, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, vessel of justice and love, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, full of goodness and love, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, abyss of all virtues, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, most worthy of all praise, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, king and center of all hearts, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, in whom are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, in whom dwelleth all the fullness of the Divinity, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, in whom the Father is well pleased, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, of whose fullness we have all received, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, desire of the everlasting hills, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, patient and rich in mercy, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, rich to all who invoke Thee, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, fount of life and holiness, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, propitiation for our sins, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, saturated with revilings, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, crushed for our iniquities, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, made obedient unto death, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, pierced with a lance, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, source of all consolation, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, our life and resurrection, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, our peace and reconciliation, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, victim for our sins, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, salvation of those who hope in Thee, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, hope of those who die in Thee, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, delight of all saints, have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, O Lord,
Lamb of God who takest away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
V. Jesus, meek and humble of Heart.
R. Make our hearts like unto Thine.

Let us pray

Almighty and everlasting God, look upon the Heart of Thy well-beloved Son and upon the acts of praise and satisfaction which He renders unto Thee in the name of sinners; and do Thou, in Thy great goodness, grant pardon to them who seek Thy mercy, in the name of the same Thy Son, Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with Thee, world without end.


Sacred Heart of Jesus an offering prayer - The Raccolta

O Divine Heart of Jesus, grant, I beseech Thee, eternal rest to the souls in purgatory, final grace to all who are to die today, true repentance to sinners, the light of faith to pagans, Thy blessing to me and to all who are mine.

To Thee, O most loving Heart of Jesus, do I therefore commend all these souls, and for them I offer all Thy merits, together with the merits of the most Blessed Mother and of all the saints and angels, and also together with all the Sacrifices of the Mass, the Holy Communions, the prayers and good works that are made today throughout the entire Christian world.

You may want to read my post on the Feast of the Sacred Heart which was the work by Saint Bonaventure found in the Office of Readings for that day.

Fortnight for Freedom - Day 12

I've been wondering what to post for Day 12, I decided to do a little surfing and see what I can come up with to share to help you become more acquainted with the religious freedom issues. So see below.


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Homily by Fr. Martin Fox at Bonfire of the Vanities blog - Spreading God's Life" He has a great site. Visit him some time.

As you know, right now all Catholics in America--all 70 million of us-- are focusing intently on a “Fortnight for Freedom,” which will conclude this Wednesday as celebrate our nation’s independence.

It’s inspiring to see your responses! Between both parishes, over 5,000 rosaries, prayers, sacrifices and so forth, that we know of.
We have all that posted in the vestibule. And, of course, many others are praying and sacrificing but didn’t turn in a response. Multiply that by the tens of thousands of parishes nationwide, and it adds up, doesn’t it?
Also, remember this isn’t just Catholics. Many of our fellow Americans, of different faiths, likewise see the threats to religious freedom; and not just at home, but everywhere.
For example--in Germany, a court ruled that
parents commit a crime if they circumcise their children.

If that ruling is upheld, that makes an essential part of Islam and Judaism is now a crime.

Now, we are all, also, aware of the major decision handed down by the U.S. Supreme Court last week. It isn’t my place to talk from the pulpit about that whole decision. But, it does connect to the question of religious freedom-- because the mandate hanging over our heads, that would force our Catholic institutions to act contrary to our Faith, was authorized by the President’s health-care law.

A lot of folks are asking, how does that ruling last week affect the mandate threatening us?

The answer is that we continue our efforts. There are lawsuits against the mandate that would force us to provide contraception and abortion services, and those are still working their way through the courts. They haven’t been decided yet. So we keep praying and we keep sharing our message.

 If you are tempted to give up, call it over, remember the woman in the Gospel.
She waited twelve years! Remember the official whose child died-- they said, don’t trouble the teacher any longer. They gave up. And yet Jesus answered the prayer.

A lot of folks are reacting to this discussion of religious freedom by saying, it’s all political. Well, it’s partly political of course. The politicians are making decisions that affect our mission as Christians. They chose to do that; and so we must respond. Our response is prayer and asking them to relent. This is totally legitimate. The Mass prayers, you’ll notice, are for our public officials. We’re praying for them. We want good for our President, our Congress and our courts. Let’s not give up on them.

But let’s step away from that arena and talk about the bigger picture.

We must defend the freedom of the Church to carry out her mission because that mission is about fostering God’s Life in the world. As the first reading said: God fashioned us for life; God desires all Creation to enjoy the fullness of life.

Everything we profess; everything we do, is about that fullness of life.

We defend marriage because that makes a difference for families. That’s about life.

We stand for all unborn children to have life. We want mothers to have the help they need to choose life. Many of the institutions now in danger exist to do just that.  Instead of contraception, we stand for welcoming and cooperating generously with the gift of life, because we know the problem is not too much life--too many people-- but too little justice in how this world’s abundance is made available for all.

We built countless schools, charities and hospitals precisely to help share God’s life with the poor and those in the shadows. And we aim to keep doing that, without interference.

Other people are questioning our motives, perhaps attacking us. But you and I are clear on what we stand for. God’s Creation which is fashioned for life. We are sent to heal and to restore--to give God’s healing and life.



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Msgr. Charles Pope of the Archdiocese of Washington has a very good reflection drawing from 1Kings - the efforts of Elijah seemingly alone and depressed, but God it with him. God will not abandon him. So too for us. We are fighting the fight, we are running the race. At times it looks like we are loosing, but take hope. God is with us. Read his post here.

H/T The Happy Catholic.



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From the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in the Diocese of Tyler, comes this sermon from Fr. Anthony McLaughlin on June 21st, the opening of Fortnight for Freedom. 22 minutes long, but a great synopsis of what is going on. Don't miss this. It provides great information for entering into conversation with others on religious freedom.

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If you have not seen this video yet, it is a good one, well done - gets to the point. You want to fee good, you want hope? Watch this.

Our Most Cherished Liberty - Fortnight for Freedom - Day 11

A short but good video from CatholicTV.

Fortnight for Freedom - Day 11

Today, it is time again to write to another political leader, so I write to Governor Pat Quinn of Illinois. I hope others who read this will take the time, and have the courage to write their elected representatives to defend and protect our religious liberties.

An Open Letter to Illinois Governor Patrick Quinn

Dear Governor Quinn,

As part of the Catholic Church’s initiative called “Fortnight for Freedom,” as a fellow Catholic I write you with my views concerning your administration and our religious freedoms.

I write this with as much charity as possible, yet as a Catholic I am obligated to point out some matters to you with prayers and hope that you will amend your positions. I am taught that if a brother or sister sin we must point out their errors to them. If they do not listen it is on them, but if I say nothing, it is on me.

It is difficult to understand how we are so diametrically opposed to each other. We both identify ourselves as Catholic, we both went to Catholic grammar and high schools, you went to Georgetown, a Catholic University, yet you are 100% pro-abortion, and I am 100% pro-life. You favor gay “marriages” while I work to strengthen the family. Your actions and policies have caused a grave injustice to the Catholic community.

You have a gifted background, a gift from God, to have become a great statesman, but you chose the route of political expediency by discarding your Christian values and morals. One day you will meet your maker and will have to explain yourself. Have you not sold your soul?

The Catholic Church not only suffers now because of the Federal HHS mandate and the recent Supreme Court ruling, but it suffers from policies of your administration and the liberal/Democratic ideologies. From the very start Catholics have served the people of Illinois and the Unites States in charity and at times courageously. We opened schools, universities, opened hospital after hospital, and myriads of other outreach and charitable efforts.

The thanks we have received is the demand that we violate our religious principles. We were a highly rated adoption and foster care provider, serving one out of five adoptions, I believe. Then came the legislation which you approved recognizing homosexual marriages. We told you we could not throw out our morality, but we would make referrals to other agencies. But that was not good enough for you. You demanded we provide these services to homosexual couples against our faith and morals. And so we had to close shop. This was a great loss to the people of Illinois.

There are other numerous anti-Catholic actions and policies that must be condemned. So please do not degrade the name of Catholic by identifying yourself as one. You may call yourself one, but your actions surely don’t represent one.

I will pray for you so that somehow you have a change of heart and become the man your Creator intended you to be. If you are a Catholic then you must defend Catholics and all religious freedoms.

Fortnight for Freedom - Day 10

For Day 10, this morning, I went before the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament for some face to face conversation with the Lord, a Holy Hour, with the intention in mind for our religious freedoms in this country. Time well spent, for strength, resolution, and listening for guidance.

It would be terrific if more churches would bring Adoration and Holy Hours back. It is of great need and comfort to the faithful.

"In a world where there is so much noise, so much bewilderment, there is a need for silent adoration of Jesus concealed in the Host. Be assiduous in the prayer of adoration and teach it to the faithful. It is a source of comfort and light, particularly to those who are suffering." “With the Synod Assembly, therefore, I heartily recommend to the Church’s pastors and to the People of God the practice of Eucharistic Adoration, both individually and in community” 

Pope Benedict XVI, February 22, 2007, Sacramentum Caritatis, Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation.

This afternoon I prayed the rosary asking for Mary's intercession to her Son, on our behalf, to defeat the HHS mandate, especially in light of the recent Supreme Court decision.

In a small effort for self-improvement, I ran across an article addressing willpower and discipline. Some points I made note of are: 

Willpower is limited. In a study it was learned, the mere struggle to resist lowered willpower reserves. Low blood sugar makes you more anxious, for example eating. Self-control starts with setting goals and monitoring behavior. Discipline strengthens your willpower. One form, like even financial discipline, helps in other areas as well providing self-control. Building up discipline in one area translates to more discipline in other areas. Remove temptations. Don't make decisions when you are hungry or lack sleep.

Fortnight for Freedom - Day 9

Today I made a donation to the Archdiocese for the Military Services. You will recall how Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio was stifled when he wrote to the Catholic Chaplains about the HHS Mandate by the head of the Chaplains. This was nothing short of censorship. The Archbishop had to change the wording of his letter.


Prayer of the Archdiocese for the Military Services:

Almighty God and Father, look with love upon our men and women in uniform and protect them in their time of need. Give them health and stability and allow them to return to their loved ones whole and unshaken. Be with their families and sustain them in these uncertain times.


Grant strength and peace of mind to the Veterans who have given their best for the country they love. Support them in infirmity and in the fragility of old age. Teach us to remember their sacrifices and to express our gratitude.


Manifest your tender care to those in the Military Academies who prepare for future service and to those who serve our Nation far from home. Teach us to remember the sacrifices of those whose efforts contribute to ensuring our way of life.


Bless and multiply the priests who minister to the faithful of the Archdiocese for the Military Services. Reward their generosity and keep them faithful.


Hear us as we present our prayers to You through Christ our Lord

I also downloaded Cardinal Timothy Dolan's booklet "True Freedom: On Protecting Human Dignity and Religious Liberty," from Amazon to my Kindle, 99 cents, only 37 pages, just published, 6/19/2012. A very good read especially at this time of concern for religious liberty and the secularization of our society.

From Amazon:

Are American liberties on the endangered species list? In this eBook original, the Archbishop of New York and president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops issues a plea for all citizens to reject the cynicism of the day and foster a culture in which religious freedom and all human life are infinitely valued.

Religion and the dignity of human life are under attack by a variety of threats in the modern world including abortion, infanticide, eugenics, misuse of artificial reproductive technologies, an unjust distribution of economic resources, war, the arms trade, drugs, and human trafficking. What can be done to stop this? Cardinal Timothy Dolan explains the need for all Americans to embrace a new culture rooted in what Blessed John Paul II called the Gospel of Life where the sacredness of all human life, and the freedoms that are their birthright, are upheld, respected and protected by law.

Fortnight for Freedom - Day 8

Busy at work today – like every day – I just heard the Supreme Court’s decision. I’m heartbroken. I need more time to digest it. But on a positive note, it will be a rallying cry: the only way to get rid of obamacare is to get him out of office. This is where our work comes in.

We must become familiar with the issues and come to know the facts. Doing so we will not hesitate from entering discussions on the topics, and that is the key, to talk about the issues with our family friends and acquaintances – we might change some hearts and minds. But we won’t if we shy from the issues because we don’t know the facts. The advancement of evil is largely due to the lack of being informed by good people and disinterest and apathy.

As a Catholic I believe everyone should have access to healthcare. But what is healthcare? It is not providing contraception, especially to career Harvard students who can surely afford to buy their own. Should my taxes pay for her pills? Healthcare is not elective sterilizations – being fertile is not a disease or an illness. And surely healthcare is not killing babies – so much for the health of the baby; and surely, not if it is for boy/girl sex selection. Healthcare is not euthanasia; it is disposing of people deemed to be a burden. Healthcare is not waiting in line, or taking months/years for a needed operation. Healthcare is not having a committee or a government employee deciding you can’t have a medication or an operation because you are too old. Healthcare is not killing babies to harvest stem-cells.

My brothers and sisters, two of my rules I follow in my life is one, not to pass on to the next generations what we, today, are responsible for. The generations to come will have their own problems to deal with. I am responsible for my bills, my children and grandchildren should not be burdened with my bills. Second, I have learned if you want to eat you must work (now where have I heard that?). Again, I have no trouble giving a helping hand when needed; I have seen disabled people, blind people going to work, and I have seen strong, healthy, young people refusing to work and living a life of Riley on the public dole.

Day 8

The direction I’m taking today is becoming more informed with the issues Fortnight for Freedom is addressing. First, I have re-read  the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ document  “Our First, Most Cherished Liberty.”

Here are some excerpts:

It is a sobering thing to contemplate our government enacting an unjust law. An unjust law cannot be obeyed. In the face of an unjust law, an accommodation is not to be sought, especially by resorting to equivocal words and deceptive practices. If we face today the prospect of unjust laws, then Catholics in America, in solidarity with our fellow citizens, must have the courage not to obey them. No American desires this. No Catholic welcomes it. But if it should fall upon us, we must discharge it as a duty of citizenship and an obligation of faith.
….
As Catholics, we are obliged to defend the right to religious liberty for ourselves and for others. We are happily joined in this by our fellow Christians and believers of other faiths.
….
In insisting that our liberties as Americans be respected, we know as bishops that what our Holy Father said is true. This work belongs to "an engaged, articulate and well-formed Catholic laity endowed with a strong critical sense vis-à-vis the dominant culture."
….
To our priests, especially those who have responsibility for parishes, university chaplaincies, and high schools, we ask for a catechesis on religious liberty suited to the souls in your care. As bishops we can provide guidance to assist you, but the courage and zeal for this task cannot be obtained from another—it must be rooted in your own concern for your flock and nourished by the graces you received at your ordination.
….
Almighty God, Father of all nations,For freedom you have set us free in Christ Jesus (Gal 5:1).We praise and bless you for the gift of religious liberty,the foundation of human rights, justice, and the common good.Grant to our leaders the wisdom to protect and promote our liberties;By your grace may we have the courage to defend them, for ourselves and for all those who live in this blessed land.We ask this through the intercession of Mary Immaculate, our patroness,and in the name of your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit,with whom you live and reign, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

You can read the entire statement here, or get a .pdf of it.

Now let me see what else I can get into….

Fortnight for Freedom - Day 7

Today I wrote to my congressman Adam Kinzinger about the government's infringement on our religious freedoms and the HHS mandate, and urged him to do all he can to overturn this mandate and the government's disregard of all our rights.

Fortnight for Freedom - Days 5 and 6

I did not have a chance yesterday to post anything.

For Day 5 I attended a presentation and Q&A period by Michael Cacchione, Executive Director of the Illinois Catholic Health Organization, at my parish who spoke on the Fortnight for Freedom, the HHS Mandate, and Religious Liberty.

Getting home I learned that one of my email accounts was hacked, so I spent the rest of the evening notifying my contacts, changing the password and opening a new account.

So for today, Day 6, I’m praying litanies and prayers, especially to St. Michael the Archangel, Defender of the Church, for the intercession of our church and religious freedom. Following is a litany to St. Michael. Please join me:

Litany of St. Michael the Archangel

Lord, have mercy on us.

Christ, have mercy on us.

Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, hear us.

Christ, graciously hear us.

God the Father of Heaven,

Have mercy on us.

God the Son, Redeemer of the world,

Have mercy on us.

God the Holy Spirit,

Have mercy on us.

Holy Trinity, One God,

Have mercy on us.

Holy Mary, Queen of the Angels, pray for us.

St. Michael the Archangel, pray for us.

Most glorious attendant of the Triune Divinity,

*Pray for us is repeated after each invocation

Standing at the right of the Altar of Incense,

Ambassador of Paradise,

Glorious Prince of the heavenly armies,

Leader of the angelic hosts,

Warrior who thrust Satan into Hell,

Defender against the wickedness and snares of the devil,

Standard-bearer of God’s armies,

Defender of divine glory,

First defender of the Kingship of Christ,

Strength of God,

Invincible prince and warrior,

Angel of peace,

Guardian of the Christian Faith,

Guardian of the Legion of St. Michael,

Champion of God’s people,

Champion of the Legion of St. Michael,

Guardian angel of the Eucharist,

Defender of the Church,

Defender of the Legion of St. Michael,

Protector of the Sovereign Pontiff,

Protector of the Legion of St. Michael,

Angel of Catholic Action,

Powerful intercessor of Christians,

Bravest defender of those who hope in God,

Guardian of our souls and bodies,

Healer of the sick,

Help of those in their agony,

Consoler of the souls in Purgatory,

God’s messenger for the souls of the just,

Terror of the evil spirits,

Victorious in battle against evil,

Guardian and Patron of the Universal Church

Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world,

Spare us, O Lord.

Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world,

Graciously hear us, O Lord.

Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world,

Have mercy on us.

Pray for us, O glorious St. Michael,

That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let Us Pray

Sanctify us, we beseech Thee, O Lord, with Thy holy blessing, and grant us, by the intercession of St. Michael, that wisdom which teaches us to lay up treasures in Heaven by exchanging the goods of this world for those of eternity, Thou Who lives and reigns, world without end. Amen.

Relying, O Lord, upon the intercession of Thy blessed Archangel Michael, we humbly beg of Thee, that the Holy Eucharist in whose presence we kneel, may make our soul holy and pleasing to Thee. Through Christ Our Lord. R. Amen.

Fortnight for Freedom - Bishop John Carroll, First Catholic Bishop in the U.S.

I ran across a good article in The American Catholic it speaks of John Carroll first bishop of the United States and patriot.

It quotes George Washington in his Farewell Address, which I quite here, as it is something to think about:

The last act of his supreme magistracy was to inculcate in most impressive language on his countrymen, or rather on his dearest children, this, his deliberate and solemn advice; to bear incessantly in their minds, that nations and individuals are under the moral government of an infinitely wise and just providence; that the foundations of their happiness are morality and religion; and their union amongst themselves their rock of safety: that to venerate their constitution and its laws is to ensure their liberty.

 You can read the entire article here, it includes a short video on John Carroll.

Fortnight for Freedom - Day 4

My efforts for Fortnight for Freedom continues. Today, I helped at most Masses at my parish to encourage our parishioners to sign up for I-CAN, The Catholic Conference of Illinois Catholic Advocacy Network. Sending them your email address, they will keep you informed of state and federal issues affecting the Catholic Church. You can contact them at www.ilcatholic.org and sign up on-line.

I will also spend a considerable time reading/studying/meditating Scripture. Today’s Office of Readings for the Liturgy of the Hours included the passage from Jeremiah 1:4-10, 17-19 – The Call of the Prophet in conjunction with today’s nativity of St. John the Baptist. Read it slowly, it will hit you. The second reading was from a sermon by St. Augustine relating to John the Baptist – very poignant at this time concerning our religious liberty – should we not also be voices crying out in the wilderness proclaiming the Word and the Truth?

I also contacted my U.S. Senator as in my previous post.

Open Letter to U.S. Senator Mark Kirk (IL) - Religious Freedom

Dear Senator Kirk,
I have refrained from contacting you as I am fully aware of your medical concerns, and I am not sure how deeply your staff is able to carry your workload. But today, in consonance with the "Fortnight for Freedom", I find I must contact you as I am very concerned the direction our country is taking regarding religious freedom, freedom of conscience, and the protection of marriage. As a Catholic I am appalled the government has infringed on our liberties over and over again and now they are forcing Catholic Institutions to pay for contraception and abortifacients. If I were a Catholic employer I must pay, my staff must pay, for things that are morally objectionable to us; just like we will be forced to by health insurance even if we decide not to. This is the first time that I know that the government will force us to buy something, and that something which is against my moral conscious.
Senator Kirk, I will not, I should not, I cannot comply. These fourteen days of "Fortnight for Freedom", I have been and I will pray, make known this issue in my circle of relatives, friends and acquaintances - I will catechize them of the Church's teachings, I will fast, and do works of mercy to bombard heaven with my plea. As my Senator I beg you, on my knees if necessary, to reverse this mandate, return our freedoms, and do all you can to bring Christian morality and values back to our government and country.
And I ask, sir, why have the Muslims been exempted from this mandate and not all people of faith?
With deep respect and with continued prayers for you and your family.