The prayer in podcast form.
Fifth Day
Opening Prayer
Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful
and kindle in us the fire of your love.
Reading
1 Cor 11:26-29
For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you
proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes.
Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of
the Lord unworthily will have to answer for the body and
blood of the Lord. A person should examine himself, and
so eat the bread and drink the cup. For anyone who eats
and drinks without discerning the body, eats and drinks
judgment on himself.
Reflection
How is the Eucharist central in my life? My community?
Where do I reach out to the body of Christ in my
community?
Prayer
Lord,
we come together at the Eucharist to celebrate
your death and resurrection.
Help us experience authentic worship.
Help us grow in awareness of each person’s dignity,
and increase our sensitivity to injustices.
Guide us to seek ways to redress them.
Amen.
Novena Prayer
Immaculate Heart of Mary,
help us to conquer the menace of evil,
which so easily
takes root in the hearts of the people of today,
and whose immeasurable effects
already weigh down upon our modern world
and seem to block the paths toward the future.
From famine and war, deliver us.
From nuclear war, from incalculable self-destruction, from
every kind of war, deliver us.
From sins against human life from its very beginning,
deliver us.
From hatred and from the demeaning of the dignity of the
children of God, deliver us.
From every kind of injustice in the life of society, both
national and international, deliver us.
From readiness to trample on the commandments of God,
deliver us.
From attempts to stifle in human hearts the very truth of
God, deliver us.
From the loss of awareness of good and evil, deliver us.
From sins against the Holy Spirit, deliver us.
Accept, O Mother of Christ,
this cry laden with the sufferings of all individual
human beings,
laden with the sufferings of whole societies.
Help us with the power of the Holy Spirit conquer all sin:
individual sin and the “sin of the world,”
sin in all its manifestations.
Let there be revealed once more in the history of the world
the infinite saving power of the redemption:
the power of merciful love.
May it put a stop to evil.
May it transform consciences.
May your Immaculate Heart reveal for all the light of hope.
Amen.
Friday, October 31, 2008
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Election Novena - Day Four
The prayer in podcast form.
Fourth Day
Opening Prayer
Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful
and kindle in us the fire of your love.
Reading
Deut 30:15-20
Moses said to the people:
“Today, I have set before you
life and prosperity, death and doom.
If you obey the commandments of the LORD, your God,
which I enjoin on you today,
loving him, and walking in his ways,
and keeping his commandments, statutes and decrees,
you will live and grow numerous,
and the LORD, your God,
will bless you in the land you are entering to occupy.
If, however, you turn away your hearts and will not listen,
but are led astray and adore and serve other gods,
I tell you now that you will certainly perish;
you will not have a long life
on the land that you are crossing the Jordan to enter
and occupy.
I call heaven and earth today to witness against you:
I have set before you life and death,
the blessing and the curse.
Choose life, then,
that you and your descendants may live, by loving the
LORD, your God,
heeding his voice, and holding fast to him.
For that will mean life for you,
a long life for you to live on the land which the LORD
swore he would give to your fathers Abraham, Isaac
and Jacob.”
Reflection
How do I defend the right to life especially of the unborn
and those near death? How am I tempted to turn away
from the commandments and not support the right to life
of all people? How can I overcome that temptation?
Prayer
God of life,
may we protect and defend the inviolable sanctity of
human life
from the moment of conception until natural death
with strong voices, gentle hands, and loving hearts.
Amen.
Novena Prayer
Immaculate Heart of Mary,
help us to conquer the menace of evil,
which so easily
takes root in the hearts of the people of today,
and whose immeasurable effects
already weigh down upon our modern world
and seem to block the paths toward the future.
From famine and war, deliver us.
From nuclear war, from incalculable self-destruction, from
every kind of war, deliver us.
From sins against human life from its very beginning,
deliver us.
From hatred and from the demeaning of the dignity of the
children of God, deliver us.
From every kind of injustice in the life of society, both
national and international, deliver us.
From readiness to trample on the commandments of God,
deliver us.
From attempts to stifle in human hearts the very truth of
God, deliver us.
From the loss of awareness of good and evil, deliver us.
From sins against the Holy Spirit, deliver us.
Accept, O Mother of Christ,
this cry laden with the sufferings of all individual
human beings,
laden with the sufferings of whole societies.
Help us with the power of the Holy Spirit conquer all sin:
individual sin and the “sin of the world,”
sin in all its manifestations.
Let there be revealed once more in the history of the world
the infinite saving power of the redemption:
the power of merciful love.
May it put a stop to evil.
May it transform consciences.
May your Immaculate Heart reveal for all the light of hope.
Amen.
Fourth Day
Opening Prayer
Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful
and kindle in us the fire of your love.
Reading
Deut 30:15-20
Moses said to the people:
“Today, I have set before you
life and prosperity, death and doom.
If you obey the commandments of the LORD, your God,
which I enjoin on you today,
loving him, and walking in his ways,
and keeping his commandments, statutes and decrees,
you will live and grow numerous,
and the LORD, your God,
will bless you in the land you are entering to occupy.
If, however, you turn away your hearts and will not listen,
but are led astray and adore and serve other gods,
I tell you now that you will certainly perish;
you will not have a long life
on the land that you are crossing the Jordan to enter
and occupy.
I call heaven and earth today to witness against you:
I have set before you life and death,
the blessing and the curse.
Choose life, then,
that you and your descendants may live, by loving the
LORD, your God,
heeding his voice, and holding fast to him.
For that will mean life for you,
a long life for you to live on the land which the LORD
swore he would give to your fathers Abraham, Isaac
and Jacob.”
Reflection
How do I defend the right to life especially of the unborn
and those near death? How am I tempted to turn away
from the commandments and not support the right to life
of all people? How can I overcome that temptation?
Prayer
God of life,
may we protect and defend the inviolable sanctity of
human life
from the moment of conception until natural death
with strong voices, gentle hands, and loving hearts.
Amen.
Novena Prayer
Immaculate Heart of Mary,
help us to conquer the menace of evil,
which so easily
takes root in the hearts of the people of today,
and whose immeasurable effects
already weigh down upon our modern world
and seem to block the paths toward the future.
From famine and war, deliver us.
From nuclear war, from incalculable self-destruction, from
every kind of war, deliver us.
From sins against human life from its very beginning,
deliver us.
From hatred and from the demeaning of the dignity of the
children of God, deliver us.
From every kind of injustice in the life of society, both
national and international, deliver us.
From readiness to trample on the commandments of God,
deliver us.
From attempts to stifle in human hearts the very truth of
God, deliver us.
From the loss of awareness of good and evil, deliver us.
From sins against the Holy Spirit, deliver us.
Accept, O Mother of Christ,
this cry laden with the sufferings of all individual
human beings,
laden with the sufferings of whole societies.
Help us with the power of the Holy Spirit conquer all sin:
individual sin and the “sin of the world,”
sin in all its manifestations.
Let there be revealed once more in the history of the world
the infinite saving power of the redemption:
the power of merciful love.
May it put a stop to evil.
May it transform consciences.
May your Immaculate Heart reveal for all the light of hope.
Amen.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Election Novena - Day Three
The prayer in podcast form.
Third Day
Opening Prayer
Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful
and kindle in us the fire of your love.
Reading
Is 58:2-3, 6-8
[The Lord said]:
They seek me day after day,
and desire to know my ways,
Like a nation that has done what is just
and not abandoned the law of their God;
They ask me to declare what is due them,
pleased to gain access to God.
“Why do we fast, and you do not see it?
afflict ourselves, and you take no note of it?”
This, rather, is the fasting that I wish:
releasing those bound unjustly,
untying the thongs of the yoke;
Setting free the oppressed,
breaking every yoke;
Sharing your bread with the hungry,
sheltering the oppressed and the homeless;
Clothing the naked when you see them,
and not turning your back on your own.
Then your light shall break forth like the dawn,
and your wound shall quickly be healed.
Reflection
What actions do I perform to please God?
How am I healing the wounds of my community?
Prayer
God of light,
give us the freedom to walk in
the footprints of your Son, Jesus.
Let our light shine out for all to see
by turning to those who call for our help.
Heal our wounds, heal our community.
Amen.
Novena Prayer
Immaculate Heart of Mary,
help us to conquer the menace of evil,
which so easily
takes root in the hearts of the people of today,
and whose immeasurable effects
already weigh down upon our modern world
and seem to block the paths toward the future.
From famine and war, deliver us.
From nuclear war, from incalculable self-destruction, from
every kind of war, deliver us.
From sins against human life from its very beginning,
deliver us.
From hatred and from the demeaning of the dignity of the
children of God, deliver us.
From every kind of injustice in the life of society, both
national and international, deliver us.
From readiness to trample on the commandments of God,
deliver us.
From attempts to stifle in human hearts the very truth of
God, deliver us.
From the loss of awareness of good and evil, deliver us.
From sins against the Holy Spirit, deliver us.
Accept, O Mother of Christ,
this cry laden with the sufferings of all individual
human beings,
laden with the sufferings of whole societies.
Help us with the power of the Holy Spirit conquer all sin:
individual sin and the “sin of the world,”
sin in all its manifestations.
Let there be revealed once more in the history of the world
the infinite saving power of the redemption:
the power of merciful love.
May it put a stop to evil.
May it transform consciences.
May your Immaculate Heart reveal for all the light of hope.
Amen.
Third Day
Opening Prayer
Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful
and kindle in us the fire of your love.
Reading
Is 58:2-3, 6-8
[The Lord said]:
They seek me day after day,
and desire to know my ways,
Like a nation that has done what is just
and not abandoned the law of their God;
They ask me to declare what is due them,
pleased to gain access to God.
“Why do we fast, and you do not see it?
afflict ourselves, and you take no note of it?”
This, rather, is the fasting that I wish:
releasing those bound unjustly,
untying the thongs of the yoke;
Setting free the oppressed,
breaking every yoke;
Sharing your bread with the hungry,
sheltering the oppressed and the homeless;
Clothing the naked when you see them,
and not turning your back on your own.
Then your light shall break forth like the dawn,
and your wound shall quickly be healed.
Reflection
What actions do I perform to please God?
How am I healing the wounds of my community?
Prayer
God of light,
give us the freedom to walk in
the footprints of your Son, Jesus.
Let our light shine out for all to see
by turning to those who call for our help.
Heal our wounds, heal our community.
Amen.
Novena Prayer
Immaculate Heart of Mary,
help us to conquer the menace of evil,
which so easily
takes root in the hearts of the people of today,
and whose immeasurable effects
already weigh down upon our modern world
and seem to block the paths toward the future.
From famine and war, deliver us.
From nuclear war, from incalculable self-destruction, from
every kind of war, deliver us.
From sins against human life from its very beginning,
deliver us.
From hatred and from the demeaning of the dignity of the
children of God, deliver us.
From every kind of injustice in the life of society, both
national and international, deliver us.
From readiness to trample on the commandments of God,
deliver us.
From attempts to stifle in human hearts the very truth of
God, deliver us.
From the loss of awareness of good and evil, deliver us.
From sins against the Holy Spirit, deliver us.
Accept, O Mother of Christ,
this cry laden with the sufferings of all individual
human beings,
laden with the sufferings of whole societies.
Help us with the power of the Holy Spirit conquer all sin:
individual sin and the “sin of the world,”
sin in all its manifestations.
Let there be revealed once more in the history of the world
the infinite saving power of the redemption:
the power of merciful love.
May it put a stop to evil.
May it transform consciences.
May your Immaculate Heart reveal for all the light of hope.
Amen.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Election Novena - Day Two
The prayer in podcast form.
Second Day
Opening Prayer
Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful
and kindle in us the fire of your love.
Reading
Ps 146:1-8
Praise the LORD, my soul;
I shall praise the LORD all my life,
sing praise to my God while I live.
Put no trust in princes,
in mere mortals powerless to save.
When they breathe their last, they return to the earth;
that day all their planning comes to nothing.
Happy those whose help is Jacob’s God,
whose hope is in the LORD, their God,
The maker of heaven and earth,
the seas and all that is in them,
Who keeps faith forever,
secures justice for the oppressed,
gives food to the hungry.
The LORD sets prisoners free;
the LORD gives sight to the blind.
The LORD raises up those who are bowed down;
the LORD loves the righteous.
Reflection
Who are the oppressed in your community? How am I
helping them secure justice?
How am I helping to feed and give sight to those most
in need?
Prayer
God of Jacob,
strengthen our hope in the Lord.
Help us to keep the faith
by striving for justice in our land.
Give us hearts, hands, and feet to truly reach out to those
in need.
Amen.
Novena Prayer
Immaculate Heart of Mary,
help us to conquer the menace of evil,
which so easily
takes root in the hearts of the people of today,
and whose immeasurable effects
already weigh down upon our modern world
and seem to block the paths toward the future.
From famine and war, deliver us.
From nuclear war, from incalculable self-destruction, from
every kind of war, deliver us.
From sins against human life from its very beginning,
deliver us.
From hatred and from the demeaning of the dignity of the
children of God, deliver us.
From every kind of injustice in the life of society, both
national and international, deliver us.
From readiness to trample on the commandments of God,
deliver us.
From attempts to stifle in human hearts the very truth of
God, deliver us.
From the loss of awareness of good and evil, deliver us.
From sins against the Holy Spirit, deliver us.
Accept, O Mother of Christ,
this cry laden with the sufferings of all individual
human beings,
laden with the sufferings of whole societies.
Help us with the power of the Holy Spirit conquer all sin:
individual sin and the “sin of the world,”
sin in all its manifestations.
Let there be revealed once more in the history of the world
the infinite saving power of the redemption:
the power of merciful love.
May it put a stop to evil.
May it transform consciences.
May your Immaculate Heart reveal for all the light of hope.
Amen.
Second Day
Opening Prayer
Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful
and kindle in us the fire of your love.
Reading
Ps 146:1-8
Praise the LORD, my soul;
I shall praise the LORD all my life,
sing praise to my God while I live.
Put no trust in princes,
in mere mortals powerless to save.
When they breathe their last, they return to the earth;
that day all their planning comes to nothing.
Happy those whose help is Jacob’s God,
whose hope is in the LORD, their God,
The maker of heaven and earth,
the seas and all that is in them,
Who keeps faith forever,
secures justice for the oppressed,
gives food to the hungry.
The LORD sets prisoners free;
the LORD gives sight to the blind.
The LORD raises up those who are bowed down;
the LORD loves the righteous.
Reflection
Who are the oppressed in your community? How am I
helping them secure justice?
How am I helping to feed and give sight to those most
in need?
Prayer
God of Jacob,
strengthen our hope in the Lord.
Help us to keep the faith
by striving for justice in our land.
Give us hearts, hands, and feet to truly reach out to those
in need.
Amen.
Novena Prayer
Immaculate Heart of Mary,
help us to conquer the menace of evil,
which so easily
takes root in the hearts of the people of today,
and whose immeasurable effects
already weigh down upon our modern world
and seem to block the paths toward the future.
From famine and war, deliver us.
From nuclear war, from incalculable self-destruction, from
every kind of war, deliver us.
From sins against human life from its very beginning,
deliver us.
From hatred and from the demeaning of the dignity of the
children of God, deliver us.
From every kind of injustice in the life of society, both
national and international, deliver us.
From readiness to trample on the commandments of God,
deliver us.
From attempts to stifle in human hearts the very truth of
God, deliver us.
From the loss of awareness of good and evil, deliver us.
From sins against the Holy Spirit, deliver us.
Accept, O Mother of Christ,
this cry laden with the sufferings of all individual
human beings,
laden with the sufferings of whole societies.
Help us with the power of the Holy Spirit conquer all sin:
individual sin and the “sin of the world,”
sin in all its manifestations.
Let there be revealed once more in the history of the world
the infinite saving power of the redemption:
the power of merciful love.
May it put a stop to evil.
May it transform consciences.
May your Immaculate Heart reveal for all the light of hope.
Amen.
Monday, October 27, 2008
Election Novena - Day One
Over the next 9 days, I'll be praying this novena in addition to the rosary for the intentions of our country, most urgently for respect for ALL life from conception until natural death from our politicians and citizens.
Regardless of who wins, think what a powerful witness it would be to see some of the most extreme and outspoken proponents of abortion to have a change of heart, to realize what a monstrosity it is, to acknowledge that this is the civil rights issue of our day. Whomever you vote for, I urge you to pray for our leaders, and to contact them and let them know what the people think of our abortion laws in this country, laws that are more extreme than anywhere else in the world, allowing abortion for any and all reasons, without parental consent for young teens, and at any gestational age. Let them know that this is not what the majority of people in our country want.
But most of all, pray. Nothing is impossible with God...pray fervently for a change of heart in pro-abortion, pro-ESCR, pro-euthenasia politicians. Pray that they see or hear something that speaks to them and makes them aware of the true horrors of our current culture of death. Pray, pray, pray...
The prayer in podcast form.
First Day
Opening Prayer
Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful
and kindle in us the fire of your love.
Reading
Ps 8:2, 4-10
O LORD, our Lord,
how awesome is your name through all the earth!
You have set your majesty above the heavens!
When I see your heavens, the work of your fingers,
the moon and stars that you set in place—
What are humans that you are mindful of them,
mere mortals that you care for them?
Yet you have made them little less than a god,
crowned them with glory and honor.
You have given them rule over the works of your hands,
put all things at their feet:
All sheep and oxen,
even the beasts of the field,
The birds of the air, the fish of the sea,
and whatever swims the paths of the seas.
O LORD, our Lord,
how awesome is your name through all the earth!
Reflection
How will I praise God today? How will I show respect for
others, especially my neighbor or those in my community
who are not like me?
Prayer
God of love,
may we grow in our love for you
by respecting the dignity of all people we encounter.
Amen.
Novena Prayer
Immaculate Heart of Mary,
help us to conquer the menace of evil,
which so easily
takes root in the hearts of the people of today,
and whose immeasurable effects
already weigh down upon our modern world
and seem to block the paths toward the future.
From famine and war, deliver us.
From nuclear war, from incalculable self-destruction, from
every kind of war, deliver us.
From sins against human life from its very beginning,
deliver us.
From hatred and from the demeaning of the dignity of the
children of God, deliver us.
From every kind of injustice in the life of society, both
national and international, deliver us.
From readiness to trample on the commandments of God,
deliver us.
From attempts to stifle in human hearts the very truth of
God, deliver us.
From the loss of awareness of good and evil, deliver us.
From sins against the Holy Spirit, deliver us.
Accept, O Mother of Christ,
this cry laden with the sufferings of all individual
human beings,
laden with the sufferings of whole societies.
Help us with the power of the Holy Spirit conquer all sin:
individual sin and the “sin of the world,”
sin in all its manifestations.
Let there be revealed once more in the history of the world
the infinite saving power of the redemption:
the power of merciful love.
May it put a stop to evil.
May it transform consciences.
May your Immaculate Heart reveal for all the light of hope.
Amen.
Regardless of who wins, think what a powerful witness it would be to see some of the most extreme and outspoken proponents of abortion to have a change of heart, to realize what a monstrosity it is, to acknowledge that this is the civil rights issue of our day. Whomever you vote for, I urge you to pray for our leaders, and to contact them and let them know what the people think of our abortion laws in this country, laws that are more extreme than anywhere else in the world, allowing abortion for any and all reasons, without parental consent for young teens, and at any gestational age. Let them know that this is not what the majority of people in our country want.
But most of all, pray. Nothing is impossible with God...pray fervently for a change of heart in pro-abortion, pro-ESCR, pro-euthenasia politicians. Pray that they see or hear something that speaks to them and makes them aware of the true horrors of our current culture of death. Pray, pray, pray...
The prayer in podcast form.
First Day
Opening Prayer
Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful
and kindle in us the fire of your love.
Reading
Ps 8:2, 4-10
O LORD, our Lord,
how awesome is your name through all the earth!
You have set your majesty above the heavens!
When I see your heavens, the work of your fingers,
the moon and stars that you set in place—
What are humans that you are mindful of them,
mere mortals that you care for them?
Yet you have made them little less than a god,
crowned them with glory and honor.
You have given them rule over the works of your hands,
put all things at their feet:
All sheep and oxen,
even the beasts of the field,
The birds of the air, the fish of the sea,
and whatever swims the paths of the seas.
O LORD, our Lord,
how awesome is your name through all the earth!
Reflection
How will I praise God today? How will I show respect for
others, especially my neighbor or those in my community
who are not like me?
Prayer
God of love,
may we grow in our love for you
by respecting the dignity of all people we encounter.
Amen.
Novena Prayer
Immaculate Heart of Mary,
help us to conquer the menace of evil,
which so easily
takes root in the hearts of the people of today,
and whose immeasurable effects
already weigh down upon our modern world
and seem to block the paths toward the future.
From famine and war, deliver us.
From nuclear war, from incalculable self-destruction, from
every kind of war, deliver us.
From sins against human life from its very beginning,
deliver us.
From hatred and from the demeaning of the dignity of the
children of God, deliver us.
From every kind of injustice in the life of society, both
national and international, deliver us.
From readiness to trample on the commandments of God,
deliver us.
From attempts to stifle in human hearts the very truth of
God, deliver us.
From the loss of awareness of good and evil, deliver us.
From sins against the Holy Spirit, deliver us.
Accept, O Mother of Christ,
this cry laden with the sufferings of all individual
human beings,
laden with the sufferings of whole societies.
Help us with the power of the Holy Spirit conquer all sin:
individual sin and the “sin of the world,”
sin in all its manifestations.
Let there be revealed once more in the history of the world
the infinite saving power of the redemption:
the power of merciful love.
May it put a stop to evil.
May it transform consciences.
May your Immaculate Heart reveal for all the light of hope.
Amen.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Wow!
I'm planning on going to vote today...and then I look forward to ignoring every political ad and blog and article and email, and simply focus on praying for our country whatever the result. (I'm going to be starting a novena here on the blog 9 days before election day, please please pray with me for our country!)
In the mean time, I thought I'd post something completely off topic and fun with Halloween coming up. So here it is...
Isn't that amazing?!?!? Check out this artist's website here to see other astonishing carvings!
In the mean time, I thought I'd post something completely off topic and fun with Halloween coming up. So here it is...
Isn't that amazing?!?!? Check out this artist's website here to see other astonishing carvings!
Monday, October 13, 2008
Political Musings
I've stayed mostly away from politics on my blog, largely because I am not myself enthusiastic about any particular candidate.
But I felt compelled to mention something that has bothered me in the past. Many Catholics are struggling with who to vote for. So many of the social issues which Catholics have long been known to support are packaged in one party, but then tied up with the large red bow of abortion "rights". On the other side we have quasi-pro-life lip service mixed in with some anti-life issues (like support for ESCR), and social issues that don't always line up with a great number of Catholic voters' feelings. For many of us, neither of these are exactly inspiring choices.
I know Catholics who have equally weighed their choices, and chosen to support opposing sides. It is not my place to judge any one's heart on the matter, I assume that both sides are trying their best to apply good judgement. I know many people who are holding their nose to vote McCain, because they feel the risk that nothing at all will be done to further pro-life causes is better than the certainty that much will be done to hurt pro-life causes if the other side were chosen. I think many of those who chose the nice package despite the red bow are sincerely well intentioned, and are fed up with feeling pigeon holed and yanked around by one party because of one giant issue, and have hope that addressing other issues will help that one issue in the end. I can absolutely sympathize...as I said, I'm not enthusiastic about either side.
Here is what bothers me. In these times, where our choices are reduced to picking the least of the worst candidate rather than picking the best, it tends to surprise me when I see enthusiastic support for candidates who have huge, gaping moral problems. I'm more inclined to expect grudging support, support with a heavy heart, support accompanied by fervent prayers for a change of heart on behalf of the candidate on those moral problems, than outright enthusiasm about that choice.
I'll be frank and say I haven't even decided who I am voting for myself. I have decided who I cannot, myself, in good conscience vote for. Abortion, for me, is too fundamental an issue to let go. I see too much harm from the proposed actions of the democratic candidate that outweighs, in my mind, any good that could come from them. Once the flood gates are open, it's much less likely they'll ever be closed again, and the opening of those flood gates will cost millions of lives, and that is just too great of a risk. Those are my feelings on the matter.
If, however, there was ever a time where I felt the totality of the other issues outweighed the issue of abortion, I know with certainty that it would be one of the hardest things in my life to vote for that person. Knowing that, even if I became, in theory, a "supporter" of such a candidate, I still cannot fathom ever being an enthusiastic supporter...I can only ever imagine being a reluctant one.
I would not be smiling when I saw him on TV. I would not be rushing to be at his rallies. I would not be chanting his slogans, slapping his bumper stickers on my car, or encouraging others to follow my lead. It would be with an extremely heavy heart that I would ever make such a choice, and it would be my constant and fervent prayer that his mind was changed on the issue of abortion so that I could support him more fully. I would happily join any group who mostly supported him and yet wrote to him and lobbied for him to change his view on abortion (like this guy, kudos to him!)
And so...while I've seen reluctance (from both sides) in supporting any particular candidate, I have also seen some great enthusiasm. I've seen enthusiasm from both sides, yes...but I admit that when I see Catholics who are enthusiastic particularly about a pro-abortion candidate, it frankly boggles my mind.
Don't misunderstand me, I understand the thinking behind the choice, I understand the arguments against one-issue voting, I don't think of them as bad Catholics or anything of the sort for voting their conscience in that way, especially when I'm assured that it is a vote despite the pro-abortion stance, not because of it. I respect their choice, it is theirs to make. But to have enthusiastic support for that choice? When it will likely lead to the deaths of many more children? I honestly can't wrap my head around that. When I see such enthusiasm, I wish for, I hope for an inkling of proof that there is, at least privately if not publicly, an equal amount of fervent prayer that the candidate has a change of heart on the abortion issue, perhaps attempts to contact the candidate about it, in general I hope for a balance of horror for the extreme pro-abortion views with the enthusiasm that may be there for his other plans. I try my best to assume that it is there, but it gives me a sick feeling when I think that it might not be.
In short, it bothers me when it seems people are cheering for what they like about their candidate, and apparently ignoring the moral problems with the candidate altogether. (And again, that goes for both sides.) Especially when there is a frighteningly messianic view of a candidate, it seems to turn into a cult of personality rather than a choice about issues. And any time this happens, on either side, it bothers me. Candidates come and go, they'll have their strengths and weaknesses, they are mere mortals. The issues are what will stay and what we'll have to continue to fight for. Any time we put too much faith in one mere human as if he is going to fix all our problems, things start to get scary. And yet I see this intoxicating enthusiasm even among Catholic voters who say they are supporting a candidate despite some very serious moral issues. I want to believe they are very concerned about the bad that will be coming with the good, but I'm sorry to say...it isn't always very apparent, and that doesn't feel right in my gut. It worries me.
Whatever happens in the election, though, whichever side wins, we need to be actively praying and campaigning for an end to abortion. I ask both sides, will you match your enthusiasm for your candidate of choice with equally fervent attempts to save the lives of millions, through prayer or letter writing or protests or anything? If you are proud enough of your candidate to openly and enthusiastically support him, are you likewise proud enough of your faith to openly and enthusiastically put it into practice by defending life from conception until natural death? Are you happy to boast about your political affiliation but hesitant to mention your religious convictions? Do we fumble around when asked about pro-life issues, trying to avoid the subject as St. Peter tried to avoid association with Christ when it was asked of him, or do we own our faith with conviction as we own our political choices?
I'm not pointing fingers with these questions...I just think we all (myself included) sometimes need a reminder about our priorities in life. Politicians come and go, no single person will ever fix our nation...Christ alone is our savior and redeemer, and that of the whole World, not any one single nation. When we align our values with Christ's teachings, our world prospers. When we don't, our world suffers. No economic policy or social programs can fix a world that has turned its back on Christ. And so when we weigh the pros and cons of various candidates and make our choices about who to support, let's remember while we give support for what it is we agree with in any given candidate's platform, to pray even more fervently for an end to those grave evils which may be included in that platform.
Courageous and wise St. Thomas More, patron saint of politicians, pray for us during this election season, and for our candidates, that they may uphold what is right even among political pressure and threats as you did!
Lord, send us representatives who have prudence, wisdom, and the backbone to stand up for what is right!!
But I felt compelled to mention something that has bothered me in the past. Many Catholics are struggling with who to vote for. So many of the social issues which Catholics have long been known to support are packaged in one party, but then tied up with the large red bow of abortion "rights". On the other side we have quasi-pro-life lip service mixed in with some anti-life issues (like support for ESCR), and social issues that don't always line up with a great number of Catholic voters' feelings. For many of us, neither of these are exactly inspiring choices.
I know Catholics who have equally weighed their choices, and chosen to support opposing sides. It is not my place to judge any one's heart on the matter, I assume that both sides are trying their best to apply good judgement. I know many people who are holding their nose to vote McCain, because they feel the risk that nothing at all will be done to further pro-life causes is better than the certainty that much will be done to hurt pro-life causes if the other side were chosen. I think many of those who chose the nice package despite the red bow are sincerely well intentioned, and are fed up with feeling pigeon holed and yanked around by one party because of one giant issue, and have hope that addressing other issues will help that one issue in the end. I can absolutely sympathize...as I said, I'm not enthusiastic about either side.
Here is what bothers me. In these times, where our choices are reduced to picking the least of the worst candidate rather than picking the best, it tends to surprise me when I see enthusiastic support for candidates who have huge, gaping moral problems. I'm more inclined to expect grudging support, support with a heavy heart, support accompanied by fervent prayers for a change of heart on behalf of the candidate on those moral problems, than outright enthusiasm about that choice.
I'll be frank and say I haven't even decided who I am voting for myself. I have decided who I cannot, myself, in good conscience vote for. Abortion, for me, is too fundamental an issue to let go. I see too much harm from the proposed actions of the democratic candidate that outweighs, in my mind, any good that could come from them. Once the flood gates are open, it's much less likely they'll ever be closed again, and the opening of those flood gates will cost millions of lives, and that is just too great of a risk. Those are my feelings on the matter.
If, however, there was ever a time where I felt the totality of the other issues outweighed the issue of abortion, I know with certainty that it would be one of the hardest things in my life to vote for that person. Knowing that, even if I became, in theory, a "supporter" of such a candidate, I still cannot fathom ever being an enthusiastic supporter...I can only ever imagine being a reluctant one.
I would not be smiling when I saw him on TV. I would not be rushing to be at his rallies. I would not be chanting his slogans, slapping his bumper stickers on my car, or encouraging others to follow my lead. It would be with an extremely heavy heart that I would ever make such a choice, and it would be my constant and fervent prayer that his mind was changed on the issue of abortion so that I could support him more fully. I would happily join any group who mostly supported him and yet wrote to him and lobbied for him to change his view on abortion (like this guy, kudos to him!)
And so...while I've seen reluctance (from both sides) in supporting any particular candidate, I have also seen some great enthusiasm. I've seen enthusiasm from both sides, yes...but I admit that when I see Catholics who are enthusiastic particularly about a pro-abortion candidate, it frankly boggles my mind.
Don't misunderstand me, I understand the thinking behind the choice, I understand the arguments against one-issue voting, I don't think of them as bad Catholics or anything of the sort for voting their conscience in that way, especially when I'm assured that it is a vote despite the pro-abortion stance, not because of it. I respect their choice, it is theirs to make. But to have enthusiastic support for that choice? When it will likely lead to the deaths of many more children? I honestly can't wrap my head around that. When I see such enthusiasm, I wish for, I hope for an inkling of proof that there is, at least privately if not publicly, an equal amount of fervent prayer that the candidate has a change of heart on the abortion issue, perhaps attempts to contact the candidate about it, in general I hope for a balance of horror for the extreme pro-abortion views with the enthusiasm that may be there for his other plans. I try my best to assume that it is there, but it gives me a sick feeling when I think that it might not be.
In short, it bothers me when it seems people are cheering for what they like about their candidate, and apparently ignoring the moral problems with the candidate altogether. (And again, that goes for both sides.) Especially when there is a frighteningly messianic view of a candidate, it seems to turn into a cult of personality rather than a choice about issues. And any time this happens, on either side, it bothers me. Candidates come and go, they'll have their strengths and weaknesses, they are mere mortals. The issues are what will stay and what we'll have to continue to fight for. Any time we put too much faith in one mere human as if he is going to fix all our problems, things start to get scary. And yet I see this intoxicating enthusiasm even among Catholic voters who say they are supporting a candidate despite some very serious moral issues. I want to believe they are very concerned about the bad that will be coming with the good, but I'm sorry to say...it isn't always very apparent, and that doesn't feel right in my gut. It worries me.
Whatever happens in the election, though, whichever side wins, we need to be actively praying and campaigning for an end to abortion. I ask both sides, will you match your enthusiasm for your candidate of choice with equally fervent attempts to save the lives of millions, through prayer or letter writing or protests or anything? If you are proud enough of your candidate to openly and enthusiastically support him, are you likewise proud enough of your faith to openly and enthusiastically put it into practice by defending life from conception until natural death? Are you happy to boast about your political affiliation but hesitant to mention your religious convictions? Do we fumble around when asked about pro-life issues, trying to avoid the subject as St. Peter tried to avoid association with Christ when it was asked of him, or do we own our faith with conviction as we own our political choices?
I'm not pointing fingers with these questions...I just think we all (myself included) sometimes need a reminder about our priorities in life. Politicians come and go, no single person will ever fix our nation...Christ alone is our savior and redeemer, and that of the whole World, not any one single nation. When we align our values with Christ's teachings, our world prospers. When we don't, our world suffers. No economic policy or social programs can fix a world that has turned its back on Christ. And so when we weigh the pros and cons of various candidates and make our choices about who to support, let's remember while we give support for what it is we agree with in any given candidate's platform, to pray even more fervently for an end to those grave evils which may be included in that platform.
Courageous and wise St. Thomas More, patron saint of politicians, pray for us during this election season, and for our candidates, that they may uphold what is right even among political pressure and threats as you did!
Lord, send us representatives who have prudence, wisdom, and the backbone to stand up for what is right!!
Friday, October 10, 2008
Condoms - Why Not?
On my NFP board, a fellow member (a former Catholic) asked about the rationale behind being so against abortion, and yet also being against non-abortifacient contraception like condoms, since it seems that would be an easy way to prevent many abortions, by preventing many pregnancies.
This is an often asked question, a question which, on the surface, seems quite valid, but looking a little deeper reveals a fundamental flaw in understanding the root problem. As I spent some time trying to answer this question, I thought I'd share my answer here as well:
So here's the thing...a lot of people look at the Catholic teachings and see what they are on the surface, but don't see the depth behind them. On the surface , as you mentioned, it may not make sense to some...well if we're trying to stop abortion, HELLO?!? Condoms anyone? What kind of crazies are these! lol
Others have mentioned that each act must be "open to life" or "ordered towards procreation." That doesn't mean you have to have a kid each time you have relations, or that you have to be trying to have a kid. It just means that the way the act is done needs to be able to result in a kid if the stars are aligned, so to speak, nothing can be done to the act to make this impossible. Essentially, if you'll forgive my crudeness, tab A needs to end up in slot B.
But why? What's the big deal?
It's not just about "correct action", it's so much more. The action is only a "symptom" of a completely different mentality at work. Our culture, our society has sent the message that fertility can (and often should) be separated from sex. That sex can be a recreational activity, something fun to do on a Friday night, like bowling, that there's no need to wait for the protection of marriage because as long as you're careful, there's no need to get tied to someone through children, etc. How has it sent this message? Through contraception...contraception is precisely an attempt to separate fertility from sex, to make them completely unrelated.
Now, whether or not one agrees that separating sex from fertility is wrong, what has been the result? Each generation since contraception became widely available has become more and more promiscuous...because sex is largely seen as recreational. But that's not my main focus here, my main focus is the mentality, the attitude behind this behavior. People my age (I'm in my mid 20s) have grown up being told that all you have to do to separate sex from fertility is "be responsible" and use contraception.
So here we are, walking around with this notion that sex can without a doubt be separated from fertility, it's an accepted axiom. People go out, and whether they just hook up with people they meet at bars or enter into a long term relationship, they are assuming that as long as they are taking that pill or using that device, they are succeeding at separating sex from fertility with no problem, just like society told them they could.
And then that pill or that device fails. BAM, they get pregnant.
What then? It isn't FAIR!! I was being responsible like they all told me to be!! They told me I could separate sex from fertility, I did what they said, but now I'm pregnant! What happened? What went wrong? I dont understand? Well, whatever happened, it's not right that I should have to be pregnant. I was following the rules the world told me, so now I'm going to make this right. I'll get an abortion, because I mean, it's not *MY* fault I got pregnant, I was being responsible.
You see, it's about acknowledging reality. When we try to force ourselves to ignore reality, when we tell ourselves we can do something that we really can't and shouldn't do, we end up messing things up BIG TIME. What happens if you ignore reality and tell yourself you can fly? You jump off a building...and gravity proves you wrong.
Our society is walking around with their heads in the sand, imagining that they are "in control," that they can separate sex from fertility and go on their merry way and be just fine. And don't get me wrong, most contraception succeeds in preventing conception, but even if one never falls pregnant unexpectedly, there are other unfortunate consequences occuring because of this assumption that sex can be separated from fertility, like objectification of people as sexual objects and unhealthy relationships. When proof to the contrary does arise in the form of a pregnancy, rather than acknowledging our error, we've justified getting rid of that proof in the form of abortion. Anything to keep our tight grasp on the notion that we have control, that we can separate sex and fertility, and that this is good for us.
So what's the difference with NFP? NFP (and the teaching of the Church against contraception) is all about acknowledging reality as it is, not attempting to change it even when it's inconvenient for us. We acknowledge that we cannot separate sex and fertility. We can work with God's natural design, but the act itself is always ordered towards procreation, nothing is altered or changed in the act itself. And this is a physical expression of a deeply rooted mentality, of our recognition that sex cannot be separated from fertility. And so, because we acknowledge that sex cannot be separated from fertility, we also acknowledge that the only full proof way to avoid having children is to avoid having sex altogether. Now, thanks be to God, with the knowledge we have of the female body, we can pinpoit fertile and infertile times...but even this takes some sacrifice, to abstain during fertile times. It's hard at times, yes, it's not always easy...but this, in turn, can help us to overcome any potential selfishness.
After all, the yearning couples have for each other during fertile times sometimes makes them reconsider whether they really *need* to avoid having children at the moment. If the answer is, "Yes, absolutely we do!" then that's that. But sometimes, the answer is, "Hmm...well, maybe we're ready after all!" or "Hmm, maybe another one isn't a bad idea!" These kinds of thoughts are less likely to happen with contraception, because sex has already mentally been separated from fertility, and there's no reason to reconsider...after all, with or without contraception they'll be having sex, so there's not much motivation to rethink one's decision and give up the contraception.
That's largely why you tend to see larger families among NFP users...it's not just due to method failure, we're more likely to call this method success, lol, people's hearts are opened, they are more prone to reconsider their choice to avoid when it takes some sacrifice in order to do so. But regardless of whether one is trying to avoid children or trying to conceive children, there remains an underlying acknowledgement of the reality that sex and fertility are inextricably intertwined. And so if there is a surprise pregnancy, having always acknowledged that with sex comes a chance of offspring, there does not tend to be the same kind of refusal of responsibility for the pregnancy, or the same level of feelings of injustice and unfairness. They are mentally prepared for this possibility in a way that contraceptors, by and large, are not.
I hope I've been clear in describing this mentality. In a nutshell, to say that condoms are a good solution to abortion is missing the root cause of the problem. It's like if someone is trying to lose weight, and a friend suggests "Well you know if you just purge yourself after each meal you'll lose weight." Well...that may be true, on the surface that is an effective solution, but it's not addressing the root problem of gluttony, in fact it could very well be encouraging it. This proposed solution is not recognizing the function and purpose of nutrition, and therefore totally misses the mark about how to fix it. Healthy weight loss will have to involve sacrifice, it will have to recognize the relationship between food and nutrition and respect that relationship. Not gaining weight does not mean eating whatever you want and then purging yourself, it means making healthy choices to begin with, practicing self control and abstaining from certain foods.
Likewise, using contraception to avoid children does not recognize the relationship between sex and fertility, instead of practicing self control and sometimes difficult self sacrifice in order to avoid children, it encourages seeking out the pleasure while keeping the fertility aspect completely separate in an attempt to avoid the natural consequences at all costs. It's simply a continuation of the "separatist" view. We are a nation of sexual gluttons and self proclaimed victims, and we've forgotton what self control and personal responsibility really mean. (And that is, of course, not only in regards to sex...food, money, consumerism, ridiculous amounts of debt, it all goes together.)
To see the proof of the error of this mentality, note that over time, as the use of contraception went up, so did the amount of abortions. On the surface that doesn't make sense, right? If people are preventing more pregnancies then there should be less abortion...but that's because people are buying into the idea that sex can be separated from fertility, and so if a pregnancy happens despite contraception use, then it's not seen as their responsibility, and therefore they feel justified in getting an abortion.
More than that, though, the idea that one isn't responsible for getting pregnant trickles over to those who don't even use contraception. Once the idea is commonly accepted that sex can be separated from fertility, it tends to mutate into the assumption that sex already is separated from fertility. This is why we're having to remind teenagers that you can get pregnant when you have sex...because we've divorced the concepts so thoroughly that we've collectively forgotten this reality.
So you see, in our eyes the solution is not "more condoms!" which only reinforces this mentality of separation, rather the solution is acknowledging the reality, reminding ourselves that sex is not simply a recreational activity, that it has a purpose and a function, and remembering that when we ignore this reality, we start messing up our world big time. We're running towards the edge of that roof ready to jump off thinking we can fly, but in the end you simply can't cheat reality.
This is an often asked question, a question which, on the surface, seems quite valid, but looking a little deeper reveals a fundamental flaw in understanding the root problem. As I spent some time trying to answer this question, I thought I'd share my answer here as well:
So here's the thing...a lot of people look at the Catholic teachings and see what they are on the surface, but don't see the depth behind them. On the surface , as you mentioned, it may not make sense to some...well if we're trying to stop abortion, HELLO?!? Condoms anyone? What kind of crazies are these! lol
Others have mentioned that each act must be "open to life" or "ordered towards procreation." That doesn't mean you have to have a kid each time you have relations, or that you have to be trying to have a kid. It just means that the way the act is done needs to be able to result in a kid if the stars are aligned, so to speak, nothing can be done to the act to make this impossible. Essentially, if you'll forgive my crudeness, tab A needs to end up in slot B.
But why? What's the big deal?
It's not just about "correct action", it's so much more. The action is only a "symptom" of a completely different mentality at work. Our culture, our society has sent the message that fertility can (and often should) be separated from sex. That sex can be a recreational activity, something fun to do on a Friday night, like bowling, that there's no need to wait for the protection of marriage because as long as you're careful, there's no need to get tied to someone through children, etc. How has it sent this message? Through contraception...contraception is precisely an attempt to separate fertility from sex, to make them completely unrelated.
Now, whether or not one agrees that separating sex from fertility is wrong, what has been the result? Each generation since contraception became widely available has become more and more promiscuous...because sex is largely seen as recreational. But that's not my main focus here, my main focus is the mentality, the attitude behind this behavior. People my age (I'm in my mid 20s) have grown up being told that all you have to do to separate sex from fertility is "be responsible" and use contraception.
So here we are, walking around with this notion that sex can without a doubt be separated from fertility, it's an accepted axiom. People go out, and whether they just hook up with people they meet at bars or enter into a long term relationship, they are assuming that as long as they are taking that pill or using that device, they are succeeding at separating sex from fertility with no problem, just like society told them they could.
And then that pill or that device fails. BAM, they get pregnant.
What then? It isn't FAIR!! I was being responsible like they all told me to be!! They told me I could separate sex from fertility, I did what they said, but now I'm pregnant! What happened? What went wrong? I dont understand? Well, whatever happened, it's not right that I should have to be pregnant. I was following the rules the world told me, so now I'm going to make this right. I'll get an abortion, because I mean, it's not *MY* fault I got pregnant, I was being responsible.
You see, it's about acknowledging reality. When we try to force ourselves to ignore reality, when we tell ourselves we can do something that we really can't and shouldn't do, we end up messing things up BIG TIME. What happens if you ignore reality and tell yourself you can fly? You jump off a building...and gravity proves you wrong.
Our society is walking around with their heads in the sand, imagining that they are "in control," that they can separate sex from fertility and go on their merry way and be just fine. And don't get me wrong, most contraception succeeds in preventing conception, but even if one never falls pregnant unexpectedly, there are other unfortunate consequences occuring because of this assumption that sex can be separated from fertility, like objectification of people as sexual objects and unhealthy relationships. When proof to the contrary does arise in the form of a pregnancy, rather than acknowledging our error, we've justified getting rid of that proof in the form of abortion. Anything to keep our tight grasp on the notion that we have control, that we can separate sex and fertility, and that this is good for us.
So what's the difference with NFP? NFP (and the teaching of the Church against contraception) is all about acknowledging reality as it is, not attempting to change it even when it's inconvenient for us. We acknowledge that we cannot separate sex and fertility. We can work with God's natural design, but the act itself is always ordered towards procreation, nothing is altered or changed in the act itself. And this is a physical expression of a deeply rooted mentality, of our recognition that sex cannot be separated from fertility. And so, because we acknowledge that sex cannot be separated from fertility, we also acknowledge that the only full proof way to avoid having children is to avoid having sex altogether. Now, thanks be to God, with the knowledge we have of the female body, we can pinpoit fertile and infertile times...but even this takes some sacrifice, to abstain during fertile times. It's hard at times, yes, it's not always easy...but this, in turn, can help us to overcome any potential selfishness.
After all, the yearning couples have for each other during fertile times sometimes makes them reconsider whether they really *need* to avoid having children at the moment. If the answer is, "Yes, absolutely we do!" then that's that. But sometimes, the answer is, "Hmm...well, maybe we're ready after all!" or "Hmm, maybe another one isn't a bad idea!" These kinds of thoughts are less likely to happen with contraception, because sex has already mentally been separated from fertility, and there's no reason to reconsider...after all, with or without contraception they'll be having sex, so there's not much motivation to rethink one's decision and give up the contraception.
That's largely why you tend to see larger families among NFP users...it's not just due to method failure, we're more likely to call this method success, lol, people's hearts are opened, they are more prone to reconsider their choice to avoid when it takes some sacrifice in order to do so. But regardless of whether one is trying to avoid children or trying to conceive children, there remains an underlying acknowledgement of the reality that sex and fertility are inextricably intertwined. And so if there is a surprise pregnancy, having always acknowledged that with sex comes a chance of offspring, there does not tend to be the same kind of refusal of responsibility for the pregnancy, or the same level of feelings of injustice and unfairness. They are mentally prepared for this possibility in a way that contraceptors, by and large, are not.
I hope I've been clear in describing this mentality. In a nutshell, to say that condoms are a good solution to abortion is missing the root cause of the problem. It's like if someone is trying to lose weight, and a friend suggests "Well you know if you just purge yourself after each meal you'll lose weight." Well...that may be true, on the surface that is an effective solution, but it's not addressing the root problem of gluttony, in fact it could very well be encouraging it. This proposed solution is not recognizing the function and purpose of nutrition, and therefore totally misses the mark about how to fix it. Healthy weight loss will have to involve sacrifice, it will have to recognize the relationship between food and nutrition and respect that relationship. Not gaining weight does not mean eating whatever you want and then purging yourself, it means making healthy choices to begin with, practicing self control and abstaining from certain foods.
Likewise, using contraception to avoid children does not recognize the relationship between sex and fertility, instead of practicing self control and sometimes difficult self sacrifice in order to avoid children, it encourages seeking out the pleasure while keeping the fertility aspect completely separate in an attempt to avoid the natural consequences at all costs. It's simply a continuation of the "separatist" view. We are a nation of sexual gluttons and self proclaimed victims, and we've forgotton what self control and personal responsibility really mean. (And that is, of course, not only in regards to sex...food, money, consumerism, ridiculous amounts of debt, it all goes together.)
To see the proof of the error of this mentality, note that over time, as the use of contraception went up, so did the amount of abortions. On the surface that doesn't make sense, right? If people are preventing more pregnancies then there should be less abortion...but that's because people are buying into the idea that sex can be separated from fertility, and so if a pregnancy happens despite contraception use, then it's not seen as their responsibility, and therefore they feel justified in getting an abortion.
More than that, though, the idea that one isn't responsible for getting pregnant trickles over to those who don't even use contraception. Once the idea is commonly accepted that sex can be separated from fertility, it tends to mutate into the assumption that sex already is separated from fertility. This is why we're having to remind teenagers that you can get pregnant when you have sex...because we've divorced the concepts so thoroughly that we've collectively forgotten this reality.
So you see, in our eyes the solution is not "more condoms!" which only reinforces this mentality of separation, rather the solution is acknowledging the reality, reminding ourselves that sex is not simply a recreational activity, that it has a purpose and a function, and remembering that when we ignore this reality, we start messing up our world big time. We're running towards the edge of that roof ready to jump off thinking we can fly, but in the end you simply can't cheat reality.
Wednesday, October 01, 2008
Ste Thérèse de Lisieux
Today we celebrate the feast day of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, a holy woman who showed the world how to love greatly in simplicity, and in showing us her "little way," became a Doctor of the Church. We're very lucky to have a priest who speaks French, and today he'll be celebrating mass in French in honor of St. Thérèse! To read more about the life of St. Thérèse, see here.
"Love proves itself by deeds, so how am I to show my love? Great deeds are forbidden me. The only way I can prove my love is by scattering flowers and these flowers are every little sacrifice, every glance and word, and the doing of the least actions for love." She took every chance to sacrifice, no matter how small it would seem. She smiled at the sisters she didn't like. She ate everything she was given without complaining -- so that she was often given the worst leftovers. One time she was accused of breaking a vase when she was not at fault. Instead of arguing she sank to her knees and begged forgiveness. These little sacrifices cost her more than bigger ones, for these went unrecognized by others.
Some quotes:
- You know well enough that Our Lord does not look so much at the greatness of our actions, nor even at their difficulty, but at the love with which we do them.
- I applied myself above all to practice quite hidden little acts of virtue; thus I liked to fold the mantles forgotten by the Sisters, and sought a thousand opportunities of rendering them service.
- I feel that when I am charitable it is Jesus alone who acts in me; the more I am united to Him the more do I love all my Sisters. If, when I desire to increase this love in my heart, the demon tries to set before my eyes the faults of one or other of the Sisters, I hasten to call to mind her virtues, her good desires; I say to myself that if I had seen her fall once, she may well have gained many victories which she conceals through humility; and that even what appears to me a fault may in truth be an act of virtue by reason of the intention.
- True charity consists in putting up with all one's neighbor's faults, never being surprised by his weakness, and being inspired by the least of his virtues.
- To offer oneself as a victim to Divine Love is not to offer oneself to sweetness - to consolation; but to every anguish, every bitterness, for Love lives only by sacrifice; and the more a soul wills to be surrendered to Love, the more must she be surrendered to suffering.
Thérèse, tu as promis ''de passer ton Ciel à faire du bien sur la terre''. Prie avec nous afin que dans notre coeur fleurissent les roses d'une foi éveillée, d'une confiance persévérante, d'un amour ardent pour Dieu et tout homme, dans les petites choses de chaque jour.
Exauce notre prière, ô Dieu notre Père, en l'Esprit de Jésus. Amour et Miséricorde à tout jamais. Amen.
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