Criminalization of Faith - The Vital Importance of Defending our Religious Freedoms

The protection of Religious Freedom must be foremost on our hearts and minds for all Christians -- particularly in light of the recent "laws" created by the Supreme Court. 

Watching the GOP debate, one conversation stood out for me. If you haven't had the chance to see it.  I offer it to you above. Governor Huckabee has been blasted for his comments by many sources on online media, so I, for one, want to cheer him on!  I thank God for his intelligence and for his articulation and defense of religious freedom!  

We, as a people, must grow in our understanding of our rights and duties as citizens and as people of God.  It is too easy to fall for the lies prevalent in our culture. These lies will certainly confuse and allure us unless we are rooted in the Truth and Wisdom of Christ.  If we do not grow in this understanding and in the courage and strength to stand up against anti-Christian laws -- I fear we may soon see all Christian principles stripped from our nation.

Before speaking about religious freedom and the rights and duties of Christians, I think it is important to first read Kim Davis' full statement -- whom Governor Huckabee is addressing.  In it, she expresses why she chose to disobey the "law" of the land regarding same sex unions:

"I have worked in the Rowan County Clerk's office for 27 years as a Deputy Clerk and was honored to be elected as the Clerk in November 2014, and took office in January 2015.  I love my job and the people of Rowan County. I have never lived any place other than Rowan County. Some people have said I should resign, but I have done my job well. This year we are on track to generate a surplus for the county of $1.5 million. 

In addition to my desire to serve the people of Rowan County, I owe my life to Jesus Christ who loves me and gave His life for me. Following the death of my godly mother-in-law over four years ago, I went to church to fulfill her dying wish. There I heard a message of grace and forgiveness and surrendered my life to Jesus Christ. I am not perfect. No one is. But I am forgiven and I love my Lord and must be obedient to Him and to the Word of God. 

I never imagined a day like this would come, where I would be asked to violate a central teaching of Scripture and of Jesus Himself regarding marriage. To issue a marriage license which conflicts with God's definition of marriage, with my name affixed to the certificate, would violate my conscience. It is not a light issue for me. It is a Heaven or Hell decision. For me it is a decision of obedience. I have no animosity toward anyone and harbor no ill will. To me this has never been a gay or lesbian issue. It is about marriage and God's Word.  It is a matter of religious liberty, which is protected under the First Amendment, the Kentucky Constitution, and in the Kentucky Religious Freedom Restoration Act. Our history is filled with accommodations for people's religious freedom and conscience.  I want to continue to perform my duties, but I also am requesting what our Founders envisioned - that conscience and religious freedom would be protected. That is all I am asking. I never sought to be in this position, and I would much rather not have been placed in this position. I have received death threats from people who do not know me. I harbor nothing against them.  I was elected by the people to serve as the County Clerk. I intend to continue to serve the people of Rowan County, but I cannot violate my conscience." http://www.lex18.com/story/29933844/kim-davis-releases-statement

Many people cite that Kim Davis has sworn to uphold the law, but what if the law is against the law of God?  

What are Christians to do then? 

Is this dilemma facing Christians today what our Founding Fathers envisioned for us?

A fundamental and important distinction must first of all be understood in all these discussions as we are bombarded with the constant false interpretations regarding the separation of Church and state. The true purpose of this principle is to assure the freedom of religion -- not the freedom from religion!  (How important are prepositions?!)

If the founding fathers truly wanted a true separation of religion, why is every fabric of our constitution and the bill of rights rooted in Godly principles, evident in our nation's motto?

"One nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all!"

A quote by Thomas Jefferson affirms our duty to oppose injustice by saying: 

"If a law is unjust, a man is not only right to disobey it, he is obligated to do so." 

Martin Luther King, Jr. also proclaimed:

“One has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws.” 

With this in mind, we must look at some of the guiding principles the Church teaches:

If the laws of the State are manifestly at variance with the divine law .... then, truly, to resist becomes a positive duty, to obey, a crime; a crime, moreover, combined with misdemeanor against the State itself, inasmuch as every offense leveled against religion is also a sin against the State.  (Leo XIII, Encyclical Letter Sapientiae Christianae, n. 10)

"Citizens are not obligated in conscience to follow the prescriptions of civil authorities if their precepts are contrary to the demands of the moral order, to the fundamental rights of persons or to the teachings of the Gospel. Unjust laws pose dramatic problems of conscience for morally upright people: when they are called to cooperate in morally evil acts they must refuse. Besides being a moral duty, such a refusal is also a basic human right which, precisely as such, civil law itself is obliged to recognize and protect. 'Those who have recourse to conscientious objection must be protected not only from legal penalties but also from any negative effects on the legal, disciplinary, financial and professional plane. It is a grave duty of conscience not to cooperate, not even formally, in practices which, although permitted by civil legislation, are contrary to the Law of God. Such cooperation in fact can never be justified, not by invoking respect for the freedom of others nor by appealing to the fact that it is foreseen and required by civil law. No one can escape the moral responsibility for actions taken, and all will be judged by God himself based on this responsibility (cf. Rom 2:6; 14:12)."  (Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, No. 399)

I know there is much left to be said and much more to be prayed about regarding these issues.

But, one final thought is vital to our understanding of these issues: 

Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Eph. 6:12

What we are experiencing in our nation and in the world is evidence that we are in the midst of a tremendous spiritual battle for our souls, the souls of our children and the soul of this very nation!  The Father of Lies, who is extremely adept at deception, has led many people astray.  Many, who I write about in another article, who beg Jesus to leave our nation!

This spiritual battle must be fought by:

1. Knowing and filling our minds with the Truth of Scripture in our families

2. Steadfast and ceaseless prayer that constantly places the Person of Jesus before our minds and hearts (as with the rosary)

3. Frequent repentance and turning toward God in confession 

4. Frequent reception of Holy Communion - the very Body of Christ! 

5. And Lastly, we must also fast, remembering Jesus' words: 

"This demon can only be cast out by prayer and fasting."Mk 9:29; Lk 17:21.

These are our best weapons!  These are immensely powerful weapons against the enemy who is as nothing against God! We must claim and uphold in our own life Christ's ultimate victory against satan and against the sin and death that he promotes!

Let us pray...

Dear Jesus, we consecrate ourselves and our country and our world to you.  We ask you to help us to rise above the evil that seeks to surround us with the Wisdom and Truth of a well formed conscience and the bravery and courage to exercise our religious freedoms, always "Obeying God, rather than man!" Acts 5:29.

Please God bless us and our Nation!

For further reading on this topic see http://www.catholic.com/magazine/articles/when-is-it-okay-to-disobey
See also: http://www.catholic.org/news/hf/faith/story.php?id=45255

Also, see another video featuring Governor Huckabee for an important understanding regarding the difference between discrimination and discretion, see:  http://video.foxnews.com/v/4148270730001/mike-huckabee-on-divisive-debate-over-religious-freedom-law/?#sp=show-clips

©2015 Janet Moore. All Rights Reserved.

In the Face of Modern Day Persecution, What Can We Learn from the Early Christian Martyrs?

In our day and age, we can no longer presume we will not be asked to suffer martyrdom.  Christianity and adhering to the Truth Christ reveals is becoming an increasingly dangerous   way of life to live in America and throughout the world.  

With this ever in Her mind, the Church is wise to hold up for us courageous witnesses who have gone before us in faith!  Reminding us of the fact that those who have endured "to the end" now enjoy heavenly crowns of glory!  As 2 Tim 2: 11-12 states:

Portrait of Cornelius in St. Paul Outside the Walls

"If we have died with him we shall also live with him;                                  If we persevere, we shall also reign with him."

We recently celebrated the memory of two martyrs of the early Church, Pope St. Cornelius and St. Cyprian.  In Cornelius' biography he is characterized as the "reluctant 21st pope, elected after a year-and-a-half period during which the persecutions were so bad that papal ascension was a quick death sentence."  He was elected in 251 during the time of the Decius persecutions.   The threat of schism also loomed darkly upon the Church as Novatian claimed that he was the rightful Pope. In this time of great uncertainty, he called a synod of bishops that confirmed Cornelius to be the rightful pontiff and opposed Novatian. Two of his staunch supporters were Saint Cyprian of Carthage (with whom he shares his feast day) and Saint Dionysius. 

One of the great legacies of his Papacy is the mercy he showed to those who apostacized during the persecutions of Decius.  He taught that the Church welcomes back those who disowned and betrayed their Savior and fellow Christians out of fear when confronted with torture and death.  His pastoral teaching on this matter settled a great debate within the Church and is seen as evidence that the Pope has final authority in dealing with disputes.  

He was exiled within a year of his election (due to the belief that Christians provoked the gods into sending plagues against Rome) and was martyred just a year later.  A document from Cornelius shows the size of the Church in Rome during his papacy --noting that Rome had 46 priests, 7 deacons, 7 subdeacons, and approximately 50,000 Christians.

St. Cyprian of Carthage

In the face of Cornelius' courageous witness, his friend Cyprian, Bishop in Carthage (in Northern Africa), wrote him a letter of encouragement. Amazingly, nearly 1800 years later, we can still read his words:

Cyprian sends greetings to his brother Cornelius. My very dear brother, we have heard of the glorious witness given by your courageous faith. On learning of the honor you had won by your witness, we were filled with such joy that we felt ourselves sharers and companions in your praiseworthy achievements. After all, we have the same Church, the same mind, the same unbroken harmony. Why then should a priest not take pride in the praise given to a fellow priest as though it were given to him? What brotherhood fails to rejoice in the happiness of its brothers wherever they are? 

Words cannot express how great was the exultation and delight here when we heard of your good fortune and brave deeds: how you stood out as leader of your brothers in their declaration of faith, while the leader’s confession was enhanced as they declared their faith. You led the way to glory, but you gained many companions in that glory; being foremost in your readiness to bear witness on behalf of all, you prevailed on your people to become a single witness. We cannot decide which we ought to praise, your own ready and unshaken faith or the love of your brothers who would not leave you. While the courage of the bishop who thus led the way has been demonstrated, at the same time the unity of the brotherhood who followed has been manifested. Since you have one heart and one voice, it is the Roman Church as a whole that has thus born witness. 

Dearest brother, bright and shining is the faith which the blessed Apostle praised in your community. He foresaw in the spirit the praise your courage deserves and the strength that could not be broken; he was heralding the future when he testified to your achievements; his praise of the fathers was a challenge to the sons. Your unity, your strength have become shining examples of these virtues to the rest of the brethren. 

Divine providence has now prepared us. God’s merciful design has warned us that the day of our own struggle, our own contest, is at hand. By that shared love which binds us close together, we are doing all we can to exhort our congregation, to give ourselves unceasingly to fastings, vigils and prayers in common. These are the heavenly weapons which give us the strength to stand firm and endure; they are the spiritual defenses, the God-given armaments that protect us. 

Let us then remember one another, united in mind and heart. Let us pray without ceasing, you for us, we for you; by the love we share we shall thus relieve the strain of these great trials.  (See Divineoffice.org)

Saint Cyprian of Carthage, would go on to suffer martyrdom five years later, during the persecutions of Valerian in 258.  

So, what can we learn from these two great men of faith as we face our own present day persecutions?   

I'm sure there are countless things we can learn, but there are five in particular that I would like to point out:

1. How good and holy it is to take notice of the trials others are enduring and to make the effort to encourage them in concrete ways (such a writing a letter).  

"Cyprian sends greetings to his brother Cornelius. My very dear brother, we have heard of the glorious witness given by your courageous faith."

2.  Cyprian notes that the honor shown to Cornelius is shared by all those who are united with him in heart and spirit.  Cyprian proclaims that we are "sharers and companions [in each others'] praiseworthy achievements."  Therefore, should we not rejoice in each others' gifts and graces -- knowing that we share in every good gift given to one another for we are all one in Christ?! With this proper understanding, there is no room for envy in the Church.  Rather, because the saints are alive in Christ, we not only share in the graces that helped them remain faithful, but we also share in their living prayers offered for us still today!!! 

"After all, we have the same Church, the same mind, the same unbroken harmony."

3. Notice the joy, glory and honor Cyprian attributes to Cornelius and to all those who are courageous and declare their faith in Christ in the face of persecution and death!  What a wondrous paradox that echoes the witness of the apostles who "rejoiced that they will able to share in the sufferings of Christ"(1 Pet 4: 13; Acts 5: 41) and Jesus' proclamation:

"He who wishes to save his life will lose it and he who loses his life for my sake and for the sake of the Gospel will save it!" Mark 8:35

4. Note the interconnectedness of the Body of Christ -- the Church!  When the Pope stands up in courage he encourages and ennobles his whole flock to stand fast in faith and courage as well.  Likewise, the Pope is strengthened and encouraged by his people's witness and faithfulness!  

Thus, each time we bear witness to Christ with 

"one heart and one voice, it is the Roman Church as a whole that has thus born witness."

5. Lastly and most importantly, how urgent, how vital it is for us to never cease loving and praying for one another!  What great compassion, love and gratitude we should have those who are being MARTYRED TODAY!!! How we must stand united in love and prayer with them! These men, women and children are holding fast to Christ; and in the unity of the Church, they are strengthening every one of us by their bravery and witness!  How deeply should we love them for their sacrifice and all those who hold us up in prayer as we undergo our trails!  These events in our modern world should help us recognize that 

"Divine providence has now prepared us. God’s merciful design has warned us that the day of our own struggle, our own contest, is at hand." 

THEREFORE, OUR LOVE FOR CHRIST AND HIS CHURCH SHOULD COMPEL US TO NEVER CEASE PRAYING!!!!  Not just halfhearted prayers murmured occasionally whenever we remember, but constant, heartfelt prayers, which plead for mercy and grace upon ourselves and upon the world!  

"By that shared love which binds us close together, we are doing all we can to exhort our congregation, to give ourselves unceasingly to fastings, vigils and prayers in common. These are the heavenly weapons which give us the strength to stand firm and endure; they are the spiritual defenses, the God-given armaments that protect us."

When I read these words I had to ask myself:

Are we doing all we can to exhort one another? 

Are we doing all we can for ourselves and for those undergoing the trial? 

Are we giving ourselves unceasingly to fastings, vigils and prayers in common? 

Do we recognize that these are the heavenly weapons which give us the strength to stand firm and endure?  

Do we recognize they are the spiritual defenses, the God-given armaments that protect us?

I understand.  No one wants to think about things these things.  I don't either.  It is easier to look away when we see Christians being lined up and brutally murdered.  It is easier to look away and pretend that over 1 BILLION BABIES worldwide (YES, heartbreakingly you read that correctly) haven't been torn apart in their mother's womb.  

But, what are the consequences of our complacency?  

What are the consequences for our souls and for future of the world?

These are sobering times and this is a sobering message.  But, it is one that is filled with hope!  For "we are more than conquerors in Christ Jesus!" (Rom 8:37). For His faithful ones, He has prepared a place for us so wondrous that 

"Eye has not seen, ear has not heard, nor mind conceived what God has in store for us!" (1 Cor 2: 9).

Dear SS. Cornelius and Cyprian, assist us with your prayers, so that we can hold fast to your example and words exhorting us to:

"Let us then remember one another, united in mind and heart. Let us pray without ceasing, you for us, we for you; by the love we share we shall thus relieve the strain of these great trials."

For more writings by St. Cyprian and for a firsthand account of his martyrdom, see below:

You cannot have God for your Father if you do not have the Church for your mother.... God is one and Christ is one, and his Church is one; one is the faith, and one is the people cemented together by harmony into the strong unity of a body.... If we are the heirs of Christ, let us abide in the peace of Christ; if we are the sons of God, let us be lovers of peace. - Saint Cyprian, from The Unity of the Catholic Church

Whatever a man prefers to God, that he makes a god to himself. - Saint Cyprian

Let us remember one another in concord and unanimity. Let us on both sides of death always pray for one another. Let us relieve burdens and afflictions by mutual love, that if one of us, by the swiftness of divine condescension, shall go hence the first, our love may continue in the presence of the Lord, and our prayers for our brethren and sisters not cease in the presence of the Father's mercy. - Saint Cyprian from Letters, 253

On the morning of the 14th of September, a great crowd gathered at the Villa Sexti, in accordance with the order of the governor Galerius Maximus. That same day the governor commanded Bishop Cyprian to be brought before him for trial. After Cyprian was brought in, the governor asked him, "Are you Thascius Cyprian?" The bishop replied, "Yes, I am." The governor Galerius Maximus said, "You have set yourself up as an enemy of the gods of Rome and our religious practices. You have been discovered as the author and leader of these heinous crimes, and will consequently be held forth as an example for all those who have followed you in your crime. By your blood the law shall be confirmed." Next he read the sentence from a tablet. "It is decided that Cyprian should die by the sword." Cyprian responded, "Thanks be to God!" After the sentence was passed, a crowd of his fellow Christians said, "We should also be killed with him!" There arose an uproar among the Christians, and a great mob followed after him. Cyrprian was then brought out to the grounds of the Villa Sexti, where, taking off his outer cloak and kneeling on the ground, he fell before the Lord in prayer. He removed his dalmatic and gave it to the deacons, and then stood erect while waiting for the executioner. When the executioner arrived, Cyprian told his friends to give the man 25 gold pieces. The most Blessed martyr Cyprian suffered on the 14th of September under the emperors Valerian and Gallienus, in the reign of our true Lord Jesus Christ, to whom belong honor and glory for ever. Amen. - from the Acts of the Martyrdom of Saint Cyprian by Saint Pontius

You who are envious, let me tell you that however often you may seek for the opportunity of injuring him whom you hate, you will never be able to do him so much harm as you do harm to yourselves. He whom you would punish through the malice of your envy, may probably escape, but you will never be able to fly from yourselves. Wherever you may be your adversary is with you, your sin rankles within. It must be a self-willed evil to persecute a person whom God has taken under the protection of His grace; it becomes an irremedial sin to hate a man whom God wishes to make happy. Envy is as prolific as it is hurtful; it is the root of all evil, the source of endless disorder and misery, the cause of most sins that are committed. Envy gives birth to hatred and animosity. From it avarice is begotten, for it sees with an evil eye honors and emoluments heaped upon a stranger, and thinks that such honors should have been, by right, bestowed upon himself. From envy comes contempt of God, and of the salutary precepts of our Savior. The envious man is cruel, proud, unfaithful, impatient, and quarrelsome; and, what is strange, when this vice gains the mastery, he is no longer master of himself, and he is unable to correct his many faults. If the bond of peace is broken, if the rights of fraternal charity are violated, if truth is altered or disguised, it is often envy that hurries him on to crime. What happiness can such a man enjoy in this world? To be envious or jealous of another, because such a one is virtuous and happy, is to hate in him the graces and blessings God has showered down upon him. Does he not punish himself when he sees the success and welfare of others? Does he not draw down upon himself tortures from which there is no respite? Are not his thoughts, his mind, constantly on the rack? He pitilessly punishes himself, and, in his heart, performs the same cruel office which Divine Justice reserves for the chastisement of the greatest criminal. - Saint Cyprian

http://catholicsaints.info/saint-cyprian-of-carthage/

© 2015 Janet Moore. All Rights Reserved.

The Eucharistic Miracle of Buenos Aires

What if God Stopped Sending Our Lady to Us in Medjugorje?

Miraculous events and conversions are reported daily in the village of Medjugorje in Bosnia Herzegovina - a small hamlet that is set about an hour inland from the gorgeous Croatian coastline of the Adriatic Sea.  Each day, it is reported that Mary, the mother of Jesus. comes to earth!  Every day, since June 24, 1981, reports detail words spoken from heaven -- words of motherly concern for her children who act as if God no longer exists. 

The reports say Mary comes as the Our Lady of Peace, who longs to bring peace to her children. First of all, a peace of the heart, that comes from a life of faith in her Son, Jesus, Who is the Prince of Peace. This peace can best be obtained by fulfilling the requests of the Blessed Mother, which can be summarized into five actions:

1. Pray, pray, pray!  Pray until it becomes a joy for you. Pray with your heart, so that your prayer is a living encounter with God!
2. Live the Eucharist through the Holy Mass and by loving, adoring and having confidence in Jesus, truly Present in the Most Blessed Sacrament of the Altar.
3. Go to Confession monthly. "Peace! Peace! Peace! Be reconciled with God and among yourselves.  For that, it is necessary to believe, to pray, to fast, and to go to confession."
4. Fast twice a week.  "The best fast is on bread and water. Through fasting and prayer, one can stop wars, one can suspend the laws of nature."
5. Make Scripture a daily part of your family prayer. 

I write in other articles why you might consider believing in these reports, as well as provide documented verification of St. John Paul II's position regarding Medjugorje. 

But, today I want to consider, with other believers in the reports coming from Medjugorje:

What if Our Lady of Medjugorje Never Comes Again?

Given that reports have come daily for over 34 years, when the reported monthly message that is given to Marija on the 25th of every month didn't arrive at its usual time today... and it didn't come, and it didn't come... I began to worry ...  
I usually wouldn't have even noticed the delay, but my daughter and I were home sick today.  I began to wonder:

What if something happened? 
What if Mary didn't appear today? 
What if she doesn't come back again? 
What if we have heard the last message? 
Were we paying attention to the graces these last 34 years? 

After some time pondering the what ifs, I became truly distress and heartbroken at the thought that I might have heard the last message I was ever to hear from Our Lady in Medjugorje... Then, I began to plead with God that He continue sending Our Blessed Mother.  Although many have never heard about the happenings at Medjugorje and others openly oppose it - often citing false or misleading information -- many, many, many people have been touched by Our Lady, with some reports saying over 50 million people have made a pilgrimage there.  

I pleaded... don't give up on us, Blessed Mother!  Please don't stop coming as our Mother to teach, to lead and to love your lost and broken children.

And I understood as I had never before, how incredibly blessed we are-- blessed beyond our understanding -- to have our Mother come to us each day from heaven!!!!! 

As I was praying and wondering why the delay and what might be going on, I had to ask myself: 

Have I taken her presence for granted? 
Have I truly listened to her words and her call for conversion? 
Have I responded to her call? 
Have I truly embraced and received the unfathomable grace pouring out from heaven in order to lead us through this darkness??? 

And then, it happened... reports of the message began to appear online ... with no explanation for the delay.

Today's message is:

August 25, 2015 Message to Marija"Dear children! Also today I am calling you to be prayer. May prayer be for you the wings for an encounter with God. The world is in a moment of trial, because it forgot and abandoned God. Therefore you, little children, be those who seek and love God above all. I am with you and I am leading you to my Son, but you must say your ‘yes’ in the freedom of children of God. I intercede for you and I love you, little children, with an endless love. Thank you for having responded to my call."

Many read through the messages hastily.  I find myself doing the same, and when I do, I don't recognize much value in them.  

But, I have noticed that if I truly try to meditate and pray about the messages ... pondering what it means in my heart like Mary did throughout her life.  Then,  if I treat them like a treasure to  mine, Our Blessed Mother's words challenge me, remind me, and encourage me in a life of ever increasing peace in my heart and in my relationship with God and others. They have brought me direction and guidance. 

They have touched me deeply and profoundly when I truly listen and ponder the words spoken with such love and concern.

Dear Mary, I am so thankful to our God - Father, Son and Holy Spirit - for sending you to us, and to you for your infinite motherly care, which cannot bear to watch her children suffer alone or go unknowingly and deceived into eternal death. 

You long only to bring us to your Son, Jesus, Who is Everything -- Our Lord, Our God and our eternal happiness -- both on earth and in heaven!!! 

How blessed we are to have a God Who never gives up on us and never ceases to do EVERYTHING possible to lead us to salvation!!!! 

Are we listening? 
Do we even know the messages and if so, are we living them? 
Do we even care?
How many more miracles, signs and wonders will it take for us to begin listening and taking Our Blessed Mother's words seriously?

© 2015 Janet Moore. All Rights Reserved. 

The Weakness of God is Stronger Than Men

I love this quote!  

My hope is in Christ, who strengthens the weakest by His Divine help.
I can do all in Him who strengthens me.  His Power is infinite, and if I lean on him, it will be mine.
His Wisdom is infinite, and if I look to Him for counsel, I shall not be deceived.
His Goodness is stayed in Him, I shall not be abandoned.
- Pope St. Pius X

As evil and darkness appear to be growing ever stronger in our nation and in the world, it is easy to get discouraged and frightened.  

When we become fearful and discouraged, we must remember that Satan was at his strongest when he "killed God".  Satan must have laughed when he saw Jesus die on the Cross, and thought in pride that all of humanity and the world had been won for himself.  

Yet, Satan's ultimate victory in Christ's death, became the everlasting and eternal victory of God - and Satan's eternal and everlasting defeat!  

"For God's ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts!" Isaiah 55: 8-9.  

I'm sure Satan believes he again is winning, but God is not dead! 

Let us not listen to his laughter or his lies.  

Let us not fear, for Jesus told us: 

"Fear is useless, what is needed is trust!" Mark 5:37.

God's power is infinitely greater than the trials we are enduring at this time!  

Let us remember the wonders He has done from the beginning and how He was able to form His Universal Church through the same weak men, who (all but one), had been too traumatized and frightened to stand by Jesus at the Cross. The reading the Church offers us today powerfully reminds us of this fact:

From a homily on the first letter to the Corinthians by Saint John Chrysostom, bishop

The weakness of God is stronger than men

It was clear through unlearned men that the cross was persuasive, in fact, it persuaded the whole world. Their discourse was not of unimportant matters but of God and true religion, of the Gospel way of life and future judgment, yet it turned plain, uneducated men into philosophers. How the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and his weakness stronger than men!

In what way is it stronger? It made its way throughout the world and overcame all men; countless men sought to eradicate the very name of the Crucified, but that name flourished and grew ever mightier. Its enemies lost out and perished; the living who waged a war on a dead man proved helpless. Therefore, when a Greek tells me I am dead, he shows only that he is foolish indeed, for I, whom he thinks a fool, turn out to be wiser than those reputed wise. So too, in calling me weak, he but shows that he is weaker still. For the good deeds which tax-collectors and fishermen were able to accomplish by God’s grace, the philosophers, the rulers, the countless multitudes cannot even imagine.

Paul had this in mind when he said: The weakness of God is stronger than men. That the preaching of these men was indeed divine is brought home to us in the same way. For how otherwise could twelve uneducated men, who lived on lakes and rivers and wastelands, get the idea for such an immense enterprise? How could men who perhaps had never been in a city or a public square think of setting out to do battle with the whole world? That they were fearful, timid men, the evangelist makes clear; he did not reject the fact or try to hide their weaknesses. Indeed he turned these into a proof of the truth. What did he say of them? That when Christ was arrested, the others fled, despite all the miracles they had seen, while he who was leader of the others denied him!

How then account for the fact that these men, who in Christ’s lifetime did not stand up to the attacks by the Jews, set forth to do battle with the whole world once Christ was dead—if, as you claim, Christ did not rise and speak to them and rouse their courage? Did they perhaps say to themselves: “What is this? He could not save himself but he will protect us? He did not help himself when he was alive, but now that he is dead he will extend a helping hand to us? In his lifetime he brought no nation under his banner, but by uttering his name we will win over the whole world?” Would it not be wholly irrational even to think such thoughts, much less to act upon them?

It is evident, then, that if they had not seen him risen and had proof of his power, they would not have risked so much.

RESPONSORY 1 Corinthians 1:23-24; 2 Corinthians 4:8; Romans 8:37

We preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and an absurdity to Gentiles,

but to those who have heard his call,

— Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God.

We are afflicted in every way possible, but in all of these trials the victory is ours,

because of Christ who loves us.

— Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God.

If God could build and form His Church with such weakness, how much can He do with us -- weak and sinful as we are, if we but put our faith and trust in Him and the power of the Resurrection?!  

Today the Church remembers Bartholomew, one of the Twelve Apostles of Christ's and an amazing saint who brought the faith to Asia Minor, Ethiopia, India and Armenia.  

As we commemorate him, we ask him to remember us in prayer. He, who was so strong in faith that he endured martyrdom by being flayed alive!  

Please, St. Bartholomew, intercede for us in these dark and evil times, and help us remain strong and steadfast in our trials.  

"For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel:By waiting and by calm you shall be saved, in quiet and in trust your strength lies. But this you did not wish. “No,” you said, “Upon horses we will flee.” Very well, flee! “Upon swift steeds we will ride.” Not so swift as your pursuers. A thousand shall tremble at the threat of one; if five threaten you, you shall flee, Until you are left like a flagstaff on the mountaintop, like a flag on the hill. Yet the Lord is waiting to show you favor, and he rises to pity you; For the Lord is a God of justice: blessed are all who wait for him!"  

Isaiah 30: 15-18 

Jesus, have Mercy on us! 

All the martyrs of the Church, pray for us now!  

Mary, Queen of Martyrs, pray for us!

We know we will never hope in vain!

© 2015 Janet Moore. All Rights Reserved. 

- See more at: http://divineoffice.org/0824-or-bartholomew/?title=Aug+24%2C+Office+of+Readings+-+Feast+for+St.+Bartholomew%2C+Ap&date=20150824#sthash.nlYJp3d6.dpuf

Novena to Restore the Foundation and Pillar of the Family; Men and Fathers

A dear friend wrote this novena.  It is so beautiful and profound I wanted to share it with you, and I ask you to please join us in praying for the healing and restoration of fatherhood and families.  

She writes: 

With all the assaults against the family which is the foundation of humanity; we are called to join in prayer, asking the intercession of the pillar and model of the human family. We look to St. Joseph and the Holy Family.  Please join in praying this novena to correct the many disorders tearing apart families in this hour of great distress.  Share and have others join.

Novena to St. Joseph; Husband of Mary, Earthly Father of Jesus

"Dearest St. Joseph; Husband of Mary, Earthly Father of Jesus;

You are a model of devotion, fidelity, holiness, and fatherhood.  Our model of the family of Christ, we call upon you to intercede for all men.  Men who have lost their sense of duty to family, devotion to their spouse, their role as the spiritual godhead of the family.  Men who no longer defend or protect their family.  Please pray that men will cherish their wives and and place the value and sacredness of marriage and family in the way God designed it.  Intercede to help them restore their great duty to be prayerful, spiritual heads and guardians of their families.  Pray that they will return to a state of humility and purity, honoring their wives without taking them for granted.  

Pray that men will rediscover ways to create unity and peace in their homes.  St. Joseph, tender spouse of Mary, you kept your household a place of holiness and sanctuary.  Many homes now lack this.  Pray for our homes to be specially protected from demonic influence.  Show us how to make our homes holy and good, where we are always free to honor and love God.  

St. Joseph, you know that rejection and exclusion destroys intimacy in the marital bonds that God created.  Ask Jesus to help heal this disorder, which has created tragic consequences and led to the dissolving of many marriages. May men respect their wives again, show them great healing love, devotion and dignity. Help couples and families forgive one another, bringing forth new life and healing to old wounds.  Help us all to accept faults and failings in ourselves as well as others, in true charity and love.  

St. Joseph, for families who are fatherless, and the husband is gone - either from abandonment, divorce, sexual confusion, death or addiction, we ask that you personally guard and direct them always to the sanctuary of Our Father in Heaven.  

Dear Father in Heaven, the Father of every created human being, there is no greater Father than you.  We place every family and marriage in your Holy Hands and within Your heart. May every fatherless home have the favor of Your Almighty and powerful Fatherhood, the the tenderness of Your Love; to nurture, fortify, guide, and protect.

For the families destroyed and marred by the evil of pornography, please pour forth Your Holy Spirit and powerfully heal renew and repair all damage and disorder.  We pray Jesus will deliver humanity from this horrific blight of evil which feeds into so many other sexual sins.  We know that abortion, homosexuality and contraception have stemmed from and is connected to this, so we pray for these evils to be crushed out and delivered from the earth forever.

In a special way, we ask for the sexually confused to be healed.  That the attack on the splendor of sexual identity and marriage, which is so under attack in this hour of history, be healed and restored, so that all may see that God Father makes no mistakes.  May it be revealed and understood that Our Father has a powerful destiny, manifested in the sacredness of the sexual identity of every human being; and their path to heaven is rooted in living out their vocation within the order of creation that He set forth upon each individual when they were created.  May each of those suffering with sexual disorders, discover the mystery and splendor of their true sexual identity and be blessed with joy, for living as God intended. 

St. Joseph, we know that when the family, the domestic church, has been restored; society, and the universal church will be restored!  Families will again be strong and magnificent!  St. Joseph, model of family love, hear our prayer."

They Begged Jesus to Leave Their District

"They begged Jesus to leave their district." (Mt. 8:34; cf also Mk 5: 17)

Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld - Die Bibel in Bildern

I've always been saddened at the Gospel account when Jesus was asked to leave the territory of the Gadarenes.  In the light of our Supreme Court's redefinition of marriage, reading this passage at Mass again this past week grieved me more than ever.  The Gospel tells us that Jesus came to two demoniacs, who had been so savage that no one could travel near them, and freed them from the power of Satan.  And in return for this kindness, the people of the area begged Him to leave!

If you remember, the demons were sent into a herd of swine, which rushed off a steep bank into the sea, causing the pigs to drown. After witnessing these manifestations of God's power, the people of the district (and the owners of the pigs) begged Jesus to leave them!

I can't help but liken the Gardarenes to many in our nation and in the world today who blatantly live as if God does not exist. Or if they accept His existence, they reject His Word, proclaiming it to be untrue or irrelevant in their lives; and thus, they cast Him far from them. And so sadly, many do not merely beg Him to leave-- but arrogantly and proudly dismiss Him and His Truth as an outdated fable. 

We, as the Gadarenes before us, are choosing to live without Jesus -- to live outside of His laws.  In effect, we are saying we want nothing to do with Jesus as we reject the only One who can free and save us! 

How tragic so few know Jesus -- the One who rent the heavens and came down to earth in utmost love, Who came to bear our sins, burdens and punishments so that we might not only live, but live to the Full -- ABUNDANTLY -- on earth and in eternity!  Jesus truly lived!  His life is a fact that history upholds! Our faith is real. Jesus is truly God enfleshed!  He is Infinite Power and Mercy and the greatest Love each of us will ever know!
He not only saved us, but showed us how to live in harmony with our nature, for we are not mere animals, but human persons made in the image and likeness of God, in Whom, we were created! Therefore, when we follow Christ, we are most truly ourselves.  In contrast, when we sin, we are living at odds against ourselves -- we are living against our own nature! 
We are living against how were made.  

Thus, we must understand that the commandments are not arbitrary rules of a domineering and oppressive God, seeking to destroy any fun we might have. Rather they are the sure means to bring us joy and peace in the depths of our being. Likewise, to the extent that those around us also adhere to the Word of God, is the extent that this peace and joy will exist in our world around us.  

Thus, the true crisis of our times in not a crisis of legislation or of laws and politics, but it is a crisis of faith. It is a crisis of human persons not recognizing their dignity and their immortal nature, and thus, living less than the Truth about themselves, which is revealed to us in Christ.

The Truth is:
We were made by Divine LOVE to LOVE!  When we disregard His Laws, we choose to no longer love. We choose to harm ourselves and others --- and in essence, to beg Jesus, Who is our only HOPE, our Refuge and the only Way to the Father, to leave us ---so we can live as we wish --without Him.

This article is not meant to curse our lot, our times or our nation -- but it is meant to inspire us to become ever more firm in our faith and in our hope in God!  Jesus can change the course of world events in an instant if He chooses. We must cling to this KNOWLEDGE and this FAITH and ask for the grace to grow ever deeper in faith and in love of Him so that our lives might reflect the Truth of His Life, and His glory, goodness and love to others. So, that we become instruments of His Love and Truth to all those who have not yet come to know the love of God!

"All of us have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God" that He envisioned for us when He formed us in our mothers' wombs, so this article is not meant as a judgment against others.  Rather, it is a call to the Truth and Love of Christ.  

Satan is a master deceiver. Satan is the one who tells us to never look past our earthly circumstances -- i.e. our current livelihood (pigs) -- and tells us that our emotions, and our own thoughts and judgments transcend God's commands.  Yet, this understanding is faulty and is a great lie, as Augustine so beautifully articulated after finally letting go of "his wants and desires" to live as God intended: 

Late have I loved you, O Beauty ever ancient, ever new, late have I loved you!  You were within me, but I was outside, and it was there that I searched for you.  In my unloveliness I plunged into the lovely things which you created.  You were with me, but I was not with you.  Created things kept me from you; yet if they had not been in you they would not have been at all.  You called, you shouted, and you broke through my deafness.  You flashed, you shone, and you dispelled my blindness.  You breathed your fragrance on me; I drew in breath and now I pant for you.  I have tasted you, now I hunger and thirst for more.  You touched me, and I burned for your peace.

Satan is the liar who tempts us to beg Jesus to leave us, so that we wander aimlessly without Love, Truth, Hope, guidance or the purpose that so deeply fulfills us.

So we must remember that:

"Our struggle is not with flesh and blood but with the principalities, with the powers, with the world rulers of this present darkness, with the evil spirits in the heavens." Eph 6:12 

So what are we to do in this fight against evil? 

St. Paul tells us in the remaining verses of the same passage:

Draw your strength from the Lord and from his mighty power [Who is with us always – ALIVE in the Eucharist, in the Sacraments, in the Body of Christ, His Church].  Put on the armor of God so that you may be able to stand firm against the tactics of the devil.... that you may be able to resist on the evil day and, having done everything, to hold your ground. So stand fast with your loins girded in truth, [know the Word of God and the teachings and sacraments of the Church] clothed with righteousness as a breastplate, [our goodness and faithfulness to Jesus' teachings will guard and protect our hearts] and your feet shod in readiness for the gospel of peace [ready to go wherever God sends us, and to whomever He sends us to share His Good News]. In all circumstances, hold faith as a shield, to quench all [the] flaming arrows of the evil one [our faith and trust in Jesus is our shield against Satan's lies, temptations and attacks]. And take the helmet of salvation [know and fill our minds with Jesus. Remembering His passion, death and resurrection that saves us from the eternal death that our sins deserve in order to lead us to eternal joy and union with God that is beyond our capacity to understand] and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God [live within the Holy Spirit's power by steeping ourselves in the living Word of God]. With all prayer and supplication, pray at every opportunity in the Spirit [pray always, keeping our minds and hearts on Christ through the Holy Spirit]. To that end, be watchful with all perseverance and supplication for all the holy ones and also for me, that speech may be given me to open my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel for which I am an ambassador in chains, so that I may have the courage to speak as I must [pray for ourselves and for one another so that we may be steadfast in faith and that God may be able to speak the truth in love through us]. Gal 6:10-20. 

So, let us stand together as a people of God in support of one another, ever ready to give an account of our hope in Christ so as to lead others to Him -- knowing that God does not want us to simply curse the evil in our world, but rather, through deep prayer and Communion with Him, He wants us to be His Light shining in a world of ever-increasing darkness. 

Let us pray....Dear Jesus, help us to stand fast in faith and take seriously the Words You gave us before You ascended into Heaven:  

"All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age." Mt 28: 18-20. 

Help us to share the Good News of Your Life through our lives of love, even if it means that we will be persecuted for sharing this Truth. As St. Peter tells us:

But even if you should suffer because of righteousness, blessed are you. Do not be afraid or terrified with fear of them, but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts. Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope, but do it with gentleness and reverence, keeping your conscience clear, so that, when you are maligned, those who defame your good conduct in Christ may themselves be put to shame. (1 Pet 3: 14-16). 

Thank You, Jesus, for always being with us!  
Jesus, we trust in You!  
Mary, we entrust our world and ourselves into your care, as the Father entrusted His Son to you and formed His human life through you. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, may we, and our children and families, be formed into a likeness of your Son - formed deeply in the love of God so that we may be loving, effective and fearless lights of Christ in this present darkness. 


© Janet Moore 2015. All Rights Reserved. 
Photo Credit here.