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Catholic Caucus: Daily Mass Readings, 11-28-12
USCCB.org/RNAB ^ | 11-28-12 | Revised New American Bible

Posted on 11/27/2012 6:55:41 PM PST by Salvation

November 28, 2012

Wednesday of the Thirty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time

 

Reading 1 Rv 15:1-4

I, John, saw in heaven another sign, great and awe-inspiring:
seven angels with the seven last plagues,
for through them God's fury is accomplished.

Then I saw something like a sea of glass mingled with fire.
On the sea of glass were standing those
who had won the victory over the beast
and its image and the number that signified its name.
They were holding God's harps,
and they sang the song of Moses, the servant of God,
and the song of the Lamb:

"Great and wonderful are your works,
Lord God almighty.
Just and true are your ways,
O king of the nations.
Who will not fear you, Lord,
or glorify your name?
For you alone are holy.
All the nations will come
and worship before you,
for your righteous acts have been revealed."

Responsorial Psalm Ps 98:1, 2-3ab, 7-8, 9

R. (Rev. 15: 3b) Great and wonderful are all your works, Lord, mighty God!
Sing to the LORD a new song,
for he has done wondrous deeds;
His right hand has won victory for him,
his holy arm.
R. Great and wonderful are all your works, Lord, mighty God!
The LORD has made his salvation known:
in the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice.
He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness
toward the house of Israel.
R. Great and wonderful are all your works, Lord, mighty God!
Let the sea and what fills it resound,
the world and those who dwell in it;
Let the rivers clap their hands,
the mountains shout with them for joy.
R. Great and wonderful are all your works, Lord, mighty God!
Before the LORD, for he comes,
for he comes to rule the earth;
He will rule the world with justice
and the peoples with equity.
R. Great and wonderful are all your works, Lord, mighty God!

Gospel Lk 21:12-19

Jesus said to the crowd:
"They will seize and persecute you,
they will hand you over to the synagogues and to prisons,
and they will have you led before kings and governors
because of my name.
It will lead to your giving testimony.
Remember, you are not to prepare your defense beforehand,
for I myself shall give you a wisdom in speaking
that all your adversaries will be powerless to resist or refute.
You will even be handed over by parents,
brothers, relatives, and friends,
and they will put some of you to death.
You will be hated by all because of my name,
but not a hair on your head will be destroyed.
By your perseverance you will secure your lives."


TOPICS: Catholic; General Discusssion; Prayer; Worship
KEYWORDS: catholic; ordinarytime; prayer
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Catholic Culture

Daily Readings for: November 28, 2012
(Readings on USCCB website)

Collect: Stir up the will of your faithful, we pray, O Lord, that striving more eagerly to bring your divine work to fruitful completion, they may receive in greater measure the healing remedies your kindness bestows. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

Ordinary Time: November 28th

Wednesday of the Thirty-Fourth Week of Ordinary Time

During the final week of the ecclesiastical year, the language of the liturgy becomes very earnest and impressive. The Last Judgment with all its terrors is approaching. By this reminder the Church desires to make us realize our responsibilities, but she also desires to show us in Christ's judgment His crowning victory and the completion of His work of redemption. We should be inspired with confidence and very great hope at the thought that He who will come to judge us is the very same who came into this world to save us. Throughout the liturgical year the Church never ceases to remind us of this.


The Child is the criteria of the measure that God has given to humanity
We might compare God's plan for humanity to a most original mosaic composed of numerous small pieces which fit together perfectly. Each piece is indispensable, since it is part of the whole which will appear in its full beauty only at the end.

God's love has a marvelous masterpiece to create with each of his creatures, in this work Divine Providence does one part and our freedom does the other, to put in place all the tiny pieces of which the mosaic is composed. A mosaic is pleasing when it is complete when there are no missing pieces; but to complete the work it is necessary to follow the order of divine Providence, or there will be confusion instead of harmony. Who, except God who thought of me from all eternity, knows which little pieces make up my mosaic? He alone sees the whole, no one else! He who “he chose us in Christ before the world was made to be holy and faultless before him in love, marking us out for himself beforehand, to be adopted sons, through Jesus Christ. Such was his purpose and good pleasure, to the praise of the glory of his grace, his free gift to us in the Beloved” (Eph. 1,4-6).

His infallible work, which we call Providence, unifies our life if we open to the Will of God! If we were truly people of faith we would pay much more attention to the little decisions of every day, and learn to direct them in keeping with the plan Jesus has for us, putting His will before ours.

A person who lives with total trust in God, is attentive and notices the signs He gives, so that our personal story can become part of the history of salvation. We are too distracted by the thought of the world which teaches man to “take hold” of his life, to despise humble things and tend towards 'great' things, considered important. Instead in the logic of God, revealed by the Gospel of Jesus, the important measure is not 'greatness', instead 'humility' is the scale God prefers to judge our history. We are reminded of this by the Holy Father with stupendous words: “at the moment of death, we will be evaluated on the basis of our likeness — or lack of it — to the Child who is about to be born in the poor grotto of Bethlehem, because he is the criterion of the measure that God has given to humanity”(Benedict XVI, Angelus 10 December 2007).

It is precisely behind a fragment that we often find the greatness, the beauty and the love of God. Is not the human body itself, with its wonderful constitution, the product of innumerable microscopic parts? This is how it is in the world of God. His great plan of love for each of us is formed of innumerable 'parts' which He has made and put together to form one unique masterpiece of grace! If man really puts his trust in God, then one day he will marvel at the wonders Grace has worked in him: blessed are the pure of heart for they will see what God has made of their life!

A Christian cannot underestimate little things done with love: a meeting, a reflection, a piece of advice, a helping hand, a letter…one day he will hear Jesus say to him: I was there behind that meeting, that reflection, that advice, that act… Even the smallest event in our life acquires meaning if we learn to pass it under that special microscope called faith!

“If your faith is the size of a mustard seed ” (Mt 17,20), could this not mean faith which is able to see little things? Which recognises God's footsteps, his passing among us, in the little things? Things the world does not even consider worth looking at. “I bless you, Father, Lord of heaven and of earth, for hiding these things from the learned and the clever and revealing them to little children” (Mt 11,25). Little things which hide great things, the Father can reveal them only to humble persons, those whose eyes are not concupiscent, thirsting for greatness. Mary's faith was the greatest of all because her humility was also the greatest. Advent is an opportunity for us to walk with Her along the path of the little things, so we may resemble more closely the 'Child' about to be born … the criteria of measure which God has given to humanity” (Benedict XVI).

— Mgr. Luciano Alimandi, Agenzia Fides 12/12/2007; righe 49, parole 717

Things to Do:

  • Today would be a good time to meditate on our own last end. Maybe pick up the Imitation of Christ and read Book 1 Chapter 24.

  • Make sure you have your Advent wreath ready, candles and all. Decide what ceremony and prayers you will use with your family.

  • If you are going to make or use an Advent calendar or the Jesse tree gather everything you need today.

  • If you plan to stir-up plum pudding on Sunday be sure you have all the ingredients.

21 posted on 11/28/2012 1:54:38 PM PST by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: Salvation
The Word Among Us

Meditation: Luke 21:12-19

 34th Week in Ordinary Time

“I myself shall give you wisdom.” (Luke 21:15)

Anyone who has watched a movie about a court case knows that you do not enter the courtroom with­out all your ducks in a row. Not only do you know your side of the story, but you investigate every last detail of the case against you. A lawyer is not even supposed to ask a question without knowing the answer. And yet, in today’s passage, Jesus is tell­ing his disciples to go about things in an entirely different way. When they are hauled before the authorities for preaching the gospel, Jesus tells them not to worry about preparing a solid case in their favor. Rather, they should trust in him, because he will give them all the wisdom they need.

Can you imagine how difficult this would be? It’s just not natu­ral for us to relax in a high-stakes situation. Quite the opposite: our muscles tense, our breathing shal­lows, our heart rate rises, and our minds race at a thousand miles per hour. But here is Jesus, telling us not to worry.

This is not the only time in Scrip­ture that Jesus challenges us with something counterintuitive. For instance, rather than holding onto all of our possessions, he tells us to give to everyone who asks of us. Instead of retaliating, we are to turn the other cheek. He calls us to create a culture that lifts up the poor and marginalized, because they are the true heirs of the kingdom of heaven. Over and over again, Jesus upends everything we think we know about life in this world.

Today, try taking Jesus at his word—even if it means going against your natural instincts. If someone cuts you off in traffic, bless that per­son. If you are struggling with an ongoing problem, decide not to give in to worry. Instead, make a list of all the things you have to be thank­ful for. Who knows? Maybe the Lord will give you new insights as you do.

Jesus doesn’t want to abandon you to a life of stress and anxiety. He longs for you to invite him into every situation—especially the tough ones. So relax! He has more than enough wisdom to help you today.

“Lord, I trust in you. Teach me how to let go of anxiety and rely on you even more deeply.”

Revelation 15:1-4; Psalm 98:1-3, 7-9


22 posted on 11/28/2012 4:12:42 PM PST by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: Salvation
Luke
  English: Douay-Rheims Latin: Vulgata Clementina Greek NT: Byzantine/Majority Text (2000)
  Luke 21
12 But before all these things, they will lay their hands upon you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and into prisons, dragging you before kings and governors, for my name's sake. Sed ante hæc omnia injicient vobis manus suas, et persequentur tradentes in synagogas et custodias, trahentes ad reges et præsides propter nomen meum : προ δε τουτων παντων επιβαλουσιν εφ υμας τας χειρας αυτων και διωξουσιν παραδιδοντες εις συναγωγας και φυλακας αγομενους επι βασιλεις και ηγεμονας ενεκεν του ονοματος μου
13 And it shall happen unto you for a testimony. continget autem vobis in testimonium. αποβησεται δε υμιν εις μαρτυριον
14 Lay it up therefore into your hearts, not to meditate before how you shall answer: Ponite ergo in cordibus vestris non præmeditari quemadmodum respondeatis : θεσθε ουν εις τας καρδιας υμων μη προμελεταν απολογηθηναι
15 For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to resist and gainsay. ego enim dabo vobis os et sapientiam, cui non poterunt resistere et contradicere omnes adversarii vestri. εγω γαρ δωσω υμιν στομα και σοφιαν η ου δυνησονται αντειπειν ουδε αντιστηναι παντες οι αντικειμενοι υμιν
16 And you shall be betrayed by your parents and brethren, and kinsmen and friends; and some of you they will put to death. Trademini autem a parentibus, et fratribus, et cognatis, et amicis, et morte afficient ex vobis : παραδοθησεσθε δε και υπο γονεων και συγγενων και φιλων και αδελφων και θανατωσουσιν εξ υμων
17 And you shall be hated by all men for my name's sake. et eritis odio omnibus propter nomen meum : και εσεσθε μισουμενοι υπο παντων δια το ονομα μου
18 But a hair of your head shall not perish. et capillus de capite vestro non peribit. και θριξ εκ της κεφαλης υμων ου μη αποληται
19 In your patience you shall possess your souls. In patientia vestra possidebitis animas vestras. εν τη υπομονη υμων κτησασθε τας ψυχας υμων

23 posted on 11/28/2012 5:38:26 PM PST by annalex (fear them not)
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To: annalex
12. But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake.
13. And it shall turn to you for a testimony.
14. Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what you shall answer:
15. For I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.
16. And you shall be betrayed both by parents and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death.
17. And you shall be hated of all men for my name's sake.
18. But there shall not an hair of your head perish.
19. In your patience you will possess your souls.

GREG. Because the things which have been prophesied of arise not from the injustice of the inflictor of them, but from the deserts of the world which suffers them, the deeds of wicked men are foretold; as it is said, But before all these things, they shall lay their hands upon you: as if He says First the hearts of men, afterwards the elements, shall be disturbed, that when the order of things is thrown into confusion, it may be plain from what retribution it arises. For although the end of the world depends upon its own appointed course, yet finding some more corrupt than others who shall rightly be overwhelmed in its fall, our Lord makes them known.

CYRIL; Or He says this, because before that Jerusalem should be taken by the Romans, the disciples, having suffered persecution from the Jews, were imprisoned and brought before rulers; Paul was sent to Rome to Caesar, and stood before Festus and Agrippa.

It follows, And it shall turn to you for a testimony. In the Greek it is, for the glory of martyrdom.

GREG. Or, for a testimony, that is, against those who by persecuting you bring death upon themselves, or living do not imitate you, or themselves becoming hardened perish without excuse from whom the elect take example that they may live. But as hearing so many terrible things the hearts of men may be troubled He therefore adds for their consolation, Settle it therefore in your hearts, &c.

THEOPHYL. For because they were foolish and inexperienced, the Lord tells them this, that they might not be confounded when about to give account to the wise. And He adds the cause, For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay or resist. As if He said, you shall forthwith receive of me eloquence and wisdom, so that all your adversaries, were they gathered together in one, shall not be able to resist you, neither in wisdom, that is, the power of the understanding, nor in eloquence, that is, excellence of speech, for many men have often wisdom in their mind, but being easily provoked to their great disturbance, mar the whole when their time of speaking comes. But not such were the Apostles, for in both these gifts they were highly favored.

GREG. As if the Lord said to His disciples, "Be not afraid, go forward to the battle, it is I that fight; you utter the words, I am He that speaks."

AMBROSE; Now in one place Christ speaks in His disciples, as here; in another, the Father; in another the Spirit of the Father speaks. These do not differ but agree together. In that one speaks, three speak, for the voice of the Trinity is one.

THEOPHYL. Having in what has gone before dispelled the fear of inexperience, He goes on to warn them of another very certain event, which might agitate their minds, lest falling suddenly upon them, it should dismay them; for it follows, And you shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolk, and some of you shall they cause to be put to death.

GREG We are the more galled by the persecutions we suffer from those of whose dispositions we made sure, because together with the bodily pain, we are tormented by the bitter pangs of lost affection.

GREG. NYSS. But let us consider the state of things at that time. While all men were suspected, kinsfolk were divided against one another, each differing from the other in religion; the gentile son stood up the betrayer of his believing parents, and of his believing son the unbelieving father became the determined accuser; no age was spared in the persecution of the faith; women were unprotected even by the natural weakness of their sex.

THEOPHYL. To all this He adds the hatred which they shall met with from men.

GREG. But because of the hard things foretold concerning the affliction of death, there immediately follows a consolation, concerning the joy of the resurrection, when it is said, But there shall not an hair of your head perish. As though He said to the martyrs Why fear you for the perishing of that which when cut, pains when that can not perish in you, which when cut gives no pain?

BEDE; Or else, There shall not perish a hair of the head of our Lord's Apostles, because not only the noble deeds and words of the Saints, but e en the slightest thought shall meet with its deserving reward.

GREG. He who preserves patience in adversity, is thereby rendered proof against all affliction, and so by conquering himself, he gains the government of himself; as it follows, In your patience shall you possess your souls. For what is it to possess your souls, but to live perfectly in all things, and sitting it upon the citadel of virtue to hold in subjection every motion of the mind?

GREG. By patience then we possess our souls, because when we are said to govern; ourselves, we begin to possess you very thing which we are. But for this reason, the possession of the soul is laid in the virtue of patience, because patience is the root and guardian which are inflicted by others, and also to have no feeling of indignation against him who inflicts them.

Catena Aurea Luke 21
24 posted on 11/28/2012 5:38:55 PM PST by annalex (fear them not)
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To: annalex


Holy Martyr St. Panteleimon with insets

Iconographic studio Divo (miracle)
The Descent of the Holy Ghost Temple
Lazarevsky cemetery, Moscow

25 posted on 11/28/2012 5:39:50 PM PST by annalex (fear them not)
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To: All
 
Marriage = One Man and One Woman
Til' Death Do Us Part

Daily Marriage Tip for November 28, 2012:

(Reader’s Tip) Never spend more than $100 without consulting your spouse.


26 posted on 11/28/2012 8:01:27 PM PST by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: All
Vultus Christi

The Humility of Taking Small Steps

 on November 28, 2012 1:29 PM |
S_Giuseppe09.jpg

From this morning's General Audience:

Encountering the Face of God

In Jesus of Nazareth we encounter the face of God, descended from Heaven to immerse Himself in the world of mankind and to teach 'the art of living', the road to happiness; to free us from sin and to make us true children of God.

The Holy Father has, from the very beginning of his pontificate spoken of the Face of God, announcing again and again that Jesus is the Human Face of God. To contemplate the Face of Jesus in the Gospels and in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar is to discover the Heart of God and to enter progressively into the gift of His Divine Friendship.

A God Who Entered History and Remains Present

Speaking about God means, first and foremost, being clear about what we must bring to the men and women of our time. God has spoken to us, ... not an abstract or hypothetical God, but a real God, a God Who exists, Who entered history and remains present in history: the God of Jesus Christ ... as a response to the fundamental question of why and how to live. Therefore, speaking about God requires a continual growth in faith, familiarity with Jesus and His Gospel, a profound knowledge of God and strong passion for His plan for salvation, without giving in to the temptations of success....

No one can speak of God authoritatively who has not experienced God. Intellectual notions about God do not qualify one to evangelize, to catechize, or to preach. Only the friend of God can speak of God convincingly.

Do Not Fear the Humility of Taking Small Steps

We must not fear the humility of taking small steps, trusting in the leaven that makes the dough rise slowly and mysteriously. In speaking about God, in the work of evangelisation under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we must return to the simplicity and essential nature of proclamation: the concrete Good News of God Who cares about us, the love of God which Jesus Christ brought close to us, even unto the Cross, and which in the Resurrection opens us to life without end, to eternal life.

My heart leapt when I read the Holy Father's admonition: "We must not fear the humility of taking small steps." Is this not the doctrine of Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus and of the Holy Face? The work of salvation began with the small steps of a little girl, Mary, the immaculate daughter of Joachim and Anna. And then, in the fulness of time, another child took his first small steps: Jesus, the child of the Virgin Mary. Thus did God open the way of holiness to the little, the poor, and the weak. Small steps: we mustn't be afraid to take them.

27 posted on 11/28/2012 8:14:34 PM PST by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: All
Regnum Christi

Costly Catholicism
| SPIRITUAL LIFE | SPIRITUALITY
Wednesday of the Thirty-Fourth Week in Ordinary Time

Father Edward McIlmail, LC

Luke 21:12-19

Jesus said to his disciples: "Before all this happens, however, they will seize and persecute you, they will hand you over to the synagogues and to prisons, and they will have you led before kings and governors because of my name. It will lead to your giving testimony. Remember, you are not to prepare your defense beforehand, for I myself shall give you a wisdom in speaking that all your adversaries will be powerless to resist or refute. You will even be handed over by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends, and they will put some of you to death. You will be hated by all because of my name, but not a hair on your head will be destroyed. By your perseverance you will secure your lives.”

Introductory Prayer: Jesus my Savior, thank you for another day and another chance to grow in holiness with your grace. I love you and wish to make you the true center of my thoughts, desires and actions.

Petition: Lord, help me face the difficulties of practicing my faith day-to-day.

1. Persecution: Opposition from the world is the price we pay for following Christ. No pain, no gain. Why should that surprise us? If living the Gospel were easy, all the world would be saints. But the Gospel is demanding. It rubs against our fallen human nature. It demands of us — and even makes us unpopular. Why? Because people who do good are a thorny reminder to those who don´t. It shouldn´t surprise us that the neighbors look down on us for having so many kids. Or that the guys in the dorm snicker at us for living chastely. Or that the boss overlooks us for a promotion because we wouldn´t donate to that pro-abortion group last Christmas during the company fund drive. Do I realize that to be a Christian is to be persecuted?

2. No Defense: When Christ tells us not to prepare our defense he´s not telling us to sit back and do nothing. Rather, he wants us to use our talents for the Kingdom. Christ is inviting us to trust that ultimately the victory of good over evil belongs to him. God has his time and place for everything. In the meantime we are called to build the Kingdom wherever we can — in our families, our offices, our schools, our communities. How am I building the Kingdom in the areas around me?

3. Wisdom from Above: "I myself shall give you a wisdom in speaking…" When we stay close to Christ in prayer and deed, he takes over our lives little by little. And that´s good. Our selfishness fades. Our heart grows. We die to ourselves. "He must increase; I must decrease" (John 3:30). But we have to ask ourselves: Do we really believe in the Gospel? Do we believe in it enough to use Christ´s words when we have to respond to the nonbelievers around us? How often do we identify ourselves as Catholic in public?

Conversation with Christ: Lord, you know it´s not easy to be seen as your friend. People laugh at us — if they don´t feel sorry for us. They don´t understand where we are coming from. Help me understand some of the loneliness you must have felt when you went against the world´s standards. Help me be faithful to you regardless of the cost.

Resolution:In conversation or in an e-mail I will use a line of Christ’s wisdom from the Gospel.


28 posted on 11/28/2012 8:18:36 PM PST by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: All

The Cost of Loving God

 

by Food For Thought on November 28, 2012 · 

Responsorial Psalm Ps 98:1, 2-3ab, 7-8, 9

Gospel Lk 21:12-19

The Gospel passage for today tells us of the cost of loving God. Even in the human level, we know and we have learned from experience that true love and friendship impose demands on each other. It is no different in our relationship with God. God loves us – each and everyone of us – very much. He expects us to love him in return. And what does that entail? Sacrifice and the cross – the way Christ manifested to us his love for the Father.

Sacrifice involves voluntary surrender of things that we enjoy in life. Like giving up a favorite TV program to spend time with our children; accompanying an aging, ailing aunt to the hospital for her cancer therapy; sitting down and listening to the problems of a desperate friend; getting up an hour earlier every morning to hear Mass; breaking a customary habit or behavior to gain a happier relationship with a spouse; or changing one’s schedule to be able to help the poor and the needy. These are all aspects of love that involve sacrifice.

Much of the suffering and crosses in our life may be beyond our comprehension.

Let us just recall Fulton J. Sheen’s reassuring words: “God could never let you suffer a pain or a reversal or experience sadness if it could not in some way minister to your perfection. If he did not spare his own Son on the Cross for the redemption of the world, then you may be sure that he will sometimes not spare your wants that you might be all you need to be: happy and perfect children of a loving Father. He may even permit us to wage wars as a result of our selfishness that we may learn there is no peace except in Goodness and Truth.”

Jesus has given himself to us as the model for suffering through his life, his cross, and his resurrection. To follow him is to be ready to surrender whatever gifts we may have received and to extend ourselves to others, especially the needy, in unconditional love and compassion.

Indeed, the cost of loving God is great. But like Job, let us place our complete trust in him, always remembering Jesus’ promise: “By standing firm, you will gain life.”


29 posted on 11/28/2012 8:25:31 PM PST by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: All
One Bread, One Body

One Bread, One Body


<< Wednesday, November 28, 2012 >>
 
Revelation 15:1-4
View Readings
Psalm 98:1-3, 7-9 Luke 21:12-19
 

SINGING IN THE REIGN

 
"They sang the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb." —Revelation 15:3
 

We Christians will be persecuted by both the religious and secular authorities (Lk 21:12). As Jesus was betrayed by Judas, we will be betrayed even by our "parents, brothers, relatives and friends" (Lk 21:16). Some of us "will be put to death" (Lk 12:16). All will hate us because of our love for Jesus (Lk 21:17). Our reaction to all this bad news is not to "hang down our heads and cry." Rather, "when these things begin to happen, stand erect and hold your heads high, for your deliverance is near at hand" (Lk 21:28).

In the last days, the world will be pounded by seven plagues, by wave after wave of destruction (Rv 15:1). We do not react to this with fear, stress, or confusion. Instead, we stand up, hold our heads high, and by faith break out into song (Rv 15:3). Like the three men in the fiery furnace, we create a safe place in the midst of the destroying flames by singing God's praises (Dn 3:51). Like Paul and Silas, we sing up an earthquake, praise our way out of jail, and even convert the jailer and his family (Acts 16:25ff).

When times are tough, God's people sing. When God's people sing in faith, we see deliverance, protection, power, freedom, and conversion. St. Augustine declared: "He who sings prays twice." That's not the half of it. Sing to the Lord!

 
Prayer: Father, may my songs of faith protect babies in the womb from abortion.
Promise: "By patient endurance you will save your lives." —Lk 21:19
Praise: Louise has been praying the morning and evening prayers in the Liturgy of the Hours for over twenty years.

30 posted on 11/28/2012 8:28:05 PM PST by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: All

A Pro-Life Prayer For Our President And Public Officials

Baby with TearLord God, Author of Life and Source of Eternal Life,

Move the hearts of all our public officials and especially our President, to fulfill their responsibilities worthily and well to all those entrusted to their care.

Help them in their special leadership roles, to extend the mantle of protection to the most vulnerable, especially the defenseless unborn, whose lives are threatened with extermination by an indifferent society.

Guide all public officials by your wisdom and grace to cease supporting any law that fails to protect the fundamental good that is human life itself, which is a gift from God and parents.

You are the Protector and Defender of the lives of the innocent unborn. Change the hearts of those who compromise the call to protect and defend life. Bring our nation to the values that have made us a great nation, a society that upholds the values of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for all.

Mary, the Mother of the living, help us to bear witness to the Gospel of Life with our lives and our laws, through Christ, Our Lord.

Amen.

 


31 posted on 11/28/2012 8:28:57 PM PST by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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