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Istanbul police have broken up the 700th weekly vigil by Turkish mothers demanding accountability for disappearances of relatives since the 1980s. Tear gas was fired and dozens were detained while defying a protest ban. Police dispersed a group known as "Saturday Mothers" as it headed for Istanbul's Galatasaray Square, prompting Human Rights Watch (HRW) to describe Saturday's incident as "cruel treatment of families seeking justice for state crimes."One of those briefly held by police was an 82-year-old mother, Emine Ocak (pictured above), whose son Hasan disappeared in 1995 after being taken into custody, then aged 30.Read more: Turkey's silent 'Standing Man'...

Violet   WHAT IS THIS AURORA before which the brightest constellations pale? Laurence, who has been shining in the August heavens as an incomparable star, is well nigh eclipsed, and becomes but the humble satellite of the Queen of Saints, whose triumph is preparing beyond the clouds. Mary stayed on earth after her Son’s Ascension, in order to give birth to his Church; but she could not remain forever in exile. Yet she was not to take her flight to heaven until this new fruit of her maternity had acquired the growth and strength which it belongs to a...

Violet   “Fear not, my servant, for I am with thee, saith the Lord. If thou pass through fire, the flame shall not hurt thee, and the odor of fire shall not be in thee. I will deliver thee out of the hand of the wicked, and I will redeem thee out of the hand of the mighty.” It was the hour of combat; and Wisdom, more powerful than flame, was calling upon Laurence to win the laurels of victory presaged by his very name. The three days since the death of Sixtus had passed at length, and the...

Full service of Vespers and Vigil for the Holy Royal Passion Bearers Tsar Nicholas II, Empress Alexandra, the Grand Duchesses Olga, Maria, Tatiana, Anastasia and the Tsarevitch Alexei who, along with their faithful retainers, were butchered this night 100 years ago by the Communists. (English & Slavonic appx 2.5 hrs)

Violet   JOHN THE BAPTIST, placed on the confines of the two Testaments, closes the prophetic age, the reign of Hope, and opens the era of Fiath which possesses the long expected God, though as yet without beholding him in his Divinity. Thus even before the Octave is ended, wherein we pay our homage to the son of Zachary, the apostolic confession comes grafting itself on the testimony rendered by the Precursor to the Word, the Light. Tomorrow all heaven will re-echo with the solemn protestation first heard at Cesarea Philippi: Thou art Christ, the Son of the Living...

Violet Simple There was in the days of Herod the King of Judea, a certain priest named Zachary, of the course of Abia, and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name Elizabeth. And they were both just before God, walking in all the commandments and justifications of the Lord without blame. And they had no son, for that Elizabeth was barren, and they both were well advanced in years. And it came to pass, when he executed the priestly function in the order of his course before God, according to the custom of the priestly...

Violet Privileged Vigil of the First Class O rex gloriæ, Domine virtutum, qui triumphator hodie super omnes cœlos ascendisti, ne derelinquas nos orphanos; sed mitte promissum Patris in nos Spiritum veritatis, alleluia. O King of glory, Lord of hosts, who didst this day ascend in triumph above all the heavens! leave us not orphans, but send upon us the Spirit of truth, promised by the Father, alleluia. THE DAZZLING SPLENDOR of tomorrow’s Solemnity forecasts its beauty on this day of its Vigil. The Faithful are preparing themselves by Fasting to celebrate the glorious mystery. But the Mass of the...

White Double FOR THE THIRD TIME, holy Church marshals her children in procession, and makes a solemn appeal to the divine mercy. Let us follow her sacred standard, and join her in invoking the intercession of the Saints. The Litany, in which we pray to all the choirs of the heavenly Jerusalem, is both a magnificent and a powerful prayer: it is the Church Triumphant uniting with the Church Militant in praying for the salvation of the world. O MARY! Mother of God, Virgin of virgins, miracle of divine power, exercise, in our favor, thy maternal mediation with Him,...

Join Freepers throughout the world to pray for PRESIDENT TRUMP and VICE-PRESIDENT PENCE and for AMERICA: All Levels of Government, Family, Military, Business, Education, Churches, Health Care Systems and the Media. This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. —1 John 5:14 Forum threads labeled [Prayer] are closed to debate of any kind. Please join us in prayer today for our economy, the national debt, and our finances.

Join with fellow FREEPERS to pray for PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP/VICE PRESIDENT MIKE PENCE and AMERICA: Government, Family, Military, Business, Education, Churches, and the Media. This is the confidence we have in approaching God:that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 1 JOHN 5:14 Religion Forum threads labeled [Prayer] are closed to debate of any kind.

DAY 1: The biggest ever February 14, 2018 The biggest Lenten 40 Days for Life campaign yet is finally here!And now we need YOU to step out in faith and go to the closest location to pray and fast for an end to abortion!40 Days for Life begins TODAY — and continues through March 25 — in 354 communities across the United States and 24 other countries … including multiple locations in nations such as Canada, Colombia, Croatia, Mexico, Romania and the United Kingdom!It is because of your prayers that God has provided so many blessings: 13,998 lives have been...

White Semidouble (Privilege of the Second Class) THE FEAST OF CHRISTMAS is over; the five Octaves are closed; and we are on the Eve of the Solemnity of our Lord’s Epiphany. We must spend this fifth of January in preparing ourselves for the Manifestation which Jesus, the Angel of the Great Counsel, is about to make to us of his glory. A few more hours, and the Star will stand still in the heavens, and the Magi will be seeking for admission into the stable at Bethlehem. This Vigil is not like that of Christmas, a day of penance....

Violet Simple CHRISTMAS begins to glimmer on the horizon. The last Sunday after Pentecost has given us the closing instructions of the moveable Cycle. Beginning with the twenty-seventh of this month, the present days belong in some years to the new Cycle, in others to the one which is ending. The last Lesson from the Scripture of the Time ends with the solemn declaration of the last of the Prophets, announcing the approach of a new era: From the rising of the sun even to the going down, my Name is great among the Gentiles, and in every place...

Violet   LET US prepare our souls for the graces heaven is about to shower upon the earth in return for its homage. Tomorrow the Church will be so overflowing with joy that she will seem to be already in possession of eternal happiness; but today she appears in the garb of penance, confessing that she is still an exile. Let us fast and pray with her; for are not we too pilgrims and strangers in this world, where all things are fleeting and hurry on to death? Year by year, as the great solemnity comes round, it has...

Join with fellow FREEPERS to pray for PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP, VICE PRESIDENT MIKE PENCE and AMERICA: Government, Family, Military, Business, Education, Churches, and the Media. This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. —1 John 5:14 Forum threads labeled [Prayer] are closed to debate of any kind. Please join us in prayer.

Join with fellow FREEPERS to pray for PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP/VICE PRESIDENT MIKE PENCE and AMERICA: Government, Family, Military, Business, Education, Churches, and the Media. 1 John 5:14 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. Religion Forum threads labeled Prayer are closed to debate of any kind. Please join us in prayer.

Pondering Some of the Teachings of the Easter Vigil in its Afterglow Msgr. Charles Pope • April 18, 2017 • The Easter Vigil so recently celebrated provides a rich fare for reflection. Alas, its memories pass so quickly. The shadowy yet wonderful Easter Vigil is the greatest and most elaborate liturgy of the Church year.Due to its length and late hour, many Catholics have never rejoiced in the somber glow of its initial moments or in the blaze of glory and sacraments that follow. It features a presentation of the dramatic battle between darkness and light; the light wins,...

Father, we come to you in prayer with all the confusion and uncertainty surrounding our Country's collective life, and in our personal lives. Please protect our leaders who are trying earnestly to do what is right for our country. Let those who lie, cheat and steal from us in the name of 'serving' be exposed for what they are. We pray for a cloak of protection for our elected President, Donald Trump, and for the people who surround him. Protect and comfort his family. Guide him in this enormous task he has taken on. Amen

<p>Join with fellow FREEPERS to pray for PRESIDENT-ELECT DONALD TRUMP/VICE PRESIDENT-ELECT MIKE PENCE and AMERICA: Government, Family, Military, Business, Education, Churches, and the Media.</p> <p>Forum threads labeled [Prayer] are closed to debate of any kind.</p>

Join with fellow FREEPERS to pray for PRESIDENT-ELECT DONALD TRUMP/VICE PRESIDENT-ELECT MIKE PENCE and AMERICA: Government, Family, Military, Business, Education, Churches, and the Media. This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 1 JOHN 5:14 Religion Forum threads labeled "Prayer" are closed to debate of any kind.