"Although martyrdom represents the high point of the witness to moral truth, and one to which relatively few people are called, there is nonetheless a consistent witness which all Christians must daily be ready to make, even at the cost of suffering and grave sacrifice. Indeed, faced with the many difficulties which fidelity to the moral order can demand, even in the most ordinary circumstances, the Christian is called, with the grace of God invoked in prayer, to a sometimes heroic commitment. In this he or she is sustained by the virtue of fortitude, whereby--as Gregory the Great teaches--one can actually "love the difficulties of this world for the sake of eternal rewards." From the Encyclical Letter Veritatis Splendor (the Spelndor of Truth) by Pope John Paul II.

Conscience Protection - Act Now!

On February 10, the Catholic bishops of the United States called for a renewed effort to change the HHS imposed mandate that violates religious liberty.

Cardinal-designate Timothy Dolan, president of the USCCB, sharply criticized the decision by the Obama administration in which it "ordered almost every employer and insurer in the country to provide sterilization and contraceptives, including some abortion-inducing drugs, in their health plans....Never before has the federal government forced individuals and organizations to go out into the marketplace and buy a product that violates their conscience. This shouldn't happen in a land where free exercise of religion ranks first in the Bill of Rights."

Click here for more information at the USCCB website

Click here to write Congress Now

The Women's Apostolate to Youth Invites You to Pray for our Bishops

Click here for downloadable pdf copy

Prayer for the American Bishops
O King of Kings and Shepherd of Souls,
unto whom all powers and principalities are subject,
take pity on your flock, threatened by those who seek
the destruction of the holy influence and converting power
of the teachings of the Catholic Church.
Through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Help of Christians,
and the prayers of all Your martyred bishops,
may the Holy Spirit descend in power
and fill our earthly shepherds, the American bishops,
with wisdom, courage, and unwavering zeal
to defend their Bride, Holy Mother Church,
the truth of her teachings, the integrity of her sacraments
and our God-given right to freely practice our religion.
Amen.

Saint Michael the Archangel, defend them!
Cast the father of lies into the pit of hell.
By thy Holy and Immaculate Conception, O Mary, deliver us from evil.
Crush the head of the serpent that is attempting to devour our country.
Amen.

The Way of Perfection Reading Schedule Fall 2011-Spring 2012

The other book we are studying this year is The Way of Perfection by St. Teresa of Avila.

St. Teresa of Avila is an unsurpassed teacher of Christian prayer and spirituality. In The Way of Perfection, St. Teresa gives practical counsels and advice on prayer, destined originally for the few nuns who embraced the reformed Carmelite life she established. As a handbook for spiritual formation, it presented them with the basic Christian spirituality undergirding their Constitutions and Rule. More and more today, Teresa's instructions speak to all those interested in prayer, providing them with basic guidelines for praying and showing how to avoid potential pitfalls.

• Oct. 19 Intro; Prologue; Chapter 1
• Nov. 9 Chapters 2-7
• Dec. 14 Chapters 8-12
• Jan. 18 Chapters 13-18
• Feb. 8 Chapters 19-23
• Mar. 21 Chapters 24-30
• Apr. 18 Chapters 31-35
• May 16 Chapters 36-42

Intercessory Prayer Reading Schedule Fall 2011-Spring 2012

This year we are reading The Beginner's Guide to Intercessory Prayer by Dutch Sheets in tandem with The Holy Bible

General Instructions:
1--Each month you will receive a list of scriptures to read and reflect on as we did over the summer, using the same format with your prayer diary:
What does the passage teach you about prayer--either directly stated or implied?
Does my praying take this teaching into account?
Observations on praying with this scripture.
Resolutions or changes you are making as a consequence of what you have learned.

2--After you have done this exercise (and only after!) read the assigned chapter in the Sheets book and examine the way he makes use of these same scriptures in relation to intercessory prayer.

FOR OCTOBER 12

Luke10:38-42
Genesis 18:17-33
Psalm 73

Read Chapter 1: The Priority of Intercession

FOR NOVEMBER 2

2 Chronicles 7:14
I Kings 18, 1; 36-46
Numbers 14: 10-24
Ezekiel 22: 23-31

Read Chapter 2: The Plan of Intercession

FOR DECEMBER 7

John 14:6
Hebrews 10:19
I John 2:1
I Tim. 2:5
Acts 3:1-10
I John 3:8

Read Chapter 3: The Person of Intercession

FOR JANUARY 11

2 Cor. 5:17-20
Acts 6:7-7:2, 51-59; 8:1-4; 9:1-22
Eph. 2:11-3:21

Read Chapter 4: The Purpose of Intercession

FOR FEBRUARY 1

Acts 10
2 Cor. 4: 3-6
2 Cor. 10: 3-6
Acts 1: 1-5; 2:1-5

Read Chapter 5: The Prize of Intercession

FOR MARCH 14

Gen. 28: 10-19

Read Chapter 6: The Place of Intercession

MORE MONTHS TO COME ....

Encyclical: QUAMQUAM PLURIES (On Devotion to St. Joseph) Pope Leo XIII

Encyclical of Pope Leo XIII promulgated on 15 August 1889

an excerpt

To Our Venerable Brethren the Patriarchs, Primates, Archbishops, and other Ordinaries, in Peace and Union With Holy See.

(click here for complete text of encyclical)

Although We have already many times ordered special prayers to be offered up in the whole world, that the interests of Catholicism might be insistently recommended to God, none will deem it matter for surprise that We consider the present moment an opportune one for again inculcating the same duty. During periods of stress and trial—chiefly when every lawlessness of act seems permitted to the powers of darkness—it has been the custom in the Church to plead with special fervor and perseverance to God, her author and protector, by recourse to the intercession of the saints—and chiefly of the Blessed Virgin, Mother of God—whose patronage has ever been the most efficacious. The fruit of these pious prayers and of the confidence reposed in the Divine goodness, has always, sooner or later, been made apparent. Now, Venerable Brethren, you know the times in which we live; they are scarcely less deplorable for the Christian religion than the worst days, which in time past were most full of misery to the Church. We see faith, the root of all the Christian virtues, lessening in many souls; we see charity growing cold; the young generation daily growing in depravity of morals and views; the Church of Jesus Christ attacked on every side by open force or by craft; a relentless war waged against the Sovereign Pontiff; and the very foundations of religion undermined with a boldness which waxes daily in intensity. These things are, indeed, so much a matter of notoriety that it is needless for Us to expatiate on the depths to which society has sunk in these days, or on the designs which now agitate the minds of men. In circumstances so unhappy and troublous, human remedies are insufficient, and it becomes necessary, as a sole resource, to beg for assistance from the Divine power.

. . . That God may be more favorable to Our prayers, and that He may come with bounty and promptitude to the aid of His Church, We judge it of deep utility for the Christian people, continually to invoke with great piety and trust, together with the Virgin-Mother of God, her chaste Spouse, the Blessed Joseph. . . . [who] looks upon the multitude of Christians who make up the Church as confided specially to his trust—this limitless family spread over the earth, over which, because he is the spouse of Mary and the Father of Jesus Christ he holds, as it were, a paternal authority. It is, then, natural and worthy that as the Blessed Joseph ministered to all the needs of the family at Nazareth and girt it about with his protection, he should now cover with the cloak of his heavenly patronage and defend the Church of Jesus Christ. . . .

This is the reason why - trusting much to your zeal and episcopal authority, Venerable Brethren, and not doubting that the good and pious faithful will run beyond the mere letter of the law - We prescribe that during the whole month of October, at the recitation of the Rosary, for which We have already legislated, a prayer to St. Joseph be added, the formula of which will be sent with this letter, and that this custom should be repeated every year. (Click here for prayer)

ROSARY PRAYER TO SAINT JOSEPH

To you, O blessed Joseph, we have recourse in our

afflictions, and, having implored the help of your holy

Spouse, we now, with hearts filled with confidence,

earnestly beg you also to take us under your protection.

By that charity wherewith you were united to the

Immaculate Virgin Mother of God, and by that fatherly love

with which you cherished the Child Jesus, we beseech you

and we humbly pray that you will look down with gracious

eyes upon that inheritance which Jesus Christ purchased

by His blood, and will succor us in our need by your power

and strength. Defend, O most watchful guardian of the

Holy Family, the chosen offspring of Jesus Christ. Keep

from us, O most loving Father, all blight of error and

corruption. Aid us from on high, most valiant defender, in

this conflict with the powers of darkness. And even as of

old you rescued the Child jesus from the peril of His life,

so now defend God’s Holy Church from the snares of the

enemy and from all adversity. Shield us ever under your

patronage, that, following your example and strengthened

by your help, we may live a holy life, die a happy death, and

attain to everlasting bliss in heaven. Amen.

Pope Saint Leo XIII

Mrs. Seton Reading Schedule 2010-2011

On the 3rd Wednesdays of this year (from September 2010-May 2011), we will be reading Mrs. Seton by Fr. Joseph Dirvin. This unparalleled biography of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton uses many primary materials including Mother Seton's own words.

Sept. Chapters 1-­‐3

Oct. Chapters 4-­‐6

Nov. Chapters 7-­‐9

Dec. Chapters 10-­‐11

Jan. Chapters 12-­‐13

Feb. Chapters 14-­‐15

Mar. Chapters 16-­‐18

April Chapters 19-­‐21

May Chapter 22-­‐23