Every one of us has an angel watching over us.
So, when a mother enters 320, there are three angels present: her angel, her child's angel, and the doctor's angel. You can imagine how hard the latter one is working!
Let us entrust each child that perishes to their guardian angel, who will carry them up to the throne of an Almighty and Loving Father. With the Prince of Peace at His right hand, God will rejoice at the reflection of His own dear Son in this wee child. Then we pray that this Father, Just and Merciful, will send His Holy Spirit upon the mother and the doctor, that their angels might guard them from the evil of complacent denial.
May all our hearts be guarded from complacency and denial!
Dear reader, I pray this prayer for you too:
Angel of God, my Guardian dear,
to whom God's love commits me here:
ever this day, be at my side,
to light and guard, to rule and guide.
+Amen+
October 02, 2009
October 01, 2009
O Captain my Captain!
Bettie shares the following reflection, written by Anthony Esolen, reprinted from Magnificat:
---------------------------------------
from the poem The Soldier by Gerard Manley Hopkins:
Mark Christ our King. He knows war, served
This soldiering through;
He of all can reeve a rope best.
Hopkins is thinking of the battle of the passion, when Jesus did not simply, passively, agree to die, but crushed in his unshakeable grip the throat of all-devouring Death and led from the grave the souls of the just. Christ’s is the rope that does not break. He reeves it through the rings and hoists the sail. He is our deliverance, who alone fights to the last… For Christ searches not for whose cuffs are in order, but whose knuckles are white with hard work, perhaps the work of praying the rosary as if all the words meant life and death in our storms of trouble, with the enemy near. Christ looks for his faithful soldiers, men and women, old and young; and, Hopkins says, he looks out for the man in uniform especially:
There he bides in bliss
Now, and seeing somewhere some man do
All that man can do,
For love he leans forth, needs his neck must fall on, kiss,
And cry ‘O Christ-done deed! So God-made flesh
Does too:
Were I come o’er again’, cries Christ, ‘it should be this.’
Have we done all that man can do? Suffered, as Mary, and not lost heart? May our Captain one day say of us, as to the fallen at Lepanto, “Had I come again in flesh, I would have done as you have done. For it was I who fought with you.”
Anthony Esolen is a professor of English at Providence College and a senior editor of Touchstone Magazine. He is the translator and editor of Dante’s Divine Comedy and the author of Ironies of Faith.
--------------------------------------
As we stand sentinel in front of 320, we must remember we are not fighting this fight ourselves. We are just foot soldiers in Christ’s army. He is our Captain. The battle has already been won, we know the outcome. We just need to be faithful and model Jesus. He will and does make all things new.
O, good Jesus, hear me, Within Your wounds hide me, that I may never be separated from You!
---------------------------------------
from the poem The Soldier by Gerard Manley Hopkins:
Mark Christ our King. He knows war, served
This soldiering through;
He of all can reeve a rope best.
Hopkins is thinking of the battle of the passion, when Jesus did not simply, passively, agree to die, but crushed in his unshakeable grip the throat of all-devouring Death and led from the grave the souls of the just. Christ’s is the rope that does not break. He reeves it through the rings and hoists the sail. He is our deliverance, who alone fights to the last… For Christ searches not for whose cuffs are in order, but whose knuckles are white with hard work, perhaps the work of praying the rosary as if all the words meant life and death in our storms of trouble, with the enemy near. Christ looks for his faithful soldiers, men and women, old and young; and, Hopkins says, he looks out for the man in uniform especially:
There he bides in bliss
Now, and seeing somewhere some man do
All that man can do,
For love he leans forth, needs his neck must fall on, kiss,
And cry ‘O Christ-done deed! So God-made flesh
Does too:
Were I come o’er again’, cries Christ, ‘it should be this.’
Have we done all that man can do? Suffered, as Mary, and not lost heart? May our Captain one day say of us, as to the fallen at Lepanto, “Had I come again in flesh, I would have done as you have done. For it was I who fought with you.”
Anthony Esolen is a professor of English at Providence College and a senior editor of Touchstone Magazine. He is the translator and editor of Dante’s Divine Comedy and the author of Ironies of Faith.
--------------------------------------
As we stand sentinel in front of 320, we must remember we are not fighting this fight ourselves. We are just foot soldiers in Christ’s army. He is our Captain. The battle has already been won, we know the outcome. We just need to be faithful and model Jesus. He will and does make all things new.
O, good Jesus, hear me, Within Your wounds hide me, that I may never be separated from You!
September 29, 2009
Archangel Allies
1 "At that time there shall arise Michael, the great prince, guardian of your people; It shall be a time unsurpassed in distress since nations began until that time. At that time your people shall escape, everyone who is found written in the book.
2 Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake; some shall live forever, others shall be an everlasting horror and disgrace.
3 But the wise shall shine brightly like the splendor of the firmament, And those who lead the many to justice shall be like the stars forever.
--from the 12th Chapter of the Book of the Prophet Daniel
Today I am celebrating that powerful trio of messengers known as Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael.
Raphael was sent to bring healing in the Book of Tobit. Where do we need more healing than at 320?
Gabriel announced that Mary would conceive and bring forth a child. Gabriel is trying to bring that good news to each mother who enters 320, if only they would listen.
Michael battles Satan in the ongoing war for souls. It may look like Satan's winning on Fulton Street, but those of us who pray at 320 know otherwise.
Let us send a message to our foe. You will find in the box excessive amounts of prayer cards with the following prayer on it:
St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle.
Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the Devil.
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray,
and do, thou, O prince of the heavenly host,
by the power of God, cast into hell Satan and all the evil spirits
who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls.
Let us be like the stars forever as we stride towards victory! Let us shine in the bright firmament!
2 Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake; some shall live forever, others shall be an everlasting horror and disgrace.
3 But the wise shall shine brightly like the splendor of the firmament, And those who lead the many to justice shall be like the stars forever.
--from the 12th Chapter of the Book of the Prophet Daniel
Today I am celebrating that powerful trio of messengers known as Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael.
Raphael was sent to bring healing in the Book of Tobit. Where do we need more healing than at 320?
Gabriel announced that Mary would conceive and bring forth a child. Gabriel is trying to bring that good news to each mother who enters 320, if only they would listen.
Michael battles Satan in the ongoing war for souls. It may look like Satan's winning on Fulton Street, but those of us who pray at 320 know otherwise.
Let us send a message to our foe. You will find in the box excessive amounts of prayer cards with the following prayer on it:
St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle.
Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the Devil.
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray,
and do, thou, O prince of the heavenly host,
by the power of God, cast into hell Satan and all the evil spirits
who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls.
Let us be like the stars forever as we stride towards victory! Let us shine in the bright firmament!
Least among us
The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has
anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has
sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim
liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the
blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed.
-- Luke 4:18-19
-----------------------------------------------------
REFLECTION by Fr. Terry Gensemer
-----------------------------------------------------
This passage is a very familiar one. It has been
preached on many occasions, even made popular in
books and songs. Though the quote is about Jesus, all
Christians take this commission seriously as a
directive on how to reach the world with the gospel.
We, like our Savior, are to bring the good news to
the poor, the broken hearted, those in captivity,
those who cannot see, and the oppressed.
The commission given to us in this passage is clearly
a charge to care for those for whom God cares the
most. I wonder though, whom do we look for to be
touched by the Holy Spirit as we go out into the
world?
Who are the poor, if not those unborn children who
have been abandoned by their parents before they ever
leave the womb?
Who are the broken hearted, if not those unborn
children whose only example of love is having their
mother take them to an abortion clinic to be
destroyed, or the mother of a child who has been
deceived by everyone around her into believing that
what she is doing is best for her and her child?
Who are the captives, if not those unborn children
who are bound over to death by the "choice" of
abortion?
Who is more blind than an unborn child in the
darkness of a womb that has become a waiting room for
their death?
And who is more oppressed than those unborn children
whose oppression has been legitimized by their
government, their church and even their family and
loved ones?
-----------------------------------------------------
PRAYER
-----------------------------------------------------
Lord, You empower us with Your Spirit to do your will
in the earth. Send us to the poorest, the most
broken, the most captive, the most blind and the most
oppressed in the world, the innocent pre-born
children in their mother's wombs that are scheduled
for destruction. Help us to bring them healing,
liberty, sight, and justice through Jesus Christ our
Lord, Amen.
anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has
sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim
liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the
blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed.
-- Luke 4:18-19
-----------------------------------------------------
REFLECTION by Fr. Terry Gensemer
-----------------------------------------------------
This passage is a very familiar one. It has been
preached on many occasions, even made popular in
books and songs. Though the quote is about Jesus, all
Christians take this commission seriously as a
directive on how to reach the world with the gospel.
We, like our Savior, are to bring the good news to
the poor, the broken hearted, those in captivity,
those who cannot see, and the oppressed.
The commission given to us in this passage is clearly
a charge to care for those for whom God cares the
most. I wonder though, whom do we look for to be
touched by the Holy Spirit as we go out into the
world?
Who are the poor, if not those unborn children who
have been abandoned by their parents before they ever
leave the womb?
Who are the broken hearted, if not those unborn
children whose only example of love is having their
mother take them to an abortion clinic to be
destroyed, or the mother of a child who has been
deceived by everyone around her into believing that
what she is doing is best for her and her child?
Who are the captives, if not those unborn children
who are bound over to death by the "choice" of
abortion?
Who is more blind than an unborn child in the
darkness of a womb that has become a waiting room for
their death?
And who is more oppressed than those unborn children
whose oppression has been legitimized by their
government, their church and even their family and
loved ones?
-----------------------------------------------------
PRAYER
-----------------------------------------------------
Lord, You empower us with Your Spirit to do your will
in the earth. Send us to the poorest, the most
broken, the most captive, the most blind and the most
oppressed in the world, the innocent pre-born
children in their mother's wombs that are scheduled
for destruction. Help us to bring them healing,
liberty, sight, and justice through Jesus Christ our
Lord, Amen.
Communio
If you ever desire to know what it was like to be a part of the early church as described in the Acts of Apostles, then sign up to be vigil coordinator of your local 40 Days campaign.
I gotta tell ya, it has done my little heart good to see the Body of Christ in such a tangible manifestation.
Dear reader, we are already victors, if only because we have each other. No matter what obstacle we face, we have each other, and that's about all we need.
The communion of Christ is a beautiful thing to behold, and seeing my brothers and sisters from all parts of this city, God's city, uniting in their resolve to uphold core principles in such a peaceful and loving way...it doesn't get much better. I am honored to stand with all of you, I truly am.
Let's not forget that we are not alone. For starters, I have an aunt in Lansing who is in solidarity with us. The Dominican Sisters at Marywood are joining us in prayer. My parents in the Detroit area have a sign in their yard. Let's not forget the people who are homebound and praying with us.
And, of course, let's not forget the most important Three who are standing with us: the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. They are always standing by us, and if we admit them into our hearts, they are with us more deeply than we can comprehend.
Every hour you stand at 320, every meal you forsake (or whichever fast God chose for you), every time you ask the Lord to bless the children who perish, you stand with a crowd. A huge crowd. A very, very huge crowd. Let that just blow your mind for a second...
...yeah. It's huge.
We are going to be victorious because God is good, and what happens at 320 saddens Him. Yet, God does not want only a few to be victorious. He wants your heart, dear reader, to join in the cause, and your neighbor's heart, and many more hearts besides.
Do you have an aunt in Lansing? or have you asked your parents to hang the sign in their yard? have you chatted up any women religious lately? have you invited someone in the hospital to pray with us?
The harvest is ready, and the laborers few. Let's be amazed at what a simple, sincere invitation can effect in the lives of those around us. After all, it seems to have worked back in the day when the early church was nascent and Grand Rapids wasn't even a twinkle in America's proverbial eye.
Jesus, help us abide in your heart as one people united for life!
I gotta tell ya, it has done my little heart good to see the Body of Christ in such a tangible manifestation.
Dear reader, we are already victors, if only because we have each other. No matter what obstacle we face, we have each other, and that's about all we need.
The communion of Christ is a beautiful thing to behold, and seeing my brothers and sisters from all parts of this city, God's city, uniting in their resolve to uphold core principles in such a peaceful and loving way...it doesn't get much better. I am honored to stand with all of you, I truly am.
Let's not forget that we are not alone. For starters, I have an aunt in Lansing who is in solidarity with us. The Dominican Sisters at Marywood are joining us in prayer. My parents in the Detroit area have a sign in their yard. Let's not forget the people who are homebound and praying with us.
And, of course, let's not forget the most important Three who are standing with us: the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. They are always standing by us, and if we admit them into our hearts, they are with us more deeply than we can comprehend.
Every hour you stand at 320, every meal you forsake (or whichever fast God chose for you), every time you ask the Lord to bless the children who perish, you stand with a crowd. A huge crowd. A very, very huge crowd. Let that just blow your mind for a second...
...yeah. It's huge.
We are going to be victorious because God is good, and what happens at 320 saddens Him. Yet, God does not want only a few to be victorious. He wants your heart, dear reader, to join in the cause, and your neighbor's heart, and many more hearts besides.
Do you have an aunt in Lansing? or have you asked your parents to hang the sign in their yard? have you chatted up any women religious lately? have you invited someone in the hospital to pray with us?
The harvest is ready, and the laborers few. Let's be amazed at what a simple, sincere invitation can effect in the lives of those around us. After all, it seems to have worked back in the day when the early church was nascent and Grand Rapids wasn't even a twinkle in America's proverbial eye.
Jesus, help us abide in your heart as one people united for life!
September 28, 2009
How to stand at 320
I'm not talking about keeping your toes off the grass or the driveway (you should).
I'm talking about how your heart should be as you stand.
Stand ready. Stand because you love. Most importantly-- stand because you are called.
Abbot Joseph, who publishes the Word Incarnate blog, explains:
"For if my people humble themselves...then I will hear from heaven."
I'm talking about how your heart should be as you stand.
Stand ready. Stand because you love. Most importantly-- stand because you are called.
Abbot Joseph, who publishes the Word Incarnate blog, explains:
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, says the Scripture several times, and it is also the beginning of our understanding of who we are before God. It is not the fullness of understanding, since it does not yet convey the tenderness of God’s compassion and love. Yet it is essential that we have something of this holy fear in our experience of God, for if we don’t we will never truly understand or fully appreciate the mercy and love of God. If we only project upon God our own concept or experience of human compassion and love, we will never properly know God and hence will not relate to Him as He desires. It is only when we experience that standing-in-awe before the Holy One, the trembling awareness of our sinfulness and radical insufficiency before the Mysterium Tremendum that is the ineffable glory of the Divine Nature, that we can begin to grasp the magnitude of mercy and God’s limitless love, and the incomprehensible gift of God’s desire to enter into a personal relationship with us in love and joy.Do not stand in doubt of yourself or your reason for being there. Stand boldly, in humility.
There are many who believe in God’s transcendent glory but not in his desire for intimate communion with us. Two Iranian women who became Christians were recently put on trial and imprisoned simply for converting. One of their “blasphemies” was believing that the transcendent God actually spoke to them. The Muslim prosecutor bellowed: “It is impossible for God to do such a thing!” They replied: “So are you saying, then, that God is not Almighty?” The prosecutor changed his tactic and then said: “You are not worthy.” They responded: “It is up to God to decide whether or not we are worthy.” So it precisely because God is Almighty that He can lower Himself to speak with sinful creatures. And it is not for sinful creatures to decide their worthiness or unworthiness to stand before God. We come because He calls.
"For if my people humble themselves...then I will hear from heaven."
September 27, 2009
Fiat voluntas tua
sicut in caelo et in terra:
"Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven."
My goodness, how far we have come from this prayer. Do we, on earth even know or understand what the Will of God is anymore? As we strive to live out this prayer, we must appear to be very out of step with the crowd of those who have no ears to hear, or eyes to see. Is it any wonder the world cannot understand what we are trying to say? Or why we do what we do? Why do we stand out on the sidewalk praying in all kinds of weather and different times of day and night in front of 320 E. Fulton?
The Baltimore Catechism says we are created by God to know, love and serve Him in this world, and be happy with Him in the next. That surely, when lived out on earth, would make us stand out. This is the silent Gospel. The use of our free will in knowing, loving and serving God, is surely seen by the profane world as enslavement. Unless you have tried to live in this freedom, it is hard to describe it to those who just don't get it. This lifestyle is viewed by the secular as narrow-minded, single-issued, tunnel-visioned, archaic. But the narrow-mindedness (having a mind for Christ), the single issue focus, (having concern for the voiceless), tunnel-visioned, (seeing only the prize of His Kingdom come) and archaic, (having very deep roots), is a glorious way to journey through life on earth. Just as in heaven, the saints and angels are focused on God, giving adoration to the Holy Trinity alone, their engrossment being nothing else but God’s Glory, who is the Ancient of Days. May we never be discouraged or distracted by the world. May we always keep our eyes on the prize and be malleable to the Lord’s Will for us and for His creation, His first Adam. Come Lord, quickly come.
Fiat voluntas tua sicut in caelo et in terra...
Sed libera nos a malo!!
--Words of wisdom from Bettie, who started it all here in GR
"Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven."
My goodness, how far we have come from this prayer. Do we, on earth even know or understand what the Will of God is anymore? As we strive to live out this prayer, we must appear to be very out of step with the crowd of those who have no ears to hear, or eyes to see. Is it any wonder the world cannot understand what we are trying to say? Or why we do what we do? Why do we stand out on the sidewalk praying in all kinds of weather and different times of day and night in front of 320 E. Fulton?
The Baltimore Catechism says we are created by God to know, love and serve Him in this world, and be happy with Him in the next. That surely, when lived out on earth, would make us stand out. This is the silent Gospel. The use of our free will in knowing, loving and serving God, is surely seen by the profane world as enslavement. Unless you have tried to live in this freedom, it is hard to describe it to those who just don't get it. This lifestyle is viewed by the secular as narrow-minded, single-issued, tunnel-visioned, archaic. But the narrow-mindedness (having a mind for Christ), the single issue focus, (having concern for the voiceless), tunnel-visioned, (seeing only the prize of His Kingdom come) and archaic, (having very deep roots), is a glorious way to journey through life on earth. Just as in heaven, the saints and angels are focused on God, giving adoration to the Holy Trinity alone, their engrossment being nothing else but God’s Glory, who is the Ancient of Days. May we never be discouraged or distracted by the world. May we always keep our eyes on the prize and be malleable to the Lord’s Will for us and for His creation, His first Adam. Come Lord, quickly come.
Fiat voluntas tua sicut in caelo et in terra...
Sed libera nos a malo!!
--Words of wisdom from Bettie, who started it all here in GR
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