A Novena request to protect America's future

This is a Novena request from Fr Corapi. Please send it to your loved ones in this and other countries as well so they can pray with us and for us. We need God's intervention!

A Call for a Rosary Novena
By Fr. John Corapi, SOLT
www.fathercorapi.com

Among the most important titles we have in the Catholic Church for the Blessed Virgin Mary are Our Lady of Victory and Our Lady of the Rosary. These titles can be traced back to one of the most decisive times in the history of the world and Christendom. The Battle of Lepanto took place on October 7 (date of feast of Our Lady of Rosary), 1571. This proved to be the most crucial battle for the Christian forces against the radical Muslim navy of Turkey. Pope Pius V led a procession around St. Peter's Square in Vatican City praying the Rosary. He showed true pastoral leadership in recognizing the danger posed to Christendom by the radical Muslim forces, and in using the means necessary to defeat it.

Spiritual battles require spiritual weapons, and this more than anything was a battle that had its origins in the spiritual order a true battle between good and evil. Today we have a similar spiritual battle in progress: a battle between the forces of good and evil, light and darkness, truth and lies, life and death. If we do not soon stop the genocide of abortion in the United States, we shall run the course of all those that prove by their actions that they are enemies of God: total collapse, economic, social, and national.

The moral demise of a nation results in the ultimate demise of a nation. God is not a disinterested spectator to the affairs of man. Life begins at conception. This is an unalterable formal teaching of the Catholic Church. If you do not accept this you are a heretic in plain English. A single abortion is homicide. The more than 48,000,000 abortions since Roe v. Wade in the United States constitute genocide by definition. The group singled out for death: unwanted, unborn children.

No other issue, not all other issues taken together, can constitute a proportionate reason for voting for candidates that intend to preserve and defend this holocaust of innocent human life that is abortion.

I strongly urge every one of you to make a Novena and pray the Rosary to Our Lady of Victory between October 27th and Election Day, November 4th. Pray that God's will be done and the most innocent and utterly vulnerable of our brothers and sisters will be protected from this barbaric and grossly sinful blight on society that is abortion. No woman, and no man, has the right to choose to murder an innocent human being.

May God grant us the wisdom, knowledge, understanding, and counsel to form our conscience in accordance with authentic Catholic teaching, and then vote that well‐formed Catholic conscience.
Please copy, email, link and distribute this article freely.
God Bless You
Fr. John Corapi

NOVENA FOR THE ELECTION

PLEASE JOIN IN BY PRAYING A NOVENA AND THE ROSARY FOR THIS GREAT INTENTION. BELOW IS A NOVENA TO OUR LADY OF VICTORY WHICH INCLUDES A LITANY TO OUR LADY, SALVE REGINA AND MEMORARE. ALSO GO TO CONFESSION AND MASS (DAILY IF POSSIBLE) DURING THIS TIME.

ADD THIS PRAYER TO OUR LADY OF ALL NATIONS:

LORD JESUS CHRIST, SON OF THE FATHER, SEND NOW YOUR SPIRIT OVER THE EARTH. LET THE HOLY SPIRIT LIVE IN THE HEARTS OF ALL NATIONS, THAT THEY MAY BE PRESERVED FROM DEGENERATION, DISASTER AND WAR. MAY THE LADY OF ALL NATIONS, THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, BE OUR ADVOCATE. AMEN.

WHEN YOU PRAY THE ROSARY, BEG GOD’S MERCY FOR THE SAKE OF THE ABORTED BABIES, THE UNBORN BABIES, THE INFANTS AND CHILDREN OF OUR COUNTRY, YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS OF OUR COUNTRY AND FOR THE LEGACY OF OUR COUNTRY AND THE WORLD.

NOVENA TO OUR LADY OF VICTORY
Lord, have mercy on us,

Christ, have mercy on us,

Christ, hear us,

Christ, graciously hear us.

God, the Father of Heaven, Have mercy on us.

God, the Son, Redeemer of the world, Have mercy on us.

God, the Holy Spirit, Have mercy on us.

Holy Trinity, One God, Have mercy on us.

The response for the following greetings is Pray for us.

Our Lady of Victory,

Victorious daughter of the Father,

Victorious Mother of the Son,

Victorious Spouse of the Holy Spirit,

Victorious servant of the Holy Trinity

Victorious in your Immaculate Conception,

Victorious in crushing the serpent's head,

Victorious over all the children of Adam,

Victorious over all enemies,

Victorious in your response to the Angel Gabriel,

Victorious in your wedding to St. Joseph,

Victorious in the birth of Christ,

Victorious in the flight to Egypt,

Victorious in your exile,

Victorious in your home at Nazareth,

Victorious in finding Christ in the temple,

Victorious in the mission of your Son,

Victorious in His passion and death,

Victorious in His Resurrection and Ascension,

Victorious in the Coming of the Holy Spirit,

Victorious in your sorrows and joys,

Victorious in your glorious Assumption,

Victorious in the angels who remained faithful,

Victorious in the happiness of the saints,

Victorious in the message of the prophets,

Victorious in the testimony of the patriarchs,

Victorious in the zeal of the apostles,

Victorious in the witness of the evangelists,

Victorious in the wisdom of the doctors,

Victorious in the deeds of the confessors,

Victorious in the triumph of all holy women,

Victorious in the faithfulness of the martyrs,

Victorious in your powerful intercession,

Victorious under your many titles,

Victorious at the moment of death,

Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, Spare us, Lord.

Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, Hear us, Lord.

Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, Have mercy, Lord.

Pray for us, blessed Lady of Victory. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

The Novena Prayer
Let us pray: Our Lady of Victory, we have unshaken confidence in your influence with your Son, our Lord, Jesus Christ. Humbly we ask your intercession for all of us associated under your title, Our Lady of Victory. We beg your powerful assistance also for our country. (Please mention here your special intention in you own words.) In your maternal kindness please ask Jesus to forgive all our sins and failings, and to secure His blessings for us and for all the works of charity dedicated to your name. We implore you to obtain for us the grace of sharing Christ's victory and your forever in the life that knows no ending. May we join you there to praise forever the Father, His Son, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit, on God, for all the ages to come. Amen.

Let us pray:
Salve Regina (Hail Holy Queen)
Hail Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our life, our sweetness, and our hope. To Thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve. To Thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn, then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us. And after this, our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of Thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary, Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God: That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray: The Memorare
Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that any one who fled to Thy protection, implored Thy help, and sought Thy intercession, was left unaided. Inspired with this confidence, I fly unto Thee, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother. To Thee I come; before Thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate! Despise not my petitions, but in Thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen.

All this we ask of The Father in the name of Mary's Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ who lives and reigns with Him and the Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen.

I'm sorry if I offend some people by this, BUT

I am the guy that never responds to e-mails that end with "send this on to everyone in your address book", or "send to 10 more people and back to me, so I know you care", or, as I got today, "If you believe in God and in Jesus Christ His Son .. Send this to all on Your buddy list. If not just ignore it. If you ignore it, just remember that Jesus said. 'If you deny me before man, I will deny you before my Father in Heaven. "

Talk about a guilt trip! It's a good thing I am secure enough in my faith to know that Jesus will know that I didn't ignore Him or His Word by refusing to send pictures to everyone I know (no matter how beautifully they portray our Lord's Passion!). I sometimes feel like I'm being blackmailed by this type of e-mail. I know this is not the intention of the sender, and that he or she is just passionate about what they have sent. But please understand that my feeling is that we need to be out "there" preaching the Truth the way Jesus did--quietly, but forcefully, through example and good works. Seems to me that trying to force Jesus onto someone is not what He intended. Our love for Him and one another will be much greater if it is given out of love, rather than fear, or shame, or embarrassment. I think evangelization is much more effective through one on one interaction and living in and through Christ in our daily lives.
And if you are one of those in my circle of family or friends who actually believe that I don't care simply because I didn't respond to your e-mail or send it on, please believe me when I say I love you all with the Heart of Christ that is within all of us. God be with you. And you don't need to send this message to 10 more people. I would hope that they all know how much I love them by now.

We must pray and back it up with our actions

I have my intenet page set up to show me headlines from around the country and every once in a while one will entice me to read the article. Of course the article is never as sensational as the headline. At the end of these articles they have a section for “ordinary” citizens to post their thoughts and comments. I am not naïve. I am quite aware that most of these comments are made by juveniles whose only source of entertainment is to cause strife on the internet. But some of the comments can be downright evil.

A story today dealt with the police finding a young boy who had been kidnapped by some drug dealers who happened to be of Mexican descent. The following comment was not the only one to anger me, and certainly not the vilest. However, it brought home to me just how insidious the Evil One is. Whether the poster is an adult or a child should not matter—the pure evil that it embodies created a dread in me that I felt to the bottom of my soul.

“I don't care how much I'll end up paying for tomatoes or turnips, every illegal alien needs to be rounded up, branded (for ID purposes) and booted back across the Rio Grand. Those that return should be shot on sight. Their bodies can be fed to livestock in the area. Anyone that hires an illegal alien should be hung from the nearest strong tree. Yes, these measures may seem a little harsh to some, but they are necessary lest we lose our country and our peaceful way of life.”

Yeah, right. THIS guy is peaceful. May God help us all if this person is old enough to vote. And please, God, if it is a child, let him find his way out of this darkness into the light of Your Son’s promises before it is too late.

When we see problems in our society (and there are plenty to go around!), we need to look at them through the eyes of Jesus Christ. How we treat the poor, fight for better programs for the needy, and pursue justice for those who are misjudged or misguided can change the world one soul at a time. We must take a stand for what is right, even if it is looked upon as unpopular. We cannot stand idly by anymore while Satan takes control of our young and poisons their minds with thoughts that other human beings are expendable. We are all children of God.
As children of God, we have access to heavenly wisdom, which we can apply to every earthly situation. This means that we must use every opportunity afforded us by circumstance to “inject” the Truth of Our Lord Jesus Christ into others. This can only lead to more awareness of His presence and force our leaders to act with more compassion, humility and justice.

“Holy Spirit, may your breath blow through the halls of governments everywhere. Send me out to transform my society. Move world leaders to place your concerns first, so that every nation on earth will be free to adore you!” This prayer is courtesy of The Word Among Us” magazine.

See you later(?), Aunt Barbara

Whenever one of our loved ones dies, friends and family ponder, “What did she leave behind?” “What will we remember most about her?” “What will we cherish the most?” That’s only human.

At the same time, the angels in Heaven are asking, “What graces has she brought with her?” “Did she serve our Lord well during her time on Earth?” “Did she live her Earthly life leading others to Christ through her example?” “Did others see Christ in her?”

Because, you see, it’s all about Him. Aunt Barbara knew that. And she lived her life accordingly. You know this is so, because she was so blessed by God. She had a devoted, loving husband in Uncle Babe. Together, they had 6 children. Those 6 children had more children. And grandchildren. When you ponder the fact that every child is a GIFT from God, you realize that God did indeed look favorably upon His servant, Barbara.

What made Him look so favorably upon her? I think it quite simply was because she took the time to talk to Him as often as she could, with humility and perseverance. She knew that she could tell Him anything, and He would listen. She could ask favors, and if it was His will, she knew they would be granted. She did not begrudge Him if the answer was no. Even when she became ill and was suffering, she suffered in a quiet dignity, knowing that it would be redemptive.

Many times she spoke to Him through His Blessed Mother, and St. Joseph. She was downright proud of the St. Joseph statue that was displayed in her living room. I’m not sure I’ve known anyone with more rosaries than my mom, but Aunt Barbara has to be a close “second”.

Many of you may not realize this, but I have had a really special place in my heart for Aunt Barbara that dates back to my college days. Mom, Tom and I had moved to Jackson. I was working at McDonald’s on Pacific Avenue full-time and going to Delta College full-time as well. Even for a 17-year old (going on 18) the pressure was incredible. Aunt Barbara and Uncle Babe opened their home to me between “gigs” so I could sleep on the recliner (and give their cat someplace to sleep as well—later on it would be Sue’s son, ? , who would like to sleep on my chest), have the occasional dinner with them, and use the “doughboy” pool when it was really hot. Many nights I was just too tired to continue on to Jackson, so I would point my car to Lodi and ring the doorbell. It happened so many times that finally, Uncle Babe said, “Why in the hell do you always ring the doorbell? Just come in! You’re family, for God’s sake!”

My affection for Aunt Barbara has especially blossomed the last couple of years. She has been a huge help to my Mom ever since she moved to Lodi. My regret is that I was never vocal enough in my appreciation to her for always being there when Mom needed someone and I couldn’t be there. In fact, I’m sorry to say I feel like I took her for granted. But the last couple of years it grew into more than just a familial relationship. It had matured into a spiritual relationship, as well. We would share stories of our spiritual journey and pray together. Never anything formal, though I would have if she wanted to. Most of our prayers were said by just sitting quietly together in the same room. No words had to pass between us. We knew that He was listening, and would answer. I was extremely touched when Mom told me that Aunt Barbara had asked me to say a few words about her when the time came. It’s nice to know that I am able to repay her in a very small way for the graces she has helped me attain along my journey. As I said in a recent blog, I consider Aunt Barbara a personal “saint”. Saints are those souls we look to for help in getting to our final reward in God’s grace. Aunt Barbara was never anything less to me.

Thank you, Aunt Barbara, for your hospitality, your help, and your love. May God show you the place he has prepared for you since the beginning of time. It must be magnificent. Perhaps we'll share some more prayers some day. Rest in peace. Amen.

God Bless the USA? Still? What Great Love!

Matt 21:33-43
Jesus said to the chief priests and the elders of the people: "Hear another parable. There was a landowner who planted a vineyard, put a hedge around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a tower. Then he leased it to tenants and went on a journey. When vintage time drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants to obtain his produce. But the tenants seized the servants and one they beat, another they killed, and a third they stoned. Again he sent other servants, more numerous than the first ones, but they treated them in the same way. Finally, he sent his son to them, thinking, 'They will respect my son.'But when the tenants saw the son, they said to one another, 'This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and acquire his inheritance.’ They seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him. What will the owner of the vineyard do to those tenants when he comes?" They answered him, "He will put those wretched men to a wretched death and lease his vineyard to other tenants who will give him the produce at the proper times." Jesus said to them, "Did you never read in the Scriptures: The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; by the Lord has this been done, and it is wonderful in our eyes?Therefore, I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that will produce its fruit."

Christ was speaking of the Pharisees, who pretended to obey God and insisted others follow the “law”, all the while simply letting ambition, arrogance and pride dictate their own lives. These traits made it impossible for them to recognize the Savior even when he was in their midst preaching nothing but Truth. As Ronald Reagan would say, “Well, here we go again!” The trouble with a lot of “Christians” in America these days is that, while they profess to believe in the risen Christ, they can’t seem to grasp that He is still with us today, preaching the Truth and watching us trample all over it. We kill 5000 babies per week, and claim that “it” isn’t really a person until “it” has taken “its” first breath unaided by “its” mother. We claim that it is our “choice” to decide when life begins. If the pregnancy is inconvenient, or worse yet simply “unwanted”, we claim the right to terminate the fetus. In my mind, this is the greatest tragedy of all time. It wouldn’t surprise me if someone told me we have killed more human beings in the USA in just the last 40 years (since abortion became “legal”) than all of the wars since the beginning of man. Then we try to negate the importance of a SACRAMENT! A Holy Law and covenant! Marriage is more than just a contract between two individuals. The reason God created Marriage was to join a man and a woman together with Himself, and through that union to produce more children in His own image! He thinks so much of marriage that it is one of the two Sacraments (out of seven total) through which He bestows a physical gift (a child!). [Of course the other Sacrament is His own Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity, which is incomparable]. Then, not only do we make a mockery of this sacred covenant, we refuse the gifts He bestows upon us with violence! How angry this must make God! It’s the greatest testament of His love for us that He hasn’t allowed us to be conquered and subjugated to other countries by now! How great His love for us must be! Why do we keep testing it? The ONLY solution is prayer and fasting. Ask Christ’s Mother to help you. Believe in Jesus Christ and follow the commandments He stated so succinctly—Love God with you whole heart, your whole mind, and your whole strength, and love one another. Or He might just find another country to bless so abundantly.

Bits n' Pieces of thought today

First of all, thanks to Mom and Bob for going out of their way to respond to my last blog. I hold your advice and kind remarks close to my heart. Sometimes I get thinking so deeply that I don't see the obvious. Thanks again.

Then, there's some pretty terrific news, for me! I subscribe to Liguorian magazine. It's published every other month. In each edition, there is a crossword puzzle (that I never have trouble with) and a "Bible knowledge" quiz that has 25 questions where you match the question with an answer. I have to admit that this one usually gives me trouble. After taking the quiz the scoring is as follows: 11-15 correct, and you're a NOVICE. 16-20 correct answers is GOOD. 21-25 correct and you are judged OUTSTANDING. I usually get about 8-12 right, and these are "gimmies" (example: Jesus told him, "Feed my sheep"_____. Obviously the answer is Peter. You would have to have absolutely NO exposure to the Bible to not get this right!) Anyway, this month I got 23 right! I had two answers transposed. But I guess this shows progress, right? Daily mass is paying off, I suppose. The "Word on the Street" (pun intended) is that if you attend mass every day for 3 "cycles" of readings, you will have read every word in the bible. I am finding that true. What better way to "study" the Bible than to have it reinforced with a good homily, then cemented in your memory by receiving the very Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Christ, Himself?

Aunt Barbara's suffering will earn her "Special" attention from our Father

When I was a kid, I remember actually feeling jealous when my brother Tom would do something dumb and hurt himself badly enough to have to go to the hospital or the doctor to get stitches. Maybe it was the attention he got from Mom and Dad. This is not to say I didn't get attention from them--I just didn't get that "extra" loving that Tom got simply because he was accident-prone. I remember this feeling because I keep thinking of the suffering Mom has gone through in her life and the strength she seems to get from it. She's had several miscarriages, lost her husband and two children and (if memory serves) 4 younger siblings, yet she continues to gain strength from each of these tragedies. It is her faith that sustains her. I can only hope to have the same level of faith. And it's not just Mom. Other relatives, who have gone on to see our Savior face to face and who I consider very close personal saints--Aunt Jenny, Aunt Teresa, and this week--Aunt Barbara were all very special, very devout Catholics who suffered greatly while on this earth and were (and continue to be) a great example to me. My brothers (Tom included) are also examples of great faith through suffering. Therein lies my dilemma--compared to all of these great Catholics, I have NEVER had to endure the suffering they have. I have not had my faith tested in the manner they have. Despite the fact that there have been times that I have turned away from our Lord out of ignorance or hubris, or anger, He keeps sending the Holy Spirit to keep my faith alive, even when I feel I don't deserve it (and He knows I'm grateful). Today's readings are related to this in a way. For example, Mom, my aunts and uncles and brothers are all listening to Jesus when, after one of His disciples says "I will follow, you Lord, but first let me say goodbye to my family" or "Let me bury my dead", He says “No one who sets a hand to the plow and looks to what was left behind is fit for the Kingdom of God.” They have kept their eyes on the pearl of great price in the manner of Job, who kept his faith in the Almighty even after losing EVERYTHING! I am looking back to see where I went wrong and why I can't have this GIFT of suffering. In a way, I am jealous of the suffering they have endured, because I know that it will earn them "special" attention from our Heavenly Father and His Son. Just as I was jealous of the extra attention Tom received when we were children. On the other hand, I am at times scared that I will have to suffer as greatly as these family saints, and I'm afraid I won't be up to the task. Please pray for me, as I try to pray for each of you.