4th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Adore, Bow Down, and Kneel before the Lord

 Many of you know that our beautiful church of St. Ignatius of Antioch was not the first church building built on this property. In 1903 a brick structure was built which was a combination church and school. Within a decade it was evident that the church wasn’t going to be big enough for the quickly growing parish. The population of the neighborhood was growing due to urban flight from the city for a number of reasons. For one, your great grandparents generation came out here as the city began filling up due to new immigrants coming to Cleveland, some from Europe and some from the American South. Secondly, due to new factories, the big industrialized steel cities didn’t smell to good, and to move out to West Blvd. was a break from crowded smelly city life. Thirdly, a new church needed to be built because the family was growing, bigger families needed more pews. But also, the catholic family was growing because the Catholics were successful in sharing their faith with their non-Catholic neighbors.

So, ground was broken for the new church of St. Ignatius on April 4, 1925, with a lower church and upper church—big enough to house this booming Catholic population. Some of you may remember when mass was celebrated downstairs in the lower church and busses would pick up parishioners from around the neighborhood, as the parking lot never could quite accommodate all the Sunday worshippers in those days. 

I wish I could take you on a tour of the lower church, but’s it just not safe enough to be wandering around down there. Maybe one day, we’ll be able to afford a renovation to make the lower level usable at least for a gathering and meeting area. The lower level was accessed by the outside stairwells, and entering the church, you’d first be probably be struck at first by the pillars topped with these beautiful carved capitals depicting the four evangelists. 

And then kneeling down at your pew, you’d see, written in latin above the sanctuary, the words of our responsorial psalm today, the sixth verse of Psalm 95: Venite, adoremus et procidamus et genua flectamus ante Dominum. Come, let us adore and bow down and bend the knee before the Lord. 

Every time you’d come to church, you’d see this reminder, of what made this building different from the skyscrapers downtown and even the family home. It is here that God is worshiped. It is here that we show our faith and our love for God, by bending the knee, by kneeling before him and adoring him in the Blessed Sacrament.

Parish council shared with me that there was once an attempt to remove the kneelers from church, and and I’m so glad there was some resistance by the parishioners, because kneeling before God in God’s house, is a constitutive part of Catholic worship, a posture of humility we see already practiced by our Jewish ancestors. 

This is why kneeling at the Communion rail—kneeling for Communion—was custom for Roman Catholics, for well over a thousand years, closer to two thousand, than one. As an acknowledgement that you were kneeling down before the Lord himself present in the Sacrament.

As many of you know I’ve begun to offer on a weekly basis, on Monday evenings,  the Latin Mass, for the Mass which fed and nourished the souls of your grandparents is being rediscovered by new generations of Catholics. This Monday night, in particular, I will be celebrating the Solemn High Mass for the Feast of St. Ignatius of Antioch, which is February 1st on the old calendar. If it’s been a few decades or you’ve never experienced Solemn High Mass, come check it out on Monday evening. You might not understand everything that’s going on…but that’s okay, do we ever? But you can come and adore and bow down and kneel and pray. 

Friday night, I assisted at a solemn high mass, at St. Paul’s Parish down in Akron, at the conclusion of their week of Eucharistic devotions. The pastor, Father Matt Pfeiffer, my good friend and classmate, shared a story during the homily, Friday night, a story from our seminary days. The seminarians make a winter retreat before the beginning of the spring semester every year, and we were at a retreat house down in Columbus. There’s a saying amongst seminarians that God doesn’t call the perfect, he perfects the called, and this little aphorism was on full display on this retreat. There was a pair of seminarians who just didn’t get along—huge personality differences—they just couldn’t see eye-to-eye. They argued, often. And on the last day of the retreat, in a moment of real vulnerability, one of these seminarians opened up, and shared with the group, he said, it’s no secret that this other seminarian and I don’t get along, but last night, I went to the chapel, to kneel down and pray before the blessed sacrament, and I was there for some time, and when I looked over across the chapel, there, kneeling in adoration, was, Michael. And I realized, that despite our differences, both of us loved the Lord, in faith and adoration we were united.

And that’s what being Catholic is all about, isn’t it? Despite our difference, we adore, we bow down, and we kneel in the unity of faith. Despite our differences, we set them aside when we walk through these doors. White, black, rich, poor, conservative or progressive. This place has always been that way, where the very diverse people from the neighborhood, could come and kneel and worship. 

There’s been a lot of talk about unity these days. But any unity that is not based on living under God, or rather, kneeling before him, is artificial, and will never last. Honestly, I don’t think it’s a coincidence, that the civil unrest that we are experiencing in this country at this moment in history comes at a time when mass attendance amongst Catholics, church attendance in general, is at an all time low. For how can we have unity, if we do not rightly acknowledge and come to kneel before the source of that unity. 

Any national revival of civility, neighborly trust, or honesty in business, will only come as a result of spiritual and moral revival. And that is not something the government can mandate or enforce or fabricate. For without God, man can only impose an unholy uniformity through force and coercion, a counterfeit imposter of the sacred and charitable bonds of unity through Christ. 

You want to trust your neighbor again, kneel beside him in the eucharist. You want civility to reign even among people you disagree with politically? Kneel beside them. You want peace in your families, ensure you are kneeling together, and adoring the Lord together. 

To kneel before the Eucharist is to submit your life to Him, to renounce everything that does not come from him, anything unclean, as we heard in the Gospel, is to exorcized and expelled from our lives, any belief contrary to His teaching and the teaching of His holy church.

Those words, “Come, let us adore, and bow down, and worship” are an invitation that the Word of God makes to us, that we may know his peace and unity in this life as a foretaste of heaven. And yet, it is also a command, to carry that invitation to those we meet out in the world, to the unbeliever, to those who kneel before the false gods of the world, or only worship their own ego. We are sent by the Word of God into their lives, that, with God, we may be one, and know his peace and rest in his presence for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

3rd Week of Ordinary Time 2021 - Friday - Endurance to do the will of God

 Since Monday of the first week of Ordinary Time our first reading from daily mass has been from the letter to the Hebrews, and we’ll continue to hear from it until the Saturday before Ash Wednesday.    In the New Testament you can find the Letter to the Hebrews immediately after the thirteen Pauline letters.  No one but God knows who wrote this letter.  A passing reference to Saint Timothy seems to suggest that it was written by someone in the circle of Saint Paul and his assistants, but it’s authorship is ultimately unknown.

It seems to be addressed to a group of Jewish Christians who were undergoing persecution for their new faith, but we do not know where this group of Jewish Christians lived; it could have been Rome, Jerusalem, Ephesus, Alexandria, Antioch, we don't know.  

What we do know, as is evidenced in today’s reading, is that these Jewish Christians had and were continuing to face ongoing persecution. And so today's reading is urging them not to give up faith. Don’t draw back from Christ, don’t give up the faith, “for those who keep faith will possess life”. 

Hebrews also gives some very good advice for all of us, who aren’t necessarily being openly persecuted, but those who strive to do the will of God, which isn't always easy--perhaps to keep a commitment to praying daily, or fasting more. “You need endurance to do the will of God”. 

Yes, in our weakness we need to learn to rely on God’s grace. But real spiritual growth, real effectiveness in ministry, requires something on our part. Endurance. How can the Christian keep on going amidst spiritual difficulties, how does one hang in there once the initial enthusiasm is gone? Endurance.

When the going starts to get tough in the vineyard of the Lord, what can we do to boost our Christian endurance? A number of things. Firstly, call to mind scriptures like this, remind yourself, that God never promised that things wouldn’t get tough, and that endurance can carry us far. Secondly, call to mind why you’re doing what you’re doing in the first place. I’m going to pray because I want to seek the Lord, I want to know the Lord, I want to encounter the Lord, I want to grow in holiness. Thirdly, call to mind the example of the Lord’s own endurance, particularly on his way to Calvary, carrying the cross, amidst the mockery and harassment of the onlookers. Consider how even the Lord himself must have drawn refreshment by meeting his mother on the via crucis. Fourthly, ask for help. God sustain me. God help me. God carry me over this slump, help me to remain faithful to my commitments. When we do so, God causes the mustard seed of our human endurance put forth large sturdy branches that even others will benefit from.

Paul writes, “Endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope. And hope does not disappoint.” 

In our spiritual lives and in our holy labors may we practice the Christian endurance that deepens our hope and spreads hope to others unto eternal life, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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For a deeper openness to God’s will, readiness for service, attentiveness to those in need, endurance to do the will of God, and peace in our world and our hearts.  Let us pray to the Lord.

For a new springtime of justice: that all people of good will may work together against the increasing threats to civility, religious liberty and human life.  Let us pray to the Lord.

For those who struggle because of addiction, discouragement, mental illness, chronic sickness, unemployment, or ongoing trials of any kind:  that the new wine of God’s grace through Christ will bring them consolation and peace.

For the repose of the souls of our beloved dead, For the deceased members of our family, friends, and parish, for the souls in purgatory and for…N. for whom this mass is offered.

O God, our refuge and our strength, hear the prayers of your Church, for you yourself are the source of all devotion, and grant, we pray, that what we ask in faith we may truly obtain. Through Christ our Lord.

January 27 2021 - St. Angela Merici - Let love for others be intense

 Angela Merici was born on March 21, 1474.  Out of love for Jesus, she consecrated herself to him before she was ten years old and persuaded her sister to do the same—promising never to get married and to live a life of prayer and service.  As she grew in age, she became concerned by the lack of religious training of the young people, so she took it upon herself to give regular instruction to the young neighborhood girls.  She was joined by neighborhood women with similar ideals.

It wasn’t until the age of 61 that she, and 28 other women formed the Order of Ursulines, the first teaching order of religious sisters in the history of the Church. St. Angela and the Ursulines were dedicated to re-christianizing family life through solid Christian education, especially for young girls who were the future Christian wives and mothers.  The Company of St. Ursula spread throughout Italy and France and eventually through all of Europe.  They were the very first Catholic nuns to land in the new world.  

Before Cleveland was even a diocese, Father Amadeus Rappe, who would become the first bishop of Cleveland was chaplain to the Ursulines in the town of Boulogne-sur-Mer in France. When in 1847, he became the first Bishop of Cleveland, it was among his top priorities to establish schools.   So, he invited the Ursulines from Boulogne-sur-Mer to begin a foundation in Cleveland and to start the Catholic school system in north eastern Ohio. 

St. Angela knew the importance of passing on the faith, taking serious efforts in the lives of children to instill in them faith in Jesus Christ.  She was a woman of action whose efforts changed Church history, When she saw the ignorance of the children in her neighborhood, she didn’t just wring her hands or complain, she went out and taught them.

Like St. Paul who we celebrated on Monday, timothy and titus who we celebrated yesterday, St. Angela knew the importance of passing on the faith to the younger generation, and did something about it. She emulates many of those virtues St. Peter writes about in his first letter: sober minded, hospital, loving of others with intensity, a steward of God’s manifold grace, one who despite her challenges, served God with the strength that God supplied. Her concern for the young was a concern for the Lord Himself. She loved others intensely because she loved him intensely.

May we do the same, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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As we celebrate Catholic Schools Week, next week, we pray for all students in Catholic schools, that the Spirit of God may grant them the gifts of wisdom and understanding, and that teachers may share their knowledge with gentleness, patience, and competence. 

For parents, the first teachers of their children, that by their faith and love, they may be blessings to their families, and for a strengthening of all families in faith. 

In Thanksgiving for the Ursuline Order, for their efforts to instill faith in our Diocese over the decades.

For all the needs of the sick and the suffering, the homebound, those in nursing homes and hospitals, the underemployed and unemployed, immigrants and refugees, victims of natural disaster, war, and terrorism, for all those who grieve the loss of a loved one, and those who will die today, for their comfort, and the consolation of their families.

For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.

Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord

January 26, 2021 - St. Timothy and Titus - The harvest is abundant, the laborers few

 Following the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul yesterday, today we commemorate two of Paul’s close co-workers in the vineyard of the Lord: Timothy and Titus.  Today’s two saints give us a glimpse of life in the early church: zeal for the apostolate, devotion to Jesus, and the deep bonds of friendship that sustained them.

Timothy was Paul’s dearest disciple.  St Paul calls him, his beloved child, devoted to him “like a son to his father.”  Biologically, Timothy was the son of a jewish mother and a pagan father. Paul, however, was spiritual father, to Timothy: directly instrumental in Timothy’s conversion from paganism.  

When Paul visited the city of Lystra, Timothy, about twenty years old, joined him and went on to assist Paul in the establishment of the major Christian communities. Timothy also stayed with Paul during his first Roman imprisonment. Timothy himself was later imprisoned for spreading the Gospel, and as bishop of Ephesus was martyred, clubbed to death by a mob for protesting against the orgiastic worship of the goddess Artemis.

Titus was also a close friend and disciple of Paul, also accompanying and assisting Paul in his missionary activity.  Titus was with Paul at the Council of Jerusalem, and when Paul was having trouble with the community at Corinth because of community division, erroneous faith and rampant immorality, Paul sent Titus bearing his letter to the Corinthians, and Titus embraced them with the love of the true pastor’s heart.  This was probably one reason, why Paul felt so assured at naming Titus bishop of Crete, which was also riddled with error. He too would be martyred—he was beheaded by his adversaries on Crete in AD 97.

“The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few.” The dynamic between Paul and Timothy and Titus show us how the Lord often attracts laborers for the harvest. A devout Paul, dedicating his life to the Gospel, willing to suffer for it, begins to attract spiritual sons, who are willing to do the same.

Our task then is clear. To be like Paul for the Timothy’s and Titus’ of the next generation. To live the faith so admirably that it becomes attractive to Pagans and unbelievers. To suffer for it, to show the value of the Gospel in contrast to the empty promises of the world. Our job is not to save the planet, or our nation-state, or our economy, but to save souls, not to secure a comfortable place in the world, but to build up treasure in heaven. Sure, it’s no sin to go fishing every once in a while, but certainly never to the serious neglect of our duty to become fishers of men.

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That our bishops may be courageous in stirring up the flame of faith and defending the Church from error.

For an increase in vocations to the priesthood and religious life, that young people may live in faith-filled homes where the Gospel is cherished, studied, and lived-out. 

For the grace to set good Christian example, and to courage to share the faith with non-believers and the lapsed.

For all of the sick and suffering, for the grace to unite their sufferings with Christ and to know His consolation and peace.

For our departed loved ones and all of the souls in purgatory, and for N. for whom this Mass is offered. We pray to the Lord.

Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord

January 25 2021 - Conversion of St. Paul - The Humility to Change

 Often we think of conversion as going from a wicked life to a good life, a sinful life to a righteous life.  Many saints did experience that type of conversion: St. Augustine converted from a life of debauchery, theft, violence, and vandalism, to a life of holiness.  Before their conversion to Christ St. Matthew the Apostle was an extortionist, St. Camillus de Lellis was a Con Man, St. Columba started a war, St. Christopher was said to have worshipped the devil, and even St. Francis of Assisi speaks of a youth wasted in sinful behavior.

St. Paul’s conversion initially looks this way.  He did after all go from a life of persecuting and killing Christians to a life of promoting Christianity and making new Christians. Yet, from his youth St. Paul sought after holiness through rigorous adhesion to the Mosaic law. And so, he devoted himself to persecuting and killing Christians because this is what he believed the law demanded.  After all, the early Christians were a Jewish sect who claimed that Jesus was the long awaited for Divine Messiah. To Paul, like to the scribes and Pharisees who condemned the Lord to death for his claim of Divinity, the Christian claim was blasphemous and deserving of death.

But on the road to Damascus, in the middle of his fury, all that changed.  The Risen Christ appeared to Paul, and shone a ray of his divine light into the darkness of Paul’s mind.  “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting”. 

The Lord revealed to Paul that He wasn’t simply a dead criminal who started some heretical sect.  He was risen. He was alive.  What the Church actually said about Jesus was true. And to persecute the would mean to deny and persecute Him.

At that moment, though, Paul still had a choice—to kneel before the Lord would mean to turn from his former way of life, he would have to call brother and those whom he persecuted and risk the same hostility of the jewish authorities that had impelled him. 

Paul had to admit that he was wrong about who Jesus really is and what holiness actually consists of. Paul exhibited the humility that is required of every Christian, the willingness to turn away from all that is not of Christ in order to pursue Him more faithfully.  To leave behind even house, family, lands, and possessions, if it means coming to possess the truth, the pearl of great price, the gift of salvation through Christ.

May the example and heavenly intercession of St. Paul, help us to practice the humility, courage, and fortitude necessary to experience the conversion and holiness the Lord desires for each one of us, that we may be every more faithful to the Lord’s great commission  to “Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature,” for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That our bishops may be graced with Saint Paul’s zeal in preaching and teaching the Word of God. Let us pray to the Lord.

That our parish may build up missionary disciples equipped for the sharing of the Gospel. Let us pray to the Lord.

For the conversion of all hardened sinners and all persecutors of the faith, that the Lord may touch their hearts and remove the blindness from their eyes. Let us pray to the Lord.

For all who have suffered as a result of violence or abuse, all of the sick and suffering, especially victims of natural disaster, poverty, and addiction, may they be comforted and supported by God’s healing love. Let us pray to the Lord.

For our departed loved ones and all of the souls in purgatory, and for N. for whom this Mass is offered. Let us pray to the Lord.

Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord

 

3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time - Celebrating, Studying, and Sharing the Word of God

 

Back in September of 2019, Holy Father Pope Francis issued a Motu Proprio declaring the 3rd Sunday of Ordinary Time as Sunday of the Word of God, directing us to consider how, in the life of the Church, the Scriptures are to be celebrated, studied, and shared. So let’s talk a little bit about the Scriptures.

The life of the Church is marked, changed, guided, infused, inspired and transformed by the Scriptures though which God has spoken and continues to speak. The Lord never tires of speaking to us through His Word and the Church never tires of listening that we may grow in love and faithful witness.

It is by the Scriptures that we come to understand the works and words of God throughout salvation history. It is by the Scriptures that we come to understand ourselves, our need for salvation in this fallen world, the promise of salvation through Christ. We come to know who God is when we take-up and read. We come to know who we are, and who we are meant to be in God’s plan.

In his book “The Lamb’s Supper”, catholic author and theologian Scott Hahn talks about the misconceptions he had about Catholicism prior to his conversion. He was under the impression that Catholics did not truly value the scriptures. And then, one day, he felt drawn to attend mass, to see for himself, and what he found wasn’t that we did not value the scriptures, in fact, just the opposite. The scriptures infuse every line of the Mass.

The words of the sign of the cross at the beginning of mass are taken directly from the lips of Jesus in Matthew Chapter 28 (Go and baptize, ‘in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit). The greeting “the Lord be with you” is repeated often by St. Paul. Calling upon the Lord’s mercy in the penitential rite, not only draws upon the words of the repentant tax collected in Luke 18, but finds us beating our breast, humbling ourselves in ritual imitation of the sort of humility that is praised by the Lord Himself. The Gloria contains the words the Angels sing on Christmas in Luke chapter 2. And that’s just the introductory rite of mass. 

We then dedicate an entire portion of the Mass—the Liturgy of the Word--to listen attentively to the Scriptures and to sing psalms in response. The homily breaks open the scriptures so that we can understand them better and better apply them to our lives. 

The Creed is then recited which is a concise synthesis of the faith conveyed in the scriptures. And the Eucharistic prayer is one phrase from scripture after another woven into a tapestry of petition, praise, and gratitude, as we literally do what Jesus told us to do at the Last Supper, as recorded by Matthew, Mark, and Luke. After receiving the Word made flesh in the Eucharist, We are sent out into the world with words from scripture “go in peace”, spoken by our Lord to the women in Luke chapter 8, “daughter your faith has saved you, go in peace”

We are sent out to be fishers of men, as we heard in the Gospel this weekend. And one might say that our effectiveness as fishers of men is contingent upon the Word of God. Our knowledge of it, and to the extent that it infuses and directs our lives. 

And so we need to study the Word of God, as the Holy Father directs us. As scripture itself directs us. Joshua chapter 8 says, “Keep this Book always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.” “Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words”, says the book of Revelation, “and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it.” Paul instructs Timothy, “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” So we do well to study, meditate, seek to understand the scriptures as best we can so that we can be equipped for the work God has for us.

Scripture is not always easy to understand. Read it anyway. Study it anyway. Catholic Scriptures Studies like “The Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture” and books by excellent Catholic scripture scholars like Scott Hahn and, Jeff Cavins, study Bibles like The Navarre Study Bible and The Word on Fire Study Bible published by Bishop Robert Barron are excellent tools. Fr. Mike Shmitz, a catholic priest from Duluth Minnesota, has the high rated podcast right now, with his series “The Bible in a Year”, and can be accessed for free. We have a bible study, in fact, every week, here at St. Ignatius, on Monday nights at 7pm in the school cafeteria.

Studying the scriptures in light of our Catholic Faith has never been more accessible. But that means taking a little time every day with our bibles in our laps or iphones or headphones, to hear the word, study the word, and meditate on the word.

Lastly, the Holy Father directs us to consider how the Word of God may be better shared. Having heard and celebrated the Word at Mass, having meditated upon it and studied it in our personal lives, we become more and more competent in sharing it with others.

For anyone that has access to social media, perhaps on a weekly basis, share a line from scripture that challenged you or inspired you that week, and share why. Don’t be afraid to share. Your time praying with, studying and meditating upon scriptures will touch others. For example, you can post to social media: I was going through a rough time this week, and this line from the Psalms spoke to me, here’s why. I was confused about how to handle a particular situation, and this parable resonated with me, here’s why. I came to a deeper understanding of Catholic moral or theological teaching because of this line from St. paul, here’s why.

And if you can’t do that with social media, how about, doing the same in person, perhaps with a family member who doesn’t go to Church. Write them…gasp…a letter. I was praying with this line of Scripture and it made me think of you, here’s why. The Lord is sending us like Jonah in the first reading, to speak the word of God to the inhabitants of Nineveh, to the sinful cities, and the lives of the confused and searching. And we must accept this calling, for we, might be the only prophet God wishes to send into some people’s lives.

“Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men. Then they abandoned their nets and followed him.” Becoming fishers of men, for all of us, likely means, making time to draw close to the Lord to listen to him, that he may equip us for the work he has for us, drawing others to Himself.

 May we continue our worship today thanking God for the Word which is a lamp to our feet and a light unto our path, the word which is more valuable than silver or gold, the pearl of great price, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

January 22 2021 - Legal protection of the Unborn - Priorities

 

While the Church has deep concerns about the "many threats to human life and dignity in our society," including euthanasia, the death penalty, immigration policy, racism, poverty, care for the environment, criminal justice reform, economic development and international peace, the protection of innocent life in the womb is, as Pope Francis rightly explains, “the preeminent priority”. 

Archbishop Gomez, President of the USCCB, on Wednesday, again basically quoting Pope Francis, wrote that the Church cannot stay silent when nearly a million unborn lives are being case aside in our country year after year through abortion. 

This is "a matter of social justice.” Archbishop Gomez said,  “We cannot ignore the reality that abortion rates are much higher among the poor and minorities, and that the procedure is regularly used to eliminate children who would be born with disabilities”

Catholics throughout our nation today, engage in prayer for the restored legal protection of the unborn, and renew our commitment to improving those social factors which often lead to abortion. For Catholics this is not an either/or, but a both/and. Both protect the unborn and work to alleviate social and economic factors which lead to abortion. 

Vatican II declared, “God, the Lord of life, has entrusted to men the noble mission of safeguarding life, and men must carry it out in a manner worthy of themselves. Life must be protected with the utmost care from the moment of conception: abortion and infanticide are abominable crimes.”

Isaiah, in today’s reading Laments that it is as if he has been toiling in vain, that it seems like he has spent his strength on nothing. But he immediately recalls that the Lord does reward all our efforts in his service. In working for the legal protection of the unborn, with the ever changing political scene in this country, it seems like every time there is a step forward, there are two steps back. But our labors are not in vain. Hearts are being changed. Babies are being saved in answer to our prayers and efforts.

So, we continue to pray that the truth of the Gospel of Life will take root in the hearts of every member of the human family and that we may be found diligent in praying and working for the safeguarding of life for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That the leaders and members of the Church may fulfill with joy their calling to proclaim, celebrate, and serve the Gospel of Life, we pray to the Lord…

That God will give our new president, and all of us, the grace to seek the protection of innocent life in the womb and the common good with all sincerity. 

That Court decisions which permit the destruction of innocent life may be resisted and reversed, we pray to the Lord…

That God may protect all unborn babies, and keep them safe from the scourge of abortion, we pray to the Lord...

That all women facing difficult or unplanned pregnancies may receive compassionate care and the support they need, let us pray to the Lord.

That all medical professionals involved in the practices of abortion, infanticide, and euthanasia, may experience conversion of mind and heart and cease these activities, we pray to the Lord…

For all women who have had abortions, that they may seek out and experience God’s tender mercy, we pray to the Lord.

In thanksgiving for the many children who have been saved from abortion through the efforts of the pro-life movement, we pray to the Lord…

For all the dead, for all the souls in purgatory, for the deceased members of our families, friends, and parish, and for X, for whom this Holy Mass is offered.

Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord