It's been a week since Corpus Christi and I need to blog. I am going through some stuff with family and a little bit of parish but my soul is at rest because I love the Body of Christ. I love Jesus' Bride the Church, I love receiving Eucharist at my parish and I love praying the Liturgy of the Hours because I am united to the Church and to Jesus as we pray to the Father.
Besides the Eucharist being a Gift, why would I state in the title that the Eucharist is also an obligation? We are so fortunate to live in the United States. The founding fathers weren't exactly thinking of Roman Catholics when they founded the United States but the way they wrote the Constitution, they made it very easy to practice our faith without hinderance from the state.
However, here is my beloved Church in 2012. I haven't told you dear reader how I feel politically about President Obama because I want to worship in peace. But the Obama administration has made my desire to worship in peace impossible!! I have to admit that the USCCB has radically changed for the better. No more wishy-washy feelings that all is well. Because all is NOT well.
I don't want to start standing on my soapbox. That I will leave to my poor children as they endure my preaching! But I don't want to pay for abortions in practice or through my insurance premiums. If a woman doesn't want the gift of her pregnancy, give it up for adoption. They feel that abortion is the only way, that person needs to find the money for it without going into my slim pocket.
Well...I digress. I would like to acknowledge the USCCB's campaign Fortnight for Freedom.
As a community of faith, we must commit ourselves to prayer and fasting that wisdom and justice may prevail and religious liberty may be restored.” - Bishop William Murphy, Diocese of Rockville Centre, Long Island, NY
This campaign starts on the vigil of the memorial of Sts. Thomas More & John Fisher (June 21) and ends on Independence Day (July 4.) Somethings we each can do: Fast, pray and meditate, express our feelings, take a Stand! Say this prayer every day:
Prayer for the Protection of Religious Liberty
O God our Creator,Through the power and working of your Holy Spirit, you call us to live out our faith in the midst of the world, bringing the light and the saving truth of the Gospel to every corner of society.
We ask you to bless us in our vigilance for the gift of religious liberty. Give us the strength of mind and heart to readily defend our freedoms when they are threatened; give us courage in making our voices heard on behalf of the rights of your Church and the freedom of conscience of all people of faith.
Grant, we pray, O heavenly Father, a clear and united voice to all your sons and daughters gathered in your Church in this decisive hour in the history of our nation, so that, with every trial withstood and every danger overcome—for the sake of our children, our grandchildren, and all who come after us—this great land will always be "one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Taken from The US Conference of Catholic Bishops
As Disciples of the Lord who are fed at His table, don't we have the obligation to defend the very rights we have enjoyed for over 200 years?
Yours in Christ,
Sylvia
Yours in Christ,
Sylvia
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