|
As the Synod of Bishops on the Family passes the halfway
mark, I ask that you please join me and the HLI Family around the world
in praying a Novena for the Protection of the Family beginning tomorrow,
October 17 and ending on the last day of the Synod, October 25.
The prayer for this Novena, which comes from Pope Pius XII's Prayer for Christian Families, can be found below.
I
don't know if you've been following news reports on the controversies
surrounding what is taking place presently at the Synod of Bishops, but I
can tell you that the Church---and the family---is in great need of
prayer.
It is also true, however, that
prayers have begun to be answered. Consider two extraordinary
interventions reported in the last 24 hours. The first,
from the inimitable Robert Cardinal Sarah of Guinea, included an
apostolic challenge to the Synod fathers to recognize the true threats
to the Church:
A theological discernment enables us to
see in our time two unexpected threats (almost like two "apocalyptic
beasts") located on opposite poles: on the one hand, the idolatry of
Western freedom; on the other, Islamic fundamentalism: atheistic
secularism versus religious fanaticism. To use a slogan, we find
ourselves between "gender ideology and ISIS". Islamic massacres and
libertarian demands regularly contend for the front page of the
newspapers. (Let us remember what happened last June 26!). From these
two radicalizations arise the two major threats to the family: its
subjectivist disintegration in the secularized West through quick and
easy divorce, abortion, homosexual unions, euthanasia etc. (cf. Gender
theory, the 'Femen', the LGBT lobby, IPPF ...). On the other hand, the
pseudo-family of ideologized Islam which legitimizes polygamy, female
subservience, sexual slavery, child marriage etc. (cf. Al Qaeda, Isis, Boko Haram ...)
Some
synod fathers have not understood correctly the appeal of Pope Francis
for an open discussion and started to bring forward ideas which
contradict the bi-millennial Tradition of the Church, rooted in the
Eternal Word of God.
Unfortunately,
one can still perceive the smell of this "infernal smoke" in some items
of the "Instrumentum Laboris" and also in the interventions of some
synod fathers this year.
To
my mind, the main task of a Synod consists in indicating again to the
Gospel of the marriage and of the family and that means to the teaching
of Our Savior. It is not allowed to destroy the fundament - to destroy
the rock.
Prayers are being heard.
Courageous shepherds are telling the truth without fear, though we note
with regret that such statements are both necessary and considered by
many to be controversial.
Our culture's
embrace of the contraceptive mentality, which HLI Founder Fr. Paul Marx
boldly preached against and warned people about, has led to pornography
addiction; promiscuity; cohabitation; no-fault divorce; "designer
babies" created in Petri dishes (treating children as commodities
instead of gifts from God); and yes, the horrible evil of abortion.
Now we must face another great evil: the legal redefinition of marriage to include same-sex couples.
It's
only been a few months since the U.S. Supreme Court decision redefining
marriage, and one Christian has already been jailed in the U.S. for
defending the Biblical definition of marriage. Others have lost jobs, or
their entire businesses.
Mainstream
media and pop culture are hard at work pressuring you and me to accept a
vision of marriage and human sexuality that is evil and sinful. This
corruption is even reaching into the media's coverage of the Synod of
Bishops. The public is being led to believe that Church teaching on
contraception, pre-marital sex, divorce, and marriage between one man
and one woman will soon be changing . . . as if that is even possible!
Sadly,
(and I personally find this greatly disappointing) much of this
hysteria and the media pressure to "get with the times" is being fed by
the public statements of some Church leaders.
That's
why I hope you will join me and the HLI Family in praying the below
Novena for the Protection of the Family beginning tomorrow, October 17,
and ending on the last day of the Synod, October 25.
My
friends, faith in God and prayer for His divine intervention has
resulted in many mighty deeds being worked---from victories in battle to
the conversion of many who work in the murderous abortion industry.
With God's help we can defend Life and Family and change the culture!
May God bless you and your family!
Novena Prayer for the Protection of the Family
O
Lord, God of goodness and mercy, Who in the midst of an evil and sinful
world hast presented to the society of the redeemed the Holy Family of
Nazareth as a spotless mirror of piety, justice and love, behold how the
family is being undermined on all sides, every effort being made to
desecrate it by stripping it of faith, religion, and morals. Regard the
work of Thy own hands. Safeguard in our homes the domestic virtues, for
these alone will ensure us harmony and peace. Come and stir up the
champions of the family.
Under Thy paternal
gaze, O Lord, and with confidence in Thy Providence and in the loving
patronage of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, the family will become a sanctuary
of virtue and a school of wisdom. In the sight of the world it shall
render glory to Thee, O Father, and to Thy Son, Jesus, until the day
when, through Him, we shall, together with all His members, sing the
Divine praises in the eternal ages to come. Amen
Recite: Lord's Prayer, Hail Mary, and Glory Be
|
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Father Shenan J. Boquet
President, Human Life International
|
|
|
