Memorial of Saint Vincent de Paul

Our perfection consists in uniting our will so intimately with God's will, that we will only desire what He wills. He who conforms most perfectly to the will of God will be the most perfect Christian.
+St. Vincent de Paul

Be careful to give no credit to yourself for anything; if you do, you are stealing from God, to whom alone every good thing is due.
+St. Vincent de Paul

We must love our neighbor as being made in the image of God and as an object of His love.
+St. Vincent de Paul

Humility and charity are the two master-chords: one, the lowest; the other, the highest; all the others are dependent on them.
+St. Vincent de Paul

Memorial of Saint Pio of Pietrelcina

Former Abortion Doc: Abortion is “Murder, Society Can’t Go On This Way”
http://www.lifenews.com/2013/09/12/former-abortion-doc-abortion-is-murder-society-cant-go-on-this-way/

Francis' Message on Church's Concept of Family
"The future of society, and concretely of Italian society, is rooted in the elderly and in young people"
http://www.zenit.org/en/articles/francis-message-on-church-s-concept-of-family

Pope Reflects on 'Criminal' Side to Gossip 
http://www.zenit.org/en/articles/pope-reflects-on-criminal-side-to-gossip

Our Lady of Sorrows

O tender Mother, unutterable was thy grief in finding thyself deprived of thy dear Son, and then in beholding Him dead in thy arms!
+St. Paul of the Cross 

I compassionate thee, O most sorrowful Mother!
+St. Alphonsus Maria de Liguori

We consider ourselves a "civilized" nation?

civ·i·lized:
Showing evidence of moral and intellectual advancement; humane, ethical, and reasonable.

Thousands of Children Die in the U.S. From Another Chemical Weapon, Abortion 
http://www.lifenews.com/2013/09/10/thousands-of-children-die-in-the-u-s-from-another-chemical-weapon-abortion/

Brutality of Abortion Continues Even After Babies are Killed in Abortions
http://www.lifenews.com/2013/09/11/brutality-of-abortion-continues-even-after-babies-are-killed-in-abortions/

Abortion Practitioners Played Catch With Bodies of Babies Killed in Abortion http://www.lifenews.com/2013/09/10/abortion-practitioners-played-catch-with-bodies-of-babies-killed-in-abortion/ 

 

Prayers and sacrifice must be used as the most effective spiritual weapons in the war against war, and like all weapons they must be used with deliberate aim: not just with a vague aspiration for peace and security, but against violence and against war.
~Thomas Merton

National Day of Remembrance for Aborted Children
http://www.abortionmemorials.com/

Syria's Nuncio Sees Positive Response to Pope Francis' Initiative
Expresses Belief of Positive Influence on International Community's Response http://www.zenit.org/en/articles/syria-s-nuncio-sees-positive-response-to-pope-francis-initiative

In Honor of Grandparents and the Elderly
"Human frailty, which becomes more visible in old age, demonstrates that we all need one another and that we are mutually enriched."
http://www.zenit.org/en/articles/in-honor-of-grandparents-and-the-elderly

Pope Francis at Angelus: Peace requires time and patience; No to wars waged to sell arms http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2013/09/08/pope_francis_at_angelus:_peace_requires_time_and_patience;_no_to_wars/en1-726725

The Birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Vouchsafe that I may praise thee, O sacred Virgin; give me strength against thine enemies, and against the enemy of the whole human race. Give me strength humbly to pray to thee.

Give me strength to praise thee in prayer with all my powers, through the merits of thy most sacred nativity, which for the entire Christian world was a birth of joy, the hope and solace of its life.

When thou wast born, O most holy Virgin, then was the world made light.

Happy is thy stock, holy thy root, and blessed thy fruit, for thou alone as a virgin, filled with the Holy Spirit, didst merit to conceive thy God, as a virgin to bear Thy God, as a virgin to bring Him forth, and after His birth to remain a virgin.

Have mercy therefore upon me a sinner, and give me aid, O Lady, so that just as thy nativity, glorious from the seed of Abraham, sprung from the tribe of Juda, illustrious from the stock of David, didst announce joy to the entire world, so may it fill me with true joy and cleanse me from every sin.

Pray for me, O Virgin most prudent, that the gladsome joys of thy most helpful nativity may put a cloak over all my sins.

O holy Mother of God, flowering as the lily, pray to thy sweet Son for me, a wretched sinner. Amen.

+St. Anselm

"Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple."
Lk 14:27

Love is the Cross, and the Cross is Love.
+St. Thérèse of Lisieux

Pope Francis: homily at peace vigil

http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2013/09/07/pope_francis:_homily_at_peace_vigil/en1-726626

Prayer vigil for peace with Pope Francis: Schedule

http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2013/09/07/prayer_vigil_for_peace_with_pope_francis:_schedule/en1-726478

Pax Christi International Movement for Peace Reflections, Prayers and Action Ideas Addressing On-going Conflict in Syria

http://www.paxchristi.org.uk/documents/Reflections_Prayers_Syria.pdf

PRAY FOR PEACE!

"If my people, upon whom my name has been pronounced, humble themselves and pray, and seek my face and turn from their evil ways, I will hear them from heaven and pardon their sins and heal their land."
2 Chronicles 7:14

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God."
Matthew 5:9

"Christians, instead of arming themselves with swords, extend their hands in prayer."
+St. Athanasius

"Put your sword back into its sheath, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword."
Matthew 26:52

"The God of Peace is never glorified by human violence."
~Thomas Merton

The world would have peace if only men of politics would follow the Gospels. +St. Bridget of Sweden

Archbishop Mamberti's Address to Vatican Diplomatic Corps
http://www.zenit.org/en/articles/archbishop-mamberti-s-address-to-vatican-diplomatic-corps

Week of Prayer for Syria: Day 7

Give us hope in a future of peace, founded on justice for all
http://www.zenit.org/en/articles/week-of-prayer-for-syria-day-7

Diplomatic Corps Called to the Vatican
Ambassadors to Be Briefed on Day of Prayer and Fasting for Syria http://www.zenit.org/en/articles/diplomatic-corps-called-to-the-vatican

Week of Prayer for Syria: Day 6

Inspire within the universal Church compassion for the Syrian people http://www.zenit.org/en/articles/week-of-prayer-for-syria-day-6

I trust in the mercy of God forever and ever. PS 52:10

Pope Francis: renewed appeal for peace (full text)http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2013/09/04/pope_francis:_renewed_appeal_for_peace_(full_text)/en1-725418

US Bishops' Statement on Day of Prayer for Peace in Syria
"May our prayers, fasting, and advocacy move our nation to promote a peaceful resolution of the conflict in Syria
http://www.zenit.org/en/articles/us-bishops-statement-on-day-of-prayer-for-peace-in-syria

Patients Beware: Problems with POLST
(Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment)
http://www.lifenews.com/2013/09/03/patients-beware-problems-with-polst-physician-orders-for-life-sustaining-treatment/

Fetal Anesthesia Expert: Unborn Children Feel Pain, Even Before Viability http://www.lifenews.com/2013/09/03/fetal-anesthesia-expert-unborn-children-feel-pain-even-before-viability/

Week of Prayer for Syria: Day 5

Convert the hearts of those who have taken up arms, and protect those who work for peace http://www.zenit.org/en/articles/week-of-prayer-for-syria-day-5

Memorial of Saint Gregory the Great, Pope and Doctor of the Church

"When we attend to the needs of those in want, we give them what is theirs, not ours. More than performing works of mercy, we are paying a debt of justice."
+Pope St. Gregory the Great

Week of Prayer for Syria: Day 4

Help the nations that border Syria, as they welcome the refugees
http://www.zenit.org/en/articles/week-of-prayer-for-syria-day-4

Because all of humanity is created in the image and likeness of God, we are all brothers and sisters; therefore there must be no prejudice, nor hatred toward one another.
May the God of infinite mercy open the eyes of our hearts that we might recognize Him in our brothers and sisters and so love them as we love Him!

Happy Labor Day!

"He who prays as he labors lifts his heart to God with his hands."
 +St. Bernard of Clairvaux

Week of Prayer for Syria: Day 3

Comfort those who mourn their loved ones
http://www.zenit.org/en/articles/week-of-prayer-for-syria-day-3?utm_campaign=dailyhtml&utm_medium=email&utm_source=dispatch

Pope: Angelus appeal for peace (full text)http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2013/09/01/pope:_angelus_appeal_for_peace_(full_text)/en1-724673

Let us pray for peace: peace in the world and in each of our hearts.
Pope Francis‏@Pontifex on Twitter