When we lived in Indiana and attended St. Boniface, on Marian Feast Days we would have the chance to consecrate ourselves or re-consecrate ourselves to Our Lady, using the consecration from the Knights of the Immaculata.

O Immaculata, Queen of heaven and earth, Refuge of sinners and our most loving Mother, God has willed to entrust the entire order of mercy
to you.

I, _____________________, a repentant sinner, cast myself at your feet humbly imploring you to take me with all that I am and have, wholly
to yourself as your possession and property. Please make of me, of all my powers of soul and body, of my whole life, death and eternity, whatever most pleases you. If it pleases you, use all that I am and have without reserve, wholly to accomplish what was said of you: “She will crush your head,” and “You alone have destroyed all heresies in the whole world.”

Let me be a fit instrument in your immaculate and merciful hands for introducing and increasing your glory to the maximum in all the many
strayed and indifferent souls, and thus help extend as far as possible the blessed kingdom of the most Sacred Heart of Jesus. For wherever you
enter you obtain the grace of conversion and growth in holiness, since it is through your hands that all graces come to us from the most Sacred Heart of Jesus.

 

After the consecration prayers, Father would lead us in a hymn to Our Lady.  During the summer of 2005, Father picked “Stainless the Maiden” as the hymn we would sing. I was pregnant with Karol at the time, and the hymn really struck me.  To this day, it remains one of my most favorite hymns.

 

Stainless the maiden whom he chose for mother; Nine months she waited, bearing Christ our brother; Think of her gladness when at last she saw him, God in a manger, Bethlehem a heaven!

Lantern in darkness, when the sick are sighing, Threshold of brightness comfort for the dying, High she is holding for a world adoring, Hope of the nations, Jesus Christ our brother.

Jesus has conquered; to his side he raised her; Queen of the angels, every saint has praised her. Yet, in her splendor, Mary goes on drawing Sinners and exiles to their promised glory.

Come sons and daughters, through the ages singing, Praising the Virgin, joys and sorrows bringing. Clothed with the sunshine, Sion’s fairest flower, Spouse of the Spirit, be to us a mother.

 

 

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

Jesus then said to him, “Put your sword back into its place; for all who take the sword will perish by the sword.” Matthew 26:52

Back during the primaries, I was told I am a bad Catholic because I supported a candidate who was not 100% pro-life (according to the accusers). Now, most of those accusers are telling me that under penalty of sin, I am obligated to vote for a candidate who supports abortion, because he is less bad than the current president, and has a chance to win, unlike say a third party candidate.

When did the Church start saying that I had to support evil? I have never heard any moral analysis that demands voting for a “lesser of two evils”, is there an authentic one out there?

 

 

 

 

#1 Protect the Weakest Amongst Us: The Unborn

Address the preeminent requirement to protect the weakest in our midst—innocent unborn children—by restricting and bringing to an end the destruction of unborn children through abortion.

#2 Reject a Culture of Violence

Keep our nation from turning to violence to address fundamental problems—a million abortions each year to deal with unwanted pregnancies, euthanasia and assisted suicide to deal with the burdens of illness and disability, the destruction of human embryos in the name of research, the use of the death penalty to combat crime, and imprudent resort to war to address international disputes.

#3 Uphold the Natural Family and Its Natural Place in Society

Define the central institution of marriage as a union between one man and one woman, and provide better support for family life morally, socially, and economically, so that our nation helps parents raise their children with respect for life, sound moral values, and an ethic of stewardship and responsibility.

#4 Just Immigration Reform

Achieve comprehensive immigration reform that secures our borders, treats immigrant workers fairly, offers an earned path to citizenship, respects the rule of law, and addresses the factors that compel people to leave their own countries.

#5 A Well-Ordered Society: Education & Economics

Help families and children overcome poverty: ensuring access to and choice in education, as well as decent work at fair, living wages and adequate assistance for the vulnerable in our nation, while also helping to overcome widespread hunger and poverty around the world, especially in the areas of development assistance, debt relief, and international trade.

#6 Ethical & Comprehensive Health Care Reform

Provide health care for the growing number of people without it, while respecting human life, human dignity, and religious freedom in our health care system.

#7 Oppose All Forms of Discrimination

Continue to oppose policies that reflect prejudice, hostility toward immigrants, religious bigotry, and other forms of discrimination.

#8 Protect Religion’s Pursuit of the Common Good

Encourage families, community groups, economic structures, and government to work together to overcome poverty, pursue the common good, and care for creation, with full respect for religious groups and their right to address social needs in accord with their basic moral convictions.

#9 Application of the Just War Theory

Establish and comply with moral limits on the use of military force—examining for what purposes it may be used, under what authority, and at what human cost—and work for a “responsible transition” to end the war in Iraq.

#10 Promote Global Solidarity

Join with others around the world to pursue peace, protect human rights and religious liberty, and advance economic justice and care for creation.

 
From St. Peter’s List Website: Listers, we turn now to the third part of the USCCB’s document on Faithful Citizenship.The following goals will be quoted verbatim, but the titles are added. For further reading, please check out our threads on poverty, politics, and Catholic Social Teaching.

“Dear brothers and sisters, the martyrdom of St. John the Baptist reminds us, Christians of our time, that we can not stoop to compromises with the love of Christ, his Word, the Truth. The Truth is the Truth and there is no compromise. Christian life requires, so to speak, the daily “martyrdom” of fidelity to the Gospel, that is the courage to let Christ grow in us and direct our thinking and our actions.” – Pope Benedict XVI 8/29/2012

 

I’d just like to point out that Blessed John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI have begged for peace to prevail. Blessed John Paul II even told GWB that there was still time for peace, and that plea fell on deaf ears. Catholics it is time to quit subscribing to a political party and their warmongering and time to start living the beatitudes.