Everyone knows by now that the Holy Father asked for prayers and fasting on Saturday, September 7, the vigil of Our Lady's birthday.
To this end, brothers and sisters, I have decided to proclaim for the whole Church on 7 September next, the vigil of the birth of Mary, Queen of Peace, a day of fasting and prayer for peace in Syria, the Middle East, and throughout the world, and I also invite each person, including our fellow Christians, followers of other religions and all men of good will, to participate, in whatever way they can, in this initiative. - Angelus addressI've been preparing for Our Lady's Birthday, offering my rosary for Syria. I look forward to the vigil fast.
At Fatima, Our Lady requested at each visit that the children pray the rosary every day, for peace, for an end to the war.
What I don't understand now, is how bombing Syria in retaliation and as punishment for using chemical weapons is a remedy? How can bombing and killing more people make for peace?
1pm - 6pm EDT I know where I will be, what I will be doing and what I will be not eating. If Oh bomb ah doesn't bring down the house first.
ReplyDeleteIn answer to your (rhetorical) question: it cannot make for peace. I have no idea what his hidden agenda is here. Can Obama's actions be merely his effort to save face? And I thought he was going to bring us out of Middle Eastern conflicts. What a crock.
ReplyDeleteThe coming conflict with Syria has nothing to do with "using chemical weapons against its own people" (complete B.S.; what have they to gain from that?), it has everything to do with the U.S. wanting to control the flow of oil in that region and protecting the petrodollar.
ReplyDeleteWhat I find comical about the whole situation (if it's not too distasteful to find anything comical in this) is that somehow this issue has managed to unite the President and the House Speaker and other Republicans ... keep in mind that this might be THE most unpopular thing Obama has ever done/planned to do. And yet, John Boehner and his boys are right on board.
ReplyDeleteI know one person who insists that we can't just "sit by" while Assad uses chemical weapons against his people. She loves Obama. But I said she's right, we can't just "sit by", but at the same time the only thing a military action could do is: a) kill a bunch of people and bring the Assad regime down, thus allowing the Islamist radicals to come to power or b) kill a bunch of people and not topple the Assad regime, thus ensuring that there will NEVER be any hope of making peace (if there ever was) and leaving a dictator with WMDs who has every reason to hate us.
The general idea among those "in the know" is that if the rebels win, they will be somehow a moderate and democratic power. But anyone who's not an idiot knows that with Assad gone, this would be the death knell for all Christians, Alawis, and other minorities in the country.
The ONLY way out is through prayer here. Really.
I agree with you Mercury that the only way through all these is prayer. May God protect us and guide us through all these conflicts and may He soften the hearts of those who have the power to stop the war.
ReplyDeleteMake Peace today, with someone you are not at peace with. Each of us, commence the revolution of Love, one at a time, TODAY.
ReplyDeleteGod of mercy and compassion, hear the cries of your people suffering in conflict. strengthen those who are living under threat and in terror, comfort those who mourn their dead, melt and mould the hearts of those who pursue war.
oh God of Love and hope, instil in all leaders your spirit, to choose peace instead of retaliation to seek to make peace and calm
Our Lady Untier of Knots, Pray for us. Queen of All Nations, Pray for us.
Universal Catholic Boy -
ReplyDeleteSacred Heart in his hands
Inspired by painting Jesus of St. Teresa - by Terry Nelson, 2011 acrylic on canvas, 9" x 12"-http://upyourstreet.blogspot.co.uk/
This is my heart
I leave in your care
Handle it gently
It held great despair
In the garden
that night
I asked that
the Cup
From me,
be removed.
And to pass me
right by
as the agony felt
was internally
CRIED.
For this pain
had no cure
for it was for you
I stood up,
and took
this
sorrow filled cup,
was mocked
by the crowd
And crowned
with thorns
As I walked the
Way of sadness
of suffering
of grief
Via Dolorosa
is the name
of the street
So hold onto it gently
Treat it with tender,
soft
Touches
of prayer
And keep me in mind
in the trials
of your life,
and remember
the painful way
I strode,
to be crucified.
For it was for you
that
I suffered and died
for my Way is narrow
but is the Way that
SUCCEEDS
and your final reward
is JOY
ever lasting
filled happiness,
in my eternal
paradise
in my forever
PEACE.
Donald,
ReplyDeletespeaking as citizen of North America but not as an "American" I'd say you're assessment is pretty much spot on. Same old same old old glory. [I'll duck and cover now].
Mercury,
now that analysis makes sense.
Theraputix,
well said. I know I have people I should make peace with. Doing so may would have direct and perhaps indirect spiritual effect. Lord, have mercy.
Thereaputix, per the poem:
nicely done. A lovely tribute to Terry's work and a beautiful sentiment for the days we are in.
Juan Briones,
poorly done. Insensitive commercial opportunism. Who knows, your religious supplies may be great. Your sense of e-etiquette, not so much.
Hello Owen :-)
ReplyDeleteI have several myself and have reached out- so hopefully God willing, it will be returned and a strong sense of spiritual adhesion will ensue, like ripples in a big pond :-)
I STRONGLY sense this work of Terry's is HEAVENLY ANNOINTED for use for kids - particularly who are experiencing SSA ideations in youth- I hope some day it can be reproduced as a simple bookmark, and maybe my wee poem could be used also - for Courage groups /schools / pastoral carers and even families concerned about pre-pubscent kids, as a possible source of spiritual thinking /support /encouragement.
Well Mr Nelson are you ok with that? :-) Can I reproduce it, please? :-)
I went to Mass today (Sept 7) at the nearby abbey and for weekday Mass, it was pretty full. It made me smile.
ReplyDelete