The Catholic Defender: 54 Day Novena for America Day 12
Let us begin, In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Make an Act of Contrition. You can use any form; simply ask God to pardon your sins and make a firm purpose of amendment not to commit them again.
Our Lady of America, you asked that the United States of America ”be the country dedicated to my purity” and that your children in America “be the children of my Pure Heart.”
Please intercede for us that we may be granted this grace and morally good leaders who will act according to the revealed will of God and the foundational principles of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States of America.
When America is strong, the world is safer. Mary, Queen of Heaven and Earth, Intercede for us, your children in America, as we pray for our nation, our military, and our families.
We pray for our government leaders, that they will make just decisions and govern us in accordance with truth and the principles upon which our nation was founded.
We ask protection for those serving in the military and for our first responders. Bless them and their families as they sacrifice themselves to keep us safe.
We pray for our families. In a culture that seeks to destroy the morals and values upon which this country was founded, may our families be united in faith and charity.
Reclaim this great country for your Son’s glory, that under His protection and guidance, we may stand together as a people of faith and trust in Him for the changes we seek.
O Blessed Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, We praise You for Your Goodness. We thank You for Your mercy.
We ask forgiveness for our offenses against You. We seek Your loving care for all our needs and requests.
You have blessed our nation, and given us countless gifts.
Our freedom and the ability to seek Your will every day are among our dearest possessions.
But in turning away from You, we not only risk the loss of all our country has stood for, but we also offend You, who are all good and deserving of all our love. We offer to You the novena we have made as Americans.
We ask that You hear us, and through Your fathomless mercy, convert the hearts of our people and bring them back to You.
May our land once more ring out with praise of You and the most loving Virgin Mary, to whom we have entrusted the petitions in this novena. Most Holy God, we thank You for hearing us. May our hearts praise You forevermore. Amen.
"Dear Jesus, allow the Truth of Holy Love to flood the heart of this nation. Place Truth in the center of every heart. Return this nation to its rightful place under the Dominion of God. Amen."
Dear Jesus, inspire the hearts of legislators to bring fairness into every law. In so doing, inspire lawmakers to remove contradiction from laws concerning life in the womb, so that no one is forced to support contraception or abortion against his free will. Do not allow religious freedom to be trampled under the feet of those who favor death in the womb. Amen.
"Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil; May God rebuke him, we humbly pray; And do thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Host, by the power of God, thrust into hell Satan and all evil spirits who wander through the world for the ruin of souls. Amen."
St. Teresa of Avila (1515-1582) encouraged Christians in her day instructing us when the Devil wants to remind us of our past, that we can remind him of his future!
Matthew 25:41 states, "Then he (Jesus) will say to those at his left hand, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels."
Pray the rosary daily for protection and to defeat the forces of Satan.
This battle between the Woman (The Virgin Mary) can be found in the twelfth chapter of Revelation. Verse 17 tells it all:
"Then the dragon was angry with the woman, and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and bear testimony to Jesus. And he stood on the sand of the sea."
It was 27 January, 2007 while serving in Iraq, I had been out with the Scouts as we went to a number of villages looking for weapons.
That had been a long day that was very beneficial to us as we were able to find weapons and get some key information.
Once we returned back to Base, I was able to take off and go to a scheduled class I was prepared to give.
The following is what I wrote on the Defenders of the Catholic Faith Message Board:
“Beginning this morning, I was outside the wire on mission and didn’t get back until after 18:00 hours. I was in full battle rattle when I got to my room and grabbed my computer and speaker system and made my way to the Division Chapel which was about a mile away. I had to go by foot. I got there to find Father was there with the RCIA class which was real glad I was able to get there. Even though I was 45 minutes late, everyone stayed the whole time to watch the DVD on Mary. That was so cool. A non-denominational preacher happened to be in another room became interested in the subject matter so after I dismissed the class we talked for another hour. It was a good night of RCIA action!!!”
As I walked back to my unit, it was night time, very dark. I heard the explosions in the distance, the gun fire. I reflected on some of the questions I covered at this evenings class.
I have Soldiers who were raised as Mormons, Church of Christ, Lutherans, Anglicans, Seventh Day Adventist, Baptists, Non-Denominational, Pentecostals, former Catholics, and non-believers.
They had various opinions based from what they were raised so their questions are very interesting as they were all sharing their journey to the Catholic Faith.
In one way, it reminded me of the first Christians who were Baptized that first day (Acts 2:41) St. Luke writes, “Those who accepted his (St. Peter’s) message were baptized, and about three thousand persons were added that day”.
I thought it was cool that we were continuing the work that Christ commissioned the Church to do.
The teaching on Mary was tonight’s main discussion and the Doctrine of the Immaculate Conception was a main issue. What a great reflection of the love of God and I continued to walk along my journey back to my room.
I thought of Genesis 3:15, “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; He will strike at your head, while you strike at his heal”.
I thought about that for a while, certainly God knew who this woman was when he told Satan this forewarning prophecy. As I thought about this text, this woman can not be Eve as I’ve heard some think because her offspring did not conquer the serpent.
It was Jesus who conquered sin and death, St. Paul wrote, “For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor present things, nor depth, nor any other creature will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38).
I felt that the Virgin Mary was the only one who could be the Woman of Genesis 3:15. St. John really presents a chapter in Revelation based on Genesis 3:15, Revelation 12 represents the woman, the serpent (dragon) and the offspring, the child Jesus. This is the belief of the Early Church Fathers and the constant teaching of the Catholic Church.
Resting in this truth, my heart just came alive. I continued to reflect on the Immaculate Conception remembering that Gabriel was sent to tell Mary that she was this Woman.
This is very important. Compare the appearance of Gabriel to the Virgin Mary with when the Angel appeared to St. John. Revelation 22:8, St. John writes, “It is I, John, who heard and saw these things, and when I heard and saw them I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed them to me. But he said to me, ‘Don’t! I am a fellow servant of yours and your brothers the prophets and of those who keep the message of this book, Worship God”.
I thought about how St. John was with Jesus for three years learning and hearing the Lord’s teaching first hand. He was one of the Twelve, yet he lost himself with the appearance of the Angel.
Compare this with Mary’s response to Gabriel, an Archangel. The Angel first greets Mary with “Hail, Full of grace, the Lord is with you” (Luke 1:28). I recalled the original Greek “Kecharitomene” means “having been” or “have already been” graced, Mary is “Full of Grace”, a past perfect participle.
Because God knew who the Woman of Genesis 3:15 would be, at the appointed time, God prepares the Virgin Mary from her very beginning to be the Mother of Jesus.
This does not mean that she didn’t need Jesus, she absolutely did, it is when she was free of Original Sin. It is a singular grace by God to the Virgin Mary that benefits all mankind.
She was protected by God from the Devil from the moment of her conception. St. John writes, “When the dragon saw that it had been thrown to the earth, it pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child (Jesus). But the woman was given the two wings of the great eagle, so that she could fly to her place in the desert, where, far from the serpent, she was taken care of for a year, two years, and a half year. The serpent, however, spewed a torrent of water out of his mouth after the woman to sweep her away with the current. But the earth helped the woman and opened it’s mouth and swallowed the flood that the dragon became angry with the woman and went off to wage war against the rest of her offspring, those who keep God’s commandments and bear witness to Jesus” (Rev 12:13-17).
The Virgin Mary appears to St. Catherine Laboure in 1830 giving us the “Miraculous Medal” that shows Mary standing on the moon and the Devil under her feet.
St Augustine said (354-430), “Since the devil is the head of original sin, this head it was that Mary crushed: for sin never had any entry into the soul of this Blessed Virgin, which was consequently free from all stain”.
As I kept thinking about this, I just wanted to reach out to God and thank him, even in this place. He has given us so much.
I couldn’t help thinking of Our Lady of Lourdes, the Virgin Mary appeared to St. Bernadette Soubirous identifying herself, “I am the Immaculate Conception”.
I thought of the wonders God has worked at Lourdes that even today miracles are happening. I understand that several thousand people go to Lourdes France everyday from around the world.
God promised us signs and wonders through his presence among his Church. As I walked into our Orderly Room, I checked in so they would know I was accounted for.
I stopped in talking with the duty personnel and I was overjoyed from all that I was involved in this night.
I could still hear mortar fire in the distance, machine gun fire sporadic, every now and then a real loud explosion, yet it could not dampen my spirit. I dedicated my prayer for those who were in the midst of the fight.
In Looking back, what a blessing it was to participate in the journey of so many people wanting to become Catholic. Despite the danger we lived, I was consoled with this truth: “You belong to God, children, and you have conquered them, for the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world” (1 John 4:4).
James 1:17 states, "all good giving and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no alteration or shadow caused by change."
O My God, I adore Thee and I love Thee with all my heart. I thank Thee for having created me, for having made me a Catholic and for having watched over me this day. Pardon me for the evil I have done this day; and if I have done any good, deign to accept it. Watch over me while I take my rest and deliver me from danger. May Thy grace be always with me. Amen
Integrity is so important, honesty is a must.
I was raised that America were the good guys wearing the white hats, we were the good guys.
As Americans, we should always give our country a positive image. Much like being a Catholic, we should always give our faith a positive image.
God our Father,
Giver of life,
we entrust the United States of America to Your loving care.
You are the rock on which this nation was founded.
You alone are the true source of our cherished rights to life,
liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
Reclaim this land for Your glory and dwell among Your people.
Send Your Spirit to touch the hearts of our nation´s leaders.
Open their minds to the great worth of human life
and the responsibilities that accompany human freedom.
Remind Your people that true happiness is rooted in
seeking and doing Your will.
Through the intercession of Mary Immaculate,
Patroness of our land, grant us the courage to reject the "culture of death."
Lead us into a new millennium of life. We ask this through Christ Our Lord.
Amen.
The Memorare
Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thine intercession was left unaided.
Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my mother; to thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen.
"Dear Jesus, allow the Truth of Holy Love to flood the heart of this nation. Place Truth in the center of every heart. Return this nation to its rightful place under the Dominion of God. Amen."
Virgin Mary, Mother of fair love, Mother who never refuses to come to the aid of a child in need, Mother whose hands never cease to serve your beloved children because they are moved by the divine love and immense mercy that exist in your heart, cast your compassionate eyes upon me and see the snarl of knots that exists in my life. You know very well how desperate I am, my pain, and how I am bound by these knots. Mary, Mother to whom God entrusted the undoing of the knots in the lives of his children, I entrust into your hands the ribbon of my life. No one, not even the evil one himself, can take it away from your precious care. In your hands there is no knot that cannot be undone. Powerful Mother, by your grace and intercessory power with Your Son and My Liberator, Jesus, take into your hands today this knot.
I beg you to undo it for the glory of God, once for all. You are my hope. O my Lady, you are the only consolation God gives me, the fortification of my feeble strength, the enrichment of my destitution, and, with Christ, the freedom from my chains. Hear my plea. Keep me, guide me, protect me, o safe refuge!
Today, the 5 Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary.
