"We need heralds of the Gospel who are experts in humanity, who know the depths of the heart of many today, who share in his hopes and joys, his worries and his sadness, and at the same time are contemplatives, in love with God. For this, new saints are needed."
-St. John Paul II
Today's Reflection:
God has given us life at this time to be the "new saints" and the "new evangelizers" who will proclaim His love to the world.
How is God calling you to fulfill this very mission in your own life?
"In the long run, is there any other way of handing on the Gospel than by transmitting to another person one's personal experience of faith?"
-Evangelii Nuntiandi 46
Today's Reflection:
Personal testimony remains the most effective means of evangelization. Through it we inform, instruct, and insure others with the truths of Sacred Scripture and the teachings of the Catholic Church.
What does your personal testimony say? Are you ready to share it this week?
Christ the Redeemer Statue overlooking Rio de Janeiro (Wikicommons)
Eduardo Verastegui, a Mexican Catholic actor and pro-life advocate, is planning to build the world's tallest statue of Jesus Christ in Mexico as a message of “faith, love, hope, and peace” in a country wracked by violence.
Not everyone can make the long trek to Washington, DC on January 18 for the March for Life, even though millions of pro-life Americans will sincerely wish they could be there! But there is plenty that can be accomplished from afar that will not only buoy the marchers, but will promote the cause for life and make valuable reparation to God for the grave sin of abortion.
Faithful advocates for life need to spend a little extra time in prayer right now as Justices on the U.S. Supreme Court continue to deliberate over whether or not to take on an Indiana pro-life law that would bring the abortion issue before the new Court for the first time.
We recently received a scathing letter from a Holy Yoga instructor who took us to task for our position against the practice of “Christian yoga.” She believes that because a man in her class asked her to help him accept Jesus as his savior, this proves that God is working in her classes. Is this true? Yes! But not for the reasons she thinks . . .
Forcing the culture of death onto the general population remains an unpopular choice for politicians. In the same week that Ireland’s new law legalizing abortion got off to a rough start, the state of Hawaii discovered the same problem when it tried to kick off its new assisted suicide law – there just aren’t enough doctors interested in ending lives.
"For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching,
but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own liking, and will turn away from listening
to the truth and wander into myths."
-2 Timothy 4:3-4
Today's Reflection:
In light of this passage, how should we evaluate what is presented to us from the vantage point of our Catholic Faith. Are you currently influenced negatively by things in your life that are contrary to our Faith? What are those things?
Despite all the hype surrounding the repeal of Ireland’s abortion ban, the first week of legal abortion in that country found only 179 doctors willing to perform the procedure with the remaining 95 percent saying they want no part in it.