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There is no question that as Catholics living in the culture of our day, we are facing unprecedented challenges. I could write a whole series of blogs about those challenges, but my guess is you know many of them already. Recently, for example, our apostolate was unable to lease space because of a usage clause that prohibited religious purposes.

Not long ago we featured on our program, Father Joseph Esper, author of the book, Spiritual Dangers of the 21st Century . In this book, he identified the stages of persecution as follows: 

Stage 1   The group is stereotyped.

Stage 2  The group is marginalized

Stage 3  The group is villified.

Stage 4  The group is criminalized.

Stage 5  Outright persecution ensues.

Father Esper stated that researchers tell us Christians are hovering between Stage 3 and Stage 4. Some would argue, however, that Catholics are hovering between Stages 4 and 5. With the demise of the federal government's "Don't Ask/Don't Tell" policy on September 20, 2011, the  continued legislative push for gay marriages to be recognized across state lines, the Obama administration's hammering  to overturn the conscience clause, Catholics are in the cross-hairs.

So much so, that Francis Cardinal George (Archdiocese of Chicago) stated, "I expect to die in my bed, my successor will die in prison, and his successor will die a martyr." Some wonder if his statement is more prophesy than prediction.

The question, therefore, ought not to be, "Are we facing challenges?" but rather, "How do we meet the challenges we are facing?" I think the answer to this question can be summed up as follows:

1.   Admit where we are. George Weigel in an address at St. Patrick's Church, London, entitled "Benedict XVI and the Future of the West," said this: "A decisive moment has been reached in the history of the Catholic Church; the catechetical-devotional Catholicism of the counter-reformation is giving way to what may be called Evangelical Catholicism." He reminded listeners that the Church itself is mission and always about the business of pointing to Jesus Christ as the answer. We must realize that, as laity, we are called to mission activity.

2.   Prepare ourselves for the struggle. Many would read this as a call to stockpile food, create safety bunkers, and head for the hills. While such strategies may have value, we must remember that ultimately the battle is not with "flesh and blood," but with "powers and principalities" (Eph 6:12).  As St. Paul instructs in Ephesians, we need to equip ourselves with the helmet of salvation, the breastplate of justice, the belt of truth, the shield of faith, the sword of the Word of God, and the boots of zeal to propogate the Gospel. We do this through our time of personal prayer, attending the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, receiving the Sacraments, and striving to live a virtuous life. Maintaining holy friendships and participating in activities that fortify and strengthen our resolve increase our ability to meet the challenges that confront us.

3.   Do not give in to fear, discouragement, or anxiety. These three tactics are the most frequently tried strategies of the evil one. He seeks to disarm us, paralyze us, and overtake us through them. When they tempt you, see them for what they are and call upon the name of Jesus. Quoting Scripture is invaluable in these moments. Of course, this presupposes that you have several good passages committed to memory (Tip: Start with "one-liners" and then move on to more complex passages. A good beginning are these words of Jesus, "Get thee behind me, Satan;" and St. John's words,"Stronger is he who is in me than he who is in the world.").

4.   Read the lives of the saints, especially the martyr saints. These holy men and women show us that "nothing is impossible with God," even giving the ultimate witness. Ask them to intercede for you as you seek to live  your life as a witness of the truth in this our day and time. Their lives also give us keen insight and inspiration regarding the realities of trial, persecution, and travail.

5.   Know that God is with you. Jesus tells us He will never abandon us. And He won't . The Holy Spirit dwells with the soul that is in the state of grace and provides every spiritual blessing in the heavens we need to live out our call and mission. In addition, the peace that surpasses understanding wraps us in the certainty of God's presence and love. He never calls us to a task or a mission without giving us the grace we need to meet it. He is our Father and our provider.

6.   Be joyful. There is a certain joy that accompanies struggle and challenge. It is the joy in knowing that when our sufferings are united to the Cross of Jesus, we share in the merit accomplished through that Cross. Such is the Father's will and pleasure. We find something else in that Cross as well: power. The Cross of Christ is the very  Power of God (1 Cor.1:18). So, when the cross is presented to you, rejoice! God's own power can be yours!

These words of St. Pio of Pietrelcina give us good advice:

Being subjected to a trial is not under a soul's control at all, and no one can directly do anything to be subjected to a trial; it depends exclusively on God's will. I advise you to remain peaceful and not to be the least bit concerned about what will happen. Everything will be resolved to the glory of God and the sanctification of your soul.

...Give infinite freedom to the action of divine grace in you, and let it always serve to be for his glory and for the salvation of your soul and the souls of others. Never forget that heavenly favors are granted not only for your sanctification but also for the sanctification of others.  (To Raffaelina Cerase, Feb. 23, 1915, taken from Padre Pio's Spiritual Direction for Every Day).

 

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Today on Women of Grace Live, Father Edmund Sylvia, C.S.C. shared this beautiful prayer to Our Lady of Victory. I promised our listeners I would put it on our WOGBLOG. I pray it blesses you abundantly!

Prayer to Our Lady of Victory

O sweet and gentle Lady, Immaculate Mother of God,

we beg you to be our Mother now and all the days of our life.

shield us Mother Mary with your holy mantle that nothing of the

enemy could harm or molest us.

Ask your Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ to spare us

from any calamities that will cause our life misery.

Pray for us that we may lead a life pleasing to Him,

and when our end comes present us to Him and

may we live in His kingdom forever and ever,

Amen.

Our Lady of Victories, please pray for us.

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Dear Friends,

It is with great joy and zeal that Women of Grace® presents its new groundbreaking website (www.womenofgrace.com) to the women of the world today, on the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary.  We hope that you will help us to share the good news about this exciting new extension of the Women of Grace® apostolate.

The new website uses various aspects of electronic communications to complement our mission to transform the world, one woman at a time, by affirming women in their dignity and vocation as daughters of God and in their gift of authentic femininity. Through on-line video and audio presentations, podcasts, document libraries, blogs, and dozens of other resources, Catholic women will find the information and the inspiration they need to live out their feminine genius in their marriages and families, professions and careers, and in the world at large.

One of the most exciting features of this groundbreaking new website is GracePlace, a social communications network that unites women from around the world in a virtual community setting. Women of Grace® is one of the first Catholic women's outreach to use this high-powered social network platform. It marks a significant moment in the history of the apostolate and its ability to achieve its mission.

In GracePlace, women can network with other sisters in Christ as near as their own parish communities or with women who live half a world away. Discussion groups, a shared resources library, leadership development, training tips, and events calendars provide just a glimpse of how faithful daughters of the Church can come together for encouragement, inspiration, instruction, information, and restoration. Simply stated, we are confident that all Catholic women will find a home at GracePlace.

Updated daily, there is always something new at the Women of Grace website.  I hope you will visit us often!

I faithfully remain, your sister in Christ,

Johnnette Benkovic

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450 women gathered at Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church in Indialantic, FL the weekend of September 23-25 for the Women of Grace 11th National Conference. It was a time of prayer, healing, hope, and inspiration. The Conference theme was "Healed for Holiness: Mending the Wounds of the Heart." Johnnette Benkovic (president and founder), Father Edmund Sylvia, C.S.C. (chaplain and theological adviser), Father Philip Scott, F.J. (conference speaker), and Mary Jo Anderson (Catholic journalist and commentator) gave poignant talks and testimonies concerning the transformative power of God the Father's love, the gift of the Blessed Virgin Mary's spiritual beatitude, and today's culture's urgent need for the feminine genius to be lived and expressedin families, institutions, and the public square.

Brenda Dooley of Lafayette, LA summed up her conference experience by stating, "In a profound and spiritual revelation I realized that God heals the child in me in order to mature my womanhood/motherhood and in turn how He can touch a small insignificant life like mine and use it to heal the world beginning with one person, one family, one community, one country."

Women in attendance represented three continents (North America, Africa, and Europe) and four countries (the US, Canada, Ghana, and Ireland) and, though geographically diverse, all of the women were united in the common bond to imitate Our Lady by giving their "fiat" to God's will for them.

"This conference has changed my way of thinking and feeling about a lot of things. It has inspired me to be a better mother, wife, sister...to be a woman of Grace!" said Monica Gonzalez of Florida.

The conference was preceded by the Benedicta Leadership Institute for Women conducted by Johnnette Benkovic. A maximum group of 80 women attended the Institute. The theme was "The Building Blocks of Catholic Women's Leadership." Based on the virtues, attributes and guiding influence of the Blessed Virgin Mary, this foundational offering of the Institute helps women find a truly Catholic response to the issues, circumstances, and challenges they face in today's world both personally and corporately. The Institute's dynamic utilizes a variety of modes of communication. Part lecture, part discussion, part workshop, and part participant presentation, women attendees discover a Catholic lens through which to view the gift of their authentic femininity and the influece it can have to "aid humanity in not falling."

And the effect is contagious. Women of Grace co-facilitator. Michaelyn Hein of the Diocese of Metuchen, received a dose of holy zeal from her mother's attendance at the Benedicta Leadership Institute. She comments in GracePlace, "My mom just came home from the leadership institute in Florida so invigorated and inspired, and I'm getting fed again off her enthusiasm and passion. It's exciting me for the kickoff of another year's Full of Grace study in our parish as I help her facilitate."

The first nine regional coordinators of Women of Grace were installed at the Conference's opening liturgy. A tenth regional coordinator was installed the following weekend in Buffalo, Wyoming. The Women of Grace movement is growing and expanding throughout the United States and beyond.

For more information about the Conference including pictures taken by conference attendees, go to GracePlace and log-in. [gallery]

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Earlier in the Spring, I was in Methuen, Massachusetts at St. Monica Catholic Church giving a day's retreat for women. In my talk, I spoke of the loss of my son, Simon, and my husband Anthony in 2004 and 2007 respectively. I shared about the consolation I received from the prayers of so many, and the maternal beatitude our Blessed Mother continues to show me. Following the talk, a sweet woman approached me with a knowing smile. She lost her son, too, she said. And then, quietly and simply, she told me her story. Her son was on Flight 11 out of Boston on September 11, 2001, which crashed into the North Tower of the World Trade Center at 8:46 AM. A young man full of promise and hope. A young man who, she later discovered, was well-known for his concern and care for the less fortunate and the poor. For her, like for me, Our Blessed Mother had been and remains a consolation and a conduit of hope. This dear mother had a particular devotion to Our Lady of Beauraing and found in her and through her a "cause for joy" in the midst of her sufferings. Indeed, this graced woman had found a way to suffer well. I have been reading a little book published by Sophia Institute Press by Marguerite Duportal called "How to Make Sense of Suffering." This mother came to mind when I read this passage from this little gem of a book: "Suffering willingly borne before God, in His presence, under His eyes, while the soul is in union with Him 'who is,' in union with all the good emanating from His power, becomes supremely sweet and consoling. This enduring of affliction for religious motives is opposed to that consuming sorrow of rebels against God and of unbelievers. The benefits deriving from this kind of suffering become inestimable, if only we are able to say these words from the bottom of our heart, in every sad or merely painful circumstance of life, 'My God, I believe, I hope, and I love You. I accept." Such a reading causes us to ask some questions of ourselves: "To what extent have I suffered well in the major tragedies entrusted to me? Can I do better? Is there something now that is a present plight? What can I do today to help make this a means of union with God? I will be forever grateful for the witness of this dear woman. May God bless her as she continues to see her tragedy with supernatural vision and for her courage which unites all of it to the Cross of Jesus, Our Lord. May each of us do the same.

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Fr. Edmund Sylvia, C.S.C. recently read the following reflection on our radio program, Women of Grace Live, in honor of the 10th anniversary of 9/11. It gives us pause for reflection and consideration. May we never forget all of those who died on this infamous date especially those who were spiritually unprepared for their final moment of life on earth.  With these poor souls in mind, let us come together as the Church Militant, and offer our prayers for them.  It is just possible that the prayer we pray for them today, the Mass and Holy Communion we offer in their name, the sacrifice we make on their behalf may be the very vehicle God uses to bring them to Himself.  Let us, pray, too, for those who were left behind -- the survivors of the men and women lost and the men and women whose lives were spared. We are one body in Christ, and when one member suffers, so do we all.  Finally, let us beseech God to protect and make safe our country, as we seek to serve the One Who is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Meet Me In The Stairwell by Stacey Randall

You say you will never forget where you were when you heard the news On September 11, 2001. Neither will I.

I was on the 110th floor in a smoke filled room with a man who called his wife to say ‘Good-Bye.’ I held his fingers steady as he dialed. I gave him the peace to say, ‘Honey, I am not going to make it, but it is OK..I am ready to go.’

I was with his wife when he called as she fed breakfast to their children. I held her up as she tried to understand his words and as she realized he wasn’t coming home that night.

I was in the stairwell of the 23rd floor when a woman cried out to Me for help. ‘I have been knocking on the door of your heart for 50 years!’ I said. ‘Of course I will show you the way home – only believe in Me now.’

I was at the base of the building with the Priest ministering to the injured and devastated souls. I took him home to tend to his Flock in Heaven. He heard my voice and answered.

I was on all four of those planes, in every seat, with every prayer. I was with the crew as they were overtaken. I was in the very hearts of the believers there, comforting and assuring them that their faith has saved them.

I was in Texas, Virginia, California, Michigan, Afghanistan. I was standing next to you when you heard the terrible news. Did you sense Me?

I want you to know that I saw every face. I knew every name – though not all know Me. Some met Me for the first time on the 86th floor.

Some sought Me with their last breath. Some couldn’t hear Me calling to them through the smoke and flames; ‘Come to Me… this way… take my hand.’ Some chose, for the final time, to ignore Me. But, I was there.

I did not place you in the Tower that day. You may not know why, but I do. However, if you were there in that explosive moment in time, would you have reached for Me?

Sept. 11, 2001, was not the end of the journey for you. But someday your journey will end. And I will be there for you as well. Seek Me now while I may be found. Then, at any moment, you know you are ‘ready to go.’

I will be in the stairwell of your final moments.

-Jesus

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If you watch the evening news, you surely caught wind of the story of a 17 year old high school student who evidently planned to kill 32 people at Freedom High School, which is located right here in the Tampa Bay Area, where our offices are located.  Tampa Police Chief Jane Castor  said that authorities found pipe bomb-making materials and a manifesto containing the student's  minute-by-minute plan for the massacre, in which he detailed each murder he intended to commit.  Needless to say, parents, teachers, and students in Tampa and around the country were shocked and worried.  If that weren't enough, just days later, a teacher from the same high school was accused of having sex with a 16 year old student at the school.  Both of these stories are very disturbing.  I believe that we are only seeing the tip of the iceburg and that as economic and social conditions worsen, we will be the unfortunate witnesses of these societal ills which are rooted in the loss of respect for the human person and human sexuality, the degeneration of marriage and family life, and a general loss of morality.  These are the plagues of our time.

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Today is the Feast of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  This Feast was established by Pope Pius XII in 1954 and concludes the octave of the Feast of the Assumption.  Pope Pius XII stated that,

 "Jesus Christ alone, God and Man, is King in the full, proper, and absolute sense of the term.  Mary also, in a restricted and only analogous way, shares in royal dignity as the Mother of Christ who is God, as His associate in the work of Redemption, in His conflict with the enemy, and in His complete victory.  From this association with Christ the King, she obtains a height of splendor unequaled in all creation" (Ad Caeli Reginam, no. 25).

Wow! What a Queen Mother we have!  When we place ourselves in her caring hands, she continually draws us ever more closely to Jesus, Our King.  I hope that you will entrust yourself, your family, and all of your needs to the loving intercession of Mary, Our Queen.  Please enjoy this beautiful prayer of Pope Pius XII:

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Here is an excerpt from a book written by Father Benedict Groeschel that he wrote in 1987 called "Stumbling Blocks, Stepping Stones." It inspired me and I hope it inspires you: "If you want to love, you must be willing to be vulnerable. The Gospel makes it clear that if you extend your hand often enough in a gesture of love, someone will drive a nail through it. If you love others, you may be deceived, betrayed an abandoned. if you love Christ, you must walk the difficult road to Calvary. but you will begin to see yourself borne by powers that are beyond you. It may not be very noticeable at first. It may be no more than patience with criticism, or extra generosity after you have done enough. You may feel firmly drawn to God even when you can't pray. You will begin to change. ... Love inspired by charity is one of the most potent forces in the world."

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by Guest Blogger Peggy Stanton

It is an irony of the day that one has to dress with more class to sit in a courtroom than a church pew. When you receive a summons for jury duty you are instructed to wear "business attire," and indeed on the day that you appear in court you are surprised to see how nicely clad most potential jurors are. Far better than many venues on the island.

No such requirements apparently are cited for church services. Congregants are dressed in everything from dungarees to tennis togs. Fascinating that we must show more respect for a criminal than our Creator.

Priests and ministers are not blind to the phenomenon, but they are embarrassed to broach the subject. Few pastors in America take the stance of the Vatican in Rome where ladies who dare to bare are physically barred from entering St.Peter's Basilica. Immaculate Conception Cathedral in Jacksonville, however has posted a plea to all genders on the church door that reads in part, "Out of respect for our Lord and the edification of our neighbors, we beg men and women, boys and girls to appear in church modestly dressed ... shorts, tank tops, low cut, backless and mini dresses, halters, bare midriffs, tight fitting clothes, etc., do not meet the norm of Christian modesty and respect."

Whoever coined the phrase that American moral standards have descended to curb level must attend fashion shows. We women seem to be leading the descent. Bosoms are showing up in the boardroom and the bakery as much as on the beach. Cleavage at 10 in the morning is as common as it used to be at 10 in the evening.

Most recently, division of a non-political nature was revealed on the floor of the U.S. Senate, causing the linotype to light up at The Washington Post. "Showing cleavage in a setting that does not involve cocktails and hors d'oeuvres is a provocation," declared the usually liberal newspaper, "... showing cleavage is a request to be engaged in a particular way."

And perhaps in a way that is totally unintended. A recent Associated Press article claimed that juvenile sex offense cases have risen 40 percent in 20 years, leading some psychologists to lay the blame at the feet of a sex-saturated society. A teacher in Fernandina displaying more decolletage than decimals was seen seated at recess among a group of young male students, bringing to mind the comment of a teenage resident in a low-income neighborhood in Texas. He said that gang members are more likely to do physical violence to sexually provocative women than modest, motherly women because they have respect for the latter, but not the former.

One young girl surmised that women have become sartorially bolder in response to the nearly naked celebrities they view on television and in the movies. This raises the question, does every woman walking on the street have to look like a streetwalker?

However much a woman admires her body, its overt display does not necessarily draw similar admiration from more objective viewers. "They all look like hookers to me," an older man commented to a younger male friend in Baltimore. The younger man laughed, and both men agreed that skin shows can be a turnoff more than a "turn on," particularly when women of a certain age have cleavage surrounding the cleavage.

It is strange that this overt sexuality is concurrent with the modern woman's desire to be respected for her smarts. Even men who might ogle the frame may wonder what's under the dome of a lady so anxious to call attention to what's below rather than above her neck.

Related articles and websites:

A Young Man Speaks About Modesty

The Controversy of Dress

BettyBeguiles.com

PureFashion.com

Peggy Stanton is a Catholic writer who resides in Floria.

Comment from Johnnette: Ladies, as the article above suggests, we women need to exercise prudent judgement regarding our attire. Look in the mirror and ask yourself these questions as you are selecting an outfit -- and be brutallly honest:

"What message am I sending?"

"What is my purpose in wearing this outfit?"

"What comments or thoughts do I want people to make about me when they see me today/tonight?"

If the answer to these questions include the words "hot," "sexy," "smoking," or any other of a variety of words that indicate "siren," it would be wise to "retire the attire." It is not in keeping with your dignity and vocation as a woman. You are worth more than that.

Consider this quote: " Woman is the conscience of man." --Soren Kierkegaard

Hmmm........................................

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