Day 75 – 90 Days to Peace

by Fr Richard Heilman | May 13, 2022 3:34 PM

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MARY, REFUGE OF SINNERS, PRAY FOR US

CATCH EXCELLENCE

The desire to enter the fight is a desire to enter into a genuine training in holiness, pursuing the goal of becoming one of God’s champions. St. Paul put it this way:

“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize” (1 Cor 9:24-27).

St. Paul talks about a strict training and a desire to run in such a way as to win. The famous Green Bay Packer coach, Vince Lombardi, would have heard these words from St. Paul many times in his life, as he went to Mass every day. In fact, he admitted, “I derive my strength from daily Mass and Communion.”

As Coach Lombardi describes what it takes to be number one, see if you do not recognize a bit of St. Paul in his words:

“And in truth, I’ve never known a man worth his salt who in the long run, deep down in his heart, didn’t appreciate the grind, the discipline. There is something in good men that really yearns for discipline and the harsh reality of head to head combat. I don’t say these things because I believe in the ‘brute’ nature of men or that men must be brutalized to be combative. I believe in God, and I believe in human decency. But I firmly believe that any man’s finest hour — his greatest fulfillment to all he holds dear — is that moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle — victorious.”

Sadly, far too many people have become conditioned to cower when they hear the words, “strive for perfection.” In the coddled culture in which we live, the reflex response is, “I will never be perfect.” Yet, Coach Lombardi said, “Perfection is not attainable. But if we chase perfection, we can catch excellence.” (Excerpt from Church Militant Field Manual[1]).

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You can enlist in the United States Grace Force HERE[2] (please recruit family and friends!)

Information on the United States Grace Force can be found HERE[3]

We highly recommend ordering the book “Let Freedom Ring[4]” authored by Fr. Bill Peckman, Fr. James Altman and Fr. Rick Heilman. This amazing book was used for our first 40 days of reflections during this 90 Days to Peace journey with tens of thousands of other special forces prayer warriors!

For the remaining 50 days of this 90 Days to Peace journey, we are drawing reflections from the 54 Day Basic Training in Holiness[5]. This leather-bound pocket manual is inspired by the original World War II pocket prayer book, My Military Missal. The daily reflections in this handbook are this basic training. Drawing from the truths found in the Holy Scriptures, the saints, and the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the first 27 days focus upon the qualities of excellence toward which we are all called to strive. The second 27 days contain excerpts from Fr. Heilman’s book, Church Militant Field Manual: Special Forces Training for the Life in Christ[6]. You can order these books at RomanCatholicGear.com[7].

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Peace Through Strength
Leather-Bound Prayer Journal

Back in Stock!!”

“Do you crave the ‘peace that surpasses all understanding,’ mentioned by St. Paul in Holy Scripture? This journal will assist you in unlocking the secret to peace. It’s about guiding you to that higher life in God’s loving presence; it’s about cultivating that ‘heart speaking to heart’ intimacy with God.” ~Fr Rick Heilman

Get your Peace Through Strength Prayer Journal at RomanCatholicGear.com[8]

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The Shepherd Project

A Call to Prayer for Our Bishops – May 1 to the end of October

May 15 – Pray for Bishop Ronald Aldon Hicks

(From the Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help, Champion, WI[9])  Our Lady’s message to Adele was clear – to gather the children in this wild country and teach them what they need to know for their salvation, especially in how to make the sign of the cross, how to know the catechism, and how to approach the sacraments. Our church leaders, especially our Bishops, are entrusted with this mission in their own communities and we, as the Church, have a great responsibility in praying for them as they continue the good work.

As our world faces a shortage of peace and an increase in division and attacks within our families and the Church, our Bishops are facing extreme challenges. This is why they need our prayers, now more than ever, for the grace necessary to heroically lead people of faith in these uncertain times.

This is what inspired the Shrine’s Shepherd Project – a season of prayer for each Bishop across the United States, starting from the Shrine’s location in Wisconsin and emitting outward as the year goes on. Join us as we offer up our prayers for a Bishop a day to the Blessed Mother from May 1 to the end of October.

Click HERE for the Shrine’s prayer that will be offered for each Bishop on their day.[10]

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Combat Rosaries for Heroes

[11]ORIGINAL ANNOUNCEMENT – Madison, Wisconsin (Feb. 23, 2021) — A new nonprofit charity founded by a Catholic priest will provide free military-grade steel rosaries to U.S. military personnel, law enforcement officers and first responders. Combat Rosaries for Heroes[12] is being launched on February 23, 2021, which is the 76th anniversary of the iconic photo showing the flag being raised by the U.S. Marines on Iwo Jima during the latter part of World War II. (You can read more about this HERE[13])

Since that February 23, 2021 announcemen, thanks to the generosity of so many, Combat Rosaries for Heroes[14] has distributed nearly 10,000 Combat Rosaries to U.S. military personnel, law enforcement officers and first responders. While this is amazing, the demand remains very high.

Every effort is being made to put all donations toward only the raw cost of materials and assembly in order to get the most Combat Rosaries™ to the most heroes. Fundraising for the project will be done online. PLEASE donate at CombatRosariesForHeroes.com[15]. Checks can be sent to P.O. Box 44036, Madison, WI 53744.

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Endnotes:
  1. Church Militant Field Manual: https://romancatholicgear.com/books-and-manuals/church-militant-field-manual.html
  2. HERE: https://visitor.r20.constantcontact.com/manage/optin?v=001ESuSGaJpYPCG2iUdd4j4bkKwd4gkh2ZUVbam_Ty9rCn6blH6_U3cI2D8UvSLEcSzHnC4eq2UWmK1I0SbEw0SPKqnkZ2j0Z4J4D-_m4dD6CKJU9day-bBa8Qnx4dv7RLDIVlYAjL1JWsjfUTNPH2jQIVY9gbdbz4O4oMIzv5V1dT_upQsD8cX86iq_5Y-x4eLrTVtdOmA24s%3D
  3. HERE: https://usgraceforce.com/god-wants-you-enlist-in-the-grace-force/
  4. Let Freedom Ring: https://romancatholicgear.com/collections/books/products/let-freedom-ring-book
  5. 54 Day Basic Training in Holiness: https://romancatholicgear.com/collections/grace-force/products/54-day-basic-training-in-holiness-book
  6. Church Militant Field Manual: Special Forces Training for the Life in Christ: https://romancatholicgear.com/collections/books/products/church-militant-field-manual
  7. RomanCatholicGear.com: https://romancatholicgear.com/collections/grace-force
  8. RomanCatholicGear.com: https://romancatholicgear.com/collections/peace-through-strength-1
  9. From the Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help, Champion, WI: https://championshrine.org/shepherd-project/
  10. Click HERE for the Shrine’s prayer that will be offered for each Bishop on their day.: https://championshrine.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/08113014/The-Shepherd-Project-Prayer-Web.pdf
  11. [Image]: https://combatrosariesforheroes.com
  12. Combat Rosaries for Heroes: https://www.combatrosariesforheroes.com
  13. HERE: https://usgraceforce.com/charity-to-provide-free-combat-rosaries-to-military-law-enforcement-first-responders/
  14. Combat Rosaries for Heroes: https://combatrosariesforheroes.com
  15. CombatRosariesForHeroes.com: https://www.combatrosariesforheroes.com
  16. [Image]: https://combatrosariesforheroes.com
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Source URL: https://usgraceforce.com/day-75-90-days-to-peace/

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