Day 78 – 90 Days to Peace
MARY, QUEEN OF ANGELS, PRAY FOR US
LOVE DEMANDS EFFORT
Throughout all of salvation history we see such cries as “Let his face shine upon you” (Nm 6:25) and “Do not hide your face from me” (Ps 27:9, 69:17, 102:3). This face-to-face, “look-me-in-the-eye” bonding is essential in understanding the necessity for making a semper fi connection with Christ. This kind of face-to-face encounter with God changes everything as it calls forth, quite literally, a transformation that cannot be undone. It marks a major shift away from a “face-in-the-crowd,” “Christian in name only,” “do-only-what’s-minimally-required” empty religiosity, into a totally dedicated (semper fi) loyalty in love that remains faithful to God, to each other, and to the mission, no matter what.
Pope John Paul II said, “Real love is demanding. For it was Jesus — our Jesus himself — who said: ‘You are my friends if you do what I command you’ (Jn 15:14). Love demands effort and a personal commitment to the will of God. It means discipline and sacrifice, but it also means joy and human fulfillment.” Mother Teresa said of love: “Love to be real, it must cost — it must hurt — it must empty us of self.”
“We have a tendency to think only about self-protection, safety, and avoidance of trouble,” says Bishop Robert Barron, “This tends to be our primary frame of reference. But God thinks relentlessly in terms of love, even when that love entails suffering. So, we ask ourselves, what is our final frame of reference? Is it, ‘How do I avoid pain?’ or is it, ‘How do I love?’ So, if I wake up every morning and my basic question is ‘How am I going to avoid pain?’ then I am going to live my life in a certain way — ultimately, a selfish way. But if when I wake up in the morning I say, ‘How do I love today?’ then I will live the life of a saint.” (Excerpt from Church Militant Field Manual).
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You can enlist in the United States Grace Force HERE (please recruit family and friends!)
Information on the United States Grace Force can be found HERE
We highly recommend ordering the book “Let Freedom Ring” 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. 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. You can order these books at RomanCatholicGear.com.
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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
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The Shepherd Project
A Call to Prayer for Our Bishops – May 1 to the end of October
May 18 – Pray for Bishop Thomas John Paprocki
(From the Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help, Champion, WI) 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.
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Combat Rosaries for Heroes
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 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)
Since that February 23, 2021 announcemen, thanks to the generosity of so many, Combat Rosaries for Heroes 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. Checks can be sent to P.O. Box 44036, Madison, WI 53744.
