Three strikes and this blog is out

Try two

Let's stand up for religious freedom in Denver Friday March 23rd 2012

The once "fake-it-until-you-make-it" Catholic suggests you do the same

It is exactly 3 years ago today that I began writing a column as a way to serve Jesus and Mary, and share the truth of our Catholic faith. At that time I considered myself "spiritual, not religious." I was what you might call a "fake it until you make it" Catholic. All I can say is that it sure has worked for me. God's grace is truly amazing. His faithfulness, mercy, and forgiveness is very real. He heals us. You only have to ask the Lord to take the lead, and then take those unsure, wobbly baby steps forward. Our holy mother Mary helps us learn to walk. She's right there, if we want to take her for our own, as St. John did at the foot of the holy cross.

I am very grateful for this new creation that God is making of me. For the good and the bad in my life, too, I am appreciative. The days of my life are like the multiple threads of an elaborate tapestry that God has used to lead me to repentance of my sinful ways and to cooperate with the grace of God in striving for holiness.

Did you know that in these muddled opinions of all sorts, and in these confusing times, there is one thing you can always be sure of? We all have a calling for holiness. I do. You do. One way to get there is to "fake it until you make it." Just try. What better day than today, on Ash Wednesday. Tomorrow, dust yourself off and get up and try again. You may fall a whole lot at first. You may get hurt. Conversion is an on-going process. Like a spiritual toddler, don't give up, keep on. You will learn to walk eventually. You may even find you love to run.

March for Life 2012 facebook friend coverage

News coverage on the March for Life 2012 was minimal and late in the day, though hundreds of thousands of people came out to take a stand for the sanctity of human life, proclaiming that the right to life, has not been granted to people by the government, but by our God.

This photo was shared by a facebook friend who heard that there were speakers at the historic event "from every creed and race." You can imagine how many touching human interest stories could have been written from such a diverse presence.

The purpose of the March for Life is for American pro-life citizens to come together in unity to pray and speak up on behalf of the defenseless, innocent, preborn human beings who have no voice; and to send the message to our elected officials that abortion is not a health care option, but it is the inhumane destruction of human life, and that abortion also harms women and men who are left in its wake.

It is my pleasure to share some of this event, which is, from what I've heard, the largest assembly of U.S. citizens to ever march on Washington.

This is a photo posted on Susan B. Anthony List's wall. It was there that somebody commented that this year's March for Life in Germany was "wonderful," too.

As you can see by these few photos, showing the multitude of pro-life citizens who participated in the annual March for Life, posted by a handful of facebook friends, it is obvious that there are so many facets of this gem of an event that journalists purposely  neglected  to shine a camera light on. I appreciate everyone who posted information, photos, and videos to cover the event. Those of us who could only share the moment on a computer on facebook were there in spirit. And everyone there at EWTN, you did an awesome job!

It has been 39 years now since Roe vs. Wade, and in that time there have been nearly 55 million babies legally killed in our country alone. Let's continue to prayerfully work together to end this holocaust. Your prayers and your voice really do make a difference, for the unborn children, for families, and for society.

A group of my favorite Catholic facebook apologists were there at the March, and they shared photographs and videos. They also took the opportunity for doing some radio show live broadcasting. Margie Prox Sindlar is one of this crew, who posted pictures of the Vigil Mass for Life at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. She reported that it "took 40 minutes for all the Seminarians, Priests, and Bishops to process in."

Lastly, EWTN will be replaying their excellent exclusive coverage again this weekend. If your time is limited, check out the highlights in this video:

Adoration Hymn: The Resurrection of the Lord

Adoration Hymn: The Resurrection of the Lord 

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! 

Christ is risen from the dead,

so then by death He trampled death,

to ransom me.

You have paid the highest price,

laid down your life in sacrifice,

for love of me.

I have hope that day by day,

as You guide me on the way,

a saint I'll be.

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

Our Lord has risen from the dead,

threw open wide the prison doors,

set captives free.

Jesus, You've conquered sin and death,

crushed the wicked serpent's head,

by faith I see.

Lord, I'm held fast in my sins,

break the chains yet binding me,

Christ have mercy.

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

Jesus has risen from the dead,

and granted life to us instead,

eternally.

You've asked me to deny myself,

and take your mother as my own,

to care for me.

I cry out, “Holy! and wise Lord!”

rejoice with Mary, who adores

my God, and King.

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

Preparation for total consecration to Jesus through Mary

I'd like to encourage you to participate in the Preparation for Total Consecration according to Saint Louis Marie de Montfort. This book is an excellent guide to use daily for about a month prior to making a consecration of oneself to Jesus through Mary, concluding with the consecration on a Marian feast day.

On the day of this writing, according to the suggested schedule included in the book published by Montfort Publications, it is now day eleven into the devotional. Part I focuses the faithful, for twelve preliminary days, on the opposing ways of the spirit of the world, and that of the spirit of Jesus and our Blessed Mother.

Following this, the devotion is a terrific aid in gaining knowledge of self, of Holy Mary, and of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.These sections consist of seven days each. The book concludes with the Consecration of oneself to Jesus Christ, Wisdom incarnate, through the hands of Mary. The recommendation is to renew your consecration at least once a year, on the same day. Though, perhaps you'll find, as I did, that this booklet is valuable as a daily devotion that enriches your walk of faith with a glorious growth in virtue.

The contents include portions from The Imitation of Christ by Thomas a Kempis, True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin by St. Louis de Montfort, and passages from the Holy Bible, along with Catholic prayers appropriately selected for the different topics in the book.

This book can be picked up at your neighborhood Catholic book store, or from the publisher: http://publications.montfortmissionaries.org/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=21&products_id=43 . You might also like to use icons and other artistic creations to enhance your contemplative experience, and I have designed a facebook page for that purpose. This page is located here: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Preparation-for-Total-Consecration-according-to-Saint-Louis-de-Montfort/295101727206712?sk=wall

Pray with me my daily mini consecration prayer, taken from St. Louis de Montfort: "I am all Thine, and all that I have is Thine, O my sweet Jesus, through Mary, Thy holy mother. Amen." Totus Tuus!

Grace and humility puts us on the road that leads to life

My eldest son selected the front pew, and the family members who went to Mass with us all followed him in. All of us could fit in the pew to sit there, but the area to kneel on padding was shorter, and someone would need to kneel on the carpeted floor. I wanted to change places with my son so that I could perform reparation. He wouldn't agree to a more comfortable spot with me kneeling on the floor. He invited me next to him, and we were both able to fit there kneeling without blocking the aisle.

After receiving our Lord in the Holy Eucharist, as I prayed, I happened to look over at my son. He was kneeling there in humble prayer with his eyes closed and his head bowed in reverence to God. I was aware of my son's difficulties in life and the temptations he battles, and I was sorry for him and for my part in it. I know that some of what he goes through is because of my own sinfulness when he lived under my roof, as a child. I was in awe at how he had become such a good and wonderful man, a responsible father, and a faithful husband to his wife. He has cheated the designs the evil one has for him and his life. He loves Jesus and reaches out to others with the love of Christ.He loves the Catholic Church and defends the faith. My son strives to be virtuous and pleasing to God. It is obvious to me that my son is a Christian who daily humbles himself and cooperates with the grace of God at work in his life. It is awe-inspiring and glorious to behold.

As I prayed, I asked the Lord to have mercy on my son for his sins, and for things he has not yet learned, and for those sins that he has not yet been able to conquer. I cried. Oh Lord, how wrong I was as a young parent, who had unrealistic expectations of my firstborn son. I was far too demanding and harsh with him. It is truly a blessed humiliation to admit that we have sinned, and to experience God's grace and mercy and reconciliation.

God is loving and merciful. When we cooperate with His miraculous, transforming grace, we become more like Jesus and Mary. Conversion, at heart, is not a one day occurrence with a vocal claim of repentance, but a lifetime occurrence within one's heart of daily cooperation with God's grace, bringing forth visible fruit of true repentance, evidenced in virtuous living. My son and I have a great relationship. We pray the Holy Rosary on Saturdays and we go to Mass together. We share good times together, and in hard times, we help bear one another's burdens. We love each other. And we encourage and affirm each other as we strive for holiness.

We've got a long way to go, but we have found the right road, the hard, narrow one that leads to life. My prayer for you, dear reader, is that you join us there. Quoting from St. John the Baptist in today's Gospel reading: "I am the voice of one crying out in the desert, 'Make straight the way of the Lord,' as Isaiah the prophet said."

http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/010212.cfm (I will add the EWTN homily for 1/2/2012 as soon as it becomes available and I am able to share it.)

Seeing through God-colored lenses

"Clippety clop, clippety clop," sang little James, as he galloped along on the broken broom stick. His father had smoothed the wood on it, before he'd asked his son to put out by the trash containers. As James carried the stick, he was quickly lost in a world of fanciful imagination, where he had become a royal knight pledged to serve his King in the kingdom of magnificent castles and, well, headless horses.

There was a frail old man that the little boy spied rummaging through the trash containers just as James had decided to find and serve his King. James found it to be a startling thing, to look around for his regal ruler and suddenly see this little old man in such a sorry state, instead. The man was dressed in worn and tattered clothes, handling the filthy garbage, and he was leaning on a baby buggy for assistance in standing. Immediately, the boy began to gallop away in the other direction in search of a better dignitary to pledge his allegiance to. He proceeded back toward where his amused father stood watching him play. James passed him by singing out, "clippety clop, clippety clop, find us the real King, Clippety Clop."

James pulled back on the stick horse using invisible reins, looked back proudly at his father, the peasant, and addressed him with a voice he deliberately deepened, asking "Sir, have you seen the King?"

"Oh, yes, I have seen the King, my Lord," the man responded as he bent forward in a long graceful bow. "Your majestic steed, Clippety Clop, will take you back to him straightway. Go forth, noble horse, bring your master to his King, for His Majesty awaits your service, and he needs his royal scepter," he chuckled, pointing back over to where the little old man was digging in the trash containers.

"Dad," grumbled James, "you're not doing it right. That dirty old garbage picker isn't my king. You just want me to give away my new stick horse. Watch, you'll see that he is not a king," James scowled, and trotted over to the old man. He looked at the man, who pulled a mangled aluminum can out of a container, and placed it in the baby stroller with the others he'd collected. James came closer, trying to see if the old man could possibly be a real king. This startled the old man, who lost his balance and banged his knee, and let out a painful groan.

"Sir, are you a king?" James asked with his deepest possible manly voice as soon as the flustered old man looked at him. "King? King, did you say?" the old man seemed to shout out as he rubbed his knee. James thought he should shout, too, and loudly stated, "I'm looking for the king! Are you a king, Sir?"

The old man let go a great bout of laughter and cried out, "Oh, heaven's no, child, I'm no king. King of the trash, maybe, yeah, you could say that." James was amazed to hear this, and taking the old man seriously, he bowed deeply, with obvious genuine respect. Then James handed him the broom stick willingly, saying, "very well, Your Majesty, this is for you." Then James looked over at his father, who nodded his approval. The little old man smiled then, and his eyes grew bigger. He put some of his weight on the stick and felt the place where the hand grip had been sanded smooth for him. "Why, it's just perfect for me, child, its a great walking stick. Thank you, my boy," came the man's voice, wavering some. "This is an answer to my prayers."

"Why would a great king pray for a broken old broom stick?" James scoffed, but felt concern for the man who was wiping away tears with his coat sleeve. "Oh, I didn't pray for any old stick, child," the old man cleared his throat to correct the boy. "No, child, I prayed that people would see me the way God sees me, instead of as a garbage picker. But I never dreamed He would honor me like a king."

Experiencing the mystery of the Entrance of the Most Holy Theotokos into the Temple

During the night Ileane was overcome with one of the seven deadly sins. She had no idea how it happened. It may have been something as innocent as scratching an itchy spot on her body. It may have been an all-out demonic attack. Or some combination of things. In any case, it was extreme temptation that Ileane was in the midst of, and it was as if there was nothing else that existed but herself and the overwhelming excitement and enticement of sexual sin. Ileane was intoxicated and delighted about it.

For many years this kind of thing would have just been a part of life, something Ileane didn't even know to fight against. She used to go along with such lusty temptations, and acted on these feelings in many sinful ways. Some people call it being horny. Ileane called it "being in the mood." Rolling with the flow of that energy used to be natural to her, and wonderful.

However, once Ileane's spiritual eyes were opened, and she had come to a place in life where she had denied herself, picked up her cross, and was following Jesus in obedience to strive for holiness and to love others; she found that she had to fight against sinful temptations. Ileane understood over time that some sins are more easily overcome than others. Some are taken care of through miracles of God. Some call for hard work on her part. Some call for one to be ever-vigilant and valiant in many spiritual battles waged by the evil one, who intends to keep repentant sinners from holiness and closeness to God.

Ileane come out of this wretched darkness after having spent much of her life embracing vile imaginations and acting upon them. She was given no instruction manual for holy saint wannabes. There were bad habits that needed to be broken, new ways to learn to look at things, and Ileane began to submit her will to that of our Heavenly Father more and more as time went on.

From time to time Ileane still struggles with the temptation of lust. There are preventative measures that she takes to help her to persevere and stay pure. She prays. She participates in the holy sacraments of our Holy Catholic Church for the grace of God. She keeps herself from experiencing things and places and people that bombard the senses with sinful enticements. She wears a wrist Rosary at night, and Ileane often feels for it and prays during the night. She has entrusted her life to Jesus and Mary. Ileane reads the Scriptures. She performs acts of reparation. All this she does not out of fear or scrupulosity, but for love of Jesus and Mary.This is, no doubt, why her battles with lust are few and far between.

One day, though, in the early morning hours, Ileane found herself ensnared in a wicked trap with no functioning rational intellect to depend upon for assistance. There was no thought of prayer, or pleading for the mercy of God. She could not even think to choose to fight against this evil, but rather she was strangely engulfed and consumed with lust.

Suddenly, there came a single thought, which proved to be a light that penetrated the darkness and dispelled it completely. Somehow, seemingly out of nowhere, Ileane remembered that this day is the Entrance of the Most Holy Theotokos into the Temple. She did not understand the mystery of her fascinating experience, but it was really as if she had found herself bound in heavy inescapable chains, and yet somebody had miraculously broken her out of them. She had been captured, and held captivated, but as it was now her way to flee and to fight, she was miraculously set free from this captivity of depravity by the merciful grace of God.

The law, the book of St. John tells us, came through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. "The most pure Temple of the Savior, the most precious Bridal Chamber and Virgin, the Treasury of the glory of God is led today into the house of the Lord, bringing grace in the Spirit of God. God's angels praise her in song; she is the heavenly Ark." (Kontakion)

Entering the mystery of our heavenly mother's Rosary

Opening the door to greet his friend, Hector nodded hello and smiled, but he did not open his mouth to speak, though he did appear to be mumbling something. He extended his arm toward the sofa, bidding his friend take a seat. The crucifix dangling from a string of rosary beads explained for the young man that he was finishing up his prayers. Hector resumed a kneeling position at a little prayer area where religious pictures graced the wall and pretty statues of saints adorned a small table, and several books were stacked up neatly underneath. Hector took a couple of minutes there to finish praying.


The visitor waited with patient, curious interest, observing Hector as he prayed, self-consciously rolling one bead after another around with his fingers. When Hector concluded the Rosary by making the sign of the Cross and rising to his feet, his friend stated, "I know I'm early, I didn't mean to disturb you praying, sorry about that." "No problem," Hector responded, placing the rosary into his jacket, and locking the door behind them as they headed out to a Bible study together. Hector thought it might be a good idea to share this devotion, and he said, "I can teach you how to pray the Rosary some time. Do you want to know more?"

"It's superstitious to pray repetitious prayers, you know that don't you?" came the unexpected objection. Hector stopped walking and looked at his friend with a puzzled scowl. "Who told you praying the Rosary was superstitious? What do you know about it, anyway?" he asked defensively.

The other young man answered this way: "Sorry, man, I don't mean to offend you, but as your friend I think I should tell you the truth. The Bible tells us not to pray with vain repetitions. You know that, right, so why are you still praying that old-fashioned way that your grandma taught you. She didn't know any better, but I know you do, Hector. Just pray from your heart. I mean, you're not even thinking about what you're saying. It isn't talking to God at all. Do you think praying is like magic, you pray a certain numbers of prayers and God'll finally hear you? Carrying on saying the same memorized thing over and over again is nothing but babbling, Hector. It's just nonsense."

Hector walked on in a confused silence. He was pensive, and had no idea what to say in response to such a reasonable argument. He was feeling hurt and offended because his friend had negative ideas about his family's religious beliefs. His grandma sure hadn't been any kind of saint, for all the Rosaries she had prayed, so what did she know? The Bible does speak against vain repetitions, he thought. Maybe his friend was right.

After Bible study ended, Hector headed home in better spirits, but the practice of praying the Rosary had become a mystery to him. His mother was there and greeted him when he entered. He hugged her, but avoided making eye contact with his mother. "What's on your mind, son?" she asked. She always knew when something troubled him, and as much as he didn't ever want to let her know if he was having a problem, he always would trust her with his concerns. Hector confided in his mother saying, "Mom, why do we pray with old-fashioned vain repetitions? Why do we pray the Rosary instead of just praying right from our hearts?"

Hector's mother smiled in an assuring and consoling manner, explaining it this way: "When I pray the Holy Rosary, I am praying from my heart, Hector, with all my love for Jesus and Mary, entrusting everything to our Blessed Mother to intercede for us. Hail Marys are theologically sound prayers right out of the book of St. Luke. Praying the Rosary is praying the Gospel. At the wedding feast in Cana, Mary interceded for the people there, and so Jesus performed His first miracle at his mother's request. You could say that Hail Marys are like roses you give to your mother, or that praying a Hail Mary is like saying, 'I love you, Mom.' You can't tell your heavenly mother that you love her too many times, you know."

Hector was amazed at all his mother knew and how she had explained to him so clearly. "How do you know all this, Mom? he asked. She smiled and held his face close to her own. "Well, for one thing, Hector, I'm your mother."

Traditional prayer and praying "in the Spirit"

As a Catholic, you may have had the experience of being told that our devotional prayers like the Memorare are lacking something, they are memorized, and they aren't from you; and that spontaneous prayers that come from your heart are better. Unfortunately, this is a view from ignorance that  lately, even some well-meaning Catholic Charismatics believe. Is it "superstitious" to pray a certain number of repetitions when we pray? Doesn't the Bible tell us not to pray vain repetitions? Isn't it better to pray "in the Spirit"?

Let's take a brief look at our traditional Catholic prayers and why it is valuable to continue in our practice of praying them.

Those old-fashioned prayers that are memorized and recited by Catholics are powerful and they are theologically sound. They have an amazing history to them as well. And they have been approved by the Church. Catholics have devotions for Mary and the saints because over the centuries, miraculous events have been attributed to them. These are the main reasons that they are prayed and passed down from generation to generation. We pray traditional prayers because it works!

The Memorare, for example, has an awesome history of miraculous intervention by the Blessed Virgin Mary. It brings healing and the conversion of sinners as we trust and rely on our Blessed Mother to intercede for us. Accounts of St. Francis de Sales, and Father Claude Bernard, who popularized the prayer, can be read at the link. Check the original sources there at the bottom of the page for additional reading.

It is always a good thing for us to pray for one another. At the same time, this doesn't mean that we shouldn't avail ourselves of the holy saints and angels who are there for us. Spontaneous prayers are great to pray, and Catholics do pray these prayers, too. Yet when somebody prays memorized devotional prayers, it does not mean that the person does not pray from their heart. No, it is just the opposite, for the devotee finds it so dear that it is given a regular place of importance in the Catholic's life. And lastly, even Jesus prayed the same prayer three times for the cup to be taken away from Him by our Heavenly Father. Clearly, our Lord has no problem with repeating prayers. Let's just remember, that when we pray, we likewise agree to accept that God's will be done in the matter, as Jesus did in His repetitious prayer. It is the Son of God Who taught us to pray The Our Father, and The Lord's Prayer, which is not spontaneous, is repeated to this day by all Christian denominations.

Treasure the tried and true. Remember that when we pray traditional Catholic prayers given to us by our Church, we can be sure that we are truly praying "in the Spirit" for it is the Holy Spirit Who guides our Church. So come on, and pray the Memorare with me, with love from our hearts:

Public invited to a special Divine Mercy evening at St. Joseph's Polish Catholic Church

You are invited to enter into the mystical realm of the Divine Mercy of Jesus Christ. The first-class relic of Polish Saint Sister Faustina Kowalska has arrived at St. Joseph's, a parish with a devotion for Blessed Pope John Paul II, who was also Polish. According to Pastor, Father Marek Ciesla, Schr, Saint Faustina, who was canonized by Pope John Paul II, is going to be busy here. "She'll be available all the time; she is here for the people. If they want to come close and touch her, we will let them do that." You can read more about parish relics and the process to attain St. Faustina's relic here. 

On Friday, November 4, 2011, St. Joseph's Polish Catholic Church will host the national touring production "The Message of Jesus, The Divine Mercy."

The schedule is as follows:
6pm  Confessions
7pm  Mass
8pm  "Tell All Souls About My Mercy" Presentation by Mother of Mercy Messengers

I hope to see you there!

You're not alone if your life is too busy to pray for dead people

May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

The days are so busy. There's always something more to get done, so many things are still needing to be attended to, life has so many demands, so who has time to pray for the dead on top of everything else? It's hard enough just to find time to pray for the living, isn't it?

Those who have read the first line of this blog entry, just prayed for the dead. Yes, you've already done it. That's how quickly and easily it is done. Please pray with me for the souls in purgatory every day.

There is more about purgatory and praying for the dead here.

It's All Saints Day, so let's pray a Litany together

Today is a holy day of obligation. Please be sure to go to Mass. It's All Saints Day. Let's remember all those who have gone before us, and let us ask for their intercession.

Today is a great day to pray a Litany, so click on one of these and join me in a beautiful and powerful prayer. We all need prayer, someone you know needs prayer. Let's do it! You can follow along with the words here.

Denver joins in the National Rosary Crusade, 2011

October is the month of the Holy Rosary. "Father Hearty, chaplain for the Denver comitium of the Legion of Mary, organized the  Denver Family Rosary Crusade in hopes of reviving devotion to the Virgin Mary. The idea for a Denver Crusade was proposed to him by a parishioner at Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Littleton, where he is Parochial Vicar."

Father Peyton, known as the Rosary Priest, started this movement back in the '50s with many creative ways that he encouraged families to pray the Rosary together. National Rosary Crusade info

It was a wonderful experience for my family to be a part of the Rosary Crusade Denver on Saturday, October 15, 2011 at Civic Center Park, Greek Amphitheater. It was very dear to us having it take place during this special month of Our Lady's Holy Rosary, and being planned so close to the 13th of the month, which is the anniversary of the miracle of the sun which took place in 1917 during a Marian apparition in Fatima, Portugal.

There was very little notice about the event, and yet a couple hundred of the Catholic faithful came together to pray the Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary for our country. Though we all have different personalities and different ways of doing things in life, there is spiritual unity among us, for Catholics are of one body, that of Christ, having many different parts, with Jesus as our Head. Together we sought the intercession of our Blessed Mother for the conversion of America, storming the gate of heaven for our God's help.

Prayer is truly powerful, and the prayers of virtuous followers of Jesus avail much. Catholics entrust our prayers to the Blessed Virgin Mary because she is the most virtuous of us all, and because she is the mother of God, having asked her Son for His first miracle at the wedding feast at Cana. Our Lady of the Rosary takes our petitions to the Lord, knowing best how to present them to her Son. If one wishes the conversion of our nation, pray.

Voting, running for public office, creating petitions, peacefully demonstrating, educating, and any other human endeavor is certainly important, to help the United States of America to be a country that we can be proud of, but there is nothing more important than spending some time in prayer. In fact, sometimes nothing can help except prayer. Please pray for America.

Let's plan on getting together this time next year to be a part of the Rosary Crusade Denver. I hope to see you there!

Hundreds of the Catholic faithful participate in Rosary Crusade Denver

Hundreds of the Catholic faithful came out to the Civic Center Park Greek Amphitheater to participate in Rosary Crusade Denver. Father Joseph Hearty, FSSP, Parochial Vicar at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic Church in Littleton, Colorado, led the group in praying the Holy Rosary. Father Joseph is also the Chaplain for the Denver Comitium of the Legion of Mary.

From the program: Rosary Crusade Denver is sponsored by the Denver Comitium of the Legion of Mary in honor of Fr. Patrick Peyton who led many Rosary Rallies around the world. This year is the 50th Anniversary of the 1961 Rosary Rally in San Francisco where over half a million people gathered to pray the Rosary.

Father Joseph Hearty was quoted in the Denver Catholic Register as saying that this event is "a great demonstration of our faith, our trust in God, and our devotion in the role of the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary." There is more background information on this event at the link.

With a difficult traffic situation, and the on-going protesting, and another event scheduled in front of the Capitol, it took my family about an hour to arrive rather than the few minutes we expected. We prayed along the way when it became obvious that we would be late, and consequently, our prayers were in union with all those being said as a part of the nation-wide Rosary Crusade.

Thank you for making this event successful, for our holy mother has repeatedly requested that we pray the Rosary for God's peace in the world, and to make up for the offenses committed against our Lord and our Lady. God bless you, and hopefully we can do it again next year.

You're invited! Come pray the Rosary in Denver

Come on out and pray the Gospel! Did you know that praying the Rosary, is praying the Gospel? It really is. Contemplating on the lives of Jesus and Mary is what the Holy Rosary is all about.

Today, Saturday, October 15, 2011, there is a nation-wide Rosary at 2pm, and you're invited. In Denver, we will be praying the Rosary at Civic Center Park, at 100 W. 14th Avenue, Pkwy. Bring your family and friends and let's storm heaven's gate together for God's peace in the world.

Rosary Crusade Denver is sponsored by the Denver Comitium of the Legion of Mary in honor of Father Patrick Peyton who led so many Rosary Rallies all around the world. Father Peyton is known for the family Rosary motto: "The family that prays together, stays together" and "A world at prayer is a world at peace."

This is how to make praying the Rosary even more inspiring

Today I prayed the Mysteries of Light. Just in praying 5 decades of Mary's Holy Rosary, the inspirations are very numerous. In fact, before I even prayed the Mysteries, I was already in awe of the wonders of our glorious Lady and our holy and merciful God. You might say this is a part of that story, a peek into how I pray and contemplate on the Rosary.

It began with the reverent and uplifting music that I heard. It was the holy call to arms. I pulled out my weapon and joined the ranks of the soldiers of the Lord.

I knelt down to join Mother Angelica in the televised recording of the Holy Rosary, and I saw the nuns. I marveled that there are so many different gifts and personalities that all work in unison in the Body of Christ.

We made the Sign of the Cross together. We are Christian warriors, after all, and Mary's Rosary is done in the Name of the Lord, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It is such an honor to be in the holy family of God.

Immediately, then, we prayed the Apostle's Creed, and I felt grateful for history having been recorded, and for what our Lord Jesus has done for us through pure holy love for us.

The next prayer was the Our Father, the very prayer taught to the first disciples by Jesus. Who am I to be a disciple, sinful as I am, yet God is holy, and I can aspire to be holy and make it to heaven by His amazing unfathomable grace.

Three Hail Marys followed. For me, today, the Holy Spirit led me to think of them representing peace, love, and joy. Oh, thank you Blessed Mother, for saying yes to being the mother of Jesus, and in that fiat, to also become the mother of the Church. Thank you for being my Mom, because I really need your love and guidance and your intercession :)

"Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, it is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen."

Where is God? Here's where to go for a face to face meeting with Him

There was a time in my life when I wanted to find God. I wanted to know about Him. And I wanted to actually know Him. Looking back at those days, I'd say, I knew I needed to look for God, I had an idea about where to find Him, but I didn't search hard to find Him. I had gone to the church when I needed God most but I didn't find Him there. What I came away with was a sad and lonely emptiness, an understanding that I was all alone. But there was one important place in the church that I dared not go.

I had tried to learn about who God was from the Bible, but some things seemed contradictory, and I came away from my reading with more questions than answers about who God is. And yet, there was some hope that came out of spending time reading words inspired by God. I prayed. But no voice split the sky and shook my world, no appearance of Jesus came to console me. I didn't get it, and I thought, "if God really exists and actually loves me, why was it that only one of us was trying to get a relationship going?

From the Scriptures, I read several assuring things about seeking God and finding Him. I was doing my part. So where was He? If you are in this place right now, I have very good news for you. You are not alone. As I said, I have gone through this search for God myself. So I can help you with this. Where is God? He is closer than you may think. How would you like to be in a place where you can be with our Lord face to face? Let me share one special place of grace with you.

Even if you think that nobody truly loves you, and even if it is true, God does love you. God's Word assures us that if we seek Him, we will find Him. If you haven't yet found Him, try harder, look deeper, and don't give up. He isn't playing a wicked game, He is demonstrating His love. He is allowing you your free will, and it is only you who can overcome that battle. Are you the one in charge and wanting a god who conforms to your will, or are you going to humble yourself and throw yourself upon God's mercy?

Do not blame God for your suffering. He permits every person to have a free will, including those who do evil to the innocent. We tend to think that since bad things have happened to us, God doesn't care. Actually, it is just the opposite. In God's wisdom, He takes what was meant for our destruction and uses it for our good. And it is truly amazing what He can do with us and in us, transforming us more day by day to be more Christlike, as we allow Him to heal us.

Or perhaps you are of the camp who feels unworthy of God and this causes you to keep your distance from God. God is loving, merciful, and forgiving. Reach out for Him believing that no matter what you have done, He will rush out to you with open arms to welcome you to Himself. Do not think of yourself and your sinfulness, but think of Him, believing that he will accept you. He would be very glad to pick you up and dust you off and embrace you in a joyous welcome. Run to Him, your Heavenly Father awaits you.

Going to Confession will help you gain a better perspective about how God operates in our lives. Our Christian faith is one of reconciliation. God is waiting for you. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is awesome and powerful. Graces come from this Catholic Sacrament that help us to avoid temptation, to overcome trials, to become more virtuous in our thoughts and actions. Have you experienced God's forgiveness lately? The priest in the confessional stands in the place of Jesus, our Lord, who works through him forgiving you of all your sins. Humble yourself and be obedient in talking to a priest about your sins. To be cleansed from sin is a beautiful and liberating thing. And who does this for us? Jesus, Himself. And you thought you couldn't find God.