Posted on November 6, 2016 View all news
Laudetur Jesus Christus! Gelobt sei Jesus Christus! Sia lodato Gesù Cristo! Praised be Jesus Christ!
I would like to thank everyone who participated in any way during Forty Hours last weekend. For those who took an hour, those who helped organize, those who cared for the Altar and the candles, and those who helped with the reception afterwards. That weekend is always a special one for our parish, so thank you to everyone who helped continue to make it a special weekend for the Lord!
This upcoming Tuesday our country will once again return to the election booths to choose our next president. This is always an important decision in our country. I first of all urge everyone to pray and to study the candidates and issues. Everything we do in this life, no matter how mundane, must be directed towards our goal of eternal life. So we must begin with prayer and divine wisdom. Secondly, I urge everyone to vote. This is one of the few moments when we can have a say in the political life of our country, so make your voice heard.
This election cycle has been unlike anything we have seen in modern election history. I know it is a very confusing decision. To help with your decision, and to impress the importance of voting, I present here two quotes from Pope Pius XII in the 1940’s. I find it also appropriate for us today in 2016.
“The people are called on to take an always larger part in the public life of the nation. This participation brings with it grave responsibilities. Hence the necessity for the faithful to have clear, solid, precise knowledge of their duties in the moral and religious domain with respect to their exercise of their civil rights, and in particular of the right to vote.” – Pope Pius XII in 1946
“In the present circumstances, it is a strict obligation for all those who have the right to vote, men and women, to take part in the elections. Whoever abstains from doing so, in particular by indolence or weakness, commits a sin grave in itself, a mortal fault. Each one must follow the dictate of his own conscience. However, it is obvious that the voice of conscience imposes on every Catholic to give his vote to the candidates who offer truly sufficient guarantees for the protection of the rights of God and of souls, for the true good of individuals, families and of society, according to the love of God and Catholic moral teaching.” – Pope Pius XII address to the priests of Rome in 1948
Please pray for our nation over these next few days. Old St. Mary’s has adoration from 8:00 until Noon and then from 5:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. if you need a quite place to prayer!
Have a Blessed Week ahead!
