“America the beautiful! So you sing in one of your national songs. Yes, America, you are beautiful indeed, and blessed in so many ways, but your greatest beauty and your richest blessing is found in the human person. In each man, woman and child, in every immigrant, in every native-born son and daughter.
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For this reason, America, your deepest identity and truest character as a nation is revealed in the position you take towards the human person. The ultimate test of your greatness in the way you treat every human being, but especially the weakest and most defenseless ones.
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The best traditions of your land presume respect for those who cannot defend themselves. If you want equal justice for all, and true freedom and lasting peace, then, America, defend life! All the great causes that are yours today will have meaning only to the extent that you guarantee the right to life and protect the human person…”
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Pope John Paul II; Farewell [to America] Ceremony, Detroit Airport, September 19, 1987
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St. John Paul II, pray for us. Pray for our families, pray for our nations, and pray for our Church.
Would Jesus have done this?
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I read comments like that on posts regarding the removal of the pachamama idols inside Santa Maria Transpontina Church in Rome. People criticizing two brave and holy men who respectfully, yet boldly followed the first commandment of our Lord, “Thou shalt have no other gods before Me.” ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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I’m here to tell you, yes, Jesus would have followed His Father’s commandment to have no false idols, no gods before Him. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Maybe not the Jesus we’ve been fed in our CCD classes — you know, the one who came and sang kumbaya and didn’t ruffle any feathers and was loved by all yet killed brutally and publicly for no good reason at all. That Jesus probably would not have done this, you’re right. But the thing is, that Jesus is not real.
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The real Jesus is the one who came to save our souls, not stroke our egos. He served the poorest of the poor and preached of God’s love, mercy, and justice. Followers turned away from Him when they didn’t like His teaching. He forgave people who repented, and then He told them to sin no more. He performed miracles and flipped over tables when the temple was being desecrated. He called out the Pharisees. He was well loved, yes. But make no mistake, he was hated too — so much so that he was crucified. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Above all, He followed the will of His Father — something we’re called to do, too.
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So yes, Jesus would have most certainly done this. That is not the question here. The question is, would you?
Look up, child.
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When everything seems right. When you’re overflowing with joy, and bursting with gratitude.
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Look up, child. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
When everything feels wrong. When you’re struggling to find the words to pray. When no one else seems to understand, and you’re losing hope.
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Look up, child. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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The Lord is right there, and He wants to share all of it with you. The best days, the worst times, your proudest moments & your biggest fears — bring it all to Him. Whether you haven’t prayed in 5 days or 15 years, you can start now. He’s waiting for you. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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All you have to do is — ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Look up, child. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Beautiful print from my friend @whenbeautymettruth.
Will not God then secure the rights of His chosen ones who call out to Him day and night? Will He be slow to answer them? I tell you, He will see to it that justice is done for them speedily. But when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?" + Luke 18:7-8
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That last line gets me. When Jesus comes, will He find faith on Earth? Will He know us? Sometimes I feel like the Gospel + homily are directed right at me — and this week, a week I really struggled in prayer (and I’m not just saying that, I mean like I really, really struggled) this is exactly what I needed to hear. Persist in prayer. Talk to God. Know Him. Love Him. Live your faith, so when the Son of Man comes, He finds faith on Earth — in our hearts & in our homes.
The devil wants to ruin motherhood.
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A woman sacrifices her body, and her life, for her child. This is literally what Jesus did for us. He sacrificed His life, and He gave to us His body. Motherhood is naturally holy and sanctifying. Also, babies. They are a gift. They’re joyful, loving, humble, and entirely dependent. There’s a reason we need to be like them to entire the Kingdom of God. Besides the Mass, I think they’re the closest thing to Heaven on Earth, and that’s why they bring such joy. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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How did Christ come into this world? ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Through His mother. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Mary, the holy woman who said yes to her unborn child. Under difficult circumstances, she gave her body for her Son, who would give Himself for all mankind. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Who crushes the head of the serpent? That same mother. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
God put enmity between the woman and the serpent back in Genesis, with Eve. The devil fears the Blessed Virgin — so much so that when she is called upon in exorcisms demons flee. He hates the holy example of motherhood she is, and he hates the power her prayers for us have. I think he is why the Church’s reverence for Mary remains one of the most controversial teachings. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Take it a step further, he doesn’t want any of us to be holy mothers, because he knows just how sanctifying that is, and the impact it can have on future generations. We have the power to change the world by raising up Saints. He knows that. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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This is why he fosters such division in motherhood. We can’t have conversations about working or staying home without ripping each others heads off. We live in a world that upholds abortion not only as a human right, but as an empowering choice. Sometimes it just feels like the devil is getting exactly what he wants with us.
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But then I look around, and I see holy women, and holy mothers, in all stages of life, of all races, with different backgrounds, family sizes, careers, passions, strengths, and gifts. Evil may have its hour, but God will have His day. Let’s make that day today. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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The devil wants to ruin motherhood. Don’t let him.
