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August Prayer Guide

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August 2023

SUBSCRIBE

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Pray

Our Father, 3 Hail Marys, Glory Be

Reflect

The Solemnity of the Assumption celebrates the Blessed Mother’s entrance into heavenly glory. The Catechism explains that Mary “was taken up body and soul into the glory of heaven, where she already shares in the glory of her Son’s Resurrection, anticipating the resurrection of all members of his Body” (CCC, 974).

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Mary’s Assumption into heaven reminds us that life on earth is a pilgrimage to our ultimate destination. We prepare in hope for our own passage into eternal life by the choices we make today. When we choose to love and follow God in our daily lives, we strengthen our relationship with Him, and this relationship is the true meaning of heaven: “To live in heaven is ‘to be with Christ’” (CCC, 1025 citing St. Ambrose, In Luc.,10,121:PL 15 1834A.).

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We can see how, throughout her life, the Blessed Mother continually chose to go deeper into her relationship with God. She modeled how to value and respect His precious gift of human life, from the moment of conception to its natural end. In the Annunciation, through her “yes,” Mary witnessed to 

the undeniable humanity of unborn children as she conceived and carried the Christ child in her womb. After the Annunciation, having learned that her cousin Elizabeth was with child, she went in haste to her aid.

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Our Blessed Mother shows us how the way we live today can prepare us, in hope, to also enter into heavenly glory at the end of our lives. Are we open to God’s precious gift of new life? How do we support pregnant mothers and parents of young children? Do we prioritize showing our love to those who are ill or aging? Do we care for them in a way that respects God’s gift of life?

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Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Act

(Choose one.)

  • Read and meditate on the Mass readings for the Solemnity of the Assumption. Reflect on how the Blessed Mother consistently exemplified how to welcome and cherish God’s gift of human life.
     
  • Choose one night to sleep without your pillow or on the floor. Consider how Mary welcomed the Christ-child in humble surroundings and pray for mothers who welcome their children amidst poverty and difficult circumstances today.
     
  • Offer some other sacrifice or prayer that you feel called to do for this month’s intention.​

One Step Further

Read the short reflection, “Called to Serve Moms in Need,” and reflect on how the Blessed Mother shows us how to support mothers and their children.

Catechism of the Catholic Church, second edition © 2000 LEV-USCCB. Used with permission. All rights reserved.

Respect Life!

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Today we celebrate the Birth of St. John the Baptist, and the 1st Anniversary of the Dobbs decision…… June 24th, 2022 was a day that will go down in history. It was the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. It was the birthday of the child prophet who leaped in his mother’s womb to announce the coming of the Messiah. And it was the birth of a new hope for the pro-life movement as the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that there is no constitutional right to abortion. National Celebrate Life Day DATE: Today, Saturday, June 24
 TIME: 10:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Eastern
 LOCATION: The Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.
 LIVE STREAM: nationalcelebratelifeday.com/livestream 
But where are we one year later? 
There have been amazing victories for the protection of life that would have been unimaginable just a few years ago.  Most Importantly, the Susan B. Anthony list has estimated that at least 60,000 unborn babies lives have been saved in this past year because of the Dobbs decision.  
Victories here in New York
Closing of Bronx Abortion clinic on Eastchester Rd after 52 years!Opening of new pregnancy center Gianna’s House in Brewster, NYWalking with Mom’s in Need Initiative spreads to parishes throughout the Archdiocese Increased media attention inspired many more men and women suffering after the experience of abortion to reach out for support and healing  (If you, or anyone you know, is in need of support after abortion contact Project Rachel) Hundreds of New Yorkers travel to D.C. to celebrate the 1st post-Roe March for Life!Some disappointments in New YorkNY State allocates more than $35 million to support abortion providers NYC begins distributing free abortion pills in the Bronx and Queens and creates an “Abortion Access Hub”SUNY/CUNY campuses to begin providing abortion pills on campus NY “Equal Rights Amendment” passes 1st round of approval, paving way to enshrine abortion in NY constitution Vandalism of pregnancy resource centers and pro-life billboards Volatile protests against the prayerful Witness for Life procession  False and misleading reports about abortion in the media
The Post-Roe Landscape

But if we zoom out from New York and look on a national level we get a different perspective. While it is true that several states, including NY have been in a grisly competition to be the most pro-abortion state in the land, many places in the United States have passed incredible life-saving laws that protect unborn children and their mothers. 14 states where life is protected from conception barring some exceptions for rape, incest, fetal anomaly, or the life of the mother. (TX, KY,OK,TN,MO,WI,AL,LA,AR,MS,ID,WV,SD,ND) and 4 additional states (AZ,IN,UT,WY) have passed a similar law that is not currently in effect due to legal challenges  
5 states with a law protecting life as soon as a a fetal heartbeat can be detected (generally 5-6 wks gestation) (FL,OH,GA,SC,IA) However, due to ongoing legal challenges it is only currently in effect in GA.7 states with some kind of abortion restriction. (NE and NC – 12 wks, KS and MT (pain-capable -20-22 wks) NH and PA – 24 weeks. Some of these laws have been stayed by the courts. 21 states with essentially no limits on abortion due to very broad “health” exceptions, including NY.  map courtesy of Family Research Council. Where do we go from here? 
Sometimes it feels like our voices, speaking for the voiceless, are being drowned out by the loud political posturing and angry ranting about ‘rights’.(At least here in New York) 
 But the answer is not to simply to get louder…
“If I speak in human and angelic tongues but do not have love, I am a resounding gong or a clashing cymbal. And if I have the gift of prophecy and comprehend all mysteries and all knowledge; if I have all faith so as to move mountains but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give away everything I own, and if I hand my body over so that I may boast but do not have love, I gain nothing.” (1 Cor 13:1-3) 
The US Bishops have continuingly called on our Church to “practice radical solidarity and unconditional love” for pregnant and parenting mothers.
“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in Heaven.” Mt 5:16 This is the only way we will build a culture of life!To get involved with Walking with Moms in Need contact the Respect Life Office. We can help you get this initiative started at your parish! Let us not grow faint or lose heart. The fury and uproar is a sign that the war is nearing its climax- and we are going to win! “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” Phil 1:16Read Bishop Burbridge’s Chairman of USCCB Pro-Life Secretariat’s StatementGod bless you,Respect Life Office
Sr. Virginia Joy, SV, Director
sr.virginia.joy@archny.org
646.689.2613

Sr. Hope, SV, Assistant
sr.mary.margaret.hope@archny.org
646.476.0931

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STOP THIS WEEK’S SENATE VOTE

The U.S. Senate is expected to vote this week, as part of an unconstitutional process, on a resolution that could, among other things:

  • impose abortion-on-demand nationwide without any limits;
  • require taxpayer funding of abortion;
  • potentially require Catholic hospitals and health workers to perform abortions, including on children.

Please contact your U.S. Senators NOW and tell them to oppose the resolution to unconstitutionally revive the misnamed “Equal Rights Amendment.”

Paste the link below in your browser …

https://www.votervoice.net/USCCB/Campaigns/101952/Respond

A message has already been written for you, so it just takes a few moments to send.