Welcoming the Light

The West Virginia Institute for Spirituality (WVIS) has prepared an Advent reflection booklet, "Welcoming the Light."  Click here to access the booklet. Thanks to WVIS for sharing these daily reflections, and to Sisters of Christian Charity Gale Pankowski and Mary Irene Sorber for preparing reflections.

November Issue of Stop Trafficking Newsletter

The November 2016 issue of Stop Trafficking -- highlighting various forced labor abuses -- is available here.

Special Prayer Intentions

The USCCB has adapted its usual Friday Call to Prayer to include intentions for the elections in the United States.  Now that the election has taken place, today's intention is "May the leaders elected this week be guided by the Holy Spirit as they fulfill their positions."  The bishops also invite us to fast and pray an Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be for this intention.  Click here for more information and/or to sign up for weekly reminders from the USCCB via email or text message.

Special Prayer Intentions: Election Day Edition

The USCCB has adapted its usual Friday Call to Prayer to include intentions for the upcoming elections in the United States. Because today is election day, the bishops have asked us to pray and fast "for a peaceful, just and faith-filled election." Click here for more information and/or to sign up for weekly reminders from the USCCB via email or text message.

Mercy is the antidote to fear

In his address to the participants in the World Meeting of Popular Movements on Saturday, November 5, Pope Francis reiterated his message of mercy.  A notable quotation from this address is, "Mercy is the antidote to fear . . . and it is much better than antidepressants . . . much more effective than walls and gates, alarms and weapons. And it is free.  And it is a gift of God."  The full address is available here, only in English or Italian right now.  An article about the address is available here.

For those who read Spanish, here is the paragraph from which the quotation referenced above was taken:
Al miedo se lo alimenta, se lo manipula… Porque el miedo, además de ser un buen negocio para los mercaderes de las armas y de la muerte, nos debilita, nos desequilibra, destruye nuestras defensas psicológicas y espirituales, nos anestesia frente al sufrimiento ajeno y al final nos hace crueles. Cuando escuchamos que se festeja la muerte de un joven que tal vez erró el camino, cuando vemos que se prefiere la guerra a la paz, cuando vemos que se generaliza la xenofobia, cuando constatamos que ganan terreno las propuestas intolerantes; detrás de esa crueldad que parece masificarse está el frío aliento del miedo. Les pido que recemos por todos los que tienen miedo, recemos para que Dios les dé el valor y que en este año de la misericordia podamos ablandar nuestros corazones. La misericordia no es fácil, no es fácil… requiere coraje. Por eso Jesús nos dice: «No tengan miedo» (Mt 14,27), pues la misericordia es el mejor antídoto contra el miedo. Es mucho mejor que los antidepresivos y los ansiolíticos. Mucho más eficaz que los muros, las rejas, las alarmas y las armas. Y es gratis: es un don de Dios.

Special Prayer Intentions

The USCCB has adapted its usual Friday Call to Prayer to include intentions for the upcoming elections in the United States.  Today's intention: "As we approach the polls, may we understand and embrace the principles of our Faith that should guide our political engagement."  The bishops also invite us to fast and pray an Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be for this intention.  Click here for more information and/or to sign up for weekly reminders from the USCCB via email or text message.