How time flies! We are already halfway through the year 2024 and before you know it, we will come to election day (November 5). It is not too early to review our United States Bishops document, "Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship (which can be read online by going to USCCB/Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship).
Pope Francis said the following in a morning meditation: "We need to participate for the common good. Some-times we hear: a good Catholic is not interested in politics. This is not true: good Catholics immerse themselves in politics by offering the best of themselves so that the leader may govern."
The statement of our American bishops (mentioned above) represents their guidance for Catholics in the exercise of their rights and duties as participants in our democracy. They go on to urge all Catholics (clergy, religious and laity) to use this statement to help form their consciences; to teach those entrusted to their care, to contribute to civil and respectful public dialogue, and to shape political choices in the coming election year in light of Catholic teaching.
This is quite a challenge in all ways including the way we dialogue with others. We can allow ourselves to hear dialogue and statements from candidates, their supporters, the media and others that is anything but respectful and civil and be tempted to respond in kind. Hopefully, in striving to be and stay close to Jesus, we will always seek to act as he did with compassion, mercy and Christ-like love in this and in others areas of our lives.
I would also encourage you to join with me in prayer for our country's leaders and those who strive to be elected to government positions. Please join us when-ever we pray the patriotic rosary, which asks for the intercession of our Blessed Mother for our country's leaders and people, and provides patriotic songs to sing, especially verses that speak of the connection between God and country.
In one of those songs (America the Beautiful) we ask God to mend our every flaw. While there are many ways that our country has been (and still is) great in what it stands for at home and abroad, we have to acknowledge that conversion needs to take place to make our leaders, peoples, and institutions more Christ-like and ever ready to reach out a helping hand to those who are truly unable to provide even the basic needs of life for themselves and their families.
Soon Catholics in this country will be entering into the 3rd and final year of Eucharistic Revival which especially stresses the mission of bringing our love of Jesus in the Eucharist to others (especially non-practicing Catholics). We will have more about this in the weeks and months to come.
Pope Francis said the following in a morning meditation: "We need to participate for the common good. Some-times we hear: a good Catholic is not interested in politics. This is not true: good Catholics immerse themselves in politics by offering the best of themselves so that the leader may govern."
The statement of our American bishops (mentioned above) represents their guidance for Catholics in the exercise of their rights and duties as participants in our democracy. They go on to urge all Catholics (clergy, religious and laity) to use this statement to help form their consciences; to teach those entrusted to their care, to contribute to civil and respectful public dialogue, and to shape political choices in the coming election year in light of Catholic teaching.
This is quite a challenge in all ways including the way we dialogue with others. We can allow ourselves to hear dialogue and statements from candidates, their supporters, the media and others that is anything but respectful and civil and be tempted to respond in kind. Hopefully, in striving to be and stay close to Jesus, we will always seek to act as he did with compassion, mercy and Christ-like love in this and in others areas of our lives.
I would also encourage you to join with me in prayer for our country's leaders and those who strive to be elected to government positions. Please join us when-ever we pray the patriotic rosary, which asks for the intercession of our Blessed Mother for our country's leaders and people, and provides patriotic songs to sing, especially verses that speak of the connection between God and country.
In one of those songs (America the Beautiful) we ask God to mend our every flaw. While there are many ways that our country has been (and still is) great in what it stands for at home and abroad, we have to acknowledge that conversion needs to take place to make our leaders, peoples, and institutions more Christ-like and ever ready to reach out a helping hand to those who are truly unable to provide even the basic needs of life for themselves and their families.
Soon Catholics in this country will be entering into the 3rd and final year of Eucharistic Revival which especially stresses the mission of bringing our love of Jesus in the Eucharist to others (especially non-practicing Catholics). We will have more about this in the weeks and months to come.