Interfaith Novena to Stop the HHS Mandate

From the Pro-Life Action League: "Prayer is the foundation of all our efforts to fight President Obama’s HHS Mandate, which forces all employer health plans to provide free contraception, sterilization and abortion-inducing drugs, without regard to objections of conscience. Fr. Frank Pavone of Priests for Life has composed a Novena for this intention, which we are inviting all to pray in the days leading up to the big Nationwide Rally for Religious Freedom."

Don't forget to attend a Stand Up for Religious Freedom Rally near you on October 20.  Find yours here http://standupforreligiousfreedom.com/ 

Day 9

God of our Fathers,
We thank you for our nation,
Founded by those who believed in your Word
And came to this land as if out of the desert
To seek a place of freedom and rest.

We thank you for their conviction
That our rights come from You, our Creator,
And that government exists
To secure those rights,
And never to destroy or weaken them.

Now that we face unjust mandates
That call upon us to violate our conscience,
We pray for your protection.
Keep us faithful to you in our every deed.

Grant that we may work for change
By being citizens who are active in the process
By which we elect our leaders.

Grant that by our efforts to educate and mobilize voters,
We may replace public officials who ignore your law
With those who observe it faithfully.
Bless our nation's upcoming elections.

As we rejoice that we are citizens of your Kingdom,
So make us always faithful citizens on earth.

We pray through Christ our Lord. Amen.
 

Fitness for Christmas

In case you missed my first post, my goal is to drop 10 pounds by Christmas.  Last week was my first week to publicly proclaim this goal.  Naturally, as soon as I said it, everything went haywire.  My regular schedule was disrupted with good things, but still, it was disrupted.  While my nutrition stayed pretty on track, with room for improvement, I missed a lot of workouts.

Last night I taught my Turbo Kick class and left feeling on top of the world.  I went into that class with the weight of the world on my shoulders and pressure mounting. Lesson learned: the more stress (good or bad) in my life, the more I NEED my workout.  Building up a good sweat and releasing endorphins is like opening a pressure valve in my chest.  All the tension came out in the form of sweat.

I've been reminded that exercise makes me a better person.  What do I mean?   Well, I can look down my nose at all the couch potatoes.  Ha! Just kidding.  No, I am better able to deal with all the other people and events in my life better.  I can roll with the punches more easily. So many times in my past, I've said "I don't have time to exercise", "I'm too busy with my kids and husband", "I have too much work to do".  What I've learned over these passed couple years is that it is important to put myself first.  I've learned to make myself a priority, not in a selfish way, but in a way that allows me to give more to my family without feeling resentful and exhausted.

Everyone in my life benefits from my commitment to fitness.  Simply put, when I release stress through exercise, I don't release it through screaming.  (Don't tell me I'm the only one who loses her temper, please!) Exercise makes me better at every role I play in my life.   It's still difficult to get it done when my schedule interferes with my plans, but I am committed to making myself a better all-around person.

Are you ready to see how making yourself and your fitness a priority in your life can benefit your family and everyone around you?  Why not join my in my challenge?  I'd LOVE the company on this journey!  Comment below and we'll talk about how to get started. 

Interfaith Novena to Stop the HHS Mandate

From the Pro-Life Action League: "Prayer is the foundation of all our efforts to fight President Obama’s HHS Mandate, which forces all employer health plans to provide free contraception, sterilization and abortion-inducing drugs, without regard to objections of conscience. Fr. Frank Pavone of Priests for Life has composed a Novena for this intention, which we are inviting all to pray in the days leading up to the big Nationwide Rally for Religious Freedom."

Don't forget to attend a Stand Up for Religious Freedom Rally near you on October 20.  Find yours here http://standupforreligiousfreedom.com/ 

Day 8

Father,
Your Son Jesus Christ has taught us
That those who mourn over their sins
And over the evils in the world
Are blessed indeed, and will be comforted.

We come before you today
In that spirit of Christian mourning
Over how far our nation's policies
Have strayed from your law
And from the respect for life and conscience
That every law should reflect.

In the power of your Spirit,
Our mourning does not make us weak,
But rather renews our strength
To work for change.

Enable us, then, to speak up
And educate our fellow citizens,
And to make our voices heard
To our elected officials.

Reverse the unjust policies
That have been forced upon us,
And restore our nation
To the principles of freedom and justice
Upon which it was founded.

We pray through Christ our Lord. Amen.
 

Interfaith Novena to Stop the HHS Mandate

From the Pro-Life Action League: "Prayer is the foundation of all our efforts to fight President Obama’s HHS Mandate, which forces all employer health plans to provide free contraception, sterilization and abortion-inducing drugs, without regard to objections of conscience. Fr. Frank Pavone of Priests for Life has composed a Novena for this intention, which we are inviting all to pray in the days leading up to the big Nationwide Rally for Religious Freedom."

Don't forget to attend a Stand Up for Religious Freedom Rally near you on October 20.  Find yours here http://standupforreligiousfreedom.com/ 

Day 7

Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.
We thank you, Father,
For the grace of repentance
And the power of conversion at work in your people.

We thank you for your Holy Spirit,
Who convicts us of sin and enlightens us
About how to please you.
Lord, enable your people,
In the midst of current persecution and danger,
To live the spirit of repentance
Ever more deeply and effectively.

For every moment we lacked courage in the past,
Give us the grace to repent.
For every time we were silent when we should have spoken,
Give us the grace to repent.
For every time we could have witnessed to life but did not,
Give us the grace to repent.

Made strong by the spirit of repentance,
May your people rise up
And reverse the tide of evil in our midst.

Enable us to defend our freedom
And to build a Culture of Life.
We pray through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Interfaith Novena to Stop the HHS Mandate

From the Pro-Life Action League: "Prayer is the foundation of all our efforts to fight President Obama’s HHS Mandate, which forces all employer health plans to provide free contraception, sterilization and abortion-inducing drugs, without regard to objections of conscience. Fr. Frank Pavone of Priests for Life has composed a Novena for this intention, which we are inviting all to pray in the days leading up to the big Nationwide Rally for Religious Freedom."

Don't forget to attend a Stand Up for Religious Freedom Rally near you on October 20.  Find yours here http://standupforreligiousfreedom.com/ 

Day 6

Father,
You unite the human family
Through the blood of your Son Jesus Christ
And the gift of the Holy Spirit.

At this time of need,
When your Church and all your people
Are called to stand firm against injustices
Inflicted on us from our government,
We ask you to strengthen us in the bond of unity.

Strengthen the unity of your Church,
That none of your faithful may be on the sidelines,
But that everyone may be active in this battle.

Give Church leaders the grace to discern
The many varieties of the working of your Spirit
That they may fan into flame the gifts that the Spirit
Bestows freely on your people.

And give us the wisdom to know
That no group has a monopoly on the defense of life and freedom.
May we work in an ecumenical and inter-religious spirit
And welcome the efforts of all people of good will
Who believe in freedom of religion and conscience.
We pray through Christ our Lord. Amen.
 

Interfaith Novena to Stop the HHS Mandate

From the Pro-Life Action League: "Prayer is the foundation of all our efforts to fight President Obama’s HHS Mandate, which forces all employer health plans to provide free contraception, sterilization and abortion-inducing drugs, without regard to objections of conscience. Fr. Frank Pavone of Priests for Life has composed a Novena for this intention, which we are inviting all to pray in the days leading up to the big Nationwide Rally for Religious Freedom."

Don't forget to attend a Stand Up for Religious Freedom Rally near you on October 20.  Find yours here http://standupforreligiousfreedom.com/ 

Day 5
Lord God,
You are Light, and in you there is no darkness.
You sent your Son Jesus Christ
As the Light of the World,
And you sent your Holy Spirit
To enlighten the hearts and minds of all.

Lord, we pray today
That we may always experience
The light of your truth,
Informing our conscience
Of what is right and what is wrong.

We pray that this light
Will reach all of our fellow citizens
That they may recognize the dangers of evil
Which are often hidden along their path.

Open the eyes and minds of all
To the threats that currently exist
To our religious freedom,
To the health and well-being of women,
And to the good of our nation.

Give us the grace not only to recognize evil,
But also to reject it with the unwavering strength
That comes from you.

We pray through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Interfaith Novena to Stop the HHS Mandate

From the Pro-Life Action League: "Prayer is the foundation of all our efforts to fight President Obama’s HHS Mandate, which forces all employer health plans to provide free contraception, sterilization and abortion-inducing drugs, without regard to objections of conscience. Fr. Frank Pavone of Priests for Life has composed a Novena for this intention, which we are inviting all to pray in the days leading up to the big Nationwide Rally for Religious Freedom."

Don't forget to attend a Stand Up for Religious Freedom Rally near you on October 20.  Find yours here http://standupforreligiousfreedom.com/ 

Day 4

Lord Jesus Christ,
Ruler of all nations,
You gave your apostles the command
To preach the Gospel to the ends of the earth,
And promised that you would be with them all days,
Even until the end of the world.

After your Ascension,
They went forth to preach your word
And you confirmed with signs and wonders
That you were working through them.

When they were told by the authorities of their day
Not to speak your name anymore,
And were even arrested and scourged,
They boldly declared,
"We must obey God rather than men!"

Lord Jesus,
You continue to proclaim your Word
in your Church today.
Give us the same clarity, courage, and determination
That your apostles had,
That we may not allow any obstacle or earthly power
To intimidate us into silence or compromise.

Grant that our highest loyalty may always and only be to you,
Who live and reign forever and ever. Amen.

Interfaith Novena to Stop the HHS Mandate

Join me in this prayer.  Please go to Priests for Life and let them know that you will be joining them in this novena.

From the Pro-Life Action League: "Prayer is the foundation of all our efforts to fight President Obama’s HHS Mandate, which forces all employer health plans to provide free contraception, sterilization and abortion-inducing drugs, without regard to objections of conscience. Fr. Frank Pavone of Priests for Life has composed a Novena for this intention, which we are inviting all to pray in the days leading up to the big Nationwide Rally for Religious Freedom."

Don't forget to attend a Stand Up for Religious Freedom Rally near you on October 20.  Find yours here http://standupforreligiousfreedom.com/ 

Day 3

God our Father,
You are the author of Liberty.
You created each human being
In your own image and likeness,
And bestowed upon each person
A dignity that nobody can take away.

You are the defender of our freedom,
A freedom by which we seek you,
And seek to be faithful to your law.

At this time of our history,
We ask you to protect the freedom you have given us
And to defend our dignity.

Give us the grace to speak up
On behalf of conscience,
And the freedom to live out our faith
No matter what the cost.

Give to each person, and to our public officials
the grace to respect
each person's freedom of conscience and religion.
We pray through Christ our Lord. Amen.