at the foot of the Cross

Today, a day for prayer and fasting

Today, March 30^th is a particular day for prayer and fasting...
Why today only? Why not every day or at least one-day-a-week - for those who have plenty to eat and seldom make time to pray...?

Do we know what it means to "fast" in this country of material wealth and surplus?
Do we know what it is to "not have" something for the sake of something greater?
Do we know how to pray to our heavenly Father? Do we make time to pray?
Do we know what it is to have a relationship with God, and have a conversation with Him on a daily basis?

Like a child who wants a quick snack when hunger pangs begin to stir inside his little stomach...and dinner is not quite ready yet...mother or father would say to the child to wait a little longer for the hunger to be satisfied. Do you think  this child will know how to wait?

If, instead, the mother or father gives-in to the child's cries and provides the quick snack (in order to stop the child from crying or making a spectacle in public)...
Has this child learned to wait for the better part still to come?

On the contrary, this child will no longer be hungry for the good and healthy food prepared for the children at the family table.

As the parents (role models) we too must be patient and "hunger" for the good and healthy food provided by our heavenly Father...
"Hunger" for justice and peace...
"Hunger" for what is healthy and good for our formation...(an everlasting hungering for the ultimate satisfaction culminating in total union with the One...)

We pray to the Father...we ask for what is just and right...we ask for what is good and healthy for us and for our brothers and sisters in this country...in this world.

Let us hunger today...and as we fast/hunger...let us be united in prayer each and every day...for the rest of our lives.

Prayer for pregnant women

Heavenly Father, cover your pregnant daughters with your amazing love:

• Protect their sons and daughters in the womb from all harm.
• Guide women struggling with issues of their pregnancy to caring counselors.
• Comfort women lacking family support and close friends.
• Provide women prenatal care, safe delivery, affordable housing, and financial resources.
• Fill your daughters with joy on choosing the gift of life for their child.
• Bless your daughters with a deeper relationship with Jesus.
• Mary, Mother of Jesus, pray for all women and for an end of abortion.

We ask this through Christ our Lord, Amen.

Mary is full of grace…

Mary is full of grace…

At the moment of the Annunciation
(feast day we celebrate March 25^th)
she says “yes” with an open heart to God’s will.

Let us walk with Mary during this time…

and praying with Mary,

I invite you to join with me and pray
for an unborn child and the mother…
and please spiritually adopt these precious
little ones during the next nine months…
 
Say this spiritual adoption prayer every day for nine months
to save a baby’s life! (by Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen):

Jesus, Mary and Joseph, I love you very much.
I beg you to spare the life of the unborn baby

That I have spiritually adopted who is in danger of abortion.

Adoptive baby’s name:_____________
Spiritual Adoption Date: March 25^th, 2012     

United in prayer,
Socorro                                       

God's Representative

To teens for whom we provide affirmation, we are God's emissary, the representative of God's love and acceptance of them. Without good role models (including parents) they might never understand this immense love that God has for them.

— from When a Teen Chooses You