"Let us love our enemies, bless those who curse us, pray for Those who persecute us. For love will conquer and will endure for all eternity. And happy are they who live and die in God's love."...Franz Jagerstatter
Our Purpose
Inspired by the witness of Blessed Franz Jagerstatter; angered by the invasion and occupation of Iraq by our government and the subsequent acts of terror and civilian atrocities committed in the past five years; mourning American casualties, both loss of life as well as physical and mental disabilities; we admit our own complicity by our failure to raise our voices more forcefully.
We are reminded of the words of Blessed Franz Jagerstatter, " If the Church stays silent in the face of what is happening, what difference would it make if no church were ever opened again?" Holding his life, words and witness before us, as a church alive in action and in word, beginning another holy season of Lent/Easter we are challenged by the words of the prophet Isaiah, "Would that today you might fast so as to make your voice heard on high."
Prayer and fasting has a prominent place in Christianity. Jesus overcame the powers of temptation by his 40 days of prayer and fasting. Our faith tradition teaches us that the grace of prayer and fasting can conquer greed and the lust for power that lead to war.
In the Spirit of Christ, we have been moved to take the suffering caused by the present war unto ourselves. Therefore, we intend to fast and pray without ceasing throughout the entire season of Lent. In purifying ourselves of this suffering caused by war and our acquiescence, we hope that God extends His mercy to all of us.
Purpose: Our purpose is threefold
First, to purify our own hearts,
Second, to ask for forgiveness for participating in the violence of war by our silence;
Third, to educate Catholics, especially our young, on the nonviolent teachings and life of Jesus Himself to enable everyone to form a conscience founded on Holy Scripture and Church tradition.
Prayer: Almighty and everlasting God, who kindled the flame of your Love in the heart of your holy martyr Franz Jagerstatter: Grant to us, your humble servants, a like faith and power of love, that we who rejoice in his triumph may profit by his example; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
Inspired by the witness of Blessed Franz Jagerstatter; angered by the invasion and occupation of Iraq by our government and the subsequent acts of terror and civilian atrocities committed in the past five years; mourning American casualties, both loss of life as well as physical and mental disabilities; we admit our own complicity by our failure to raise our voices more forcefully.
We are reminded of the words of Blessed Franz Jagerstatter, " If the Church stays silent in the face of what is happening, what difference would it make if no church were ever opened again?" Holding his life, words and witness before us, as a church alive in action and in word, beginning another holy season of Lent/Easter we are challenged by the words of the prophet Isaiah, "Would that today you might fast so as to make your voice heard on high."
Prayer and fasting has a prominent place in Christianity. Jesus overcame the powers of temptation by his 40 days of prayer and fasting. Our faith tradition teaches us that the grace of prayer and fasting can conquer greed and the lust for power that lead to war.
In the Spirit of Christ, we have been moved to take the suffering caused by the present war unto ourselves. Therefore, we intend to fast and pray without ceasing throughout the entire season of Lent. In purifying ourselves of this suffering caused by war and our acquiescence, we hope that God extends His mercy to all of us.
Purpose: Our purpose is threefold
First, to purify our own hearts,
Second, to ask for forgiveness for participating in the violence of war by our silence;
Third, to educate Catholics, especially our young, on the nonviolent teachings and life of Jesus Himself to enable everyone to form a conscience founded on Holy Scripture and Church tradition.
Prayer: Almighty and everlasting God, who kindled the flame of your Love in the heart of your holy martyr Franz Jagerstatter: Grant to us, your humble servants, a like faith and power of love, that we who rejoice in his triumph may profit by his example; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
