EWTN novena begins with homily on spiritual aspect of religious freedom fight

Last updated on: October 2, 2012 at 9:14 am by CNA Daily News

EWTN novena begins with homily on spiritual aspect of religious freedom fight 2012-10-02T09:14:00+00:00 CNA Daily News

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Irondale, Ala., Oct 2, 2012 / 03:14 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Bishop-designate James D. Conley of Lincoln, Neb. began a novena to the Virgin Mary for religious freedom in the U.S. on Saturday by stressing the “heavenly and angelic battle” against sin, not against Americans’ fellow citizens.

“As we pray together for religious liberty, let us recall a simple fact,” he said in his Sept. 29 homily at Our Lady of the Angels Chapel in Irondale, Ala. “The role of religion in America will be respected when religion is lived with enthusiastic and infectious vitality. When we proclaim Jesus Christ with joy, in authentic freedom, the world will listen.”

The defense of religious liberty is not merely a political or cultural battle, he said. He urged Catholics to “get serious about the spiritual dimension of the Christian life” and begin with “hidden things” like prayer, fasting and sacrifice.

Bishop Conley said that “offering up a small sacrifice in the quietude of our hearts may do more to build up the Kingdom than all of the world’s preaching and teaching combined.”

The Sept. 29 – Oct. 7 Novena is organized by the EWTN Global Catholic Network to pray for the United States ahead of the November elections. The elections come at a time when the Catholic Church is at loggerheads with the Obama administration over a federal mandate that requires many employers, including many Catholic institutions, to provide employees with free insurance coverage for sterilization and contraception, including abortion causing drugs.

Bishop Conley also addressed the spiritual sphere of reality, in particular, the realm of angels and demons.

He said Catholics’ enemies are not their fellow citizens who threaten religious liberty or “slaughter” the unborn or “seek to destroy the Catholic Church,” because there is hope for them in redemption in Jesus Christ.

“Our enemies are the demons who entrap them. And who seek to entrap us,” the bishop said. “Our enemy is sin, and the father of sin, the evil one.”

He reflected that Sept. 29 is the Feast of the Archangels. Angels, he said, are “real creatures” who do “real work” in building up the Kingdom of God. They are a “blueprint” for efforts to defend religious liberty because they represent the primacy of the spiritual life and each serve as a “healer, herald and defender.”

“Our vocation is to join the angels in their spiritual battle against evil. Our call is to share in their work,” he said.

“Let us call upon the intercession of the mighty archangels, and let us imitate their work — lived out in the freedom of choosing what is good,” Bishop Conley said.

On each day of the novena, a leading Catholic bishop will celebrate Mass at Our Lady of the Angels Chapel in Irondale, Ala. at 8 a.m. Eastern Time.

Besides Bishop Conley, bishops participating in the novena include Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann of Kansas City; Archbishop Thomas J. Rodi of Mobile, Ala.; Archbishop Charles J. Chaput of Philadelphia; and Bishop Robert J. Baker of Birmingham, Ala.

The novena website is www.religiousliberties.org/novena.

Uncategorized

Previous Post

October 2, 2012

Mo. business appealing ruling against its HHS mandate lawsuit

Next Post

October 2, 2012 Catholic students spark controversy over IVF support

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Americas Asia - Pacific Europe Middle East - Africa Uncategorized US Vatican

Select a Month November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who was Isaac's wife?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Rebekah Sarah Rachel Leah