A Saint for Our Times (Ps 128:43) by Kevin/Laura McNicholas

28 Jun A Saint for Our Times (Ps 128:43) by Kevin/Laura McNicholas

Welcome God now with this LIFE Group Devotion (FB), provided by LIFE Runners (FB). Leaders. Guest Authors.
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“See how the Lord blesses those who fear him.” ~ Ps 128:43 (full readings)
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Kevin and Laura’s Reflections: Often in our lives we fail to take a moment to ponder what might have been had things happened slightly differently. On June 26th, 1967, Archbishop Karol Wojtyla became Cardinal Karol Wojtyla on his way to becoming Pope John Paul II in 1978. His papacy was the beginning of a new era in Catholicism, and the springboard for millions of conversions worldwide. This short devotion cannot sum up the Pope’s life of service to God, but one thought stays with me always: Karol said YES to God. He lost both his parents and brother and sister before he was 27, lived through Communism, Nazism, and Modernism, and still spent every day saying YES to God. In words, actions, and most importantly, his example of unfailing prayer, Pope John Paul II gives us an unfailing example of lived faith and holiness in everyday life. His devotion through the Holy Spirit to the Holy Mother, her Son Jesus Christ, and God the Father of all is truly remarkable.  Even at the end of his life, when his health had failed, he taught the world his final lesson: that of the dignity of human life, from the moment of conception to the moment of natural death. He will be canonized a saint this October, and thousands of miracles have been attributed to his intercession. God gives us great people in our lives; it is our responsibility to try to emulate these individuals and to be a shining light in this world.
* Kevin and Laura McNicholas are Engaged Encounter leaders in the Belleville, Illinois Diocese. They were blessed with their daughter Elliana on October 2nd, 2012, the Feast of the Holy Guardian Angels.
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Faith Challenge: Ask the intercession of a favorite Saint, Blessed, or Servant of God for one of your specific needs today. These “Holy Helpers” in Heaven have a very powerful ability to intercede to God for our needs, and can aid us in times of trouble.
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Counter-Culture News: LifeSiteNews, LifeNews, American Family, Vatican, Project Rachel.
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Our Prayers: Prayer to end abortion. LIFE Runners Creed. Add Prayers. Pray with meals, bedtime, wake up, etc. Consider mid-week Family Rosary (17 min). Let’s pray now.
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Feast Day: St. Irenaeus ~ The Church is fortunate that Irenaeus was involved in many of its controversies in
the second century. He was a student, well trained, with great patience in investigating, tremendously protective of apostolic teaching, but prompted more by a desire to win over his opponents than to prove them in error.
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Faith Quote: “Love is never defeated.” ~ Pope John Paul II
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Through Christ our Lord,
Kevin and Laura