Duc in Altum

When I thought about what was launched today in Massachusetts, I initially became very frustrated. After wondering what should be done, I then remembered that our Heavenly Father is very aware of what is happening. In fact, He has already shown us what we are to do to combat this attack upon marriage, the family, and yes, upon our Lord.

With God, there are no coincidences. Thus, it is not surprising that although the Holy Father's prayer intentions for the month of May, which were set several months ago, include prayers that are relevant for our situation today. His general intention asks for prayers for the recognition of marriage as God has ordained it:



In requesting that the faithful offer this prayer to our Lord, the Holy Father is also recognizing what the heart of the concern is--the family. The attempt to redefine marriage as a purely government-granteinstitutionon which allows the union of two people of the same sex is a direct effort to undermine the family. Both marriage and the family are God's gifts to mankind. By seeking to weaken through confusion the reality of what constitutes a marriage, the proponents of same-sex unions are wittingly (and in many cases unwittingly) attacking the natural law. Of course attacks against the natural law and God's revelation are attacks upon God.

Later in the day, I opened up to Ephesians. Not chapter 5 where St. Paul talks about the nature of marriage, but chapter 6 in which St. Paul exhorts us that we are not in a war against people, but spiritually dark forces:

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we are not contending against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the equipment of the gospel of peace; besides all these, taking the shield of faith, with which you can quench all the flaming darts of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Pray at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that utterance may be given me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak. (6:10-20)

St. Paul encourages us that in this fight we are not without help. Instead God has given us powerful armor and weapons to assist us. The key is found in verse 18 where he commands us to pray at all times in the Spirit. This brings me back to God's provision for us in these dark days. Through the Holy Father, He has given us the prayer we need because the Pope's missionary intention for this month is:



We must turn to our Lady for her powerful intercession, and above all, we must make our Eucharistic Lord the center of all of our efforts to combat the culture of death and to "stand against the wiles of the devil". We should not become discouraged in these days. Instead we must, as St. Ignatius Loyola stated, pray as if everything depended upon God, and work as if everything depended on us. He has given us this most powerful tool, and He has even given us our Lady whose prayers are very powerful.

After thinking about these things I stopped being discouraged, and I prayed to re-double my efforts to answer God's calling upon my life.