Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium - Introduction

Yesterday at Mass, the celebrant urged us to read:

 APOSTOLIC EXHORTATION

EVANGELII GAUDIUM

OF THE HOLY FATHER

FRANCIS

TO THE BISHOPS, CLERGY,

CONSECRATED PERSONS

AND THE LAY FAITHFUL

ON THE PROCLAMATION OF THE GOSPEL

IN TODAY’S WORLD

"Maybe it'll take two days, " he said. "Or two years at the rate of a paragraph at a time! Just do it."

I have decided to take up this challenge.

Here is the first paragraph.

1. The joy of the gospel fills the hearts and lives of all who encounter Jesus. Those who accept his offer of salvation are set free from sin, sorrow, inner emptiness and loneliness. With Christ joy is constantly born anew. In this Exhortation I wish to encourage the Christian faithful to embark upon a new chapter of evangelization marked by this joy, while pointing out new paths for the Church’s journey in years to come.

This reminded me of the Story of St. Francis and Br. Leo, a lived out example to me of St. Francis' words: "preach always and speak only when necessary".

May you live joy today.

Americans, Protect Religious Freedom!

Rescind the HHS Dept. Mandate Requiring Catholic Employers to Provide Contraceptives/Abortifacients to Their Employees

American Catholic Bishops on Religious Liberty

Memorare Army - Commit to Prayer

EWTN Sues Government

Fasting For Freedom

Stop HHS

THE NATIONAL PETITION TO STOP HHS MANDATE

President Obama, in your speech at Notre Dame and elsewhere, you promised that you would provide conscience exemptions for those whose faith forbade their participation in evil.

You have broken that promise by forcing our Church to provide insurance coverage for sterilization, contraception, and various abortifacient drugs. These are practices that for 2,000 years we have taught are intrinsically evil.

You disagree. We understand. But you refuse to respect our right to live out our faith. You have decided to use the coercive power of the state to force your fellow citizens to commit what they believe are evil acts. You have asked the impossible. We cannot be good Americans by being bad Christians.

Turn from your intolerance. Leave in place the conscience exemptions that have served us well since 1973 (42 USC 300a-7 (d)). Vacate the proposed HHS mandate. Join us and sign the Stop HHS Petition...