March for Life 2023: When the Spirit of Truth comes, He will guide you into all the Truth

Yesterday Maureen and I went on our annual pilgrimage to downtown Ottawa in defense of preborn children at the annual March for Life. This year we were joined by our friend Jackie, who hopes to join us every year now. 

We took a lot of pictures and you can see them all here on Maureen's blog. Those pictures were a collaboration between Maureen, myself and the Holy Spirit.

As always, we went to St Pat's Basilica to celebrate Mass in Ottawa. There was a wonderful very pro-life homily given by Auxiliary Bishop Yvan Mathieu who inspired all of us to stand firm against abortion and euthanasia.

Next, we went to get something to eat, but not before we visited the abortion site where we said a Hail Mary for the children killed there. Maureen and I showed off our pro-life socks for a picture; mine were of Our Lady of Guadalupe, and Maureen's were of St. Joseph and Baby Jesus. Pretty darned pro-life if you ask me. This picture is also on Maureen's site.

A few highlights/lowlights:

• The usual pro-abortions were also on the Hill, yelling their requisite obscenities at us. But that was countered with two awesome facts. A priest prayed over them from where he stood on our side of the fence. You can see his picture at Maureen's blog. I don't know his name, if I did I would send him a thank you note. It didn't occur to me at the time to thank him, but I wish I had. As well, there were some teenage boys on our side of the fence who were praying Hail Mary's as the pro-abortions were screaming. Good job boys.

• On the March itself, I saw two other teenage boys get the finger from a woman probably old enough to be their grandmother. The boys simply waved back at her.

• Then there was the lady sitting on the sidewalk with a megaphone, tattoos, and a pit bull making the usual noises about my body, my choice. The girl, not the dog. I think a pit bull is an appropriate mascot for a pro-abortion.

• I also met Pete Baklinski from CLC. We had never met in person before. Pete sends out an awesome pro-life bits email every week, summarizing the week's pro-life news. I'm pretty sure that there is a lot of effort put into this email and I very much appreciate Pete's work on it.

• Finally, Fr. Rob gave a great homily this morning where he spoke about John 15.12-17 and how God speaks about laying down our lives for one's friends. And he asked us, what about laying down our lives for our enemies, those who are difficult to love? This was a really good reminder for me to pray often, for those screamers we saw on the March yesterday, especially to pray for the doctors who perform abortion and euthanasia. They really really really need our prayers.

Our Lady of Perpetual Help Pray for us. And pray for the conversion of the pro-abortions, that their hearts will be opened to to the harm they do to women and their children.

Novena to St. Joseph for the election

I received this from someone this past week. What a great idea for a Novena to St. Joseph. It should have started yesterday for the nine days, but I'm sure God will understand if you only start it today.

The Federal election is in less than 3 weeks! It is only my opinion, but I think it would be a good idea at this time to pray for our beautiful country. Since voting day this year happens to be exactly one week after our Thanksgiving Holiday, let’s remember the blessings that God has bestowed on us, and ask His help in obtaining the best possible outcome.

To my fellow Catholics, I would even suggest: Why not a novena to St-Joseph, who was chosen as early as the 17th century, by Saint Mgr. de Laval, as the Patron Saint of Canada? Below is a prayer that I have tried to write for this purpose, and I would suggest to try to say this prayer on each of the 9 days preceding voting day (beginning on the Saturday before Thanksgiving), followed by the Lord's Prayer, and/or one decade or all of a Rosary, whatever you are comfortable with.

Prayer to St. Joseph

For a blessing on this year's Federal Elections

O Saint Joseph, loving father, faithful guardian of Jesus and spouse of the Mother of God, we pray you to remind God the Father of all the love He has shown for us in offering up the death and resurrection of His Son to give us life.

Our beautiful country, Canada, has been consecrated to you from its very beginnings. Just as Mary and Jesus recognized in you the protector given to them by the Father, so too we are placing ourselves under your protection.

We humbly ask you to intercede through the power of Jesus, and obtain for us from the eternal Father the grace to choose the best possible team of men and women to lead our country, men and women who will be true leaders, who are not going to be in government for their own ego, personal advantage, or agenda, but who are going to see themselves as servants of society and will focus on the common good, while working as wise stewards of the riches of our country, in harmony with God's design.

Amen

Black Madonna cries for Canada

Today is the Feast of St. Joseph the patron saint of Canada. Today is also the day the Black Madonna (Icon of Our Lady of Częstochowa) arrived in Ottawa.

It was a bitterly cold morning but that didn't stop people from going to Parliament Hill to pray with our Blessed Mother and St. Joseph.

God knows Canada needs all the prayers it can get to end the scourge of abortion in Canada.

When I look at her, the scar on her face makes me think she is crying.

 

St. Joseph, we need to talk

Dear St. Joseph,

I know today is your special day, your feast day. I also know that you are the Patron Saint of Canada. That's a good thing. Because we need a lot of prayers right now, here in the cold cold North, one day away from Spring. But you'd never know it because winter is still here. And it's not just normal winter that I'm talking about here.

It's about the deep dark winter here in the land of snow, igloos and moose; a winter of our discontent if you are yet to be born; a winter that never lets up and little souls are lost every day.

You see St. Joseph, our wonderful country doesn't have any legal protection for the unborn. None. I know it's hard to believe, but it's true. And no matter how hard we try, we can't seem to get any politicians to stand up for the unborn. (Actually, that's not true. We do have a few brave men and women in politics who speak for pre-born citizens. I and others are very very proud of them.)

It's the first bunch that I am writing to you about today. These men and women, including all our leaders in our Parliament, won't ever support any legislation that works to protect the unborn. Ever.

They won't even support a motion that condemns sex-selection abortion. I am not kidding. (Actually, they did condemn it before, but they won't condemn it now.)

And no, I'm not pulling your leg, even though I'm not sure you have a leg. Regardless, it's the God honest truth. That's why you and I are having this talk on your feast day.

We need your help to change this St. Joseph. We need you to pray for all these men and women to have a change of heart. To look into their souls and listen to what their conscience says to them there. (At least I'm pretty sure they have a conscience, right?)

You were a good father, a man who took care of his family, a man who kept his wife and Son out of danger. You are an example for all mankind. If you could protect Mary and Jesus, I know you can do the same for all of our mothers and their pre-born children.

Thanks St. Joseph. We're counting on you. We'll all pray with you too, okay? And can I ask you one more thing before I go? Can you please ask your wife Mary to pray for us too? And maybe the rest of the Saints? And how about all the angels, especially Michael the Archangel? Them too. Well maybe that's three more things. But you get the point.

Well that's it for now. I'll let you know next time we talk, how it went okay?

Sincerely,
Patricia Maloney