Prayer to Take Authority (Binding Prayer)

In the name of Jesus, I take authority and I bind all powers and forces in the air, in the ground, in the water, in the underground, in the netherworld, in nature, and in fire.  You are the Lord over the entire universe, and I give You the Glory of Your creation.  In Your Name, Jesus, I bind all demonic forces that have come against us and our families and I seal all of us in the protection of Your Precious Blood that was shed for us on the Cross.  Mary, our Mother, we seek your protection and intercession with the Sacred Heart of Jesus for us and our families, and surround us with your mantle of love to discourage the enemy.  St. Michael and our guardian angels, come defend us and our families in battle against the evil ones that roam the earth.

In the name of Jesus, I bind and command all the powers and forces of evil to depart right now away from us, our homes, and our lands, and I send you to the foot of the Cross.  And we thank you, Lord Jesus, for You are a faithful and compassionate God.  Amen.  (Hail Mary...)

Cardinal Dolan Will Give Benediction at Republican National Convention « CBS St. Louis

http://stlouis.cbslocal.com/2012/08/23/cardinal-dolan-will-give-benediction-at-republican-national-convention/

Cardinal Dolan has not and will not make an endorsement of the republican candidate, Mitt Romney, but the republicans have endorsed Cardinal Dolan by inviting the always smiling Cardinal to the republican national convention.

Suffering roots out wrongful pride, from "Imitation of Christ"

How does God use suffering and adversity to do good?  He allows it to purify our souls, aiding us in our understanding of Who created us and to Whom we shall turn for all we need.  He is not selfish in wanting us to depend on Him.   He is a loving Father, who wants us to know Him, who is Love.  Resisting Him is no different from our children resisting us and the good we offer.  Sometimes, we have to allow our children to suffer in order for them to know what is best.  

Imitationof Christ

1.12 Why Adversity

The Twelfth Chapter

The Value of Adversity

It is good for us to have trials and troubles at times, for they often remind us that we are on probation and ought not to hope in any worldly thing. It is good for us sometimes to suffer contradiction, to be misjudged by men even though we do well and mean well. These things help us to be humble and shield us from vainglory. When to all outward appearances men give us no credit, when they do not think well of us, then we are more inclined to seek God Who sees our hearts. Therefore, a man ought to root himself so firmly in God that he will not need the consolations of men.

When a man of good will is afflicted, tempted, and tormented by evil thoughts, he realizes clearly that his greatest need is God, without Whom he can do no good. Saddened by his miseries and sufferings, he laments and prays. He wearies of living longer and wishes for death that he might be dissolved and be with Christ. Then he understands fully that perfect security and complete peace cannot be found on earth.

Second grader creates a brown scapular flurry at St. Clement Parish | St. Louis Review

http://stlouisreview.com/article/2012-07-11/second-grader-creates

Religious Liberty Talk at St. Cletus Church in St. Charles, MO. Bishop Hermann & William Federer to speak

Religious liberty talk

Bishop Robert J. Hermann and nationally known speaker and author William Federer will be the featured speakers at a presentation, "Religious Freedom Under Attack." Bishop Hermann will speak on "Christ and Courage: Is Obamacare for everyone?" and Federer will speak on "How the Catholic Church Invented Modern Healthcare."

WHEN: 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Saturday, June 16

WHERE: St. Cletus Parish, 2721 Zumbehl Road in St. Charles

SPONSOR: Body of Christ Outreach

CONTACT: Joe and Chris Wooldridge at (636) 922-4761

To see a calendar of other events in the archdiocese, visit archstl.org/liberty.

A great charity for life--Saint Gerard's, a place for hope and help

http://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/lifesavers?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+NCRegisterDailyBlog+National+Catholic+Register#When:2012-05-13

South Korea seizes capsules containing powdered flesh of dead babies | The Sideshow - Yahoo! News

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/south-korea-seizes-capsules-containing-powdered-flesh-dead-190306280.html

This is disgusting and sick. The Chinese need to grow up and leave the barbarian culture of killing and bad medicine behind.

Pope Benedict XVI on prayer, the Word of God, and their importance in spiritual growth

http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/audiences/2012/documents/hf_ben-xvi_aud_20120425_en.html

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

In our catechesis on Christian prayer, we now consider the decision of the early Church to set aside seven men to provide for the practical demands of charity (cf. Acts 6:1-4). This decision, made after prayer and discernment, provided for the needs of the poor while freeing the Apostles to devote themselves primarily to the word of God. It is significant that the Apostles acknowledge the importance of both prayer and works of charity, yet clearly give priority to prayer and the proclamation of the Gospel. In every age the saints have stressed the deep vital unity between contemplation and activity. Prayer, nourished by faith and enlightened by God's word, enables us to see things in a new way and to respond to new situations with the wisdom and insight bestowed by the Holy Spirit. In our own daily lives and decisions, may we always draw fresh spiritual breath from the two lungs of prayer and the word of God; in this way, we will respond to every challenge and situation with wisdom, understanding and fidelity to God's will.

Pope Benedict XVI, April 25, 2012

Fr. Michael Dwyer to speak of near death experience at St. Clement of Rome Parish in St. Louis, MO on April 24, 2012

For a brief summary of Fr. Michael Dwyer's message, click here

Christian Quotes on Sex and Purity

"The free exchange of consent properly witnessed by the Church establishes the marriage bond. Sexual union consummates it – seals it, completes it, perfects it. Sexual union, then, is where the words of the wedding vows become flesh." 

- Christopher West

"Complete abstinence is easier than perfect moderation." 

- St. Augustine

Imitation of Christ

1.6 Unbridled Affections

WHEN a man desires a thing too much, he at once becomes ill at ease. A proud and avaricious man never rests, whereas he who is poor and humble of heart lives in a world of peace. An unmortified man is quickly tempted and overcome in small, trifling evils; his spirit is weak, in a measure carnal and inclined to sensual things; he can hardly abstain from earthly desires. Hence it makes him sad to forego them; he is quick to anger if reproved. Yet if he satisfies his desires, remorse of conscience overwhelms him because he followed his passions and they did not lead to the peace he sought.

True peace of heart, then, is found in resisting passions, not in satisfying them. There is no peace in the carnal man, in the man given to vain attractions, but there is peace in the fervent and spiritual man.

'In temptations of the flesh, a Christian ought to have immediate recourse to God, make the sign of the cross over his heart three times, and say, "Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me."'

St. Philip Neri

'How beautiful is a pure soul! Our Lord showed one to St. Catherine; she thought it so beautiful that she said, "O Lord, if I did not know that there is only one God, I should think it was one." The image of God is reflected in a pure soul, like the sun in the water. A pure soul is the admiration of the Three Persons of the Holy Trinity. The Father contemplates His work: There is My creature! . . . The Son, the price of His Blood: the beauty of an object is shown by the price it has cost. . . The Holy Spirit dwells in it, as in a temple.'

--St. Jean Marie Baptiste Vianney, the Cure of Ars

'St. Peter Damian says that the altar of God receives no other fire than that of divine love. Hence he that dares to ascend the altar inflamed by the fire of impurity is consumed by the fire of divine vengeance.'

St. Alphonsus Maria de Liguori

Only the chaste man and the chaste woman are capable of true love." 

- Pope John Paul II

"The Church's basic moral principle regarding reproductive technologies is this: if a given technology assists the marital embrace in achieving its natural end, it can be morally acceptable, even praiseworthy. However, if it replaces the marital embrace as the means by which the child is conceived, it's not in keeping with God's design." 

- Christopher West

'In the choice of a state of life, if we wish to secure our eternal salvation, we must embrace that state to which God calls us, in which only God prepares for us the efficacious means necessary to salvation.'

--St. Alphonsus Maria de 

'The spiritual masters point out many remedies for the vice of impurity; but the principal and the most necessary are the flight of occasions, and prayer. As to the first means, St. Philip Neri used to say that in this warfare cowards, that is, they that avoid dangerous occasions, gain the victory. Let a man use all other possible means, unless he flies away he is lost. He that loveth danger shall perish in it.

As to the second means, it is necessary to know that we have not strength to resist temptations of the flesh. This strength must be the gift of God. But God grants it to those only that pray and ask for it. The only defence against this temptation, says St. Gregory of Nyssa, is prayer.'

--St. Alphonsus Maria de Liguori

'If you have loved virginity, you will be favored by the Lord in all things.'

--St. Ephrem of Syria

"Marriage is a living sign that truly communicates the love of Christ and the Church." 

- Christopher West

'Possess purity in an eminent degree, and jealously preserve this fragrant flower. I earnestly desire to see you shine by the brilliancy of this virtue; be like to angels, and omit no precaution to retain this treasure, which is so easily lost by imprudence. We have this treasure in earthen vessels, says the Apostle. (2 Cor. x. 5.)'

--St. Paul of the Cross

How to Conquer Temptations:
1. Think of the presence of God.
2.  Fight without fear.
3.  Avoid occasions of sin.  (Don't go to places that make it easy to sin).
4.  Guard the senses.
5.  Avoid idleness.
6.  Remove temptation promptly.
7.  Remove oneself from all--especially particular friendships
8.  Practice the spirit of mortification
9.  Reveal all temptations to your confessor.

How to preserve virtue:
1.  Humility
2.  Spirit of Prayer
3.  Modesty
4. Fidelity to the Rule
5.  Sincere devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary