A READING FROM THE LETTER TO THE HEBREWS. IN THE DAYS WHEN CHRIST WAS IN THE FLESH, HE OFFERED PRAYERS AND SUPPLICATIONS WITH LOUD CRIES AND TEARS TO THE ONE WHO WAS ABLE TO SAVE HIM FROM DEATH, AND HE WAS HEARD BECAUSE OF HIS REVERENCE. SON THOUGH HE WAS, HE LEARNED OBEDIENCE FROM WHAT HE SUFFERED; AND WHEN HE WAS MADE PERFECT, HE BECAME THE SOURCE OF ETERNAL SALVATION FOR ALL WHO OBEY HIM. VERBUM DOMINI. <i>DEO GRATIAS.</i> SAVE ME, O LORD, IN YOUR KINDNESS. <i>SAVE ME, O LORD,</i> <i>IN YOUR KINDNESS.</i> IN YOU, O LORD, I TAKE REFUGE; LET ME NEVER BE PUT TO SHAME. IN YOUR JUSTICE RESCUE ME, MAKE HASTE TO DELIVER ME! <i>SAVE ME, O LORD,</i> <i>IN YOUR KINDNESS.</i> BE MY ROCK OF REFUGE, A STRONGHOLD TO GIVE ME SAFETY. YOU ARE MY ROCK AND MY FORTRESS; FOR YOUR NAME'S SAKE YOU WILL LEAD AND GUIDE ME. <i>SAVE ME, O LORD,</i> <i>IN YOUR KINDNESS.</i> YOU WILL FREE ME FROM THE SNARE THEY SET FOR ME, FOR YOU ARE MY REFUGE. INTO YOUR HANDS I COMMEND MY SPIRIT; YOU WILL REDEEM ME, O LORD, O FAITHFUL GOD. <i>SAVE ME, O LORD,</i> <i>IN YOUR KINDNESS.</i> BUT MY TRUST IS IN YOU, O LORD, I SAY, "YOU ARE MY GOD." IN YOUR HANDS IS MY DESTINY; RESCUE ME FROM THE CLUTCHES OF MY ENEMIES AND MY PERSECUTORS. <i>SAVE ME, O LORD,</i> <i>IN YOUR KINDNESS.</i> HOW GREAT IS YOUR GOODNESS, O LORD, WHICH YOU HAVE IN STORE FOR THOSE WHO FEAR YOU, AND WHICH, TOWARD THOSE WHO TAKE REFUGE IN YOU, YOU SHOW IN THE SIGHT OF THE CHILDREN OF MEN. <i>SAVE ME, O LORD,</i> <i>IN YOUR KINDNESS.</i> ALLELUIA, ALLELUIA, ALLELUIA. <i>ALLELUIA, ALLELUIA, ALLELUIA.</i> BLESSED ARE YOU, O VIRGIN MARY; WITHOUT DYING YOU WON THE MARTYR'S CROWN BENEATH THE CROSS OF THE LORD. <i>ALLELUIA, ALLELUIA, ALLELUIA.</i> >>DOMINUS VOBISCUM. <i>ET CUM SPIRITU TUO.</i> LECTIO SANCTI EVANGELII SECUNDUM LUCAM. <i>GLORIA TIBI, DOMINE.</i> >>JESUS' FATHER AND MOTHER WERE AMAZED AT WHAT WAS SAID ABOUT HIM; AND SIMEON BLESSED THEM AND SAID TO MARY HIS MOTHER, "BEHOLD, THIS CHILD IS DESTINED FOR THE FALL AND RISE OF MANY IN ISRAEL, AND TO BE A SIGN THAT WILL BE CONTRADICTED AND YOU YOURSELF A SWORD WILL PIERCE SO THAT THE THOUGHTS OF MANY HEARTS MAY BE REVEALED." VERBUM DOMINI. <i>LAUS TIBI, CHRISTE.</i> PEACE BE WITH YOU I AM FATHER STEPHEN IMBARRATO OF A PRIEST FOR LIFE AND A CO-HOST OF THE PRIEST FOR LIFE SHOW "DEFENDING LIFE" AND I AM HERE THIS WEEK WITH JANET MORANA TO TAPE ANOTHER SEASON AND FATHER FRANK PAVONE THE NATIONAL DIRECTOR OF PRIESTS FOR LIFE EXTENDS HIS GREETINGS. SO LET US DEAL WITH SOMETHING I THINK VERY IMPORTANT FROM THE FIRST READING. LET US GET THIS OUT OF THE WAY. THE FIRST READING IN HEBREWS. WHEN HE SUFFERED, CHRIST BECAME THE SOURCE OF SALVATION FOR EVERYONE WHO? HAS FAITH? NO. OBEYS. WHEN HE SUFFERED CHRIST BECAME THE SOURCE FOR EVERYONE WHO OBEYS. I HAVE A GREAT DEVOTION TO OUR LADY OF SORROWS AND TODAY I AM NOT GOING TO TALK ABOUT OUR LADY'S TRADITIONAL SORROW I AM GOING TO TALK ABOUT WHAT I BELIEVE IS MARY OUR MOTHER'S SORROW OVER WHAT IS HAPPENING IN OUR COUNTRY AND REGARDLESS OF OUR PERSONAL DEVOTION WHETHER A DEVOTION TO OUR LADY OF AMERICA OR THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION AS THE PATRONESS OF OUR COUNTRY OR OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE, MARY IS OUR MOTHER AND THE MOTHER OF THE CHURCH AND MARY IS THE MOTHER OF OUR NATION. I AM SURE WE SUSPECT THAT MARY IS SORROWFUL ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING IN OUR COUNTRY. THE ATTACKS ON LIFE, MARRIAGE, FAMILY, RELIGIOUS FREEDOM. WE SEE IT COMING AT A RAPID PACE AND GETTING WORSE. I AM BLESSED TO BE PART OF TWO SIGNIFICANT PRAYER EFFORTS AS WE SPEAK. PRIESTS FOR LIFE IS SPONSORING A NINE WEEK NOVENA FOR OUR NATION'S ELECTIONS THAT STARTED LAST WEEK AND WILL EXTEND TO THE ELECTION THAT IS SINGLE PRAYER A POWERFUL PRAYER AND YOU MAY FIND IT AT PRAYERCAMPAIGN.COM OR PRAYERCAMPAIGN.ORG BOTH OF THOSE [WEBSITES] WILL BRING YOU TO THE SAME PLACE AND I ENCOURAGE YOU TO PRAY THIS PRAYER EACH DAY BETWEEN NOW AND ELECTION DAY. FATHER JOSEPH, I GOT HERE ON MONDAY AND CONCELEBRATED MASS AND FATHER JOSEPH GAVE A BEAUTIFUL HOMILY ON THE BLESSED MOTHER AND THE FEAST OF HER MOST HOLY NAME AND TALKED ABOUT THE 54 DAY NOVENA AND THE ROSARY RALLY IN WASHINGTON DC AND THIS IS ANOTHER POWERFUL PRAYER EFFORT AND I AM BLESSED TO BE A PART OF THAT AND I AM ON THE ORGANIZING COMMITTEE FOR THAT 54 DAY NOVENA. AND IN PARTICULAR FOR THE ROSARY RALLY ON THE FEAST OF OUR LADY OF THE ROSARY ON OCTOBER 7TH IN WASHINGTON DC MYSELF AND FATHER RICK, WHO IS PART OF THE HOLY LEAGUE THAT FATHER SPOKE ABOUT AND DOUG BERRY THAT I AM SURE YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH, HE IS PART OF THE EWTN FAMILY AND MANY OTHERS AND AT NOON ON OCTOBER 7TH AT THE REFLECTING POOL AT THE U.S. CAPITAL WE'RE GOING TO PRAY FOR THE CONVERSION OF OUR COUNTRY ON THE FEAST OF THE HOLY ROSARY. I ENCOURAGE ANYONE WHO CAN MAKE IT ESPECIALLY THOSE IN VIRGINIA AND MARYLAND TRY TO COME TO THIS EVENT AND LET US PRAY FOR THE CONVERSION OF OUR NATION IN OUR NATION'S CAPITAL AT OUR NATION'S CAPITAL AND THE ROSARY WILL BE DEDICATED TO THE CONVERSION OF OUR COUNTRY AND EACH OF THE MYSTERIES WILL BE TOWARD LIFE AND I WILL LEAD THE LIFE MYSTERIES AND THEN FAMILY AND MARRIAGE AND RELIGIOUS FREEDOM. YOU CAN GO TO NOVENAFOROURCOUNTRY.COM. I AM SURE THAT MARY IS SORROWFUL ABOUT MANY THINGS IN OUR COUNTRY BUT I DARE SAY THAT IF WE REFLECT ON THE FEAST OF OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE THE LADY WHO IS BEARING A CHILD WHO WILL RULE THE WORLD WITH AN IRON ROD IN REVELATION CHAPTER 12, MARY IS NO MORE SORROWFUL THAN SHE IS ON PRE BORN CHILD KILLING IN THIS COUNTRY. IN EVERY ABORTION AT LEAST ONE BABY DIES AND THE WOMAN IS WOUNDED AND A MAN IS WOUNDED AND A MAN IS INVOLVED. IN DIFFERENT SCENARIOS THAT WE DEAL WITH IN TERMS OF THE MAN'S RELATIONSHIP WITH THE WOMAN WHO HAS AN ABORTION I HAVE HAD MANY MEN COME TO ME AND SAY MY GIRLFRIEND OR MY WIFE HAD AN ABORTION AND I DID NOT FIND OUT ABOUT IT UNTIL AFTER THE FACT AND I HEAR THIS MANY TIMES BUT A PERCENTAGE OF ALL THE ABORTIONS THAT SCENARIO IS REALLY VERY LOW PERCENTAGE. I HAVE OTHER MEN WHO COME TO ME AND SAY I HAVE MY WIFE MY GIRLFRIEND, SHE WANTED TO HAVE AN ABORTION. I OBJECTED I WANTED TO HAVE THE BABY AND SHE WENT AND HAD THE ABORTION ANYWAY. I HEAR THAT MANY TIMES BUT AS A PERCENTAGE OF THE WHOLE IT IS A VERY SMALL PERCENT. I STOOD IN FRONT OF ABORTION MILLS AND I HAVE SEEN MEN DRAG THEIR WIFE OR GIRLFRIEND OR VICTIM INTO ABORTION MILLS AND PHYSICALLY FORCE THEM TO HAVE ABORTIONS AND I HAVE SEEN THIS MANY TIMES OVER THE YEARS AND AS A PERCENTAGE THAT IS STILL A VERY SMALL PERCENT. THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF ABORTIONS IS A SCENARIO THAT I CALL THE ADAM SCENARIO. IT IS WHAT I DID TO MY EVE DECADES AGO. IF WE LOOK AT THE SCENE OF ADAM AND EVE IN THE GARDEN OF PARADISE WE KNOW THE SERPENT COMES IN TO TEST AND TEMPT EVE AND CONFUSE EVE AND IN THAT PASSAGE LATER ON IT SAYS HER HUSBAND WAS THERE SO ADAM WAS THERE. AS THIS DIALOGUE IS GOING ON BETWEEN ADAM AND THE SERPENT, I MEAN BETWEEN EVE AND THE SERPENT, WHAT DOES ADAM DO? AT NO TIME DOES ADAM SAY LET US GET OUT OF HERE DO NOT LISTEN TO HIM AND HE DOES NOT TAKEN BY THE ARM AND DRAG HER AWAY AND HE DOES NOT STEP ON THE SERPENT'S HEAD AND HE DOES NOT SAY SATAN GET BEHIND ME. SHE WAS PROBABLY LOOKING TO ADAM FOR COUNSEL BUT ADAM IS NOT SAYING ANYTHING PROBABLY GOING LIKE THIS. EVE TAKES THAT AS APPROVAL AND THEN SHE EATS THE FRUIT. I PERSONALLY BELIEVE THE POSSIBILITY CONSIDERING ADAM'S CONDUCT ESPECIALLY AFTER THIS HAPPENS; VERY POSSIBLY ADAM WAS STANDING THERE WATCHING TO SEE EVE DIES AFTER SHE EATS THE FRUIT AND WHEN EVE DID NOT ADAM MAY HAVE SAID GIVE ME SOME OF THAT FRUIT. EVE GIVES ADAM THE FRUIT. THEN THEY GO INTO HIDING. GOD COMES LOOKING FOR THEM. ADAM, ADAM WHERE ARE YOU? WE ARE HIDING. WHY? WE WERE TOLD WE WERE NAKED. OH YOU ATE OF THE FRUIT. AT THAT POINT WHAT DOES ADAM DO? ADAM IN MY MIND COULD HAVE COMPLETELY AVOIDED THE NEAR OCCASION OF SIN AND SAVED EVE, BONE OF MY BONE AND PROTECTED EVE TAKEN HER OUT OF THERE AND IN MY MIND ADAM WAS RESPONSIBLE, BONE OF MY BONE, FLESH OF MY FLESH. WHAT DOES ADAM DO? THREE BEINGS ARE IN PARADISE. THE SUPREME BEING, THE CREATOR GOD. AND ADAM AND EVE AND ADAM SAYS THE WOMAN YOU SENT TO ME GAVE ME THE FRUIT TO EAT. ADAM BLAMES GOD AND EVE. FOR WHAT HE WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR. THIS IS WHAT I DID TO MY EVE AND THIS IS WHAT MANY IN MOST ABORTIONS SCENARIOS WHAT MEN DO TO WOMEN. THEY SAY I WILL SUPPORT YOU WITH WHATEVER DECISION YOU MAKE AND AS I DID CONVINCE THEM REALLY WHY THEY SHOULD HAVE THE ABORTION SO THAT AFTER THE FACT THEY CAN WASH THEIR HANDS. THEY CAN SAY IT WAS HER CHOICE. WE AS MEN NEED TO STAND UP AND BE MEN AND ACT RESPONSIBLY AND BE ACCOUNTABLE IF WE WOUND WOMEN AND WE NEED TO STAND UP FOR OUR WOMEN. MEN OFTEN GET WOUNDED BY ABORTIONS BUT IN MOST SCENARIOS THE WOMEN ARE WOUNDED BECAUSE MEN ARE LIKE ADAM WAS WITH EVE AND THAT WAS THE WAY THAT I WAS AND AS MUCH AS WE WENT TO GO TO CONFESSION FAIRLY QUICKLY AFTER THE ABORTION, WE WERE WAY FROM THE SACRAMENTS, AND CAME BACK TO THE SACRAMENTS AFTER A WHILE, BUT IT WAS NOT UNTIL DECADES LATER THAT I REALIZED I WAS THAT MAN AND I WAS THAT ADAM AND I LOOKED MY GIRLFRIEND UP FROM DECADES BEFORE. THESE WERE DECADES BEFORE I WAS A PRIEST AND THAT WAS WHEN I FOUND OUT THAT THE ABORTION COST TWO LIVES BECAUSE I FOUND OUT IT WAS TWINS. WE NAMED OUR CHILDREN THOMAS AND MARY. AFTER THE BLESSED MOTHER AND THOMAS AFTER SAINT THOMAS AQUINAS. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE CAN DO TO END PRE BORN CHILD KILLING IS TO BE SENSITIVE ABOUT HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE WOUNDED IN OUR CULTURE DIRECTLY FROM ABORTION. THE NUMBERS ARE CORRECT. THE NUMBERS MAY BE 20 OR 30 PERCENT OF ALL MEN AND WOMEN WOUNDED BY ABORTION AND WE NEED BE ATTENTIVE TO PEOPLE ACTING OUT WHETHER HIGH RISK BEHAVIOR, DEPRESSION. I HAVE LEARNED OVER THE YEARS STUDYING --- IN CANADA OR THE THERESA BURT STUDY ABOUT SURVIVORS AND "SILENT NO MORE" AND "RACHEL'S VINEYARD" TO ASK QUESTIONS WHEN I SEE SOMEONE DEPRESSED AND ACTING OUT AND OF COURSE I GIVE MY WITNESS ALL THE TIME AND I ASK THEM IF THEY HAVE BEEN THE VICTIM OF SEXUAL OR PHYSICAL ABUSE OR HAVE YOU BEEN AFFECTED BY ABORTION IN YOUR LIFE? LET US BE ATTENTIVE MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CHRIST AND LET US REACH OUT TO THE WOUNDED AND BE SENSITIVE ABOUT HOW EXTENSIVE THE WOUNDEDNESS IS IN OUR COUNTRY. PEOPLE COME TO ME ALL THE TIME AND SAY FATHER WHAT CAN WE DO TO END PREBORN CHILD KILLING? AND THIS IS WHAT IS GOING ON IN OUR COUNTRY WHERE ABORTION HAS BEEN STERILIZED ITS IS PRE-BORN CHILD KILLING. FATHER FRANK PAVONE, IN CHAPTER 3 OF HIS BOOK, WRITES ENDING PRE BORN CHILD KILLING STARTS WITH PERSONAL REPENTANCE AND PERSONAL CONVERSION. I HAVE PREACHED THAT I BELIEVE THAT TO BE TRUE AND THAT IS HOW MY PRO-LIFE ACTIVISM STARTED WHEN I REPENTED OF MY COMPLICITY IN ABORTION. AFTER THE PERSONAL REPENTANCE I TELL PEOPLE THREE THINGS. FIRST OF ALL PRAY. NOT JUST PRAY BUT PRAY WHEN IT IS NOT CONVENIENT AND PRAY THE NOVENA FOR THE ELECTION, RIGHT? I HELD UP THE CARD. PRAYING FOR NINE WEEKS STRAIGHT A SINGLE PRAYER. THAT IS INCONVENIENT. PRAYING THE 54 DAY NOVENA. GO TO WASHINGTON DC FOR THE ROSARY RALLY. 40 DAYS FOR LIFE. SPEND TIME IN FRONT OF THE ABORTION MILLS. THERE'S NO PLACE MORE INCONVENIENT TO PRAY THAN IN FRONT OF AN ABORTION MILL. WHY PRAY WHEN IT IS INCONVENIENT? ABORTION IS THE ULTIMATE SIN OF CONVENIENCE. WHAT DID MOTHER TERESA OF CALCUTTA SAY? IT IS A POVERTY. IT IS POOR IT IS SAD THAT A BABY MUST IT DIE SO THAT WE CAN LIVE AS WE WANT SO THAT WE CAN HAVE THE CONVENIENCE OF OUR LIVES. SO THAT OUR LIVES ARE NOT DISRUPTED. OF COURSE WE'RE CALL TO SACRIFICE FOR OUR CHILDREN. OUR CHILDREN SACRIFICING OUR CHILDREN. SO PRAY BUT PRAY WHEN IT IS NOT CONVENIENT TO OFFSET THE CONVENIENCE OF ABORTION. AND FAST BECAUSE IT IS ABOUT AN INCONVENIENCE AND DETACHING FROM THE THINGS OF LIFE NOT JUST FASTING FROM FOOD BUT ANYTHING THAT MIGHT ATTACH US TO THIS WORLD. AGAIN IT IS A WAY OF DOING REPARATION FOR THE CULTURAL SIN THE CULTURAL CONVENIENCE OF ABORTION. THEN ALMS. GIVING ALMS. THE CRUCIFIX MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS IS THE ULTIMATE GIVING OF ALMS. YOU HEAR OF ALMS GIVING ERASING SIN A MULTITUDE OF SINS THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE FOR OUR SIN, FOR THE SIN OF MAN. THE MOST INNOCENT BLOOD EVER SHED AND IN THESE ABORTION MILLS IN MODERN DAY CALVARIES AS I CALL THEM, WE GO AND WE STAND AND WITNESS AGAINST THE SHEDDING OF THE MOST INNOCENT BLOOD OF OUR CULTURE. POURING OURSELVES OUT AND LAYING DOWN OUR LIVES AS CHRIST LAID DOWN HIS LIFE FOR US. ALMS GIVING DOES NOT JUST MEAN GIVING MONEY. IT IS TIME. TALENT. POURING OURSELVES OUT AND DOING SO IN REPARATION FOR THE SACRIFICE OF OUR CHILDREN. THE SIN OF OUR CULTURE. FINALLY BEYOND THESE THREE THINGS THAT WE CAN DO. IT STARTS WITH A PERSONAL CONVERSION AND REPENTANCE. HERE IS WHAT I WANT TO LEAVE YOU WITH. REFLECTING ON THE NEED FOR PERSONAL REPENTANCE, THE NEED FOR DAILY CONVERSION, AS CATHOLICS WE SHOULD WAKE UP EACH AND EVERY DAY AND SAY " LORD WHAT MORE CAN I DO TO UNITE MYSELF TO YOU ON THE CROSS?" AS PEOPLE OF LIFE WE SHOULD WAKE UP EVERY DAY AND SAY "LORD WHAT MORE CAN I DO TO SAVE THE BABY'S LIFE?" OUR LADY OF SORROWS INTERCEDE FOR US.
