Sunday Meditation: On Receiving Jesus in Holy Communion

I'm reading the initial magazine from W.A.K.E.U.P. 

What a beautiful apostolate! You can see and read this powerful issue here which focuses on chastity, exposes the new sexual revolution, and emphasizes traditional family values. What a resource for families, especially families with teenagers!

One article by Fr. Ed Broom, offers "Ten Ways to Win the Battle for Purity." Of course the sacraments of Confession and Holy Communion are paramount in his list.

"A good confession," Father tells us, "can transform our souls ito the beauty of freshly fallen white snow on the virgin ground."

But it was Father's description of Holy Communion that made me pause and reread and then read again:

Showdown in Minnestoa: Pray for Archbishop John Nienstedt

Orthodox Catholics would do well to keep their eyes on Minnesota where Archbishop John Nienstedt obviously intends to do whatever he can to protect the integrity of marriage. (See here.) With support for traditional marriage on the ballot next November, he's instructed his pastors to read a marriage prayer in every parish and set up committees to encourage support. He is also sending a married couple and priest to every Catholic high school to instruct on the Church's teaching and is attempting to reign in his dissenting clergy. (One can't help but wonder how many of the dissenters are homosexual.) God bless him for his courage!

One priest, Fr. Michael Tegeder, is publicly opposing the bishop (as are others anonymously). The Bishop sent Fr. Tegeder a letter in November asking him to remember the vows of his ordination and consider seriously whether he can continue to serve as a Catholic priest when he rejects Church teachings. Tegeder is no stranger to Les Femmes. We awarded him a millstone in 2010 and gave the bishop a lamplighter in the same issue. Please pray for Bishop Nienstedt. With wolves in sheep's clothing for spiritual sons, he is fighting an uphill battle. 

Republicans will lose in 2012 unless they embrace both fiscal AND social issues

A bunch of short-sighted Republicans (I won't say conservatives) claim that to win in 2012 they must jettison the social issues like pro-life, traditional marriage, etc. They are singing GoProud's song, an old tired tune that has been shown time and again to be false as a three dollar bill. Reagan showed that the social issues were part of a winning strategy. RINOs have been running from them ever since which is why we have the debacle in Washington now.

Elaine Donnelly has a great article at Big Peace. Here are a few excerpts:

Under Reagan’s leadership the pro-family movement joined with economic and national defense conservatives to build a strong and effective political force.  The resulting coalition became Reagan’s famous “three-legged stool”—a redefined, stable conservatism that expressed unequivocal support for sound economic principles, national security, and traditional family values.

The combined platform appealed to Reagan Democrats, thousands of whom had never been active in politics before.  When newly-motivated pro-family grassroots activists joined forces with what had been a small conservative movement, the result was something big: the Reagan Revolution....

According to a Rasmussen poll released on Friday, 32% of voters are conservative on both fiscal and social issues—up eight points since 2007.  Only 6% are liberal on both fiscal and social issues, down from 9% in 2007.  The same poll indicates that 69% of GOP voters say they are social conservatives.  The potential for a strong new coalition exists, since economic freedom and national security cannot endure when government policies undermine or weaken free enterprise, our military, and the institutions of marriage and family.

Convergence of the Constitution-centered Tea Party movement with pre-2009 conservatives brings the entire movement to a turning point that is not a crisis—it is an opportunity.  Happy Birthday, Ronald Reagan—May your legacy and the principles you stood for change American history again.

Let's pray and work for true conservative principles that honor the right to life and limited government.