EWTN invites Catholics to novena for US at ‘critical moment’ for nation

CNA Staff, Sep 28, 2020 / 10:05 am (CNA).-  

The EWTN network has invited Catholics to join a novena to the Mother of God that will begin Tuesday, and be offered for unity and truth amid challenges facing the United States.

"As Catholics, we turn instinctively to our Blessed Mother in times of need," said EWTN Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer Michael P. Warsaw in a statement on the novena.

"America's first bishop, John Carroll of Baltimore, chose Our Lady as the patroness of the United States. And throughout our country's history, we have always entrusted our nation to Mary's motherly protection.”

"In this present moment, when there is so much division and unrest in our country, and when many of the values that formed our nation seem to be at risk, we again need to turn to our Blessed Mother. We need to pray for her intercession that leaders and all who seek public office will follow the path of Truth, guarantee religious liberty, and ensure that all human life is valued and protected, most especially the unborn," Warsaw added.

The novena will begin Sept. 29 and be prayed through Oct. 7, the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary.

Fr. Fred Miller, a well-known theologian and the spiritual director at the College Seminary of the Immaculate Conception, is the author of the novena’s meditations and prayers, which ask the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary the U.S.

The network will broadcast the novena’s prayers daily, and has created an ebook that aims to make the novena available to Catholics.

The novena comes five weeks ahead of the U.S. presidential election, and as hearings will soon get underway regarding the nomination of federal judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court, and amid the coronavirus pandemic and ongoing protests in some parts of the country.

"In this critical moment, I hope that everyone will join in this powerful prayer for the nation and its leaders," Warsaw said.

EWTN Global Catholic Network is the largest religious media network in the world. EWTN’s 11 global TV channels are broadcast in multiple languages 24 hours a day, seven days a week to over 300 million television households in more than 145 countries and territories.

EWTN platforms also include radio services transmitted through SIRIUS/XM, iHeart Radio, and over 500 domestic and international AM & FM radio affiliates; a worldwide shortwave radio service; one of the largest Catholic websites in the U.S.; electronic and print news services, including Catholic News Agency, The National Catholic Register newspaper, and several global news wire services; as well as EWTN Publishing, its book publishing division.

 

 


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2 Comments

  1. A starting premise in response to Michael Warsaw’s clarion call for a national Rosary crusade. Is it, for one, that Amy Barrett’s nomination meets with dead silence from the USCCB an indication New Paradigm toxicity has taken effect? That they are all [except for an exceptional one perhaps two who proclaim innocent life and condemn its murder] swimming with the fishes? Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò. A bishop. The real kind. First acclaimed for his outspoken integrity, moral courage of late is on the receiving end of harsh criticism [some in this writer’s opinion justified for his inviting schism in calling Vat II heresy as argued in a recent CWR essay by the highly credentialed theologian Fr Thomas Weinandy] some writing off the distinguished former Vatican diplomat for falling in with radical traditionalists and conspiracy crankery. For example he recently wrote in a letter addressed to the National Prayer Breakfast that the 2020 presidential election presents Americans with a biblical challenge against the demonic forces of the deep state and against the New World Order. He warned voters that warring principalities unseen to the human eye will clash on Election Day. A battle he earlier declared between the children of light and the children of darkness. The letter was not read. Whatever the complexities oddities most practicing Catholics, that is not the political, even clerical and laity nominal kind are deeply concerned. Is the Archbishop really off track on this one? EWTN Chief Exec Michael Warsaw takes the moment quite seriously calling for this national novena. There is an air of iniquity that prevails. As if Pazuzu the Prince of the Air who brings illness and death has infected Mankind. Worse than Covid. Here in the States opposition to the President is relentless, never the likes seen. Demonic in nature rabidly opposed to anything sacred in the Natural Order. Warsaw is on the mark.

    • A word on my comment, and what we must be as Catholics. Wisdom would have the bishops remain silent in the midst of a confirmation that will change the moral character of the Court. That is, if these were ‘ordinary’ times. Hiding in the catacombs while Catholicism is under pressure from both the political Left, and a Vatican focused on global interests will have no beneficial effect on political opponents [or Vat policy]. Nor will it likely change the course of the nomination. Rather silence will continue to undermine the loyalty of American Catholics. We’re in a continued process of the secularization of Catholicism both politically and culturally. Not only is the Catholic vote at stake. Church and Nation are. Our hierarchy, the USCCB preferably could well issue an intelligently written statement in defense of Catholics to be Catholic, correctly and prudently whether in politics or in society. Doing so with respect of Just Law that enhances religious freedom, not those that impugn that right. Similar to Justice Amy Barrett’s acceptance speech the Church could clearly define the difference between holding fast to ‘dogma’, and the exercise of jurisprudence, or simply living as Catholics within a pluralistic society. Silence didn’t help previously when our religious freedom was digressed with impunity. We have a compelling interest to assert those rights now, at this very historical moment to assure all of the legitimacy of our claim, as well as to assure the Catholic at large that the Catholic Church is indeed Catholic and supports their right to live as Catholics in every societal venue.

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