iHOPE = INTERNATIONAL HELPERS
OPERATION "PRAYER for EUROPE"

Dearly beloved in Christ and Our Blessed Mother,

And they came with haste; and they found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger. And seeing, they understood of the word that had been spoken to them concerning this child... But Mary kept all these words, pondering them in her heart. [Lk 2:16-17; 19]
 

As we rejoice in the final days of Christmastide, at the beginning of a new liturgical year, let us encourage and admonish one another in the hope given to us by The Lord, in the stable at Bethlehem.

Through the eyes of faith, we have been granted that most precious gift, to see in the Infant Lord Jesus (surrounded by His Most Blessed Mother and His Blessed Father Joseph; the angelic host; the lowly shepherds; the pious Magi; and the animal creatures), the One who is come, to save and redeem us, by offering His life as a holy sacrifice.

Through the intercession of the Most Immaculate and Most Chaste Hearts of Mary and Joseph, may our hearts go through this year and unto eternity, ever more alight with the burning charity of the Most Sacred Heart of the Christ Child, whose arms were stretched wide upon the wood of the manger, shedding His Precious Tears for love of His unfaithful creatures, whom He had just been born to save.

Once, He had either side of His Sacred Body, His Blessed Mother and His Virginal Father, adoring His Divine Majesty, as He, the Lamb of God, was made visible to mankind.

33 years later, either side of His Sacred Body, the Spotless Lamb of the Eternal Covenant, had His Blessed Mother and Her Adopted Son, adoring Him as He, the Divine Victim, shed His Precious Blood on The Cross, to atone for our sins.

Until now, He continues to renew, each day, this Divine Sacrifice of Calvary at every Holy Mass offered by His Mystical Body, The Church. He has called us, poor sinners, to adore and sacramentally receive His Sacred Body and Blood; to be made worthy to share in His Divine Grace, with Our Lady, St Joseph, St John, the Communion of Saints, and all our brothers and sisters: adopted sons and daughters of God.

Our Blessed Lord exalted the dignity of: the conception of human life, at The Annunciation; the unborn child, at The Visitation; the infant child, at The Nativity; family life and parenthood, at The Presentation in the Temple; and the adolescent child (in His most humble submission, to His parents), at The Finding in the Temple. He has exalted the rite of holy sacrifice, by offering Himself, throughout His earthly life - culminating at Calvary - as the victim of the punishment due for our sins, and has thus, shown us the way to eternal joy and glory: The Cross.

The unborn child, and the family, are being subjected to suffering, on a global scaalunlike anything seen before now. The Holy Innocents were martyred for the Divine Child, and the devil is continuing to deceive men, to effect his evil plans to devour innocent human life and ruin poor souls.

Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremias the prophet, saying: A voice in Rama was heard, lamentation and great mourning; Rachel bewailing her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not. [Mt 2:17-18]

Let us pray, particularly on the Feast of the Baptism of Our Lord, for the sanctification and eternal repose of the souls of the unborn and newly born children, both lost by unfortunate circumstances, or innocently slain because of the deceptions of the father of lies, who lures many souls into his snares, by temptations to worldly riches and temporal pleasure.
 

Let us pray for the temporal protection and eternal salvation of those afflicted by the culture of death: those on the receiving end of these evil actions, and those on the receiving end of the diabolical influence to partake in the destruction of human life and the deprivation of souls of the redemption wrought by Our Saviour, Jesus Christ.

Let us pray for an end to abortion and the entire culture of death, and moreover, the triumph of the Most Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, the Mother of all the living.

As we continue to faithfully pray the Holy Rosary, hoping in the unfailing assistance of Our Blessed Mother and Queen, full of burning charity for The Lord, and all who are created in His image and likeness, let us ask the Holy Mother of God to bestow Her Son’s grace where it is most needed, for the greatest glory of The Lord.

“Am I not here, who am your Mother?” - Our Lady of Guadalupe to St Juan Diego

The Memorare:
Remember, O Most Gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to Thy protection, implored Thy help, or sought Thy intercession, was left unaided. Inspired with this confidence, I fly to Thee, O Virgin of Virgins, my Mother. To Thee do I come, before Thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in Thy clemency, hear and answer me. Amen.