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# Confraternity of Our Lady of Mercy

Women and Men Seeking Holiness as the Answer to Abortion

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## Posts

- [Consecration of United States to the Sacred Heart](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/consecration-of-united-states-to-the-sacred-heart/) - For thousands of years, the human heart has represented love. In the Old Testament, there are numerous references to the "heart" of God, who loves his people, Israel. In the New Covenant, the love of Jesus Christ is shown in his heart, which was pierced by the lance after his death upon the Cross. In
- [St. Matthias:  Forgotten Apostle](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/st-matthias-forgotten-apostle/) - St. Matthias was one of the 72 disciples sent out by Our Lord Jesus to preach and cure the sick. After the Ascension of Our Lord into heaven, St. Peter said that it was necessary to choose one of the disciples to replace Judas Iscariot. Two men were proposed: Barsabbas (Justus) and Matthias. The apostles
- [Making a Holy Lent 2026](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/making-a-holy-lent-2026/) - Pope Leo XIV has some reflections for this Lent: First, listening to the Word of God in the liturgy, and through that, to “those who are anguished and suffering.” “Our God is one who seeks to involve us,” the Holy Father wrote. “Even today he shares with us what is in his heart. Because of
- [Women of Grace interviews - January 2026](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/women-of-grace-interviews-january-2026/) - Our Spiritual Director, Fr. Ben Cameron, was recently on the "Women of Grace" program on EWTN, the Global Catholic Network. He had a three part interview with Johnette Williams on the subject of healing after abortion. During the course of the interview, they discussed the emotional and spiritual wounds of abortion. They also delved into
- [EWTN Radio interview - January 2026](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/ewtn-radio-interview-january-2026/) - Fr. Ben Cameron was on the "Catholic Connection" radio program on EWTN Radio on January 15th. Teresa Tomeo interviewed him regarding the reality of pain, grief and trauma after abortion, and the process of healing. They also discussed his book Healing the Deepest Wounds: A Pastoral Guide to Abortion, Trauma and Grief. Fr. Ben's book
- [Christ is King!](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/christ-is-king-2/) - On the last Sunday of the liturgical year (the Sunday before the start of Advent), the Catholic Church celebrates the Solemnity of Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. What is meant by the phrase "Christ the King"? How can we live under the gentle reign of Jesus Christ in our daily lives? Fr. Ben Cameron,
- [Sabbatical in Europe](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/sabbatical-in-europe/) - Hello Brothers and Sisters in Christ! Today is the Feast of St. Stephen, the first Catholic King of Hungary. He was a man who gave himself wholeheartedly to the cause of Christ and His Holy Church. His wife and son, St. Gisela and St. Emmerich, are also recognized as saints of the Church. I will
- [Radio Interview on Healing after Abortion](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/radio-interview-on-healing-after-abortion/) - Our Spiritual Director, Fr. Ben Cameron, was recently on "The Drew Mariani Show" on Relevant Radio. Fr. Ben and Drew discussed the need for healing the wounds of abortion, and the power of God's grace to bring that healing. They also discussed Fr. Ben's book, Healing the Deepest Wounds: A Pastoral Guide to Abortion, Trauma
- [EWTN Bookmark](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/ewtn-bookmark/) - Our Spiritual Director, Fr. Ben Cameron, was recently on EWTN Bookmark with Doug Keck. They discussed Fr. Ben's recent book Healing the Deepest Wounds: A Pastoral Guide to Abortion, Trauma and Grief. Please watch this discussion and share with your family and friends!
- [At Home with Jim and Joy Show](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/at-home-with-jim-and-joy-show/) - Our Spiritual Director, Fr. Ben Cameron, was on the "At Home with Jim and Joy" show on EWTN recently. They discussed his new book Healing the Deepest Wounds: A Pastoral Guide to Abortion, Trauma and Grief. The discussion took place over two episodes of the show. Here is the first episode: Here is the second
- [EWTN Bookmark brief](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/ewtn-bookmark-brief/) - This past week, I was invited to the EWTN studios in Alabama to record a couple of programs about my book Healing the Deepest Wounds: A Pastoral Guide to Abortion, Trauma and Grief. Here is a short video (a preview) for the "EWTN Bookmark" show with Doug Keck. The book can be purchased from the
- [Consecration of Election to Blessed Virgin Mary](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/consecration-of-election-to-blessed-virgin-mary/) - The Fathers of Mercy are praying this "novena" prayer as we approach the election in the United States of America. It was composed by Fr. Chad Rippenger (not a member of our community). I would invite you to join us in prayer. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the
- [The Importance of Making Good Choices](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/the-importance-of-making-good-choices/) - On Sunday, August 25th, I gave a homily on making good choices in our lives. Our readings present us with three major areas of choices: What God/gods will we serve? Will we live for ourselves or live unselfishly? Will we choose to believe what Jesus teaches about the Holy Eucharist?
- [National Eucharistic Congress](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/national-eucharistic-congress/) - I had the tremendous joy and privilege to participate in the 10th National Eucharistic Congress last week in Indianapolis. It was amazing be present with 60,000 Catholics, including around 150 bishops, over 1,000 priests, and hundreds of religious sisters, all focused on growing our relationship with the Eucharistic Lord Jesus. During the course of the
- [Healing the Deepest Wounds](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/healing-the-deepest-wounds/) - Thank you for your prayers for my new book! It's finally ready! Healing the Deepest Wounds: A Pastoral Guide to Abortion, Trauma and Grief has been a labor of love for the past year. I hope that it will help many people to find the healing that Our Lord Jesus wants to give them from
- [The Visitation:  A Model for Christian Service](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/the-visitation-a-model-for-christian-service/) - Mary set out, proceeding in haste into the hill country, to visit her cousin, Elizabeth. Mary has just received the message of the angel, and the Word has become flesh in her womb. But she did not stay at home. She did not choose to quietly enjoy the mystery. She immediately set out to visit,
- [Reflections on Grief, following the death of my father](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/reflections-on-grief-following-the-death-of-my-father/) - On October 8th of this year, I lost my father (Walter Eugene Cameron) to lung cancer. It was the second great grief of my life, the first being the death of my brother, Matthew, to lung cancer four years ago. Granted, I have felt grief at other deaths both before Matthew's passing, and since then,
- [Spiritual Works of Mercy: Comfort the Sorrowful](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/spiritual-works-of-mercy-comfort-the-sorrowful/) - One of the Spiritual Works of Mercy is to "Comfort the Sorrowful." There are a tremendous number of people who suffer from sorrow and grief in our world today, so there is a tremendous need for Christians to practice this work of mercy. First of all, what are some examples of people in sorrow today?
- [The "O Antiphons" of Advent](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/the-o-antiphons-of-advent/) - One of the Church's ancient liturgical traditions, dating back to at least the 8th century, is the use of the "O Antiphons" for this final week of Advent -- our final preparation for the coming of Christ at Christmas. Each of these antiphons points to a Scriptural title of Christ found in the Book of
- [Special Grace of Divine Mercy Sunday](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/special-grace-of-divine-mercy-sunday/) - In the Diary of St. Faustina, Divine Mercy in My Soul, the Lord Jesus said that He would give special graces on the Feast of Mercy, the Octave Sunday of Easter. On that day, Our Lord promises that those who have been to the Sacrament of Confession (and, of course, made a good confession of
- [Grief to Grace](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/grief-to-grace/) - Early in September, I traveled to Newark, New Jersey, to participate in a "Grief to Grace" retreat. This retreat was written by Dr. Theresa Burke, the founder of Rachel's Vineyard retreats for healing the wounds of abortion, but Grief to Grace has a different focus -- healing the wounds of sexual abuse. I became interested
- [Prayer for the Dead - Insights from the Maronite Church](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/prayer-for-the-dead-insights-from-the-maronite-church/) - In the Western Church, our special day of prayer for the deceased is All Souls Day, which occurs every year on November 2nd, the day following All Saints Day. In the Maronite Rite of the Catholic Church (which is part of the ancient Rite from Antioch, where "the disciples were first called Christians"), the last
- [The Holy Spirit and the Power to Bear Witness](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/the-holy-spirit-and-the-power-to-bear-witness/) - On Pentecost Sunday, there were about 120 disciples of Jesus gathered in the upper room. They had witnessed the Resurrection of Jesus. They had seen Him, spoken to Him, and they knew that He was truly alive. But alive in a new and more powerful way than when He was before His Crucifixion. Even though
- [St. Matthias, the Forgotten Apostle](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/st-matthias-the-forgotten-apostle/) - Do you ever feel like you are overlooked, forgotten by those who should recognize your value? Do you wonder if history will remember you? One of the twelve apostles might be a good model for you! After the Ascension of Our Lord Jesus into heaven, St. Peter spoke to the other apostles and disciples, and
- [Damien of Molokai and the Works of Mercy:](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/damien-of-molokai-and-the-works-of-mercy/) - Damien de Veuster was a Belgian priest of the Sacred Heart Fathers who went to Hawaii to serve as a missionary in 1864. While there, he came to know of the plight of the lepers on the island of Molokai. This was home to a colony of around 800 people who had been sent there
- [Can God forgive our gravest sins?](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/can-god-forgive-our-gravest-sins/) - Sometimes people ask if God can really forgive our most grievous sins -- He not only can, but He actually does, if we ask for forgiveness. In this video, I share some stories of people who were notorious sinners -- some would say "monsters" -- who experienced the grace of forgiveness from the Infinite Mercy
- [Grafted onto Jesus, the Vine](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/grafted-onto-jesus-the-vine/) - Fr. Ben Cameron, the Spiritual Director of the Confraternity of Our Lady of Mercy, recently preached about how we are grafted into the Lord Jesus as branches into a vine. This homily was given in the Chapel of Divine Mercy in Auburn, Kentucky. In his homily, Fr. Ben talks about three major areas where people
- [July:  Month of the Precious Blood](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/july-month-of-the-precious-blood-2/) - Many people know that the month of June is dedicated to the Sacred Heart. But did you know that the month of July is dedicated to the Precious Blood of Jesus? In Ancient Israel, the People of God were forbidden to ever consume blood. The reason was that the life (soul) of the animal was
- [Men need healing from abortion](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/men-need-healing-from-abortion/) - Fr. Ben Cameron was on the "Just Ask Janet" show with Kevin Burke from Rachel's Vineyard Ministries to discuss how men need healing from abortion:
- [Prayers requested for a new book](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/prayers-requested-for-a-new-book/) - Hello Brothers and Sisters in Christ, I would like to request your prayers for a project of mine: a (hopefully short) book about grief, trauma, and abortion, which will be primarily to help priests, ministers, and others in pastoral work. There is some great literature out there from a clinical perspective, and other books which
- [One Soul at a Time](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/one-soul-at-a-time/) - Over the past year, we have seen a several signs of hope regarding the sanctity of every human life, and suffered a few setbacks as well. On the positive side, the U.S. Supreme Court has overturned the infamous Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey decisions, rejecting the notion that there is a federal
- [November - Month of the Poor Souls](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/november-month-of-the-poor-souls/) - One of the spiritual works of mercy is to "pray for the living and the dead." We usually remember that we should pray for the living, because they are around us, seen by us, and their needs are often apparent to our eyes. But do we remember to pray for the dead, for the souls
- [Our Lady, Terror of Demons](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/our-lady-terror-of-demons/) - We are in a war, a spiritual war. The Christian life is a constant war against the world, the flesh, and the devil. But what does that mean? We are at war with "the world" in its fallen state, in which the world around us, fallen and prone-to-evil human society, attempts to lead us away
- [Corpus Christi 2022 - Beginning of the Eucharistic Revival](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/corpus-christi-2022-beginning-of-the-eucharistic-revival/) - Fr. Ben Cameron, C.P.M., Spiritual Director of the Confraternity of Our Lady of Mercy, gave a homily at the Chapel of Divine Mercy on Corpus Christi Sunday. The Holy Eucharist is the Real 'Bread of the Presence' of God among His People. It is the fulfillment of the most ancient sacrifice of the People of
- [A Priest working in Rachel's Vineyard](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/a-priest-working-in-rachels-vineyard/) - Our Spiritual Director, Fr. Ben Cameron, CPM, was interviewed by Kevin Burke from Rachel's Vineyard Ministries about how he became involved in post-abortion healing, his ministry in Rachel's Vineyard, and how it has impacted his priesthood.
- [Viral Retreat](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/viral-retreat/) - At a time when many of our normal activities have been shut down, or have been modified due to the need for "social distancing," we might be asking if things will ever "get back to normal," or how soon they will do so. Maybe we should be asking another question: "How can I turn this
- [Thoughts on the March for Life 2022](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/thoughts-on-the-march-for-life-2022/) - St. Helen Youth group at the Lincoln Memorial Last week, I was blessed to accompany five teenagers (and another adult chaperone) from our parish Youth Group (St. Helen, Glasgow & Our Lady of the Caves, Horse Cave, Kentucky) to the annual March for Life in Washington, DC. Due to the pandemic, it had been two
- [Mary, Queen of Heaven and Earth](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/mary-queen-of-heaven-and-earth/) - Every year on August 22nd, the Catholic Church celebrates the Queenship of Mary, one week after we celebrate her Assumption, body and soul, into heaven. Why would we honor the Blessed Virgin Mary as our queen? In ancient Israel, the kings often had multiple wives, so who was the queen in the kingdom? It wasn't
- [Indwelling of the Holy Trinity](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/indwelling-of-the-holy-trinity/) - This past Sunday, we celebrated the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity, and I did a lot of reflecting on the mystery of the Trinity. Not only has God chosen a people to be His own (as He did with the Israelites), but He has revealed to us the mystery of His own interior life:
- [Lent:  Why Fasting Matters](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/lent-why-fasting-matters/) - "Don't give up chocolate for Lent. Do something else, like pray more, or do something positive." How many of us have heard this -- even from our pastors and trusted Catholic sources? The tradition of the Catholic Church is that there are three special "works" that we should engage in during Lent: prayer, fasting, and
- [Recommended book:  Practical Theology](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/recommended-book-practical-theology/) - On this Feast of St. Thomas Aquinas, who is the greatest theologian in the history of the Church, we might think that his insights are beyond our reach. After all, he was a tremendously smart writer, who wrote the Summa Theologiae, which has around 4,000 articles in which he answers objections to his theology, and
- [Christ the King: Lord even in the worst times](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/christ-the-king-lord-even-in-the-worst-times/) - Sometimes when we find ourselves living in times of darkness -- political and social upheaval, economic uncertainty, loss of our jobs and the means to provide for our families -- it can be easy to forget that Jesus Christ is still our King, and that He is ultimately in control. St. Paul tells us that
- [Powerful Spiritual Weapon](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/powerful-spiritual-weapon/) - The most powerful prayer that we have, after the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass (which is Christ Jesus' own sacrifice offered to the Eternal Father) is the Holy Rosary. We might think of the rosary as a series of repetitive prayers, but it is far more than that: it is an introduction into Christian meditation.
- [St. Matthew and unlikely disciples](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/st-matthew-and-unlikely-disciples/) - Many of us probably wonder, "why has the Lord Jesus chosen me to be His disciple? I have lots of baggage; I have so many wounds." The truth is that many of the Lord's disciples were like us: they were men and women with a "history," with scars from wounds inflicted by self and/or by
- [Our Own St. Monicas:](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/our-own-st-monicas/) - St. Monica: One of the most beloved saints down through the ages. Why is this humble mother from North Africa so well known and loved? For many years, Monica prayed fervently for the conversion of her husband, Patricius, who was a pagan, and for that of her son, Augustine, who flirted with the Manichean heresy
- [Mary Magdalen: Apostle to the Apostles](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/mary-magdalen-apostle-to-the-apostles/) - One of the great women saints is St. Mary Magdalene (feast day: July 22nd). There is a good deal of confusion about her, and a good deal that we definitely know about her. First, what we know for certain about this great saint: she was from the town of Magdala, on the Sea of Galilee
- [Loving Christ above all Others](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/loving-christ-above-all-others/) - This Sunday's Gospel (13th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle A) has the Lord Jesus telling us that "He who loves father or mother more than me, is not worthy of me. He who loves son or daughter more than me, is not worthy of me." We might wonder how love for a family member could
- [Divine Mercy Sunday in a time of Plague](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/divine-mercy-sunday-in-a-time-of-plague/) - One of the very special graces that the Lord Jesus promised to St. Faustina for the "Feast of Mercy" is a "complete remission of sins and punishments" for those who will receive Holy Communion in the state of grace (several passages mention going to Confession in preparation for this Holy Communion) with "complete trust" in
- [Significance of Our Lady of Guadalupe](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/significance-of-our-lady-of-guadalupe/) - The Aztec Empire was one of the bloodiest and most diabolical societies of the ancient world. The two main Aztec "gods" were "Lord of the Dark" and "Hummingbird Wizard," and both of them demanded human sacrifice -- and on a massive scale. In one festival in the year 1487 (as recorded by Aztec historians), over
- [Corpus Christi Sunday](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/corpus-christi-sunday/) - This Sunday, we celebrate the great feast of “Corpus Christi,” now called the “Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ.” When this feast was begun, in the 13th century, it was partially begun as a rebuke to the heresy of Berengarius, who was the first person in the history of Christianity to deny the
- [Making a Holy Lent - Part 3](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/making-a-holy-lent-part-3/) - The third element of making a holy Lent is Almsgiving. "Alms" is the traditional term for money or material aid given to a poor person; we see people in the Gospels and Acts begging for alms (St. Peter said to one such person: "silver and gold, I have none, but what I do have, I
- [Making a Holy Lent -- Part 2](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/making-a-holy-lent-part-2/) - Fasting: Second Key to a Holy Lent What is fasting? Christian fasting is essentially self-denial -- but not for the sake of health, or out of some sense that food or drink is evil. It is self-denial for the Love of Jesus Christ. Sometimes, I meet people who plan to give up something sinful for
- [Making a Holy Lent -- Part 1](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/making-a-holy-lent-part-1/) - Prayer: The First Means of Repentance and Key to a good Lent When St. John Chrysostom (d. 407 AD) preached in Antioch (Syria) about repentance, he recommended several practices which have their origin in the Old Testament, and have been used by Christians for the last 2,000 years. These practices are important for our entire
- [Conversion of St. Paul](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/conversion-of-st-paul/) - Who would have ever expected that the man who supervised the murder of St. Stephen, the first martyrdom of a Christian, would have ever become a Christian himself? Yet one day, on the road to Damascus on a mission of persecution, Saul of Tarsus had a vision and heard a voice: "Saul, Saul, why are
- ["Rejoice in the Lord always!"  Celebrating Gaudete Sunday](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/rejoice-in-the-lord-always-celebrating-gaudete-sunday/) - The holy season of Advent is a time of preparation and waiting -- preparation for the coming of Christ our Savior, and waiting with anticipation the joy of His coming. We prepare our hearts for three comings of our Savior: His first coming as a little child -- we prepare to celebrate Christmas, not as
- [Mary at the Foot of the Cross](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/mary-at-the-foot-of-the-cross/) - On September 15th, the Catholic Church honored Mary as "Our Lady of Sorrows." When we are suffering, and especially when we are grieving the death of a loved one, such as the loss of an unborn child through abortion, miscarriage or stillbirth, we can join our sorrows with those of Mary at the foot of
- [New Prayer Partners:  Have you ever heard of Mystic Monk Coffee?](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/new-prayer-partners-have-you-ever-heard-of-mystic-monk-coffee/) - We are pleased to announce that the Confraternity of Our Lady of Mercy has a new Prayer Partner community: the Carmelite Monks of Wyoming! Yes, these are the same monks who roast and sell "Mystic Monk Coffee"! The founder of the community, Fr. Daniel Mary Schneider, was a good friend of mine at Holy Apostles
- [Reaching out in Love:](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/reaching-out-in-love/) - When we have received a gift, especially a precious gift like healing, our first response should be gratitude. Great gratitude to Our Lord Jesus Christ, the giver of healing. But our second response should be to want to share the gift with others. A wonderful Irish priest and missionary, Fr. Robert Bradshaw, once said that
- [Loving self, or Loving God?](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/loving-self-or-loving-god/) - Bishop Diadochus of Photice (5th century, Greece) wrote: “No one who is in love with himself is capable of loving God. The man who loves God is the one who mortifies his self-love for the sake of the immeasurable blessings of divine love. Such a man never seeks his own glory but only the glory
- [Three "American" Saints](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/three-american-saints/) - During this first week of January, the Catholic Church in the United States honors three saints who, at least for part of their lives, lived in our nation. St. Elizabeth Ann Seton is honored on January 4th. She was raised Episcopalian, but converted to Catholicism as an adult. She was a wife and mother of
- [Ancient Saints, and their Relevance today](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/ancient-saints-and-their-relevance-today/) - This last week of August, the Catholic Church honors several saints of the early Church -- St. John the Baptist and St. Augustine of Hippo -- but what do ancient saints have to teach us today in our post-modern world? St. John the Baptist was the forerunner of Jesus Christ (as well as his cousin) and
- [Maronite Prayer in honor of the Holy Angels](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/maronite-prayer-in-honor-of-the-holy-angels/) - I recently came across a beautiful prayer relating to the Holy Angels in the Maronite Catholic Divine Liturgy: "Glory to you, O Radiant Light. You brought joy to the world by your incarnation and gave light to all in heaven and on earth with your spiritual light. We praise you with the angels in heaven.
- [Bishop Choby, a Spiritual Father to our Confraternity](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/bishop-choby-a-spiritual-father-to-our-confraternity/) - Bishop David Choby, the 11th Bishop of Nashville, passed into eternal life on Saturday, June 3, 2017. He was a true spiritual father to the Confraternity of Our Lady of Mercy. When I first had the inspiration (during a Eucharistic Holy Hour, while preaching a Rosary Novena) to start a spiritual confraternity (a spiritual family)
- [Daily Examination of Conscience](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/daily-examination-of-conscience/) - One of the most basic truths of the spiritual life is the importance of making a daily examination of conscience. As members of the Confraternity of Our Lady of Mercy, we strive to do this each night before going to bed. Why is the examination so important? It is for the sake of self-knowledge --
- [Mysteries of the Holy Triduum -- Good Friday](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/mysteries-of-the-holy-triduum-good-friday/) - Good Friday is a day on which Catholics have traditionally spent extra time in prayer and contemplation of the Passion and Death of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. For many of us, the sacred time of "the Three Hours" (Noon until 3:00 PM) is a time of silence and reflection -- because these are
- [Mysteries of the Holy Triduum -- Holy Thursday](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/mysteries-of-the-holy-triduum-holy-thursday/) - The Holy Triduum (Three Days) of Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter is the holiest time of the Christian year. How can we enter more deeply into the mysteries of the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Our Lord during this sacred time? Holy Thursday is when the Church celebrates the solemn memorial of the Last
- [Importance of Silence](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/importance-of-silence/) - In our modern world, we are literally surrounded by noise. We have the sounds of computers, printers, radio, music, television, cars -- you name it, we are surrounded by constant sounds. But we need silence in order to hear the "still, small voice, " the "tiny, whispering sound" -- the voice of God. Without silence,
- [St. Anthony of Egypt](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/st-anthony-of-egypt/) - The Church celebrates the feast day of St. Anthony of Egypt on January 17th. St. Anthony is called the "Father of Monasticism," and is seen as the one of the great men known as the "Desert Fathers." Anthony was born into a wealthy family, but after the death of his parents, he heard the call
- [Reasons for Giving Thanks in 2016](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/reasons-for-giving-thanks-in-2016/) - There are always a number of good reasons for giving thanks to Almighty God, and the Thanksgiving holiday is a wonderful time that reminds us of how important it is to be thankful. Here are a few of the reasons that I am thankful this year: The Jubilee Year of Mercy was a wonderful time
- [St. Monica & St. Augustine](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/st-monica-st-augustine/) - One of the patron saints of the Confraternity of Our Lady of Mercy is St. Augustine of Hippo. He was chosen to be one of our patrons because he was a sinner – a sexual addict, who kept a mistress for about twenty years – who, through the Mercy of God was converted and became
- [Transfiguration of the Lord](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/transfiguration-of-the-lord/) - On August 6th, the Church celebrated the mystery of the Transfiguration of Our Lord Jesus Christ upon Mount Tabor. Jesus had taken the “inner circle” of His disciples, Peter, James and John, up the mountain, and there “He was transfigured before them. And His clothes became dazzlingly white, such as no fuller on earth could
- [Birth of St. John the Baptist](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/birth-of-st-john-the-baptist/) - Today the Church celebrates the ancient feast day in which we commemorate the birth of St. John the Baptist. Normally, the Church celebrates the day in which a saint left this world to enter our true and heavenly homeland. But today the Church celebrates the birth of St. John into this world of time. Why
- [Fatima's message for us -- 99 years later](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/fatimas-message-for-us-99-years-later/) - The message delivered by Our Lady of Fatima, beginning on May 13, 1917, still applies to us today, a full 99 years later. It is a message of prayer, especially prayer and penance for the conversion of sinners. In a very real way, it reminds us of the words of Our Lord Jesus when He
- [Recommended Book:  From Darkness into Light](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/recommended-book-from-darkness-into-light/) - Fr. Ben Cameron, Spiritual Director of the Confraternity of Our Lady of Mercy, has written a review of Shawna Arnold's new book From Darkness into Light on the Fathers of Mercy website. Here is a link to the article and information about this beautiful new resource: From Darkness into Light by Shawna Arnold
- [Divine Mercy Novena 2016](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/divine-mercy-novena-2016/) - During this Jubilee Year of Mercy, I have decided to offer the "Divine Mercy Novena" in a special way for the conversion of Men and Women who have had, or been involved in, abortions -- that those who have not yet made their Peace with God through the Sacrament of His Mercy (Confession) may receive
- [Spiritual Works of Mercy:  To Pray for the Living and the Dead](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/spiritual-works-of-mercy-to-pray-for-the-living-and-the-dead/) - The final Spiritual Work of Mercy is something that every Christian can certainly do, but do we consciously and intentionally "Pray for the Living and the Dead?" In God's family, the Church, there are three distinct groups: The Church Militant on Earth, the Church Suffering in Purgatory, and the Church Triumphant in Heaven. The third
- [Corporal Works of Mercy:  To Bury the Dead](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/corporal-works-of-mercy-to-bury-the-dead/) - In the Old Testament Book of Tobit, the virtuous Tobit interrupts his dinner to go out to bury one of his Jewish countrymen who had been murdered, and his body had been left in the street. This act of burying the dead, especially those who have no one who will bury them, is a prime
- [Spiritual Works of Mercy:  Forgive All Injuries](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/spiritual-works-of-mercy-forgive-all-injuries/) - "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do!" These powerful words from our Savior should make every Christian think twice: Do I forgive injuries? Have I forgiven those who have hurt or offended me or one of my loved ones? Or do I hold on to old hatreds and grudges? The sixth Spiritual
- [Corporal Works of Mercy: Visit the Sick](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/corporal-works-of-mercy-visit-the-sick/) - One of the very important Corporal Works of Mercy is to Visit the Sick. How many people are suffering from various illnesses, from cancer, or from accidents today! Many people who are ill suffer from loneliness as well. There are many elderly persons whose families live far away from them. Others have family in the
- [Corporal Works of Mercy: Visit the Imprisoned](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/corporal-works-of-mercy-visit-the-imprisoned/) - The fifth Corporal Work of Mercy is "Visit the Imprisoned." This work of mercy is important, and often neglected. When I was in college, I had the privilege of being involved in the Legion of Mary, a Catholic lay apostolate that began in Ireland, that involves a commitment of two hours of apostolic work done
- [Spiritual Works of Mercy:  To Bear Wrongs Patiently](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/spiritual-works-of-mercy-to-bear-wrongs-patiently/) - One of the Works of Mercy that can be the hardest to live, but is absolutely necessary for all of us is to "Bear Wrongs Patiently." There are many times in our lives in which people mistreat us, or speak to us in ways that might hurt our feelings. And so often ... we just
- [Corporal Works of Mercy: Shelter the Homeless](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/corporal-works-of-mercy-shelter-the-homeless/) - The fourth Corporal Work of Mercy is "Shelter the Homeless," but in some older listings, it is "Harbor the Harbor-less." What, essentially, does it mean? Down through history, there have always been a certain number of people who were homeless, or, for those who were sailing but didn't have a home port, they were "harbor-less."
- [Corporal Works of Mercy:  Feed the Hungry](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/works-of-mercy-part-i/) - The first of the Corporal Works of Mercy ("corporal" is derived from "corpus," Latin for "body" = Bodily works of Mercy) is the Feed the Hungry. In a day and age in which millions of people go without basic food -- as the result of famines, hurricanes, earthquakes, wars and deliberate starvation by corrupt and
- [Spiritual Works of Mercy: Instruct the Ignorant](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/spiritual-works-of-mercy-instruct-the-ignorant/) - The first of the spiritual works of mercy is "Instruct the Ignorant." We sometimes think that it is an insult to say that someone is ignorant, but in reality, it simply means that the person is without knowledge -- of something that they would benefit from knowing. To give knowledge -- to give someone the
- [Corporal Works of Mercy:  Give Drink to the Thirsty](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/corporal-works-of-mercy-give-drink-to-the-thirsty/) - The second Corporal Work of Mercy is To Give Drink to the Thirsty. What are we talking about here? I am sure that somebody, with tongue in cheek, will say that we should give free booze to alcoholics! But that it NOT what the Gospel tells us: Jesus said that the person who gives even
- [Spiritual Works of Mercy:  Counsel the Doubtful](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/spiritual-works-of-mercy-counsel-the-doubtful/) - The second Spiritual Work of Mercy is to Counsel the Doubtful. What does this mean? How can we live this work of mercy? Many people today are confused. They might be looking for meaning in their lives, for answers to the biggest questions (Why do I exist? Is there a purpose for my life? What
- [Corporal Works of Mercy: Clothe the Naked](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/corporal-works-of-mercy-clothe-the-naked/) - The third Corporal Work of Mercy is "Clothe the Naked." In times past, there may have been many people who only possessed the clothes on their backs, and those might have been so threadbare and worn out that the person might have been virtually naked. Although times have changed, and there are few people (in
- [Spiritual Works of Mercy:  Admonish the Sinner](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/spiritual-works-of-mercy-admonish-the-sinner/) - One of the most difficult Works of Mercy for any of us to perform is to "Admonish the Sinner." It is very difficult to correct someone, especially when the thing they are doing is morally wrong! Oh, we can correct someone for holding their knife and fork incorrectly, or for chewing with their mouth open,
- [Why pray?](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/why-pray/) - More on prayer from St. Francis de Sales: ...prayer places our intellect in the brilliance of God's light and exposes our will to the warmth of his heavenly love...It is a stream of holy water that flows forth and makes the plants of our good desires grow green and flourish and quenches the passions within
- [Care and maintenance of the heart...](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/care-and-maintenance-of-the-heart/) - More food for thought from St. Francis de Sales: There is no clock, no matter how good it may be, that doesn't need resetting and rewinding twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening. In addition, at least once a year it must be taken apart to remove the dirt clogging
- ["Until you hold me in heaven, I am safe in the arms of Jesus"](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/until-you-hold-me-in-heaven-i-am-safe-in-the-arms-of-jesus/) - “Until you hold me in heaven, I am safe in the arms of Jesus.” 10-10-10 is a day that will be remembered for many things by many people. For me, this day will be remembered as the day of Hope. It began with the homily from my parish pastor during the Sunday liturgy. Fr. John
- [Picture from Slovakian Monument](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/picture-from-slovakian-monument/) - This picture is from a Monument in honor of the unborn children in Slovakia. Quite unique, but beautiful!
- [Two interviews with Fr. Ben about our ministry](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/two-interviews-with-fr-ben-about-our-ministry/) - Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ: I have just posted links to two interviews that I have given recently that relate to our Confraternity, and to the topic of healing and holiness after abortion. You will find them on our "Links" on the right-hand column under the section entitled "Blogroll." I hope that you will
- [Radio interview:  What is the Purpose of the Confraternity?](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/radio-interview-what-is-the-purpose-of-the-confraternity/) - During a recent radio interview (on "The Inner Life" on Relevant Radio), Fr. Ben Cameron, Spiritual Director of the Confraternity of Our Lady of Mercy, explained the purpose of the Confraternity: If you would like to learn more about our Confraternity's "Plan of Life," or to join our Confraternity, please visit the following pages of
- [Preparing for the Jubilee Year of Mercy](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/preparing-for-the-jubilee-year-of-mercy/) - In preparation for the Jubilee Year of Mercy, announced by Pope Francis, the Confraternity of Our Lady of Mercy will be posting articles on the Works of Mercy. Each month, from June through December, we will be posting two articles in which we will feature one Corporal Work of Mercy and one Spiritual Work of
- [Priests for Life feature Confraternity](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/priests-for-life-feature-confraternity/) - Priests for Life and Rachel's Vineyard are currently running a program called "Shockwaves of Abortion" to help people to understand the far-reaching effects of abortion in society. The March Shockwaves campaign featured an interview that Fr. Ben Cameron, Founder and Spiritual Director of the Confraternity of Our Lady of Mercy, gave with Kevin Burke: http://www.silentnomoreawareness.org/shockwaves/march/call-to-holiness.aspx
- [Prayer, Fasting and Mercy](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/prayer-fasting-and-mercy/) - From a sermon by St. Peter Chrysologus, Bishop and Doctor of the Church: There are three things, my brethren, by which faith stands firm, devotion remains constant, and virtue endures. They are prayer, fasting and mercy. Prayer knocks at the door, fasting obtains, mercy receives. Prayer, mercy and fasting: these three are one, and they
- [St. Margaret of Cortona's Feast Day](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/st-margaret-of-cortonas-feast-day/) - The Church just celebrated the feast day of one of our patron saints, St. Margaret of Cortona. Have you read much about her life? A good place to start is this article from our website: "Horror of Sin and the Mercy of God" Please take the time to read this article, and then maybe do
- [Confraternity Facebook group established](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/confraternity-facebook-group-established/) - The Confraternity of Our Lady of Mercy now has a Private Facebook page! If you are a registered member of the Confraternity (registration is done through filling out the online form on the "Membership" page of this website) and you are on Facebook, you can now join our Facebook page. Why join? Sometimes we need
- [Courageous Love for Christ: St. Thomas Aquinas](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/courageous-love-for-christ-st-thomas-aquinas/) - St. Thomas Aquinas is best known for being the Church's greatest theologian. He wrote two "Summas" of theology which have been of tremendous importance to the Church ever since his the 13th century. But he was a man who was immersed in Sacred Scripture as well -- he wrote many commentaries on different books of
- [And the Word was made Flesh](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/and-the-word-was-made-flesh/) - "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory of the Father's only begotten Son..." The Christmas season is for many people a time for celebration with family, for good food, and for football. Some people even go to Church (maybe it's the only day of the
- [Reflections on Right-to-Life Banquet](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/reflections-on-right-to-life-banquet/) - Last night (October 16), I attended the annual banquet of Right-to-Life of Owensboro (Kentucky). What a wonderful event -- to see 800 or more men and women (and a good number of teenagers) who would come out for an evening to celebrate the sanctity of human life! It was a joy-filled occasion. Not only was
- [New Confraternity brochures available](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/new-confraternity-brochures-available/) - The Confraternity of Our Lady of Mercy now has some brand-new brochures which explain the purpose and plan of life that we seek to embrace to help us to embrace our call to holiness. If anyone would like to receive a brochure (or a few of them) and/or to receive some of our Confraternity holy
- [Mike Stack - Rest in Peace](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/mike-stack-rest-in-peace/) - Mike Stack, who until recently served as the Site Leader for Rachel's Vineyard in Detroit, passed away on August 14, 2014, the feast day of St. Maximilian Kolbe, one of the great saints for the pro-life movement (Kolbe willingly took the place of another prisoner at Auschwitz who had been condemned to die in a
- [If Only I Lived in the Old Days](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/if-only-i-lived-in-the-old-days/) - Have you ever thought that? Wondered how much better things might be in life if we just lived a few hundred years ago? I know that I have! It seems like things were so much easier.... WRONG! They weren't easier! Think of how many inventions we now have that make life easier – washing machines,
- [July - Month of the Precious Blood](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/july-month-of-the-precious-blood/) - There is a tradition that certain months of the year are associated with particular feasts of the Church, particular aspects of our Faith. The month of July has traditionally been the month in which the Precious Blood of our Savior, Jesus Christ, is honored -- that blood which was poured out upon the Cross for
- [Hard to Forgive](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/hard-to-forgive/) - Father Jim Costigan, CPM Some things are easy to forgive. A fan mistakes you for the reigning Miss America, you correct him, then he graciously apologizes -- that’s pretty easy to forgive. But then there’s the friend who didn’t keep your secret, the woman who stole your man, the date who raped you, the man
- [Making a great Easter season](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/making-a-great-easter-season/) - The season of Easter. What do we think about it? We all know that Lent is celebrated [or do most of us use that word “celebrate” when it comes to Lent?] for forty days – a full season of special attention to prayer, fasting and almsgiving. And Easter comes, and then what? One of my
- [Making a Holy Lent](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/making-a-holy-lent/) - How do we make a holy Lent? Some of the saints teach that when we pray, we need to add fasting and almsgiving to our prayer. Think of prayer as the soil of our soul's garden. If something is going to grow in the garden, it also needs rain. And even with rain, it still
- [Epiphany and Witnessing to Christ Jesus](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/epiphany-and-witnessing-to-christ-jesus/) - The Church has just celebrated the feast of the Epiphany, the manifestation of the Christ Child to the Magi, the wise men from the East. This holy feast reminds us that Our Lord Jesus Christ came to earth, not to save one nation or for one period of time, but to save all peoples of
- [Christ is King!](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/christ-is-king/) - Jesus Christ is the King of the Universe! Is He the King of our hearts, our lives, our families, our relationships? Have we blocked out His kingly rule by the abuse of freedom, which is sin? Advent is an excellent time to reconnect with our Lord and Savior, to make a good confession, to "get
- [Longing for Heaven](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/longing-for-heaven/) - St. Augustine of Hippo (one of the patrons of the Confraternity) says in one of his works: "I implore you to love with me and, by believing, to run with me; let us long for our heavenly country, let us sigh for our heavenly home, let us truly feel that here we are strangers." As
- [Quotes on Prayer](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/quotes-on-prayer/) - "Prayer is a mighty weapon, an unfailing treasure, a wealth which is never expended, a harbor that is always calm." -- St. John Chrysostom "Let us not grow tired of prayer; confidence works miracles." -- St. Therese of Lisieux Praying at Mass: "Behold, then, the most proper method of assisting with fruit at holy Mass.
- [Retreats and Silence](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/retreats-and-silence/) - For those who might be interested, I was interviewed on Relevant Radio on Tuesday, October 29th on the subject of retreats and parish missions -- why is it important for all of us to try to make a retreat or attend a parish mission from time-to-time. Here is a link to that interview: http://relevantradio.streamguys.us/IL%20Archive/IL20131029.mp3 And
- [Blessed are the Poor in Spirit](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/blessed-are-the-poor-in-spirit/) - “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” What does it mean to be poor in spirit? Our Lord is not speaking of those who suffer material poverty, but of those who are humble in heart and soul. And it isn't enough that we are humble – St. John Chrysostom
- [Prayer, Virtue and Perseverance](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/prayer-virtue-and-perseverance/) - “Ask, and you will receive, seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened to you.” “We should consider most seriously and attentively what these words of the Lord may mean for us, for they warn that not the idle and feckless but those who ask, seek, and knock will receive, find,
- [In the Image of God](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/in-the-image-of-god/) - Scripture tells us that Our Lord Jesus Christ is “the image of the invisible God,” and that each of us is created in the image and likeness of God. So we can see our soul as an image of Christ, who is the Image, or Word, the perfect expression of the Father. The early Christian
- [Importance of the daily examination of conscience](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/importance-of-the-daily-examination-of-conscience/) - In the “Office of Readings” of the Liturgy of the Hours, there are a couple readings from an obscure Greek abbot by the name of St. Dorotheus. He was the founding abbot of a monastery dedicated to the Holy Trinity, who lived in the 11th century. I would like to share a couple thoughts from
- [St. Joseph's Day](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/st-josephs-day/) - Today, the Church celebrates the Solemnity of St. Joseph, and the installation of Pope Francis as the 266th Bishop of Rome. Happy Feast Day to all of us! St. Joseph is the Patron of the Universal Church, the Husband and Protector of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the Patron Saint of a happy death (since
- [A Blessed Christmas to all of you!](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/a-blessed-christmas-to-all-of-you/) - Dear Brothers and Sisters in Our Merciful Lord Jesus: I would like to wish each and every one of you a most holy and blessed Christmas. May the Infant Christ fill your hearts and souls with His Peace and His Joy. St. Bernard of Clairvaux has a homily [in the Liturgy of the Hours for
- [Viva Christo Rey!](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/viva-christo-rey/) - "Viva Christo Rey!" -- "Long Live Christ the King!" That was the cry of Blessed Miguel Pro and so many of our Catholic brothers and sisters in Mexico and in Spain during the persecutions of the Church in those countries in the 1920s and 1930s. After the recent elections in the United States, many of
- [Importance of "Lectio Divina"](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/importance-of-lectio-divina/) - I have visited some Catholic schools recently, and one of the major themes that I have been talking about with the children is the importance of "Lectio Divina," or "Divine Reading." It is a an ancient, and yet still very valuable, form of Christian meditation. At its essence, Lectio is a slow, prayerful reading of
- [Fathers of Mercy recommended homilies](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/fathers-of-mercy-recommended-homilies/) - I am getting ready for our community's annual 5-day silent retreat, but I wanted to recommend to all of you two of the latest homilies that we have posted on our website. One is my homily from this past Sunday, and relates to keeping our focus firmly on Christ; the other is by Fr. George
- [Feast of St. Maria Goretti](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/feast-of-st-maria-goretti/) - Brothers and Sisters in Christ: Today, the Church celebrates the feast day of St. Maria Goretti, a young girl who gave her life for Christ when she was only twelve years old. Was she ordered to deny Christ? No. Was she commanded by persecutors to spit upon a cross (as often happened in other times,
- [Power of the Blood of Jesus over the Devil](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/power-of-the-blood-of-jesus-over-the-devil/) - I am begging you, since it is so delightful, never let any trouble or temptation the devil might give you make you look back; never let your soul give in to sadness or discouragement, for the devil would like nothing better. He likes to give us lots of annoyances and different sorts of struggles, and
- [Let us purify our hearts](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/let-us-purify-our-hearts/) - Let us purify ourselves, brethren, through the martyrs; or rather, through him through whom they too were purified in blood and truth. Let us free ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit. Let us wash; let us become clean; you, let us present our very bodies and souls as a living sacrifice, holy and
- [Rachel's Vineyard Aftercare retreat in May](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/rachels-vineyard-aftercare-retreat-in-may/) - I will be giving a Rachel's Vineyard Aftercare retreat in the Diocese of Madison, Wisconsin from May 18-20 -- if you are interested, you can contact me for more information. I will be giving my retreat series called "Victory over the Culture of Death," which was developed to introduce the Confraternity and the call to
- [The Gift of Fear of Offending God](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/the-gift-of-fear-of-offending-god/) - Fear is a fundamental gift because it roots us in the truth about God and divine things. These things are terrible: the ways of God, the justice of God, the mercy of God, the silence of God, the holiness of God. They are beyond us, above us. A child has no fear amid terrifying and
- [Create a Clean Heart in Me, O God!](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/create-a-clean-heart-in-me-o-god/) - With voices in harmony and hearts in concord we have begged the Lord for our own hearts by saying, Create a clean heart in me, O God, and renew an upright spirit in me (Psalm 51:12)... It's a psalm of someone repenting, someone wishing to retrieve the hope he had lost, lying where he had
- [A great conference in California](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/a-great-conference-in-california/) - I had a wonderful opportunity to speak at a Divine Mercy Conference in San Ramon, California last weekend, and had the great blessing of "tag-teaming" with one of our Confraternity members! Theresa Bonapartis, the founder of Lumina in New York (which runs the "Entering Canaan" retreats for post-abortion healing) was one of my fellow speakers.
- [Forgiveness & the Cross](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/forgiveness-the-cross/) - “Forgiveness does not mean that God says to me: Your evil deed shall be undone. It was done and remains done. Nor does it mean that he says: It was not so bad. It was bad – I know it and God knows it. And again it does not mean that God is willing to
- [Joy and Happiness in Jesus](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/joy-and-happiness-in-jesus/) - “O the happiness of the heavenly alleluia, sung in security, in fear of no adversity! We shall have no enemies in heaven, we shall never lose a friend. God's praises are sung both there and here, but here they are sung in anxiety, there, in security; here they are sung by those destined to die,
- [The Presence of God](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/the-presence-of-god/) - “Always begin all your prayers with an act of the presence of God because, sometimes, for want of doing so, an action will cease to be pleasing to him. Just consider … that although we do not yet see God, faith teaches us that his holy presence is everywhere, and this is one of the
- [May the Lord make you holy](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/may-the-lord-make-you-holy/) - “May God make you holy,... becoming ever more your companion, your living light, and a guide that you may always hear and follow. Let us go wherever he leads us: in darkness or light, to the splendor of Tabor or the foot of the cross. It makes no difference as long as he is with
- [Making a Holy Advent](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/making-a-holy-advent/) - “Beloved, now is the acceptable time spoken of by the Spirit, the day of salvation, peace and reconciliation: the great season of Advent. This is the time eagerly awaited by the patriarchs and prophets, the time that holy Simeon rejoiced at last to see. This is the season that the Church has always celebrated with
- [Struggling against temptations](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/struggling-against-temptations/) - “If we have frequently the misfortune to be caught in the snares of the devil, we must look for the cause of this misfortune in the fact that we rely too much on our own principles and ideas, and too little on our dear Lord. This is only too true. So long as nothing goes
- [God alone suffices](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/god-alone-suffices/) - "Let nothing disturb you; let nothing frighten you, all things pass away. God never changes. Patience obtains all things. He who has God, finds he lacks nothing. God alone suffices." - St. Teresa of Avila
- [New Prayer Partner Community](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/new-prayer-partner-community/) - Great News! The Sisters Servants of the Eternal Word, a religious community of Franciscan Sisters which runs the "Casa Maria" retreat house in Birmingham, Alabama, has decided to join the Confraternity as one of our "Special Prayer Partner" communities. They will be including us in their prayers and good works every day. Please pray for
- [Pray for our retreat this weekend!](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/pray-for-our-retreat-this-weekend/) - Please pray for the spiritual success of our Confraternity retreat this weekend, October 21-23, 2011 at the Sisters Servants of the Eternal Word in Birmingham, Alabama. We have seven ladies signed up for the retreat. May it be spiritually nourishing and fruitful for all of them!
- [Closeness to God in Adoration](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/closeness-to-god-in-adoration-2/) - “You dwell, my Lord Jesus, in the Holy Eucharist. You are here, within a few feet of me, in the tabernacle... How close you are, my God, my Savior, my Jesus... Saint Mary Magdalene was no nearer to you when she sat at your feet in Bethany than I am at the foot of the
- [Holy Communion](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/holy-communion/) - “Being for every man the touchstone of faith and love, the Eucharist, like the cross, divided minds as soon as it was announced... When the renegades had withdrawn, Jesus was left alone with the twelve apostles. Then he asked them this question, and it seems that our ears can still hear his supplicating tone: “Do
- [Confraternity Retreat in Birmingham, Alabama in October](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/confraternity-retreat-in-birmingham-alabama-in-october/) - The Confraternity of Our Lady of Mercy will be holding a retreat ["Rachel's Vineyard Aftercare Retreat,"] introducing the call to holiness and the spirituality of the Confraternity of Our Lady of Mercy on the weekend of October 21-23, 2011. This retreat will be held at the Casa Maria Convent and Retreat House of the Sisters
- [Our Personal Mission from God](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/our-personal-mission-from-god/) - “God has created me to do him some definite service; he has committed some work to me which he has not committed to another. I have my mission – I never may know it in this life, but I shall be told it in the next. Somehow I am necessary for his purposes, as necessary
- [Persevere in Prayer](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/persevere-in-prayer/) - “God sees everything; we know this in a very abstract way, but we must discover it on the practical level. Prayer opens us up to this discovery by revealing to us the marvelous transforming power of poverty, which passes from mere lack to dependence on the person we love. The fact that God knows our
- [Rescued:  From Debauchery to Redemption](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/rescued-from-debauchery-to-redemption/) - It is hard for me to believe that I lived a double life for 15 years. The dreadful and dangerous places I used to frequent, and the shameful activities that I habitually engaged in, are images of my former life that I find difficult to acknowledge. But, part of my conversion has been the call
- [Finding True Peace](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/finding-true-peace/) - “Devote yourself earnestly to meditating on the passion and death of our Lord, adoring his precious blood and his sacred wounds. By this shall one endeavor to arouse his love, and herein shall his inner life be made manifest to him; for as a great heap of coals or wood blazes up into a great
- [The Value of Frequent Holy Communion](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/the-value-of-frequent-holy-communion/) - “As the Body of Jesus Christ is a food, and a food intended to increase our spiritual strength, we have only to see in what spiritual strength consists to be able to judge of the good effect of our Communions. It is evident that all our spiritual strength ought to be employed against ourselves, against
- [St. Pio on Adoration](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/st-pio-on-adoration/) - "A thousand years of enjoying human glory is not worth even an hour spent sweetly communing with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament." - St. Padre Pio
- [Retreats in Canada a great success!](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/retreats-in-canada-a-great-success/) - On May 12th, I flew from New York (where I had given a series of classes for the Dominican Nuns of Corpus Christi Monastery in the Bronx) to Kelowna, British Columbia. Kelowna is a beautiful city located on the banks of Okanagan Lake in the southern part of the province. I was met at the
- [Closeness to God in Adoration](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/closeness-to-god-in-adoration/) - “You dwell, my Lord Jesus, in the Holy Eucharist. You are here, within a few feet of me, in the tabernacle... How close you are, my God, my Savior, my Jesus... Saint Mary Magdalene was no nearer to you when she sat at your feet in Bethany than I am at the foot of the
- [Bishop Ricken joins our Advisory Board!](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/bishop-ricken-joins-our-advisory-board/) - Bishop David Ricken, of the Diocese of Green Bay, Wisconsin, has joined the Bishop's Advisory Board of the Confraternity of Our Lady of Mercy. Bishop Ricken has been a friend of the Fathers of Mercy since he gave our annual retreat in 2004. He has just recently given the Church's approval to the first and
- [Prayer request:  A Work of Mercy](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/prayer-request-a-work-of-mercy/) - The author of the message below, Kathleen, is an alumna of Thomas Aquinas College in Santa Paula, California. This request for prayers was passed on to us by one of our members, Eileen Craig. I would highly recommend that members of our Confraternity join in this prayer intention, because this lady shows all of us
- [Jesus' Promise for Divine Mercy Sunday](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/jesus-promise-for-divine-mercy-sunday/) - "... My daughter, tell the whole world about My inconceivable mercy. I desire that the Feast of Mercy be a refuge and shelter for all souls, and especially for poor sinners. On that day the very depths of My tender mercy are open. I pour out a whole ocean of graces upon those souls who
- [A Blessed Divine Mercy Sunday!](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/a-blessed-divine-mercy-sunday/) - Dear Friends in Christ, I would like to wish all of you a most holy and blessed Divine Mercy Sunday! It is a great day for praying for God's Infinite Mercy to be poured out on people who are separated from the Lord by their sins, and for receiving God's Mercy for healing and purification
- [Upcoming Confraternity retreats](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/upcoming-confraternity-retreats/) - Brothers and Sisters in Christ: Please keep your prayers two upcoming retreats that I will be giving in Canada this coming May. Rachel's Vineyard in Kelowna, British Columbia and in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan have both scheduled follow-up retreats for their past retreatants in which I will be introducing them to the spirituality of our Confraternity of
- [St. John Chrysostom on Prayer](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/st-john-chrysostom-on-prayer/) - Prayer and converse with God is a supreme good: it is a partnership and union with God. As the eyes of the body are enlightened when they see light, so our spirit, when it is intent on God, is illumined by his infinite light. I do not mean the prayer of outward observance but prayer
- [Elizabeth Leseur:  Her Lenten resolution](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/elizabeth-leseur-her-lenten-resolution/) - In asking God this Lent for a spirit of retreat, I resolved to pray, suffer, and act in union with God's will, for God's glory alone. May his will be done in me, for me, in my whole life, and by me in regard to my neighbor and many others. To live spiritually hidden; to
- [St. Faustina:  Desire to love God perfectly](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/st-faustina-desire-to-love-god-perfectly/) - I want to love You as no human soul has ever loved You before; and although I am utterly miserable and small, I have, nevertheless, cast the anchor of my trust deep down into the abyss of Your mercy, O my God and Creator! In spite of my great misery I fear nothing, but hope
- [St. Thomas on Humility](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/st-thomas-on-humility/) - "If you seek an example of humility, look on the Crucified. Although He was God, He chose to be judged by Pontius Pilate and to suffer death.... The Master chose to die for His servant; the Life of the Angels suffered death for man." St. Teresa of Avila famously said that the three most important
- [Random reflections on a recent retreat](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/random-reflections-on-a-recent-retreat/) - About a week ago, I was privileged to work another Rachel's Vineyard retreat for healing the wounds of abortion. This was my sixth RV retreat, and the fifth in which I served as the team priest. What a privilege it is to witness again the healing power of God's grace and mercy! Whenever we start
- [Sanctity, the Only Real Power](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/sanctity-the-only-real-power/) - From Abbot Anscar Vonier, O.S.B. (died 1906): It is a certain truth that if God in his providence exterminated every evil deed at once, killed every evil-doer, the final sum of goodness would be less. We have our Lord's own words for it; there would be diminution. Goodness itself, sanctity itself, is fostered by the
- [St. Bernard: In the Wounds of Our Savior](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/st-bernard-in-the-wounds-of-our-savior/) - Where can the weak find a place of firm security and peace, except in the wounds of the Savior? Indeed, the more secure is my place there the more he can do to help me. The world rages, the flesh is heavy, and the devil lays his snares, but I do not fall, for my
- [He Will Glorify Our Wounds](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/he-will-glorify-our-wounds/) - When I arrived at St. Joseph’s Monastery, I felt immediately at ease. I met several women at once, all of whom seemed to be beautifully healed. Their hearts were supple and open. They had a wonderful connection with each other and accepted me readily. There seemed to be no time lost in loving each other
- [His Mercy Endures Forever](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/his-mercy-endures-forever/) - It is good to be able to tell the story of Jesus Christ and His Loving Mercy toward me, because He rescued me from total self destruction. This really is the story of His saving Love and Mercy, the power of intercessory prayer, and the Hope there is for everyone in Christ. I am assured
- [Power of Humility and Love](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/power-of-humility-and-love/) - This parable is from the German Dominican priest, Fr. John Tauler (died in 1361 A.D.): "Going to the church door, the Master met a beggar there. He was in a miserable plight, his feet covered with mud and all his tattered clothes not worth three pennies. The Master said: 'Good day, my friend.' The beggar:
- [Our Lady of Guadalupe](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/our-lady-of-guadalupe/) - On December 12th, the Church celebrates the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, patroness of the Americas. Why would the appearance of the Blessed Virgin Mary to a poor Indian man in Mexico all the way back in 1531 A.D. be so important that she has been declared the patroness of the Americas? When the
- [Communion of Saints and the Call to Holiness](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/communion-of-saints-and-the-call-to-holiness/) - "Christians believe that a mysterious, spiritual solidarity exists among themselves and all other children of the same God. We call this solidarity the communion of saints; the efforts, merits, and sufferings of each individual benefit the rest. A similar law exists in the natural order, and if we think about it a little, we shall
- [Reflection from Elisabeth Leseur](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/reflection-from-elisabeth-leseur/) - "[L]et us realize that all collective reform must first be individual reform. Let us work at transforming ourselves and our lives. Let us influence those around us, not by useless preaching, but by the irresistible power of our spirituality and the example of our lives. Let us give ourselves generously and try to strengthen our
- [Confraternity retreat in Kentucky a success!](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/confraternity-retreat-in-kentucky-a-success/) - On the weekend of September 17-19, the Confraternity held its first ever retreat at the Passionist Monastery in Whitesville, Kentucky. Ten ladies made the retreat, and eight of them were veterans of Rachel's Vineyard retreats for healing after abortion. The theme of the retreat was "Holiness: The Answer to Abortion." Fr. Ben Cameron gave five
- [The devout life takes time...](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/the-devout-life-takes-time/) - I was encouraged to read this excerpt from St. Francis de Sales...there is hope! The soul which rises from out of sin to a devout life has been compared to the dawn, which does not banish darkness suddenly, but by degrees. The slow cure is always the surest, and spiritual maladies, like those of the
- [St. Faustina: Necessity of Prayer](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/st-faustina-necessity-of-prayer/) - St. Faustina, the Apostle of Divine Mercy, says in her Diary (#146): "Prayer -- A soul arms itself by prayer for all kinds of combat. In whatever state the soul may be, it ought to pray. A soul which is pure and beautiful must pray, or else it will lose its beauty; a soul which
- [Why a "Morning Offering"?](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/why-a-morning-offering/) - What is a "morning offering," and why should we all make one? Everything that we are and have is a gift from Almighty God, and it is fitting that we should offer ourselves, our thoughts, words, actions, prayers, sufferings -- in short, everything that we are and everything that we have, back to the God
- [Upcoming Confraternity retreat!](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/upcoming-confraternity-retreat/) - Inaugural Retreat for the The Confraternity of Our Lady of Mercy The Confraternity of Our Lady of Mercy is a new organization that is a spiritual union for Catholic women and men who are post-abortive and have turned to the Lord Jesus for forgiveness and healing. It is an excellent way to follow-up spiritually on

## Pages

- [Welcome](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/) - Women and Men Seeking Holiness as the Answer to Abortion What is the Confraternity of Our Lady of Mercy? The purpose of the Confraternity of Our Lady of Mercy is to help women and men who have been wounded (spiritually and emotionally) by abortion to embrace their call to holiness of life. The Confraternity will serve as a spiritual union of men and women who
- [Special Prayer Partners](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/membership/special-prayer-partners/) - Special Prayer Partners of the Confraternity of Our Lady of Mercy: Monasteries of Monks and Nuns are welcome to join the Confraternity (see "Membership," #5), and they serve as our Special Prayer Partners. The prayers of contemplative religious (who dedicate their entire lives to prayer, contemplation of God, and penance) are especially powerful. We, in
- [Directors](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/membership/directors/) - Spiritual Directors: Fr. Ben Cameron, C.P.M. Mission Preacher, Fathers of Mercy; Site Leader: Rachel's Vineyard, Bowling Green, KY Fr. Jim Costigan, C.P.M. Mission Preacher, Fathers of Mercy; Team Priest: Rachel's Vineyard, Bowling Green, KY Lay Directors: Mary Crone Rachel's Vineyard, Memphis, TN Debbie Ward Rachel's Vineyard, Bowling Green/Owensboro, KY Cindy Vincent Rachel's Vineyard, Bowling Green/Owensboro,
- [Prayer Requests](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/prayer-requests/) - From Ellen: Please, pray for my sister-in-law, Susan. A few weeks ago she was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer. We (my family and many, many friends) are praying for a miracle for her. As in all things, God's Will be done. At this time, Susan is very weak, and seems to be getting worse. However,
- [Membership](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/membership/) - Full membership in the Confraternity is open to all Catholics who are capable of living the sacramental life of the Church (i.e., not living in an invalid marriage or other irregular state which would prevent them from fulfilling the obligations of Confraternity membership), and who meet one of the following qualifications: The candidate is post-abortive:
- [Seeking Holiness](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/plan-of-life-for-seeking-holiness/) - Members of the Confraternity of Our Lady of Mercy pledge to seek holiness through the following spiritual exercises (which do not oblige under pain of sin): Daily: They will wear one of the following as a reminder of the spiritual motherhood of the Blessed Virgin Mary: the Brown Scapular of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel,
- [Contact](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/contact/) - For Membership or Retreat info, write to: Confraternity of Our Lady of Mercy c/o Fr. Ben Cameron, CPM 806 Shaker Museum Rd. Auburn, KY 42206 OR to email us:
- [Devotion to Mary](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/prayer/devotion-to-mary/) - Members of the Confraternity of Our Lady of Mercy strive to have a true devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God and our spiritual mother. It is through Mary that Jesus came to us in His Incarnation, and it is through Mary that Jesus continues to come to us in the life of
- [Brief Quotes from Saints](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/resources/brief-quotes-from-saints/) - "Let your heart ever belong to God through purity of intention, attachment to his love, and confidence in his divine mercy. Direct frequent aspirations of love toward this good Master... You must reach the point where Jesus is sufficient to you." -- St. Peter Julian Eymard "It is most becoming that, when the Mass is
- [Frequent Confession](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/sacraments/frequent-confession/) - One of the greatest practices that can help us to grow in holiness is the habit of going to the Sacrament of Confession [Reconciliation] on a regular and frequent basis. Many Saints and Popes of the Church have recommended frequent confession: Pope Pius XII: “For a constant and speedy advancement in the path of virtue
- [Examination of Conscience](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/prayer/examination-of-conscience/) - Nightly Examination of Conscience and Act of Contrition When I examine my conscience, I look over my behavior – especially my most recent behavior, especially my habitual behavior – and, asking the help of the Holy Spirit, I judge where I have sinned. I look at myself through the lens of God’s Law – this
- [Chaplet of Divine Mercy](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/prayer/chaplet-of-divine-mercy/) - There is no sin Jesus cannot forgive. (It’s true that Our Lord said blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven [Mk 3:28ff.]. The consensus of interpreters within the Church seems to be that by blasphemy against the Holy Spirit Jesus means final impenitence – refusing to ask for forgiveness, refusing to accept it,
- [Eucharistic Adoration](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/sacraments/eucharistic-adoration/) - What is a holy hour? It’s a little quiet time of love, adoration, and intimate communing with Jesus. Sometimes it means 60 minutes spent with Him in church, with incense, bells, hymns, some quiet time for prayer and meditation, maybe some preaching, maybe some communal vocal prayer, all culminating in Benediction wherein Jesus, held by
- [Holy Mass](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/sacraments/holy-mass/) - At Least One Weekday Mass Too many Catholics think they are doing just fine if the whole of their religious observance is making it to Mass on Sunday. And for some of them that means little more than being a warm body taking up space in a building. This is the attitude of a pew
- [Recommended Books](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/resources/recommended-books/) - On the Spiritual Life: St. Francis de Sales, Introduction to the Devout Life St. Francis de Sales, The Art of Loving God [Sophia Institute Press] St. Robert Bellarmine, The Art of Dying Well [It may sound morbid, but it's a great book about living a holy life so that we are ready to go straight
- [The Holy Rosary](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/prayer/the-holy-rosary/) - One of the most powerful and popular devotions in the Catholic Faith is the Holy Rosary. What is the rosary? It is a form of prayer which combines both vocal prayer (prayers that we say, whether aloud or mentally) and mental prayer (meditation upon the mysteries of our Faith). The rosary dates back to the
- [Our Lady of Mercy](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/patron-saints-2/patron-saints/) - Our Lady of Mercy The first and greatest patron saint for the Confraternity is our Blessed Mother Mary under the title of “Our Lady of Mercy.” This title of Our Lady goes back well into the Middle Ages, when the Mercedarian Order invoked her under this title. Why invoke Our Lady under the title of
- [Patron Saints](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/patron-saints-2/) - Why Saints? Saints are the holy ones, the friends of God who are already with Him in heaven. As Christians who profess the Apostles' Creed, we say that we believe in “the communion of saints.” But what does this mean? It means that we are united to all those who are in Christ Jesus –
- [Horror of Sin & the Mercy of God](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/resources/articles-from-other-websites/horror-of-sin-the-example-of-st-margaret-of-cortona/) - THE HORROR OF SIN... ...AND THE MERCY OF GOD There Is Hope for All © 2001 Rev. T. G. Morrow - With Ecclesiastical Permission [Reprinted with permission of www.cfalive.org] Today there is an unfortunate combination of two extremes: a blasé attitude toward sin, and a certain despair of forgiveness. Both are radically wrong. THE HORROR
- [Articles from other websites](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/resources/articles-from-other-websites/) - Articles from other websites which touch upon our Spirituality [see drop-down menu off of this page]
- [Resources](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/resources/) - Recommended Books: On the Spiritual Life: St. Francis de Sales, Introduction to the Devout Life St. Francis de Sales, The Art of Loving God [Sophia Institute Press] St. Robert Bellarmine, The Art of Dying Well [It may sound morbid, but it's a great book about living a holy life so that we are ready to
- [St. Augustine](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/patron-saints-2/st-augustine/) - St. Augustine was born in Tagaste, North Africa in the year 354 A.D. His mother, St. Monica, was a recovering alcoholic and a devout Christian; his father, Patricius, was a pagan. In his youth, Augustine got involved in a rough and immoral crowd, and before long, he was caught up in sexual sins. When he
- [Mercy](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/mercy/) - Members of the Confraternity of Our Lady of Mercy recognize our debt to Divine Mercy -- that each of us has received tremendous unspeakable Mercy from Jesus Christ, who is Mercy Incarnate. He has forgiven the sin of abortion, and all the other sins that we have entrusted to Him when we made our confession.
- [Annual Retreat](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/prayer/annual-retreat/) - It is so easy to get caught up in all the struggles of every day life, and to lose our focus on Christ. One of the answers to this is the practice of an annual retreat. A retreat (preferably with a good amount of silent time – we have far too much noise in our
- [Lectio Divina](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/prayer/lectio-divina/) - An ancient practice of the Church, which is still practiced by many religious communities, is that of Lectio Divina (“Divine Reading”). This is the practice of prayerfully reading and meditating upon Sacred Scripture, particularly on the Gospels. In Lectio, we seek to enter more deeply into the mysteries of the life, death and resurrection of
- [Morning Offering](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/prayer/morning-offering/) - What is a "morning offering," and why should we all make one? Everything that we are and have is a gift from Almighty God, and it is fitting that we should offer ourselves, our thoughts, words, actions, prayers, sufferings -- in short, everything that we are and everything that we have, back to the God
- [Prayer](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/prayer/) - Prayer is essential to the Christian life. St. Teresa of Avila once said: "He who prays much has a great chance of going to heaven. He who prays a little has a little chance of going to heaven. He who does not pray has no chance of going to heaven." So we must pray, and
- [Sacraments](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/sacraments/) - Some of the most powerful encounters that we can have with Jesus Christ (and the Father and Holy Spirit) are when we meet Him in the Sacraments of the Church. There are two sacraments in particular, which are "Founts of Mercy" in which we can regularly receive God's Mercy, Healing, strength, and grace for growth
- [St. Margaret of Cortona](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/patron-saints-2/st-margaret-of-cortona/) - Please see article "Horror of Sin & the Mercy of God" under the Resources section of this website. Thank you!

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- [Conversion](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/tag/conversion/)
- [Murillo](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/tag/murillo/)
- [St. Matthew](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/tag/st-matthew/)
- [Rosary](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/tag/rosary/)
- [Church Militant](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/tag/church-militant/)
- [Meditation](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/tag/meditation/)
- [Christ the King](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/tag/christ-the-king/)
- [Viva Christo Rey](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/tag/viva-christo-rey/)
- [Kingship](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/tag/kingship/)
- [Aquinas](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/tag/aquinas/)
- [Peter Kreeft](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/tag/peter-kreeft/)
- [Spirituality](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/tag/spirituality/)
- [Lent](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/tag/lent/)
- [Almsgiving](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/tag/almsgiving/)
- [Grace](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/tag/grace/)
- [Trinity](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/tag/trinity/)
- [Queen of Heaven](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/tag/queen-of-heaven/)
- [Grief](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/tag/grief/)
- [Loss of a parent](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/tag/loss-of-a-parent/)
- [Sorrow](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/tag/sorrow/)
- [right to life](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/tag/right-to-life/)
- [pro-life](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/tag/pro-life/)
- [March for Life](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/tag/march-for-life/)
- [Mercy of Christ](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/tag/mercy-of-christ/)
- [Post-abortion healing](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/tag/post-abortion-healing/)
- [Eucharist](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/tag/eucharist/)
- [Todah](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/tag/todah/)
- [Bread of the Presence](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/tag/bread-of-the-presence/)
- [Corpus Christi](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/tag/corpus-christi/)
- [Eucharistic Revival](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/tag/eucharistic-revival/)
- [spiritual warfare](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/tag/spiritual-warfare/)
- [Demons](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/tag/demons/)
- [Angels](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/tag/angels/)
- [Poor Souls](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/tag/poor-souls/)
- [Roe v Wade](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/tag/roe-v-wade/)
- [abortion trauma](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/tag/abortion-trauma/)
- [mand and abortion](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/tag/mand-and-abortion/)
- [Precious Blood](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/tag/precious-blood/)
- [healing from sexual abuse](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/tag/healing-from-sexual-abuse/)
- [pornography addiction](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/tag/pornography-addiction/)
- [Vine and branches](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/tag/vine-and-branches/)
- [Matthias](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/tag/matthias/)
- [apostles](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/tag/apostles/)
- [witnesses to Jesus](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/tag/witnesses-to-jesus/)
- [truth](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/tag/truth/)
- [sanctity of life](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/tag/sanctity-of-life/)
- [Holy Spirit](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/tag/holy-spirit/)
- [Pentecost](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/tag/pentecost/)
- [trauma](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/tag/trauma/)
- [gods](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/tag/gods/)
- [Relationships](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/tag/relationships/)
- [hope after abortion](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/tag/hope-after-abortion/)
- [healing after abortion](https://confraternityofourladyofmercy.org/tag/healing-after-abortion/)