NFP Awareness Week (July 20 - 26) Contest

With the draconian HHS mandates still upon us - those relentless efforts to force people to pay for other people's contraceptives and abortifacients - the arrival of the USCCB's annual Natural Family Planning Awareness (NFP) Week (July 20 - July 26, 2014) could not be more timely!  We have a pro life / pro marriage alternative to the death-dealing poisons of the Culture of Death.  Now is a teachable moment - for Catholics and non-Catholics - to learn the great news of Natural Family Planning:

• "The Natural Family Planning Program of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops develops a poster each year with basic supportive materials.  It is the individual dioceses however, that offer a variety of educational formats in the local church to focus attention on Natural Family Planning methods and Church teachings which support their use in marriage. The dates of Natural Family Planning Awareness Week highlight the anniversary of the papal encyclical Humanae Vitae (July 25) which articulates Catholic beliefs about human sexuality, conjugal love and responsible parenthood.  The dates also mark the feast of Saints Joachim and Anne (July 26), the parents of the Blessed Mother" (USCCB web site).

With regard to "individual dioceses", it should be noted that the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and the Diocese of Trenton have web sites dedicated to NFP.  Yet, neither mentions the teachable moment of NFP Awareness Week (With many parish bulletins going online later today, it will be interesting to see if any recall the USCCB's "national education campaign.").  To avoid NFP Awareness Week 2014 being characterized by the words of Alexander Pope, an offer is being presented:

The First to report (faithfulinthe 8th@gmail.com) a Philly/Trenton parish homily this Sunday, which addresses NFP, wins a free NaPro Technology presentation for their parish!

In the face of the lies and false promises of the Culture of Death, Dr. Thomas Hilgers - past member of the Pontifical Council for the Family and current member of the Pontifical Academy for Life - has long stood with Humanae Vitae and demonstrated that fertility awareness can be taught to husbands and wives for postponing or achieving pregnancy.  Tragically, Hilgers explains that women's health care over the past half century has been characterized by a misogynistic tool bag of contraceptives / abortifacients, abortion, and IVF.  Owing to his own complete rejection of  contraceptives / abortifacients, abortion, and IVF, Hilgers was able to develop NaProTechnology with advancements in treatment in such areas as Amenorrhea, Chronic Vaginal Discharges, Endometriosis, Infertility, Menstrual Cramps / Pelvic Pain, Polycystic Ovarian Disease, Postpartum Depression, Premenstrual Syndrome, Prevention of Preterm Birth, Recurrent Miscarriage, Recurrent Ovarian Cysts, and Unusual Bleeding.  A basic familiarity with NaProTechnology should be required of all priests, deacons, and pastoral workers.

 

The Connection with the Feast of St. Anne is So Cool!

In a heartwarming article by a 22 year old, she shared advice received in Confession:

"'I want to appoint two saints to you.'

"I listened.

"'Firstly, St. Joseph. Pray to St. Joseph that he is forming your future husband. Pray that St. Joseph helps to make your future husband a good, strong, God-fearing man.'

"I nodded and smiled at this concept.

"'And secondly, St. Anne. She is Mary’s mother and would have arranged Mary’s marriage. Pray to St. Anne that she helps pair you up with the right man. You know, there’s actually a poem dedicated to St. Anne for this exact purpose. My mother used to pray it often before she met my father. Would you like to know what it is?'

"'Yes.'

"I leaned in closer to more perfectly hear this precious poem.

"The priest continued,

"'Saint Anne, Saint Anne, send me a man.'

"A distinct laugh flew from my mouth. How brief and direct....

"I love the poem this priest shared with me: 'Saint Anne, Saint Anne, send me a man.' It reminds me that God, Saint Anne, all the saints and angels are looking down upon me and praying for me. Pure prayers pouring down. I am not alone like I thought" (Catherine Szeltner, 10/20/13).

NFP Awareness Week has a direct connection to Jesus' grandmom!

 

St. Anne de Beaupre (Quebec Province)