Blessed Margaret of Castello
(1287-1320)
Blessed Margaret was born blind, lame,
and stunted in growth due to dwarfism.
Hidden by her family, she was finally
abandoned by them at the age of
seventeen. Margaret became a member of
the Third Order of Saint Dominic, was
known for her prayer, compassion, and
good advice, and has been named Patron
of the Unwanted.
Blessed Herman
(1013-1054)
Blessed Herman was born with a cleft
palate, cerebral palsy, and spina bifida
to a farm couple in Swabia. His parents
were unable to care for him so, at the
age of seven, Herman was given to a
Benedictine Abbey to raise. He became a
Benedictine monk, wrote on numerous
topics, and wrote the famous hymns
Salve Regina and Alma Redemptoris
Mater.
Saint Margaret of Cortona
(1247-1297)
Do not ask me to give in to this body of
mine. I cannot afford it. Between me and
my body there must needs be a struggle
until death.
--St. Margaret of Cortona
Blessed Anna Maria Taigi
(1769-1837)
Laziness is the mother of all
vices.
--Blessed Anna Maria Taigi
Hail, holy Queen, Mother of mercy,
our life, our sweetness, and our hope.
To You do we cry, poor banished children
of Eve. To you do we send up our sighs,
mourning and weeping in this valley of
tears. Turn then, most gracious
Advocate, your eyes of mercy
toward us. And after this our
exile, show unto us the blessed Fruit of
your womb, Jesus. O clement, O
loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.
--Blessed Herman
Mary the Immaculate, Grieving over
an Aborted Baby
by Lee Tidwell (1984)
|
"Repent and believe the Good News!"
Penance means conversion. The Confraternity of
Penitents is a world wide private Catholic
association of the faithful, completely loyal to our
Pope and the Magisterium.
Our Rule of Life has been reviewed by our bishop and
recognized in these words: "this Rule does not
contain anything contrary to our faith; therefore it
may be safely practiced privately by you or by
anyone inclined to do so. . . . His Excellency
is appreciative of your efforts to live and promote
Franciscan spirituality and especially promote the
neglected practice of penance and he wishes you
success" (January 30, 1998).
Members of the Confraternity of Penitents live this
Rule in their own homes, devoted to prayer, penance,
fasting, conversion, and works of mercy modeled on
Jesus Christ and inspired by the lives and teachings
of
St. Francis,
St. Dominic,
St. Therese,
St. Benedict,
St. Augustine,
St. Ignatius,
and all the saints, most especially Mary, the Mother
of God, who lived a life of true penance
(conversion) in perfect union with our Lord.
May Our Lady and all the saints intercede for all
who wish to embrace a life of penance, anywhere in
the world, so that the grace of God will assist them
to obtain every virtue necessary for a life of
holiness and surrender to the Will of God! Amen.
PRAYER OF PENITENTS
"Most High, Glorious God, enlighten the darkness
of my mind, give me right faith, a firm hope,
and perfect charity that I may always and in all
things act according to Your Holy Will. Amen."
(Saint Francis's prayer before the San Daminao
Crucifix)
MISSION OF PENITENTS
"Go and repair My House
which, as you can see, is falling into ruin." (The
message given to St. Francis in a voice from the San
Damiano Crucifix.)
ACTION OF PENITENTS
To pray for God's
specific direction in one's life so that, through
humbly living our Rule of Life, each penitent may
help to rebuild the house of God by bringing love of
God and neighbor to his or her own corner of the
world.
|
POOR
PRENATAL DIAGNOSIS CLERGY BROCHURE
A Poor Prenatal Diagnosis (PPD)
is given when parents are told that their unborn
baby has a severe disability. Since over 800
conditions can be diagnosed in utero, and since
prenatal testing is routine, these conditions
are increasingly being discovered in preborn
children.
Parents who receive a Poor
Prenatal Diagnosis are often discouraged from
continuing the pregnancy while being encouraged
to terminate (that is, abort the baby, although
terms like "induce labor early" or "give birth
early" are generally the terms used to mask what
is actually taking place.)
Clergy, who are approached by
parents dealing with a Poor Prenatal Diagnosis,
need to be prepared in advance to respond with
compassion, love, and support for carrying the
baby to term (that is, continuing the pregnancy
for as long as it normally would last). A
brochure "Poor Prenatal Diagnosis: Pastoral Care
to Support Parents in Carrying to Term" is an
excellent, thorough, yet brief instruction to
the clergy regarding this important and delicate
topic. The brochure was written by Tracy Winsor,
Regional Perinatal Bereavement Coordinator for
Elizabeth Ministries International, and Monica
Rafie, Founder and Director of BeNotAfraid.net
The brochure is copyrighted by Elizabeth
Ministries International.
The Confraternity of
Penitents is committed to helping make this
brochure available free of charge to all members
of the clergy before they are faced with a
couple who is feeling pressure to end their
baby's life. Therefore, a single copy of this brochure
is available free
from the Confraternity of Penitents. Please
enclose a self-addressed, stamped business size
envelope with your request.
Multiple copies are available
in bulk from the Confraternity at 14c per
brochure plus shipping. Please postal mail or
email your request to the address below.
Donations may be made on line with PayPal or a
credit card by clicking on this button:
You are also free to
photocopy and distribute the brochure. Please
help get this brochure into the hands of every
member of the clergy in your area. And may God
reward you for your efforts in promoting the
dignity of all human life.
Confraternity of Penitents
520 Oliphant Lane
Middletown RI USA
02842-4600
401/849-5421
bspenance@hotmail.com
copenitents@yahoo.com
|