Digital Marian Helper Winter_2016-2017

C 7H?7D > ;BF;H ǙšǙM ?DJ;H (&',#'- ǙšǙcWh_Wd$eh] 13 The world’s a mess. Let’s do a run down: l Christians are being persecuted across the globe, as Pope Francis keeps pointing out and much of the Western world continues to ignore. l Nuclear weapons appear to be quietly (and not so quietly) proliferating, including in nations such as North Korea. l Abortion continues apace across the United States and around the world, symptomatic of the broader culture of death. l Wars and violence continue to displace massive numbers of refugees, driving them to turn to the hospitality of their neighbors in a desperate bid for survival. And that’s just skimming the surface. Why are we facing such troubled times? What does it take to achieve peace in this world? And does God even care? Pope Francis has a decisive answer for us in his 2016 message for the World Day of Peace: “God is not indifferent! God cares about mankind! God does not abandon us!” So what’s going on? The Holy Father explains: “Peace is both God’s gift and a human achieve- ment. As a gift of God, it is entrusted to all men and women, who are called to attain it.” By Chris Sparks “Say the Rosary every day, to bring peace to the world ...” — Our Lady at Fatima, Portugal, May 13, 1917