Letters

Need for prayer (letter)

Kevin Pitt

Contents - May 2002 - Buy a copy now Editorial: A moral challenge for society - Peter Westmore Liturgy: New edition of the Roman Missal released: vernacular translations to come - Michael Gilchrist News: The Church Around the World Catholicism in Australia: facing the challenges of Western secularism - Archbishop George Pell General absolutions continue in the Toowoomba Diocese - Michael Gilchrist US Jesuits' action against Father Fessio sparks worldwide protests - AD2000 Report US research puts clerical sex-abuse in perspective - Philip Jenkins Gregorian Chant's new lease of life in Brisbane - AD2000 Report 'The Resurrection in the university' - IMCSA National Conference in Sydney - Nicholas Rynne Letters: Hymns (letter) - David Schutz Letters: Farewell Mass for Fr Des Byrne (letter) - Barry O'Brien Letters: Priestly formation (letter) - Cyril Drew Letters: Liturgical abuses (letter) - Name and Address Supplied Letters: Decline of the faith (letter) - Brian Carter Letters: Christian principles (letter) - Errol P. Duke Letters: Transubstantiation (letter) - Fr G.H. Duggan SM Letters: Correct Greek (letter) - Fr J.B. Cotter Letters: Need for prayer (letter) - Kevin Pitt Letters: Harry Potter? (letter) - John F. Doherty Poetry: Two Loves - John Meston Books: Demons and Democrats: 1950s Labor at the Crossroads, by Gavan Duffy - Anthony Cappello (reviewer) Books: The Forty Four: The Martyrs of the English College Rome - Christopher Quinn (reviewer) Books: Beyond Gay, by David Morrison - John S. Webster Books: Pedophiles and Priests: Anatomy of a Contemporary Crisis, by Philip Jenkins - David Ross (reviewer) Books: Prove It! Church, by Amy Welborn - Bill Muehlenberg (reviewer) Books: Father Ian Falconer's Latin Course - Ken Bayliss (reviewer) Books: New Titles from AD Books Reflection: The Ascension: climax of Our Lord's life on earth - Fr Ian Falconer SJ

With the happenings we have seen of 11 September 2001 in America, and the emerging conflicts, together with the worldwide attacks on Christians - some close to Australia - one feels today that our nation must return to God in prayer, and invoke the aid of our Patroness of Australia, Our Lady Help of Christians.

Each day brings the threat of terrorism closer to the world in general. We can no longer live in isolation in Australia, and many observers have warned that things will never again be as they were prior to the destruction on 11 September.

Sixty years ago, Australia could be termed a Christian nation, when people turned to God in times of war and peril, as they did in the 1940s.

Today the atmosphere is totally different, with fewer people (percentage-wise) declaring themselves as Christians. Fornication, abundant drugs, alcoholism, sodomy, plus 100,000 abortions annually, abound in Australia. It is as if people are declaring: "We don't need God".

In hindsight we see the overwhelming odds the Christians faced at the Naval Battle of Lepanto in 1571, and again at the siege of Vienna in 1683, when some 200,000 of the enemy were repulsed. Christians prayed and invoked the aid of the Mother of God, under the title of "Mary Help of Christians".

What we need now is that prayers be recited in every Christian church throughout Australia every Sunday and throughout the week; and also by every school student, in every school, every day across Australia.

We must ask God for the protection of Australia from terrorism and all forms of evil. To this end, Prayer Cards are available from: The Servants of Mary, PO Box 86, Broadway, NSW 2007, tel (02) 9212 1457. Please refer to Prayer Card HOC -l.

A "wake-up call" has been sounded: it is now up to us all.

KEVIN PITT
Railway Estate, Qld

Reprinted from AD2000 Vol 15 No 4 (May 2002), p. 15