This question has been asked a number of times when it comes to voting in November. What do I do? How do I prepare myself for voting? I think it is especially helpful to step back from all things news and focus on forming our conscience, forming our minds and hearts with the Lord. How do we do this? The USCCB website came out with a wonderful bulletin insert called “Civilize It” which gives a precise step-by-step approach to forming our consciences. I encourage you to enter into this approach. (see below)
Our bishops remind us that our “conscience is not something that allows us to justify doing whatever we want, nor is it a mere ‘feeling’ about what we should or should not do. Rather, conscience is the voice of God resounding in the human heart, revealing the truth to us and calling us to do what is good while shunning what is evil.” These steps give us what we need to better listen to the voice of God. Please take a look at the next page and sincerely enter into properly forming your conscience. By being open to the truth found in our scriptures and teachings of the Church; by examining facts; by bringing this to Jesus in prayer and discernment; by seeking advice; by praying for the gifts of the Holy Spirit; by examining your own conscience and celebrating the sacrament of reconciliation, you can be free to vote accordingly.
As always, when making decisions, we do the best we can. Like my previous Pastor, Fr. Bob Stec said, “always forward.” We need to learn from our past and keep making the best decisions as we walk this journey of life.
Also, remember what we celebrate this week on October 7: The Feast of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary! We continue to pray the Rosary on Tuesdays @ 6:00pm in the Church for the healing of our leaders, nation and world. Time and time again, Mary, in her numerous apparitions throughout the world, has invited us all to pray the rosary to help us put things in perspective, to bring peace to our lives, inviting us to slow down, calm down, let go and offer our struggles to God. By praying the rosary, we center our lives on Jesus, who will show us the way through it all primarily because He is the way, the truth and the life!
May God’s peace and joy be with you,
Fr. Jeremy Merzweiler
