We are writing to give you a brief update on the status of things here in Honduras. It has been a challenge and a gift to be invited to be with the people of this beautiful country in a very critical time. The need for the Church to be united in prayer in the world that we currently live in is immense. In times of crisis we come to realize that God continues to ask us to be an active part of the Church-militant; standing in the gap and learning how to be intercessors for the poor, those in turmoil, those needing conversion and the desperate of heart.
Honduras is in crisis. Over the past several days (and years) we have seen a drama unfold that puts the country today at a critical crossroads. The president, Mel Zelaya, who was elected in 2006 has been gradually and deliberately aligning himself and this country with other Socialist nations. In the past year he joined a list of several other nations to include Nicaragua, Bolivia, Venezuela, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Saint Vincent, Granada, Antigua, Barbados, and Ecuador in the Alianza Bolivariana para los Pueblos de Nuestra América (ALBA) whose goals put the country on a course in the direction of a socialist dictatorship and a disregard for defending democratic rule and practices. He preports to be a voice for the poor and marginalized but has spoken for them and the country without comprehensive consensus and support.
With this brief background the events of the past week have taken place. Mel decided to try to push through a referendum vote that would allow for his term as president to be extended. This is directly against the constitution of the Republic and only the Congress can pass a referendum that allows for the possibility of the constitution being changed. He decided in the process to ignore the legal channels and to continue without the support of the Congress and the Supreme Court. Because the military refused to defy the Congress's order and the written constitution and help him distribute the materials for the scheduled vote this past Sunday, he fired the head of the military. It was determined that his actions in firing him were illegal and the Supreme Court issued an order that he be reinstated. Mel refused to reinstate him and went as far as to enter the military base with many of his followers where they had confiscated the voting boxes distributed for the vote to redistribute them. This again took place after the Congress had determined that the vote was illegal.
The Congress and Supreme Court entered an emergency session on Saturday to determine their needed response in the protection of the country and in protection of democracy and the Constitution. They determined that the president's choices were clearly illegal and that it was necessary to remove him from office and have him transported to Costa Rica where they could prevent as much chaos as possible from taking place on the Sunday when the vote was supposedly going to take place. And then the world drama began.
An emergency meeting of the countries represented in the ALBA agreement was immediately organized in Nicaragua. Mel was flown there by Hugo Chavez from Costa Rica. The organization of American States and well as the United Nations also scheduled emergency meetings to take place over the next few days and to decide the position other nations would take on what had taken place in Honduras.
There has been an overwhelming response on the part of the international community in defending a former president who clearly committed illegal acts to move the country of Honduras back in the direction of socialism. There has not been balance in the international communities reporting in addressing directly the clear violations that lead up to the arrest of Zeleya and his transport to Costa Rica. What has proceeded is confusion and uncertainty.
The newly appointed president (not a military officer) but the next in line for the presidency, Michiletti, has been doing what he can to calm the situation and make decisions based on protecting the country as democratic and peaceful. Of note is that Michiletti is from the same political party as Zelaya and a a party they have decided that the goals of Mel's presidency are clearly not there own and have withdrawn their support of him. Mel's return to Honduras on Saturday after the warning given by the international community of restoring him to power in 72 hours puts the people of Honduras (with a clear majority not supporting the return to the presidency of Mel), the Congress and the Supreme Court in a very difficult position.
What can we do? WE NEED TO FAST, PRAY AND MAKE SACRIFICES THAT GOD MIGHT HEAR THE CRIES OF HIS PEOPLE AND MOVE WITH COMPASSION ON THEIR BEHALF! We have been doing almost continual adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in a round-the-clock schedule knowing that Jesus Christ is our peace and can make a way out of no way. The power of the prayers of His faithful in the past has stopped wars, averted disasters, and can calm this storm. We are begging our friends and family members to join us in praying for a demonstration of God's power and a preservation of peace and right in this country. We are part of the same body and really need your help.
We have attached to this blog a novena to Our Lady Help of Christians and are going to start praying it here today. Please join us in praying with the specific intention that peace would reign in this country and that Jesus would be recognized as the One that the people are crying out for and need.
We will try and send you updates on the situation in the country every few days via this blog. Thank you for your willingness to be a part of seeing the body of Christ in Honduras preserved from all evil and free to continue to choose Christ.
May the Lord continue to give you His peace.
Carol Restaine & the Missioners of Christ
NOVENA IN HONOUR OF MARY
HELP OF CHRISTIANS
DAY 1
Faith and the acceptance of the Word of God: Luke 1: 26-38
O Mary, powerful help of those Christians
who approach the throne of your mercy with trust!
Listen to the prayers of your children
who invoke your help to avoid sin and the occasions of sin.
Hail Mary, Glory Be
Almighty and merciful Lord, in a marvelous manner you deigned to make the most holy Virgin Mary a powerful helper in defense of Christians. Grant that, having fought the good fight under her protection during our life, we may be victorious over our infernal enemy at the hour of our death. We make this prayer through Christ our Lord. Amen.
DAY 2
Sincere humility: Luke 1: 48
O Mary most holy, kind and merciful mother,
with your visible help you freed the Christian people
from the ferocious assaults of the Muslims.
Free our souls from the attacks of the devil,
the world, and the flesh,
so that we may always overcome the enemies of our salvation.
Hail Mary, Glory Be
Almighty and merciful Lord, in a marvelous manner you deigned to make the most holy Virgin Mary a powerful helper in defense of Christians. Grant that, having fought the good fight under her protection during our life, we may be victorious over our infernal enemy at the hour of our death. We make this prayer through Christ our Lord. Amen.
DAY 3
Active charity: Luke 1: 36-39
Most powerful Queen of heaven,
you triumphed over heresies
which sought to tear your children away from the Church.
Come to our assistance so that we may remain steadfast in our faith
and may guard the purity of our hearts
in the midst of the many dangers that beset us.
Hail Mary, Glory Be
Almighty and merciful Lord, in a marvelous manner you deigned to make the most holy Virgin Mary a powerful helper in defense of Christians. Grant that, having fought the good fight under her protection during our life, we may be victorious over our infernal enemy at the hour of our death. We make this prayer through Christ our Lord. Amen.
DAY 4
Filial love for God: Luke 2: 21, 22, 40
Mary, our most amiable Mother,
you are the Queen of martyrs
because of the heroic courage and strength you exercised on earth.
Obtain for us the strength we need to be constant in your service
and always to show ourselves your devoted children in life and in death.
Hail Mary, Glory Be
Almighty and merciful Lord, in a marvelous manner you deigned to make the most holy Virgin Mary a powerful helper in defense of Christians. Grant that, having fought the good fight under her protection during our life, we may be victorious over our infernal enemy at the hour of our death. We make this prayer through Christ our Lord. Amen.
DAY 5
Gratitude for our gifts: Luke 1: 46-49
Loving Mother Mary,
you showed your powerful protection in the triumph of Pope Pius VII.
Spread your mantle over the Church;
and protect our Shepherd, the Holy Father,
from the attacks of the enemy,
free him from all attacks,
and assist him always as he steers the bark of St. Peter to safety.
Hail Mary, Glory Be
Almighty and merciful Lord, in a marvelous manner you deigned to make the most holy Virgin Mary a powerful helper in defense of Christians. Grant that, having fought the good fight under her protection during our life, we may be victorious over our infernal enemy at the hour of our death. We make this prayer through Christ our Lord. Amen.
DAY 6
Gratitude shown in the offering at the temple: Luke 2: 22-24
Mary, Queen of the Apostles,
take under your protection all the ministers
and the faithful of the Catholic Church.
Fill them with a burning zeal for the salvation of souls,
and give special assistance to missionaries
so that they may succeed to attract all souls to faith in Jesus Christ
and thus form one flock under the guidance of one Shepherd.
Hail Mary, Glory Be
Almighty and merciful Lord, in a marvelous manner you deigned to make the most holy Virgin Mary a powerful helper in defense of Christians. Grant that, having fought the good fight under her protection during our life, we may be victorious over our infernal enemy at the hour of our death. We make this prayer through Christ our Lord. Amen.
DAY 7
Poverty accepted with dignity and with trust in the Lord: Luke 1: 48; 2: 24
Loving and merciful Mother,
you saved Christians from countless misfortunes.
Free us from the plague of infidelity
which seeks to alienate us from the Church and religious observances
by means of corrupt publications
and schools and irreligious sects.
Grant perseverance to the good,
give strength to the weak,
and move sinners to repentance,
so that truth and the Kingdom of Jesus Christ may triumph in the world.
Hail Mary, Glory Be
Almighty and merciful Lord, in a marvelous manner you deigned to make the most holy Virgin Mary a powerful helper in defense of Christians. Grant that, having fought the good fight under her protection during our life, we may be victorious over our infernal enemy at the hour of our death. We make this prayer through Christ our Lord. Amen.
DAY 8
Prayer in the apostolic community: Acts 1:12-14
Mary, Pillar of the Church and Help of Christians,
we beg to keep us firmly rooted in our faith
and to protect in us our freedom as children of God.
We promise not to stain our souls with sin
and to obey our Holy Father and the Bishops
in communion with him.
We want to live and die in the bosom of the Church
and to attain eternal salvation.
Hail Mary, Glory Be
Almighty and merciful Lord, in a marvelous manner you deigned to make the most holy Virgin Mary a powerful helper in defense of Christians. Grant that, having fought the good fight under her protection during our life, we may be victorious over our infernal enemy at the hour of our death. We make this prayer through Christ our Lord. Amen.
DAY 9
Mary, Mother of Jesus and our Mother: John 19: 25-27
Most loving Mother Mary,
you have always been the Help of Christians.
Help us with your powerful protection in life
and especially at the hour of our death,
so that, after having loved and venerated you on earth,
we may come to proclaim your mercy in heaven.
Hail Mary, Glory Be
