1 Following Jesus in a Culture of Death. 2 Prayer to Saint Michael St. Michael, the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our protection against the wickedness.

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Following Jesus in a Following Jesus in a Culture of DeathCulture of Death

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Prayer to Saint MichaelPrayer to Saint Michael

St. Michael, the Archangel, defend us St. Michael, the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our protection against in battle. Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray, by the power of God, humbly pray, by the power of God, thrust into hell Satan and the other thrust into hell Satan and the other evil spirits who prowl about the world evil spirits who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.

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Ice BreakerIce Breaker

►We need two boys and two girls to We need two boys and two girls to volunteer to help.volunteer to help.

►Your job is to hold up your sign on Your job is to hold up your sign on whether you believe the following whether you believe the following practice is Right or Wrong.practice is Right or Wrong.

►When there is disagreement each side When there is disagreement each side has to explain why they chose as they has to explain why they chose as they did.did.

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The Death PenaltyThe Death Penalty

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AbortionAbortion

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Stealing Bread to Stealing Bread to feed your hungry feed your hungry

familyfamily

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Missing Mass on Missing Mass on Sundays without good Sundays without good

reasonreason

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Lying to your friend so Lying to your friend so that their feelings won’t that their feelings won’t

be hurtbe hurt

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Downloading Downloading Copyrighted music Copyrighted music

without payingwithout paying

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The Culture of DeathThe Culture of Death

►The term “Culture of Death” was made The term “Culture of Death” was made famous by Pope John Paul II.famous by Pope John Paul II.

►There are two major characteristics of There are two major characteristics of the culture of deaththe culture of death

►Ethical RelativismEthical Relativism►Secular HumanismSecular Humanism

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Ethical RelativismEthical Relativism

► This is when culture, society, and the This is when culture, society, and the individual begin to determine for individual begin to determine for themselves what is morally right and wrongthemselves what is morally right and wrong

► ““What is wrong for you can be right for What is wrong for you can be right for me?”me?”

► Or “Who are you to tell me what I can do in Or “Who are you to tell me what I can do in my bedroom? Or with my body?”my bedroom? Or with my body?”

► It is the thought that “I decide what is right It is the thought that “I decide what is right and what is wrong.”and what is wrong.”

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Secular HumanismSecular Humanism

► This is when people place Man not God as the This is when people place Man not God as the center of reality.center of reality.

► We live in a culture that is essentially Atheist in the We live in a culture that is essentially Atheist in the way it operates.way it operates.

► We can see this in our treatment of life.We can see this in our treatment of life.► A baby can be aborted because it is called a part of A baby can be aborted because it is called a part of

the woman’s body and not a gift from God.the woman’s body and not a gift from God.► Youth are exalted and the old are cast away as bad.Youth are exalted and the old are cast away as bad.► This promotes life without pain or consequences.This promotes life without pain or consequences.

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Satan and Our CultureSatan and Our Culture

► We should never forget that in the same way God We should never forget that in the same way God protects us and guides us, that Satan attacks us protects us and guides us, that Satan attacks us and distracts us.and distracts us.

► Satan is keenly aware of our weakness and wants Satan is keenly aware of our weakness and wants to destroy you.to destroy you.

► The same as God has a plan for our salvation, The same as God has a plan for our salvation, Satan has plan for our destruction.Satan has plan for our destruction.

► If you get the chance, read “The Screwtape Letters” If you get the chance, read “The Screwtape Letters” by C.S. Lewis.by C.S. Lewis.

► The effects of Secular Humanism and Ethical The effects of Secular Humanism and Ethical Relativism can be seen by how we treat sex.Relativism can be seen by how we treat sex.

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Satan’s Spectacularly Satan’s Spectacularly Successful Seven Step Sexual Successful Seven Step Sexual

StrategyStrategy►Control the mediaControl the media►Promote the Sexual RevolutionPromote the Sexual Revolution►Undermine fidelity and chastityUndermine fidelity and chastity►Make marriages unstableMake marriages unstable►Make society unstableMake society unstable►Steal souls from God.Steal souls from God.

This is credited to Prof. Peter Kreeft - Boston College

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Satan’s Strategy Report CardSatan’s Strategy Report Card

► The average person is subjected to over 14,000 The average person is subjected to over 14,000 sexual innuendos in the media in a single year.sexual innuendos in the media in a single year.

► The amount of sexually suggestive images on TV The amount of sexually suggestive images on TV and the Internet dwarfs the number of innuendos.and the Internet dwarfs the number of innuendos.

► Many people do not wait until marriage and Many people do not wait until marriage and adultery is laughed at on TV.adultery is laughed at on TV.

► The divorce rate is staggering and romance seems The divorce rate is staggering and romance seems to be lostto be lost

► Many people are choosing pleasure over love and Many people are choosing pleasure over love and are losing their souls to sin.are losing their souls to sin.

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Unpacking the LiesUnpacking the Lies

► Satan is known as the Father of Lies for a reason.Satan is known as the Father of Lies for a reason.► To say that “what is wrong for you can be right for To say that “what is wrong for you can be right for

me” is very dangerous.me” is very dangerous.► More blood has been spilled from this philosophy More blood has been spilled from this philosophy

than every theology combined since the beginning than every theology combined since the beginning of time.of time.

► When we see things taken to the extreme the value When we see things taken to the extreme the value of it is more noticeable.of it is more noticeable.

► What is wrong for an American can be right for a What is wrong for an American can be right for a Nazi? Like murdering millions in the Holocaust.Nazi? Like murdering millions in the Holocaust.

► What is wrong for a democratic country can be What is wrong for a democratic country can be right for Communist Country? Like murdering right for Communist Country? Like murdering millions of peasants.millions of peasants.

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Unpacking the LiesUnpacking the Lies

► In order for there to be Truth, it must be In order for there to be Truth, it must be objective, meaning that it must exist outside objective, meaning that it must exist outside of you.of you.

► If truth were subjective, “how you see it,” If truth were subjective, “how you see it,” the truth is reduced to opinion.the truth is reduced to opinion.

► If then, there are two opinions that disagree If then, there are two opinions that disagree it is not logical that both are true.it is not logical that both are true.

► If I say Jesus is God and you say Jesus is not, If I say Jesus is God and you say Jesus is not, and we both say, “This is true for me.” and we both say, “This is true for me.”

► Can both things really be true?Can both things really be true?

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Unpacking the LiesUnpacking the Lies

► Can Jesus be God and not God at the same Can Jesus be God and not God at the same time?time?

► This doesn’t make sense.This doesn’t make sense.► As we discussed before the truth cannot As we discussed before the truth cannot

contradict itself.contradict itself.► Therefore there can only be one truth no Therefore there can only be one truth no

matter what people’s opinions are about it.matter what people’s opinions are about it.► Therefore truth must be objective.Therefore truth must be objective.► We may wish to believe that if we jump out We may wish to believe that if we jump out

a two story window that we’ll fly, but a two story window that we’ll fly, but objectively you’ll fall and get hurt or worse.objectively you’ll fall and get hurt or worse.

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Catholic Counter StrategyCatholic Counter Strategy

► We must always be ready to give an We must always be ready to give an account for the Hope we have in Christ (1 account for the Hope we have in Christ (1 Peter 3:15)Peter 3:15)

► Have as your attitude love and service, not Have as your attitude love and service, not condemnation or power.condemnation or power.

► Never impose your faith and beliefs on Never impose your faith and beliefs on others, but make your life so attractive that others, but make your life so attractive that others come to ask you about Christ others come to ask you about Christ (Colossians 3:12-14).(Colossians 3:12-14).

► Be rooted in the Faith (Luke 6:47-49).Be rooted in the Faith (Luke 6:47-49).► Be willing to be singled out, but remember Be willing to be singled out, but remember

Christ is always with you (Matthew 28:20)Christ is always with you (Matthew 28:20)

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Catholic Counter StrategyCatholic Counter Strategy

► Do good things for those who persecute you (Romans Do good things for those who persecute you (Romans 12:18-21).12:18-21).

► Research and study more about God’s teaching, don’t Research and study more about God’s teaching, don’t be ignorant of them. It is a choice not to take the time be ignorant of them. It is a choice not to take the time to know the truth so choose to research it (Psalm 1:1-to know the truth so choose to research it (Psalm 1:1-3).3).

► Be holy and spend your time in pray – “Pray always.”Be holy and spend your time in pray – “Pray always.”► Everywhere you go you are an example and witness of Everywhere you go you are an example and witness of

Catholic Life, we should avoid scandalous behavior.Catholic Life, we should avoid scandalous behavior.► We all have a responsibility to spread the word of God.We all have a responsibility to spread the word of God.► The greatest witnesses to the faith have been the The greatest witnesses to the faith have been the

thousands of martyrs who gave their life in love and thousands of martyrs who gave their life in love and defense of the Truth.defense of the Truth.

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The MartyrsThe Martyrs

►Study of the MartyrsStudy of the Martyrs►A Martyr is someone who dies as a A Martyr is someone who dies as a

witness to the faith.witness to the faith.►They show that their devotion to They show that their devotion to

Christ and their unwavering surety Christ and their unwavering surety and hope of His promise of eternal life.and hope of His promise of eternal life.

► It is in this way that the message of It is in this way that the message of eternal life conquers the Culture of eternal life conquers the Culture of Death.Death.

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Small Group ActivitySmall Group ActivityStudying the MartyrsStudying the Martyrs

► Each group has a collection of the lives of the Each group has a collection of the lives of the martyrs.martyrs.

► Each student should take one martyr, read and Each student should take one martyr, read and familiarize themselves with that story.familiarize themselves with that story.

► Then go around the table and share the information Then go around the table and share the information about your martyr.about your martyr.

► If there is time, discuss with your group the If there is time, discuss with your group the following questions:following questions:

► Do you think that when people give their life for the Do you think that when people give their life for the faith that it makes you want to believe more?faith that it makes you want to believe more?

► What does it take for someone to give up their life What does it take for someone to give up their life for God?for God?

► Do you think you’d be able to do it.Do you think you’d be able to do it.

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Anima ChristiAnima ChristiSoul of Christ, sanctify me.Soul of Christ, sanctify me.Body of Christ, save me.Body of Christ, save me.Blood of Christ, inebriate me.Blood of Christ, inebriate me.Water from the side of Christ, wash me.Water from the side of Christ, wash me.Passion of Christ, strengthen me.Passion of Christ, strengthen me.O good Jesus, hear me;O good Jesus, hear me;Within Thy wounds hide me;Within Thy wounds hide me;Suffer me not to be separated from thee;Suffer me not to be separated from thee;From the malignant enemy defend me;From the malignant enemy defend me;In the hour of my death call me,In the hour of my death call me,And bid me come to Thee,And bid me come to Thee,That with Thy Saints, I may praise Thee for ever and That with Thy Saints, I may praise Thee for ever and

ever.ever.Amen.Amen.