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DETROIT (ChurchMilitant.com) - Cardinal Raymond Burke is officially endorsing the Novena for Our Nation. Sponsored by the Holy League, the prayer consists of a 54-day Rosary novena to begin August 15, the Feast of the Assumption, and to end on October 7, the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary.

According to the former prefect of the Apostolic Signatura, spiritual advisor to the Holy League,

There is no doubt that our beloved nation is in one of the worst crises which it has ever experienced, a profound moral crisis which generates division on all levels and results in an ever-greater more pervasive violence and killing. For Roman Catholics, who have always been known for their faith-filled patriotism, the first response to this crisis is fervent prayer and, in particular, prayer through the intercession of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary, Mary Immaculate who is also the patroness of our nation.

He cites the Rosary as one of the "most powerful prayers" of the Church, calling to mind the Battle of Lepanto in 1571, where, through the intercession of Our Lady in the Holy Rosary, the Catholic fleet conquered the Saracens in spite of overwhelming odds. His Excellency is asking the faithful to ask the Blessed Virgin Mary "to inspire in her citizens the holiness of life which alone can transform our nation."

According to the website explaining this initiative, "Extraordinary times call for extraordinary action."

We are living in extraordinary times. Presidential executive actions, U.S. congressional and state legislation as well as court rulings at all levels up to the Supreme Court are in conflict with God's laws — especially the disregard for the rights of the unborn, elderly and weak in our society and the attacks on marriage and family values. At the same time society and government are becoming more intolerant towards biblically based religious belief and practice. In conflict with First Amendment constitutional rights, persecution of traditional religious expression has reached unprecedented levels. We are in a Spiritual Battle.

The Holy League takes as its inspiration the original Holy League established by Pope St. Pius V in 1571, which was a call to the Catholic world to unite in prayer through the Rosary to defeat the Turkish army. Today's campaign is a response not to a physical enemy, but rather to the threats of "relativism, secularism, impurity, and confusion regarding Church teaching."

The Holy League reaches out specifically to men, "to call men back to the state of grace and to transforming the culture through prayer (primarily Adoration and Confession) and training in holiness." Learn more about this movement here.

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