Operation True Cross: Part 1
Volume XXVI, Number 13
August 10, 2022
"The Cross is the School of Love."
Saint Maximilian Kolbe
My Beloved Friends in Christ,
With a bum knee, less than three months shy of my 60th birthday, I walked for hours yesterday. I've been training for weeks to prepare for the next initiative of the Mantle of Mary project.
I need you to carry the True Cross with me in reparation for sins of America. Follow me...
I promised you something big was coming. Something that will change history. Something that has never been attempted or accomplished in any country.
Carrying the Cross—LiterallyOne month from now, starting on September 14th, the Feast of the Triumph of the Holy Cross, these three young men and I are going to attempt to literally carry my precious relic of the actual True Cross from Wisconsin, California, Florida, and Washington DC in four consecutive pilgrimages to the Lourdes Grotto at Notre Dame, Indiana.
That's Xavier Macfarlane, Anthony Mencini, and Patrick Cole.
We are going to walk all 4,500 miles in solemn reparation and prayer, while sleeping in a spartan cargo van with no running water. Two-by-two, four shifts, 30 to 40 miles each day, six days a week. I will personally fast every day.
At the same hour every day, wherever we are on the road, we will livestream the Daily Prayers to Save America.
Please pray that my bum knee holds up. The pilgrimage will begin at the Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help in northern Wisconsin on September 14th, on the Feast of the Triumph of the Cross. It should take us almost two weeks. (I'll send CatholiCity Messages from the road.)
We will be physically carrying the True Cross. You can carry it with us spiritually.
And, as we do on all our annual pilgrimages, we will be carrying your intentions with us on an encrypted flash drive, taking it to every Mass. You can submit them online, safely and freely here:
Here is our tentative schedule for the other three stages of Operation True Cross:
California, Spring 2023Depart Santa Clara, California, from the only National Marian Shrine on the west coast, Our Lady of Peace, on Ash Wednesday, February 22 (2,500 miles altogether and three months of walking in two six-week stages).
Florida, Fall 2023Depart the location of the original Catholic church on American soil at the National Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche in Saint Augustine on September 14th, Feast of the Triumph of the Cross (six weeks of walking and 1,000 miles).
Washington DC, Spring 2024Depart the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington DC during Lent (600 miles).
An Old Man and Young MenFrankly, at my age, despite being in quite fit, I'm just not sure if my trick knee will hold up. So far, so good during training—it's getting stronger.
Mentally, after all this fasting, I'm ready to crawl across the country if it will help convert lost souls, bring your loved ones back to the faith, inspire you to seek true holiness, and win the supernatural battle over America.
However, I will not be leading our team. That responsibility falls upon the strong shoulders of two lifelong best friends, Xavier and Anthony. Xavier is the brains of the operation. Anthony has the iron will. Patrick has the sunny disposition. I'm "the Old Man."
They all happen to be twenty-four years old; they've been training diligently—like it's a special military operation (in the spiritual realm, it is).
WARNING
We do not know if we can actually pull this off. It is a risk, financially and spiritually—probably the biggest I have ever taken in my three decades of leading the Mary Foundation.
And parts of the routes are actually dangerous, although we are preparing to take every prudent precaution. For two millennia, Catholic pilgrimages have been penitential acts of faith; Operation True Cross is no different.
Our reward is victory—the victory promised by Our Lady of Fatima. There is so much blindness and grave sin in our nation. So much suffering and despair. So much financial and political corruption.
A great sacrifice needs to be made.
Jesus made the total sacrifice. Everyone who joins Him on the cross is his best friend. Let's climb Calvary with Christ together. Come with us!
Next time you pray, ask Our Lady how she wants you to "walk" with us spiritually. At the least, pray (or keep praying!) the Daily Prayers to Save America, and take up your own hidden crosses, for America and for our loved ones.
Let me know what you think. Don't be shy. I'll share your replies with the guys.
I'll have the "origin story" for this latest initiative of the Mantle of Mary project in Part 2, plus more ways for you to participate, no matter how old or young, rich or poor. But you already know: keep praying, help us financially, and keep spreading the Daily Prayers to Save America.
Tens of Thousands of UsLet us begin in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit...
Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary,
that never was it known
that anyone who fled to thy protection,
implored thy help,
or sought thy intercession,
was left unaided.
Inspired by this confidence we fly unto thee,
O Virgin of virgins, our Mother.
To thee do we come, before thee we stand,
sinful and sorrowful.
O Mother of the Word Incarnate,
despise not our petitions,
but in thy mercy hear and answer them.
Amen.
And Amen, my friends. Please fast with me one day this week, or deny yourself in some other way, as the Holy Spirit leads you.
Onward to victory!
As for this picture, which was taken today, the calves are willing, but the knee is weak!
With Simon of Cyrene,
Bud Macfarlane Founder
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