Shepherds: The Awakening of the Ents?

Ever since I first heard about the HHS Mandate I have been hoping that our bishops would prove to be like Ents--slow to awaken, maybe, but formidable once they are pushed too far. So far, so good. My husband and I have been saying a prayer every day after our rosary that they will continue to stand firm. We think this might be the right man to intercede for our shepherds.

This is the prayer that we are saying. It was part of a sermon that Bishop Fisher preached in 1508, 27 years before he was executed for treason because he refused to acknowledge Henry VIII as head of the Church in England.

Prayer for Holy Bishops by Saint John Fisher

Lord, according to Thy promise that the Gospel should be preached throughout the whole world, raise up men fit for such work. The Apostles were but soft and yielding clay till they were baked hard by the fire of the Holy Ghost. So, good Lord, do now in like manner with Thy Church militant, change and make the soft and slippery earth into hard stones. Set in the Thy Church strong and mighty pillars that may suffer and endure great labors--watching, poverty, thirst, hunger, cold and heat--which also shall not fear the threatenings of princes, persecution, neither death, but always persuade and think with themselves to suffer with a good will, slanders, shame, and all kinds of torments, for the glory and laud of Thy Holy Name. By this manner, good Lord, the truth of Thy Gospel shall be preached throughout the world. Therefore, merciful Lord, exercise Thy mercy, show it indeed upon Thy Church.