Betania II Rises in Massachusetts - Video and Story of Maria Esperanza

 

Betania II Rises in Massachusetts

Modeled after the Venezuela site and visited often by Esperanza,
Betania II Rises in Massachusetts

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(NECN: Karen Swensen, Medway, Mass.) - Earlier this year, the Vatican put a Venezuelan grandmother on the path to sainthood. Her name is Maria Esperanza and it turns out she has a strong Massachusetts connection.

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http://betania2.org/

Posted by Ed Sousa, Sr.   www.ingodscompany2.blogspot.com

Thanks Ed! I pray for Maria's beatification daily! May she intercede for us!

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Plans to eliminate Masses, visits from priests to minister to the ill & bless newborns at county owned and operated Santa Clara Valley Medical Center have been scuttled.

This story reminded me when I worked as a Lieutenant in a private hospital in New York City, we had Mass in a small chapel on Sundays and Holy Days for the doctors, nurses and employees who had to work that day. I assisted the celebrating priest many times as deacon. What was also wonderful, there was a tabernacle in the chapel where Our Lord was always present and Communion could be brought to a dying patient as Viaticuum even in the night! What a blessing for the sick and dying! And this was a secular hospital too!

Deacon John

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“Not just spend money on Catholic rituals”

Compromise reached, plan to end Masses at Santa Clara County’s public hospital cancelled – for now

Plans to eliminate Masses and visits from priests to minister to the ill and bless newborns at county owned and operated Santa Clara Valley Medical Center in San Jose have been scuttled after the parties involved were able to reach a compromise, the San Jose Mercury News reports. 

The county had threatened to eliminate the Masses, which have been offered at the hospital for more than 25 years, as a cost-cutting measure and to downplay Catholicism in favor of a more ecumenical viewpoint. The county had planned to terminate the Masses in February. 

“Valley Medical Center had intended to end the Mass and regular priestly visits for two reasons: to save the county an annual $30,000 it had contracted with the diocese, and to develop a program that better reflected the rainbow of religions in the county, and not just spend money on Catholic rituals,” the Mercury News reported May 26. “Thus far no other religious group has asked for regular services at the hospital, although clergy members from various faiths do visit when patients request them.” 

But, when 76-year-old Theresa Asquith learned in late February only one more Mass was planned at the hospital, “she phoned up high-powered players to uphold the religious tradition,” the newspaper reported. Asquith, said the Mercury News, is “the retired co-founder of Mother's Milk Bank, who has attended Mass at the county hospital for more than 25 years.” 

Among the leaders who became involved was Santa Clara County Supervisor Dave Cortese, a parishioner at St. Francis of Assisi Church in San Jose, who contacted all the parties involved, according to the newspaper. “Over the past three months, this agreement has been hammered out by Cortese, the California Province of the Society of Jesus, the vicar general at the Diocese of San Jose, and Sylvia Gallegos, acting director of the Santa Clara Valley Health & Hospital System,” said the Mercury News. 

The details of the compromise, said the San Jose newspaper, include: “The two Jesuit priests, the Revs. Gene Corbett and William Stout, who are both semiretired and in their 70s, will continue to lead Saturday and Sunday Mass in the meditation room, for free, as long as they are willing and able. They will also be available to visit hospital patients, where one in four are Catholic, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.” 

"But these are older gentlemen, and they won't be taking the emergency night calls anymore,'' Fr. Alfred Naucke, an assistant to the Jesuit Provincial in Los Gatos, told the Mercury News. 

“That responsibility will now fall to the diocese, which can send out priests for after-hour calls, which is what they do for all other non-Catholic hospitals,” said the newspaper. “There are no promises that once Corbett and Stout stop celebrating Mass and visiting the sick that replacements will step up.”

Article came from http://www.calcatholic.com/

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What do you wear to Mass? Some guidelines and observations on proper attire for church in our casual culture:

Adore the Lord in Holy Attire – On Proper Dress for Mass

By: Msgr. Charles Pope

Last week we had a discussion on the women wearing veils in Church. One of the themes that emerged in the comments was that the discussions about what to wear in Church should be broader than just a veil. More specifically BOTH men and women should consider how they dress when going into God’s house. Hence I would like to explore some background issues and  enunciate some principles. You of course will be able to add to them.

1. Scripture – There is very little in Scripture that seems to spell out the proper way to dress for sacred worship. There is the general directive toAdore the Lord in holy attire (Psalm 96:9; Ps 29:2) But this seems more an allusion to holiness (God’s and ours) more than to clothing per se. There are directives for the Passover meal that one should have staff in hand, with loins girt and sandals on their feet (Ex 12:11). But this seems a specific rule for the Passover meal only and hardly something that would done in the synagogue or temple. To gird one’s loins meant to pull up the lower part of one’s outer garment and tighten the belt. This exposed the lower legs and allowed greater mobility for them. It was a sign of being flight or of being at work. It is the ancient equivalent of “roll up your sleeves.”  (more HERE). As a general rule Jewish people would not show their legs unless circumstances strongly required it. They would surely not come to the synagogue or the Temple in this manner. Scripture also speaks ofPhylacteries and Prayer Shawls. But these sorts of clothing and accessories seem to have come under some critique in the New Testament (Matt 23:5) and their use was not continued in the New Testament Church worship.

2. Church norms and rules – There are no official and specific Church norms or requirement for lay persons who attend Mass mentioned in Canon Law or the Sacramentary. Surely for priests and other clergy there are many rules and norms but I am unaware of any currently binding norms for the laity. Although the veils were once required for women, the 1917 Code of Canon Law was abrogated and the current code is silent on any requirement.

3. Hence it seems that Culture supplies most of the norms regarding what is considered appropriate attire for Church. And, alas our culture is currently quite unhelpful to us in this regard. Here in America we have become extremely casual about the way we dress for just about everything. It seems we almost never dress up anymore. This has changed somewhat dramatically in my own life time of just less than 50 years. “Sneakers” or “tennis shoes” as we called them were for sports or running around and playing in the neighborhood. But we would never even think of wearing them to school and certainly not to Church. I remember having a special set of shoes just for church. In the 1960s, it was also expected that I would go to Church in formal, pressed trousers, a button down shirt, and, except in the hottest months, a tie and even a suit jacket in winter. My sister and mother always wore a dress. Pants would not even have been considered for them. For the younger girls a skirt and a blouse might be OK but preferably a dress with a hat or veil.

But things changed dramatically around 1970. The photo above right was taken in 1969 at St. John the Evangelist Parish in Canton, Massachusetts. It was the end of an era. Within five years neckties were lost and jeans and a t-shirts came to be the norm. Most of the women as we discussed lost the veil, and dresses gave way to more casual pants suits and then also to other more casual things like jeans etc. Shorts for men and women, unthinkable in previous years also began to appear in church as did tank tops and other beach attire. Within ten years the culture of dressing up for Church was almost wholly abandoned. Now  wearing a tie to Church would seem stuffy and formal.

But this is where our culture has gone. It is not just Church. Years ago when my family went out to eat we almost always dressed up. Maybe it wasn’t a full neck tie but at least trousers and a button down shirt. Maybe not a formal dress for mom and sis, but at least a skirt and blouse. A restaurant was considered a semi-formal outing. School was also considered a place where things like jeans and informal t-shirts were out of place. Going down town to shop meant we changed out of shorts and put on something appropriate. Shorts were basically for running around the house, playing in the yard and such. But you just didn’t go out to more public settings wearing shorts and flip flops or even sneakers.

Pardon me for sounding like and old fud but I am not really that old. My point is that culture has changed,  and changed rather quickly. This has affected the Church as well. What were fighting is a strong cultural swing to the extremely informal. Most people don’t even think of dressing up for most things any more let alone Church.

4. Hence at the cost of seeming old and stuffy I might like to suggest a few norms and I hope you’ll supply your own as well:

1. Men should wear formal shoes to Church. We used to call these hard shoes (because they were) but today many formal shoes are actually quite comfortable.
2. Men should wear trousers (not jeans).
3. Men should never wear shorts to Church.
4. Men should wear a decent shirt, preferably a button down shirt. If it is a pullover shirt it should include a collar. Wearing a plain t-shirt without a collar is too informal.
5. Men should consider wearing a tie to Church and in cooler weather, a suit coat. Some may consider this a bit too stuffy and formal but who knows, you might be a trend setter!
6. Now as I talk about women I know I’ll get in some trouble!
7. Women should wear decent shoes to Church. Flip flops, beach sandals etc. seem inappropriate.
8. Women should not wear shorts to Church.
9. Women, if they wear pants, should never wear jeans to Church. Some nice slacks that are not too tight can be fine.
10. Women should consider wearing a dress or at least a skirt in preference to pants. It just looks a bit more formal than pants.
11. Women should wear a nice blouse (if they are not wearing a full dress). The blouse or shirt they wear should not be too tight.
12. Sleeveless garments are pushing it a bit but can be acceptable.
13. Women should never wear tank tops, tube tops, spaghetti straps, or bare midriffs to Church.
14. Well, you may have at this list. Add or subtract as you will.

A final thought: Clothes say something about what we think, what we value. They also influence how we behave and feel. That our culture has become so casual about everything says something about us. I cannot exactly articulate it but it seems to say, “nothing is really all that important.” But that is not true. Going to God’s house IS  important. Being ministered to by the King of Kings and Lord of Lords is astounding. Casual attire in these circumstances is simply inappropriate if we really think about what we are doing, where we are going and who it is we will meet. It does not necessarily follow that we must wear tuxedos and formal gowns. But decent semi-formal attire seems wholly appropriate. Sunday is special, God’s House is special. Somethings really ARE important and our clothing and demeanor ought to reflect this truth.

From http://blog.adw.org/2010/05/adore-the-lord-in-holy-attire-on-proper-dress-for-mass/

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[MaryVitamin] The Visitation

 

Mary Vitamin for May 31st

 

Topic: The Visitation (May 31st)

 

The Visitation (Camillo Procaccini)

Quote:

St. Francis de Sales

Indeed, the whole house was overcome with joy; the infant leapt with joy, the father recovered his speech, the mother was filled with the Holy Sprit and received the gift of prophecy.

Sermon July 2, 1618

The Sermons of St. Francis de Sales on Our Lady, (Tan Books),58.

 

Meditation: 

St. Francis de Sales, founder of the Order of the Visitation

St. Elizabeth was her relative, and that is why she went to seek her. But what can we do to become a relative of our amiable Sovereign? O God! There are a thousand ways of accomplishing this. Do you wish to be a relative of the Virgin? Communicate, for in receiving the Holy Sacrament, you receive the Flesh of her flesh and the Blood of her blood, since the precious Body of the Saviour, which is in the Divine Eucharist, was formed of her most pure blood by the operation of the Holy Spirit.”

Sermon July 2, 1621

The Sermons of St. Francis de Sales on Our Lady, (Tan Books),168-9.

 

Resolution:

Today, I will pause in front of my statue of Our Lady and I will ask that she come to visit me and my family bringing the grace of Her Son. I will trust in her great charity and eagerness to share the Lord with those who call upon her.  I will make a Spiritual Communion with Our Lady and be confident that I will receive many graces.

 

Marian Vow:

St. Francis de Sales encourages the consecrated Religious who wear the habit of the order of Our Lady of the Visitation in the following excerpt. Do his words also speak to those consecrated to Our Lady with the Marian vow?

O my dear Sisters, you who claim this Virgin for your Mother, daughters of the Visitation of Our Lady and of St. Elizabeth, what zeal you should have in imitating her, especially her charity and humility, which were the chief virtues which urged her to make this visitation. You should therefore be particularly distinguished in their practice which will move you to go with haste and joy to visit your sick sisters, cordially helping and serving one another in your infirmities, whether they be spiritual or corporal. And wherever there is an opportunity of practicing humility and charity you ought to do so with a special care and promptness; because, you see, to be a daughter of Our Lady it is not enough to rest content with living in a convent of the Visitation and wearing the religious veil. This would be wronging such a Mother; to be satisfied with this would be to degenerate. You must imitate her holiness and her virtues.

Sermon July 2, 1618

The Sermons of St. Francis de Sales on Our Lady, (Tan Books),59.

 

I give this resolution to the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Thanks be to God for graces received.

Related sites: Castle of the Immaculate & AirMaria

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Free download of Bestseller Book: "Look What Happened While You Were Sleeping" PDF form or audio to CD:

New Worldwide Release of the National Bestseller

 

Downloads are FREE

If you wish to purchase the book instead of downloading free, both items are available from the mej-mart as well.

You can visit here to purchase the book, or you can visit this page here to purchase the audio book. They will be simply sent to your home in the mail.

A

new worldwide release of the Medjugorje book that is a national bestseller, Look What Happened While You Were Sleeping is now available as a FREE download. The book is now available in the book form AND also available FREE as an audio book.
 

The Printed book download is available in PDF form, which is how all the materials are available on Medjugorje.com, and are the most universal format. The text of the book is also searchable for your convenience.
 

The Audio book is available in 11 downloadable segments as mp3 format, which are CD burning ready. You can easily take each audio segment, and it will easily fit onto a CD.
 

About the worldwide release A Friend of Medjugorje states, “We have been greatly looking forward to this. Look What Happened While You Were Sleeping was really what opened the door to many non-religious people about Medjugorje. When writing the book, the content convers matter across our culture, and it was understood Our Lady would stay in the book, even though we knew many who were not Catholic or even nonbelievers would be reading the book. It has proven to be the right thing, as even Amish Bishops have recommended the book.”

Look What Happened While You Were Sleeping, was the first Medjugorje book to address the issues of the day in light of Our Lady’s messages. It quickly rose to a national bestseller and continues today.
 

For the FREE book download, please visit this page (You will need 631 sheets of paper to print out the book in its entirety)

For the FREE Audio Book download, please visit this page

 

 

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Copyright SJP Lic. Caritas of Birmingham. Used with permission. All information contained on this site including all text, images, sound tracks, logos, including all matter which may not be viewable to the user, and all matter which, may not be, or is downloadable and/or printable, are protected under international copyright and cannot be used without permission from Caritas of Birmingham, other than non-commercial personal use and/or for positive personal promotional purposes of said material.

http://www.medjugorje.com/copyright.html

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The Love of the Hearts of Jesus and Mary: "Cradled to Sleep by My Heart" by Rita Ring

August 9, 1994

Cradled to Sleep by My Heart

Jesus speaks:        Trust Me My child as a child who crawls
                            into their mother's arms. The child is not
                            afraid of being hurt. The baby is picked
                            up and then ceases to cry. Be as the baby
                            who is held and caressed by a loving
                            parent. The baby is totally at peace. They
                            know the touch of the parent. They totally
                            surrender into their arms.

                                There is no stiffening in their body, it
                            becomes a total release of self into the
                            arms of the loving mother.

                                Release child, total yielding into My
                            arms. I will tuck you forever in My
                            most Sacred Heart. My Heart is warm, My
                            Heart has the tender constant beat of
                            My love. This is your soothing balm, to
                            be cradled to sleep by the sound of
                            My beating Heart. You rest in Me in
                            total peace. Total surrender, total
                            letting go. Be as the baby at the breast.

                                I am the Good Shepherd, I know Mine
                            and they follow Me. I caress you so closely
                            in My Heart. My Mother places you so gently
                            in the very recesses of My Heart. Be at peace
                            My child.

                                This is peace, total surrender to God.
                            You constantly hear a soft beating of My Heart.
                            It is constantly lulling you to sleep. It never
                            stops, it is plugged into a source of undying
                            love. It never runs out, I am the almighty
                            God with a Heart on fire for love of you,
                            My precious one. Total surrender, total
                            yielding, total trust in the God who
                            died for you, Who gave His very life for love
                            of you.

                                I am the Good Shepherd, I fondle you in
                            My Heart. Total trust to Me. Be at such
                            peace.

                                I am He who ardently loves you, every
                            minute of the day. Come to Me My babies,
                            I call you to My loving Heart.

                                You need to have this total submission, a
                            total release of anything that holds you
                            back. Total trust in Me as a loving
                            shepherd.

                                Oh sweet one, surrender your all. Satan
                            constantly wants you to hold back. Release
                            yourselves into the recesses of My Heart. Be lost
                            in the fold of My love and be lulled to sleep
                            by the beats of My Heart.

                                I love you so much My sweet one. Never
                            hold back anything from Me.

http://www.sofc.org/

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The Holy Father's Missionary Intention for June 2010; Pope speaks about Missionaries; Missionary Congress for Children:

MISSIONARY PRAYER INTENTION
The Holy Father's Missionary Intention for June 2010: “That the Churches in Asia, which constitute a 'little flock' among non-Christian populations, may know how to communicate the Gospel and give joyful witness to their adherence to Christ.” Commentary.

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – The situation of Catholics in Asia is difficult. They are a minority living surrounded by millions of followers of other religions or people who claim not to profess any religion. From a human standpoint, it seems that there is nothing to be done to be able to evangelize the continent, given the disproportionate number of Catholics and the more than a billion people who do not know Christ in these lands. However, we must turn with hope to the Word of God. The Gospel tells of a small amount of yeast that leavens all the dough (cf. Mt 13, 33).
Since its birth, the Church has been in a situation of "minority," but has developed her evangelizing action relying on the "power from on high" (cf. Lk 24, 49), the Holy Spirit, confident in the words of Jesus: "I am with you always until the end of the world"(cf. Mt 20, 28).
In this regard, Pope Benedict XVI, speaking to the Central Asian Bishops on their Ad Limina Apostolorum visit, said: “You must not be discouraged, dear Brothers! Look at the first communities of the Lord's disciples. Although they were small they did not withdraw into themselves but, impelled by Christ's love, did not hesitate to shoulder the burdens of the poor and to meet the needs of the sick, joyfully proclaiming and witnessing to the Gospel to all. Today too, as then, it is the Holy Spirit who leads the Church onwards” (Audience, October 2, 2008). 
The witness of charity and joyful proclamation of the Gospel can change hearts. The Word of God is not chained (cf. 2 Tm 2, 9) and has the strength in itself to bring light to the hearts of many. The Church does not evangelize out of some sort of superiority complex towards other religions, nor does she proselytize. The work of evangelization is obedience to Christ's command, “in the knowledge that every person has the right to hear the Good News of the God who reveals and gives himself in Christ” (Ecclesia in Asia, 20).
We must always seek to find the most appropriate means for presenting the Word of God in the most appropriate manner, to the culture and mentality of the people we address, respecting freedom of conscience and religious freedom.
Faith is always a gift of God, the work of God. Thus, someone who encounters a joyful, confident, and convincing preaching of the Gospel, can “open himself to the faith after mature and responsible reflection and must be able to achieve this intimate inspiration freely. This is not only for the individual's benefit but indeed for that of the whole of society, for the faithful observance of the divine precepts is helpful in building a more just and supportive coexistence” (Benedict XVI, October 2, 2008). 
In this month, we address the Virgin Mary with the words of the Pope, asking that She give strength to all those who, in China and throughout Asia, “amid their daily trials, continue to believe, to hope, to love. May they never be afraid to speak of Jesus to the world, and of the world to Jesus” (Benedict XVI, Prayer to Our Lady of Sheshan, May 15, 2008). (Agenzia Fides 31/05/2010)

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VATICAN - “Father Ricci is a singular case of successful synthesis of the Gospel and dialogue with the culture of the people to whom it is preached.”

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – "Father Ricci is a singular case of successful synthesis of the Gospel and dialogue with the culture of the people to whom it is preached, an example of prudent balance between doctrinal clarity and prudent pastoral action," said the Holy Father Benedict XVI in addressing an audience, on May 29, of participants in the pilgrimage sponsored by the Diocese of Macerata-Tolentino-Recanati-Cingoli-Treia and the Diocese of Marche, on the occasion of the 400th anniversary of the death of Father Matteo Ricci. 
"The work of this missionary - said the Pope - has two sides that should not be separated: the inculturation of the Gospel and the Chinese presentation on China's culture and Western science. Often, the scientific aspects have received more interest, but we must not forget the perspective from which Fr. Ricci entered into relationship with the Chinese world and culture ... Fr. Ricci did not go to China to bring them science and Western culture, but to bring them the Gospel, to make God known ... And it was precisely as he brought the Gospel, that Fr. Ricci finds in his listeners the question of a wider confrontation, so that the meeting motivated by faith becomes a dialogue between cultures, a disinterested dialogue, free from economic or political ambition for power, lived in friendship, which makes the work of Fr. Ricci and his disciples one of the greatest and most pleasant moments in the relationship between China and the West." 
The Holy Father recalled that "this great missionary” was a “true hero of proclaiming the Gospel in China in modern times after the first evangelization of Archbishop Giovanni da Montecorvino," and urged not to forget that the choices made by Father Matteo Ricci "did not depend on an abstract strategy of inculturation of the faith, but from the combined effort of the events, encounters, and experiences that he carried out, so what has been achieved was also thanks to the encounter with the Chinese. It was a meeting lived in many ways, but thoroughly through the relationship with friends and disciples, especially the four famous converts, 'pillars of the nascent Chinese Church'. " 
Benedict XVI concluded his speech with these words: "May the memory of these men of God dedicated to the Gospel and the Church, their example of fidelity to Christ, their deep love for the Chinese people, the efforts of intelligence and study, their virtuous life, be an occasion for prayer for the Church in China and for the entire Chinese people, as we do every year, May 24, turning to Mary, venerated in the famous Shrine of Sheshan in Shanghai. May they also serve as stimulus and encouragement to live with intensity the Christian faith in dialogue with different cultures, but in the certainty that Christ brings about true humanism that is open to God, rich in moral and spiritual values, and able to respond to the deepest desires of the human soul. Like Father Matteo Ricci, today I express my profound respect to the noble Chinese people and their ancient culture, convinced that their renewed encounter with Christianity will bring abundant fruits of good, just as it favored peaceful coexistence among peoples in the past." (SL) (Agenzia Fides 05/31/2010)

Links: 
Complete text of the Holy Father's address, in Italian
http://www.fides.org/ita/documents/Ud_Mac_MRicci_29052010.doc

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EUROPE/POLAND - Jasna Gora Shrine celebrates 8th National Missionary Congress for Children

Czestochowa (Agenzia Fides) - "We Announce to the World: God is Love" was the theme of the 8th National Missionary Congress for Children held in Czestochowa, at the National Shrine of the Black Madonna in Jasna Gora, May 28 and 29. According to information received by Fides, the Congress was attended by the National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS) of Poland, Father Jan Piotrowski, and National Director of the PMS in Lebanon, Father Paul Karam, in addition to priests, religious, catechists, missionary animators, all the leaders of the Pontifical Mission Societies in the country, and, of course, the children of the Holy Childhood Association. 
The first day of the Congress, participants met with the missionaries and attended the Marian prayer, “The Jasna Gora Appeal,” in the Chapel of Our Lady. On Saturday, May 29, Mass was celebrated at the Shrine of the Black Madonna, presided by Bishop Stanislaw Budzik, Secretary General of the Polish Bishops' Conference. "Love is the soul of the mission,” the Bishop said in his homily. “Missionary activity comes from love and bears witness to love. Every person who loves Christ, who loves man, must support the missions and missionaries through prayer."

Missionary animation was led by several groups, including a group of "Missio" youth from the Archdiocese of Czestochowa. During the Congress, there was a National Competition "Mój szkolny Kolega Misja z - My Missionary Companion,” dedicated to the history of the Holy Childhood Association. The Pontifical Society of the Holy Childhood Association has been present in Poland since 1858. (MF/SL) (Agenzia Fides 05/31/2010)87

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Todays Traditional Feasts: Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary & St. Petronilla, Virgin A.D. 60 http://ping.fm/5ejOJ

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"A Mother's Sacrifice"

The Story of Saint Gianna: A Mother's Sacrifice

By Nora V. Clemente-Arnaldo 

Saint Gianna Beretta Molla is an Italian mother and doctor. As she is a product of our generation, I find her sainthood very edifying especially in our times when abortion is rampant all over the world. She was one of the six blessed who were elevated to sainthood on May 16, 2004 by the late Pope John Paul II. The other five were from religious orders.

It is interesting to note that of the six, Saint Gianna drew the most attention for she was a lay person, a typical modern lady who died only last April 28, 1962.

Saving the Baby

In these times when even the lives of innocent unborn babies are threatened, what Saint Gianna did is being held up high by the Church: this lady doctor gave up her life in order to save her unborn child.

Her ordeal started when she was two months pregnant with her fourth child. She began to complain about painful, irregular swelling and was diagnosed with malignant uterine fibroma.

The head physician of the hospital, Dr. Mario Vitali, told her that the pregnancy should be "interrupted" (therapeutic abortion). Such a pronouncement of the doctor elicited a Holy Spirit-inspired reply from Saint Gianna: "That's out of the question, doctor It's a sin to kill one's creature in the womb."

Gianna and Pietro, her husband were faced with three choices: 1) removing the tumor and uterus, terminating the pregnancy and all hope for future pregnancies; 2) removing the tumor and terminating the pregnancy but leaving open the possibility for future pregnancies, and 3) removing the tumor in such a way that would not interrupt the pregnancy but would put Gianna's life in grave danger. Saint Gianna chose the third option.

Click here to read the rest of the article

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The Love of the Hearts of Jesus and Mary: "I Love You Through Others" by Rita Ring

Image via Wikipedia

August 7, 1994

5:00 a.m.

Title: I Love You Through Others

R.   I love You so much, my beloved Jesus.

Jesus:  I am giving you exactly as you need. You are My precious gem. I am fashioning you for My work. Accept the love I give to you through others. I love you through others. I am Jesus, My precious child. Trust Me. The very hairs of your head are numbered, you must trust Me.

How can you love Me whom you do not see if you can't love those who you see?

     I love you through others. You are afraid to trust anyone. Trust Me and My ways. I am there to lift you up. If you trust and it fails, I am always by your side to lift you up. Nothing happens that I do not allow. I am your precious Jesus. Rita, you have one foot on, one foot off the ground. Let go and fall into My loving arms. You have been taught not to get close. In order to trust Me, you must trust others and relate with them. You must get close to others to get close to Me. You always go so far and then you think it is wrong. Love for the sake of living in Me. I am love. He who abides in Me abides in Love. Rita, let go and fall into My arms. I am first in your life. You must learn to love others.

     How can you talk about love to others and love of God when your relationship is lacking trust? You do not trust Me who you do not see, because you do not trust those who you see.

     You do not interact, you are afraid to love, to get close for the sake of love. Love is love, rooted in Me. Love as it brings you closer to God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

  You are afraid to love Me. You can totally let go and trust Me! Love, rooted in God is from God. God's love is infinite, it knows no bounds. Your love is bounded. Let go and experience God's unconditional, infinite love.

     If anyone says, "I love God" but hates his brother, he is a liar, for whoever does not love a brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.  John 4:20.

http://www.sofc.org/

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Eunuchs for the Kingdom of Heaven.

The Argument over Celibacy

Cardinal Schönborn proposes "rethinking" this obligation for the Catholic clergy. And so do other bishops. Benedict XVI, however, wants to strengthen it. In support he has the whole history of the Church, since the time of the apostles

by Sandro Magister

ROME, May 28, 2010 – Benedict XVI is preparing to conclude the Year for Priests, which he called in order to restore spiritual vigor to Catholic priests at a difficult time for the entire Church.

Meanwhile, however, one famous cardinal among those closest to the pope, Vienna archbishop Christoph Schönborn continues to beat the drum of a "rethinking" of the discipline of celibacy among the Latin clergy.

Read this article here: http://chiesa.espresso.repubblica.it/articolo/1343466?eng=y

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The Love of the Hearts of Jesus and Mary: "Forgive Yourself and Go to Confession" Rita Ring

Image via Wikipedia

August 7, 1994 

Title:  Forgive Yourself and Go to Confession

Jesus:  You, My child, are not perfect. To think you are, is to be caught in Satan's lair. You must focus on Me and My love. If you are unkind, you say you are sorry, you confess it in confession, you tell Me you are sorry, then you let go of your sin. To think you are perfect is the work of the devil. If he can make you focused on your error, you do not shine in the world. Say you are sorry and learn from your errors.

    You are not perfect, forgive yourself! If others do not want to forgive you, they are at fault. Satan is working on your mind and he is ever present to trip you up. He works on your feelings.

    Pray, sweet one, you will be tested, you must cast him out! I love you.  Jesus

http://www.sofc.org/

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Fr. Thomas Euteneuer: Centered in the Eucharist

	Spirit & Life®
	"The words I spoke to you are spirit and life." (Jn 6:63) Human Life International e-Newsletter Volume 05, Number 20 | Friday, May 28, 2010
	..................................................................................	www.hli.org
	Centered in the Eucharist As the Church departs the glorious season of Easter and returns to Ordinary Time, we take a moment to pause and remind ourselves how we may grow in holiness during the "normal" course of our spiritual lives. The liturgical seasons of the Church immerse us in the greatest mysteries of our faith, but as necessary as they are for our souls, true spiritual growth doesn't happen in just a season. It happens in an organic process, over long periods of time and with diligent effort. For advancement along that arduous pathway of holiness, then, we need to be sustained and encouraged: and that is the role of the Most Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist. Let us never forget what the Church teaches about the Eucharist. Our Catechism tells us that the Sacrament of the Eucharist is the "source and summit" of our faith (n. 1324). That is another way of saying that it is the very reason why the Church and each individual Christian believer has the gift of faith at all. Accordingly, even those separated Christians who do not believe in the Eucharist have faith in Jesus Christ because of the Eucharist! As the "summit" of our faith, it is the culmination of all goodness, the treasure of God's Life and the very thing that holds the Church and all of reality in existence. What a marvelous source of grace, healing, virtue and union with God and man is this Most Blessed Sacrament! In this Sacrament we find the entire Christ: Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity. His Body and Blood, given to Him by the Virgin Mary, we are now able to consume sacramentally for the transformation of our souls. He communicates and even squanders His Soul and Divinity upon us like a holy Prodigal Son who cannot cease spending Himself for those He loves. How is it that every Christian is not flocking to Mass every single day to be nurtured by the Lord's very Life? We must never forget either that the Eucharistic is a sacrifice, not just a meal. To reduce the Eucharist to a fraternal sharing only is to miss the essence of Jesus' redeeming act of love, which was the perfect act of self-giving and dying to self on Calvary that He asks each of us to imitate. As such, this Sacrament is the one font of all consolation for all the myriad sacrifices of our lives, those willed directly and those suffered. Every pain and sorrow in heaven and on earth can be offered to the Sacrificial Victim on the altar and will be met with the deepest of compassion and understanding. We must just stay in His divine Presence long enough to hear His tender words that address our particular sorrows: "Be not afraid, my dearest friend, I have trod this path before you. You are not alone!" What strength that consolation gives us for the journey and difficulties of life! As the absolute epicenter of our spiritual lives, rivers of grace flow inexhaustibly from the Eucharist. One font of grace is the obligation to "keep holy the Sabbath" which requires us to have weekly contact with God in the Eucharist. Many parishes nowadays even have Eucharistic Adoration chapels that allow us to pray before the Blessed Sacrament directly and with greater frequency. Thanks be to God! We may also see the Eucharist as a repository for all our intercessory intentions on behalf of others by presenting them to Christ any time we have contact with the Eucharist. How wonderful that the Eucharistic Lord allows every one of us to see Him face to face, something that was only allowed to Moses in the Old Testament! In Ordinary Time, let us renew our love for the greatest gift ever poured out upon mankind, the gift of God's very essence that has no equal in this world. Given faith and time, this Most Blessed Sacrament transforms us, strengthens our virtue, detaches us from sin, purifies our imperfections, inflames our charity and perfects our souls. He Himself calls and invites us to center our lives once again on the Eucharist. Who could possibly turn down such a gracious invitation from the Eucharistic King of Heaven? Sincerely, Rev. Thomas J. Euteneuer, President, Human Life International		SL Links   About the Author SL Archives HLI on Facebook HLI on Twitter HLI on YouTube Donate   SL Action Items   HLI America Website
	Copyright 2010 - Human Life International Permission granted for unlimited use. Credit required. Human Life International 4 Family Life Lane -- Front Royal, VA 22630 U.S.A. Phone: (540) 635-7884 Fax: (540) 622-6247 E-mail: hli@hli.org Website: www.hli.org

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From Mark Mallett: The "Time of Grace" . . . Expiring? (Part II)

The “Time of Grace”… Expiring? (Part II)

Photo by Geoff Delderfield

 

There is a small window of sunshine here in Western Canada where our little farm is situated. And a busy farm it is! We have recently added chickens to our milk cow and seeds to our garden, as my wife and I and our eight children are doing everything we can to become more self-sufficient in this costly world. It is supposed to rain all weekend, and so I am trying to get some fencing done in the pasture while we can. As such, I have not had time to write anything new or produce a new webcast this week. However, the Lord continues to speak in my heart of His great mercy. Below is a meditation I wrote around the same time as 

A Miracle of Mercy, published earlier this week. For those of you who are in that place of hurting and shame because of your sinfulness, I recommend the writing below as well as one of my favorites, One Word, which can be found in Related Reading at the end of this meditation. As I’ve said before, rather than giving me something new to write, the Lord often urges me to republish something written in the past. I am amazed at how many letters I receive at those times… as if the writing was prepared in the past moreso for that moment.  

The following was first published November 21st, 2006. 

 

I DID not read the Mass readings for Monday until after writingPart I of this series.  Both the First Reading and the Gospel are virtually a mirror of what I wrote in Part I…

 

LOST TIME AND LOVE 

The first reading says this:

The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave to him, to show his servants what must happen soon… blessed are those who listen to this prophetic message and heed what is written in it, for the appointed time is near. (Revelations 1:1, 3)

Read more… »

PUBLISHED IN: DAILY JOURNAL, TIME OF GRACE | ON MAY 27TH, 2010 | NO COMMENTS »

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[MaryVitamin] giving all to Mary

 

Mary Vitamin for May 28^th

 

Topic: Giving All to Mary

 

Quote:

St. Louis de Montfort

The seventh effect of True Devotion to Mary

By this practice, faithfully observed, you will give Jesus more glory in a month, than by any other practice, however difficult, in many years.

 

Meditation:

St. Alphonsus di Liguori explains why this devotion to Mary is truly efficacious.

Let us then, in the words of St. Bernard, "endeavor to venerate this divine Mother with the whole affection of our hearts; for such is the will of God, who is pleased that we should receive every good thing from her hand. And therefore the saint exhorts us, whenever we desire or ask for any grace, to recommend ourselves to Mary, and to be assured that we shall receive it by her means;" for he says, if thou dost not deserve the favor from God, Mary, who will ask it for thee, will deserve to receive it; "because thou was unworthy of the gift, it was bestowed on Mary, that through her thou mightest receive all that thou hast." The saint then advises us to recommend all that we offer to God to the care of Mary, be they good works or prayers, if we wish our Lord to accept them. "Whatever thou mayest offer to God, be sure to recommend it to Mary, in order not to meet with a repulse."

The Glories of Mary

, (Tan Books), 174-5.

 

Resolution:

Today, I will make my Morning offering with renewed vigor recalling the great graces which exist when I turn everything over to Mary.

 

Marian Vow:

From the Marian Seraphic Pathways

The Lord has said: 'No one who sets his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the Kingdom of heaven' (Lk. 9,62). Therefore, let the tertiaries strengthen themselves in fidelity to their consecration to God and the Immaculate by renewing each day their Profession with the Marian Vow, using the formula found in the manual of prayer.

Constitutions, #21

 

I give this resolution to the Blessed Virgin Mary.

 

Thanks be to God for graces received.

 

Related sites: Castle of the Immaculate & AirMaria

__._,_.___

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Year of Priest Nears Close:

Tribulation Times

READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: http://www.oneyearbibleonline.com/may.asp?version=63&startmmdd=0101

May 28, 2010 

THE TRIB TIMES WILL RETURN NEXT WEEK, GOD WILLING (James 4:15).

(1Pe 2:9) But you are a chosen generation, a kingly priesthood, a holy nation, a purchased people: that you may declare his virtues, who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:
 
EXCERPT CNS: As Year for Priests nears close, pope says priests must be shepherds

At his regular weekly audience in St. Peter's Square May 26, the pope said priests should follow Jesus, who he called the "supreme shepherd of souls," in their mission to "take care of the people of God, be teachers of the faith, animating and sustaining the community of Christians."

The pope quoted St. Augustine in pointing out that "it is a labor of love to graze the flocks of the Lord," and that love should act as the "supreme guide in conduct for the ministers of God."

By following this guide, the pope said, a priest should show "unconditional love, be full of joy and open to all; be attentive to those around him, gentle to children, to the weak and to the simple; and show the infinite mercy of God with encouraging words of hope."

EXCERPT FATHER EUTENEUER, HLI: In time, the proper spiritual leadership will emerge which will bind us together and form us into a fighting force called the Church Militant - the only spiritual force that can truly resist the hostile spiritual takeover of our nation. Let us not forget, however, that we must get down on our knees and beg, plead, and implore God to restore our once-great nation to its grandeur. We will not see the dawn of a renewed nation without prayer and sacrifice. The momentum of righteousness, consisting of all the humble goodness taking place at the grass-roots level of the Church and society, will eventually build, and we will take back our nation - not only at the ballot box but above all in the hearts and minds of all those who love God and are doing their best to love their neighbor. We will then be able to cast out the unclean spirits that are destroying everything that we hold sacred, and society will once again be governed by righteous men. For such an end we place our deepest hope in Christ, our true and only Savior!

EXCERPT CATHOLIC KEY: Interview with soon to be ordained priest, Deacon Evan Harkins


A priest brings Christ to others, he said. "He brings the channels of Christ's grace to the sacraments: New life through baptism; absolution through the sacrament of Penance, His love for us and His grace through the Eucharist. A priest is a bridge connecting people to God in a sacramental way, and he extends Christ's love for His Church, in a human way.

I see a lot of pain and sadness in the world. You can see in people's eyes. Satan makes people unsure of who they are. To me being ordained a priest is to be sent out in to the world to give God to people and His gifts of joy and truth. I think that's awesome; there is nothing beyond that I could want."

LINK: The Archdiocese of Canberra & Goulburn: Promise of life out of death

VIA EMAIL: FATHER CORAPI- A Short Note on Reconciliation

One of the most important things we can do as individuals seeking to love God above all things, and love our neighbor as ourselves out of love for God is to make a daily examination of conscience and then take advantage of one of the greatest gifts God has given us -- the ability to receive sanctifying grace in a healing and forgiving way through the sacrament of Penance or Reconciliation (Confession). Repentance is not a one time thing. It is a daily requirement and an ongoing act of love of God and neighbor.

"If you love me you will obey my Commandments," Jesus tells us. If we stumble along the way and fail to obey His Commandments it is very encouraging to have the assurance that His forgiveness is waiting for us. We must seek it actively, however, especially when we are conscious of mortal sin. We, as Catholics, do this by going to Confession. When we make a daily examination of conscience, and then go to Confession regularly, we are showing our merciful and loving God that we are serious about our relationship with Him.

Ladder of Divine Ascent excerpt: Step 26- "On discernment of thoughts, passions, and virtues"

48. Hypocrisy comes from self-satisfaction and wilfulness.     

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Prayer request?  Send an email to: PrayerRequest3@aol.com

This month's archive can be found at: http://www.catholicprophecy.info/news2.html.

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Faith Leaders Call on Congress to Respect Our Veterans and Their Faith

SAN DIEGO, May 28 /Christian Newswire/ -- Preparing to celebrate Memorial Day, we do so knowing brave veterans and our shared faith have been maliciously attacked, first by thieves and now by our own Federal Government.

The recent theft and desecration of the Mohave Cross, serving as a WWI veterans war memorial since 1934, was more than a symbol of gratitude to our fallen heroes. It's a symbol of the overwhelming majority of our WWI veterans' faith.

After a long and contentious legal battle, the US Supreme Court ruled the Mohave Cross should remain on Sunrise Rock in the Mojave National Preserve. Yet, in order to circumvent a decision they disagreed with, despicable cowards violated the Court's decision and the rule of law. These lawless acts of violence against the faith community, further demonstrated by last week's desecration of the Maywood, CA Catholic Church, have got to cease.

Now, adding insult to injury, the Federal Government won't approve a permit to build another cross exactly like the one that was stolen. This political correctness run amuck has exposed again an ugly, anti-Christian bigotry and intolerance towards veterans by this administration. We call on the US Congress to investigate why the Park Service refuses to allow the cross to be replaced.

The irony is painfully obvious. Generations of Christians and patriots made the ultimate sacrifice giving us a land of freedom and religious tolerance. But now criminals and the government are conspiring to deprive them the honor they are due. This makes Christian Americans into second class citizens in the very country for which our Christian forefathers bled and died.

Americans are tolerant of other people's faith and symbols of their religion. We're asking that Christian Americans are afforded the same respect and tolerance extended to other religions.

This Memorial Day 2010, remember our veterans who laid down their lives for us - from the Revolutionary War of 1776 to Afghanistan and Iraq. In loving memory of these courageous men and women, we urge Congress and this Administration to work with Christian Americans to restore the cross at Mojave National Preserve. Respect our veterans, their faith and our country's heroes. GOD bless our veterans and the USA.

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Detroit-Area Bus Authority Blocks Ads Offering Help to Muslims to Leave Islam

Detroit-Area Bus Authority Blocks Ads Offering Help to American Muslims Threatened for Leaving Their Religion

May 28, 2010

ANN ARBOR, MI – A federal lawsuit was filed this afternoon over the refusal of a Detroit-area transportation authority to display an anti-Jihad advertisement on its buses.  The ad stated, “Fatwa on your head?  Is your family or community threatening you?  Leaving Islam?  Got questions?  Get Answers!”

The “Leaving Islam” ad was sponsored by the Freedom Defense Initiative (FDI), founded by Pamela Geller and Robert Spencer.

The Thomas More Law Center, a public interest law firm based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and the Law Offices of David Yerushalmi, P.C. filed the lawsuit in a Detroit federal district court against the Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation (SMART) on behalf of the ad’s sponsors.  [Read Complaint].  The lawsuit alleges violations of Free Speech and the Equal Protection clauses of the United States Constitution.

Richard Thompson, President and Chief Counsel of the Thomas More Law Center (TMLC), commented, “Muslim apologists rely on the fact that most Americans are ill-informed about Islam.  So they easily get away with portraying Islam as a religion of peace.  Americans have a right to know the truth—Islam is a religion of intolerance and violence.  Traditional Islamic law prescribes the penalty of death if a Muslim leaves his or her religion.  A recent case in point is the story of Rifqa Barry, the seventeen year old Ohio girl, who fearing for her life, ran away from home after her parents discovered she had converted to Christianity.”

Continued Thompson, “Christians, Jews and other non-Muslim minorities are persecuted in every country where Islam dominates.”
According to its website, FDI’s “objective is to go on the offensive when legal, academic, legislative, cultural, sociological, and political actions are taken to dismantle our basic freedoms and values.” 
In the past, SMART had no problem running an anti-religion ad sponsored by an atheist organization that stated, “Don’t Believe in God? You are not alone.”

TMLC Senior Trial Counsel handling the case, Robert Muise, commented, “In Detroit, government officials grant atheists the right to express a view that God does not exist, not worrying about offending Christians.  Yet, these same politically correct officials censor speech that might offend Muslims.  Such blatant discrimination is offensive, and it violates our Constitution.”

The Thomas More Law Center defends and promotes America’s Christian heritage and moral values, including the religious freedom of Christians, time-honored family values, and the sanctity of human life.  It supports a strong national defense and an independent and sovereign United States of America.  The Law Center accomplishes its mission through litigation, education, and related activities. It does not charge for its services. The Law Center is supported by contributions from individuals, corporations and foundations, and is recognized by the IRS as a section 501(c)(3) organization.  You may reach the Thomas More Law Center at (734) 827-2001 or visit our website at www.thomasmore.org.

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Eucharistic Adoration organized at St. Peter’s Basilica to repair the damage committed by clerical sex abuse

May 27, 2010. Young people from different nationalities who study in Rome will come together to pray for a solution and a stop to sex abuse committed by members of the clergy.  

The group prayer will take place at St. Peter’s Basilica on May 29th. The promoter of justice for the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith who’s the Vatican’s prosecutor, Charles Scicluna will participate and reflect on the current situation. 

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Catholics and the Oil Spill:

Tribulation Times

READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: http://www.oneyearbibleonline.com/may.asp?version=63&startmmdd=0101

May 27, 2010 

(Mat 25:40) And the king answering shall say to them: Amen I say to you, as long as you did it to one of these my least brethren, you did it to me.

HEADLINE: Archdiocese of New Orleans: More than 4,600 people impacted by oil spill given assistance

More than 4,600 people impacted by the Gulf oil spill have received assistance through Catholic Charities since May 1, the Archdiocese of New Orleans said today.

Four emergency relief centers have been established where fishers can receive emergency food, case management, crisis counseling and other services. The centers are at St. Bernard Catholic Church in the St. Bernard community, St. Patrick Catholic Church in Port Sulphur, St. Thomas Catholic Church in Point a la Hache and Mary Queen of Vietnam Community Development Corporation in eastern New Orleans.

The archdiocese said more than 1,382 families have received emergency assistance from Catholic Charities related to the oil spill. It said $50,500 in gift cards and/or food vouchers have been distributed and that 647 emergency food boxes from Second Harvest Food Bank, along with 168 cans of baby formula, have been handed out. Seventy six boxes of baby diapers, as well as 174 packs of diapers, have also been distributed.

So far, 385 people have undergone mental health assessments. Also, 164 people have received individual counseling and 28 have taken part in group counseling with Catholic Charities crisis counselors, the archdiocese news release said.

St. Patrick Church in Port Sulphur and Mary, Queen of Vietnam in eastern New Orleans are also locations where people can apply for food stamps and Medicaid, the archdiocese said.

The Catholic Charities Care Line is 866.981.2210.

CATHNEWS: BP gives US Catholic charities $1million for oil relief

CATHOLIC CHARITIES:  Link to Donate

EMPLOYMENT CONCERNS

Worry grows over effect of oil spill on livelihoods of fishing families
La. Labor Leaders: BP Spill Could Be Worse for Workers Than Katrina
Floridians who make living from sea worried by effects of BP oil spill

FROM THE MAILBAG
VIA BHLA2: PRAYER TO OUR LADY OF HOPE

0 Lady of Mental Peace, Mother of Tranquility and Mother of Hope, look upon me in this time of my weakness and unrest.  Teach my searching heart to know that God's Love for me is unchanging and unchangeable; and, that true human love can only begin and grow by touching His Love.  Let your gentle Peace which this world cannot give be always with me.  And, help me to bring this same Peace into the lives of others.  Our Lady of Mental Peace, - Pray for us
 
CNS NEWS: Maritime Mass gives special recognition to those affected by oil spill

Ladder of Divine Ascent excerpt: Step 26- "On discernment of thoughts, passions, and virtues"

47. Guile is born of conceit and anger.     

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Prayer request?  Send an email to: PrayerRequest3@aol.com

This month's archive can be found at: http://www.catholicprophecy.info/news2.html.

 

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