Homily for the tenth Sunday of the Year - 06-08-08

****

Homily for the tenth Sunday of the Year - Year A
Hos 6:3-6 - Rm 4:18-25 - Mt 9: 9-13
by Canon Dr. Daniel Meynen

God's great mercy

Hos 6:3-6

Hos 6:3, «Let us know, let us press on to know the Lord; his going
forth is sure as the dawn; he will come to us as the showers, as the
spring rains that water the earth.» 4, What shall I do with you, O
Ephraim? What shall I do with you, O Judah? Your love is like a
morning cloud, like the dew that goes early away. 5, Therefore I have
hewn them by the prophets, I have slain them by the words of my
mouth, and my judgment goes forth as the light. 6, For I desire
steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God, rather than
burnt offerings.

The Prophet Hosea, whom we read today in the first reading, lived in
the middle of the eighth century before our era. If Jesus cites him
in this Sunday's gospel, it is not without reason: Hosea is the
Prophet of the extreme, the Prophet who wants to show the People of
God how great, immense, out of proportion is the mercy of the Lord
when faced with the multitude of the people's sins and the great
number of its infidelities. "For I desire steadfast love and not
sacrifice." (Hos. 6:6)

Of course, the mercy of God is not at all out of proportion. The mercy
of God is in proportion to God himself: it is infinite. This allows
us to understand that we cannot understand it! For that which is
infinite surpasses the capacities of our natural intellect, which is
finite. We must therefore go to a higher level: that of the
supernatural intellect, that is to say that of faith! Solely faith in
God allows us to understand, and above all to spiritually taste, how
great is the mercy of God.

Rm 4:18-25

Rm 4:18, In hope [Abraham] believed against hope, that he should
become the father of many nations; as he had been told, "So shall
your descendants be." 19, He did not weaken in faith when he
considered his own body, which was as good as dead because he was
about a hundred years old, or when he considered the barrenness of
Sarah's womb. 20, No distrust made him waver concerning the promise
of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, 21,
fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. 22,
That is why his faith was "reckoned to him as righteousness." 23, But
the words, "it was reckoned to him," were written not for his sake
alone, 24, but for ours also. It will be reckoned to us who believe
in him that raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, 25, who was put to
death for our trespasses and raised for our justification.

Without faith, it is impossible for us to understand the least
fragment of the Love of God towards us. Without faith, we cannot
understand what are God's intentions for us and for every man and
woman called to serve the Lord on earth in order to reign with Him in
Heaven! Faith serves to reorient our life: the faith in Jesus Christ
proclaimed in the gospel is not destined to make us happy on earth,
but rather to give us, here below, the pledge of eternal Life, the
sole source of true happiness!

Abraham lived of this faith, and this faith justified him! Having
believed in the Word of God, Abraham received life from this same
Word, a Word that is a food, a food that inaugurates, in the one who
eats it, the very Life of God! "He who through faith is righteous
shall live." (Rom 1:17; Hab 2:4) However, Abraham lived before the
coming of the Messiah: he hoped, against all hope, for the coming of
the promised Messiah. So it was only in hope that Abraham lived of
the Life of God. A hope that, however, allowed him to taste by
anticipation how great is the mercy of God towards him and towards
all humanity...

Mt 9:9-13

Mt 9:9, As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew
sitting at the tax office; and he said to him, "Follow me." And he
rose and followed him. 10, And as he sat at table in the house,
behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Jesus
and his disciples. 11, And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to
his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and
sinners?" 12, But when he heard it, he said, "Those who are well have
no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 13, Go and learn what
this means, 'I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.' For I came not to
call the righteous, but sinners."

Abraham left his homeland of Chaldea one day to follow the Lord on the
way to the Promised Land. Here, it is Matthew, the publican, or tax
collector, who is called to follow Jesus on the way to Heaven. I do
believe that if the gospel Jesus preached was meant to make men happy
on earth, the Lord would have left Matthew at his tax office, having
given him recommendations to be honest with all taxpayers. Instead of
that, Jesus tells Matthew: "Follow me." Which means: "Leave all of
that and attach yourself to me alone!"

All of us need conversion: all of us must reorient our life, through
faith, towards the higher realities. Let us not fear to leave
everything for Christ! When death will come, it will be necessary to
leave everything. So if we accept our death, we will be able to
merit, justly, eternal Life. Otherwise, do we not fear to be strongly
attached to all creatures, and first of all to ourselves? So then why
not act as if death were already here? Let us be detached from
everything! But, through faith, let us be strongly attached to the
Lord!

"I came not to call the righteous, but sinners." We are the sinners
that Jesus sought. Let us ask Him for forgiveness! Let us love Him
with all our heart! Through Mary, may the most great mercy of God
overflow in our soul!

Canon Dr. Daniel Meynen

http://meynen.homily-service.net/

****

SCRIPTURE COMMENTARY #244

" This generation is a wicked generation. It asketh a sign: and a sign shall not be given it, but the sign of Jonas the prophet. For as Jonas was a sign to the Ninivites; so shall the Son of man also be to this generation." (Luke 11:29-30)

OUR LORD'S PROPHECY: By referring the Jews to "the sign of Jonas the prophet," our Lord most distinctly foretold His Burial and Resurrection.

[From 'A Practical Commentary on Holy Scripture' by Bishop Knecht, D.D.]
(1899 Douay-Rheims Bible)

SCRIPTURE COMMENTARY #243

"For as Jonas was a sign to the Ninivites; so shall the Son of man also be to this generation." (Luke 11:30)

THE RESURRECTION OF OUR LORD is the miracle of miracles, and the decisive sign which vouches for the divinity of all His other miracles. It was the final test by which the unbelieving Jews were called on to believe and be saved.

[From 'A Practical Commentary on Holy Scripture' by Bishop Knecht, D.D.]
(1899 Douay-Rheims Bible)

June, the month dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus:

Tribulation Times

READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: http://www.oneyearbibleonline.com/june.asp?version=63

June 6, 2008

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

 DEVOTION TO THE SACRED HEART

FROM THE MAILBAG
VIA Nadine: The First Friday Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus

"The First Friday of each month was designated by our Savior Himself as a day to be consecrated to honoring His Sacred Heart.. As the object of this devotion is to make our Savior Jesus Christ ardently and perfectly loved, and to make reparation for the outrages offered to Him in the past, as well as for those which he daily receives in the Blessed Eucharist.Jesus Christ merits our love at all times, but alas! He is despised and outraged in the Sacrament of His love at all times, and so people should at all times make reparation to Him.
We should then adore Jesus Christ in this august Sacrament, make a fervent act of love to Jesus in the tabernacle, thank Him for having instituted this Mystery of love, express our sorrow at seeing Him so abandoned, and resolve to visit Him as soon as possible and love Him unceasingly.
Attendance at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is assuredly the best means of honoring and loving the adorable Heart of Jesus.
The following First Friday devotions are efficacious in honoring the Sacred Heart of Jesus:

1. The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass
2. Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
3. Act of Consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
4. Act of Reparation
5. The Litany of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
6. The Sacrament of Reconciliation

The Promises of the Sacred Heart of Jesus to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque

1. "I will give them all the graces necessary in their state of life."
2. "I will establish peace in their homes."
3. "I will comfort them in their afflictions."
4. "I will be their secure refuge during life, and above all in death."
5. "I will bestow a large blessing upon all their undertakings."
6. "Sinners shall find in My Heart the source and the infinite ocean of mercy."
7. "Tepid souls shall grow fervent."
8. "Fervent souls shall quickly mount to high perfection."
9. "I will bless every place where a picture of My Heart shall be set up and honored."
10. "I will give to priests the gift of touching the most hardened hearts."
11. "Those who shall promote this devotion shall have their names written in My Heart, never to be blotted out."
12. "I promise thee in the excessive mercy of My Heart that My all-powerful love will grant to all those who communicate on the First Friday in nine consecutive months, the grace of final penitence; they shall not die in My disgrace nor without receiving the Sacraments; My Divine heart shall be their safe refuge in this last moment."

Ladder of Divine Ascent excerpt: Step 7- "On Joy-Making Mourning"

1. Mourning according to God is sadness of soul and the disposition of a sorrowing heart, which ever madly seeks that for which it thirsts; and when it fails in its quest, it painfully pursues it, and follows in its wake grievously lamenting. Or thus: mourning is a golden spur in a soul which is stripped of all attachment and of all ties, fixed by holy sorrow to watch over the heart.   

---

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

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

[MaryVitamin] Fifth Mark of True Devotion

Mary Vitamin for June 8th   Topic: Fifth Mark of True Devotion to Our Lady - disinterestedness   Quote: St. Louis de Montfort "Fifth, true devotion to Mary is disinterested. It inspires us to seek God alone in his Blessed Mother and not ourselves. The true subject of Mary does not serve his illustrious Queen for selfish gain. He does not serve her for temporal or eternal well-being but simply and solely because she has the right to be served and God alone in her." True Devotion to Mary #110   Meditation: A spiritually "disinterested" person is not swayed by "human respect" (also termed "respect of persons." St. Josemaria Escriva calls this attribute of not being unduly swayed by the people in our lives "holy shamlessness."   "How clearly I see now that 'holy shamelessness' is rooted, very deeply, in the Gospel. Fulfill the Will of God, mindful of Jesus falsely accused, Jesus spat upon and buffeted, Jesus brought before the shabby courts of men ..." The Furrow, #35    St. Josemaria Escriva also tells us strongly not to spend time with the worry of: What will they say?   "When the defense of truth is at stake, how can one desire neither to displease God nor to clash with one's surroundings? These two things are opposed: it is either the one or the other! The sacrifice has to be a holocaust where everything is burned up, even the thought: "what will they say?", even what we call our reputation." The Furrow, #34   Resolution: To practice disinterestedness today, I will periodically ask myself "For whom am I performing (or not performing) this action? Will I find myself  unduly swayed by the influence of human beings? Today, Let me concentrate on discovering if I work for Our Lady or for human respect. I will try to cultivate a heavenly perspective over a human perspective.   Marian Vow: Father Stefano M. Manelli, FI "Marian devotion thus understood, it its fuller and more perfect sense, requires the consecration of oneself to Our Lady; that is, the explicit offering to Mary of one's whole being, of all that one is and all that one has – soul, body, senses external goods, internal goods, present and future goods; one's life, one's death, and one's eternity." Devotion to Our Lady, (Academy of the Immaculate), 5.   I give this resolution to the Blessed Virgin Mary.   Thanks be to God for graces received.   Related sites: Castle of the Immaculate & AirMaria

_,_.___

Visit This Group

__,_._,___

Last Judgement. 12th-century Byzantine mosaic from Torcello Cathedral.

SCRIPTURE COMMENTARY #242

"The queen of the south shall rise in the judgment with the men of this generation and shall condemn them: because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon. And behold more than Solomon here. The men of Ninive shall rise in the judgment with this generation and shall condemn it." (Luke 11:31-32)

THE GENERAL JUDGMENT: Our Lord's words in this chapter indicate that all men of all ages will be gathered together for judgment at the Last Day. "The men of Ninive . . . the queen of Saba shall rise in judgment with this generation and condemn it!"

[From 'A Practical Commentary on Holy Scripture' by Bishop Knecht, D.D.]
(1899 Douay-Rheims Bible)

[MaryVitamin] The Fourth Mark

Mary Vitamin for June 5th    Topic: the Fourth Mark of True Devotion to Our Lady - Constancy   Quote: St. Louis de Montfort "Fourth, true devotion to our Lady is constant. It strengthens us in our desire to do good and prevents us from giving up our devotional practices too easily. It gives us the courage to oppose the fashions and maxims of the world, the vexations and unruly inclinations of the flesh and the temptations of the devil." True Devotion to Mary, #109   Meditation: St. Edith Stein sums up the life of a Professed Carmelite – do her words help the layman to practice constancy?    "Carmelites can repay God's love by their everyday lives in no other way than by carrying out their daily duties faithfully in every respect—all the little sacrifices that a regimen structured day after day in all its details demands of an active spirit; all the self-control that living in close proximity with different kinds of people continually requires and that is achieved with a loving smile; letting no opportunity go by for serving others in love. Finally, crowning this is the personal sacrifice that the Lord may impose on the individual soul. This is the 'littleway,' a bouquet of insignificant little blossoms that are daily placed before the Almighty—perhaps a silent, life-long martyrdom that no one suspects and that is at the same time a source of deep peace and hearty joyousness and a fountain of grace that bubbles over everything—we do not know where it goes, and the people whom it reaches do not know from whence it comes." The Collected Works of Edith Stein, Volume IV, The Hidden Life (ICS Publications:1992), 6.   Resolution: Today, in order to practice True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, I will examine my Marian practices. Have I allowed the world to teach me to behave in ways contrary to the example of the Blessed Virgin?  Am I praying enough? I will continue in my Marian practices of the Rosary and the angelus and continue to do my duty. St. Louis de Montfort assures me that this is True Devotion to Mary.   Marian Vow: Father Stefano M. Manelli, FI "Let us be eager, then, to return her love, even if we can never love her as much as we ought. Once a spiritual daughter said to St. Pio, 'You are fortunate, Father, to love Our Lady so much.' Padre Pio answered, 'I wish I could love her as much as she deserves. But remember that all the Saints and Angels together cannot love and praise the Mother of God according to her worth.'" Devotion to Our Lady, (Academy of the Immaculate:2001), 36. I give this resolution to the Blessed Virgin Mary.   Thanks be to God for graces received.   Related sites: Castle of the Immaculate & AirMaria

__._,_.___

Visit This Group

__,_._,___

SCRIPTURE COMMENTARY #241

" And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but he that shall speak against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him neither in this world, nor in the world to come." (Matt. 12:32)

PURGATORY: From our Lord's words that the sins against the Holy Ghost shall be forgiven "neither in this world, nor in the world to come," the Fathers of the Church rightly conclude that certain sins will be forgiven in the world to come. Now, there can be no forgiveness of sin in heaven, for nothing sinful can enter there at all. Neither in hell is forgiveness of sins possible, because the damned are incapable of amendment: therefore there must be a middle state between heaven and hell. This middle state is Purgatory, where the soul is cleansed from venial sins, and where satisfaction is made for sins already forgiven.

[From 'A Practical Commentary on Holy Scripture' by Bishop Knecht, D.D.]
(1899 Douay-Rheims Bible)

Before I moved to Florida, I worked at a Lithuanian Parish in Queens, New York and also did a lot of "deacon" stuff there. It was a small group of worshipers but they had a great faith. I miss them all! Marian apparition in Lithuania to be celebrated May 4

By Ellie Hidalgo

The first Vatican recognized European appearance of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Lithuania will be commemorated at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels May 4. The 3:30 p.m. Mass will be celebrated by Lithuanian Archbishop Sigitas Tamkevicius and other concelebrating priests. Auxiliary Bishop Oscar Solis will welcome the congregation on behalf of Cardinal Roger Mahony. Since the 16th century pilgrims have made their way to Siluva, Lithuania, to see the venerable image of Our Lady holding the child Jesus in her arms. This year marks the 400th anniversary of the appearance of Mary. The Lithuanian community worldwide is inviting Catholics of all cultures to celebrate with them. "Everybody is welcomed," said Maryte Sepikas, president of the Knights of Lithuania. "We're overjoyed that there will be many ethnic groups represented." The history of Mary's appearance in Lithuania begins in 1608 when, as young shepherds were playing, a beautiful lady holding a child in her arms suddenly appeared on a large rock. Tears flowed from her eyes. Some 38 years earlier, the local Catholic Church had been torn down with the influence of the Lutheran faith and Calvinism. The painting inside the church of the Madonna and Child has been secretly buried in a metal chest in the ground. The news of the crying Blessed Virgin spread quickly and many people saw this as a sign from God. After the apparition, the Catholic faith revived and veneration of the Mother of God increased. A church was rebuilt in Siluva and the image of the Madonna and Child was once again given a revered place. Thousands of pilgrims gather at the shrine annually, and many have experienced healing through the intercession of Our Lady of Siluva. Pope Pius VI approved the devotion in 1775. Mary was particularly important to the Lithuanian people during Soviet communist rule when practicing Catholics were persecuted and the church had to go underground. "We survived 50 years of communism because our people believed in Our Lady of Siluva and in Jesus," said Sepikas. "Our Catholic faith got us through difficult communist times." In 1993 Pope John Paul II made a visit to the shrine and prayed for Lithuanian families. Locally, St. Casimir Church in Los Angeles is home to the West Coast Lithuanian diaspora. Father Tomas Karanauskas serves as parish administrator and is co-chairing the Cathedral celebration with Marija Newsom; Jurate Venckus is organizing the liturgy. Editor's note: For more information, call Maryte Sepikas at (818) 321-1811 or e-mail msepikas@yahoo.com. From http://www.the-tidings.com/2008/050208/lithuania.htm

Medjugorje... A Great Deception?

M A R K  M A L L E T T

–––S P I R I T U A L  F O O D  F O R  T H O U G H T–––

Medjugorje: "Just the facts, ma'am"

Apparition Hill at Dawn, Medjugorje, Bosnia-Herzegovina

 

First published November 10th, 2006. I am posting this again today in response to false reports circulating which claim that the Vatican has ruled against Medjugorje.

While no one is obligated to believe private revelation, the Church teaches that it would be imprudent to ignore the prophetic voice of God or "despise prophecy" as St. Paul says. Hence, the Vatican has insisted upon remaining open to this alleged apparition thus far (if that's good enough for Rome, it's good enough for me.) 

Also, this writing answers one reader who pondered whether this apparition site could be part of the Great Deception. See the section below titled: SCHISM. 

 

AS a former award-winning television reporter (note, the unabashed accreditation), the facts surrounding Medjugorje do concern me.  I know they concern many people.

I have taken the same position on Medjugorje as Pope John Paul II (as witnessed to by Bishops who have discussed the apparitions with him).  That position is to celebrate the wonderful fruits flowing from this place, namely conversion and an intense sacramental life. This is not an ooey-gooey-warm-fuzzy opinion, but a hard fact based on the testimonies of thousands of Catholic clergy and countless laymen.

Read more… »

All Mark's writings can be found at:  Spiritual Food For Thought

Listen to Mark's music on his official website:  www.markmallett.com

Subscribe

[MaryVitamin] Third Mark of True Devotion

Mary Vitamin for June 4th    Topic: Third Mark of True Devotion to Our Lady- Holiness of Life   Quote: St. Louis de Montfort "Third, true devotion to Our Lady is holy, that is, it leads us to avoid sin and to imitate the virtues of Mary. Her ten principal virtues are: deep humility, lively faith, blind obedience, unceasing prayer, constant self-denial, surpassing purity, ardent love, heroic patience, angelic kindness, and heavenly wisdom." True Devotion to Mary #108   Meditation: St. Francis de Sales "[T]here are some virtues of universal application, and which should infuse their own spirit into everything. We have but rarely opportunities for the practice of courage, magnanimity, and great sacrifices. But every action of our daily life should be influenced by gentleness, temperance, humility, and purity. … Every station in life imposes some peculiar obligation; different virtues are incumbent upon a bishop, a prince, or a soldier –the wife has her duties and the widow hers, and although all should practice every virtue, still each should seek chiefly to advance in those peculiarly required by the state of life to which God has called him. … Amongst those virtues not especially involved by our position, we should cultivate the most excellent rather than the most showy…It is a good practice to select some particular virtue at which to aim ---not neglecting the others, but in order to give regularity and method to the mind." Introduction to the Devout Life   Resolution: St. Francis de Sales says "every action of our daily life should be influenced by gentleness, temperance, humility, and purity." Today, to begin to imitate Our Lady's holiness, I will attempt to work on gentleness, temperance, humility and purity in every action by choosing one of these virtues to practice during the morning. (I can make another resolution in the afternoon to continue.)   Marian Vow: St. Alphonsus di Liguori "Ah, my Lady! If you do not carry me in your arms to God, do not expect me to walk there. Carry me, and if I resist, carry me by force." Father Stefano M. Manelli, FI, Devotion to Our Lady, (Academy of the Immaculate), 26.   I give this resolution to the Blessed Virgin Mary.   Thanks be to God for graces received.   Related sites: Castle of the Immaculate & AirMaria

__._,_.___

 Visit This Group 

 

.

__,_._,___

SCRIPTURE COMMENTARY #240

" And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but he that shall speak against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him neither in this world, nor in the world to come." (Matt. 12:32)

HELL: If there are sins which can be forgiven "neither in this world nor in the world to come," there must be a state of everlasting punishment. Therefore it is said in Mark 3:29: "He that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost shall never have forgiveness, but shall be guilty of an everlasting sin."

[From 'A Practical Commentary on Holy Scripture' by Bishop Knecht, D.D.]
(1899 Douay-Rheims Bible)

CLICK HERE OR ON PICTURE FOR SHORT VIDEO OF POPE BENEDICT XVI

Benedict XVI: the Magnificat is the truest interpretation of history

"The Magnificat of Mary, after centuries and millennia, remains the most true and profound interpretation of history

"The Magnificat of Mary, after centuries and millennia, remains the most true and profound interpretation of history, while the stories made by so many worldly scholars have been disproved by the facts over the centuries." So the feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary was meditated on by Benedict XVI in St. Peter's Square, recalling the song of praise delivered by Mary before Elizabeth, at the end of Marian celebration on the last day of May.

"My soul magnifies the Lord." Mary recognizes the greatness of God. This is the first essential process of faith, the sentiment that gives security to human beings as creatures, to be free from fear, even in the midst of the instability of history.

In this song "that is a genuine and deep theological reading...of history," the Pope further explained, Mary's faith "has shown that the thrones of the powerful of this world are all temporary, while the throne of the Lord is the only rock that does not change and will not fall". He invited the many faithful in the Piazza to return home carrying the Magnificat in their hearts.

[MaryVitamin] Second Mark of True Devotion

Mary Vitamin for June 3rd   Topic: Second Mark of authentic devotion to Our Lady   Quote: St. Louis de Montfort "Second, it is trustful, that is to say, it fills us with confidence in the Blessed Virgin, the confidence that a child has for its loving Mother. It prompts us to go to her in every need of body and soul with great simplicity, trust and affection." True Devotion to Mary # 107   Meditation: St. Edith Stein explains the motherly care shown to us in the Brown Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel,   "In the epistle and preface of the Feast of Mount Carmel , as we usually call the feast of the scapular, on this day we give thanks that our dear Lady has clothed us with the 'garment of salvation.' The events providing the occasion for this feast did not occur until much later in the Western world. In  the year 1251 the Blessed Virgin appeared to the general of the Order, Simon Stock, an Englishman, and gave him the scapular. But the preface reminds us that it was our dear Lady of Mount Carmel who bestowed this visible sign of her motherly protection on her children far from the original home of the Order. It was she who manifested herself to the prophet Elijah in the form of a little rain cloud and for whom  the sons of the prophets built the fist shrine on Mount Carmel . The legend of the Order tells us that the Mother of God would have liked to remain with the hermit brothers on Mount Carmel . We can certainly understand that she felt drawn to the place where she had been venerated through the ages and where the holy prophet had lived in the same spirit and also filled her from the time her earthly sojourn began. Released from everything earthly, to stand in worship in the presence of God, to love him with her whole heart, to beseech his grace for sinful people, and in atonement to substitute herself for these people, as the maidservant of the Lord to await his beckoning—this was her life." The Collected Works of Edith Stein, Volume IV, The Hidden Life (ICS Publications:1992), 3.   Resolution: My scapular will remind me of my devotion to Our Lady's motherly care. I will make sure I have my scapular on and I willl take it out from time to time. I will kiss my scapular one time and pray to practice True Devotion to Our Lady's motherly care.   Marian Vow: Father Stefano M. Manelli, FI "With a consecration made in this way [the explicit offering to Mary of one's whole being] one reaches the fullness of devotion to Our Lady, because in every way he is truly given  to Our Lady and unconditionally belongs to her; and one makes the choice to live, without reservation, as her child, either to be her 'slave of love' (St. Louis Grignon de Montfort), or, to go further, to make himself her 'property, an instrument within her hands' (St. Maximilian M. Kolbe), or –going even further—one offers himself as a 'victim of holocaust' in honor of her motherly and merciful love and for the coming of God's kingdom into all souls." Devotion to Our Lady, (Academy of the Immaculate:2001), 5.   I give this resolution to the Blessed Virgin Mary.   Thanks be to God for graces received.   Related sites: Castle of the Immaculate & AirMaria

__._,_.___

Visit This Group

__,_._,___

SCRIPTURE COMMENTARY #239

But the Pharisees hearing it, said: "This man casteth not out devils but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils." And Jesus knowing their thoughts, said to them: "Every kingdom divided against itself shall be made desolate: and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand. . . . But I say unto you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall render an account for it in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned." Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying: "Master, we would see a sign from thee." Who answering said to them: "An evil and adulterous generation seeketh a sign: and a sign shall not be given it, but the sign of Jonas the prophet." (Matt. 12:24-25; 36-39)

THE WEAPONS OF UNBELIEF: Lies and calumny were the weapons used by the unbelieving Pharisees against our Lord. They are to this day the weapons with which unbelief and heresy attack the doctrine and Church of Jesus Christ.

[From 'A Practical Commentary on Holy Scripture' by Bishop Knecht, D.D.]
(1899 Douay-Rheims Bible)

[MaryVitamin] First Mark of True Devotion to Mary

Mary Vitamin for June 2nd   Topic: First mark of True Devotion to Mary according to Saint Louis de Montfort   Quote: St. Louis de Montfort "First, true devotion to Our Lady is interior, that is, it comes from within the mind and the heart and follows from the esteem in which we hold her, the high regard we have for her greatness, and the love we bear her." True Devotion to Mary, (Tan Books), 106.   Meditation: Pope St. Pius X certainly had cause for concern during his pontificate. As Pope during the years preceding WW I, Pius X saw the evil that was about to befall the world in this colossal war.  Yet amidst these heavy concerns this holy Pope practiced interior devotion and high regard for Our Lady's greatness by saying:   "Let the storm rage and the sky darken –not for that shall we be dismayed. If we trust as we should in Mary, we shall recognize in her, the Virgin Most Powerful 'who with virginal foot did crush the head of the serpent." Francis T. Johnson, Voices of the Saints, (Tan Books)   Resolution: Today I will imitate St. Pius' the Tenth's great devotion and interior trust of Our Lady. I will pray an extra O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee, the prayer written on my Miraculous medal which depicts our Lady crushing the head of the serpent. I will entrust my concerns to her.   Marian Vow: St. John Eudes comforts those who have taken Our Lady as their Queen and ruler of all their actions and belongings:   "Blessed be the heaven and the earth which have for their Queen the admirable child Mary. For she possesses more light and wisdom, strength and power, than all the kings and queens who ever were or ever will be. And this little Mary is a great Princess and a most powerful Queen; Queen of men and Angels, Empress of the universe. She was Princess and Queen from the womb of her mother. … Is it not suitable to the glory of the eternal King of Kings, that she who was to be His Mother should bear a royal crown even from her birth?" The Wondrous Childhood of the Most Holy Mother of God, (PCP: 1998), 237.   I give this resolution to the Blessed Virgin Mary.   Thanks be to God for graces received.   Related sites: Castle of the Immaculate & AirMaria

__._,_.___

Visit This Group

__,_._,___

- SPIRITUAL FOOD FOR THOUGHT - by MARK MALLETT

Hope is Dawning

 

First published January 23rd, 2008.  This word brings into focus once again what all our waiting, watching, fasting, praying, and suffering is all about at this time in history. It reminds us that darkness will not triumph. Moreover, it reminds us that we are not defeated souls, but sons and daughters of God called into a mission, sealed with the power of the Holy Spirit, and inscribed with the name and authority of Jesus. Do not be afraid! Nor think that because you are insignificant in the eyes of the world, hidden from the masses, that God does not have a significant plan for you. Renew your commitment to Jesus today, trusting in His love and mercy. Begin again. Gird your loins. Tighten the ropes upon your sandals. Lift high the shield of faith, and grasp the hand of your Mother in the holy Rosary.

This is not the time for comfort, but the time for miracles! For Hope is dawning…

 

THIS word came to me yesterday evening while my spiritual director and I were together. It forms the basis of the coming writings. Understand… the dawn of Hope is upon us…

Little ones, do not think that because you, the remnant, are small in number means that you are special. Rather, you are chosen. You are chosen to bring the Good News to the world at the appointed hour. This is the Triumph for which my Heart awaits with great anticipation. All is set now. All is in motion. The hand of my Son is ready to move in the most sovereign way. Pay careful attention to my voice. I am preparing you, my little ones, for this Great Hour of Mercy. Jesus is coming, coming as Light, to awaken souls steeped in darkness. For the darkness is great, but the Light is far greater. When Jesus comes, much will come to light, and the darkness will be scattered. It is then that you will be sent, like the Apostles of old, to gather souls into my Motherly garments. Wait. All is ready. Watch and pray. Never lose hope, for God loves everyone.

 

Published in: DAILY JOURNAL, TIME OF GRACE | on June 2nd, 2008 |

Pope Benedict XVI Encourages Us to Pray the Rosary!

VATICAN - The Holy Father concludes the Month of Mary encouraging all to continue praying the Rosary, "so that, in the school of Mary, the lamp of faith may shine ever brighter in the heart of Christians and in their houses."

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – "The Rosary, when it is not a mechanical repetition of traditional formulas, is a biblical meditation that permits us to reflect on the events of the Lord's life in the company of the Blessed Virgin, treasuring them, as she did, in our heart. In many Christian communities there is the beautiful custom of reciting the Rosary in a more solemn way together with the family and in parishes. Now that the month is ending, this good practice should not also end; indeed it should be continued with a still greater commitment, so that, in the school of Mary, the lamp of faith may shine ever brighter in the heart of Christians and in their houses." This was Pope Benedict XVI's recommendation made at the close of the celebration of the conclusion of the Month of Mary, which took place in the evening on Saturday, March 31 in Saint Peter's Square. After reciting the Holy Rosary, while an image of the Virgin Mary was carried in procession through the Plaza, there was a para-liturgical celebration at the end of which the Holy Father came out to the "Sagrato" in front of the Basilica to give a brief address.

In his reflection, the Pope made reference to the Gospel passage for the feast of the Visitation, May 31, in which Mary leaves Nazareth to go and visit his cousin Elizabeth. "Before being concerned about herself, Mary thinks rather of the elderly Elizabeth, whom she knew was already in an advanced stage of pregnancy, and, driven by the mystery of love that she had just received into herself, she made her way 'with haste' to go help Elizabeth. This is the simple and sublime greatness of Mary! When she arrived at Elizabeth's house... the Holy Spirit enveloped them." In response to Elizabeth's words that are inspired from on High, "Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb!," Mary – whose soul is without sin, not weighed down by pride and by egoism, responds in a hymn of praise: "My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord."
The Pope continued, saying, "Mary 'sees' with the eyes of faith God's work in history. For this reason she is blessed, because she believed: by faith, in fact, she welcomed the word of the Lord and conceived the incarnate Word. Her faith allowed her to see that the thrones of the powerful of this world are all provisional, while the throne of God is the only rock that does not change and does not fall. And Mary's 'Magnificat,' after centuries and millennia, remains the truest and the deepest interpretation of history, while the readings of the many wise persons of this world have been disproved by the facts over the course of the centuries."

The Holy Father concluded his address encouraging those present to return home, "with the Magnificat in our heart."

"Let us carry in us Mary's same sentiments of praise and thanksgiving to the Lord, her faith and her hope, her docile abandonment into the hands of divine providence. Let us imitate her example of availability and generosity in serving our brothers and sisters. In fact, we are only able to raise a canticle of praise to the Lord by welcoming God's love and making of our existence a disinterested and generous service of neighbor."

(SL) (Agenzia Fides 2/6/2008)

Links:
Complete text of the Holy Father's address, in Italian
http://www.evangelizatio.org/portale/adgentes/pontefici/pontefice.php?id=1138

Monday	June 2, 2008

Our Lady Says,
“...I desire to illuminate with a new light...”

Mirjana’s head and hands are raised as she watches Our Lady leaving at the end of today’s apparition. There can be no doubt by the intensity of Mirjana’s expression that she is longing for Our Lady to take her with Her. As visionary Ivan said recently, if any one of us could see Our Lady for even only one second, it is doubtful if we would find our life interesting anymore. This is the living martyrdom of the visionaries.

In the true form of Jesus, when He walked the earth, Our Lady, Herself, made an unnerving action in today’s apparition. For those present, it was a liability to be at the apparition and an asset for others. The view some have is that the second of the month messages and apparitions for non-believers doesn’t apply to us the “believers.” This, however, is quite wrong. Society’s direction has influenced everyone, penetrating right into the highest membership of the Church, with various aspects of non-belief. It was Our Lady who said:

January 25, 2001

“…Once again, I repeat to you: only through prayer and fasting also wars can be stopped -- wars of your unbelief…”

This holds true for 6.5 billion people who today personally received this message from Our Lady. Yes, there are saints today, and yes, Our Lady addressed them today as devout souls. But they are such because they have worked to purify their hearts of non-belief. All, from the Pope to the lowest of position are in need of this purification from aspects of non-belief.

No one is exempt from this indictment, but some have progressed through the messages and apparitions of Our Lady that today, in Her apparition, Our Lady separates the two. The unnerving action of Our Lady today contained a symbolic judgment of the separation of two groups. Those who, as in Jesus’ day, listened to Him without sincerity to change as opposed to those who listened to Jesus and were repentant, opened to change and recognized they were sinners. For those of Jesus’ day, he wanted to give more to those who were hardened. Our Lady, today, wants the same. For those who thought they could see, but were blind, Jesus would try to penetrate their hard hearts to save them. With such people, He, after three years of ministry, as God, was often not successful. Paralleling this in our time, Our Lady, after almost twenty-eight years of daily apparitions, is facing the same obstacles Jesus faced. If you, after reading of the spectacular move Our Lady made during today’s apparition, are honest with yourself and find in this apparition of the separation of the sheep from the goats that you are among the goats, in some aspects of your life, then submit yourself immediately to the three questions Our Lady requested of you just two months ago to reconstruct yourself spiritually. Our Lady, on April 2, 2008, asked three questions:

1.“Are you also with me?”

2.“Is your heart open for me?”

3.“Do you permit me to purify and prepare it for my Son?”

Just moments after the apparition ended, Mirjana, though surrounded by a great multitude of people, retreats within herself in silent prayer and reflection, unconcerned that she herself is the object of contemplation for many, including a visiting bishop.

Do not be in such a serious time and not take Our Lady’s words seriously. A Catholic priest, who saw hundreds of people die while assigned at a hospital, told me once that he observed that people die as they live. So do not deceive yourselves, saying, “I will change everything now, but this or that. I am not ready to change that right at the moment.” On your deathbed, it will be a cause of hardening you and a liability as what caused Our Lady great pain today, with tears in Her eyes during today’s apparition. And with not changing now, do you think you will change then? The angels and, yes, satan will be present by your deathbed to not let go of you, claiming you by that which you will not let go of now. Our Lady wants us to grasp that we will, at that time, be doing one thing, nothing but dying. But you, at the present time, are doing more than dying, you are creating the history you will look back on from your deathbed. Therefore, create through your actions in life, your prayer in life, the total transformation of your entire life. Nothing, not one of your sacrifices, will you regret on your deathbed, but for every sacrifice or change you did not do or you neglected, you will regret. Yes, salvation is available until your last breath, but satan will make you think otherwise. Our Lady wants you to change, repent, and be free from the slavery of guilt. She wants to liberate you.

Today, we in the Caritas Community planned to begin a 9 day bread and water fast in preparation for July 1-5 apparitions and consecrations of Our Lady. It can be a seize the moment for you also to join us to change all areas of non-belief and hardness in your hearts – to become a devout soul, thereby becoming one of those of Our Lady’s children that are illuminated. If you are honest with yourself in answering Our Lady's three questions, fast with us and change. You will be at peace to find you are counted among the sheep that are illuminated. You still have time, in the time of great grace, to change and be illuminated to become great – great in the love and faith of God – all of you. Upon your deathbed, your joy will be complete, forgiven and without guilt. You will already have begun living Heaven on earth, not feeling the passage from this life to the next.

The following is the description of today’s apparition on the day of non-believers

Our Lady Queen of Peace of Medjugorje’s June 2, 2008
Apparition to Mirjana for Non-Believers

“Dear children, I am with you by the grace of God to make you great, great in faith and love, all of you. You, whose heart has been made hard as a stone by sin and guilt*…,

* As Our Lady spoke this, She was looking at those present to whom this refers to, with a painful expression and tears in Her eyes.

“…but you devout souls, I desire to illuminate with a new light. Pray that my prayer may meet open hearts, that I may be able to illuminate them with the strength of faith and open the ways of love and hope. Be persevering. I will be with you.”

Our Lady blessed all those present and all religious articles brought for blessing.

Mirjana’s husband, Marco, begins to escort Mirjana out of the vast crowd of people after today’s apparition. As hands reach to touch her, there is a continuous flashing of cameras, and spontaneous applause accompanies them out of the building and into the bright light of the day.

Some today were there for the apparition, but not for Our Lady’s words. Our community members present said that it appeared that many do not appear to get what Our Lady is saying. It is why the main focus should be on Our Lady’s words to understand Her presence, not Her presence and pay little attention to what She says. It was Our Lady who said in contrast to the apparitions, and then the messages.

August 25, 1997

“…soon a time will come when you will lament for these messages…”

Only when we grasp Our Lady’s words and change through Her instructions, will we then begin to understand the greatness of Our Lady’s presence daily upon the earth and that we are called to the greatness of the saints. If we lament for Her words, how much more for the apparitions . It is not one without the other, rather one highlights the other, making the importance of the apparitions and messages the second most important event in the history of the world – the other – Jesus’ presence upon the earth.

In the Hope of Love and Faith,
A Friend of Medjugorje

As the crowd waits for Mirjana’s arrival, the Rosary is being prayed. These are pilgrims from all over the world who have traveled long distances to be here with Our Lady. What was it that She saw in some of these hearts today that caused Her such grief and pain? And if we could place our own face amidst this crowd, would we have been amongst the hardened hearts that She gazed at with tears in Her eyes, or among the devout souls that She desires to illuminate with a new light? But remember, we, who were not present, Our Lady said, “I am with you.” This, in turn, will also apply the gaze of Our Lady who looks at each heart across the world, knowing its condition. Mirjana’s second of the month apparitions have settled somewhat into a routine for the many people who attend them each month. There are those who arrive before the gates open at 5:30 am in the morning to have the best chance of being near Mirjana and seeing her face during the apparition. The rest of the pilgrims and villagers gradually come in throughout the remaining 3 ½ hours before the apparition takes place, and who doesn’t fit in the building finds a spot outside, but even a spot outside is hard to find for those who wait until the last minute to arrive. Thousands of pilgrims came into Medjugorje just in the last day or two, with the intention of attending Mirjana’s apparition. Silent prayer, singing and clapping, and finally several mysteries of the Rosary are prayed leading up to Mirjana’s entrance and the final moments of preparation before Our Lady appears, at around 9:00 a.m. The hearts that gathered before Our Lady today came from every walk of life, from every continent and nation around the world. Pilgrims left their homes, families, jobs, responsibilities, paid thousands of dollars to make the long journey to Medjugorje, all for this one moment to be with Our Lady. It’s sad to think that some people will go to so much trouble, expense, and inconvenience to come here to experience the joy of being with Our Lady, but who remain oblivious to the changes She is calling us to make in our lives. Yes, it is a great joy to be in the presence of Our Lady, but as Her words show us today, it is also a grave responsibility for those who call themselves Our Lady’s children to leave sin behind. Notice some of the thousands outside the windows. Please spread to everybody you speak that Our Lady gives us a great opportunity to be in Her presence at Caritas, Alabama for 5 apparitions. Take the opportunity.

There will be a broadcast tonight, Monday June 2, here on mej.com’s Radio WAVE regarding Mirjana’s apparition and message. See chart below for your local times, and Click Here to Open the Radio WAVE Player

Your Time Zone	Online Air Time
Eastern Time	8:00 PM - Monday (June 2)
Central Time	7:00 PM - Monday
Mountain Time	6:00 PM - Monday
Pacific Time	5:00 PM - Monday
Hawaii Time	3:00 PM - Monday
Brazil Time	10:00 PM - Monday
Sydney, Australia	12:00 PM - Tuesday (June 3)
Seoul	9:00 AM - Tuesday
Beijing, Singapore	8:00 AM - Tuesday
Calcutta	7:30 AM - Tuesday
Baghdad, Moscow	4:00 AM - Tuesday
Jerusalem, Athens, Cairo	3:00 AM - Tuesday
Warsaw, Paris, Prague, Rome, Berlin, Medjugorje	2:00 AM - Tuesday
London, Dublin	1:00 AM - Tuesday

Prayer for Nonbelievers Come Mary, Come tomorrow again and again. We will pray with You. Bring back our loved ones Who have left the Church, Those who have left God. We will join You on the second of each month. We will pray for greater graces To be attached to Your intention. We will pray that the dam of love, Of God’s mercy, will break forth, That Your new prayer be released soon. We will pray that it will flow out As a river to all the nations, That as the rivers fill the oceans, Your love of God will fill the earth. We wait. We anticipate that great day, And we call You as You have called us, To add our prayers, fasting, and sacrifices To Mirjana’s in order that You may Obtain all Your wishes for the world. O loving Mother, Thank You for the gift That the world is on the brink of receiving! - A Friend of Medjugorje ©SJP Lic. Caritas of Birmingham

To Make Your Comment Click Here

---

Encourage all you know to sign up for MejList FREE in order to be kept updated on the latest and crucial information on Medjugorje.

Mej.com must have your donation to stay online.
Who is behind mej.com?
What is mej.com?

©SJP Lic. mej.com/Caritas • This may be reproduced and redistributed provided that the content is copied in its entirety, including graphics, pictures, captions, etc. and credit given to mej.com and Caritas of Birmingham. Also, permission is granted to quote from blogs, news sources, or other websites as long as it is referenced to mej.com/Caritas of Birmingham.

SCRIPTURE COMMENTARY #238

But some of them said: "He casteth out devils by Beelzebub, the prince of devils." (Luke 11:15)

CALUMNY: The Pharisees calumniated our Lord most shamefully by saying that He was in league with the prince of devils.

[From 'A Practical Commentary on Holy Scripture' by Bishop Knecht, D.D.]
(1899 Douay-Rheims Bible)

SCRIPTURE COMMENTARY #237

"And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but to him that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven." (Luke 12:10)

IMPENITENCE, AND PRAYERS FOR IMPENITENT SINNERS: Our Lord says of sins against the Holy Ghost that they cannot be forgiven. This means that, when a man continually resists the grace of the Holy Ghost, he falls by degrees into a condition of soul not far removed from that of the fallen angels or devils. The devils are hardened in sin, in resistance to, and hatred of God: their perverted will is incapable of conversion, so that for them redemption is impossible. Now, so long as a man obstinately resists grace, it is obvious that he cannot receive pardon, for the simple reason that he refuses to have anything to do with the grace which would move him to contrition and penance. Such as one is like a drowning man who refuses to take hold of the helping hand which is held out to him. Because, however, the human will can be converted as long as a man remains on earth, God can give a sinner such an extraordinary measure of grace, that his resistance is broken down, and he is saved. We ought, therefore, never to despair of the conversion of a sinner, however obstinate in sin he may appear to be; and the more impenitent he is, the harder we ought to pray for him.

[From 'A Practical Commentary on Holy Scripture' by Bishop Knecht, D.D.]
(1899 Douay-Rheims Bible)