Mary TV Daily Reflection 10/6/2011

Jesus' goodness- the Mass (c)Mary Matasso, 2011, used with permission

October 6, 2011 St. Bruno, Bl. Marie R. Durocher   Dear Family of Mary!

"Dear children! Also today my motherly heart calls you to prayer, to your personal relationship with God the Father, to the joy of prayer in Him. God the Father is not far away from you and He is not unknown to you. He revealed Himself to you through my Son and gave you Life that is my Son. Therefore, my children, do not give in to temptations that want to separate you from God the Father. Pray! Do not attempt to have families and societies without Him. Pray! Pray that your hearts may be flooded with the goodness which comes only from my Son, Who is sincere goodness. Only hearts filled with goodness can comprehend and accept God the Father. I will continue to lead you. In a special way I implore you not to judge your shepherds. My children, are you forgetting that God the Father called them? Pray ! Thank you." (October 2, 2011 Mirjana)

 

Our Lady continues to drive home her point to us that we need to have a personal relations

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hip with the Father, which we receive through Jesus. She says, "Pray that your hearts may be flooded with the goodness which comes only from my Son, Who is sincere goodness. Only hearts filled with goodness can comprehend and accept God the Father." Her desires for us are strong. She uses very strong words here. She wants our hearts to be flooded with the goodness which comes from her Son, Jesus. Flooded! Inundated! Overcome! Completely washed! She wants us completely filled to the brim with Jesus' goodness!

 

What can this mean? How can we be filled with Jesus' goodness? One way occurs to me, and that is that we grow to understand how much Jesus loves us, individually. If we could get a glimpse of how much we are loved, we might begin to comprehend how good Jesus is, and how we can participate in that goodness.

 

Again I turn to Fr. Jean d'Elbée to help illustrate. Fr. Jean writes about the good that Jesus sees in us...which in turn makes Jesus' own goodness more visible:

 

You must believe in mercy to the point of believing that you are a joy for Jesus. I return to this thought which I have already touched upon, for it is essential. The life of the Christian is a life of love. Can people love one another without knowing that they are a joy for each other?

 

Ask yourself, "How does Jesus see me?" He sees me as His child since my baptism. He sees me, since my confirmation, filled with the superabundance of the gifts of His Spirit, marked with the indelible character of a soldier of His kingdom. He sees married people bathed in the grace of the sacrament of marriage. And, looking at husband and wife, He thinks of His union with the Church. He sees me as His lamb which has so often let itself be led back to the fold in His arms, purified by absolution. He sees my soul transformed into Himself by Mass and Communion - my soul, where His Father and He have made their dwelling place because, "If anyone love me he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and will make our abode with him" (John 14:23). These are the actual realities of sacramental graces!

 

How many causes of joy for Him there are in us!

 

What more does He see? All you have done for Him: your prayers, your good impulses, all the acts which in the course of your life, have been determined by your faith, your hope, and your love; your acts of generosity, your acts of charity, especially which you have forgotten in part but which Jesus has not forgotten, because they are engraved in His Heart. On the day of judgment, with what happiness and what approval He will remind you of all that, in detail

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, for His own glory, since He is the author of all that is good, but for yours, also, because you will have believed in His love. "Come, you blessed of My Father" (Matt. 25:34).

 

And if, in addition to all that, you give Him your many miseries with great humility, but also with great confidence, then you give Him His great joy - His joy of being Savior. Every soul in a state of grace is for Him a Heaven which only that soul could give Him. (Fr. Jean C. J. d'Elbée. I Believe in Love. Sophia Institute Press, 1969. P. 97-98)

 

Doesn't this flood our souls with joy? Doesn't it send a torrent of goodness into our entire being? Jesus is sooooooooo good! He loves us so much. He shows us the heart of His Father, who is all goodness and love. We are loved by an infinite God who would do anything to bring us to Himself. His joy is our unity with Him. His happiness is our happiness. His hope is that we will say "yes" to Him and accept His love.

 

"Only hearts filled with goodness can comprehend and accept God the Father."

 

In Jesus and Mary!

Cathy Nolan

 

P.S. Please pray for Mary TV as we begin to prepare for the live streaming from Vienna on November 17, 2011 at St. Stephen's Cathedral, with visionaries from Medjugorje. We will keep you updated as to the schedule!

 

PP.S. Fr. Jean C.J. d'Elbée's book, I believe in Love, is available at www.sophiainstitute.com

 

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Teenagers Bible [Video]

Making the Bible more appealing to teenagers http://www.romereports.com Reading the Bible can sometimes be a challenge. When it comes to teenagers, the challenge is even bigger. To make things a bit more appealing a group developed a Catholic Bible specifically for teenagers. More

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"Jesus, I Trust in You!" [Video]

Each Person Reflection for 10/5/11 More

 

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Mary TV Daily Reflection 10/5/2011

October 5, 2011

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(Saint Faustina Kowalska)

 

Dear Family of Mary!

 

"Dear children! Also today my motherly heart calls you to prayer, to your personal relationship with God the Father, to the joy of prayer in Him. God the Father is not far away from you and He is not unknown to you. He revealed Himself to you through my Son and gave you Life that is my Son. Therefore, my children, do not give in to temptations that want to separate you from God the Father. Pray! Do not attempt to have families and societies without Him. Pray! Pray that your hearts may be flooded with the goodness which comes only from my Son, Who is sincere goodness. Only hearts filled with goodness can comprehend and accept God the Father. I will continue to lead you. In a special way I implore you not to judge your shepherds. My children, are you forgetting that God the Father called them? Pray! Thank you."  (September 2, 2011, Mirjana)

 

Our Lady tells us in this message not to give in to temptations that want to separate us from God the Father. Don't we live in an age that is designed to pull us away from God the Father? On every level, it seems that society is trying to deny the Father's very existence and convince us to live without Him.

 

Denis mentioned to me that one of the most successful tactics that separate us from God is worry. If we dwell in a state of worry, it is hard to pray, hard to focus of God and His presence. Worry becomes our preoccupation. And there is an abundance of things to worry about these days.

 

I have been reading a book by Fr. Jean C. J. d'Elbée, I Believe in Love, which is a personal retreat based on the teachings of St. Therese of Lisieux. Fr. d'Elbée's insights are very similar to those of Fr. Jacques Philippe, and I find them very helpful. In the following excerpt, Fr. d'Elbée discusses worry and how it can draw us away from God or draw us to Him, depending on our own response:

 

When someone asked little Therese to summarize her little childlike way, she answered, "It is to be disturbed by nothing." I confess that these words say a great deal!

 

Naturally this means not to be voluntarily disturbed, not consciously or deliberately disturbed, because nature always worries. We worry about everything: the threat of war, political corruption, social relations, family difficulties, children to raise, health, the next day's bread, the future of our loved ones, etc. I, who preach confidence at such length, spend my time worrying. How can we not ask at every turn, "What is going to happen? How will this turn out?" The main thing is not to consent consciously to anxiety or a troubled mind.

 

The moment you realize you are worrying, make very quickly an act of confidence: "No, Jesus, You are there: nothing - nothing - happens, not a hair falls from our heads, without Your permission. I have no right to worry." Perhaps He is sleeping in the boat, but He is there. He is always there. He is all-powerful; nothing escapes His vigilance. He watches over each one of us "as over the apple of His eye." He is all love, all tenderness. It is really an offense against Him when we worry voluntarily about anything. That is what causes Him pain. That is what wounds His Heart more than anything else.

 

Such gentle words return constantly to His lips, in an endless refrain which should rejoice our ears and expand our hearts: Nolite timere: "Do not be afraid. It is I - Jesus." (Mt. 14:27)

 

I emphasize this concept of "worrying with the full consent of the will," for it is very important in the spiritual life to make a distinction between our nature and our will, united to the will of Jesus. Homo duplex: my nature says, "No"; my will says, "Yes." My nature trembles; with all my will, I smile through my tears. My nature is troubled and afraid; my heart recalls the divine testament: "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give unto you." (John 14:27) My nature revolts; I force myself to say, "All is well, Jesus; do not change anything." It is a fight which we must take up again and again without ceasing, for our fallen nature always rears up its head. St. Francis de Sales says it dies a quarter of an hour after we do! This is the drama of our life. But the beautiful thing is that Jesus sees our will united to His by a fundamental choice - that profound, habitual disposition of having only one will with Him. All those movements of our nature, if we do not consent to them, do not exist for Him. There is no sin without consent...

 

Here is a good resolution to take from this retreat: "I promise You, Jesus, to worry about nothing consciously, voluntarily, deliberately. As soon as I notice myself worrying, I shall listen to Your gentle voice saying to me, 'Let me do it. Am I not here with you, in you?' and I shall say unconditionally 'O Jesus, I thank you for everything.' For You always expect that of me." (Father Jean C.J. d'Elbée. I Believe in Love. Sophia Institute Press. 1969. P.93-98)

 

 

Children can worry very much, because so much seems to be out of their control. They know how little they are. But children in the presence of their parents can let go of worry, because they know that their parents will take care of everything. It is the same for us with God our Father, and Jesus, the Son who makes Him known. We can drop all our fears and worries because God the Father is with us, and He is in control...of everything!

 

Thank you, Mother Mary, for drawing us into the arms of our Father in heaven. Thank you also for being our Mother!

 

In Jesus and Mary,

Cathy Nolan

 

PS. Father Jean C.J. d'Elbée's book, I believe in Love, is available through Sophia Institute Press - 1-800-888-9344 or at www.sophiainstitute.com.

 

 

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Our Lady and Saint Faustina [St. Faustina's feast day: October 5]

 

Mary Vitamin for October 5^th

 

Topic: Our Lady and St. Faustina

(St. Faustina's feast day: October 5)

 

Quote:

Our Lady to St. Faustina

"My daughter, strive after silence and humility, so that Jesus, who dwells in your heart, continuously, may be able to rest He will be your strength."

Sister Sophia Michalenko, C.M.G.T., The Life of Fasutina Kowalska, (Servant Books: 1987), 142.

 

Meditation:

In the steps of humility delineated by St. Benedict (and elaborated upon by St. Bernard of Clairvaux), St. Benedict proposes 12 steps in order to practice humility, three of them involve  

types of silence:

Quiet and restrained speech.

Reluctance to laugh (foolishly or mockingly).

Keeping silent unless asked to speak.

G.R. Evans, trans. Bernard of Clairvaux Selected Works, (Paulist Press: 1987), 100

 

St. Faustina considered herself a daughter of Our Lady and followed Our Lady's advice. The Saint received extraordinary graces, but the ordinary Catholic can learn from her exceptional experiences:

St. Faustina

"Today I have come to understand many of God's mysteries. I have come to know that Holy Communion remains in me until the next Holy Communion. A vivid and clearly felt presence of God continues in my soul. The awareness of this plunges me into deep recollection, without the slightest effort on my part. My heart is a living tabernacle in which the living Host is reserved. I have never sought God in some far-off place, but within myself. It is in the depths of my own being that I commune with God."

Sister Sophia Michalenko, C.M.G.T., The Life of Fasutina Kowalska, (Servant Books: 1987), 199.

 

Resolution:

Our Lady teaches that the path to daily union with the Lord is through humility and silence. I will pray to practice humility and if I find a moment where I can chose silence, I will be silent and make a spiritual Communion.

 

Marian Vow:

Our Lady to St. Faustina on the eve of the Immaculate Conception

"My daughter, at God's command I am to be, in a special and exclusive way, your Mother; but I desire that you, too, in a special way, be my child. I desire, my dearly beloved daughter, that you practice the three virtues that are dearest to me 'and most pleasing to God. The first is humility, humility, and once again, humility; the second virtue, purity; the third virtue, love of God. As my daughter, you must radiate with these virtues."

Sister Sophia Michalenko, C.M.G.T., The Life of Fasutina Kowalska, (Servant Books: 1987), 208.

 

I give this resolution to the Blessed Virgin Mary.

 

Thanks be to God for graces received.

 

Related sites: Castle of the Immaculate & AirMaria

 

Scroll down on this post to see all 12 points of humility.

http://mariancastle.blogspot.com/2006/04/humility-of-st.html

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[Video] Cardinals ask that St. Faustina Kowalska become a Doctor of the Church

Group of Cardinals ask that St. Faustina Kowalska become a Doctor of the Church romereports.com More

 

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Pope explains how God serves as Shepherd for people throughout history

THE CLOSENESS OF GOD TRANSFORMS REALITY

 

VATICAN CITY

, 5 OCT 2011 (VIS) - The Holy Father dedicated his catechesis during this morning's general audience to Psalm 23 which begins with the words: "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want". "Addressing the Lord in prayer implies a radical act of confidence, the awareness of entrusting oneself to God Who is good", he said.

 

  Psalm 23 is an example of such confidence. "The Psalmist expresses his tranquil certainty that he will be guided and protected, sheltered from all danger because the Lord is his shepherd. ... The image evokes an atmosphere of trust, intimacy, tenderness. The shepherd knows his sheep individually, he calls them by name and they follow him because they recognise and trust him. He takes care of them, protects them like a treasure, and is ready to defend them in order to guarantee their wellbeing, to ensure they live in peace. They shall want nothing if the shepherd is 

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with them".

 

  The Psalm describes the oasis of peace to which the shepherd leads his flock. The setting is a desert landscape, "yet the shepherd knows where to find pasture and water, which are essential for life, he knows the way to the oasis in which the soul can be 'restored' with new energies to start the journey afresh. As the Psalmist says, God guides him to 'green pastures' and 'still waters' where all things are in abundance. ... If the Lord is the shepherd, even in the desert, a place of scarcity and death, we do not lose our certainty in the radical presence of life".

 

  The shepherd adapts his rhythms and his needs to those of his flock. "If we walk behind the 'Good Shepherd'", the Pope said, " however difficult, tortuous and long the paths of our life may seem, we too can be certain that they are right for us, that the Lord guides us and that He is always close".

 

  Hence the Psalmist adds: "Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me". Benedict XVI explained how, although the Psalmist here uses a Hebrew expression which evokes the shadows of death, he nonetheless proceeds without fear because he knows the Lord is with him. "This is a proclamation of unshakeable trust and encapsulates a radical experience of faith: the closeness of God transforms reality, the darkest valley loses all its perils".

 

  This image concludes the first part of the Psalm and opens the way to a change of scene. "You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows". The Lord is now presented "as the One Who welcomes the Psalmist with generous hospitality. ... Food, oil, wine are the gifts that enable us to live, they bring joy because they lie beyond what is strictly necessary, an expression of the gratitude and abundance of love". In the meantime the enemies look on powerlessly because "when God opens His tent to welcome us, nothing can harm us".

 

  The Psalmist goes on "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long". The Psalmist's journey "acquires fresh meaning and becomes a pilgrimage towards the Temple of the Lord, the holy place in which he wishes 'to dwell' forever". Likewise, living near God and His goodness is what all believers long for, the Holy Father said.

 

  This Psalm has accompanied the entire history and religious experience of the People of Israel, but only in Jesus Christ is its evocative strength "fulfilled and fully expressed: Jesus is the 'Good Shepherd' Who goes in search of the lost sheep, Who knows His sheep and gives His life for them. He is the way, the way that leads to life, the light that illuminates the dark valley and overcomes all our fears. He is the generous host Who welcomes us and saves us from our enemies, preparing the banquet of His Body and His Blood for us, and the definitive banquet ... in heaven. He is the regal Shepherd, King in meekness and mercy, enthroned on the glorious seat of the cross".

 

  Psalm 23 invites us to renew our trust in God, the Pope concluded, "to abandon ourselves completely in His hands. Let us, then, trustingly ask the Lord to allow us always to walk on His paths, even along the difficult paths of our own times, as a docile and obedient flock; let us ask Him to welcome us into His house, at His table, and to lead us to 'still waters' so that, in welcoming the gift of His Spirit, we may drink from His spring, source of that living water which 'gushes up to eternal life'".

AG/                                                                                                   VIS 20111005 (810)

 

 

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Take Five for Faith for Wednesday, October 5, 2011

TAKE FIVE FOR FAITH: Daily renewal for busy Catholics  Wednesday, October 5 Thy will be done Think about the Lord’s Prayer: It sounds as if it’s mostly about what God does, but it’s just as much—maybe more—about what we are to do. “Hallowed by your name, your kingdom come” is not only praise of God but also a prayer for God’s name to be known and God’s kingdom to be fulfilled on earth—both of which involve our cooperation. “Forgive us our sins for we ourselves forgive everyone in debt to us” reminds us of the uncomfortable truth that scripture proclaims loud and clear: God will forgive us to the extent we forgive one another. Next time you pray the Our Father, don’t only say the words: Resolve to fulfill them. TODAY’S READINGS: Jonah 4:1-11; Luke 11:1-4 (463) “Lord, teach us to pray.” From http://www.takefiveforfaith.com/ Image by jessamyn via Flickr

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Vatican Diary / Not All Bishops Are of Good Will

The Italians are at the front of the line in disobeying Rome, with regard to the translation of the words of consecration. The Germans and Austrians are bringing up the rear. And even in the translations of the Our Father and of the Gloria, there is disagreement 

 Read more here: http://chiesa.espresso.repubblica.it/articolo/1349710?eng=y

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[MaryVitamin] St. Francis

 

Mary Vitamin for October 3rd

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Topic: St. Francis

October 4th

 

Quote:

 "Odilo says, '[The Blessed Virgin Mary] frequently visited the places of our Lord's Nativity, Passion, and Sepulchre.'"

Image by Getty Images via @daylife

St. Alphonsus di Liguori, The Glories of Mary, (Tan Books: 1978), 499.

 

Meditation:

Many attribute to St. Francis  the devotion of the Way of the Cross as well as the Christmas Creche. Both devotions involve returning to the important scenes of Christ's earthly life - something Our Lady did frequently. St. Francis displays his essentially Marian spirituality in the beautiful prayer pattern of the Stations of the Cross.

 

Pope Benedict XVI Good Friday  2006

"We have seen that on the Way of the Cross, Paul found the zeal of his faith and kindled the light of 

Image by Getty Images via @daylife

love. We have seen how St. Augustine found his way: as well as Francis of Assisi, St. Vincent de Paul, St. Maximilian Kolbe and Mother Teresa of Calcutta . So it is that we too are invited to find our place, to discover with these great, courageous saints, the way with Jesus and for Jesus: the way of goodness and truth: the courage of love. Let us pray to the Holy Mother of Jesus, the Mother of Mercy, that we too can be men and women of mercy, and thereby contribute to the world's salvation, to the salvation of creatures: to be men and women of God. Amen!"

 

 Resolution:

In honor of the feast day of St. Francis, I will try to visit the Stations of the Cross today. If I cannot pray them all, I will try to keep the stations in my heart by accepting the Crosses of every day life in imitation of Our Lady and St. Francis.

 

Marian Vow:

Salutation to the Virgin Mary by St. Francis

 

Hail O Lady, Holy Queen, Mary,
Holy Mother of God:
You are ever a Virgin,
Chosen by the most holy Father in heaven,
Whom He consecrated with His most holy beloved Son
And with the Holy Sprit, the Paraclete.
In you there was and is all the fullness of grace and every good.

Hail, His Palace!
Hail, His Tabernacle!

Image by Tony the Misfit via Flickr

Hail, His Home!
Hail, His Robe!
Hail, His Handmaid!
Hail, His Mother!

And hail, all you holy virtues,
which through the grace and light of the Holy Spirit are poured into the hearts of the faithful so that, healing those who are now unfaithful, you may make them all faithful to God.

 

I give this resolution to the Blessed Virgin Mary.

 

Thanks be to God for graces received.

 

Related sites: Castle of the Immaculate &AirMaria

 

The Way of the Cross by St. Francis of Assisi

The way of the soul at Castle of the Immaculate

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Satan’s Many Disguises.

---

Satan Is The Master Of Deceit! From: The Light Is On For You.org Msgr. Charles Pope-It would be easy if Satan came as he is often portrayed, with horns and a pitchfork. We would naturally flee this ugliness. Alas, he often comes cloaked in beauty, in sheep’s clothing. He claims to offer us freedom and autonomy from an unreasonable God and Church, liberation from rules and being “told what to do.”  He cloaks himself in the false righteousness of being “tolerant” and “not judging others.” He exalts us by telling us we have finally come of age and can disregard the “hang-ups” and “repression” our ancestors had of sex and pleasure. He flatters us by extolling our scientific knowledge and inflates us by equating it with wisdom and moral superiority over our “primitive” fore-bearers. He reassures us by insisting we are merely the victims here, victims of biological urges, bad parenting, economic injustice, that we are not depraved, just deprived. He humors us by making us laugh at sin, making light of it in comedian’s routines, sitcoms, music and otherwise turning sin into a form of entertainment. He anesthetizes the pain of guilt and sin by sending us teachers who tickle our ears and assure us that what we know deep down to be wrong is actually fine, even virtuous. He affirms us by insisting that whenever shortcomings in us have been called to our attention it is simply unfair since other people are surely worse, that self esteem is something owed to us and others who lessen it are unkind.   He  sings us the lullaby of presumption assuring us that consequences and judgment will not be our lot and with this lullaby we drift off into a moral sleep of indifference and  false confidence. But in the end, there is a wolf under the sheepskin. Satan is ugly. He enslaves, condemns, ridicules and ensnares. His “reassurances” bring pain and grief as the awful effects of sin unwind: hatred, fear, resentments, revenge, suffering, disease, addiction, bondage, strife, divorce, estrangement, war, insurrection, disloyalty, scorn, bitterness, depression, anxiety, depletion, poverty, loss and deep, deep sorrow. Beware, Satan has many disguises and he seldom presents as he really is. The movie The Passion of the Christ brilliantly presented Satan in the Garden. At first there was almost a strange beauty. But a closer look revealed increasingly hideous details: cold, fixed eyes, sharp and discolored nails, sickly pale skin, suddenly androgynous qualities, and a disgusting maggot crawling in and out of the nose. An audible moan came from the audience in the theatre where I first saw it. Would that, beyond the movie, we could sense this revulsion and clarity as to the evil of Satan and his truest reality. http://www.courageouspriest.com/

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John Wayne's Priest Grandson Shares His Thoughts: [Video]

John Wayne's Grandson Fr. Matthew Munoz Medjugorje Testimony The grandson of actor John Wayne, Fr. Matthew Munoz, shares his thoughts and insights on Our Lady's coming to Medjugorje. More

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Humility and Charity--St. Francis of Assisi

via crossroadsinitiative.com

This excerpt from a letter by St. Francis of Assisi (Opuscula, edit. Quaracchi 1949, 87-94) is used in the Roman Catholic Office of Readings for the feast (liturgical memorial) of Saint Francis of Assisi on October 4. Francesco di Bernadone was born in the Italian city of Assisi in 1182 to a merchant family. After a carefree youth, he renounced his father's wealth in response to God's call to follow him in a new form of religious life. St. Francis' desire was to live the Gospel lifestyle of our Lord and the apostles, and so embraces a life evangelical poverty and itinerant preaching. He established a rule for his growing band of disciples, called the Friars Minor or "little brothers," which was approved by Pope Innocent III. St. Francis then went on to found an order of cloistered nuns, known as the Poor Clares, and the "third order" of lay Franciscans who practiced penance while living in the secular world. St. Francis died in 1226.

It was through his archangel, Saint Gabriel, that the Father above made known to the holy and glorious Virgin Mary that the worthy, holy and glorious
Word of the Father would come from heaven and take from her womb the real flesh of our human frailty. Though he was wealthy beyond reckoning, he still willingly chose to be poor with his blessed mother. And shortly before his passion he celebrated the Passover with his disciples. Then he prayed to his Father saying: Father, if it be possible, let this cup be taken from me.

Nevertheless, he reposed his will in the will of his Father. The Father willed that his blessed and glorious Son, whom he gave to us and who was born for us, should through his own blood offer himself as a sacrificial victim on the altar of the cross. This was to be done not for himself through whom all things were made, but for our sins. It was intended to leave us an example of how to follow in his footsteps.

And he desires all of us to be saved through him, and to receive him with pure heart and chaste body.

O how happy and blessed are those who love the Lord and do as the Lord himself said in the gospel: You shall love the Lord your God with your whole heart and your whole soul; and your neighbor as yourself. Therefore, let us love God and adore him with pure heart and mind. This is his particular desire when he says: True worshipers adore the Father in spirit and truth. For all who adore him must do so in the spirit of truth. Let us also direct to him our praises and prayers saying: Our Father, who art in heaven, since we must always pray and never grow slack.

Furthermore, let us produce worthy fruits of penance. Let us also love our neighbors as ourselves. Let us have charity and humility. Let us give alms because these cleanse our souls from the stains of sin. Men lose all the material things they leave behind them in this world, but they carry with them the reward of their charity and the alms they give. For these they will receive from the Lord the reward and recompense they deserve. We must not be wise and prudent according to the flesh. Rather we must be simple, humble and pure. We should never desire to be over others. Instead, we ought to be servants who are submissive to every human being for God’s sake. The Spirit of the Lord will rest on all who live in this way and persevere in it to the end. He will permanently dwell in them. They will be the Father’s children who do his work. They are the spouses, brothers and mothers of our Lord Jesus Christ.

To read about St. Francis of Assisi trial by fire, click here! http://www.crossroadsinitiative.com/library_article/1042/Mustard_Seed_Faith__...

Be a part of the “new springtime” of evangelization! Your tax-deductible gift helps us use TV, radio, and the web to proclaim the message without compromise but in language even the young can understand. Click here to donate now. https://www.crossroadsinitiative.com/donate.html

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Mary TV Daily Reflection 10/4/2011

Image by gwilmore via Flickr

October 4, 2011

St. Francis of Assisi,

 

Dear Family of Mary!

 

"Dear children! Also today my motherly heart calls you to prayer, to your personal relationship with God the Father, to the joy of prayer in Him. God the Father is not far away from you and He is not unknown to you. He revealed Himself to you through my Son and gave you Life that is my Son. Therefore, my children, do not give in to temptations that want to separate you from God the Father. Pray! Do not attempt to have families and societies without Him. Pray! Pray that your hearts may be flooded with the goodness which comes only from my Son, Who is sincere goodness. Only hearts filled with goodness can comprehend and accept God the Father. I will continue to lead you. In a special way I implore you not to judge your shepherds. My children, are you forgetting that God the Father called them? Pray ! Thank you." (October 2, 2011 Mirjana)

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Our Lady encourages us in this message to pursue a living relationship with God the Father. She calls us her children and as her children she asks us to get to know our Father. We have a Father who loves us, provides for us, watches over us, and longs for us. But we live as though He does not exist. It is for sure that we live in societies and cultures that don't pay any attention to Him, and even deny that He exists. Those cultures wear on us and dissuade us from seeking our Father. They drag us away from Him in so many ways.

 

It seems true that for many of us, talking about God the Father in public makes us uncomfortable. We don't know who will laugh at us, or think poorly of us if we bring Him up. We are supposed to behave as "reasonable" people, and act accordingly. We are in charge of our lives and are free. So who needs God the Father?

 

I think this kind of "working" attitude carries over in our spiritual life. We may feel that "needing" a father is a show of weakness or irrationality. And so prayer becomes empty. We are not children approaching our Father/Creator. We don't seem to want to allow ourselves to need God. Our job is to do what God wants of us, and be strong. If we try hard enough, we will please Him and go to heaven. Being weak, like a child, is not going to help.

 

What is wrong here? Well, the Enlightenment is part of the problem. Slowly but surely, western civilization extracted God from all parts of life, until He became a quaint little idea for old ladies and children. But along with it, I think there is another problem. I think we may be struggling with deep father-wounds in our families, parishes, and larger societies. We have a deep need to be fathered. It is the way we were made by God. He is a Father and He made our families to work through the love and leadership of fathers. He wanted us to function with the love of our fathers, grow in that love, be nurtured and corrected in that love, and find Him through that love. But, through generations of sin and division and pain and weakness, our families have lost sight of true fatherhood, and our characters have been marred by this loss. I am not suggesting that our fathers are all bad. But I think our families have all been wounded, fathers and children alike.

 

Not understanding or trusting fatherly love has deprived us of a true understanding of God the Father. We don't want to need a father because our need will not be met by a father. It is that simple. We don't want to be defined as children of a father. We want to be safe, independent, and strong. No need for a father here.

 

When I read Our Lady's message, I felt a deep cry within me. It was a recognition that I do need a deep personal relationship with my Father in heaven. I miss Him. I desire to rest in His embrace, draw close to Him, and be cared for by Him. I want what Our Lady is offering to us!

 

Interestingly, today when I was working on my computer I came across an advertisement for a new movie. It is called"Courageous" and is produced by Sherwood Baptist Church. This group also did "Fireproof", a movie about marriage. "Courageous" is about several men who begin to realize that they are failing as fathers, and how they discover God's way of fathering. When I watched the trailer, I felt a surge of emotion within me. Seeing men portrayed as fathers desiring to bless their families, and really be good fathers like God is a good father released in me a flood of emotion. I didn't realize how much I need to live in the love of the Father. Fatherhood is healing. Fatherhood is essential for me as a person. I need a Father.

 

And so Our Lady's message rings true. She knows we need our Father. We were made for Him. We will be so happy when we find Him. I am grateful to Mother Mary for leading us to the Father. Thank you, Mother Mary!
 

In Jesus and Mary!

Cathy Nolan

 

P.S.You may want to watch the trailer for "Courageous". It looks good!

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/christian-themed-movie-courageous-resonates-with-audiences-across-america/

 

 

P.P.S It occurs to me that St. Francis of Assisi is a perfect example for this message. He was raised by a worldly father who did not understand Francis' love of God and poverty. Francis had to renounce his natural father and abandon himself to God the Father in a public way, in order to follow God. (The story goes that Francis' father was angry with Francis for giving away his clothing goods to the poor. He demanded that Francis come back and work in the family business, so Francis took all his clothes off and gave everything back to his father. The bishop covered Francis' naked body, and took over as spiritual father for Francis. Good image! Francis abandoned himself to God, trusting completely in His providential, fatherly care. He really started something beautiful...the Franciscan order!)

 

Zemanta helped me add links & pictures to this email. It can do it for you too.

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Adventure comic uses characters of John Paul II and Padre Pio as children Padre Pio of Pietrelcina and Pope John Paul II return to their childhoods to become the protagonists for this comic. It's called "Piucci and Lolek" and meant to send ideas with positive values to children. More

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Patroness of the Depressed:

OUR LADY OF THE WELL: PATRONESS OF THE DEPRESSED

The Virgin Mary in her role as "patroness of the depressed" has been enthroned in a parish in Argentina on Saturday 1 October 2011. Bishop Oscar Sarlinga enthroned Mary in her manifestation as Our Lady of the Well (Madonna del Pozzo). 

In 2006, the Bishop established this devotion to Our Lady as a recourse for the depressed, due to the tradition surrounding the image. The Virgin suggests to many faithful the possibility of being able to rise from the depths of distress, sadness and sorrow. Visit this article to read the story behind the image of 'Our Lady of the Well, Patroness of the Depressed'.

http://www.zenit.org/article-33587?l=english

 

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Canticle of the Sun [Video]

Canticle of the Sun Reflection for 10/4/11 www.apostleshipofprayer.org More

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Coptic church torched in Egypt

Check out this website I found at au.christiantoday.com

A mob of several thousand Muslims from the village of Elmarinab in Edfu, Aswan province, demolished and torched St George's church, which was being renovated.

According to Mary Abdelmassih, writing for AINA - Assyrian International News Agency , the mob demolished the dome, walls and columns, after Friday prayers then went to the church depot where the lumber to be used for construction was stored and torched it. The fire lasted 2 hours, but the attack continued until 7 PM.

AINA says that in an interview on Coptic TV channel, Father Salib of St. George's Church said: "The Imam of one of the village mosques called on the people to take matters in their own hands." Other witnesses named the Imam as Sheikh Sabry.

AINA reports that according to eyewitnesses, the Muslims also torched a large depot of electrical goods owned by a Coptic Christian, a supermarket and four Coptic homes. Muslims prevented the fire brigade from entering the village. Security forces, which were present, "stood there watching," said Mr.Michael Ramzy, a social worker at the church.

Dr. Naguib Gabriel, head of the Egyptian Union of Human rights Organizations sent an urgent message to Field Marshall Tantawi to save the Copts in Egypt. "The Copts, their lives and their churches are in danger," he said.

AINA said attorney Mamdouh Nakhla, head of the Al-Kalema human rights organization, condemned Muslims taking the law in their own hands. He said:"If the Egyptian Government is unable to protect its citizens, then the civilized international society should step in immediately to stop this human tragedy."

AINA reports that Egyptian media denied the incident. Mostafa el Sayed, Governor of Aswan, appeared on State TV denying that any church was being torched. He said it was a "guest home" and not a church. El Sayed said he gave his permission for the building to be 9 meters high, but the church contractor made it 13 meters high.

"The contractor was slow in removing the 4 meters, so the Muslim youths took the matter into their[own] hand." He said the fire was in a depot of the church which housed the construction lumber.

AINA reports that el Sayed said both parties are at fault, the Christians for exceeding the height, and the Muslims for taking matters into their own hands. He added that he arranged for a "reconciliation" meeting to be held in the next two hours.

Father Salib refuted the Governor of Aswan's allegations that the torched construction was a guest home. He said St. George's church was built 100 years ago and as it was dilapidated, the diocese was given permission to renovate it completely. He said that the Governor of Aswan himself signed the license for the renovation in 2010.

AINA said the renovation, although having all the necessary licenses from the government, prompted a crisis in Elmarinab village in the beginning of September. Islamists objected to the presence of a cross, bell and dome and prevented Copts from leaving their homes.

AINA further stated that outspoken Coptic activist Wagih Yacoub said what happened in Elmarinab is a scandal. "The mob went out today, knowing that they have the support of Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF)," he said. "I accuse SCAF to be in collusion with these people as well as the Governor of Aswan and the head of prosecution."

Yacoub said that Coptic activists, including himself, were going to Aswan Saturday (Oct.1) to see what was happening there, even if they were killed. "I call on all Coptic men and Muslim liberals to join us to go to Aswan." He also accused the Governor of Aswan of not telling the truth, "because he knows very well that no media will go to the village to take photos there."

Georges Bouchra of Copts United NGO reported the Copts are staying indoors, as it was rumored that Muslims have threatened to torch their homes.

The Maspero Coptic Youth organization held a rally in the densely Coptic-populated district of Shubra in Cairo to protest the attack of Elmarinab church. It was attended by a crowd of thousands.

On October 1, several Coptic organizations, together with other liberal movements, were due to hold a rally under the motto: "No to attacks on Coptic Churches," which was slated to start at 5 pm, leaving from Shubra and ending in Tahrir Square.

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Tribulation Times

October 4, 2011  
(Mat 10:38-39) And he that taketh not up his cross, and followeth me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life, shall lose it: and he that shall lose his life for me, shall find it.
VIA MANILA: St. Francis of Assisi Feast Tuesday

Catholics mark Tuesday the feast of one of the most popular saints of the Church, Saint Francis of Assisi, the founder of the Order of the Friars Minor (OFM), also known as the Franciscans. His feast day coincides with the observance of World Animal Day, held in remembrance of St. Francis’ unbounded love for nature and all creatures. St. Francis is the patron of animals and the environment.He founded the OFM in 1209 and in 1212, he co-founded with St. Clare, the Order of the Poor Clares. In 1220, he set up the first known Nativity scene in Greccio, Italy. In 1224, he received the gift of a phenomenon known as the stigmata, or the five wounds of Christ. (Christina I. Hermoso)
VIA CNA: Saint Francis of Assisi, 'giant of holiness,' honored Oct. 4

BOOK ARCHIVE: St. Francis of Assisi and the Conversion of the Muslims by Frank M. Rega, S.F.O.
https://www.tanbooks.com/images/2193/2193x.jpg

"The most important book on St. Francis in English, in recent years." Brother Alexis Bugnolo, Editor, the Franciscan Archive, www.franciscan-archive.org/ 
"This is a rare and daring approach to the life of St. Francis and one that is so necessary in our world at this time." From the Preface by Father Angelus M. Shaughnessy, O.F.M. Capuchin and EWTN Priest. 

". . . ecumenical revisionists are now seeking to deconstruct the great Franciscan and refashion him into a multi-cultural icon, as forewarned in this . . . forthcoming book, which concentrates on his Islamic encounters during the 5th Crusade." Rod Pead - Editor, "Christian Order"

EXCERPT (with permission): (Sultan) Al-Kamil made another attempt to test St. Francis, this time in the matter of the Gospel teachings of Christ. This incident shows that he had some familiarity with Christian doctrine, perhaps based on what had already been preached to him by Francis. The Sultan confronted the friar with the words from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, recounted in the Gospel of St. Matthew:
But I say to you not to resist evil: but if one strike thee on thy right cheek, turn to him also the other: And if a man will contend with thee in judgment, and take away thy coat, let go thy cloak also unto him. (Matthew 5: 39-40).
The sultan asked Francis why, in the light of this teaching of Jesus, should Crusaders be invading the lands of the Muslims? Since the passage teaches “turning the other cheek” and repaying evil with good, the sultan was contending that there was no justification for the Crusader invasions, even though he knew that the Muslims had taken the land by force from the Christians centuries earlier.
Once again the response of Francis surprised al-Kamil. He declared that the sultan had not completely studied the Gospel, and pointed out to the king the words Jesus had spoken earlier in the same discourse:
And if thy right eye scandalize thee, pluck it out and cast it from thee. For it is expedient for thee that one of thy members should perish, rather than that thy whole body be cast into hell. And if thy right hand scandalize thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is expedient for thee that one of thy members should perish, rather than that thy whole body be cast into hell. (Matthew 5: 29-30).
Francis then proceeded to impart a distinctive interpretation to these lines, by referring them to those who attempt to turn Christians away from their faith and love of God. The sultan was as dear to him as his own eye, he admitted to the potentate.  But, explaining Our Lord’s words that a person should pluck out his own eye if it leading him astray, Francis continued.
Here He wanted to teach us that every man, however dear and close he is to us, and even if he is a precious to us as the apple of our eye, must be repulsed, pulled out, expelled if he seeks to turn us aside from the faith and love of our God. That is why it is just that Christians invade the land you inhabit, for you blaspheme the name of Christ and alienate everyone you can from His worship. But if you were to recognize, confess, and adore the Creator and Redeemer, Christians would love you as themselves. . . .” 

When Francis had finished addressing the sultan, “All the spectators were in admiration at his answers.”

Ladder of Divine Ascent excerpt: Step 30- "Concerning the Supreme Trinity Among the Virtues"

29. Hope is a wealth of hidden riches. Hope is a treasure of assurance of the treasure in store for us.

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

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