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Mother Mary said at Fatima: "My Immaculate Heart will be your refuge and the sure way which will lead you to God." St. Thomas Aquinas said: "The things we love tell us who we are!" With that in mind, I will try to post each day something about Our Blessed Lady, items about the Holy Roman Catholic Church, and public domain Catholic books too! I pray you enjoy my ministry! Below are two albums of pictures that I created: 1. Our grand daughter Adrianna. 2. Tears of Mary!
Monday, July 09, 2018
Sister Emmanuel's Report from Medjugorje for July 2018
Mary TV: July 9, 2018 Reflection - You are given the freedom to choose...P.3
(c)Mateo Ivankovic 2017
July 9, 2018
St, Augustine Zhao Rong and Companions
Dear Family of Mary
The Cardinal Virtues help us to build habits of acting that lead to the good. They give us the means to choose the good in our everyday life. But there are other virtues that are necessary in this process, in fact they precede the Cardinal virtues. They are the basis of our relationship to God. They are the Theological Virtues, and are given to us by God, infused, to help us draw close to Him.
Here is what the Catechism says about the first Theological Virtue, Faith:
St, Augustine Zhao Rong and Companions
Dear Family of Mary
"...My children, you are given the freedom to choose, but, as a mother, I implore you to choose the freedom for the good..." (July 2, 2018)
The Cardinal Virtues help us to build habits of acting that lead to the good. They give us the means to choose the good in our everyday life. But there are other virtues that are necessary in this process, in fact they precede the Cardinal virtues. They are the basis of our relationship to God. They are the Theological Virtues, and are given to us by God, infused, to help us draw close to Him.
Here is what the Catechism says about the first Theological Virtue, Faith:
II. The Theological Virtues
1812 The human virtues are rooted
in the theological virtues, which adapt man's faculties for
participation in the divine nature: (2 Pet: 1:4) for the
theological virtues relate directly to God. They dispose Christians to
live in a relationship with the Holy Trinity. They have the One and
Triune God for their origin, motive, and object.
1813 The theological virtues are
the foundation of Christian moral activity; they animate it and give it
its special character. They inform and give life to all the moral
virtues. They are infused by God into the souls of the faithful to make
them capable of acting as his children and of meriting eternal life.
They are the pledge of the presence and action of the Holy Spirit in the
faculties of the human being. There are three theological virtues:
faith, hope, and charity 1 Cor 13:13)
Faith
1814 Faith is the theological
virtue by which we believe in God and believe all that he has said and
revealed to us, and that Holy Church proposes for our belief, because he
is truth itself. By faith "man freely commits his entire self to God."
For this reason, the believer seeks to know and do God's will. "The
righteous shall live by faith." Living faith "work(s) through charity."
(Rom 1:17)
1815 The gift of faith remains in
one who has not sinned against it. But "faith apart from works is
dead": (Jas 2:26) when it is deprived of hope and love, faith does not
fully unite the believer to Christ and does not make him a living member
of his Body.
1816 The disciple of Christ must not only keep the faith and live on it, but also profess it, confidently bear witness to it, and spread it: "All however must be prepared to confess Christ before men and to follow him along the way of the Cross, amidst the persecutions which the Church never lacks." Service of and witness to the faith are necessary for salvation: "So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven; but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven." (Mt 10:32-33)
Faith gives us the fundamental believe in God that commits us to
all that the Lord has told us, all that the Church says to us, so that
we can become united with God and one with Him. Faith is the portal
through which we enter into the life of God. Our Lady gave a very
powerful message about faith, which echoes this description in the
Catechism.
March 25, 1997 "Dear children! Today, in a special way, I invite you to take the cross in the hands and to meditate on the wounds of Jesus. Ask of Jesus to heal your wounds, which you, dear children, during your life sustained because of your sins or the sins of your parents. Only in this way, dear children, you will understand that the world is in need of healing of faith in God the Creator. By Jesus' passion and death on the cross, you will understand that only through prayer you, too, can become true apostles of faith; when, in simplicity and prayer, you live faith which is a gift. Thank you for having responded to my call."
Our Lady tells us to take the Cross and meditate on the wounds
of Jesus. The Cross becomes a mirror in which we see our wounds, those
interior wounds that we have received in our families, back through the
generations. We see all the pain we have caused others and the pain they
have inflicted on us, and we realize at last how much we need Jesus. We
see how much we need to return to our Creator, who is the only one who
can heal us. This is Faith!
Then once we see our
wounds and our need for healing, we realize how much the whole world is
reeling under the weight of sin, millions of wounded souls who need
Faith. That is when we can become apostles of Faith, those who
communicate with their lives that God is real and that He loves us. God
can heal us and He wants very much to do so. This is then the victory of
Faith!!
Yes, Faith is a gift! And it is a powerful virtue, because is connects us with our God who loves us. Through Faith we are healed. And when we witness about that Faith we become part of the healing of the world, even when we are persecuted. In simplicity and prayer may we become Apostles of Faith!
In Jesus, Mary and Joseph!
Cathy Nolan
©Mary TV 2018
Yes, Faith is a gift! And it is a powerful virtue, because is connects us with our God who loves us. Through Faith we are healed. And when we witness about that Faith we become part of the healing of the world, even when we are persecuted. In simplicity and prayer may we become Apostles of Faith!
In Jesus, Mary and Joseph!
Cathy Nolan
©Mary TV 2018
"Medjugorje is the spiritual center of the world."
Saint John Paul II
Be connected!
www.marytv.tv
Friday, July 06, 2018
Mary TV: July 6, 2018 Reflection - You are given the freedom to choose...P.2
(c)Mateo Ivankovic 2017
July 6, 2018
St. Maria Goretti
First Friday
St. Maria Goretti
First Friday
Dear Family of Mary!
Here is something to chew on over the weekend about virtue, about choosing the good. It is again from "The Catechism of the Catholic Church", Part Three, Section One, Chapter One, Article 7, 1. The Human Virtues:
"...My children, you are given the freedom to choose, but, as a mother, I implore you to choose the freedom for the good..." (July 2, 2018)
Here is something to chew on over the weekend about virtue, about choosing the good. It is again from "The Catechism of the Catholic Church", Part Three, Section One, Chapter One, Article 7, 1. The Human Virtues:
The cardinal virtues
1805 Four virtues play a pivotal role and accordingly are called
"cardinal"; all the others are grouped around them. They are: prudence,
justice, fortitude, and temperance. "If anyone loves righteousness,
[Wisdom's] labors are virtues; for she teaches temperance and prudence,
justice, and courage." (Wis 8:7) These virtues are praised under other
names in many passages of Scripture.1806 Prudence is the virtue that disposes practical reason to discern our true good in every circumstance and to choose the right means of achieving it; "the prudent man looks where he is going." (Prov. 14:15) "Keep sane and sober for your prayers."(1 Pet 4:7) Prudence is "right reason in action," writes St. Thomas Aquinas, following Aristotle. (St. Thomas Aquinas)It is not to be confused with timidity or fear, nor with duplicity or dissimulation. It is called auriga virtutum (the charioteer of the virtues); it guides the other virtues by setting rule and measure. It is prudence that immediately guides the judgment of conscience. the prudent man determines and directs his conduct in accordance with this judgment. With the help of this virtue we apply moral principles to particular cases without error and overcome doubts about the good to achieve and the evil to avoid.
1807 Justice is the moral virtue that consists in the constant and firm will to give their due to God and neighbor. Justice toward God is called the "virtue of religion." Justice toward men disposes one to respect the rights of each and to establish in human relationships the harmony that promotes equity with regard to persons and to the common good. the just man, often mentioned in the Sacred Scriptures, is distinguished by habitual right thinking and the uprightness of his conduct toward his neighbor. "You shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great, but in righteousness shall you judge your neighbor."(Lev 19:15)"Masters, treat your slaves justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven."(Col 4:1)
1808 Fortitude is the moral virtue that ensures firmness in difficulties and constancy in the pursuit of the good. It strengthens the resolve to resist temptations and to overcome obstacles in the moral life. the virtue of fortitude enables one to conquer fear, even fear of death, and to face trials and persecutions. It disposes one even to renounce and sacrifice his life in defense of a just cause. "The Lord is my strength and my song."(Ps 118:14) "In the world you have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."(Jn 16:33)
1809 Temperance is the moral virtue that moderates the attraction of pleasures and provides balance in the use of created goods. It ensures the will's mastery over instincts and keeps desires within the limits of what is honorable. the temperate person directs the sensitive appetites toward what is good and maintains a healthy discretion: "Do not follow your inclination and strength, walking according to the desires of your heart."(Sir 5:2) Temperance is often praised in the Old Testament: "Do not follow your base desires, but restrain your appetites."(Sir 18:30) In the New Testament it is called "moderation" or "sobriety." We ought "to live sober, upright, and godly lives in this world."(Titus 2:12)
To live well is nothing other than to love God with all one's heart, with all one's soul and with all one's efforts; from this it comes about that love is kept whole and uncorrupted (through temperance). No misfortune can disturb it (and this is fortitude). It obeys only (God) (and this is justice), and is careful in discerning things, so as not to be surprised by deceit or trickery (and this is prudence)(St. Augustine)
The virtues and grace
1810 Human virtues acquired by education, by deliberate acts and by a perseverance ever-renewed in repeated efforts are purified and elevated by divine grace. With God's help, they forge character and give facility in the practice of the good. the virtuous man is happy to practice them.
1811 It is not easy for man, wounded by sin, to maintain moral balance. Christ's gift of salvation offers us the grace necessary to persevere in the pursuit of the virtues. Everyone should always ask for this grace of light and strength, frequent the sacraments, cooperate with the Holy Spirit, and follow his calls to love what is good and shun evil.
Oh I love to read these words, knowing that Our Lady is asking this of us. She wants us to choose the good, habitually!! She wants us to train our hearts and minds to be more and more holy, like hers. Why? Because this is the way to true happiness!
"Medjugorje is the spiritual center of the world."
Saint John Paul II
Be connected!
www.marytv.tv
Thursday, July 05, 2018
Mary TV: July 5, 2018 Reflection - You are given the freedom to choose...
(c)Mateo Ivankovic 2017
July 5, 2018
St. Elizabeth of Hungary
Dear Family of Mary!
Our Lady often reminds us that we are free. God has created us with autonomous wills. We must choose the way we will go in life. In fact, our lives are filled each day with choices. And she wants us to practice choosing the good, always!
Mother Church teaches us about our freedom and our choices in The Catechism of the Catholic Church. In Part Three, Section One, Chapter One, the Catechism explains the dignity of the Human Person. In Article 7 it talks about the virtues (those habits that orient us towards the good) in this way:
St. Elizabeth of Hungary
Dear Family of Mary!
"...My children, you are given the freedom to choose, but, as a mother, I implore you to choose the freedom for the good..." (July 2, 2018)
Our Lady often reminds us that we are free. God has created us with autonomous wills. We must choose the way we will go in life. In fact, our lives are filled each day with choices. And she wants us to practice choosing the good, always!
Mother Church teaches us about our freedom and our choices in The Catechism of the Catholic Church. In Part Three, Section One, Chapter One, the Catechism explains the dignity of the Human Person. In Article 7 it talks about the virtues (those habits that orient us towards the good) in this way:
1803 "Whatever
is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure,
whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if
there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things."(Phil. 4:8)
A virtue is an habitual and firm
disposition to do the good. It allows the person not only to perform
good acts, but to give the best of himself. The virtuous person tends
toward the good with all his sensory and spiritual powers; he pursues
the good and chooses it in concrete actions.
The goal of a virtuous life is to become like God. (St. Gregory of Nissa)
1804 Human virtues
are firm attitudes, stable dispositions, habitual perfections of
intellect and will that govern our actions, order our passions, and
guide our conduct according to reason and faith. They make possible
ease, self-mastery, and joy in leading a morally good life. The virtuous
man is he who freely practices the good.
The
moral virtues are acquired by human effort. They are the fruit and seed
of morally good acts; they dispose all the powers of the human being
for communion with divine love.
As Our Lady implores us, let's desire to choose the good, using our God-given freedom for the good!
In Jesus, Mary and Joseph!
Cathy Nolan
©Mary TV 2018
In Jesus, Mary and Joseph!
Cathy Nolan
©Mary TV 2018
"Medjugorje is the spiritual center of the world."
Saint John Paul II
Be connected!
www.marytv.tv
Wednesday, July 04, 2018
Mary TV: July 4, 2018 Reflection - "I am praying to my Son for you..."
(c)Mateo Ivankovic 2018
July 4, 2018
Dear Family of Mary!
Our Lady tells us that she knows we are seeking her. Those of us who go to Medjugorje, and who live her messages, are indeed seeking her. We want very much to know our Mother, and live with her as her children. And she wants that too.
But having Mary as our Mother means a great deal more than just having her motherly care. It means that we become those who seek Jesus, because Mary will only lead us to Jesus. He is everything to her. There is no separation. That is why she tells us that she will pray to her Son for us. She takes our desire for her, and through it leads us directly to Jesus, who is her sole desire as well.
St. Louis de Montfort understood Mary to be the best and surest way to Jesus. "True Devotion to Mary" is all about Mary leading us to Jesus. He wrote in paragraph 50:
Dear Family of Mary!
"...I know that you seek me and that is why I am praying to my Son for you, my Son who is united with the Heavenly Father and the Holy Spirit-the Paraclete-my Son who leads souls to the Kingdom from where He came, the Kingdom of peace and light..." (July 2, 2018)
Our Lady tells us that she knows we are seeking her. Those of us who go to Medjugorje, and who live her messages, are indeed seeking her. We want very much to know our Mother, and live with her as her children. And she wants that too.
But having Mary as our Mother means a great deal more than just having her motherly care. It means that we become those who seek Jesus, because Mary will only lead us to Jesus. He is everything to her. There is no separation. That is why she tells us that she will pray to her Son for us. She takes our desire for her, and through it leads us directly to Jesus, who is her sole desire as well.
St. Louis de Montfort understood Mary to be the best and surest way to Jesus. "True Devotion to Mary" is all about Mary leading us to Jesus. He wrote in paragraph 50:
Since she is the sure means, the direct
and immaculate way to Jesus and the perfect guide to Him, it is through
her that souls who are to shine forth in sanctity must find Him. He who
finds Mary finds life, that is, Jesus Christ who is the way, the truth
and the life. But no one can find Mary who does not look for her. No one
can look for her who does not know her, for no one seeks or desires
something unknown. Mary then must be better known than ever for the
deeper understanding and the greater glory of the Blessed Trinity.
In these latter times Mary must shine
forth more than ever in mercy, power and grace; in mercy, to bring back
and welcome lovingly the poor sinners and wanderers who are to be
converted and return to the Catholic Church; in power, to combat the
enemies of God who will rise up menacingly to seduce and crush by
promises and threats all those who oppose them; finally, she must shine
forth in grace to inspire and support the valiant soldiers and loyal
servants of Jesus Christ who are fighting for His cause. (n50. True
Devotion to Mary)
Mary always leads us to Jesus who in turn will lead us to the Father and
the Holy Spirit, and to heaven. St. Louis is inspired when he says that
to find Jesus, in these days, souls much find Mary. That means they
must be told about her. She needs apostles who will lead souls to her,
so she can lead those souls to Jesus. In these latter days, Mary has
been sent on a rescue mission for all of us, because these are the final
days of spiritual warfare, in which many souls are in danger of being
lost forever. She must be made know, so that she can make Jesus known.
She is the light bearer in our times. Our Lady prays for us to her Son, and her Son asks us to make His Mother more known, so that all souls in danger will find their way to Him through Mary. That is the plan of salvation in these most terrible times. Mary is the sure way to Jesus. We are on that way. May we show others that way as well.
In Jesus, Mary and Joseph!
Cathy Nolan
©Mary TV 2018
"Medjugorje is the spiritual center of the world."
Saint John Paul II
Be connected!
www.marytv.tv
Tuesday, July 03, 2018
Father Kevin Scallon RIP June 25, 2018
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Mary TV: July 3, 2018 Reflection - I am your mother...
July 3, 2018
Dear Family of Mary!
"Dear children, I am the mother of all of you and, therefore, do not be afraid because I hear your prayers. ..." (July 2, 2018)
I don't think we understand how incredible it is that Our Lady is our mother. It sounds nice. But we do not truly understand what a great honor and blessing it is that Mary is our mother. St. Louis de Montfort was so filled with wonder at this gift of God, that he wrote and wrote about it. He can sound a bit fanatical at first, but his insights into the wonders of Our Mother Mary are prophetic for our day. Mary in Medjugorje has come to reveal this very Motherhood to us, now at the time it is most needed.
St. Louis speaks about what we are like when we accept Mary as our mother. Here is one excerpt from "True Devotion to Mary" in which St. Louis describes what a believer is like when he takes Mary as his mother:
(196)
It is in a similar manner [to Jacob and Rebecca] that God's chosen ones
usually act. They stay at home with their mother - that is, they have
an esteem for quietness, love the interior life, and are assiduous in
prayer. They always remain in the company of the Blessed Virgin, their
Mother and Model, whose glory is wholly interior and who during her
whole life dearly loved seclusion and prayer. It is true, at times they
do venture out into the world, but only to fulfill the duties of their
state of life, in obedience to the will of God and the will of their
Mother.
No matter how great
their accomplishments may appear to others, they attach far more
importance to what they do within themselves in their interior life, in
the company of the Blessed Virgin. For there they work at the great task
of perfection, compared to which all other work is mere child's play.
At times their brothers and sisters are working outside with great
energy, skill and success, and win the praise and approbation of the
world. But they know by the light of the Holy Spirit that there is far
more good, more glory and more joy in remaining hidden and recollected
with our Lord, in complete and perfect submission to Mary than there is
in performing by themselves marvelous works of nature and grace in the
world, like so many Esaus and sinners. Glory for God and riches for men
are in her house.
Lord
Jesus, how lovely is your dwelling-place! The sparrow has found a house
to dwell in, and the turtle-dove a nest for her little ones! How happy
is the man who dwells in the house of Mary, where you were the first to
dwell! Here in this home of the elect, he draws from you alone the help
he needs to climb the stairway of virtue he has built in his heart to
the highest possible points of perfection while in this vale of tears.
(St. Louis de Montfort. "True Devotion to Mary". N 196.)
St. Louis is not talking hypothetically. This was his experience of Our Lady. He lived this kind of seclusion with Our Lady, and his writings came from this seclusion. Children live with their mothers. They learn everything from them. And they depend on their mothers for everything. Living at home with Mary, we will be taken care of interiorly as her special child. She will look after us and teach us, and especially she will hear our prayers. She will not leave us ever. And all our worries and needs will be seen to.
That is why she tells us not to be afraid. She is at home with us, in our hearts. She is not far away. And she is listening to us, as a mother always listens to her child. If we stay at home, within, with Mary, in prayer, we will grow in every way to be like her. She will teach us all we need to know so that we can be strong brothers and sisters to Jesus. And we will have peace, because she is with us.
Thank you, dearest Mother, for being our mother and hearing our prayers. Thank you for being at home in us, as our mother.
In Jesus, Mary and Joseph!
Cathy Nolan
© Mary TV 2018
"Medjugorje is the spiritual center of the world."
Saint John Paul II
Be connected!
www.marytv.tv
Monday, July 02, 2018
July 2, 2018 Message from Our Lady, Queen of Peace
Mirjana greets Our Lady, July 2, 2018
(c)Mateo Ivankovic 2018
July 2, 2018
Dear Family of Mary!
In Jesus, Mary and Joseph!
Cathy Nolan
Dear Family of Mary!
Here is the message from Our Lady, Queen of Peace for July 2, 2018:
"Dear children,I am the mother of all of you and, therefore, do not be afraid because I hear your prayers. I know that you seek me and that is why I am praying to my Son for you, my Son who is united with the Heavenly Father and the Holy Spirit-the Paraclete-my Son who leads souls to the Kingdom from where He came, the Kingdom of peace and light.
My children, you are given the freedom to choose, but, as a mother, I implore you to choose the freedom for the good. You, with pure and simple souls comprehend-even if sometimes you do not understand the words-and within yourselves you feel what the truth is.
My children, do not lose the truth and true life so as to follow the false one.By life in truth, the Kingdom of Heaven enters into your hearts, and that is the Kingdom of peace, love and harmony. Then, my children, there will not be the selfishness which distances you from my Son. There will be love and understanding for your neighbors. Because, remember, again I repeat to you, to pray also means to love others, your neighbors, and to give yourself to them.
Love and give in my Son, and then He will work in you and for you. My children, ceaselessly think of my Son and love Him immeasurably and you will have true life, and that will be for eternity.Thank you, apostles of my love."
Cathy Nolan
Mary TV
"Medjugorje is the spiritual center of the world."
Saint John Paul II
Be connected!
www.marytv.tv
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