Added Deacon John Giglio. Press backspace to remove.

* July 26 - Saints Joachim and Anne, the Virgin Mary’s parents * A long line of people who transmitted their love for God down to Mary --- An initiative of the Association Mary of Nazareth  July 26 - Saints Joachim and Anne, the Virgin Mary’s parents A long line of people who transmitted their love for God down to Mary Today the Church celebrates the parents of the Virgin Mary, the grandparents of Jesus, Saints Joachim and Anne. In their home, Mary came into the world, accompanied by the extraordinary mystery of the Immaculate Conception. Mary grew up in the home of Joachim and Anne; she was surrounded by their love and faith. In their home she learned to listen to the Lord and to follow his will. Saints Joachim and Anne were part of a long chain of people who had transmitted their faith and love for God, expressed in the warmth and love of family life, down to Mary, who received the Son of God in her womb and who gave him to the world, to us. How precious is the family as the privileged place for transmitting the faith! … Today, as Brazil and the Church around the world celebrate this feast of Saints Joachim and Anne, Grandparents Day is also being celebrated. How important grandparents are for family life, for passing on the human and religious heritage, which is so essential for each and every society! How important it is to have intergenerational exchanges and dialogue, especially within the context of the family.  Pope Francis Angelus prayer in Rio de Janeiro, July 26, 2013 Let’s pray together  Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now, and at the hour of death. Amen.   .  Share A Moment with Mary and give your loved ones the opportunity to discover a new aspect of the mystery of the Mother of God each day.

From Courageous Priest: Are You Following the Wrong Shepherd ?

 

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Are You Following the Wrong Shepherd ? The Danger of  “Using Secular and Cultural Forms of Knowledge to Guide our Lives Instead of the Bible or the Teachings of the Church” By Father Daniel E. Doctor: Jesus was moved with pity when He saw the large crowd because “they were like sheep without a shepherd.” Most of us are not shepherds, or have not been around sheep.  So, we have no way of knowing what sheep are like when there is no shepherd.  First off, they are easily confused if they can’t find the shepherd.  They scatter, they do not form one group, they are frightened, unsure. Sheep will eat all most anything and they get into everything. They follow anything that makes noise or any shiny thing that attracts them. They are easy prey for any predator because they like to follow whatever leads them.  They are one of the dumbest farm animals, which gets them into all kinds of trouble and danger. They have such a bond with their shepherd, that if He is gone for long the sheep can become sick and even die. Are You Following the Good Shepherd? Jesus sees us behaving the same way. We are confused and are scared easily.  We don’t form a single group.  We are easily distracted,  behave foolishly, and can easily fall prey to sinful behaviors and evil influences. Jesus understood that good and caring shepherds have been gone from Israel for too long. The sheep, His people Israel, are sick in their sin; unhealthy spiritually because of their immorality so much so some have become so sick in their evil behavior they are in danger of a spiritual death and are incapable of a good moral act.  Christ, is the Chief Shepherd, and all who follow Him have life. When Christ, the Good Shepherd, is near, the sheep grow in holiness and develop in the virtues. They become healthy and holy. They bear much fruit. They love in word and deed. They worship in Spirit and in Truth. Pope Francis, has a wonderful observation about our culture, in his new encyclical, Laudato Si, (“C”) “Nature is filled with words of love,” he said, “but how can we listen to them amid constant noise, interminable and nerve-wracking distractions, or the cult of appearance? Many people today sense a profound imbalance which drives them to frenetic activity and makes them feel busy, in a constant hurry which in turn leads them to ride rough-shod over everything around them”(p164/#224) be it morality or ethics, the environment, or other people.  All who are members of Christ’s flock are to be like minded so we, like Christ, do not offer false philosophies (like relativism, individualism and materialism) as means to solve our world’s problems; or offer different lifestyle (like living together outside of marriage, or same sex unions) to indulge our depraved human passions. His Church is not a Democracy We offer nothing that is contrary to our Lord or His teachings because we realize that Christ’s flock, His Church is not a democracy. The Good Shepherd is our monarch, our King, our Lord only His opinions, His behaviors, His teachings, His virtues matter to us. Therefore, Pope Francis, as a Good Shepherd too, directs us to “continue to wonder about the purpose and meaning of everything” (p85/#113). Christ’s Church, passed down to us from the Apostles, followed the Divine Shepherd where He leads which is away from things that can harm us. “We, [the church],” says Pope Francis, “were not faithful to the treasures of wisdom which we have been called to protect and preserve”(p147/#200). We are so busy that we sometimes don’t fully think or understand – what we are doing is harmful, or immoral, or wrong. We just do, because we want to, without ever thinking of the consequences to ourselves or others, or the world around us. This is how and why we are like sheep because we have rejected Christ and His ways of doing things. We use secular and cultural forms of knowledge to guide our lives instead of the bible – or the teachings of the Church found in the Catechism.  And in that, we prove to be much more “neo-pagans” than Roman Catholic.  This “neo-pagan” cultural belief system no matter how conscious or unconscious  leads us down the road to reject any and all objective truths about God, ourselves, our world, and our place in it. The Church Needs to Get With the Times? Pope Francis continued to explain this in his encyclical, “when we excluded God from our lives or replace Him with our own ego, [we then] think that our subjective feeling can define what is right or what is wrong.” Truly, the problem in our thinking arises when we think the Church, with all its moral laws is too controlling, backwards, or old fashion, and the Church does not relate to me and my everyday situation or my particular circumstances. The Church needs to get with the times, and adapt to the new ways of thinking. G.K. Chesterton observed the truth of the matter when he wrote, “the Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting, (but that the Christian ideal) has been found difficult; and left untried.” The really sad thing is, we Catholics go through life wondering what it would be like to be a Saint. We question, is it truly possible to become God’s holy sons and daughters in a way that is defined by His closest friends? This kind of a “grace filled life” is open to us but we have to choose it. A Decision Must be Made We have to make a definitive decision. We have to follow the Good Shepherd and His Vicar on earth, and admit to ourselves that we don’t know the way, and we have lied to ourselves for so long, we have become blind to the truth and its consequences. We have to admit that mortal and deadly sins exist and we are capable of committing them because of our inability to control ourselves. We have to admit that following after our own emotions and appetites has in the end made us more tired, and more hungry, and less joyful. “These feelings of instability and uncertainty” said Pope Francis, while quoting St. Pope John Paul II, become, “a seed for collective selfishness.” Pope Francis explained, “when people become self-centered and self-enclosed, their greed increases. The emptier a person’s heart is, the more he or she needs things to buy, own and consume.”  This unchecked greed becomes an “addiction” or as Pope Francis observes, an obsession.  “Obsession with a consumerist lifestyle, above all when few people are capable of maintaining it, can only lead to violence and mutual destruction,” because we have forgotten the simple truth that only God can fill the empty void and restlessness that is within us. Material objects, “things”, cannot replace or fulfill our relationship with God or the others around us (p150/#204). Haven’t we grown tired of living in a way that does not fulfill us, or bring us lasting happiness, or make us better people? Aren’t we tired of the guilt and the shame, being confused and afraid of what’s next? Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, prophetically stated in the 1920’s, “modern society is sinking into the sufferings caused by human passions and is moving away from every ideal of love and peace. As Catholics, we must bring that breath of goodness which can only come from faith in Christ.” This means we have to choose Christ, because He is our Shepherd . . . we have to choose to have faith in Him, to trust Him and His ways, to love Him more than we fear of the world, follow Him more than the shiny material objects that capture and bind us in our hearts and souls. Pope Francis offers us some guidance, “we must regain the conviction that we need one another, that we have a shared responsibility for others and the world, and that being good and decent are worth it.” Therefore, He forcefully warns the world, “We have had enough of immorality and the mockery of ethics, goodness, faith and honesty” (p151/#205). Christ Jesus, Our Lord, knows what is best for us.  He created us and has given us good shepherds to help us on our way to finding His truth and His life. For in God alone, do our human desire and needs find completion. For we must imitate our shepherd Jesus Christ in all things until He is fully and perfectly formed in us. This is why, Pope Francis in his latest encyclical, has the courage to say, “Yet all is not lost. Human beings, while capable of the worst, are capable of rising above themselves, choosing again what is good, and making a new start, despite their mental and social conditioning. We are able to take an honest look at ourselves, to acknowledge our deep dissatisfaction, and to embark on a new path to authentic freedom. No system can completely suppress our openness to what is good, true, and beautiful, or our God-given ability to respond to His grace at work deep in our hearts” (ibid). This is why I have always advocated for Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration and even the construction of an Eucharistic Adoration Chapel at my previous parish . . . dedicated to Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati.  Because after 51 years of being a Catholic, 11 years of Catholic higher education and 9 years of priesthood, I have come to know, like Giorgio, and Pope Francis, as well as a whole host of other Saints, that the only thing that can truly help us (as individuals; as a parish; as well as citizens in this country) to truly grow deeper in our faith, the moral virtues, and Christian holiness (is and has always been) the daily reception of His Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity in Holy Communion and Adoration of His Lasting presence, with us in this, the Sacrament of His Love. As Pope Francis explained, “The Eucharist is the overflowing core of love and of inexhaustible life, an act of cosmic love” (p171/#236). Something we are called to be a part of…for Christ, our Good Shepherd, is present is this wonderful Sacrament, calling to us, searching for us, longing for us to accompany Him.  For only God suffices.  Only God loves us right through . . . and therefore, He is the only way, the only truth, that leads us, His sheep, to everlasting life. Discover More The Nice Shepherd Lays Down For His Sheep Father Bozada: Place All Your Cares In The Hands Of The Good Shepherd! The Run Away Shepherd: The Redefining of Marriage Debate    from Courageous Priest

Prayer for Grandparents on St Joachim & St Anne Feast Day - 26th July

Greetings with love, faith and hope from the Catholic Grandparents Association

      As we approach the 26^th of July, “Memorial of St Joachim and St Anne, Parents of Blessed Virgin Mary” and Grandparents of Jesus, we wish to encourage you to prepare for their celebration with special devotion, to honour and thank all grandparents for all they have done for our families and children, particularly in the transmission of the faith.

      This is a wonderful opportunity to inspire everyone around us to both celebrate and show gratitude to grandparents for their enormous contribution to the Church, society and our families, particularly so today, when so many depend on their care, love and support.

It gives us great pleasure to attach a copy of Pope Benedict’s Prayer for Grandparents, in the hope that we can recite this prayer on the memorial of Saints Joachim and Anne, as an expression of our unity in prayer and purpose.

Finally, please know that on the occasion of our Spiritual Patrons’ celebration, we shall be offering the Sacrifice of the Mass for you, your intentions and your families.

Additionally, we shall have the joy of invoking Our Lady’s particular blessing by lighting a candle for you, your intentions and for your families. From the Shrine of Our Lady of Knock, in Ireland, the Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham, U.K., but also, this year, at the Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help, Wisconsin, U.S.A.; the Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima, Portugal; the Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes, France; the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mexico; the Shrine of Our Lady of the Miracle, Rome, Italy, and the Shrine Our Lady of Kibeho, Rwanda.

Thank you for all the support you have given and continue to give to Catholic Grandparents Association, and above all, for your prayers. May St Joachim and St Anne, Parents of Mary and Grandparents of Jesus, bless you and all families.

With love and heartfelt prayers.

Founder - Catholic Grandparents Association

PRAYER FOR GRANDPARENTS

Lord Jesus,
you were born of the Virgin Mary,
the daughter of Saints Joachim and Anne.
Look with love on grandparents the world over.
Protect them! They are a source of enrichment
for families, for the Church and for all of society.
Support them! As they grow older,
may they continue to be for their families
strong pillars of Gospel faith,
guardian of noble domestic ideals,
living treasuries of sound religious traditions.
Make them teachers of wisdom and courage,
that they may pass on to future generations the fruits
of their mature human and spiritual experience.

Lord Jesus,
help families and society
to value the presence and roles of grandparents.
May they never be ignored or excluded,
but always encounter respect and love.
Help them to live serenely and to feel welcomed
in all the years of life which you give them.
Mary, Mother of all the living,
keep grandparents constantly in your care,
accompany them on their earthly pilgrimage,
and by your prayers, grant that all families
may one day be reunited in our heavenly homeland,
where you await all humanity
for the great embrace of life without end. Amen!

Spiritual Gems-The Time is Quickening...Do Not Postpone God's Desire Any Longer-July 25, 2015

The Time is Quickening...Do Not Postpone God's Desire Any Longer

"In order to save souls,  I wish that there be propagated in the world Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, (who is) Mediatrix among men, as well as devotion to the Mercy of God and to the Queen of the Universe....The immorality of the times has reached a peak.  But men do not listen to my motherly warnings; so the world must soon be purified."

Our Lady to Blessed Elena Aiello (please order your Consecration book if you have not made your consecration; and please renew it if you have made it more than one year ago.)

A Free Flame of Love book can be ordered in the US at www.flameoflove.us.
 

You can now order our Consecration boo​ks and our Leaders Packages in the US on our website at www.myconsecration.org.  You can order one free copy of our traditional Montfort-style book at https://www.myconsecration.org/personal-request-form/.  You can also order “33 Days to Morning Glory” for a donation plus shipping at https://www.myconsecration.org/33-days-morning-glory-english/.  If you want more information, contact raymooney@myconsecration.org.​

Please do forward these Spiritual Gems to your Catholic friends.  You can subscribe to future Gems at www.myconsecration.org/about.

God Bless you and your work,
 

		Tony
		Anthony Mullen
		MyConsecration.org
		8 St. Albans Avenue
		Newtown Square, PA 19073
		visit us at: www.myconsecration.org

The house of the Annunciation is believed to have made a stopover in Dalmatia - A Moment with Mary

* July 25 – Our Lady of the Castle (Dalmatia)   * The house of the Annunciation is believed to have made a stopover in Dalmatia --- An initiative of the Association Mary of Nazareth  July 25 – Our Lady of the Castle (Dalmatia)   The house of the Annunciation is believed to have made a stopover in Dalmatia We know (especially through the visions of Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich, vol. 3) that before being transported by angels to Loreto in Italy, as well as to Ephesus in Turkey, the House of Mary probably stopped in Dalmatia: "Let us place ourselves in the context. In the last years of the 13th century, the Christian lost the Holy Land... The terrible news caused deep sadness throughout the Western world. Simultaneously, a sensational rumor spread: the house of Nazareth, where the Virgin Mary received the Annunciation of the conception of Christ, was transported by angels to Mount Rainuza in Dalmatia on the Croatian coast! Indeed some surprised residents had noticed a new building standing there, devoid of foundations... Three years later, in December 1294, the house disappeared to the general disappointment of the locals. The next morning, the people of Recanati (now Loreto), near Ancona on the Adriatic coast of Italy, in turn discovered a strange house of unusual appearance. The people asserted that it was the house that had disappeared from Dalmatian soil... " (Magazine Le Pèlerin, 50 clés pour comprendre Marie - Bayard) Source : www.ac-emmerich.fr Let’s pray together  Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now, and at the hour of death. Amen.   .  Share A Moment with Mary and give your loved ones the opportunity to discover a new aspect of the mystery of the Mother of God each day.

Knights of Columbus to Expand Humanitarian Assistance to Suffering Middle East Christians

The emblem of the Knights of Columbus (Photo credit: Wikipedia) Knights of Columbus to Expand Humanitarian Assistance to Suffering Middle East Christians   K of C Christian Refugee Relief Fund provides desperately needed aid Contact: Andrew Walther, 203-824-5412, andrew.walther@kofc.org; Joseph Cullen, 203-415-9314, joseph.cullen@kofc.org NEW HAVEN, Conn., July 24, 2015 /Christian Newswire/ -- Having already donated more than $3 million in humanitarian aid to persecuted Christians and other religious minorities in the Middle East, the Knights of Columbus will expand its efforts even further with a national campaign to raise funds and foster awareness of the terrible suffering of Christians and others in the Middle East. As part of the K of C effort, a new commercial on the issue will be airing nationally beginning this weekend. It can be viewed at www.youtube.com/watch?v=g4GlYu-iBRA&feature=youtu.be The Knights will also announce additional details of its program to aid Christian refugees at its international convention being held August 4-6 in Philadelphia. In attendance will be archbishops from Iraq and Syria, where the violence against Christians has been particularly severe. An exposé on the deafening silence of the international community on this issue will be explored by The New York Times Magazine in an upcoming cover story, "Is This the End of Christianity in the Middle East?" In the article, set to reach newsstands this Sunday, July 26, author Eliza Oswold reports that, "according to a Pew study, more Christians are now faced with religious persecution than at any time since their early history." The Knights began its Christian Refugee Relief Fund in August 2014 with $1 million in matching funds that was quickly met and exceeded by its members and the public. The humanitarian assistance provided has included new housing for those who have had to flee their homes, as well as support for medical facilities in areas flooded with Christian and other refugees. "Christians in the Middle East are facing a dire situation -- and even extinction -- while the response from the international community has woefully inadequate," said Knights of Columbus CEO Carl Anderson. "Pope Francis has urged the international community to take action to help Christians in the Middle East, and as an organization that has long supported victims of religious persecution, the Knights of Columbus is responding by asking our own members, and the public at large, to help us save the lives of people who are being persecuted simply because of their Christian faith." Those wishing to assist with the relief efforts can donate by visiting www.christiansatrisk.org or by sending checks or money orders payable to Knights of Columbus Charities at P.O. Box 1966, New Haven, CT 06509-1966. The memo portion should indicate that the check is for Christian Refugee Relief. One hundred percent of all donations directly supports humanitarian assistance and raising awareness for persecuted Christians and other religious minorities, especially in the Middle East. Donations are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. Knights of Columbus Charities, Inc., is recognized by the IRS as a charitable organization under section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code. The K of C has a long history of providing humanitarian relief and has done so following the 9/11 terrorist attacks; the 2013 typhoons in the Philippines; hurricanes Katrina and Sandy; nationwide tornadoes; flooding in Mexico; and tsunamis in Indonesia and Japan. In the area of support for victims of religious persecution, the Knights provided humanitarian assistance and created international awareness of the persecution of the Catholic Church in Mexico throughout the 1920s. The Knights of Columbus is the world's largest Catholic fraternal organization with nearly 1.9 million members worldwide. One of the most active charitable organizations in the United States, the Knights of Columbus donated more than $173.5 million and 71.5 million hours of service in 2014. For more information visit www.christiansatrisk.org, #ChristiansAtRisk

The Virgin is loyal - A Moment with Mary

* July 24 – Our Lady of the Sacred Heart (Rome, Italy)  July 23 - Saint Bridget of Sweden (d. 1373)  * The Virgin is loyal  --- An initiative of the Association Mary of Nazareth  July 24 – Our Lady of the Sacred Heart (Rome, Italy)  July 23 - Saint Bridget of Sweden (d. 1373)  The Virgin is loyal  The founder of the Foyers of Charity with Father Finet, Venerable Marthe Robin (d.1981), who lived her whole life in Châteauneuf-de-Galaure, a small town near Lyons in France, is one of the greatest spiritual figures of the 20th century. Marthe relived the Passion of Christ every week and offered her sufferings for the redemption of the world, especially for priests. She advised them to pray to the Virgin and to maintain a good relationship with her. When a priest, Father C., asked her: "Pray for me to become a priest according to the Heart of Jesus", she immediately added, with enthusiasm, ‘…and of the Virgin Mary.’” This priest had gone through a time of great struggle in his vocation, and she had helped him through it. Recalling that time, she told him: "What would have become of you? The Virgin is loyal." Marthe also insisted that educators talk to children about Mary: “Help them to get to know the Blessed Virgin, to love her and spread her love to others. When you know Our Lady, you feel the need to cleanse your heart. With Mary, your soul has a fervor that it would not have otherwise.”   www.martherobin.com Let’s pray together  Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now, and at the hour of death. Amen.   .  Share A Moment with Mary and give your loved ones the opportunity to discover a new aspect of the mystery of the Mother of God each day.