20th Sunday, Spreading the Fire of God's Love

Jesus said in the Gospel today, “I have come to bring fire to the earth and how I wish it were blazing already.” Jesus came to bring the kingdom of God to earth and how he wishes the kingdom of God were already established everywhere. The fire Jesus came to bring is the fire of love, the fire of hope. Bringing fire to the earth, doing anything good, is going to run into the opposition of evil. Jesus said, “There is a baptism I must still receive, and how great is my distress until it is over.” Baptism means going completely under the water. Spiritually, when one goes under water to be baptized, one dies to sin, to onself and to the world, but when one rises out of the water, one rises to live a new life of love, freedom from sin and unity with God.

Jesus described the opposition he received as a baptism which would ultimately end in his death. “There is a baptism I must still receive, and how great is my distress until it is over.” The devil exists so every attempt at good is attacked. Our Lord’s baptism of blood occurred on the Cross, when sin would be nailed to the Cross, but when He would rise from the tomb, He would bring about forgiveness for sinners, freedom to love and unity of faith.

The Gospel today says that attempts to do good will automatically cause division: Jesus said a household of five would be divided, three against two and two against three. The five in the house are the father, mother, son, daughter, and daughter-in-law.

It is interesting to note that the Gospel does not state that unity is the highest goal. Bringing fire to the earth is the highest goal. Standing up for what is right, working for justice and truth are higher aims than unity, and working for those aims will sometimes cause division. Jesus came to bring fire to the earth, the kingdom of God. As a result of it he would receive a baptism of distress, he would be crucified, and there would be division.

There are many Christians had the fire of God’s love and underwent a baptism of suffering as a result, helped spread that fire. Here are some examples.

In Hong Kong, several prominent Catholics have faced imprisonment for their activism and advocacy for democracy and freedom of speech, particularly in the context of the National Security law. Jimmy Lai, a media mogul and pro-democracy activist, has been imprisoned for several years and faces potential life imprisonment.

Additionally, Cardinal Joseph Zen, 93 year old, retired bishop and democracy advocate, was convicted for failing to register a fund that helped arrested protesters. These men desire that bring God’s love in the lives of people by defending freedom of speech.

Joan Bell, a 76-year-old Catholic and pro-life activist was sentenced to two years and three months in prison, for a rescue attempt at an abortion clinic in Washington, DC.

The fire of God’s love was great within her, and so, she was willing to help pregnant mothers. Her love for children caused her to do everything she could to help the unborn to have the opportunity for life.

In California, when Cathy Miller began her baking business she dedicated it to God and wanted to use her created gifts for His glory. As her business grew, she wanted to follow a moral standard based upon her faith. She refused to bake cakes for persons who wanted marijuana brownies, same-sex marriage cakes, or bachelorette party treats, or gory Halloween cakes. She said as a Christian they could violate her conscience. For refusing to bake a same-sex marriage cake, her heart was filled with the fire of love to stand as a witness to the beauty and truth of marriage between a man and woman and wanted to help a same-sex couple to come to know that true love of God is found in keeping God’s commandments, as Jesus said, “If you love me, keep my commandments.” As a result of standing up for her Christian faith, she was terrorized by government leaders and taken to court many times over the years. However, the Supreme Court in 2018 said a person could refuse services for exorcising free religion.

Guy Gruters was a Catholic Vietnam prisoner of war for five years. During his time in the prison camp, he became very angry and unforgiving towards the communist soldiers who tortured him and the other prisoners. But, the fire of God’s love caused a prison camp to be ignited to forgive their enemies and boldly profess his faith and American identity. He explained how on Sundays, the prisoners would pray one Our Father, the 23^rd Psalm and the Pledge of Alliance when the camp bell would go off. A few years later, an American soldier decided to gather 40 to 50 Americans together and have a two hour Sunday service. They would sing the Star Spangled Banner and Amazing Grace, and soldiers who knew Bible stories would tell a scripture story. One of soldiers would preach to the group. One of the Communist leaders told them, “You know the rules, no God, no church, you don’t worship God, only silence, we torture and kill for those rules.” Because they kept singing, Communist soldiers took several American prisoners and torture them, but the remaining soldiers would continue singing. They would come and take more soldiers and torture them, but the group kept singing until all the soldiers were tortured, and when all returned, they continued singing because they valued their faith and their country. While in prison, Mr. Guters said when he began to daily pray the Rosary, it was then he was able to forgive those who tortured him. The fire of God’s love burned away his unforgiveness and he said what was once hell in the camp became heaven, because he was given the freedom to love.

When Jesus said, “I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing!”, He was not refering to a physical fire, but a spiritual fire that flows from the Holy Spirit, that purifies from sin, turns one away from worldly ways, and spreads love and virtue.

The fire of God’s love causes division because it separates false unity based upon the worldly views and sin, from true unity based upon unity of faith, freedom and true love that flows from the Heart of God.

Today, will you spread the fire of God’s love at home, at work, with family, friends, neighbors, non-Catholics, confused Catholics and even enemies? Ask the Virgin Mary, to help you love as She loved Jesus and truly love our neighbor as our self, seeking first and foremost the greatest good of desiring everyone obtain heaven, which at times means causing division, so they too can spread the fire of God’s love.

Solemnity of the Assumption of Mary - August 15th

 

Today, we join the angels and saints in heaven are rejoicing as Mary’s body and soul was assumed into heaven.

On Nov. 1st, 1950, Pope Pius XII proclaimed the Assumption of Mary into heaven as a dogma of the faith—which has been the constant tradition of the Church from the very beginning. He said, “With the course of Her earthly life brought to completion, the Immaculate Mother of God, the ever Virgin Mary, was taken body and soul into celestial glory.”

St. Alphonsus Ligouri in one of his homilies describes what many Catholics believed in the 1700’s. He said, “The apostles had gathered around the bed of Our Lady because She had informed them that Her earthly time had ended and that She was going to heaven. When all the apostles had arrived, She died--- and then was assumed in heaven before their eyes.”

St. Alphonsus then describes what happened. He said, “Then the host of angels came in choirs, to meet Her, as if to be ready for the great triumph with which they were to accompany Her to paradise. That great soul, that beautiful dove of the Lord, was then loosened from the bands of this life; and She entered into the glory of the blessed”.

Perhaps, we can add to the words of St. Alphonsus Ligouri by imagining--- that when Mary died, She immediately beheld Her Son, who came down from heaven, took Her by the hand to escort His Mother to Her glorious throne and then crowned Her as Queen of Heaven and earth.

When Mary was assumed body and soul into heaven, Her Son, Jesus, immediately glorified her body, like that of His own at the resurrection.

When we die, our soul is separated from our body and it goes to its judgment. Our body remains here on earth to decay. The reason why our soul and body are separated at the moment of death, is because we suffer from original sin due to Adam and Eve and because we are sinners. At the end of the world, our soul will be reunited with our body and it will be glorified---- as Mary’s body was glorified--- when Her body and soul entered heaven at the moment of Her Assumption.

Mary’s Assumption is a reminder to us, what we will receive in the future. Mary received the beautiful grace of Her Assumption for many reasons. First and foremost because She was the Mother of Jesus, but also because Mary never suffered from original sin and never once committed any sin in Her life.

If we want to receive our glory in heaven, we need to be like Mary, we need to do our best to avoid sin and have nothing to do with sin. And we need to be like Jesus, who as a child totally placed His confidence in His Mother and was completely dependent upon Her to care for all His needs.

If a small child hurts his finger he runs to Mommy crying. All Mommy has to do is to kiss the finger and it is well again. Children know their mother loves them.

In the same way we look to Mary as our heavenly mother. She is the mother of us all. She is our mother who loves us and watches over us to protect us. She is the mother to whom we can tell every joy and every sorrow.

The reason for our great joy today as we celebrate Mary’s Assumption into heaven is because we are celebrating a great privilege given to our heavenly mother. And as our Mother, She will take us in Her arms and keep us safe from the dangers of life, especially sin and will help attain the glory that should be ours in heaven.

On this Glorious Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, may we turn to Mary, and ask her to help us to seek the glory of the kingdom of heaven.

19th Sunday, Treasure in the Heart

Did you know 30% of our entire congregation is under the age of 18, and because of that I will try on occasion address our youth during homilies, so they can see how the Gospel is applied to their young life too.

In the Gospel today, Jesus said, “Do not be afraid any longer, little flock, for your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your belongings and give alms. Provide money bags for yourselves that do not wear out, an inexhaustible treasure in heaven that no thief can reach nor moth destroy. For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.”

The money bags that will not wear out, Jesus is talking about are spiritual invisible bags with acts of charity and love towards others. When one fails to help the poor, or fails to give alms, one is seeking the treasures of this world and not the treasures of heaven.

There is miracle attributed to St. Anthony of Padua with regard to treasure. The funeral of a rich man was being celebrated with great pomp in a city in Tuscany. Anthony was present and is said to have commented that the dead man did not deserve such honor, since he had exploited and oppressed the poor. Saint Anthony said, “His heart is in his moneybox”, echoing our Lord’s words that “where your treasure is, there your heart will be too”.

Following Anthony’s words, a surgeon was called in, who cut open the dead body and found no heart! A little later, when the family opened the dead man’s treasure chest, there was his heart! As a result, the dead man was not buried in the splendid mausoleum he had prepared for himself, but in a cave by the river.

How do we store up treasure in our heart for heaven? Jesus made it clear that those who have given up everything to follow him will be rewarded for what they have done, and the repayment will come not only in the next life, but in this one, at an astonishing rate of interest: “a hundredfold now in this time... and in the age to come eternal life” (Mark 10:30).

Religious brothers and sisters, who take vows of poverty, chastity and obedience give up everything to follow Christ closely.

Jesus said, “You also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.” Our Lord warned that one should not delay in doing what the Master wants and begins to beat the menservants and maidservants, to eat and drink and get drunk. If the servant knew the Master’s will but did not make preparations nor act in accord with His will but acted in a way deserving a severe beating shall be beaten. Much will be required of the person entrusted with much and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more.

These words of Jesus remind us to use our God given talents, gifts, and treasure for others and the more gifts, talents and treasure we have the greater accountability we will have of them. By abusing them, and by serious sins, we will be held accountable and receive a severe beating for failing to do will of God and squandering what the Lord has given us for selfish purposes.

This beating can either refer to purgatory or to hell. A light beating means one will be punished in purgatory for what they failed to do for others. A severe beating may refer to someone who grievously failed to help others and knowingly failed to do God’s will.

How can young people store up treasure in heaven? We can turn to young saints for their example in storing spiritual treasure from heaven in their heart.

St. Anthony of the desert was a young boy, he gave away his wealth to the poor and then began to live in the desert as a hermit and later founded the first men’s religious order.

St. Joan of Arc became the leader of an army at the age of 17. She was burned at the stake, as a martyr at the age of 19. She gave her life in service of God and her country of France.

The three children of Fatima, Francisco, Lucia and Jacinta gave away their food to poor children and out of penance wore a rope around their waist. Francisco and Jacinta are now canonized saints and Lucia may be canonized someday.

When St. Therese of Lisieux was 14, she had a conversion on Christmas day. She said Jesus came into her heart and converted her, taking her selfish immaturity and banishing it forever.

By the time Blessed Carlo Acutis was 15, he developed the International Eucharistic Miracle display, using his computer. He a personal rule to never waste a single moment. He will be canonized this year.

At the age of 16, Chiara Luce was a young women’s tennis player. She felt pain in her arm, and it was discovered she had cancer in her arm. She immediately offered up her suffering for the salvation of souls, especially young people. She was beatified in 2010.

José Sánchez del Río, was martyred at the age of 14 in Mexico. The government put him to death for refusing to renounce his Catholic faith.

At the age of 14, Saint Dominic Savio risked his life helping the sick in a hospital during a plague and ended up dying from the disease.

When Saint Tarscius was 12, he sent by his bishop to give Holy Communion to Catholics unjustly imprisoned. A group of boys attempted to steal the Hosts from him, but he refused to give the sacred pyx containing the hosts and was martyred.

St. Peter Damien, as a boy, found a coin and thought for some time, about how he might spend his unexpected treasure. When the idea occurred to him, that he might have a Mass offered for his father, he dropped his visions of pleasure, and gave the coin to a priest, to offer a Mass. As a youth, he wore a hair shirt, and did must fasting and prayer. He helped the poor, often providing meals, and serving them himself.

St. John Bosco wrote a book, RoadMap to Heaven. He said the first virtue for youth is obedience to one’s parents and so the heart of a child can be filled with love by honoring and obeying one’s parents.

He said, “Honor your father and mother.” What is it to honor them? “It is to obey, respect and assist them.” He said, “When they command you to do something, do it promptly without showing any opposition. Do not obey as those who shrug their shoulders, shake their heads… These children offend their parents and even God Himself, who commands you through them to do this or that.

“Though almighty, Our Savior taught us to obey, subjecting Himself in all things to the Blessed Virgin Mary and Saint Joseph, a humble carpenter. He obeyed His heavenly Father unto death by dying on the Cross. You too must respect your father and mother and never do anything without their permission. Do not show impatience in their presence or reveal their faults.” He said, “One day young Luigi Comollo had to stay away from home longer than his parents allowed. However, he arrived home weeping and humbly asked forgiveness for in involuntary disobedience. You must assist your parents in their needs. Pray to God for them every morning and evening, that He may grant them every spiritual and temporal good.”

Today, let us ask the Virgin Mary to help us have a heart filled with treasure, that is doing God’s will in all things, helping the poor and for those who are young, to obey and respect your parents and you will store up treasure in heaven.

St. Dominic - August 8th

 

Today is the feast of St. Dominic, who was born in Spain, in 1170. When his mother was pregnant with him, she had a dream where she saw a dog with a torch of fire in his mouth. Then St. Dominic of Silos told her that he would light a fire throughout the world and would be watchdogs of the Lord, who would defend the truth. Later, it became understood the word Dominic is associated with “Domine” “canes”, which means “hounds of the Lord” or “dogs of the Lord”.

As a student, he sold his books to feed the poor in a famine and offered himself in ransom for a slave. At the age of twenty-five he became superior of the Canons Regular of Osma and accompanied his Bishop to France. There his heart was broken by the ravages of the Albigensian heresy, and his life was henceforth devoted to the conversion of heretics and the defense of the Faith. For this end he established his threefold religious Order.

One day, a ball of fire came from the sky and landed in the place where he was to build a monastery for Dominican sisters. The convent for nuns was founded first, to rescue young girls from heresy and crime. Girls he converted from heresy became the first Dominican sisters.

Then a company of apostolic men gathered around him and became the Order of Friar Preachers. He would eventually send these friars to important centers of learning such as universities.

Lastly came the Tertiaries, persons of both sexes living in the world. God blessed the new Order, and France, Italy, Spain, and England welcomed the Preaching Friars.

Our Lady took them under her special protection and whispered to St. Dominic as he preached. It was in 1208, while St. Dominic knelt in the little chapel of Notre Dame de la Prouille, and implored the great Mother of God to save the Church, and help him convert Albigensians, which had no success. Our Lady appeared to him, gave him the Rosary, and bade him go forth and preach. She gave him the joyful, sorrowful and glorious mysteries and told him to preach the Rosary. With beads in hand, he revived the courage of the Catholic troops, led them to victory against overwhelming numbers, and finally crushed the heresy.

The Battle of Muret occurred just several years after the Virgin Mary appeared to St. Dominic instructing him to preach the Rosary. The crusaders had a mere 800 men. They spent the night praying the rosary for victory under the direction of Saint Dominic, and in the morning, all went to confession and Holy Communion. The opposing armies, numbering over 20,000, indulged in a night of drunkenness and debauchery. St. Dominic went to a church to pray the Rosary for victory, while they went into battle. The next morning, the Catholics rushed on the disorganized bands of heretics. The battle was completed in less than twenty minutes, and thousands of the heretical sympathizers met their end on the battlefield. St. Dominic warred by prayer, while the men raised their arms in battle. The locals built the first chapel dedicated to the Rosary as an act of thanksgiving for the victory at Muret.

St. Dominic used to wear a cord around his waist, until he met St. Francis of Assisi, who used to wear a belt. The two switched so that Dominicans wore a belt and Franciscans would wear a cord.

The friars were sent to beg for food and were able to obtain bread, but they met poor people on their way back to the monastery. When they arrived, they told Dominic that they had given all they had to the poor. Dominic ordered the friars to sit down for a meal, though they had no food. Once all had gathered, two angels came with bread for all to eat.

St. Dominic nights were spent in prayer; and, though pure as a virgin, thrice before morning broke, he scourged himself to blood. His words rescued countless souls, and three times raised the dead to life.

One day, Dominic had a vision of Saints Peter and Paul. Peter gave him a staff and Paul gave him a book, believed to be either the Gospels or the constitution of the order.

He died on August 6, 1221, at the age of fifty-one, he gave up his soul to God.

The Dominicans also called the Order of Preachers and are known today for teaching in schools and giving retreats in parishes. The most famous Dominican is St. Thomas Aquinas, who was one of the greatest minds with regard to theology and philosophy in the history of the Church. He wrote many books including, a compendium of all of the main theological teachings of the Catholic Church used as introductory texts for students of theology and philosophy called the Summa Theologica.

I encourage you to pray as many rosaries as possible. A few days ago, we began a Rosary of Novena to Our Lady ending on August 15^th, the Assumption of Mary, for non-Catholics to become Catholic. We trust Our Lady will intercede for us and bring many into the Catholic Church through the Rosary.

18th Sunday, Year C Treasure of Heaven

 

The readings today are about the passing things of the world verses the riches of heaven. In the first reading from the Book of Ecclesiastes written by King Solomon, he spoke about earthly things as vanity. “Vanity of vanities, says, Qoheleth, vanity of vanities. All Things are vanity.”

Solomon gives us profound insight. Most everything that the world holds up to be of some importance is nothing, but vanity.

Recall that “the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream at night. God said: Whatever you ask I shall give you.” Solomon responded, “Give your servant, therefore, a listening heart to judge your people and to distinguish between good and evil. For who is able to give judgment for this vast people of yours?” The Lord was pleased by Solomon’s request. So God said to him: “Because you asked for this—you did not ask for a long life for yourself, nor for riches, nor for the life of your enemies—but you asked for discernment to know what is right—. I now do as you request. I give you a heart so wise and discerning that there has never been anyone like you until now, nor after you will there be anyone to equal you. In addition, I give you what you have not asked for: I give you such riches and glory that among kings there will be no one like you all your days.”

Solomon was given the gift of wisdom like no one ever had before him. God also gave him worldly riches, which he did not even ask for.

Wisdom is the gift to be able to see the things of God and their use for God and others. However, despite Solomon being the wisest man, he ends up losing everything.

Solomon himself demonstrates this weakness of human nature perhaps better that anyone. He was a man who, in his younger years, was blessed with many graces, great spiritual insight, wisdom beyond anyone who ever lived, and even the grace of divine inspiration to write Sacred Scripture. He served the Lord, built the temple, and dedicated his life to the service of God and the people entrusted to his care.

However, Solomon got caught up in the gifts God had given him, rather than in God who gave the gifts. He gave himself over to stockpiling money and material goods. He gave himself over to the cravings of the flesh, and to the worship of false gods. From being the wisest man dedicated to serving God, he became a fool and sought pleasure and power violating God and His holy Laws.

Here is a true story. A woman (Mary—not her real name) and her husband (Bob—not his real name) were not able to have children. Because they had no children, they were able to build their own house and had a motor home and would go out to the lake often. They also saved hundreds of thousands of dollars over the years.

They used their money primarily for their self. Although they were nice people, they gave no money to organizations, nor relatives, nor anyone who was poor in their community.

In fact, Mary’s mother, lived in a one bedroom home. And during the winter, because she was so poor, she slept on a cot in the only room with the gas furnace and she hung up blankets by each of the door ways from the room, so the rest of the house was cold. She did this so she could afford the monthly gas payments. Yet, her daughter Mary and her husband Bob never held her with her financial difficulties.

Bob died in 2011 at the age of 82 and his wife lived another 11 years, until Mary died at the age of 84. She developed dementia, and so one of her nieces admitted her into an assisted living center.

One day, there was a water-line break in her apartment. Mary temporarily moved to another unit, until it was repaired. When she returned to her apartment, all her diamond rings were missing. It was presumed either the workers stole them or the elderly woman misplaced them.

A year later, Mary was admitted to a long term nursing home. Family members came to see her, but the niece took care of her needs and would not allow other family members to help the elderly woman. Before entering the nursing home, the niece had her aunt sign over her home, her car, and her bank account in her name, she said, “So the nursing home wouldn’t get her wealth”.

A few years later, the elderly woman died. The niece who took care of her aunt, was seen wearing her aunt’s diamond rings. She bought a new home in another city, so one of her daughters could live there.

The moral of the true story is, if you store up for yourself your own wealth, failing to help others in need, a relative may steal your wealth, and end up using it for his or her self, and so the greed of the aunt and uncle was passed to her niece.

How much different would this true story be, if the couple helped others. Perhaps their good example would have inspired the niece to be generous too.

However, the uncle and aunt and the niece, rather than storing up riches in heaven, stored up material things.

St. Paul in the second reading said “Think of what is above, not of what is on earth.” He said, “Put to death, then, the parts of you that are earthly: immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and the greed that is idolatry.”

The Gospel tells us to not be concerned about earthly possessions nor to seek wealth for the sake of wealth only to store more for the sake of storing it or to not waste time with the worldly things of pleasure: to eat, drink and be merry, because we do not know when our earthly life will end. God said to the rich man, “You fool, this night your life will be demanded of you; and the things you have prepared, to whom- will they belong?” Jesus then said, “Thus will it be for all who store up treasure for themselves, but are not rich in the matters of God.”

The Catechism of the Catholic Church (1723) says, “The beatitude we are promised confronts us with decisive moral choices. It invites us to purify our hearts of bad instincts and to seek the love of God above all else. It teaches us that true happiness is not found in riches or well-being, in human fame or power, or in any human achievement - however beneficial it may be - such as science, technology, and art, or indeed in any creature, but in God alone, the source of every good and of all love: All bow down before wealth. Wealth is one idol of the day and notoriety is a second. . . .

Extra wealth for one’s own sake can be a stumbling block to heaven, because God wants those who have-- to help those who have not. Jesus said, “What you do to the least of my brothers, you do unto me.”

Solomon was given wisdom to see the things of this world come from God and are to be used for God and others. But, he lost his wisdom, and so did the elderly woman, her husband and their niece. They traded their wisdom for the riches of the world, and not for the riches of God.

Let us pray for wisdom in using the gifts God has given us, for His glory, and the good of our neighbor, for by doing so, we will be storing up treasure in heaven. May the Virgin Mary, the seat of wisdom help us seek the greatest treasure, Jesus Christ, and possess Him forever in heaven.

Saints Joachim & Anne July 26th

 

Today is the memorial of Saints Joachim and Anne. St. Anne was the spouse of St. Joachim and was chosen by God to be the mother of Mary, His own blessed Mother on earth. They were both of the royal house of David, and their lives were wholly occupied in prayer and good works. One thing only was wanting to their union—they were childless, and this was held as a bitter misfortune and disgrace among the Jews.

But, one day when Joachim went to the temple to offer a sacrifice to God, the priests refused his offering. Joachim was hurt because his sacrifice was not accepted, but he remembered Abraham and Sarah did not have their son Isaac until they were old. Therefore, Joachim decided to go into the desert to fast and pray for forty days. And while he was in the desert, Anne also began to pray that God would help them to have a child.

While in the desert, an angel appeared to Joachim and told him that he and his wife would give birth to a girl, and that she would be blessed by God. About the same time, the angel also appeared to Anne also telling her that she and her husband would conceive a child. When Joachim returned home, he met his wife at the "Golden Gate" of Jerusalem and both shared with each other their happy news.

We can see how the couple persevered in prayer and how they believed God would answer them and give them a child. How blessed they were to have a child, and their child was no ordinary one.

When the came together, and their child, the Virgin Mary, was conceived in Anne’s womb, Mary was conceived without original sin.

Even though Anne was an aged woman, Mary was born. With the birth of Mary, elderly Anne began a new life: she watched daughter’s every movement with reverent tenderness and felt herself sanctified by the presence of her Immaculate child.

But Anne vowed her daughter to God-- and to God Anne gave her back. Therefore, when Mary was three years old, Anne and Joachim led Her up the Temple steps, they saw her pass by herself into the inner sanctuary. At this moment, Mary consecrated Herself to God, as a perpetual virgin. It’s believed while She lived and worked in the temple an angel fed Our Lady.

Blessed Catherine Emmerich had a vision of Mary serving in the temple. She said, “I saw the Blessed Virgin in the Temple, ever progressing in learning, prayer, and work. Sometimes I saw Her in the women’s dwelling with the other young girls, sometimes alone in Her little room. She worked, wove, and knitted narrow strips of stuff on long rods for the service of the Temple. She washed the cloths and cleansed the pots and pans. I often saw Her in prayer and meditation.”

When her daughter entered the Temple, Anne was left childless in her lone old age and deprived of her purest earthly joy just when she needed it most. But, she humbly adored the Divine Will and began again to watch and pray.

St. Anne is glorious among the Saints, not only as the mother of Mary, but because she gave Mary back to God. We can learn from her to reverence a divine vocation as the highest privilege, and to sacrifice every natural tie, however holy, at the call of God.

From the very early Church, there has been devotion to the parents of the Virgin Mary, and many have had prayers answered through their intercession, most especially prayers to conceive a child. But, Joachim and Anne have answered many other prayers.

St. Charles of Sezze, was an Italian Franciscan saint, who lived in the 1600’s. Once during a plague, he carried in procession an image of St. Anne through the city causing the plague to immediately subside.

Today, let us ask the grandparents of Jesus, Joachim and Anne to help us grow in our love of the Virgin Mary and let us pray for all living and deceased grandparents.

And let us praise saints Joachim and Anne for bringing into the world, their daughter, who was conceived without original sin. Let us praise and thank Joachim and Anne for giving the world the Perpetual Virgin. Let us praise and thank Joachim and Anne, for giving us their child, who will be the Mother of God and our Mother. May their glory be raised forever in heaven because their grandchild, is the Savior of the world, Jesus Christ, the Lord.

17th Sunday - ACTS Prayer & Rosary

 

The scripture readings for this Sunday teach us about prayer. In the first reading, Abraham asks God to spare Sodom and Gomorrah from His wrath due to the wickedness of the people of the cities. They had given themselves over to sodomy, which was abhorrent to God. Abraham bargains with God asking the Lord to spare the city if there 50 innocent people to 45 to 40 to 20 and finally to 10 asking God to not destroy the cities.

In the Gospel, Our Lord gave the disciples the Our Father, so as to teach His disciples how to pray and then Jesus taught them to persistent in prayer, by giving the parable of the friend who comes at midnight for some food, until the food is finally given to the one who needs it. Jesus tells them they must ask in order to receive what they want in prayer. He said, “And I tell you, ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be open.”

St. Alphonsus Ligouri give us a method of prayer, with the acronym A C T S. A is to begin prayer by Adoring God. C is to Confess our sins to God. T is to give Thanks to God and S is means Supplication, where our prayer, will supply for the needs of others.

If we would use that method, we would pray something like this. O God, I adore You. I worship You. I believe You are standing before me.

We then Confess our sins to God and specifically mention them, and then ask God for help in overcoming our sins. Then we make an Act of Contrition. Lord, I am sorry for my sins.

We then thank God especially for our faith, our family, our home, food, job, life, freedom, receiving Holy Communion and Confession. We thank God for our good health, for His creation and all He does for us in our life.

We then pray in supplication for the needs of others and our own needs. We pray for our family members, the people we work with, we pray for the pope, cardinals, bishops and priests, our president, the leaders of our government, for the unborn, for the sick, the dying, those who have fallen away from the Church, for those who suffer from addictions, for our family members and friends who have died.

Then when we are finished praying the ACTS method of prayer, we pray with the heart. By praying with the heart we tell God how we feel and what is on our mind. We tell Him if we are happy, or sad or angry and we talk to Him about the circumstances of our life and then after we have done this, we listen.

This is how St. Catherine Laboure describes praying with the heart: "Whenever I go to the chapel, I put myself in the presence of our good Lord, and I say to him, Lord I am here. Tell me what you would have me do. If he gives me some task, I am content and I thank him. If he gives me nothing, I still thank him since I do not deserve to receive anything more than that. And then, I tell God everything that is in my heart. I tell him about my pains and joys, and then I listen. If you listen, God will also speak to you, for with the good Lord, you have to both speak and listen. God always speaks to you when you approach him plainly and simply. "

God is less likely to answer our prayer if we are in the state of mortal sin, which separates us from God. It is most important for our soul to be right with God. Though we may ask for many good things, what God asks of us is to keep our soul in the state of grace. He loves us and wants us to be forgiven of our sins. It’s like a child who grievously hurt his parent, and without apologizing asks the parent for candy. Will the parent give candy, if the child is not sorry? Confession is important in being right with God.

Here are several true stories about answered prayers. Peter was born in Superior, Wisconsin in 1916. He grew up in a family of thirteen. At the age of eight he was blinded by a firework. The doctor said he would never see again. The family began to daily pray the Rosary to restore his eyesight. Little Peter made a promise to God, that if God would give him his sight back he would become a priest. His sight gradually began to improve, which he credited the family Rosary. He joined the Servites dedicated to the Seven Sorrows of Mary and was ordained to the priesthood in 1941 and was since known as Fr. Peter Rookey, who was known for his healing Masses and many reported being healed. The family persevered in daily praying the Rosary together and how wonderful the child could see again and later become a priest.

A family with 3 children wanted to move from their country home. The father was a hired hand for a cattle feedlot. They wanted to return to be closer to their family and raise their children in the town they grew up. While looking for a home, the parents were trying to find a house they could afford, but also large enough for their growing family. After visiting a house on 7th street, the 8 year old girl decided she wanted their family to move into that particular house, but they couldn’t afford it. The child daily prayed the Rosary asking the Virgin Mary for the family to buy the house. The owner suddenly decided to lower the price, resulting in the family purchasing the house, thanks to a young girl who persevered praying the Rosary, until her prayer was answered.

God loves when we come to Him as a child with confidence. He will answer our prayer whenever we pray for faith, hope and love. He is more likely to answer our prayer, if we ask with a humble heart, not demanding that He do something for us. We should always pray, that His will be done and in the time and manner He wills it. God knows better than us, what is best for us.

If we persevere in prayer, our heart will be filled with joy because even at times we may not have our prayer immediately answered or the way we would like, we will then echo the response to the psalm said, “Lord on the day I called for help, you answered me. I will give thanks to you, O Lord, with all my heart, for you have heard the words of my mouth; in the presence of the angels I will sing your praise; I will worship at your holy temple and give thanks to your name.”

Safe Haven - Bulletin- Purity Prayers

St. Michael Prayer - St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the Devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray, and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly hosts, by the power of God, thrust into hell Satan, and all the evil spirits, who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.

Guardian Angel Prayer - Angel of God, my guardian dear, to whom God’s love commits me here, ever this day be at my side, to light and guard, to rule and guide. Amen.

Act of Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary

Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, and tender Mother, I forever entrust and consecrate myself, my family, my purity, my country and the whole human race to your Immaculate Heart. Please accept my consecration, dearest Mother, and use me as you wish, to accomplish your designs upon the world. O Immaculate Heart of Mary, Queen of Heaven and Earth, rule over me, and teach me how to allow the Heart of Jesus to rule and triumph in me and around me, as it has ruled and triumphed in you. Amen.

Act of Consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, I forever consecrate myself, my family, my purity, my country, and the whole human race to Your Most Sacred Heart. Take possession of my whole being; transform me into Yourself. Make my hands Your hands, my feet Your feet, my heart Your heart. Let me see with Your eyes, listen with Your ears, speak with Your lips, love with Your heart, understand with Your mind, serve with Your will, and be dedicated with my whole being. Make me Your other self. Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, send me Your Holy Spirit to teach me to love You and to live through You, with You, in You and for You. Come, Holy Spirit, make my body Your temple. Come, and abide with me forever. Give me the deepest love for the Sacred Heart of Jesus in order to serve Him with my whole heart, soul, mind, and strength. Take possession of all my faculties of body and soul. Regulate all my passions, feelings, and emotions. Take possession of my intellect, understanding and will; my memory and imagination. O Holy Spirit of Love, give me an abundance of Your efficacious graces. Give me the fullness of all the virtues; enrich my faith, strengthen my hope, increase my trust, and inflame my love. Give me the fullness of Your seven-fold gifts, fruits, and beatitudes. Most Holy Trinity, make my soul Your sanctuary. Amen.

Cleansing Prayer

Heavenly Father, in the Name of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, by the power of the Holy Spirit, we pray that the cleansing power of the precious blood of Your Son come upon us right now. Purify us and wash us clean with the blood of Jesus from the top of our heads down to the very soles of our feet. Let this blood penetrate the very marrow of our bones to cleanse us from any entanglement from whatever evil spirits we have come in contact with during the course of our intercession. Anoint us with the gifts of the Holy Spirit and refresh our body, soul, and spirit, and may the sign of Your holy cross drive away all evil spirits from us. In the Name of the Father + and the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. 

Prayer for Deliverance

My Lord, you are all powerful, you are God, you are Father. We beg you through the intercession and help of the archangels Michael, Raphael and Gabriel, for the deliverance of our brothers and sisters who are enslaved by the evil one. All saints of Heaven, come to our aid. From anxiety, sadness and obsessions, we beg You. Free us, O Lord. From hatred, fornication, envy, we beg You, Free us, O Lord. From thoughts of jealousy, rage, and death, we beg You, Free us, O Lord. From every thought of suicide and abortion, we beg You, Free us, O Lord. From every form of sinful sexuality, we beg You, Free us, O Lord. From every division in our family, and every harmful friendship, we beg You, Free us, O Lord. From every sort of spell, malefice, witchcraft, and every form of the occult, we beg You, Free us, O Lord. Lord, You Who said, “I leave you peace, My peace I give you,” grant that, through the intercession of the Virgin Mary, we may be liberated from every evil spell and enjoy your peace always. In the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen

Prayer for Purity

Jesus, Lover of chastity, Mary, Mother most pure, and Joseph, chaste guardian of the Virgin, to you I come at this hour, begging you to plead with God for me. I earnestly wish to be pure in thought, word and deed in imitation of your own holy purity. Obtain for me, then, a deep sense of modesty which will be reflected in my external conduct. Protect my eyes, the windows of my soul, from anything that might dim the luster of a heart that must mirror only Christlike purity. And when the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus comes in my heart at Holy Communion, seal it forever against the suggestions of sinful pleasures. Heart of Jesus, Fount of all purity, have mercy on us.

Before Going to Sleep- (Sprinkle your room with Holy Water. Sleep with a Rosary under your pillow and pray it at night).

Safe Haven Bulletin - Strengthening Purity

Boys and men are not the only ones who can struggle with pornography and impure actions, so can girls and adult women. Those who view pornography and commit acts of impurity, think no one knows. But God sees and God wants to help. “But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” (Matthew 5:28)

The Virgin Mary told Saint Jacinta Marto, one of the three children who had visions of the Virgin Mary, “More souls go to Hell because of sins of the flesh than for any other reason.” She also warned, “Certain fashions will be introduced that will offend Our Lord very much.” And she issued a direct warning to women, saying: “Woe to women lacking in modesty.” And also: “Let men avoid greed, lies, envy, blasphemy, impurity.”

Our Lady of Good Success, an approved apparition at Quito, Ecuador said, “In those times the atmosphere will be saturated with the spirit of impurity which, like a filthy sea, will engulf the streets and public places with incredible license…” “Innocence will scarcely be found in children, or modesty in women.” “There shall be scarcely any virgin souls in the world. The delicate flower of virginity will seek refuge in the cloisters…” “Without virginity, fire from heaven will be needed to purify these lands…” “Sects, having permeated all social classes, will find ways of introducing themselves into the very heart of homes to corrupt the innocence of children.”

Many parents fail to watch over their children, who at a very young age begin to view pornography on tablets, phones and computers and then become addicted while in high school or even younger. Oh, the responsibility of parents! For the love of God parents, please pay attention to your children and what they are watching. If you care for their physical well being, how much more important to care for the spiritual well being. If you want them to succeed in academics and sports, how more should you want them to succeed in their love of God and the practice of virtue? “One study found that 90% of children ages 8 to 16 have viewed pornography online.” (Covenant Eyes) TALK to your children about it.

To regain purity can take a long time, but some saints, like Augustine, by a single act of grace received it immediately and maintained it the rest of their life.

Alessandro Serenelli, a 19-year-old man, made advances toward eleven year old Saint Maria Gorretti and then stabbed her 14 times. She forgave him before she died. Some biographers stated he read a great deal of pornography. He was arrested, put into prison and remained unrepentant for 8 years, until one night he had a dream in which he saw Maria, in a field of flowers, holding out white lilies to him. After his release from prison, he eventually became a Capuchin Franciscan. Lilies represent purity.

Why do some statues of St. Joseph depict him holding a staff in his hand with a lily blossoming out of it? There is a tradition that when it came time for the Blessed Virgin Mary, at the age of 14 to be married, there were several suitors seeking Her hand. Each had their own staff and at the request of the priest, wrote their name on their staff. During the prayer service offered by the priest, Joseph’s staff immediately burst into bloom with fragrant white lilies, indicating he was the one chosen by God. St. Joseph is known for his purity. "The just man shall blossom like the lily" is applied to St. Joseph in the liturgy for his feast day, March 19, St. Joseph, Spouse of Mary. Praying to St. Joseph, the most chaste spouse of the Virgin Mary, will greatly give strength to overcome impure temptations. The book Consecration to St. Joseph by Fr. Don Calloway has helped many men to become pure.

For those who would like to break the habit of pornography and/or impurity, here are some helpful suggestions:

1. Confess your sins once a week. Don’t wait until you commit a mortal sin to go to Confession, rather confess lustful thoughts, temptations to do actions of impurity (the thought occurs to do an impure action, and the mind begins to embrace the thought is when the temptation becomes a sin). If one turns away from the temptation and doesn’t fall, it is important to confess the venial sins of lust, and desire to to do an impure action, etc… Come to confession immediately after a fall. Don’t wait. The longer you wait, the more you will be tempted to not go to Confession and maybe tempted to do another impure action. Confession first and foremost washes away the sin, but Confession also gives the penitent graces to over come sins. So the more frequently one confesses, the less one will commit mortal sin. If you commit a mortal sin, don’t receive Commumion, unless you first go to Confession. Saint Padre Pio suggested that everyone go to Confession weekly. Confession helps us to overcome sin, to grow in virtue and to be more sorry for having committed sins. Despite frequent falls, keep coming to Confession, manly take up your Cross and persevere. Don’t give up. If you fall, don’t lose heart. Jesus understands how difficult it is for you to pull out of a long habit. Over time, and with His help and grace, Jesus will slowly free you. It took time to develop the habit and it will take time to give up the habit. You can be free and you will someday be free. Trust Jesus. It takes work and you can do it!

2. Trust Jesus! The devil will first try to convince you to do an impure action, then he will make you feel shameful after you have committed it. He will try to get you to lose hope and by shame will try to keep you from trusting Jesus and try to prevent you from going to Confession.

3. Attend daily Mass and receive Holy Communion as often as possible. Receive Jesus in the Eucharist only in the state of grace. Pray a weekly Holy Hour or daily Holy Hour if you are able. Come and spend time in the church praying before Jesus in the tabernacle.

4. Wear a Crucifix, Scapular, Miraculous Medal and St. Benedict Medal. Have them blessed by a priest.

5. Every night before retiring, pray three Hail Marys in honor of Mary’s purity and ask Mary for the gift of purity. St. Alphonsus Ligouri said those who keep this devotion will always become pure.

6. The quicker one turns away from the temptation, the easier it is to overcome it. When a lustful thought first enters the mind, or as soon as the idea begins to tempt one to look at pornography or to do an impure action, immediately turn your mind on something pleasurable, but non-sinful (such as ice-cream or chocolate cake), and simultaneously pray audibly, an Our Father or Hail Mary. You will see the thought immediately vanish, because most likely it was an evil spirit tempting you.

7. Regularly avoid eating sweets and drinking pop. Stay away from foods and drinks labeled “sugar free”, but actually have alcohol sugars in them. For some men, chocolate can cause impure thoughts.

8. Deny yourself instant gratifications. When a thought for pop or candy first come to mind, don’t have them. Eating snacks can cause the will to be weakened and so one can’t turn away from sin as easy as one who mortifies his or her desires. When thirsty, make yourself wait a few minutes before drinking water, or when it is hot, wait to turn on the air conditioner. Make yourself wait for things. These small non-sinful self-denials can be very helpful in not following through with sinful gratifications.

9. Fast on bread and water (or however you are able fast) twice a week. By fasting regularly, it is much easier to overcome sinful temptations. Our Lord said, “...this kind can only come out through prayer and fasting.” (Matthew 17:21)

10. The primary motivation for growing in purity is love. First, we love Jesus so much, we want to avoid hurting Him. By meditating on His scourging at the pillar, we can see how we participated in it. Second, we are to love our neighbor, by seeking what is best for those who have allowed their bodies to be used in an impure way. We should view girls who have allowed themselves to be photographed immodestly as sisters in Christ. We refuse to look at their bodies for our own pleasure, and will pray and fast for them regularly, because we truly love them and want them to be in heaven someday.

11. Consecrate yourself and your purity to the Hearts of Jesus and Mary and consecrate yourself to St. Joseph, Mary’s most chaste spouse. Develop a tender love and devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, Virgin Most Pure.

12. Avoid occasions of sin. Get rid of television. Avoid movies and YouTube videos with improper content. Install image blockers on your phone and computer. Use Covenant Eyes for the protection of yourself and your children. https://www.covenanteyes.com or www.catholicinrecovery.com

13. When an addiction has developed, evil spirits can use our emotions to convince us to sin. But, we can pray deliverance prayers and cleansing prayers to protect us. Daily pray the St. Michael prayer and the Guardian Angel Prayer. These prayers as well as the Our Father and Hail Mary should especially be prayed when we are tempted. Daily pray a deliverance prayer and Cleansing Prayer. See below.

14. Daily pray the Holy Rosary as many as you are able in one day, perhaps 3 or 4 rosaries. Several men including Gabriel Castillo and Fr. Don Calloway say that those who pray 3 or 4 Rosaries a day will become free of pornography and impure actions. The frequent praying of the Rosary, especially the sorrowful mysteries, will lead to greater holiness and leave behind sin and impurity. The Rosary is THE weapon against evil and temptation. Mary will enter the battle for us and crush the head of the serpent.

15. Accountability Partner. “For some it is helpful to ask a friend to help you to be accountable. In Proverbs 27:17 we read “Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.”  I believe this refers to the value of support and accountability. In my work I with men struggling with pornography, I usually recommend they find accountability partners. This is needed to help achieve and maintain healthy sobriety. Many ask me who can be a suitable accountability partner.” Dr. Peter Kleponis