Corpus Christi - Body of Christ

 

Today is Corpus Christi Sunday, meaning Body of Christ. In many churches throughout the world parishes have Eucharistic Processions and we will too will process down the streets of Little River at the end of Mass. There have been at least 126 Eucharistic Miracles that have occurred in various parts of the world and throughout the Christian history and have been authenticated by the Church. Today, I will speak about 7 Church approved Eucharistic Miracles.

The Miracle of Santarem - A woman living in Santarém, Portugal in the 13th was distressed that her husband was unfaithful to her, and she decided to consult a sorceress for help. The sorceress told her the price of her services was a consecrated host. She went to Mass at the Church of St. Stephen and received the Eucharist on her tongue, removed the Eucharist from her mouth, wrapped it in her veil, and headed to the door of the church. But before she got out, the host began to bleed. When she got home, she put the bloodied host in a trunk. That night, a miraculous light emanated from the trunk. She repented of what she had done and the next morning confessed to her priest. Her priest came and retrieved the host and took it back to the church. After an investigation and approval of the miracle, the church was renamed Church of the Holy Miracle, and the bloodied host remains on display to this day. About 10 years ago, when I went on a pilgrimage to Fatima, I was able to see the miracle first hand. Truly Amazing!

Miracle of Bolsena - In the year 1263 a priest from Prague was on route to Rome making a pilgrimage asking God for help to strengthen his faith since he was having doubts about his vocation. Along the way he stopped in Bolsena 70 miles north of Rome. While celebrating Mass there, as he raised the host during the consecration, the bread turned into flesh and began to bleed. The drops of blood fell onto the small white cloth on the altar, called the corporal. The following year, 1264, Pope Urban IV instituted the feast of the Body and Blood of Jesus, today’s feast, Corpus Christi. The Pope asked St Thomas Aquinas, living at that time, to write hymns for the feast. He wrote the Tantum Ergo and O Salutaris. That blood-stained corporal may still be seen in the Basilica of Orvieto north of Rome.

Miracle of Lanciano - The Eucharistic miracle of Lanciano, Italy, is probably the most famous Eucharistic miracle, which took place many centuries earlier, in the year 700. A monk who feared he was losing his vocation was celebrating Mass, and during the consecration the Host turned into flesh and the wine turned into blood. Despite the fact that the miracle took place almost 1300 years ago, you may still see the flesh in a monstrance which is exposed every day and the blood in a glass chalice. (The glass chalice is beneath the monstrance on the right.) The blood has congealed and is now in five clots in the glass chalice. In 1971 and 1981 a hospital laboratory tested the flesh and blood and discovered that the flesh is myocardium, which is heart muscular tissue, so we could say it is the heart of Jesus, the Sacred Heart, and the blood is of the blood group AB. In 1978 NASA scientists tested the blood on the Shroud of Turin and interestingly also discovered that it is of the blood group AB. The Sudarium, Face Cloth of Christ, in John 20:6 is also of the blood group AB.) Despite the fact that human flesh and blood should not have remained preserved for 1300 years the hospital lab tests found no trace of any preservatives. One final interesting point about the five blood clots in the chalice is that when you weigh one of them, it is the same weight as all five together, two of them together weigh the same as all five. In fact no matter what way you combine the blood clots individually or in a group to weigh them, they always weigh the same.  (This shows that the full Jesus is present in a particle of the Eucharist no matter how small.)

Miracle of Chirattakonam, India - On April 28th, 2001, there was Eucharistic adoration at St. Mary’s parish in Chirattakonam, India, when suddenly three red stains materialize on the Host. The priest didn’t know what to do and placed the host back into the tabernacle. A few days later he retrieved the host to examine it again, and the red stains had arranged themselves to look like the face of a man (Jesus?). He quickly found a photographer and had pictures taken of the host.

Christmas Eucharistic Miracle in 2013, Poland - In 2013, a Eucharistic miracle was approved by the Vatican. The local bishop in Poland, who made the official declaration said, “As the Bishop of Legnica, I hereby announce to the public and inform about an event that took place in the parish of St. Jack in Legnica which has the signs of the Eucharistic miracle. On 25th December, 2013 during the distribution of the Holy Communion, a consecrated Host fell to the floor and then was picked up and placed in a water-filled container (vasculum). Soon after, stains of the red color appeared. In the histopathological image, the fragments of tissue have been found containing the fragmented parts of the cross striated muscle. …(it) is most similar to the heart muscle with alterations that often appear during ….agony. The genetic researches indicate the human origin of the tissue.”

Eucharistic Miracle of St. Clare - Once, during an enemy attack against Assisi, while the army was approaching the gates, the fierce Saracens invaded San Damiano, entered the confines of the monastery and even the very cloister of the virgins. In terror, the voices of the nuns trembling with fear cried to their Mother, Saint Clare. Saint Clare, with a fearless heart, commanded them to lead her, sick as she was, to the enemy, preceded by a silver and ivory case in which the Body of Christ was kept with great devotion. And prostrating herself before the Lord, she spoke tearfully to her Christ: ‘Behold, my Lord, is it possible You want to deliver into the hands of pagans Your defenseless handmaids, whom I have taught out of love for You? I pray You, Lord, protect these Your handmaids whom I cannot now save by myself.’ Suddenly a voice like that of a child resounded in her ears from the tabernacle: ‘I will always protect you!’ ‘My Lord,’ she added, ‘if it is Your wish, protect also this city which is sustained by Your love.’ Christ replied, ‘It will have to undergo trials, but it will be defended by My protection.’ St. Clare raising a face bathed in tears, comforted the sisters: ‘I assure you, daughters, that you will suffer no evil; only have faith in Christ.’ A great light shone from the Eucharist which caused the Saracens to take flight and fled back over the walls they had scaled. And Clare immediately admonished those who heard the voice I spoke of above, telling them severely: ‘Take care not to tell anyone about that voice while I am still alive, dearest daughters.’”

Miracle of St. Anthony of Padua - St. Anthony of Padua lived during the 13th century and possessed a great zeal for the Real Presence of Jesus in the Holy Eucharist. One day Saint Anthony heard of a man in Rimini named named Bononillo who did not share the same belief. In fact, Bononillo openly mocked people who believed that Jesus was truly present under the appearances of bread and wine. St. Anthony tried his hardest to convince Bononillo with the proofs of scripture and argument, but discovered that the man was as stubborn as a mule. Then St. Anthony received an inspiration. He challenged the wealthy merchant, “If the mule you ride adored the Body of Christ in the Eucharist, would you believe in the truth of the Blessed Sacrament?” Bononillo agreed, but decided to raise the stakes. Bononillo would starve his mule for three days and then bring it to the town square. Saint Anthony would bring the Blessed Sacrament to that same square. The mule then would be put in front of a pile of hay and St. Anthony would stand a few yards away with the Blessed Sacrament. What happened next would decide the victor. Bononillo brought the mules favorite hay and and St. Anthony stood holding the Eucharistic Jesus in his hands. The mule walked up to St. Anthony and bowed down on bended knees before the Sacred Host, causing Bononillo to renounce the error of his ways and came back to the Church with a strengthened faith in the Holy Eucharist.

These Eucharistic Miracles point to the fact, that Jesus is really and truly present in the Sacred Host. We are so very fortunate to have continuous Eucharistic Adoration from Sunday after Mass until Tuesday just before Mass, which is a testament to the faith of the people of Holy Trinity in our Lord’s true presence in the Eucharist. How wonderful to see so many of you receive Jesus on the tongue out of reverence and love. No one from our parish leaves Mass early after receiving Communion, unlike many other parishes.

How beautiful it is to see parents who bring children during your Holy Hour. To adore Jesus as a family is powerful. And as the famous Fr. Peyton used to say, “The family that prays together, stays together.” One of the main reasons for having continuous Eucharistic Adoration is so that anyone during the day or night can come and be with Jesus. How many graces are flowing from our church and into the world, by your silent presence with Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament. Not only is your heart touched by grace, but so are the hearts of your family members, parishioners and the graces flow.

May Jesus in the Eucharist always be the very center and heart of our church, the center and heart of our faith, the center and heart of our parish, and the center and heart of the lives of each of us.

O Sacrament most holy,
O Sacrament divine,
All praise and all thanksgiving
Be every moment thine.

11th Friday - Where Your Treasure Is There Your Heart is Also

 

 In the Gospel today, Jesus said, “Do not store up for yourselves treasure on earth, where moth and decay destroy, and thieves break in and steal. But store up treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor decay destroys, nor thieves break in and steal.”

Today, many suffer from materialism. We desire so many things that we really don’t need. We see all the wonderful things on television and we notice our neighbors have things we wish we could have. We feel like we have to have the latest fashions, the newest cars or the largest television sets.

I am told, one of the fastest growing businesses in the United States today is storage facilities. If we don’t have room at our house, we will rent storage to store our extra stuff. Children today have so many toys, that they can’t decide which toy to play with.

Some of the people whose homes you have worked on this past week were poor, others recently lost spouses, some were depressed. One had medical problems. But you gave all of them hope, by your good deeds. I heard from several of the people whom you helped that the youth were wonderful. They said the youth were polite, spiritual, joyful and happy. They loved your enthusiasm. They said, you can tell they really enjoyed doing the work. You bore witness to Christ, not only by your good deeds, but also by your positive attitude. You made a tremendous impact in the communities you served. This has a ripple effect throughout the community. It was really an out pouring of love and mercy. Your deeds of mercy flowed from the love you have for God and for your neighbor.

You are storing up treasure in heaven. What are the treasures of 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). We know also that scriptures refer to doing good deeds as atonement for sin. Good deeds make up for our sins and so we could consider good deeds as our treasure because they will help us to avoid purgatory.

Perhaps another way to look at treasures in heaven could refer to our degree of glory. The greater the saint, the greater the sacrifices, the greater the love in this life, the greater the glory in heaven. We should not settle for mediocre glory. We should give our self, our life, all that we do totally for God. And in this way, we will receive the glory that God intended us to have from the moment He created us in our womb.

In this life, Jesus in the Eucharist is our greatest treasure. May we come to Jesus often in Holy Communion. Spend time with Him in adoration and delight in His presence, knowing He is the giver of all the treasures of heaven.

And let us turn to our Mother Mary, and ask Her to help us to have that zeal to seek the treasures of heaven and give our all to God. So that on our day of judgment, Jesus will see a heart of gold--- filled with charity towards or neighbor.

11th Thursday - The Lord's Prayer

 

When we pray the Lord’s Prayer, do we babble on, like the pagans by saying it fast and without paying attention to the meaning of what we are saying?

As we daily pray the Our Father, we may get into the habit of not thinking about what we are praying. Today, let us examine the meaning of the Lord’s Prayer.

When we begin the Lord’s Prayer, we say “Our Father”. As a child of God, we pray to God Our loving Father, who created us, watches over us, protects us, provides for us, and who loves each one of us-- as His own special child, since we are His adopted children, who cry out, “Abba” Father. Most of us pray to Jesus often, which is good, but we should also pray to God Our Father in heaven.

When we pray to God Our Father, we say “Hallowed be thy name”. This means we try to keep God’s name Holy. And we also make reparation for those, who cuss or take His name in vain.

We pray “Thy kingdom Come” knowing that the God is King and will rule in our hearts, in our community, in our lives, and in our nation, as king, as He rules, as King in heaven, if only we allow Him to do so.

We pray ”thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven”, and so we do the best we can to do God’s will by obeying our superiors, the pope, bishops, priests, and those who care for us every day, because those who have authority over us-- represent God here on earth. When we do God’s will on earth, we are imitating God’s creatures (angels and saints), who do His will perfectly in heaven.

When we ask God, Our Father, to “give us our daily bread”, we are asking God the Father to give us-- Jesus, who is the Bread of Life and our superstantial bread from heaven--- in the Eucharist. We should not take for granted the gift of being able to receive Jesus everyday in Holy Communion and to be able to come to daily Mass. We need to pray for that gift everyday, lest it be taken away from us.

Another meaning for “give us our daily bread”, is that we ask God to supply our every need, whether it’s our daily food, clothing, shelter, our health, or the grace to suffer well, and whatever we may need in our daily life, trusting in His divine providence.

We then ask God to “forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us”. We should daily examine our conscience and seek God’s forgiveness for offending Him and for our offending our neighbor. We should also pray for those, who have hurt us, so that we may more easily forgive them. Otherwise, if we don’t forgive others, our heavenly Father, won’t forgive our trespasses.

When we pray, “Lead us not into temptation”, this does not mean that God can or would lead us into temptation. Rather, we are praying that His divine assistance will not depart from us, otherwise, we may be seduced, and consent to some temptation.

When we ask God to “deliver us from evil”, we ask God to deliver us from the snares of the devil, who prowls about the world, seeking the ruin of souls. It is a reminder that we need to turn to Our loving Father for help and protection, so as to be delivered from the Evil One.

And when we finish the Lord’s Prayer, we say, “Amen”. The word, “Amen” means “so be it”, or better translated means, “it is firm like a rock”. It’s kind of like saying, “What I believe stands on God Himself.” Or “Whatever God does or says is reliable and I trust in God my rock.”

Today, let us ask the Blessed Virgin Mary to help us pray the Lord’s Prayer with meaning. To pray it slowly, reverently, with love and attention, trusting God Our Father will hear and answer us. And may we come to appreciate the deep meaning of the prayer Jesus Himself taught us.

St. Anthony of Padua - June 13th

 

 Today is the feast of St. Anthony of Padua. Known as the wonder-worker, St. Anthony was from Lisbon, Portugal, but received his surname from Padua, Italy, where he resided converting many people. He was born in 1195, and baptized as Ferdinand. The clergy in the Cathedral of Lisbon educated him. At the age of 15, he became an Augustinian religious brother. When he was 17, he asked for a transfer to a more secluded monastery. For 8 years, he devoted himself to study and prayer. Due to his remarkable memory, he acquired a thorough knowledge of scripture.

In 1220, some Franciscans were martyred in Morocco and their relics were brought back to Portugal. St. Anthony longed to be martyred like the Franciscans. So he joined the Franciscan order, with the hope that he would be martyred. He changed his name to Anthony due to his devotion to the Anthony of the desert. With great zeal he received almost immediate permission to set out to Morocco to preach to the Moors, but had to return to Europe due to a severe illness.

While returning to Europe, he ended up in Assisi, where a general chapter was to be held. It was there he saw St. Francis. He then left the Augustinian brothers and joined the Franciscans.

As a sickly young brother, no one suspected him to have such intellectual gifts. If he wasn’t praying in the chapel, he was either serving the brothers washing their dishes and pots. At an ordination service, none of the Franciscans or Dominicans who came were prepared to give to deliver the sermon. His superior told him to go and speak whatever the Holy Spirit put into his mouth. All who heard his address were astonished, with his eloquence, fervor and learning. Due to this event, he was sent to preach in the province. He was an immediate success as a preacher. He was particularly effective in converting heretics.

St. Francis sent a letter to St. Anthony giving his approval to teach theology to the Franciscans provided “such study does not quench the spirit of holy prayer and devotion according to the rule.”

Due to his teaching at the university against Albigensians, he developed the title “hammer of heretics”. He had remarkable learning, eloquence, marked with logical analysis and reasoning, burning zeal for souls, a magnetic personality and a voice, which carried far.

The mere sight of him, brought sinners to their knees, for he appeared to radiate a spiritual force. Crowds flocked to hear him, hardened criminals, careless Catholics, heretics—all were converted and brought to confession. Men locked up their offices and shops in order to go and hear his sermons and women rose early in the morning or stayed overnight in the church to secure their places. Because the churches weren’t large enough to accommodate the crowds, he preached in public squares and market places. His sermons led to wide-spread reforming of many people in the city of Padua.

In the spring of 1231, after preaching a powerful course of sermons, St. Anthony’s strength gave out. He never got better and died at the age of 36 after receiving the last rites. He was canonized within one year after his death.

Due to the many miracles worked at his tomb, he became known as the “wonder-working saint”. He is often pictured holding the infant Jesus in his arm. It is believed a friend peered through a window and saw the infant Jesus in the arms of St. Anthony.

On another occasion, a heretic said he did not believe in the true presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. St. Anthony challenged the farmer to not feed his mule for three days and then come and bring the mule’s favorite grain. The man did as St. Anthony told him. With St. Anthony holding the Eucharist in one hand and the farmer holding a bucket with the mule’s favorite grain, the mule walked up to Saint Anthony and fell on its knees before the Blessed Sacrament. The mule’s owner was immediately converted and believed in the true presence.

St. Anthony is also invoked to help find lost articles, but is also an intercessor for the poor, infertile and pregnant women, and of travelers. People sometimes give bread to the poor, for the purpose of obtaining his intercession, which is often called “St. Anthony bread”.

If we do not have a devotion to St. Anthony, now is the time for us to begin praying to him. Though it is good to pray to him for lost articles, it is better to pray to him for lost souls and to ask him help for help in growing in virtue and holiness. St. Anthony, pray for us!

Clump of Cells? 20 Week Unborn Baby

 

 This is a 20 week Unborn Baby Pro-abortion people call a clump of cells.  Pray they to come to know the truth, to love unborn babies and pray they will ask Jesus for forgiveness for their support in the killing of little people.

CNN and Brain Death

 

Blessed Trinity - Year C

 

Today, we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity. Today is our parish feast day.  

The Trinity is the central truth of our faith. It is the source of all other mysteries, and the light, which enlightens them. This most grand mystery would never have been known, unless God Himself, revealed it.

The story is told of St. Augustine, a great philosopher and theologian was preoccupied with the doctrine of the Blessed Trinity. He wanted to understand the doctrine of one God-- in three persons-- and to be able to explain it.

One day, while Augustine was working on his book On the Trinity, he was walking by the seaside one day, meditating on the difficult problem of how God could be three Persons at once. He came upon a little child. The child had dug a little hole in the sand, and with a small seashell was scooping water from the sea into the small hole. Augustine watched him for a while and finally asked the child what he was doing. The child answered that he would scoop all the water from the sea and pour it into the little hole in the sand. ‘What?’ Augustine said. ‘That is impossible. Obviously, the sea is too large and the hole too small.’ ‘Indeed,’ said the child, ‘but I will sooner draw all the water from the sea and empty it into this hole than you will succeed in penetrating the mystery of the Holy Trinity with your limited understanding.’ Augustine turned away in amazement and when he looked back the child had disappeared.

The doctrine of the Trinity, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is such that each person is fully and equally God, yet there are not three Gods--- but one God. The human mind can never fully comprehend this mystery.

God left traces of the mystery of the Trinity, in the Old Testament. But if the Father, had not sent the Son, by the power of the Holy Spirit, mankind would never had come to understand, One God in three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. And this Most Holy mystery is revealed today in the Mass, within the Eucharist.

The first revelation of the Trinity in the New Testament was when the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary, and told Her, She will conceive and bear the Son of the Most High. In Nazareth, the angel revealed that God has a Son, and Mary is to be His Mother. After Mary questioned how this could be, the angel said, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you.” Indicating her pregnancy will be brought about by the Third person of the Trinity. The angel continued and said, “the power of the Most High will overshadow you.” This revealed the Father’s gaze and love towards Mary, as His beloved daughter. The Father protects Her by His shadow, which is the Holy Spirit, Her spouse. The Trinity is revealed to the humble handmaid, and then to Her spouse, St. Joseph. The angel said to Joseph, “Have no fear about taking Mary as your wife. It is by the Holy Spirit, that She has conceived the Child. He is to name the Child, Jesus, who is the Savior and Emmanuel, God with us”. Joseph came to understand the mystery of the Trinity: Mary’s Son, is the Son of the Father, conceived, by the Holy Spirit, and is “God with us!”

At the baptism of Jesus, the Trinity was revealed when the Holy Spirit descended in the form of a dove, and Father spoke, saying, “This is my beloved Son, listen to Him.”

The Father did not send the Son to condemn the world, but that the world may be saved through Him. But, after Jesus rose from the dead, He sent His apostles to preach to all nations baptizing them, “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Through baptism we receive the divine indwelling of the Trinity, and so, the gates of heaven are open.

Where is the place in which we come in contact with the Trinity to worship God? Where can we see the face of God, where can we approach Him, who loves us?

We begin the Mass, “In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” and then immediately the priest says, the words of St. Paul. “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with all of you.” These words call to mind the mystery of the Trinity in the mystery of the Mass, whereby we come in contact with three fold persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

During the Mass, the Father sends His Son. By the power of the Holy Spirit, Jesus, Our Lord, becomes present on the altar. It is here on the altar, we come in contact with the Trinity.

Because the Trinity dwells here in our church, in the tabernacle, and becomes present here on the altar, there is no greater place in the world. Our church is grander, and more glorious, than the highest skyscrapers, the largest coliseum, or gymnasium because our church and every Catholic Church contains almighty God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. The Mass is beautiful and glorious, because heaven is opened, and we participate in the heavenly liturgy with the angels and saints, worshiping the Trinity, as we sing, Holy Holy Holy, Lord God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. The Mass is God’s grandeur in the feeble eyes of man. The Mass is the action of the Holy Spirit, whereby the Father sends the Son, to come in contact with us, and the mysteries of salvation. The mystery of Calvary will become present on the altar, and the mystery of the resurrection, as we receive the resurrected Jesus in Holy Communion. We worship the Blessed Trinity, and kneel, in adoration at the Sacred Host, as it is elevated. The Sacred Host is God, and within the Host is the Blessed Trinity. The angel at Fatima, and the 3 children prostrated themselves, before the Sacred Host saying, “Most Holy Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, I adore thee profoundly.” And the children also said, “Most Holy Trinity, I adore thee, my God, my God, I love thee in the most Blessed Sacrament.”

Now, as we prepare to receive Holy Communion, let us ask Mary, the Daughter of the Father, the Mother of the Son, the Spouse of the Holy Spirit, to help us to understand that we truly come in contact, with the adorable Trinity in the Eucharist, especially Her Son in Holy Communion.

And at the moment of consecration, gaze upon the presence of God, with faith, and cry out, “Most Holy Trinity, I adore thee, my God, my God, I love thee in the most Blessed Sacrament.”

St. Barnabas - June 11th

 

Picture of St. Barnabas Healing the Sick

Today Holy Mother Church celebrates the memorial of St. Barnabas, the apostle. Although not one of the twelve, the Church does consider him an apostle. His success in preaching was so great, that his name Joseph was changed to Barnabas, meaning “son of exhortation”. After Paul returned from Damascus and attempted to join the Christians in Jerusalem, “they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple of Christ”. But Barnabas brought Paul to the apostles, and told them how he had seen the Lord, and that He had spoken to him: and how in Damascus, he defended the name of Jesus.

We admire the courage of Barnabas in defending a former persecutor of the Church and winning for him, the esteem of his fellow Christians.

When Barnabas saw the need for an extensive harvest, in such a populated city, he “went to Tarsus to seek Paul: whom, when he had found, he brought to Antioch”. He saw that the “harvest was ripe, but the workers were few”. They stayed there for a year, and taught a great many people, such that in Antioch, the disciples were first named Christians.

Together with St. Paul, Barnabas preached the faith in Cyprus and central Asia, and attended the First Council of Jerusalem. But on their return to Antioch, they parted company when St. Barnabas wanted his nephew John Mark to accompany them on their second journey, while St. Paul did not. At St. Paul’s instigation St. Barnabas went back to Cyprus, with his nephew John Mark. St. Barnabas would give his life for His Savior, Jesus Christ, as he would be stoned to death on Cyprus.

With the help of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church, may we preach the Gospel by our words and actions, as St. Barnabas, the holy apostle, of whose memorial we celebrate today.

10th Friday- Elijah Fire Rocks Earthqauke Whispering Sound

 

 In the first reading we see that God is not in the heavy winds or the crashing rocks or the rending of the mountains. He was not in the fire, nor the earthquake, but rather in a tiny whispering sound.

This passage is often used to describe how God speaks to us in the silence of our heart. Sometimes, however, we expect dramatic events to help us know God is with us and loves us. Or some big event to help us to come to understand His will. He can do it in a dramatic way, but most of the time, He doesn’t.

With regard to dramatic ways. We can use several examples. Fr. Stu discovered God was with Him after His motorcycle accident. He realized God saved His life because God had a mission for Fr. Stu. We can also look to t St. Paul to see how his conversion came about through seeing the blinding light and falling to the ground and Jesus speaking to him saying, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”

But these big events are not the ordinary way God speaks to us. Rather, He speaks to us silently in Eucharistic Adoration or after we received Holy Communion. Or perhaps our personal prayer time at home. Or maybe when we take a walk outside after a fresh rain.

These are the ordinary ways God speaks to us. So if we want to listen to His voice, all we have to do is listen in silence. We may not hear audible words, but we will hear the promptings of the heart, which move our heart to love God and neighbor.

Today, let us turn to the Virgin Mary and ask Her to be open to the tiny whispering sound of the Holy Spirit in the silence of our heart and in the ordinary events of daily life.

10th Thursday

 

 Our Lord says, “whoever is angry with his brother, shall be liable to judgment, and whoever says to his brother raqa, will be answerable to the Sanhedrin, whoever says fool, will be liable to the fiery Gehenna.”

With Our Blessed Lord’s statement, there are different degrees of anger toward a person, which Jesus is warning against. The first degree was anger without words. When Jesus says, “whoever is angry with his brother, shall be liable to judgment”, He was referring to how Jews used to indicate contempt, by spitting on the ground, rather using harsh words.

When Jesus said, “whoever says to his brother raqa, will be answerable to the Sanhedrin.” He is speaking of the second degree of anger,-- as used in the word “raqa”. The word “raqa” was used by Jews to insult someone, to whom they were angry. Internal feelings of anger are expressed, such as calling someone a “vile, contemptible, brainless wretch.”.

The third degree of anger, Jesus speaks, is the worse kind. Worse than the word, “raqa” was the word “fool”, which means one had lost all moral and religious sense.. resulting in punishment of the sword, or the person was to be stoned. That is why Jesus said, whoever says “fool”, will be liable to the fiery Gehenna.” which refers to burning unceasingly in hell.

Our divine Lord then said, “Therefore, if your bring your gift to the altar, and therefore recall that your brother has anything against you, leave your gift there at the altar, go first and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift.”

What does Jesus mean with regard to bringing gifts to the altar? Bishop McIvelly states that when one brings a gift to the altar, it is a sacrifice, which is being offered, specifically, he refers to the sacrifice of everyday work. In another words, if we purposely insult someone by calling them a “fool”,--- the work, which is being offered-- as a sacrifice, becomes displeasing to God, because reconciliation with one’s neighbor is more important, than the work being offered. Our Lord prefers fraternal charity and love to offering a gift or a sacrifice. David in the psalms states, “For you are not pleased with sacrifices, should I offer a holocaust, you would not accept it.” “But the sacrifice of humbled and contrite heart, you will not spurn.”

When we come to the Mass, all of us are to offer our sacrifices in union with the sacrifice of Jesus on the altar. If we take the words of Jesus to heart, our sacrifice would not be acceptable, if we come to the altar of the Blessed Eucharist, and are not reconciled with our neighbor.

Therefore, if we find our self in need, to reconcile with a co-worker, family member or our neighbor, we need to settle with our opponent quickly, before we offer our sacrifices with the one sacrifice of Jesus at Mass. It is also more important to interrupt our work-- to be reconciled, rather than to continue with our work, which would be displeasing to God.

Lack of reconciliation can at least-- cause us to go to purgatory, and at most, cause us to forever burn in the fiery furnace of hell. We don’t want our opponent, to hand us over to the eternal judge, and the judge to hand us over to the guard, who will throw us into prison, until we pay the last penny. Although purgatory, is better than the fiery judgment of Gehenna, it is best to be reconciled, while we have the opportunity, and be accepted into our glorious heavenly home, where our Blessed Lady, and Her Divine Son, await us with open arms.

10th Wednesday - Mount Carmel

                               

In the first reading today, the prophet Elijah proves the gods of Baal are false gods and the God of the Hebrews is the only true God. The location of this event is Mount Carmel. Also at this site, Elijah would later be taken up to heaven in a whirlwind and his mantle would fall to the ground, and Elisha would use it to part the water to cross it. During the time of Elijah God destroyed by fire not only the sacrifice offered by the false prophets but also the stone altar. Centuries later, God showed His power to prevent people from being burned in the fires of hell, because God would use Mary to protect them from eternal fire by Her scapular.

Did you know a group of hermits before Jesus came lived there and met there to pray for the coming of the Mother of the Messiah?
Its believed Mary was brought to Mount Carmel by her parents Joachim and Anne. Its also believed Joseph stayed on Mount Carmel a short time after he was chosen to take Mary as his wife. The Holy Family fled into Egypt due to Herod who wanted to kill the Divine Child. On the way back from Egypt to Nazareth its believed the Holy Family stopped at Mount Carmel where the hermits saw for themselves the Mother of the Messiah and the Messiah as a little Boy. This is why the Carmelite order claims to be the oldest religious order in the Catholic Church. They take Elijah as their father and they prayed for the coming of the Mother of the Messiah and the Messiah and were the first to see Mary and Jesus, whom they had prayed would come.

In the 1200’s, on Mount Carmel, the Virgin Mary Mary appeared to St. Simon Stock after he requested Her protection for his community being harassed by secular clergy. When She appeared to Simon, She gave him the scapular and promised, “those who wear this scapular shall not suffer eternal fire”. Today, many Catholics wear the scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.

Just as Elijah turned the people away from false gods, so the Virgin Mary turns hearts toward the one true God and She protects them by Her mantle, the Scapular.

Today, let us resolve to daily wear our scapulars so as to allow the Virgin Mary to protect us from evil spirits, who want to draw us away from the one true God. And She promises, all who wear the Scapular and live a good Christian life, will go to heaven and be protected from the fires of hell. Our Lady of Mount Carmel, pray for us!

Mary, Mother of the Church

 

Today is the memorial of Mary, Mother of the Church, which is always to be celebrated the Monday after Pentecost, because the birth of the Church occurred on Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit came down upon Mary and the Apostles and formed the Church, built on Jesus, the Rock.

In the early Church the apostles often came to the Virgin Mary for advice in dealings with the needs of the Church. Mary prayed for the Apostles and the early Church.

Why would we have the Gospel reading for the Crucifixion today? In the book of Genesis, Adam was put into a deep sleep and from his side came forth his bride, Eve. On the Cross, Jesus slept the sleep of death and from His wounded side came His bride the Church.

Also at the foot of the Cross Mary became our Mother when Jesus told His Mother, “Woman behold thy son” and to John He said, “Behold thy Mother”. John stood for each of us the foot of the Cross and it is there we all took Mary into our homes, like John.

Mary is the Mother of the Church and intercedes for all Her children, keeps them under Her mantle and helps us on our journey to heaven. The Church is the body of Christ and it looks to Mary as its mother.

Just as Mary was sinless and excelled in every virtue, so the Church looks to Mary as its model. That all Christians find hope in turning to Mary to help them and the Church to be holy in imitation of Mary, the Mother of the Church.

As Mother, Mary watches over Her children. So too, Holy Mother Church watches over Her spiritual children.

Let us take refuge in the Heart of Mary as the Church goes through difficult times, trusting the Church will triumph in the end because as Jesus said, “The Gates of Hell will not prevail against Her.”

Pentecost

 Today, Holy Mother Church celebrates Pentecost, the day the Holy Spirit came down upon the Apostles and the Blessed Virgin Mary in the upper room. We will first look at the history of Pentecost and then see how Mary helps us to live out the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, so that all can see the twelve fruits of the Holy Spirit in our life.

Pentecost was one of the three great Jewish Feasts many Jews went on pilgrimage to the Holy City of Jerusalem to worship God in the temple. It was a feast of thanksgiving to God for the deliverance of the Hebrew people and for God giving the Law on Mount Sinai. In thanksgiving to God they offered the first fruits from their harvest. It was called Pentecost because it was celebrated 50 days after the Passover. Passover is when they slaughtered the lambs as sacrifice and ate the Passover meal in remembrance of the night the angel of death killed all the firstborn Egyptians causing the Hebrew people to be free from slavery and depart for the Promised Land.

It is believed the day Jesus was crucified was the feast of the Passover. When the Holy Spirit would come down upon the apostles, it gave new spiritual meaning to the Jewish Pentecost, which occurred fifty days after Jesus’ resurrection.

After Jesus ascended into heaven, the apostles and the Virgin Mary prayed for nine days in the upper room, waiting for the promised gift of the Holy Spirit. When the day of Pentecost arrived, suddenly, a sound came from heaven, like a rush of mighty wind, and it filled the house they were sitting. And there appeared to them, in the form of tongues of fire, the Holy Spirit, which came down, and rested upon the Apostles, and the Blessed Virgin Mary, and filled them with the Holy Spirit. They spoke in tongues such that each person heard the apostles speak in their own language. Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the apostles were no longer afraid. From this day forward, they would become witnesses of the Gospel, even to the shedding of their blood as martyrs. The descent of the Holy Spirit is the birth of the Church as it begins its mission to gather all people of all nations together by the proclamation of the Gospel to the ends of the earth. The Holy Spirit is the advocate who leads all people to the truth.

The Virgin Mary, the most perfect of all humans, was present in the upper room when the Holy Spirit descended upon Her and the apostles. Because She was perfect, She received the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit in a super imminent way. She is the greatest of all saints, completely free from original sin and never once sinned in Her life. If we want to grow in the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, we can ask Mary to help us. The Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit are wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, & fear of the Lord.

Mary is called the Seat of Wisdom, because She always sought God as Her highest good enabling Her to know the purpose and plan of Her life. She relished the things of God and directed Her whole life and actions to His glory and honor. Turning to Mary for Wisdom, we put God first in our life and see more clearly God’s will and plan for us.

The gift of Understanding caused Mary to understand Catholic teaching in a way far superior to us. If we are confused about a particular doctrine of the Church, or we want to come to have a better understanding of a particular Church teaching, or the grace to discern true and false doctrines, let us ask Our heavenly Mother for the gift of understanding.

Mary’s gift of Counsel caused Her to have the supernatural gift of prudence. The gift of counsel can help us to judge promptly and rightly what must be done in difficult circumstances. Sometimes we need help in making prudent decisions and we want to better know what is wrong and what is right, so we can ask Our Lady of Good Counsel to help us in our decisions.

Because of the gift of Fortitude Mary had the courage to endure Her seven sorrows. She had the strength to stand at the Foot of the Cross. And after He was placed in the tomb, She believed He would rise. When we are faced with difficult situations, we should turn to Mary, the Mother of Sorrows, to seek the gift of Fortitude.

The gift of knowledge “enables us to see God reflected in all creatures and to praise Him in them, but yet to see the nothingness of creatures in themselves so that we desire God alone.” The gift caused Mary to see created things as instruments for God’s service. We can appeal to Mary for help to know and love Jesus more and also come to understand the true purpose of created things are to lead us to God.

Mary’s gift of Piety caused Her to love God as Her Father, who overshadowed Her. She always sought the Father’s will in all things. She loved God first and foremost because God deserved to be loved. Perhaps we love God for the purpose of getting something from Him, not for His own sake. Mary can assist us to love God first, because He deserves to be loved as our loving and compassionate Father.

The Gift of Fear of the Lord, did not cause Mary to be afraid of God. Rather, She feared to offend Him. That is why Mary never chose to sin. When we find ourselves complacent with our sins, not striving to overcome them as we ought, we should pray to Mary, asking Her for the gift of Fear of the Lord, so we will strive to turn away from sin, so as not to offend God our loving Father.

The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit will help all of us to grow in virtue. We can see the 12 fruits of the Holy Spirit in those who practice the 7 gifts. The twelve fruits are: "charity, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, generosity, gentleness, faithfulness, modesty, self-control, and chastity.”

A heart overflows with charity when we serve others especially our family members, our co-workers and our neighbors doing charitable deeds no matter how small. Because we are filled with joy we never allow ourselves to get depressed. We have the fruit of peace, because we strive to be reconciled with God and with others. We seek to be patient with the faults of others because we realize we are all human and God loves us despite our sinfulness. We overlook their faults while at the same time recall that we too are sinners as we attempt to overcome them. We are kind, never rude nor snobbish. Rather, we see Jesus in everyone and treat others as we would treat Him. We have a sense goodness because we know we are created in the image of likeness of God, who is all good and we want to be good like Him. We are generous. Never selfish, and always placing the needs of others before our own. We are gentle, meek and mild with others because we recall others are gentle and kind to us when we did not deserve it. We are faithful to God, faithful to His Church, and faithful to our spouse, our family and friends. We are modest and chaste, never wearing immodest clothing in public, so as not to tempt others to sin. We guard our eyes and our thoughts seeking to be pure in mind and body. And we have self-control, doing our best to control our temper and not giving into impulses and worldly pleasures.

Today, let us turn to the Virgin Mary as our model asking Her to obtain for us the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit so that all who see us will see the twelve fruits of the Holy Spirit in all that we say and do as Christians. May everyday-- be a day--- we pray to the Holy Spirit and in this way, all will see His working in our life.

Father Kapaun Video

Video of Fr. Emil Joseph Kapaun

 

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St. Charles Lwanga & Companions - June 3rd

 

 

 Today is the memorial of St. Charles Lwanga and companions, who were martyred for the faith in Uganda, Africa.

It was from 1885 to 1887 King Mwanga lead an enormous persecution of Christians in Africa. The king had a violent temper and was known for forcing young boys into pedophile relations with him. However, St. Charles protected the boys from the king, that is, until King Mwanga’s men captured Charles and his companions. The king separated the Christians from the rest by saying, "Those who do not pray stand by me, those who do pray stand over there." The king then asked the fifteen boys and young men if they were Christians and intended to remain Christians. When they answered "Yes", the king condemned them to death.

On June 3, they were brought out, wrapped in reed mats, and placed on bundle of sticks to be burned to death. The father of one of the boys to be killed was the chief executioner. At the last minute, the father tried to change his son's mind, but the boy refused to renounce his Christian faith. The boy’s father killed his own son and twelve other Catholics, as well as eleven Anglicans. All died calling on the name of Jesus and proclaiming, "You can burn our bodies, but you cannot harm our souls."

When we hear about how the deranged king forced boys into having relations with him, we become angry at the horrible injustice as what he did to the innocent boys. How gross and disgusting. How evil and what bizarre behavior.

Yet, even greater is the sadness of the scandal caused by priests, who have caused such terrible harm to innocent victims within the Church. Only the devil could be the source of such diabolical behavior, which has caused such perversion.

Today’s memorial of St. Charles Lwanga, which falls on the First Friday of the month, is a reminder for us to make reparation for sins committed against the Sacred Heart of Jesus, especially for the sins of priests, who have caused such terrible harm to children.

Let us pray for the victims of clergy abuse, for the priests who committed such terrible crimes and may we offer up our Holy Communions in reparation for these sins, which so grievously wound the Heart of Jesus.

Sts. Marcellinus and Peter - June 2nd

 

Today, we celebrate the memorial of the martyrs, Marcellinus and Peter. During the persecution of Diocletian, the emperor, in 304, the roman priest Marcellinus, and an exorcist, named Peter, were apprehended and thrown into prison. While in prison, they zealously strengthened other prisoners of the faith, and also made new converts, one of which was the jailer, by the name Arthemius, as well as the jailor’s wife and daughter. All were condemned to death. Marcellinus and Peter were led to wooded area, where they were beheaded in secret, so that their place of burial would remain unknown to the Christians. However, the secret place in which they would be buried was made known by their executioner, who later became a Christian.

Since they were martyred so many years ago, you would think that their names would be long forgotten. However, God so willed that their names would be inserted in the Roman Canon (Eucharistic prayer I), and so every time the Eucharistic prayer I, is prayed, their names are said. The Lord did not want their sacrifice to be forgotten.

Today, let us imitate the martyrs Marcellinus and Peter, by steadfastly proclaiming our faith. And may the Blessed Virgin Mary help us to die to our self and so die for the sake of others in imitation of these two great saints.

 

7th Wednesday of Easter

In the Gospel, as Jesus prepares to leave His disciples, He prays to His Father, telling Him, that He had protected and guarded His disciples, and now asks His Father to keep them from the Evil One. Our Lord consecrates them in the Spirit of Truth, the Holy Spirit.

And in the Acts of the Apostles, as St. Paul similarly readies to leave the disciples. He tells them to keep watch over themselves, and the whole flock, which the Holy Spirit has appointed them as overseers. He states some will pervert the truth, to draw the disciples away. St. Paul knows savage wolves will come among them, and not spare the flock. He describes how he had been vigilant, and admonished the disciples in tears.

Today, the truth continues to be proclaimed, despite those who are perverting the truth. When Pope Benedict went to Portugal, in May of 2010, he boldly proclaimed the truth that homosexual marriages and abortion do great harm to society. The pope’s visit was in response the Portuguese government who before the pope’s visit created a bill that would permit abortion and recognize homosexual marriages. Despite the Pope’s visit and the Pope’s plea to not do so, the president of Portugal went ahead and signed the bill into law.

One of our former bishops, Bishop Olmstead from the diocese of Phoenix boldly proclaimed the truth about abortion as a Catholic hospital in Phoenix permitted an abortion there. Bishop Olmstead said that the person who performed the abortion and the Catholic who obtained the abortion was automatically excommunicated.

He also said that the religious sister, who was president of the hospital and gave permission for the abortion was also excommunicated. The bishop eventually would remove the hospital of its Catholic identity and now the hospital can no longer call itself Catholic.

Today, the truth is being perverted in so many ways. Let us pray for the pope, for cardinals, bishops and for priests, may they will to protect the flocks entrusted to them by boldly proclaiming the truth, despite persecution.