St. Martha - July 29th

  

Today is the feast of St. Martha. In the Gospel today, she is not the busy hard working cook, but rather a woman of faith. And in fact makes four great acts of faith.

She made her first act of faith believing the Lord could have worked a miracle to heal her brother, Lazarus, she said, “Lord if You had been here, my brother would not have died.” Her faith was imperfect, because it was not necessary that Our Divine Lord be present to work a miracle, as was the case of the centurion’s servant.

She then made her second act of faith believing Jesus could raise the dead to life. She said, “But even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give you.”

When Jesus said, “Your brother will rise”, she makes a third act of faith, as she says, “I know he will rise, in the resurrection on the last day.” Her act of faith indicates she believes in the resurrection at the end of the world, which even the Sadducees, did not believe.

The tender love of Jesus for Martha, is revealed in His conversation with her. Our Blessed Lord aims at increasing her faith in Him, by his declaration, “I am the resurrection and the life and whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and anyone who lives, and believes in me will never die.”

She then responds with her fourth and greatest act of faith, “I have come to believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, the one who is coming into the world.”

Bishop McEvilly, in his commentary on the Gospel of John states, ‘She believes Jesus to be the natural Son of God, God Himself and all that He has taught is true, and that He is the Resurrection and the life. She also believes Him to be the promised Messiah, and even more then the Messiah, “the Son of the living God” who has come to save mankind.’

When in the future, we think of Martha and the words of Jesus echo in our heart, “Martha Martha, you are worried about many things.” --- may we rather think, “Martha, Martha, what great faith you had. Help to increase my faith, that it may be as strong as yours.”

St. Martha is also associated with the legend of a taming a dragon.

Tradition holds that Martha’s brother Lazarus fled Jerusalem amid Christian persecution following the martyrdom of St. Stephen. His sisters, Mary and Martha, left Judea to assist him in proclaiming the Gospel in various lands. The three went to Cyprus, where Lazarus became the first Bishop of Kition (modern day Larnaca, a port city on the south coast of Cyprus). All three died in Cyprus.
Medieval popular piety presents a fuller picture of the saint. The story of Martha and the dragon comes from the Golden Legend of Blessed Jacobus de Voragine. According to this legend, Martha and her sister, Mary Magdalene, traveled to Marseilles, France, after the Ascension of Christ. In the town of Tarascon, Martha encountered a dragon referred to as the "Tarasque" in French (Tarascurus in Latin). The Golden Legend portrays it as a beast from Galicia; a great dragon, half beast and half fish, greater than an ox, longer than an horse, possessing teeth sharp as a sword. Holding a cross, Martha anointed the dragon with holy water. Using her sash, she led it through the village.

As we prepare to receive the resurrected Jesus in Holy Communion. Let us ask Our Lord to increase our faith in Him. And in union with Martha, and with hearts full of faith, may we gaze upon Jesus in the Eucharist, here on the altar, and say with her: “I have come to believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, the one who has come into the world.”

July 28th - Blessed Stanley Rother, Martyr

 

A shepherd never abandons his flock for fear of repercussions due to teaching the fullness of the truth. One shepherd who did not abandon his sheep, who fearlessly fed his flock by always preaching the truth with love was Blessed Fr. Stanley Rother.

Stanley Francis Rother born on March 27, 1935, in Okarche, was as one of four children. The family had a farm. His sister, Betty Mae, became a religious sister Adorer of the Blood of Christ. He had two brothers. He was baptized on March 29, 1935, in Okarche's Holy Trinity church.

Stanley was strong and adept at farm tasks. After completing his high school studies at the Holy Trinity school he declared his calling to the priesthood to his parents. His parents were pleased with their son's decision though his father asked him: "Why didn't you take Latin instead of working so hard as a Future Farmer of America?" He was sent to the Saint John Seminary and then to Assumption Seminary in San Antonio in Texas. Most of his classes back then were all in Latin, and he had great difficulty with Latin and so his grades suffered. After almost six years the seminary told him he could not continue. Though it was difficult news, he did not give up.

Stanley accompanied his father and the Okarche pastor to see Bishop Reed who asked him: "Do you want to be a priest, Stanley?" He replied: "Yes, but it's all over for me, isn't it?" Reed told him he saw potential in him and would send him to another seminary to see what became of it. The rector of Mount St. Mary's Seminary in Maryland eventually sent a letter to Bishop Reed on February 14, 1963 in which said: "Mr. Rother has made excellent progress at this seminary and he should be a very valuable parish priest”. Bishop Reed ordained him to the priesthood on May 25, 1963. Fr. Rother then served as an associate pastor in various parishes around Oklahoma including Holy Family Cathedral in Tulsa.

He learned that a priest was needed in Guatemala, and so applied and was permitted by Bishop Reed in 1968. He was assigned to the mission of the archdiocese to the Tz’utujil people located in Santiago Atitlan in the rural highlands of southwest Guatemala.

So that he could be in closer touch with his congregation, he set out to work to learn Spanish and the Tz’utujil language which was an unwritten and indigenous language. Fr. Rother lived with a native family for a while to get a better grasp of practical conversation, and worked with the locals to show them how to read and write. He supported a radio station located on the mission property which transmitted daily lessons in both languages. In 1973 he noted with pride in a letter: "I am now preaching in Tz'utuhil.” During that time, in addition to his pastoral duties he translated the New Testamennt into Tz'utujil and began the regular celebration of the Mass in Tz'utujil. In the late 1960s Fr. Rother founded a small hospital.

He was a highly recognizable figure in the community, owing to his light complexion as well as his habit of smoking tobacco in a pipe. Since there was not a Tz'utujil name equivalent to "Stanley," the people of Father Rother's mission affectionately called him "Padre Apla's," translated as "Father Francis," a nod to his middle name.

Rother put his farming skills to good use in Guatemala, on one occasion operating a bulldozer from 7:00 am to 4:30 pm to clear land on local farms, stopping just for Mass. His door was open to all people. There was one old man who appeared each day for lunch, and others came for advice on personal or financial affairs. Some even turned up to have their teeth extracted. On one occasion he accompanied a boy to Guatemala City to be treated for lip cancer from which the boy was eventually cured.

Fr. Stanley even took action after a major earthquake in 1976. “With courage he climbed the ravines in order to help the very poor, pulling the wounded out of the ruins and carrying them to safety on his shoulders.”

From 1971 to 1981, there were numerous killings of journalists, farmers, catechists and priests, all accused falsely of communism. Within the last year of his life Rother saw the radio station smashed and its director murdered. His catechists and parishioners would disappear and later be found dead, with their bodies showing signs of having been beaten and tortured. Rother knew all this when he returned to Guatemala in May 1981. In December 1980 he had addressed a letter to the faithful in Oklahoma and wrote about the violent situation: "This is one of the reasons I have for staying in the face of physical harm. The shepherd cannot run at the first sign of danger."

On the morning of July 28, just after midnight, gunmen broke into the rectory of his church and shot him twice in the head after a brief struggle. The killers forced the teenager Francisco Bocel (who was in the church at the time) to lead them to the bedroom of the "red-bearded Oklahoma-born missionary." The men threatened to kill Bocel if he did not show them Fr. Rother and so Bocel led them downstairs and knocked on a door near the staircase saying: "Father. They are looking for you." Fr. Rother opened the door and a struggle ensued as Bocel ran upstairs hearing Rother yell: "Kill me here!" One shot pierced his jaw and the fatal shot struck the left temple; there were bruises on both hands.

Father Rother was one of 10 priests murdered in Guatemala that year. His remains were flown back to Oklahoma and were buried in his hometown on August 3, 1981, in Holy Trinity Cemetery. At the request of his former Tz'utujil parishioners, his heart was removed and buried under the altar of the church where he had served in Guatemala.

On December 1, 2016 his beatification received approval from Pope Francis after the Pope confirmed that Rother had been killed “in hatred of the faith”. In the presence of 20,000 people, Fr. Stanley Rother was beatified, Sept. 23^rd, 2017, in Oklahoma City.

Somewhere in Dreamland

Click to Watch: "Somewhere in Dreamland"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2TcRohLJx6g

 

Number 1 Cause of Death for Americans?

Doctor Russell Gombosi states, 

"Life Begins at Conception; Its a Scientific Fact"

He also said, "The number one cause of death for Americans is Abortion".

Read Article: Click: Life News

 

https://www.lifenews.com/2022/07/25/doctor-says-life-begins-at-conception-thats-a-scientific-fact/

Saints Joachim and St. Anne - July 26th

 

Everybody loves their grandparents. Today, we celebrate the feast of the grandparents of Jesus, saints Joachim and Anne. Mary was the mother of Jesus and Joseph is the foster-father of Jesus. Since Mary is the Mother of Jesus, then the parents of Mary are the grandparents of Jesus. The name of Mary’s mother is Anne and Mary’s father is Joachim. Joachim and Anne are the grandparents of Jesus.

According to tradition, Saint Anne was born in Bethlehem, and she married Joachim who was from Nazareth. Both of them are descendants of David. Together with her husband, Anne raised Mary to be the perfect woman of virtue and entrusted her to the temple as a child. The same tradition tells of Joachim was a wealthy livestock owner.

Joachim and Anne were unable to have children and because they began to get old, many thought it would be impossible for them to have children. In those days if married couples were unable to have children people believed that the couple was not blessed by God.

One day, because Joachim and Anne were not able to have children, 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 that Abraham and Sarah did not have their son Isaac until they were old, so Joachim decided to go into the desert to fast and pray for forty days. And while her husband 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. When Joachim returned home, he went to meet his wife at the "Golden Gate" of Jerusalem.

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 be able to have a child and their child was no ordinary child.

At the moment, the Virgin Mary was conceived in the womb of her mother Anne, God granted Mary freedom from original sin. All of us come into the world with sin on our soul, but not the Virgin Mary. God prevented Her from having original sin and so the Virgin Mary never needed baptism.

Later after Mary and Joseph were married, the Virgin Mary gave birth to Jesus in Bethlehem. The grandparents of Jesus, must have held the baby Jesus in their arms and would have kissed him, like all grandparents kiss their grandchildren. Jesus would have loved and honored his grandparents and so we should love and honor our grandparents as well.

Today, let us pray to Joachim and Anne, and ask them to pray for our grandparents and help them to be holy, virtuous and loving just as the grandparents of Jesus were holy, loving and virtuous.

And if our grandparents have died, we pray they may enjoy their time in heaven with the grandparents of Jesus, saints Joachim and Anne.

St. James the Greater - July 25th

 

 Today we celebrate the feast of St. James, the apostle, often called “James the Greater”. He was first called by Jesus to be closely associated with Him throughout His public ministry. He was one of three, together with Peter and John, whom Jesus would take aside, as privilege witnesses. Him and his brother John were called sons of thunder. All three were present at the transfiguration on Mount Tabor, at the raising of the daughter of Jairus to life, and during the agony of Jesus in Garden of Gethsemane.

There is an old tradition, he preached the Gospel in Spain before he returned to Jerusalem. Santiago, Spain is named after him. In Santiago, the basilica of St. James is believed to hold his relics. The basilica also contains the world largest thurible, which is swung with incense, only on special occasions. There is also a legend in which St. James, centuries later, appeared on a horse near the ocean to scare off attacking Muslims.

When St. James returned from Spain in 42 AD, Herod Agrippa beheaded him, as noted in the Acts of the Apostles. He was the first apostle to share the cup of suffering and death, which the Lord spoke of in today’s Gospel.

James and his brother most likely asked their mother, Mrs. Zebedee, to ask Jesus, if they could have places of honor in Our Lord’s kingdom.

In a sermon by St. John Chrysostom, he said, “the other ten became angry at the two brothers.’ See how imperfect they all are: the two who tried to get ahead of the other ten, and the ten who were jealous of the two! But, is said, before, show them to me at a later date in their lives, and you will see that all these impulses and feelings have disappeared. James, for his part, was not to live much longer: for from the beginning he was inspired by great fervor, setting aside purely human goals, rose to such splendid heights that he straight-away suffered martyrdom.”

The Apostles learned the lesson Jesus taught on this occasion: “Anyone among you who aspires to greatness, must serve the rest”. Today, let us ask Mary, the Queen of Apostles, to grant us that transformation, which changed James from seeking the greatest honor, to accept the chalice of suffering. Through our daily martyrdom, may we accept the chalice of suffering, which is to serve everyone around us.

17th Sunday, Year C - Knock, Ask, Recieve (Fr. Stu Long)

 

 

“Does God really love us? Does God really care?” Yes, God does care. God loves us, and cares more than we can ever imagine. We see more of that love and concern of God for us again today when Jesus tells us God will respond to our prayer: I tell you, ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

God is very willing to listen. We just have to come before God as a beggar. God is not distant; it is we who distance ourselves from God sometimes. God is ever near us if we but reach out and pray to God. In Jesus’ parable today about a friend, going to another friend, during the night for food, and eventually receiving his request because of his persistence, Jesus is teaching us to do the same: to go to God at any time when we are in need and present our case before him. Jesus explains what that parable means in practice: I tell you, ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.

But suppose we are in a mess? How can we come before God with our lives in mayhem? Just go before God in whatever disarray you may be in. Go before God just as you are; you do not have to be perfect to go before God. God loves you not because you might happen to be good; God loves you because God is love. Cardinal Ratzinger (the future Pope Benedict), put it so well, when wrote about how we can pray in whatever misery we are in: “Look at me, God, I am nothing, but You are everything; I am full of misery, but You are rich enough to heal all the misery in the world; I am sinful and wicked, but You are full of extravagant love. You do not love as men do, who love only those who are sympathetic to them; You also love the beggar in rags, the prodigal son. You do not love because we are good but, rather, because You are good.” (Dogma and Preaching 108)

So, go before God as you are; God is always waiting for you. “Does God really love us? Does God really care?” Yes, God does care. God loves us and cares more than we can ever imagine.

When we come before God just as we are, in whatever misery we are in, rather than waiting to be better, our time in prayer helps us.

Prayer is not wasting time; on the contrary, we waste a day if we do not pray during that day. We are created by God to spend eternity with God after this life, so it is only natural to spend time with God every day now. Prayer is not wasting time; on the contrary, we waste a day, if we do not pray during that day.

If enough people pray, prayer can change the course of history. Our Lady appeared in Fatima near the end of the first world war, and said if people did not pray enough, there would be another worse war which of course happened—the second world war.

Abraham interceded before God for Sodom in our first reading today, and if God found enough righteous people the city could be saved. At first God would spare the city for fifty good people. But five more times Abraham interceded before God when he could not find enough righteous people in the city, and on five occasions the number needed was reduced from fifty to eventually only ten. We see that just a small number of good people can change the course of history; never underestimate the power of prayer.

This is why I am asking that when you do your Holy Hour, to offer your Rosary and Chaplet of Divine Mercy for the passing of Value Them Both Amendment, you can help save the lives of thousands of unborn children. By your prayer, you can inspire people to vote Yes.

A small number of people can save a city or a country. There was a pastor about a woman, unable to have children, and after she got her house blessed by him, she was able to have children. In the same place, there was another woman unable to have children, and after she was prayed over, she was able to have children. So, when you pray, you never know what good effects prayer can produce; never underestimate the power of prayer. This is what we see in the Genesis reading today and in Jesus’ teaching in the Gospel: I tell you, ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.

“Does God really love us? Does God really care?” Yes, God does care. God loves us and cares more than we can ever imagine. And then we come to that difficult question: “Why is prayer not answered sometimes, especially when we think we are praying for something good?”

One way I look at that is that while we pray and continue to wait for the answer we would like, we are gradually growing to accept that the answer might not be what we would wish. In other words, our prayer is also working on our own souls, making us a little more ready to continue to carry our cross.

Pilgrimages to Lourdes are common in Europe, especially for those who are ill. Lourdes is a city in France, where the Virgin Mary appeared to St. Bernadette and in that location, there is a miraculous spring of water. There have been thousands of people who have claimed to receive physical healing. I know of one man from Great Bend, who told me he was physically healed there and when he told me about it, he wept like a child.

However, frequently we hear the sick, on their return from Lourdes say things like, “Even though I didn’t come back physically healed, I got a grace in Lourdes.” This happened to Fr. Stu. What the movie about Fr. Stu didn’t tell you, was that before he was ordained a priest, he went to Lourdes to be healed.

Still feeling adamant about his call to the priesthood, Stu decided in 2007, to take a pilgrimage to Lourdes, France, the site of a well-known Marian apparition and many miraculous healings throughout the centuries. “He thought he would be healed. He absolutely believed 100%, he was going to receive a physical healing,” Fr. Bart recalled.

Stu went to Lourdes in a wheelchair. But he believed he would stand up and walk out of the shrine’s healing waters.  But when he did stand up, after coming out of the waters, he nearly fell over into the water. He couldn’t walk. He wasn’t healed. Stu was devastated. He thought God had abandoned him. But a friend on the trip encouraged him. Stu went back to the Lourdes bath water a second time, a few days later, after he had gone to confession. Whatever Stu said in that confession is unknown. But “when he came out of the water, the second time, he had this sense of peace, just this real sense of peace, that wasn't there the first time,” Fr. Bart said,“And he didn't experience the physical healing, but he had peace.”

On the way back home from Lourdes, the group stopped in Paris. They visited Notre Dame Cathedral, where Stu saw a statue of St. Joan of Arc.  Stu experienced what Fr. Bart described as “a kind of mystical encounter with Joan of Arc. And at that point, he knew he was being asked if he would carry the disease for Christ.” Stu accepted the call. From that moment on, he knew the disease would claim his life, but that it would be for Christ and for the Church. When he returned from Lourdes, Fr. Bart said, there was something different about him.

Sometimes prayer is answered in a different way. Jesus asked in Gethsemane that the cup would pass him by. It didn’t pass him by, but it was answered in another way in His resurrection.

As you pray, go before God in whatever disarray you may be in. Go before God just as you are. You do not have to be perfect to go before God. God loves you not because you might happen to be good; God loves you, because God is love.

*A good portion of this homily was taken from Fr. Tommy Lane

St. Bridget of Sweden - July 23rd

 

Today, we celebrate the memorial of St. Bridget of Sweden, who was born about the year 1303. She was raised in a pious family. Her father would go to confession every Friday. At the age of 7, Bridget had a vision in which our Lady placed a crown on her head. At the age of 10, after a sermon on the Passion, she saw Jesus in a dream wounded and bleeding.

After her mother died in 1314, she lived with an aunt until she was 13. And out of obedience married, Ulf Gudmarsson in an arranged marriage. They had four boys and four girls. One of her daughters, Catherine of Sweden, who would become a saint.

On their pilgrimage to Compestella, Spain, Ulf became very ill. Bridget feared he may die and prayed at his side all night. A bishop appeared to her, and promised Ulf would recover and ‘God had great things for her to do.’ He told her he was Denis, Patron of France. Ulf recovered and was able to continue his work, until he died in 1344.

After Ulf died, Bridget began to live a penitential life near a Cistercian monastery. When she was 41 years old, God called her to be His bride and asked her to found a new religious order. She planned the Rule and Office of the order she was called to found, but she never saw come into existence. After Bridget’s death, her daughter, St. Catherine of Sweden would become the first abbess of what was to be called the Bridgitine Sisters, who have a devotion to Our Lady and to the Passion of Christ.

She lived an ascetic life, eating very little, sleeping short hours, and praying continually. She followed a strict rule and practiced charitable works, and even went about begging. She had the gift of prophecy and worked many cures. She received inspirations known as her 'Revelations’.

For the rest of her life she saw visions concerning the reform of the Church, she gave messages to kings and popes and many other persons in high places, directing them to work for the Church. However, nothing she set out to do was ever realized. She never had the pope return to Rome, she never managed to make peace between France and England, she never saw any her religious order founded, and never returned to Sweden. Rather, she died in what seemed to be an apparent failure in July 1373. She can be called the Patroness of Failures. In this she was like her Lord. He was also classed as failure as He hung on the Cross. Bridget was canonized only 18 years after her death.

Today, let us ask St. Bridget to pray for us that we may imitate her perseverance and her love of Jesus. May we seek not so much to be successful, but rather to be faithful until death.

July 22nd - St. Mary Magdalene

 

Today is the feast of St. Mary Magdalene. The name Magdalene comes from the town, Magdela, in Galilee, where she was from. Most believe, including St. Clement of Alexandria, that she is the woman who poured perfume on the feet of Jesus. She is the woman whom Jesus cast out seven demons from her. Mary Magdalene was one of the women, who accompanied Jesus, and followed Him throughout His ministry. It is certain she with St. John, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the other women, who stood at the foot of the Cross of Our Blessed Lord. Tradition has it Jesus first appeared to His Mother, the Blessed Virgin, and then to Mary Magdalene, before appearing to the apostles.

It was Mary Magdalene, whom Jesus entrusted the joyful news of the Resurrection, as He told her to tell the apostles. She is therefore called the apostle, to the apostles. One tradition holds she traveled with the Blessed Virgin and St. John, to Ephesus, where she died and was buried. Another tradition states she lived the last 30 years of her life in a cavern as a hermit dedicated to God.

Today’s readings remind us of Mary Magdalene’s constant search for her beloved, and her deep longing within her heart to hear the voice of Jesus call her name. After she finds Peter, she said to him, “They have taken my Lord, and I don’t know where they put Him?” When she returns to the tomb and then sees the angels, she repeats what she said to Peter, “They have taken my Lord, and I don’t know where they put Him.” And when she sees Jesus, but doesn’t recognize Him, she states once again her longing to be with Jesus. She said, “Sir, if you carried Him away, tell me where you laid Him, and I will take Him.”

Her hope to find the dead body of Jesus was rewarded, with something far more than what she anticipated. She sees the living, risen body of Christ, and gazes upon His glorified face, but only after Jesus said her name, “Mary”, did she recognize it was Him. When she heard the voice of Jesus, she rejoiced, and it was then her deep interior longing to be with Jesus was realized.

Now, as we prepare to gaze upon and receive the Body of the Risen Lord in the Eucharist, may the deepest longing in our heart be satisfied when hear the voice Jesus call our name within us.

St. Lawrence Brindisi July 21st

 

Today, let us be inspired by St. Lawrence’s devotion to Mary, His love for our Blessed Lord in the Eucharist, His preaching of Catholic doctrine, and his courage as he held a crucifix in battle. May we too, grow in love for Mary, Our Blessed Lord in the Eucharist, fearlessly stand up for our faith, and carry our cross into the battle of everyday life.

 Today, we celebrate the Feast of St. Lawrence, who was born in Brindisi, Italy in 1559. From his earliest years, he was given many gifts of nature and grace. When he was only 6 years old, he preached in the Cathedral, with such force, many were deeply affected. When he was twelve years old, as was the custom in Italy, he preached, in remembrance of the preaching of Jesus in the temple, who preached for the first time at the same age.

He became a Franciscan Capuchin, when he was only 16 years old, and was a model of perfection. He was a model brother, punctual in all community exercises, and perfectly submissive to superiors, and was full of respect and charity, towards all.

As a tremendous preacher, Lawrence preached fluently in 7 different languages. He attributed his talents to Mary, the seat of wisdom, whom he honored with special devotion. His writings are made up of 15 large volumes, mostly sermons. One volume is a masterful exposition of Catholic doctrine, about the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Because he was a highly successful preacher, he was called to Rome, and entrusted with the conversion of the Jews. His thorough knowledge of the Hebrew language, won the esteem of rabbis, and with his gentle manner, led many to baptism.

In 1598, he was sent to Germany, with eleven other friars to establish a Capuchin friary to preach against the heresy of Luther, which was gaining a foothold in Austria.

The emperor later entrusted to St. Lawrence the task of organizing a crusade against the Turks, who were threatening to invade the whole of Christianity. Father Lawrence, as chief chaplain of the army of archduke Mathias, went to Hungary in 1601, to war against the Turks. While in battle, despite his severe arthritis, he mounted his horse, and with crucifix in hand, rode at the head of the troops into battlefield, giving the men great courage.

Later in his life, while offering the sacrifice of the Mass in Munich, our Lord appeared after the elevation in the form of a Child, who lovingly caressed St. Lawrence.

Frequently, the holy man was so affected during the celebration of the Holy Mass, that he would shed copious tears. Altar cloths, which became wet with his tears, were later used to cure the sick.

On the feast of Mary Magdalene, July 22^nd, 1619, he fell very ill at Lisbon, Portugal. After devoutly receiving the last sacraments, he fell into ecstasy, and went to embrace the Lord.

Today, let us be inspired by St. Lawrence’s devotion to Mary, His love for our Blessed Lord in the Eucharist, His preaching of Catholic doctrine, and his courage as he held a crucifix in battle. May we too, grow in love for Mary, Our Blessed Lord in the Eucharist, fearlessly stand up for our faith, and carry our cross into the battle of everyday life.

What is a Woman?

New Supreme Court Justice Can't Define "What is a Woman?"

Watch this 1 min Video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWtGzJxiONU

 Now Watch the Powerful Definition of a Woman by Catholic Priest Fr. Richard Colin

 https://gloria.tv/post/37UjteSbvnSq42xrVLXdBVTHK

 

Nun Stops Lesbians from Kissing on Camera

 

Brave Nun Who Stands Up Against Immorality

Watch Video:

  https://gloria.tv/post/vwT4ReYMMW6c3wvwvKHUjgkoK

16th Tuesday "Mary Perfectly Did the Father's Will"

 

In the Gospel, when someone told Our Lord His Mother and brothers wanted to see Him, Jesus said, “Who are my brothers?” And stretched out His hand toward His disciples and said, “Here are my mother, and brothers. For whoever does the will of my heavenly Father is my brother, and sister and mother.”

Protestants, often use this passage to disclaim Mary’s perpetual virginity. Scripture states, “His brothers wanted to see Him”. However, Protestants do not know Hebrew and Aramaic languages spoken by Christ and His disciples at that time, do not have separate words for “brother”, “cousin” or “near-relative”. For example, in Hebrew, Lot is called Abraham’s brother (Gen. 14:14), yet we know Lot was his nephew (Gen. 11:27). In another words, Jews used the word “brother” for a “near relative” without necessarily meaning “blood-brothers”.

Protestants also claim Jesus ignores Mary, and His cousins and so puts them down. Jesus stated, “Here are my mother, and brothers. For whoever does the will of my heavenly Father is my brother, and sister and mother.”

Jesus was not putting Mary down; rather, He did the opposite. He glorified His Mother, because She perfectly did the will of the Father.

Because of the merits of Our Lord’s passion, death and resurrection, granted to Mary, before He was born, at the moment of Her conception, Her soul was not touched by sin, and was preserved from sin, as She perfectly did the will of the Father all Her life, until She was assumed body and soul into heaven.

Today, let us pray for Protestants that they may come to accept Mary’s perpetual virginity, accept Her Immaculate Conception, accept the one true Church’s interpretation of scripture, and accept the Blessed Virgin Mary, as their loving Mother.

St. Camillus de Lellis - July 18th

 

 Today is the feast St. Camillus de Lellis the patron of doctors, nurses and the sick. Born in Italy, he fought for the Venetians against the Turks. At one time, he was addicted to gambling, and by 1574 was penniless in Naples because of his gambling.

From the time of his youth, St. Camillus led a loose life. One day when he was on the road returning from San Giovanni Rotondo, by an inner illumination he saw the wretched state of his soul. It was like being struck with lightning. Such fear seized him that he fell on his knees and began to weep and sob loudly for a long time. He said, “What a wretch I am! What a miserable wretch! Why did I not know the Lord before? Why have I been so deaf to His calls?”

For a full hour he was beside himself, plunged in purifying tears of grief. He understood the priceless value of that ardent repentance. He tried to reflect back to see how he happened to receive such an immense grace on that day, and he remembered that it was February 2nd, the day honoring the Blessed Virgin’s Purification. Then he exclaimed, “Oh! Today is February 2nd, the Feast of Our Lady’s Purification. Now I know who won this great grace for me.”

Although he became a Franciscan Capuchin novice, he was unable to be professed due to his diseased leg which was caused by his fighting the Turks. He devoted himself to caring for the sick, and became director of St. Giacomo Hospital in Rome. He received permission from his confessor (St. Philip Neri) to be ordained and decided, with two companions, to found his own congregation, the Ministers of the Sick (the Camellians), dedicated to the care of the sick. They ministered to the sick of Holy Ghost Hospital in Rome, enlarged their facilities in 1585, and used the latest medicines and techniques saving the lives of many. He founded a new house in Naples in 1588, and attended the plague-stricken aboard ships in Rome's harbor. And in Rome, in 1591, the Congregation was made into an order to serve the sick by Pope Gregory XIV, and so, Camillus sent members of his order to minister to wounded troops in Hungary and Croatia, the first field medical unit.

Gravely ill for many years, he resigned as superior of the Order in 1607. On his deathbed, thoughts of his sins committed during his youth assailed him. The saint took a picture of the crucifixion with Mary at the foot of the Cross and, with ardent passion, prayed to the Virgin of Sorrow to intercede for him. He died in Rome on July 14^th, contemplating serenely the Mother of mercy. He was canonized in 1746, and declared patron of the sick, with St. John of God, by Pope Leo XIII. He was then declared patron of nurses and nursing groups by Pope Pius XI. Today, may we turn to Mary, the Mother of the Sick, and with the humble prayers of St. Camillus, the patron of doctors, nurses and the sick to obtain healing and mercy for all the sick.

16th Sunday - Mary Has Chosen the Better Part

 

What is most important in your life? Doing secular activities with our family members is important. But doing spiritual activities with our family at the feet of Jesus is most important.

In the first reading, we have a glimpse of what kind of priority was given to guests. Abraham notices three men walking past his tent; he runs over to them and asks them to stay. He prepares a meal for them, provides some water for their feet and shade so they can rest and enjoy their meal. As we hear about Abraham running around to get everything ready, we have to remember he was ninety-nine years old at the time.

In our day, if someone stops by unexpectedly, we usually ask them if they want something to drink such as water or coffee or a beer, or maybe a snack. In the case of Abraham, we heard about him making rolls, slaughtering a calf, and preparing it, which would require a substantial amount of time before they could be served.

With this as part of the cultural norm, Jesus would certainly not have chastised Martha for her acts of charity. Instead, He is reminding Martha, that good deeds are pleasing to God, but to just be with God is most pleasing to Him. Jesus also wanted Martha to know Mary wasn’t doing anything wrong, and in fact it was pleasing to Him that she just be with Him.

Martha welcomed Jesus into her home and began to prepare the meal. However, Mary sat at Jesus’ feet listening to him. Sitting at someone’s feet, was the traditional position a student would take listening to the teacher. It is very obvious Jesus is teaching Mary and she is his student devoted to him.

Martha, like Abraham in the first reading is providing the hospitality by preparing a meal for Jesus, which is an act of love for Him. However, Martha is so busy that even though she welcomed Jesus into her home, she doesn’t even have time for Him now. Not only is she too busy to spend time with Jesus, but she even tries to boss Jesus, and tell Him what He should do: “Tell [my sister] to help me.” She is obviously far too busy, too busy to spend time with Jesus and that busyness has warped her thinking and now she is even bossing God around! Jesus’ response was to help her get the balance in her life right again. He said, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her.”

Today, many people are too busy to be with Jesus, and too busy to spend time with Him. They fail to make practicing our faith as the highest priority. Our activities should revolve around our faith. Not our faith revolving around our activities causing our faith to take a back seat.

How much joy and peace would be in your heart and in your home, if we were to put God first. Do we find our self trying to squeeze in time, for our faith, or in doing spiritual things, such as squeezing in going to Mass or in going to Confession, squeezing in doing a Holy Hour, spending personal time in prayer?

At various times during the day, Jesus can be the forefront of our day when we pray to Him. For example, it might help to read a paragraph from the Bible, especially one of the four Gospels. You could imagine yourself sitting at Jesus’ feet and listening to him and conversing with him just like Mary in the Gospel today. You can watch Fr. Mike Schmitz's bible study on Youtube.

Jesus would like our day to be built around Him: “Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her.” When you live your entire day centered around Jesus, even when you have to step into Martha’s kitchen to do some work, you are already experiencing some little bit of heaven here on earth. If you live your entire day from morning until night centered around Jesus, you have peace in your heart and everything else falls into place.

What is keeping us from Jesus? Turn off the TV, put away the phone and video games, get off the computer, and pray together as a family, or if you can’t, can you go to your room or to the church? If you want to listen to Jesus, you have to create space in your day for Jesus. 

At times, there are youth and family activities that help us to stay focused on Jesus. There is Totus Tuus at Lyons, this year. Adoration Under the Stars, TEC (Teens Encounter with Christ), the Midwest Family Conference, which has youth speakers and adoration for children and adults. This is not just for our diocese, people come from other states to attend the family conference. We can also pray a Rosary together at home with our family.

When we make our Holy Hour, we sit at the feet of Jesus in prayer listening to him. Time spent in prayer is never wasted. It is the most fruitful time of all. For beginners, prayer may not be easy, but for those who persevere, it is certainly rewarding. We live such busy lives that sometimes we might not even be aware of what is really going on deep within us. May be the Lord is trying to tell you and your family to slow down, to enjoy Him and make Him your priority.

Praying to Our Lady is also very helpful; she is your mother. Even if your prayer is distracted, the important thing is to give the time to Jesus; he will understand and appreciate your love for Him and the time you give him. He said to the apostles in the garden, “Stay here and keep watch with me.” He would also like us to keep watch with Him and sit at His feet listening to Him.

Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her.

Our Lady of Mount Carmel July 16th

 

 Today, we celebrate the memorial of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. On July 16th, 1251, the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to a religious brother by the name of Simon Stock. At that time, there was a group of men living as hermits in a religious community on top of Mount Carmel, who were dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Carmelites claim their religious order began at the time of the prophets Elijah and Elisha, as a group of men dedicated to living ascetical life, who were expecting the promised virgin, on top of Mount Carmel in Palestine.

In the 1200’s, many of the brothers in the community at that time had become lax and were in danger of losing their souls. In addition to this-- the order was persecuted. Some were accusing the brothers of not being dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, but rather men dedicated to Mary of Egypt.

Because the situation seemed dire, Simon Stock, the General of the Order, fell at the feet of Mary and said, “Most holy Virgin! Beauty of Carmel Virgin Flower forever in bloom! Bright Ornament of Heaven! Thou Virgin-Mother of a Man-God! Mother of holy love! Mother of mercy and meekness! Star of the sea! O Mary, show us thou art our Mother! O Virgin most holy, give me a sign of thy predilection for thine Order of Carmel which will astonish our adversaries, and confound our detractors!”

It was at this moment, the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to Simon Stock and gave him the scapular, which was a long woolen cloth that covers the front and back of the habit. She told him, “whomsoever wears this scapular will not suffer eternal fire”. The men in the community began to wear the scapular, which renewed their devotion and helped them to once again become more fervent religious. Laymen and women also began to wear the scapular, but because it was so long, it was problematic to wear during work. The scapular become smaller as it is worn today, so that everyone may easily wear the scapular.

About 50 years after the apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary to St. Simon Stock, she appeared to Pope John XXII, and promised “She would assist and console the children of Carmel detained in Purgatory and also speedily release them on the first Saturday after death”, which would become known as the Sabatine privilege.
Interestingly, the last apparition of Our Lady of Lourdes was on July 16^th and Mary appeared to the children of Fatima at the last apparition as Our Lady of Mount Carmel. Sister Lucia said, “Our Lady appeared holding the scapular in Her hands because She wants everyone to wear it.”

Today, if we don’t wear the Scapular, may we once again put it on trusting the Blessed Virgin Mary will help us to get to heaven and protect us from the evil one.

July 15th St. Bonaventure

 

Today we celebrate the memorial of St. Bonaventure. He was born in 1221 in Italy and given the name John. At the age of 4, he had a very dangerous illness. His mother, who gave up on physicians, became fearful he might die. She heard of St. Francis of Assisi, and took little John to him, to pray over her son. And instantly and miraculously, he was healed. St. Francis seeing his future greatness, exclaimed, “O buona ventura” --O Good Fortune! And from then on, the child was called Bonaventure.

At the age of 22, he entered the Franciscan Order. Having made his vows, he was sent to Paris to complete his studies. While in Paris, he became good friends with St. Thomas Aquinas. One day, Thomas went to visit him, while Bonaventure was writing a biography of St. Francis of Assisi. As he came upon him he noticed Bonaventure was raised in ecstasy above the earth, and remarked, “Let us leave a saint to write about a saint”.

Because of his external knowledge, he was appointed as professor of a college, and so, St. Thomas asked Bonaventure, from which books, he obtained all his knowledge. St. Bonaventure pointed to the crucifix, indicating the crucifix was his library. He devoted many hours contemplating the sufferings of Jesus, and was very zealous toward Our Blessed Lady.

A Eucharistic miracle happened to St. Bonaventure as well. Once, out of humility, he abstained from consuming the Eucharist. Consequently, an angel placed a consecrated host on his tongue, because the Lord had desired to come to him in Holy Communion.

Ordained a priest, he devoted himself with extraordinary zeal for the salvation of souls.

Even though he was chosen as General of his order, at the age of 35, he undertook the lowliest duties at the convent. He mandated the Angelus bell be rung daily in all Franciscan churches. This custom soon spread throughout the world. He also restored calm after internal dissension in his Franciscan Religious Order. He eventually became a bishop and cardinal.

Due to his efforts; at the Council of Lyons, the east Greek schismatics were reunited with Rome. However, he fell ill, and died in 1274, before the Council was completed.

Although he is, “The Seraphic Doctor of the Church”, he made this simple statement, “The wounds of Jesus are arrows, that wound the hardest hearts, and flames that kindle the coldest souls.”

Monitor Journal of Little River - America the Beautiful - Life is Beautiful

 

 America the Beautiful – Life is Beautiful

As we prepare to celebrate Independence Day, we are able to look back over the last 50 years and see how abortion caused our country to not be so beautiful. 

Mother Teresa of Calcutta is known for s thought provoking quotes: “Abortion is profoundly anti-women. Three quarters of its victims are women. Half of the babies and all the mothers.” “It is poverty to decide a child must die so that you may live as you wish.” “Any country that accepts abortion is not teaching its people to love, but to use any violence to get what they want. This is why the greatest destroyer of love is abortion.” 

Many are rejoicing and giving thanks to God for the overturning of the Roe vs. Wade decision by the Supreme Court. For almost 50 years people have prayed, sacrificed, fasted for this monumental day. Over 63 million unborn Americans have died since Roe vs Wade. In 2020, the Kansas Department of Health recorded 7524 abortions in our state. That’s the same as killing the population of 15 cities the size of Little River or half the size of the population of McPherson or two cities the size of Lyons every year. 

Due to the Kansas Supreme Court ruling of 2019, stating there is “a fundamental right to abortion in the state of Kansas”, there is currently unlimited access to abortion in Kansas. Based upon the 2019 Kansas Supreme Court ruling, abortionists can perform live dismemberment abortions up to the moment of birth (9 months pregnant) in Kansas. All previous abortion laws in Kansas before 2019 can be struck down. There will be no parental notification required for any child under the age of 18. No informed consent required. No waiting period prior to scheduling an abortion. No protection from Tax payer dollars funding abortions. No sanitary rules and regulations as required by doctors offices, hospitals and surgical clinics. By voting, No (against the Value Them Both Amendment) on August 2nd, the voter wouldn’t mind if women from other states such as Texas and Oklahoma (who no longer do abortions) come to Kansas for abortion and our state becomes a haven for abortions. A Kansas director of Planned Parenthood said there are so many women wanting abortions, that can’t do them all. 

Did you know the beating of a baby’s heart begins just 5 ½ weeks from conception? A blob of tissue? Hardly! A person is not a blob of tissue. Some say, “Well, the child feels no pain if its an early abortion”. What does that have to do with anything? So if a person is put under anesthesia, since they don’t feel pain, is it okay to kill him? If a paralyzed person can’t feel pain, is it okay to kill him? No one has the right to choose to kill an innocent human being. A person is a person no matter how small. From the moment we are conceived in our mother’s womb, we have our own DNA and have an immortal soul give to us by God. God is the author of all life and no one but Him has the right to take another person’s life. 

Some think the Value Them Both amendment doesn’t go far enough, because the amendment in it self, would not outlaw abortions in Kansas. However, it would once again permit lawmakers the authority to create laws and maintain current ones. Kansas will be the first state to vote on abortion after Roe vs. Wade. All eyes will be on Kansas. What happens here can very well spread throughout the US. If we fail, we fail big time. Its not just about ending abortion, the greatest evil of our time. 

Its about loving and caring for babies and their mothers. Its about living out our Christian discipleship as a follower of Jesus Christ. Christians want to help anyone in crisis, especially expectant mothers. “Love your neighbor as yourself”. If you have moved since the last election or if you have not registered, you must register before July 12^th, in order to vote. You can register at the City Office in Little River. Vote Yes, on August the 2^nd. It’s a Christian duty to vote. 

By voting yes, you vote to make America beautiful again! Pray much everyday for all who will vote in the election. Pray for abortion supporters, that they light of Christ will open their hearts to love. Pray lawmakers will first and foremost follow God’s laws. Pray God will give shed His grace on our state and our country. And crown thy good with brotherhood from sea to shining sea. 

America is becoming beautiful again because we are finally seeing LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL. Pope Saint John Paul II said, “America you are beautiful . . . and blessed . . . . The ultimate test of your greatness is the way you treat every human being, but especially the weakest and most defenseless. If you want equal justice for all and true freedom and lasting peace, then America, defend life.” “Freedom is not in doing what we like, but having the right to do what we ought.”

July 14th - St. Kateri Tekakwith - Lily of the Mowaks

 

 Today we celebrate the memorial of Saint Kateri Tekakwitha known as Lily of the Mohawks, who was born in 1656 in northern New York State, near Auriesville near where St. Isaac Jogues and companions were martyred.

When she was four years old, her Christian mother, an Algonquin and her father a pagan Mohawk chief died of small pox. The disease also attacked Kateri and scarred her face and injured her eyesight. Because of her poor vision, Kateri was named "Tekakwitha", which means "she who bumps into things."

She was adopted by her two aunt and an uncle. Due to Jesuit priests, she converted to Catholicism as a teenager and was baptized at the age of 20. Persecuted for her faith, she stayed firm in it.

She spent much of her time in the woods and was considered a mystic. She made a vow of virginity and asked to become a nun, but was not allowed because she was not European. Two years later, she escaped to Canada to live in a settlement of Christian Indians near Montreal and in the Christian colony she lived a life dedicated to prayer, penitential practices, and care of the sick and aged and helped missionaries convert Indians to the Christian faith.

Every morning in the bitterest winter, she stood before the chapel door until it opened at 4am. She remained there until after the last Mass. She was devoted to the Eucharist and Jesus Crucified. When she died April 7th, 1680 at the age of 24, witnesses who attended her death, said her body glowed and the scars on her face disappeared and became like that of a healthy child.

In 2006, a 6-year-old boy cut his lip during a basketball game in Washington state. Jake Finkbonner developed a flesh-eating bacteria. Over the next few weeks, it destroyed his lips, cheeks and forehead. Doctors told the family the boy was going to die. The family's priest asked his congregation to pray to Kateri on Jake's behalf. A representative from the Society of Blessed Kateri placed a pendant of Kateri on the boy's pillow. The next day, the infection stopped progressing and Jake recovered. Investigators from the Vatican approved the miracle attributed to Kateri's intervention. She was canonized in 2012. As we prepare to receive Jesus in the Eucharist, let us ask Saint Kateri to intercede for the American Indians. May they have child like trust, in imitation of the Indian who bumped into things and is called the lily of the Mowhawks.

July 11th - St. Benedict

 

 Today, we celebrate the memorial of St. Benedict, the father of western monasticism. Born in Nursia in 480, he is the patron of Europe, because of his enormous contribution of establishing Christianity on the continent. It was a time in the Church, civil society, and Christian culture itself, were in great danger. Through his sanctity and accomplishments, he drew the barbarians from paganism toward a civilized and truly enhanced way of life.

When he was young, the corruption of the world caused him to live a hermit’s life of penance and prayer in a cave in the mountain Subicao, near Rome, where St. Romanus instructed him in Christian asceticism. He lived in solitude striving for religious perfection, self-conquest, mortification, humility, prayer, silence, retirement, and detachment from the world. His reputation for sanctity gathered a large number of followers, for whom he erected monasteries in which they lived a community life under a prescribed rule. He founded the great Abbey on Mount Cassino, which became the center of religious life in Europe. The principles of the rule written by St. Benedict became the basis for religious life for all western religious orders after his time.

We may be familiar with the St. Benedict metal, which is very powerful against the devil. On the medal, St. Benedict holds a cross in his hand. A broken chalice, and a crow are pictured behind him.

St. Benedict’s power over the devil can be understood by these two examples: A community of monks, whose abbot died, asked St. Benedict to accept the office as abbot, of their community. He first refused, but later conceded. However, after instituting a strict monastic discipline. But because they were lax, they wanted to kill him by poisoning his wine. He made the sign of the cross over a cup of poisoned wine, which immediately broke. St. Benedict replied, “God forgive you brothers. Why have you plotted this wicked thing against me? Did I not tell you beforehand my ways were not in accord with yours. Go and find an abbot to your taste…” With that he left and returned to Subiaco.

On another occasion a black bird began to fly around his face, and came so near to him that he could have grabbed it, if he wanted. When he made the sign of the cross, the bird flew away. Immediately he experienced severe lustful images of a woman, as he had never had before. He recognized it coming from the devil, and so immediately tossed himself in thorns, and was rescued from the temptation.

Today many nations are heading for a new kind of barbarism considerably worse than any other in history. Materialism is imposed on everyone. The sacred principles that guide the individual and societal behavior are being comprised. The attack against the sanctity of life, the indissolubility of marriage, and same-sex ideology.

In response, we need to turn to St. Benedict to combat the devil, and once again bring about a renewal of Christianity of the west, as in the days of St. Benedict.