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.

Pro-Life Weekly (Men can become pregnant?)

Democrat testifies men can become pregnant and have an abortion.

Nancy Pelosi is prohibited Holy Communion because of her Pro-abortion view.

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Feast of the Visitation

Today, we celebrate together the feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which commemorates the moment when Mary, the mother of Jesus visited her cousin Elizabeth in the mountainous regions of Judea, after traveling a five day journey to see how her cousin Elizabeth.

Elizabeth in her old age was then pregnant with St. John the Baptist, the herald of the Messiah, who was miraculously conceived after many years of unsuccessful marriage without any children between Elizabeth and her husband, Zechariah.

At the same time, Mary was carrying within Her, Jesus Christ, our savior. By the power of the Holy Spirit, Our Lord came down from heaven and took up the flesh of man in Mary’s womb.

Shortly after the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary at the Annunciation, Our Lady went to visit Her cousin Elizabeth. Mary arose and went in haste into the hill country, to a city of Judah called Ain Karim. Once the Blessed Virgin learned from the angel that Her cousin Elizabeth was pregnant, She was moved by charity and hurried to lend a hand to help Elizabeth who was advanced in years. Nobody asked Mary to go. God could have asked Mary to go and visit Her cousin, but He didn’t. Mary could have remained at home to prepare for the arrival of Her Divine Son, the Messiah, but She joyfully sets out on the journey “with haste” and goes to offer Elizabeth Her humble assistance.

When Mary arrived, Elizabeth heard Her greeting and was filled with the Holy Spirit. And at that moment, the unborn John the Baptist leapt for joy within her womb. The action of the unborn children, bear witness to dignity of all unborn children.

Elizabeth filled with the Holy Spirit, by divine knowledge comes to know that she is in the presence of the Lord in Mary’s womb. She even comes to know Mary’s pregnancy was miraculous.

While in the womb of His Mother Mary, Our Divine Lord blessed the unborn John the Baptist in the womb of his mother, Elizabeth. The Church teaches, at that moment, St. John was sanctified, meaning his original sin was washed away.

The action of these two unborn children remind us of the sanctity of life. It’s a reminder that life begins at conception. At the time of the Visitation, John had been conceived for 6 months and Jesus’ conception was no longer that 5 days. Yet, these two unborn children teach us a lesson.

They teach us that life no matter how small is precious and beautiful and that God wants us to love and respect unborn children. Today, let us resolve to recite Mary’s magnificat in thanksgiving for all the good things, God has done for us in sending His Son as an unborn child destined to die on the Cross and rise from the dead, to save us.

And let us remember that just as Mary’s body became a temple of the Lord, the sanctuary of the Most High and the Ark of the Covenant, because She carried Jesus in Her womb to the hill country, grant that we should recall we too become a temple, an ark and a sanctuary for Jesus, when we receive His body in Holy Communion, let us carry Him to others as we help them in their needs.

Mass of the Ages

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Memorial Day

 

 Please pray for the repose of the souls of our departed service men and women who are in purgatory. Eternal Rest Grant unto them O Lord, and May Perpetual Light Shine upon Them! And may the souls of the faithful departed rest in peace. Amen.

Psalm 27:3-4 says, "Though an army besieges me, my heart will not fear; though war breaks out against me, even then I will be confident. One thing I ask from the LORD, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple."

On this Memorial Day, we come before You O God, our Creator. We pray that you bless the souls of the good men and women who gave their last breath in defense of our nation, our freedom, and our children's future and reward them with eternal life. We thank you for our veterans and ask you to bless them. We pray-- by your grace and love--- you will protect those serving in the military today. We beseech you to shower your graces and blessings upon our nation, that it may acknowledge you as our sovereign Lord and that we may truly be one nation under God. Protect and deliver the United States of America from all evil and bring our nation under Your dominion so that life, liberty and freedom will always be granted to every person. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ Our Lord. And through the intercession of the Virgin Mary, the Immaculate Conception, the patroness of our country. Amen

May 30th - St. Joan of Arc

 

Today is the memorial of St. Joan of Arc. Born of a fairly well-to-do peasant couple in Domremy-Greux southeast of Paris, Joan was only 12 when she experienced a vision and heard voices that she later identified as Saints Michael the Archangel, St. Gabriel, St. Catherine of Alexandria, and St Margaret of Antioch.

“Joan of Arc did not know how to read or write, but the depths of her soul can be known thanks to two sources of exceptional historical value: the two Trials that concern her.”, Pope Benedict XVI said.

When it became known she believed God wanted her to lead the military to victories against the English, many suspected she was the maiden from Loraine prophesied that would deliver France from tyranny.

During the Hundred Years War, Joan led French troops against the English and recaptured the cities of Orléans and Troyes. This enabled Charles VII to be crowned as king in Reims in 1429. Captured near Compiegne the following year, Joan was sold to the English and placed on trial for heresy and witchcraft. Professors at the University of Paris supported Bishop Pierre Cauchon of Beauvis, the judge at her trial; Cardinal Henry Beaufort of Winchester, England, participated in the questioning of Joan in prison.

In the end, she was condemned for wearing men’s clothes. The English resented France’s military success–to which Joan contributed. During the trial, asked whether she knew she was in God’s grace, the saint answered: “If I am not, may God place me there; if I am, may God so keep me. I should be the saddest in all the world if I knew that I were not in the grace of God." She also said, “Take care what you are doing; for in truth I am sent by God.” and she said, “All I have done is by Our Lord’s command…I have done nothing in the world but by the order of God.”

On this day in 1431, Joan was burned at the stake in Rouen, and her ashes were scattered in the Seine River. A second Church trial 25 years later nullified the earlier verdict, which was reached under political pressure.

Remembered by most people for her military exploits, Joan had a great love for the sacraments, which strengthened her compassion toward the poor. Popular devotion to her increased greatly in 19th-century France and later among French soldiers during World War I. Theologian George Tavard writes that her life “offers a perfect example of the conjunction of contemplation and action” because her spiritual insight is that there should be a “unity of heaven and earth.”

Joan of Arc has been the subject of many books, plays, operas and movies. St. Therese of Lisieux played the part of St. Joan of Arc in a play at her convent.

Today, let us ask St. Joan of Arc to intercede for us and help us to be a good witness to our faith.

Ascension of Jesus & Christ's Blessing

   

Today we celebrate the solemnity of the ascension of Jesus into heaven. In most of the world, the ascension was celebrated last Thursday because Jesus ascended into heaven 40 days after He rose from the dead on Easter Sunday. But in many dioceses in the United States and other countries, the Ascension of the Lord is transferred to Sunday.

During the forty days between His Resurrection and Ascension into heaven Jesus appeared to His apostles many times instructing them and teaching them. He trained His apostles for their high calling and comforted them because they had been scandalized by His death on the Cross. He taught them about the kingdom of God which they were to establish on earth. He inflamed their hearts for a longing for His heavenly kingdom and excited them to love God ever more fervently. He surely instructed them on the sacraments and how to pasture the people. Maybe He told them to ask for the advice and prayers of His Mother, while She is on earth and later pray to Her after She would go to heaven. She would help them, console them and guide them to form the early Church.

The apostles and the Blessed Virgin Mary gathered on top of the Mount of Olives. It was at the base of the mountain where Jesus had His agony in the garden. Now, from the top of the mountain Our Divine Lord appeared to them. Curiously, though they gazed upon Him, they doubted out of human weakness. Some still mistakenly wondered when He was going to restore the kingdom of Israel.

The Gospel tells us, just before Jesus ascended into heaven, “He raised His hands, and blessed them. As He blessed them, He departed.” So the last action of Jesus before He ascended to heaven on a cloud was He blessed His apostles, and His Mother, the Virgin Mary. There were two angels who appeared to the apostles after Jesus went to heaven.

Because the Apostles were ordained as priests and bishops at the Last Supper, they also received the power to perform the sacraments and to give blessings. Every priest and bishop today through the power given to them at ordination, also raises their hands to bless and perform the sacraments.

The blessing of a priest is much more powerful than what we imagine. Did you know, the last action of St. Philip Neri and Pope St. John Paul II was they raised their hands and blessed those who were present just before their soul departed from this life and ascend to the throne of Jesus for their judgment.

What I would like to do is give you real examples of the power of a priests blessing.

At Sacred Heart parish in Halstead, we moved the parish office from the rectory to the Parish Hall. In the process of the move we had to re-connect the printer with the computer. But no matter what we did the printer would not work. Finally, I told the parish secretary. “Have you heard of St. Maximilian Kolbe? His religious order had the world largest non-commercial printing press in which they printed the magazine, “Knight of the Immaculata”. It had a circulation of 1 million copies. One day, the printing press would not work. And St. Maximillian said, “The devil must have his tail caught in it.” He then blessed the printing press and it immediately began to work. So I said, well, let’s give the printer a blessing.” Then I raised my hand and said, “May almighty God bless this printer and computer that they may work for the glory and honor of God. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.” The secretary pushed the button and immediately the printer started working.

One day, a woman called and told me her son, Thomas’ cat was dying and she wanted me to come to give the cat Anointing of the sick. But I told her the sacraments are only for humans, but I can come and bless the cat if she wants. When I arrived the cat looked terrible and was having difficulty breathing. It had black bumps all over the body of the cat including its head and she told me the veterinarian said the cat had cancer. I said, why don’t we pray to Fr. Kapaun? So I said this prayer, “Through the intercession of Fr. Kapaun, if its God’s will, may God grant the healing of this cat and if not may all accept what is to come. May Almighty God bless and heal this cat, through the intercession of Fr. Kapaun. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.” I then left the house and two weeks later, I saw Thomas, and since it was his cat, I said, “Thomas, I am sorry, your cat died didn’t it?” He said, “No father, the cat was healed. All the bumps went away and the cat is now fine.” Shocked by what he said, I asked his mother, “Is that true?” She said, “Yes, the cancer is all gone and cat is doing well.” I said, “The cat must not have had cancer, that was probably just pus pockets or something.” and she replied, “No! I am a nurse and I know cancer when I see it and besides that the veterinarian said the cat had cancer, but now its all gone and the cat is fine.”

Another true story: I was assigned as pastor to Sacred Heart parish due to the sudden death of Fr. Baxter who died in the rectory. A few weeks after his funeral, when I arrived at the parish, I was speaking with the parish secretary and also the bookkeeper and we were getting to know each other. Fr. Baxter’s car was still outside in the driveway. And as we were talking, his car started honking on its own due to it security system, as though someone had bumped the car or tried to enter it. But nobody was outside and the bookkeeper turned took the fob and made the honking stop. Then we began to talk some more and few minutes later the car started honking again. We were dumbfounded by it all. The bookkeeper once again pressed the button on the fob and the car stopped honking. Later that night when I was sleeping, about 3am, on its own, the car started honking again. I got up and tried to get the car to stop honking by using the fob, but it kept honking. So I raised my hand and blessed the car saying, “May almighty God bless this car, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen” And the car immediately stopped honking. I was shocked that it actually worked. The next day I told the secretary and bookkeeper what happened and the bookkeeper said, “Let’s look inside the car, maybe there is something in the car that Fr. Baxter wants to get out of the car.” We looked inside the car and found a glove, a hat and a badge to get into the Hutchinson Correctional facility because father was a prison chaplain. Our idea was that Fr. Baxter from above, tried to get our attention to remove the badge so next owner of the car would not have access to the prison.

People from other countries value the priests blessings much more than in our own country. When I was in Medjugorje, when I happen to come to the church, there was a group of German pilgrims praying and they were very excited to see me. A few of them spoke broken English and I was barely able understand what they were wanting. They told me, they just finished praying the Rosary, asking the Virgin Mary to send a priest to give them a blessing and they looked at me and said, “You are the priest. Father, will you give us your blessing?” I was so humbled by it all. I raised my hand and gave them a blessing. It was a reminder for me, that Jesus wanted to use me to give them His blessing and that I should more freely give it.

The point in mentioning these stories is that even though Jesus ascended into heaven, He is still with us and acts through His priests. Through priests, Jesus changes bread and wine into His body and blood to feed us spiritually in the Eucharist. Jesus uses priests to raise His hand to absolve sins in Confession, to baptize, to give the sacrament of Confirmation with the permission of the bishop, Jesus gives His blessing to anoint the sick and dying so as to heal, give strength and to forgive sins. When dying He gives His Apostolic Blessing to remove punishment due to sin and He gives an ordinary blessing through the priest to bestow God’s graces into the hearts of those who receive it and can use His blessing to show His dominion over creation to reveal His glory.

You can ask a priest to bless you on your birthday, on your wedding anniversary, for safe travel, before having surgery, when undergoing temptation, or just to receive God’s graces.

The Book of Blessings has blessings for food, for cattle, for blessing houses, to bless religious articles, and many other things including blessing unborn babies and their mothers. We have blessings for mothers on Mother’s Day and Father’s on Father’s day and blessing of families, etc..

Jesus wants to be part of our daily lives and He wants to bless us in all the things we do, so that all we do, will be for His glory and to help us to someday be with Him in heaven. Today’s Solemnity of the Ascension is a reminder, Jesus is preparing a place for each of us in His Father’s house and that He has not abandoned us and because He is with us in priests and wants to give us graces through the priest to save us. May the Virgin Mary, inspire us to ask for and receive all the blessing we can receive in this life.

And may, Jesus bless you, through me, an unworthy priest, as I say, “May the blessing of almighty God, the Father, and the Son, +, and the Holy Spirit, come down on you and remain with you for ever.” Amen.

6th Friday of Easter "Miraculous Birth of Jesus"

 

 In the Gospel today, Jesus speaks of mothers who give birth to their children. Every mother carries her unborn baby for up to nine months. When the time comes for the baby to be born, a mother will go to the hospital and she gives birth to the baby. For mothers it is very painful to give birth to a baby. Jesus says giving birth to a baby, is a time of anguish and pain. But once the baby is born, the mother quickly forgets her pain, as she gazes upon her baby’s face. Her heart is filled with joy at God’s gift to her, and her family.

“This allegory foreshadows what Jesus’ disciples will soon experience: pain when they see Him crucified and great joy when they see risen from the dead.”

Yet, Catholics believe the Blessed Virgin Mary never experienced labor pain when She gave birth to Jesus. In the Catechism of the Council of Trent, it states, “To Eve it was said: In sorrow shalt thou bring forth children. Mary was exempt from this law, for preserving her virginal integrity inviolate she brought forth Jesus the Son of God without experiencing, as we have already said, any sense of pain.”

Our Lord’s birth was also miraculous. We believe this because in Genesis, Eve and her descendants would have to bear labor pains because of original sin. And since the Blessed Virgin Mary was never touched by original sin, then She would not have suffered pain while giving birth to Jesus. In fact, the birth of Jesus was believed to have occurred not through the ordinary way, through the birth canal, but in some other miraculous way, which kept Her virginity intact.

The Catechism of the Council of Trent also states, “…just as the rays of the sun penetrate without breaking or injuring in the least the solid substance of glass, so after a like but more exalted manner did Jesus Christ come forth from His mother's womb without injury to her maternal virginity.” And St. Thomas Aquinas states, “The pains of childbirth are caused by the infant opening the passage from the womb. Now it has been said that Christ came forth from the closed womb of His Mother, and, consequently, without opening the passage. Consequently there was no pain in that birth, as neither was there any corruption; on the contrary, there was much joy therein for that God-Man "was born into the world," according to Isaiah 35:1,2: "Like the lily, it shall bud forth and blossom, and shall rejoice with joy and praise."

Yet, some have wondered about the scripture passage from Chapter 12 of the book of Revelation refers to the Blessed Virgin Mary. It states, “And a great sign appeared in heaven, a woman clothed with the sun with the moon under her feet and on her head a crown of twelve stars; she was with child and she cried out in her pangs, in anguish for delivery.”

If this passage refers to Mary, then how do we explain this in light of Catholic Tradition, which states Mary never experienced birth pains, when Jesus was born?

The answer is that just as Jesus used an allegory in today’s Gospel, with regard to His death and resurrection, so the Virgin Mary, who is depicted as the woman clothed with sun, endured pain and suffering of giving birth refers to Mary’s pain and suffering at the foot of the Cross. We can see this in one of the Preface’s used in the Roman Missal of the Blessed Virgin at the Foot of the Cross, which states,: “She who had given Him birth without the pains of childbirth was to endure the greatest of pains in bringing forth to new life the family of the Church.” The Virgin Mary therefor allegorically endured the labor pains of giving birth to the Church, which is why She is called the Mother of the Church.

During this month of Mary dedicated to Mary, let us prove our love for Her. The Mother of Jesus, the Blessed Virgin Mary is the Mother of all of us. At the foot of the Cross, She suffered great pain as She spiritually gave birth to us, her little spiritual children. She wants to help us to grow close to Jesus, Her Son. She wants to help us to go to heaven. She wants to help us to avoid sin, and to be holy and good.

Let us close with this prayer to our Mother in heaven:

“O lovely Mother dressed in blue,

Pray for me, who loves you!

Watch over me, your little child,

Give me a sweet spiritual kiss, O Mother mild!

O beautiful Lady, sweet and fair!

Keep me, under your care!

I crown you, O Heavenly Mother,

With prayers from my rosary, like no other!

I pray my rosary asking you to give me grace

So someday I may dwell, in the heavenly place!

With my fingers, Your beads, I pray,

Knowing you will grasp my hand, and be with me, to stay.

O lovely Mother of Jesus, pray for me.

And I will show you, I love you, during this Month of May.