Our Lady of Lourdes - Feb. 11th

 

Today, we celebrate the memorial of Our Lady of Lourdes. At the time of Bernadette, the Grotto was a dirty, hidden, damp and cold place. The Grotto was called the "pigs' shelter" because that was where the pigs feeding in the area usually took shelter. It was there the Virgin Mary, dressed in white appeared.

During one of the apparitions, Bernadette moved on her knees to the back of the Grotto. She kisses the dirty disgusting ground of the Grotto. She eats some bitter grass. She scrapes the ground three times trying to drink the muddy water, at the back of the Grotto, she tries sucking in a little and then throwing it away, she takes mud in her hands and she smears her face.

Then the young girl turns to the crowd with her hands apart. They all say: "She's mad!" During four Apparitions, she carried out the same actions. What is happening? Nobody understands! Yet, Our Lady asked this of Bernadette to reveal the young girls humility and obedience.

At the ninth Apparition, "the Lady" asked Bernadette to scrape the ground, at the back of this "pigs’ shelter", saying to her: "Go to the spring, drink of it and wash yourself there". There is only a little muddy water to begin with, enough for Bernadette to drink. At first this water is muddy and dirty then, little by little, it becomes clear.

During one of the apparitions, Bernadette was asked: 'Did the Lady say something to you?' She replied: 'Yes, now and again she would say: "Penance, penance, penance, pray for sinners". During the thirteenth Apparition Our Lady said to Bernadette: "Go, tell the priests to come here in procession and build a chapel here."

On the 25^th of March 1858, the day of the sixteenth Apparition, Bernadette went to the Grotto, and on the instigation of the Parish Priest, she asked the Lady her name. Three times Bernadette asked the question. On the fourth request, the Lady responds in the French dialect ("I am the Immaculate Conception"). Bernadette does not understand immediately the meaning of these words. The Immaculate Conception is, as the Church teaches, "Mary, conceived without sin, thanks to the merits of the Cross of Christ".

She then went to the Parish Priest and told him the Lady's name. He understands that it is the Mother of God who has appeared at the Grotto of Massabielle. And later the Bishop of Tarbes, confirmed this.

The Catholic Church has officially declared 70 miraculous cures at Lourdes, many of which occurred by the miraculous spring of water. One example is Jean-Pierre Bely, who was stricken with multiple sclerosis in 1972. In 1987, he came to Lourdes and bathed in the waters. The next day, after attending Mass, he experienced a high fever, causing him severe pain. Suddenly, he woke, able to move is arms and legs and sensed feeling. The following night, Bely awoke abruptly and could walk. Within 12 hours, he regained his physical abilities and showed no further symptoms of illness.

Recently in the news, Fr. John Hollowell, a priest from Indiana, with brain cancer went to Lourdes, bathed in the water and was miraculously healed.

In 2018, when the priest abuse scandal came out, he told Jesus he wanted to offer up any sufferings he would have for the victims of clerical abuse. He was a very popular you-tube priest, whose homilies were very well liked. He was diagnosed with brain cancer in Feb of 2020 and began to offer up his sufferings for the victims.

He had brain surgery, chemo and radiation, but the tumor started growing back. The MRI had also showed a tumor on his pituitary gland. But, when he got back from Lourdes he felt stronger and no longer needed to have prepared texts when preaching. He said when they did an MRI the tumors were gone, and nothing was there except scar tissue. He said, "I want to thank Jesus for the gift not just of my healing but also the gift of the tumor surgeries, radiation and chemo as well."

There are thousands of alleged miracles that have never been investigated. The most common occurrence at Lourdes, is those who come hoping for a miracle, though the return home without it, they have a conversion and are able to accept and embrace their suffering.

Today, may we turn to Our Lady of Lourdes and ask Her to help us to do as She asked, to pray the Rosary for the conversion of sinner, to do penance, and turn to Her as the Immaculate Conception, knowing through Her intercession She can ask Jesus to heal us, so that our body and soul make be like Mary’s-- pure and spotless-- when the day comes for us to enter eternal life.

St. Paul Miki & St. Peter Baptist Feb. 6th

 

Today, the church celebrates the memorial of St. Paul Miki, Peter Baptist and Companions. In 1592, the military dictator of Japan planned to invade the Philippine Islands. To negotiate, King Philip of Spain sent Fr. Peter Baptist, as his ambassador. He succeeded in preventing the dictator from invading, and even got permission to spread Christianity in Japan. However, a group of Japanese later convinced the dictator, that Fr. Peter wanted to dethrone him, and so he ordered the Franciscans, and Jesuits to be imprisoned and put to death.

St. Peter Baptist, six Franciscan Friars, and three Japanese Jesuits, including Paul Miki were arrested. There were also twenty laymen arrested as well.

Several accounts of the martyrdom tell us what happened. The martyrdom of the Jesuits, is recorded as follows, and includes the words of Paul Miki, who boldly proclaimed: “As I come to this supreme of my life, I am sure none of you would suppose I want to deceive you. And so I tell you plainly: there is no way to be saved except the Christian way. My religion teaches me to pardon my enemies and all who have offended me. I do gladly pardon the Emperor and all who have sought my death. I beg them to seek baptism and be Christians themselves.” And all kept repeating the words, “Jesus, Mary!” while their faces looked serene. The executioners took out their spears and killed them one by one.

The Franciscan account of the martyrdom states, “On still another day they brought us to prison again, mounted us on horses, and conducted us through the streets of the city. We were also taken to Sakai, where they did the same thing. On each occasion there was a public proclamation by the town crier. We knew we had been condemned to death. From what I have heard, I think we will be crucified this coming Friday, because it was on Friday, that they cut off a part of each one’s ear at Miyako, an event we accepted as a gift from God. We all ask you then with great fervor to pray for us for the love of God.

Dearest brothers, help us with your prayers, that our death may be acceptable to the majesty of God in heaven, where God willing, we hope to go. Farwell, dearest brothers, because there is no longer any time to speak to you. Till we meet in heaven. Remember me.”

On Jan. 4^th 1597, the Franciscans were again bound, and thrown on hurdles to be taken to Nagasaki for execution. The journey lasted four weeks arriving on Feb. 5^th. They were taken to the crosses on the top of a hill. With loud voices they thanked God for the grace of being permitted to die by crucifixion like Jesus. As they hung crucified, the executioners took two spears and thrusted the spears through their bodies. The executioners were astounded upon seeing their joy at being martyred in a manner following Christ’s Passion.

In imitation of Jesus, they were crucified and pierced, because they offered their bodies as living and acceptable sacrifice to God, their spiritual worship. In a unique way, they lived out what they would do at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, which they attended often.

Today, these martyrs give us great courage in facing the ordinary challenges of daily life. Let us seek their prayers, and ask them to help us to be courageous in our difficulties, and that we too may keep the sacred words, Jesus! Mary!, on our lips, and be grateful to God for our daily sufferings and to offer our future death to God the Father, that it may be a pleasing and acceptable sacrifice to Him, our spiritual worship.

5th Sunday - Garabandal "Do You Know Jesus, and Him Crucified?"

 

In St. Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, he said, “For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified....”

Do you know Jesus and Him crucified? We come to know Jesus, through the sacraments, scripture and prayer and by reflecting upon His Passion.

Through Confession, we come to know His mercy and forgiveness. By receiving His mercy, we learn to more merciful to others and to do works of mercy.

Through the Eucharist, we come to know His love when He comes to dwell within our heart at Holy Communion. We get to know Jesus when we spend time adoring Jesus in Eucharistic Adoration.

We come to know Jesus through Sacred Scripture, especially through the Gospels, where we can read and meditate on how Jesus interacted with His disciples, His followers and with His enemies.

Through personal prayer, talking to Him from the heart and listening to His subtle inspirations, we come know what He asks of us.

When we gaze upon a crucifix we come to know the depths of His love, by His laying down His life for us. By looking at a crucifix we can see the pain and suffering He went through. We come to know Jesus crucified, by making the Stations of the Cross, by praying the 5 sorrowful mysteries of the Rosary (His agony in the Garden, His scourging at the pillar, His crowning with thorns, His carrying of His Cross and His Crucifixion).

When we come to really know Jesus and Him crucified, we make sacrifices and do penance, because by these, it reveals our love for Him and for others and we live a good and virtuous life, as a light in the world doing good deeds.

We are very proud of our young people who win basketball, football, volleyball, tournaments and state championships, and excel in wrestling, cross country, FFA, and academics. Sometimes, I wonder if its due to the water!

Athletic abilities, intelligence, a good work ethic, and desire to persevere are all gifts from God. We give God the credit. We should place the same energy that we give to activities, in trying to be holy, and excel in virtue and holiness. Young people, Jesus wants you to be saints.

When a young person plays sports, many sacrifices are needed. The sacrifice of working out, memorizing plays, going to practice every day. You sacrifice your time, because then you are unable to other things, you would like. It may be better for the team, if others play before us, and so we sacrifice not playing as much as we want.

Young people, you can offer all these sacrifices to God. If you play sports, play for Jesus. Our end goal should not be to win a game or a tournament.

Rather, our end goal is do our best for Jesus. If we play out of love for Jesus, you will happy if you win or lose. Playing as a team builds friendships because we sacrifice our desires for the sake of others. It teaches us obedience to the coach, and to rules, and therefore it teaches us to obedient to Christ and His Church. It teaches us self-discipline, which can help us to control our passions and be virtuous by fighting against temptations.

We practice virtue, when we avoid being a bad sport, when we don’t argue with the coach, when we are not jealous of other players.

If we keep in mind, Jesus Crucified, and our love for Him, whether we win or lose, we will be happy. Sacrifices become easy, if we do them out of love for Jesus.

Sometimes, when we lose, we feel sad. When Jesus was nailed to the Cross, it appeared as though He was defeated. When He was crucified, did He whine or pout, or complain? No. He looked with love at those who crucified Him. In the end, by His resurrection, He conquered death. He won, though, He appeared as though He lost. He won by His laying down His life for us.

Venerable Terisita Quvedo (1930-50) was the captain of her high school basketball team and a tennis star. Though tremendously talented on the tennis court, she never managed to win a championship. In her senior year, she was favored to win; worried that a victory would inflate her pride, Teresita asked the Blessed Mother not for a victory, but for whatever would be most pleasing to Jesus. When she lost, Teresita was able to accept the outcome with such joy that her mother, on seeing Teresita’s face, assumed her daughter must have won.

God wants all of us young and old, to make sacrifices and do penance. Penance is when we do something to make amends for our sins. We get a penance in confession to make up, in a small way for our sins. But we need do more penance, other than just the few Hails Mary when we receive penance in confession.

Out of penance, people who live in Medjugorje and pilgrims who go there walk barefoot up a rugged mountain, where the Virgin Mary appeared.

In many apparitions of the Virgin Mary, She asks us to do penance for our sins. For example, in Garabandal, Spain, the Virgin Mary allegedly appeared to four young girls. On Oct. 18^th, 1961 Conchita described what we must do. She said, “We must make many sacrifices, do much penance, and visit the Blessed Sacrament. But first, we must be very good. Otherwise, a chastisement will befall us.” On June 18^th, 1965, She said, “You must turn the wrath of God away from you by your efforts. You must make more sacrifices. Reflect on the Passion of Jesus.”

These alleged apparitions have never been condemned nor approved. Mary asked more importance to be given to the Eucharist. That we sincerely ask God to forgive us and amend our life. To make sacrifices, to do penance, and reflect on the Passion of Jesus.

The Virgin Mary told Conchita Gonzalez, one of the visionaries, in the 1960’s, there will be an important synod. There is currently a synod going on in Rome. She said there would be three popes and then when the last pope dies, it would begin the end of times (not end of time, but end of times, meaning a new era). When Pope Benedict died, he was the last of the three popes (Pope Paul VI, Pope John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI) and so now the end of times will begin. This did not mean there would never be more popes, it just means after the death of those popes it will be the end of our current way of living our life. Our Lady of Good Success, an approved apparition in Ecuador, promises the restoration of the Church and a new era of peace.

Mary told Conchita, a pope will visit Moscow, but when he returns to the Vatican, immediately hostilities will break out in Europe. But God would intervene in a miraculous way and put an end to them. Pope Francis plans to go to Moscow soon. Will this cause the prophecies to be fulfilled?

Mary said there would be a great warning, then the great miracle. The great warning is believed to be an illumination of conscience. It will be seen and felt by everyone on earth. It will be terrifying. It will be supernatural. It will be of short duration. It will be a correction of the conscience of the world. It will help people to repent and follow God.

If these things are true, then in a short time after the warning, perhaps, in a month or so, there would be a miracle in the location, Mary appeared, and then a permanent sign will be left there.

Based upon these events, the illumination of conscience may happen soon. Hostilities will break out in Europe. The great miracle is about to take place and a permanent sign is about to occur. But, if people do not return to God, don’t make sacrifices or do penance a great chastisement will occur.

To hear about hostilities breaking out in Europe and a chastisement, can sound frightening, but that’s because they are. Due to all the terrible sins going on the world, God wants to stop murders, the drugs, abortion, transgender confusion, homosexual actions, pornography, war, contraception, a man-made virus etc.... As a loving Father, all He wants is mankind to turn back to Him, to love Him in return, to respect and worship Him, who created us and He wants us to love each other.

Today, as a parish, we can walk with Jesus during a Eucharistic procession, for about 10 minutes, because its chilly, it will be a little sacrifice, we can offer as a penance for our sins. We will do it for Jesus, because we love Him and believe He is really present in the Sacred Host.

We can offer up the sacrifice of being a little chilly as penance for our sins.

In conclusion, our Lady said, God wants us to reflect on the Passion of Jesus and be very good. To pray the Rosary every day, go to Confession often and come to daily Mass. Young people can come to Mass before school. Make sacrifices, do penance for Jesus. Never stay in the state of mortal sin.

Brothers and sisters, let us get to know Jesus and Him crucified by responding to Our Lady’s requests. We need to do our part. If we are very good, our good works will be a light for others. Jesus, the light of the world, will shine through us. He said, “Your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.”

St. Agatha - Feb. 4th

 

Today is the memorial of St. Agatha. As a young girl, Agatha dedicated herself to God. At a time in the early Church, when many people did not like Christians, she was killed for being a good Catholic. She lived in Sicily, Italy and after her martyrdom, was buried near a local church.

About a year after her death, a miracle was reported due to her prayers from heaven. As a young girl she used to wear a veil. After her death, people would go to the church to see her veil, which was kept in the church.

A nearby Volcano began to erupt causing red hot lava to flow. The lava headed toward the city and threatened to destroy all the homes by fire. The people believed Agatha was a saint and was in heaven with Jesus. So they took her veil and marched in procession toward the lava. They held the veil near the lava and a miracle happened. The lava suddenly stopped flowing and the city was saved. The people believed it was a miracle and understood it was because Agatha, asked Jesus in heaven to spare the city.

Today, pray to St. Agatha, whose name means “good” and ask her to help you to be good everyday.

Today, is also the first Saturday of the month. May we offer our Holy Communion in reparation for sins committed against Mary’s Immaculate Heart and console Her by meditating on the mysteries of the Rosary for 15 minutes.

St. John Bosco - Jan. 31st

 

 Today, we celebrate the memorial of St. John Bosco, who was born of poor parents in 1815. When he was little more than two years old his father died, leaving the support of three boys to their mother, Margaret Bosco. John's early years were spent as a shepherd and he received his first instruction at the hands of the parish priest. He possessed a ready wit, and a retentive memory.

As a youth, it was common for him to perform tricks and acrobatic performances for other children. He would invite other boys to come and watch him perform tight rope walking and magic tricks, but only if they would promise to stay after the performance, so that he could teach them catechism, pray the Rosary or go to Mass with him.

After he was ordained a priest, he had the terrible experience of visiting prisons in which poor homeless boys were exposed to evil influences. He resolved from that moment on to care for poor homeless street boys when he was able.

One day after vesting for Mass, the sacristan drove out a ragged boy, who refused to serve Mass. Don Bosco quickly found the boy and befriended him. Over a period of time, he instructed the boy of the street, in the ways of the faith. And so began the beginnings of the “Oratory”.

In one year, he was helping 30 street boys and within 5 years, over 400 boys were taken in under his wing. He eventually began the Salesian religious order, which had as its purpose the taking care of young street boys and educating them in the Catholic faith.

Don Bosco was especially noted for his prophetic dreams and his ability to read hearts. He would often tell particular boys—the sins, they committed, and that, the boy needed to go to confession.

One of his most popular dreams involved seeing a large boat, which represented the Catholic Church. The boat’s helmsman was the pope, who was shot by enemies of the Church. However, a pope once again took over the helm, who guided the boat to two large pillars. On top of one pillar was Our Lady Help of Christians and on top of the other pillar was the Eucharist. Once the boat reached the two pillars and was anchored to each of them, the raging storm and small boats which were attacking the ship--- disappeared.

Many believe the pope, which fell wounded was Pope John Paul II, who guided the Church to the Eucharist and Our Lady.

Today, let us pray for young people, that they may receive the grace of a good Catholic education and be protected from the evils of the world.

And may we anchor our hearts to Jesus in the Eucharist and to the Blessed Virgin Mary, trusting that they will calm the storms of our life and protect Pope Francis from all danger.

4th Sunday, Year A - God Chose the Weak

 

In the second reading, St. Paul speaks to the Corinthians giving them hope, that God can use those who count for nothing, to become witnesses of Christ’s love and power.

“God chose the weak of the world to shame the strong, and God chose the lowly and despised of the world, those who count for nothing, to reduce to nothing those who are something, so that no human being might boast before God.”

The first beatitude, “blessed are the poor in spirit”, is the door to the other beatitudes because we only begin to receive God's blessings when we appreciate our absolute need for them. It is only by God’s power and His providence, that we can do anything good. This beatitude reminds us the lowly have hope if they place their trust in God.

The Lord chose some of the weakest and most miserable men to become His apostles. For example, Matthew, was a tax collector, who was considered a traitor to the Jews for collecting taxing for the Romans. He most likely cheated people out of taxes. Peter, the first pope, and leader of the apostles, would deny Jesus three times. Peter, Andrew, James and John were mere fishermen, who the Lord called to found His Church. They were not experts in the scriptures. They were not priests or leaders of the Jewish people. Simon, was a zealot, which means, he wanted to forcefully remove the Romans from the occupation. St. Paul, was no angel either. He was responsible for the deaths of many of the early Christians and stood by, as St. Stephen was stoned to death. Yet, God chose Paul, to be bring the message of salvation in Jesus Christ, to the Gentiles, and to form churches. According to scripture, after His resurrection, who did Jesus first appear? A former prostitute, Mary Magdalene. Do you recall how the Jews looked down upon prostitutes and would even stone them to death when they were caught in the very act of adultery? And after her conversion, her love was so great, that she stood at the foot of the Cross and then attempted to anoint the body of Jesus after He was placed in the tomb that early Easter morning.

When Jesus was born, who were the first to discover the newborn king. Not chief priests, scribes or scholars of the law, but lowly shepherds, who lived out on the land.

When I was in high school, students would vote for one person, who would be considered the most likely person to succeed in the graduating class. Usually, the person was the one who was most talented, such as the ability to sing, to play a musical instrument, would excel in debate, to be the main character in the play, to receive the highest grades in the class, would excel in sports and letter in all of them. The person was usually popular and well liked among the other students and teachers. Often times, the person was chosen as the valedictorian for their academic achievements. It is beautiful to see how, at times, God gives special gifts to people at a young age and how they use their gifts for others.

However, in high school, there was also the least likely person in the class to succeed. Of course, there was no vote to see who he or she was, but it seemed everyone knew. The person likely had low grades, wasn’t involved in school activities, had few friends and sometimes, the person may have even got into trouble a lot. At times, the person came from a divorced family, had to work during high school sports and was unable to attend prom. Perhaps, he or she would even be involved in vandalism, drugs and went to underage drinking parties. Objectively, it would appear as though the person would end up in jail and or live a life of poverty.

Mother Angelica was someone, would have fallen into the category of being the least likely to succeed. Her parents divorced, she lived in a rat infested house, her mother had emotional problems and little Rita, and didn’t get good grades. Yet, God touched this young girl’s heart and called her to be His bride, as a religious sister, a Poor Clare nun of perpertual adoration, who would someday found the world largest non-profit Catholic television network called EWTN.

A young man, by the name of Donald Calloway, was atheist, drug addicted, and a high school drop out. His mother divorced two times and she remarried a third man. By the age of 13 he lived for pleasure. When his family moved to Japan, he connected with the Japanese mafia. The mafia filled his backpack with drugs and money to go to casinos. He was wanted by the Japanese government and American government. He was arrested and handcuffed by military police and kicked out of the country. In the US, he went to a rehabilitation center, but immediately failed after he got out. He wanted everything that had to do with pleasure, women seeking, drugs. For several years, he was almost perpetually high on drugs. At night he would look to the stars to find out, “What is the meaning?, “Why am I here?” “Where does the high live forever?” He wanted to feel good all the time.

One night, he didn’t want to go on living anymore. He picked up a book on the bookshelf. It was about Marian apparitions. The book talked about a beautiful woman, who would cause six children to drop to their knees when She would come, Our Lady of Medjugorje. He read the whole book in one night. This caused him to be interested in Catholicism. The first Catholic priest Donald ever met, invited him to attend Mass. After the priest celebrated Mass, the priest gave him a painting of Jesus. When he returned to his parents house, he took a good look at the painting of Jesus and noticed, Jesus had a kind and loving look on His face. He was surprised Jesus didn’t appear angry. It was the image was the Divine Mercy. He realized at that moment God loved him and he was wanted by God. Donald said, “All He wanted from me, was not a poetic prayer, but humility. To get on my knees and surrender my life to Him and I did.” He said, “I did so many bad things and hurt so many people, and yet, there is mercy for someone like me.”

When he became Catholic, he was baptized and all his personal sins and punishment due to his sins were washed away in the ocean of God’s mercy. He said there is in the world a whole ocean of mercy waiting for us. He wants everyone to know, “Jesus loves you and He came for you. No matter what shameless activity you have been involved in or how low you feel and how hopeless and pointless life may seem, God is madly in love with you. He’s longing for your friendship. He is panting for your heart. Give it to Him and trust in Him.” Donald Calloway would be ordained a priest for the Marians of the Immaculate Conception and today gives talks throughout many countries.

I would suspect Donald Calloway would have been the least likely person to succeed from his school, especially since he dropped out of and was a drug addict. But, God saw the misery of his soul, and through the gift of divine mercy, touched His soul through baptism and helped him to become a good Catholic and then an outstanding priest witness to God’s mercy. Now he absolves sins, offers the Holy Mass and gives Communion to the souls of those who come to receive Jesus into their hearts.

Recall the words of St. Paul in his letter to the Corinthians, “Consider your own calling, brothers and sisters. Not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many of noble birth. Rather, God chose the weak of the world to shame the strong, and God chose the lowly and despised of the world, those who count for nothing, to reduce to nothing those who are something, so that no human being might boast before God.”

Fr. Don Calloway, Mother Angelica, Mary Magdalene, Matthew, James, John, Peter, Andrew and the other apostles, and all sinners, who try to be holy, we can say, “It is no longer I, who lives, but Christ who lives in me.”, thanks to God’s infinite and unfathomable mercy. We should never give up on anyone, because God certainly does not. Rather, He calls every person to holiness. They only need to fall in love with Jesus and follow the blue print to holiness, the beatitudes.
May, Our Lady, Mother of Mercy, She who is the refuge of sinners, and comforter of the afflicted, seek out the lost, to help miserable souls to come in contact with divine mercy of Jesus, who who loves us so much!

St. Angela Merici Jan. 27th

 

Today we celebrate the optional memorial of St. Angela of Merici, who was born in 1470 in Northern Italy. Even as a little child, she was honored as a little saint, because she loved purity and modesty, so much.

When she was 13 years old, Angela entered the third Order of St. Francis and soon afterwards, she took the vow of perpetual chastity, renounced all her possessions, and wanted to live only on alms. She practiced many austere penances, slept on the bare earth, and fasted almost continuously on bread and water. Sometimes Holy Communion was her only food over a period of several days.

One day while she was praying in a secluded place, she had a vision of a friend, who died not long ago. Her friend prophesied that Angela would be a foundress of a religious institute, which would be devoted to the education of the youth, which would do much good for the kingdom of God. The vision gave her a great incentive to lead a life of contemplation, but also to serve others.

She gathered a group of young women, who began to give children religious instruction to little children, to help the poor, and care for the sick. Often times great sinners, were among those she instructed. She encouraged them to be reconciled with God, and begin a new life.

Her virtuous conduct and knowledge of theology, caused many, to regard her as a saint. In 1516, to escape the honor given her, she went to another town, and to live absorbed in prayer. In 1524, she had an ardent desire to go to the Holy Land, just as St. Francis once did. She visited Jerusalem, Calvary, and the other Holy Places with great devotion and returned by way of Rome, in order to pray at the tombs of the apostles.

In 1535, her group of women became a religious congregation known as the Ursualines, named after St. Ursula. They began to spread rapidly, especially in America.

When she reached the age of 70, God revealed to her, the day and hour of her death. She received the last sacraments, and with great fervor was rapt in ecstasy. While pronouncing the Holy Name of Jesus, she died, the very hour, it had been foretold to her. She was laid out in the third order of St. Francis habit, holding a pilgrim’s staff, which she carried in the Holy Land. She was later beatified and canonized.

Angela’s life was a life in which at first seems insignificant, but rather its like the mustard seed planted that grows in to a large bush. It’s a reminder that our seemingly insignificant things that we do, bear much fruit in ways we sometimes cannot see.

May the Blessed Virgin Mary help us to live a life of virtue in imitation of Saint Angela Merici to draw all men to Jesus Christ, so as to bring about the Kingdom of God.

Saints Timothy & Titus - Jan. 26th

  

Today the Church celebrates the memorial of Sts. Timothy and Titus, who were friends of St. Paul. They went with St. Paul, as he went about to many cities speaking about Jesus and starting new churches. Both Timothy and Titus became bishops of the early Church.

St. Timothy’s father was not a Christian. His mother was Jewish. However, his mother, and grandmother of Timothy, eventually became Christians. Timothy studied scriptures from his early youth. He would accompany St. Paul, on his journeys.

Eventually put in prison and never wavering in his faith in Jesus, he was later set free. St. Paul consecrated Timothy, as bishop of Ephesus. As bishop, Timothy stayed in Ephesus to govern the church, oppose false teachers, and to ordain priests, deacons, and bishops. St. Paul wrote a letter to him, while Paul was a prisoner in Rome, and requested he come to see him, before he died.

Timothy practiced penance to such a degree, that he drank only water, rather than drinking wine, and so, Paul told him to drink a little wine. St. Paul wrote two letters to Timothy, which are now New Testament books. He was eventually stoned and clubbed to death, by a mob, because he opposed the pagan festival, in which the people would carry an idol in one hand, and a club in the other.

The other disciple, whom we celebrate, is St. Titus, who was likewise a friend, and disciple of St. Paul, as well. Paul ordained him Bishop of Crete, which is an island nation near Italy. The letter he wrote a letter to Titus, is now also a book in the New Testament.

Titus was a secretary of St. Paul, who sent him to the cities of Ephesus and Corinth in order to settle problems among the early Christians, and to solve problems of scandal. He was later sent to Corinth once again by St. Paul, to collect money for the poor Christians in Jerusalem. He lived to be an old man, and died a peaceful death in Crete.

Today, let us pray to Timothy and Titus, that God will inspire us, to imitate their faith and their holy example of discipleship, in imitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the first disciple of Christ.

 

Conversion of St. Paul - Jan. 25th

 

Today is the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul. As a great persecutor of Christians, he was responsible for the stoning of St. Stephen.

The conversion of any soul is a great act of God’s mercy. The Lord sees the misery of the person who is need of mercy. By misery, I mean their sins, their way of life, their heading in the opposite direction of heaven. But, out of love, God intervenes. He moves the heart of an individual to follow Jesus. The Lord initiates all conversions by His grace. This can be seen most clearly during Saul’s journey toward Damascus.

Out love for Saul, the Lord shocks him with a blinding light and a voice from heaven by helping him understand, that in every person he has been persecuting, is Jesus. On the road to Damascus, a great light suddenly shone around him. Blinded by the light, he fell to the ground, and a heard a voice saying, “Saul, Saul, Why do you persecute me?” Saul, eventually regained his eyesight, and became baptized. He changed his name to Paul, as a sign of his conversion to Christ. St. Paul went about the whole known world to spread the Good News. He became the apostle to the Gentiles.

The word “conversion” means to turn around and go in a different direction. Jesus helps Saul to turn around from persecuting others and to turn toward being a follower of Jesus, and a proclaimer of the Gospel.

Baptism is a gift of God’s mercy, because it washes away all sin, both original sin and personal sin and even washes away all purgatory time. Paul would eventually offer Mass, hear confessions, anoint the sick, and ordain men to the priesthood and ordain bishops.

Paul who was first a persecutor of Christians becomes an instrument of God’s mercy to bring many to salvation in Jesus Christ.

Don Calloway was a rebellious teen, whose parents were baptist, but never went to church. He got involved in drugs, alcohol and stealing and dropped out of school. While in Japan, he ran away from home and ended up homeless. After getting caught by the local authorities, he was saved by the US military and was taken to one of their bases. It was there he went to Mass for the first time. At the moment of the consecration, he suddenly had infused knowledge about the Catholic faith and wanted to get baptized and become Catholic. His mother had become Catholic, after she divorced her first husband and married a second man. Don Calloway knew was called to become a priest.

St. Paul would later offer Mass, hear Confessions, and anoint the sick. Since, he was an apostles, he was also a bishop and ordained both priests and bishops. Through God's mercy, he, once persecuted Christians, now became an instrument of mercy.

So too, Fr. Don Calloway became an instrument of mercy, offering Mass, hearing Confessions, doing baptisms, anointing the sick. He is now a Marian of the Immaculate Conception, which promotes Divine Mercy.

We are likewise called to conversion. At times, we too are blinded. We sometimes can persecute those around us, by way of our idiosyncrasies, by our sins, and by our faults. We can be blinded by our sinfulness, and how we are burdens to others.

We too are called to be an instrument of God’s mercy in the world. By overlooking the faults of others, forgiving injuries, doing charitable deeds for others, and especially praying for them. May we come to know our own faults and sins, and work to overcome them, so that we can turn away from sin and draw closer to Jesus.

Today, as prepare to receive Jesus in Holy Communion, let us beseech the Lord and His Holy Mother and ask them to help us, to know ourselves. When we receive Jesus in the Eucharist--- in the silence of our heart, we will hear the voice of the Lord, telling us how we need to change our life and hear how He wants to use us to bestow His mercy on those around us.

And we can respond as St. Paul, by having a true conversion of heart, in which we come to know the greatness of God’s love for us, and therefore respond by changing our lives to reflect our understanding, that the way we treat others, is the way, we treat Jesus.

Anniversary Roe vs Wade - Legal Protection of Unborn

 

Today, is a Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of the unborn. Yesterday, Jan. 22^nd was the 50^th anniversary of Roe vs Wade, which caused millions of Americans to perish in the wombs of their mothers. Thanks be to God, Roe vs Wade was overturned last year and at least 13 states ban abortion. Poor Kansas has our own liberal supreme court justices, a pro-abortion governor and shockingly the people of Kansas voted to reject limiting abortion. A truly sad situation for our state. Yet, we are not defeated, we will continue to pray, to fast and love. Abortion is truly diabolical. Its called a satanic sacrament.

In the Gospel, Jesus responds to the scribes who said He was possessed by Satan because Our Lord was driving out demons. How can they call such a loving action of Jesus, to free someone from an evil spirit, as though He had done something evil by doing it? A person who is lost in their morality cannot tell the difference between a good or evil action. They cannot distinguish between the two. Their mind is clouded by their sins.

Politicians and other people call evil good. They say its a loving thing for a mother to kill her baby. So that the mother can live a life of freedom.

There are some saints including St. Edmund Campion, who spoke about a day when God will illumine the conscience of every person, so they can clearly see their own sins. It is sort of like a mini judgment. It’s a way to help people come back to God and to live in accord with natural reason. Due to the alleged apparitions of Garabandal, some claim it will occur this year.

The feast of Presentation of Jesus in the temple gives us an insight. In the Gospel for that day, it states, Mary’s heart will be pierced so that the thoughts of many may be revealed. I think if God would do such a thing, by illuminating the conscience of all people in the world at one time.

It would be very painful to endure, to see ourselves as God sees us

it was be very painful to endure. However, it would be an opportunity for everyone to grow in holiness. To know clearly the difference between good and evil, clearly in one’s mind, would be a great grace. And see how our sins hurt God, others, and our self.

Today, let us ask the Virgin Mary, to pray for the people of our state and our country, that our consciences will moved to love every human being from the moment of conception until natural death and treat them, with the God given dignity, that each and every person has. And let us pray for all those who through difficult circumstances in their lives, that they find loving hearts to help them care for their unborn children and let us pray for those who made the terrible choice of allowing others to kill their own child. May Our Lady of Guadalupe, once and for all stop the massacre of the innocents.

Today, is a day of prayer and fasting for the unborn. May our penances rise to heaven, beseeching the Lord to bestow His mercy on us all.

3rd Sunday - Fishers of Men - Fr. Emil Kapaun

 

“Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men”

This weekend’s Gospel, Jesus called Peter, his brother, Andrew, as well as James and John to become His followers. Their vocation call-- can inspire young men to hear the voice of Jesus calling them to become a priest.

One day, when Peter and Andrew were fishing, Jesus approached them and said, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” They left their nets and their jobs and immediately followed Our Divine Lord.

And when He had walked a little farther, He saw James and John with their father, Zebedee. They too were fishermen by trade and were mending their nets, when Jesus called them. Surprisingly, they left their father and the hired men in the boat and began to follow Jesus too. Most likely their father, Zebedee wasn’t happy being left behind in the boat to take care of the fishing business with his hired hands.

All four of these men immediately left their jobs and their families and began to follow Jesus. But when Jesus calls, those who hear His voice-- can’t help but follow Him. They immediately perceived that to become a fisher of men-- was more important than to catch fish for a living. They recognized their call was to draw all men to Jesus. After their call they developed a three year personal relationship with Him, as they were with Him when He performed His public ministry, until He was crucified, died, rose from the dead and ascended into heaven. Then after that, they were commissioned to go and make more disciples of Jesus drawing more men, women and children to Our Lord.

Today, I would like to speak to you about a priest from our diocese, who said on the day of his ordination, “I am on the way to Calvary with Christ and there I shall draw all men to Him”.

Recall that Fr. Kapaun was born in Pilsen, Kansas and would later become a seminarian and a priest. After becoming a pastor, he received permission to become a chaplain for the US Army and would serve overseas during World War II and also in Korea. He was eventually captured by Chinese communists and would die as a Prisoner of War in Korea.

When Fr. Kapaun was in 8^th grade, as a class assignment, his class was told to begin a daily diary. His teacher, who was a religious sister, would ask the students to turn in their diaries and she would write comments in the diaries. The sister noticed Fr. Kapaun would frequently mention spiritual things, such as his joy of serving Mass two times in one day and also to serve benediction that same day as well. He would remark in his diary that he would go to confession sometimes twice a week.

And so, one day, she wrote these words in his diary. The sister said, “The Lord of the harvest is choosing His followers, many are called, but few are chosen, few answer His call. Is He calling you?”

Not much after that, a young girl asked him if thought about entering the seminary. In response, he replied, “When the sun rises from the west.” Even though at that particular time, he wasn’t interested in becoming a priest, a few years later, when he was a sophomore in High School, he came-- with the girl’s father-- to visit her-- while she was a young postulant at a religious order in a convent. He told her he was entering seminary in the fall. He asked her to pray for him-- because he said he wants to become a whole priest and not a half (priest).

Just before his ordination to the priesthood, he wrote a letter to a friend and his friend’s wife. He and his friend both had the same name. He wrote, “Emil & Vicky, I feel like the dickens. Maybe you do not realize fully what it means to be a priest, but I tell you—after I have studied all these years-- I am convinced that a man must be a living saint in order to dare to take that step. And that is where my worries come in. Gee whiz, I have a feeling that I am far, far from being a saint worthy to receive the priesthood. Think what it means! To Offer up the Living Body & Blood of Our Savior every day in Holy Mass—to absolve souls from sin in Holy Confession and snatch them from the gates of hell in which they would suffer for all eternity. These and a hundred or more duties and responsibilities make a person realize that the Vocation to the Priesthood is so sublime that the angels in heaven were not given a vocation to the Priesthood, no not even the Blessed Mother, who was never stained with sin—even She was not called to be a priest of God—and here I am called!!!”

After his ordination on the occasion of his first Mass he said, “I am on the way to Calvary with Christ and there I shall draw all men to Him”. Fr. Kapaun’s words would be prophetic, because of his virtuous life and because he died as a martyr, the process for his beatification and canonization has begun. Through his holy example-- while on earth-- and through his prayers from heaven, he is drawing many to Jesus Christ.

Many people ask Fr. Kapaun to pray for them, and there have been many reported miracles. The Vatican is currently investigating what some believe to be a miracle, with regard to a young man, by the name of Chase Kear. Chase is from Colwich, Kansas and while in High School, he received a severe head injury due to a pole-vaulting accident. Hundreds of people prayed to Fr. Kapaun, asking him to heal Chase. His doctors have said it is medically impossible that he would have recovered, especially since his skull was literally crushed. And yet, is completely fine today.

Is there a young boy-- here in the church, who believes Jesus may be calling him to become a priest? Young men and boys, listen to voice of Jesus, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” If you think Jesus may be calling you, talk to me or Fr. Aaron or any priest.

Finally, a short word to parents and to the people of the parish: If there is a boy you know that you think may have a vocation to the priesthood, by all means say something to him. Often times others can see the vocation within the boy, even though he may not see it himself. Pray for vocations, that those whom Jesus is calling will respond.

And may, Mary, the Mother of Priests, pray for them and keep them within Her Heart!