Obama Does It Again

Obama Administration Violate Catholics First Admendment Rights

Dear Friend in Christ,

Source: Right now we are witnessing troubling times in the Catholic Church here in America. As you know or may not be aware of, the Obama administration made a decision to proceed with their new mandate which forces all Americans (including the Catholic Church) to fund birth control, sterilization, and some abortion-inducing drugs.

What does this mean? Simply put, the Catholic faith teaches that birth control, sterilization and abortion are wrong. And in our country, the government has respected our religious beliefs in these matters…not just the beliefs of Catholics but of all religions.

With this new mandate, the government is forcing Catholic institutions to provide insurance coverage for birth control, sterilization, and some abortion-inducing drugs…this goes against our religious beliefs…it also goes against the First Amendment of the US Constitution.

Here is a refresher of the 1st Amendment:

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

Basically, there may be differences between the laws of government and the laws of religions….but there is a respect for those differences and the government cannot force us to do something if it goes against our religious beliefs or conscience.

Our very own Cardinal-designate Timothy Dolan said this recently about this mandate:

"This latest erosion of our first freedom should make all Americans pause. When the government tampers with a freedom so fundamental to the life of our nation, one shudders to think what lies ahead."

This is an assault on our religious freedom. This is not about birth control, or abortion or whether you agree or disagree on the Church’s teachings on these subjects…it is about our religious freedom and being able to follow our conscience freely.

We as Catholics cannot accept this new mandate, and we will not rest until it is overturned.

Here is how you can help:

1) Write to your local congressman or congresswoman and senators asking them to overturn this mandate. Click here to be taken to the website of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and click on the link to write to Congress: http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/religious-liberty/conscience-protection/.

2) Speak out about this issue to other Catholics and those of other faiths about the severity of this mandate. If the government can make this mandate on the Catholic Church, imagine what they can do to our fellow brothers and sisters of other faiths.

3) Pray, fast and fight back!
Remember: this is not about the Catholic Church’s teachings on the issues mentioned above. This concerns all religions and their right to freely live out their beliefs without approval or disapproval from our government.

We are Catholics and we will be united in this fight to protect our first freedom granted to us by our U.S. Constitution.



"Have great confidence in God's goodness and mercy, and He will never abandon you; but don't neglect to embrace His holy cross because of this." (Padre Pio of Pietrelcina)

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11:11 Seen With New Eyes

Discovering A Deeper Meaning of 11:11, Complete With
Every 11:11 Verse from the Bible

11:11 has been a number that I personally have noticed for a long time now, long before I ever realized that so many people consider it a doomsday number.

Ironically, my first connection to 11:11 comes from my sister, Mary. My uncle Chris loved Mary very much and would chauffeur her around town. One day, the clock in his car stopped at 11: 11, and he never fixed it. For some peculiar reason, Mary would get all excited when she saw the number, because of her experience with uncle Chris. She would excitedly say, "11:11 make a wish!"

Her tragic car accident some 13 years ago turned out to be the biggest blessing I could have ever been given.

Why?

Because without her dying, I still would be hopping and skipping my way straight to hell. Her death forced me to evaluate my life and admit that I was living in mortal sin. This was not easy for me. After all, I went to Mass every Sunday, most Holy Days and confession during Lent and Advent. I considered myself part of the choir.

My deep, paralyzing depression remained with me until my conversion and my healing came mainly through the sacrament of penance and living a sacramental life.

During this healing process (and to this day) the number 11:11 would pop up frequently. As God gave me new, holier friends, they too noticed the number 11:11 frequently. They directed me to Michael Brown's writings on the number 11:11. I was blown away.

Today, the number 11:11 brings me great joy. It reminds me to pray for Mary's soul, whose death brought this prideful man to his knees. Now I am teaching my children a joyful slogan that I have adapted from my sister.

"11: 11, say a prayer!"

One should never allow the doom of the number 11:11 to overshadow them. Remember the doom of the crucifixion is always followed by the resurrection.

Review the following Scripture passages. They contain every verse in Scripture that has a Chapter 11 and verse 11. You will notice doom in some of the Scripture passages, while others contain hope.

Yes, I truly believe the number 11:11 has a very strong message connected to it. Let's focus on the very last 11:11 passage in the Bible. It comes from the book of Revelation.

Rev 11:11 But after the three and a half days a breath of life from God entered them, and they stood up on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them.

Every Scripture Verse Containing
Chapter 11 and Verse 11

Gen.11

[11] and Shem lived after the birth of Arpach'shad five hundred years, and had other sons and daughters.

Lev.11

[11] They shall remain an abomination to you; of their flesh you shall not eat, and their carcasses you shall have in abomination.

Num.11

[11] Moses said to the LORD, "Why hast thou dealt ill with thy servant? And why have I not found favor in thy sight, that thou dost lay the burden of all this people upon me?

Deut.11

[11] but the land which you are going over to possess is a land of hills and valleys, which drinks water by the rain from heaven,

Josh.11

[11] And they put to the sword all who were in it, utterly destroying them; there was none left that breathed, and he burned Hazor with fire.

Judg.11

[11] So Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him head and leader over them; and Jephthah spoke all his words before the LORD at Mizpah.

1Sam.11

[11] And on the morrow Saul put the people in three companies; and they came into the midst of the camp in the morning watch, and cut down the Ammonites until the heat of the day; and those who survived were scattered, so that no two of them were left together.

2Sam.11

[11] Uri'ah said to David, "The ark and Israel and Judah dwell in booths; and my lord Jo'ab and the servants of my lord are camping in the open field; shall I then go to my house, to eat and to drink, and to lie with my wife? As you live, and as your soul lives, I will not do this thing."

1Kgs.11 Note: this is the 11th book of the bible

[11] Therefore the LORD said to Solomon, "Since this has been your mind and you have not kept my covenant and my statutes which I have commanded you, I will surely tear the kingdom from you and will give it to your servant.

2Kgs.11

[11] and the guards stood, every man with his weapons in his hand, from the south side of the house to the north side of the house, around the altar and the house.

1Chr.11

[11] This is an account of David's mighty men: Jasho'be-am, a Hach'monite, was chief of the three; he wielded his spear against three hundred whom he slew at one time.

2Chr.11

[11] He made the fortresses strong, and put commanders in them, and stores of food, oil, and wine.

Neh.11

[11] Serai'ah the son of Hilki'ah, son of Meshul'lam, son of Zadok, son of Merai'oth, son of Ahi'tub, ruler of the house of God,

Job.11

[11] For he knows worthless men; when he sees iniquity, will he not consider it?

Prov.11

[11] By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted,
but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.

Isa.11

[11] In that day the Lord will extend his hand yet a second time to recover the remnant which is left of his people, from Assyria, from Egypt, from Pathros, from Ethiopia, from Elam, from Shinar, from Hamath, and from the coastlands of the sea.

Jer.11

[11] Therefore, thus says the LORD, Behold, I am bringing evil upon them which they cannot escape; though they cry to me, I will not listen to them.

Ezek.11

[11] This city shall not be your caldron, nor shall you be the flesh in the midst of it; I will judge you at the border of Israel;

Dan.11

[11] Then the king of the south, moved with anger, shall come out and fight with the king of the north; and he shall raise a great multitude, but it shall be given into his hand.

Hos.11

[11] they shall come trembling like birds from Egypt,
and like doves from the land of Assyria;
and I will return them to their homes, says the LORD.

Zech.11

[11] So it was annulled on that day, and the traffickers in the sheep, who were watching me, knew that it was the word of the LORD.

11:11 In the New Testament

Matt.11

[11] Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has risen no one greater than John the Baptist; yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

Mark.11

[11] And he entered Jerusalem, and went into the temple; and when he had looked round at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve.

Luke.11

[11] What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent;

John.11

[11] Thus he spoke, and then he said to them, "Our friend Laz'arus has fallen asleep, but I go to awake him out of sleep."

Acts.11

[11] At that very moment three men arrived at the house in which we were, sent to me from Caesare'a.

Rom.11

[11] So I ask, have they stumbled so as to fall? By no means! But through their trespass salvation has come to the Gentiles, so as to make Israel jealous.

1Cor.11

[11] (Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man nor man of woman;

2Cor.11

[11] And why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do!

Heb.11

[11] By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised.

Rev.11

[11] But after the three and a half days a breath of life from God entered them, and they stood up on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them.

Did you know that Fr. Donald Calloway is giving a free Immaculate Conception talk to all who sign up as a subscriber to the Courageous Priest apostolate?


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News Release: Plan Now for Up-coming Plenary Indulgences

Written by Fr. Z: During November Holy Church promotes prayers for the souls in purgatory. The souls in Purgatory are members of the Church just like we are but of the Church “Suffering”. We are members of the Church “Militant”, and we are like soldiers on the march through the world on the way with our Great Captain towards our heavenly home to join the members of the Church “Triumphant”. We can help the souls in Purgatory through our good works as assigned by the Church, who has the authority from Christ to apply to them the merits of His Passion and death, and the merits of the saints.

Here is how you can obtaining a Plenary Indulgence on 2 November 2, All Souls:

• make a good confession within a week before or after All Souls
• be free from all attachment to sin, even venial sin, for a plenary indulgence
• visit a church to pray for the faithful departed
• say one “Our Father” and the “Creed” during a visit to the church
• say one “Our Father” and one “Hail Mary” for the Pope’s monthly intentions
• receive Holy Communion, on the same day or soon after

To obtain a Plenary Indulgence from 1-8 November

• make a good Confession within a week of before or after All Souls Day
• be free from all attachment to sin, even venial sin, for a plenary indulgence
• visit a cemetery and pray for the dead
• say one “Our Father” and one “Hail Mary” for the monthly intentions set by the Pope
• receive Holy Communion worthily on the same day or soon after

Several indulgences may be gained on the basis of a single confession but only one may be gained after a single good reception Communion and prayer for the Pope’s intentions.

If you are not correctly disposed or if you don’t fulfill the prescribed works and/or the three conditions the indulgence will be partial and not plenary.

Anyway, have a plan for gaining your indulgences for the poor souls.

St. Januarius Feast Day Miracle

This is one you need to show the kids and forward to your friends.

JMJ

Thank You St. Robert Bellarmine!

Two Unexpected Answered Prayers on St. Robert Bellarmine's Feast Day

We were very pleasantly surprised to have two long-standing electrical issues resolved today. The first was the clicking noise in the car, which finally stopped clicking and made a loud boom! When we located the area of the problem, our neighbor comes running up to help us. He fixed it in under 15 minutes! It would have taken me all day to not figure out the problem, much less how to fix it....

The next solution involved my asking my brother-in-law about how to install an electrical outlet on our back porch. Next thing I know, he asks a few questions and says he'll be over shortly. The bonus is that he just so happened to have all of the necessary supplies on hand. This sort of saddens me, I was becoming accustomed to the orange extension cord run under the back door and into our kitchen.

The best part of the day was being able to share our son's Name Day brownies and ice cream with my sister, brother-in-law and their children! And a picture of our little Robert, who is all-too-rapidly approaching his first birthday!


These are my two St. Ignatius babies. Gianna was born on St. Ignatius' Feast Day and... well, you can probably figure out where we came up with Robert's name.

God bless you all and may St. Robert Bellarmine's intercession keep us all plugged in to the Divine Light.

God bless you!
John Michael

Warning: No Hooters Shirts During Mass

By TERRY MATTINGLY: Scripps Howard News Service

Blogger Note: I was trying to decide what picture to use, but had to scrap that idea for obvious reasons.

Deacon Greg Kandra was well aware that modern Americans were getting more casual and that these laid-back attitudes were filtering into Catholic pews.

Still, was that woman who was approaching the altar to receive Holy Communion really wearing a Hooters shirt?

Yes, she was.

When did Catholics, he thought to himself, start coming to Mass dressed for a Britney Spears concert? Had he missed a memo or something?

"Somewhere along the way, we went from neckties to tank tops, and from fasting to fast food. And it's getting worse," noted Kandra, a former CBS News writer with 26 years, two Emmys and two Peabody Awards to his credit. He is now a deacon assigned to Our Lady Queen of Martyrs, a 3,000-member parish in Forest Hills, just north of New York City.

"I recently had to tell a couple that no, they could not have their Chihuahua in a tuxedo as part of their wedding party,"he added, in a Patheos.com commentary. "An auxiliary bishop in Indianapolis recently complained about people who tweet during funerals. Casual Catholics, it seems, have taken 'casual' to a new level."

After the Hooters incident, he decided it was time to stop whining about the rising tide of irreverence and immodesty and to start griping about it right out in the open. Thus, Kandra and the parish's other clergy have resorted to appealing — in the parish bulletin and in public remarks — for a hint of sanity or even some old-fashioned decorum.

One bulletin item proclaimed, with a gag headline: "PLANS FOR PARISH SWIMMING POOL SCRAPPED! After much study, our finance committee has determined it would not be feasible to construct an indoor swimming pool in our church. ... As a result, we can now announce with certainty that those who have been arriving for Mass as if dressed for the pool need not do so. Also, we hope to keep the air conditioning cranking all summer long. So you do not need to wear shorts, halter tops or bikinis to Mass."

Other missives in this series warned that late-arriving parishioners with allegedly faulty alarm clocks might be injured during their attempts to "find a seat by climbing over the rope strung across the aisle. This can result in falls or — in some cases — embarrassing displays of underwear."

And about the many active cellphones: "New research indicates that people who bring cellphones to church are more likely to suffer serious head trauma, usually caused by the priest throwing the lectionary at them. Such people are also more likely to be wounded by hurled umbrellas and rolled-up missals."

It's easy to determine what is going on in his parish and elsewhere, said 74-year-old Monsignor Joseph Funaro. Decades ago, worshippers would dress up to go to church and then would return home to change into more casual clothing before heading to picnics, baseball games, the pool or away to the coast.

Today, the sprawl of suburban life and omnipresent traffic jams — especially close to Labor Day and beach-friendly weekends — have tempted Catholics to abandon the old church-first schedule. The clothes symbolize larger changes.

"We have reached the point that just about anything goes,"said Funaro. "We keep making appeals to our people, but it doesn't seem that anyone is paying much attention. ... Some of the ladies, well, you just have to wonder if they looked in a mirror before coming to church."

The key, he said, is not that formal attire has evolved into casual attire. That change took place several decades ago for most baby boomer adults and their children. Now, more and more Catholics have moved past casual clothing and have started wearing clothing that is distracting, at best, or is often aggressively immodest.

As a priest, Funaro said that he now worries that some of his parishioners are not really focusing on the Mass at all. Instead, they are stopping by the church while on their way to other activities they consider more important than Mass.

"I often ask people this question: 'Would you dress like that if you were going to meet the queen of England?' Of course, they always say, 'No, of course not.' Then I remind them that they are coming to Mass in order to meet someone more special than the queen. They are coming to meet their king."

(Terry Mattingly directs the Washington Journalism Center at the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities. Contact him at tmattingly@cccu.org or www.tmatt.net.)

10 Reasons Why Men Should Practice Custody of their Eyes

Top 10 Reasons Men Should Practice Custody of the Eyes

Written by Marcel of Aggie Catholic

As a follow-up to Top 10 Reasons Women Should Dress Modestly, I give you the following:
Thanks to The Ironic Catholic for the suggestion.

Top 10 Reasons Men Should Practice Custody of the Eyes

10 - It helps teach discipline.
Men should discipline themselves to be in control of their passions and not allow passions to control them.

9 - It avoids the near occasion of sin.
To avert your eyes when you feel tempted to use a woman lustfully is a good thing.
“But I say to you, everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” -Matt 5:19.

8 - Custody of the eyes builds up chastity.
Chastity helps us to properly order our sexuality. If we do not have custody of the eyes, it means our sexuality is dis-ordered toward objectification - not love - and needs to be healed.

7 - It is what every gentleman should do.
No woman who respects herself wants to be lusted after or looked up and down. No real gentleman would dishonor a woman by doing so.

6 - It helps a man to see the whole woman, not just parts of her body.
When most men see an immodestly-dressed woman, their brains automatically start to objectify her. Thus, men need to be able to see the truth about who a woman is - not just to break her down into objects he can use for his selfish pleasure.

5 - It avoids scandal.
Think of King David. If he would have practiced custody of the eyes he might have been able to avoid much worse sins - adultery and murder. Now think of what happens when a man is caught in a lustful look toward a woman.

4 - It helps fight off temptation.

Men suffer from sexual temptation frequently. To have custody of the eyes helps a man to fight off an even stronger temptation of lusting after a woman after he ogles her.

3 - It helps our sisters not feel objectified.
If for no other reason, we should witness to the dignity of a woman by controlling our passions.

2 - It is a virtue we should chase after.
It is related to chastity, modesty, and temperance.

1 - It focuses us back on more important things.
"Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides." - Matt 6:33

Christ should be our first priority. Honoring the height of his creation (our sisters) should be the second. We should be third.

Posted by Marcel

10 Reasons Why Women Should Dress Modestly

Top 10 Reasons Women Should Dress Modestly

Top 10 Reasons Women Should Dress Modestly

by Marcel - Aggie Catholics

10 - Modesty reflects an understanding of who a woman truly is.

Modesty starts inside a person's heart and mind. Who am I? Why do I exist? If a woman answers she is a beautiful daughter of God, then modesty will naturally follow.

9 - Modesty isn't about dressing in unattractive clothes as some think it is.

There are too many options in clothing to not give modesty a try. Yes, it might not be the first thing on the rack you go shopping for, but it is worth finding clothing that brings out a woman's beauty without revealing too much.

8 - Modesty attracts the kind of guys you ought to want to attract.

If a woman is afraid that she must turn a man's eye by dressing immodestly, then she should ask herself just what kind of guy does she want to attract?

7 - Mary dressed modestly.

Truly there is no more beautiful woman who ever lived than Mary. Why wouldn't any woman want to be more like her?

6 - It helps protect women.

A woman can still dress to be beautiful, but the mystery of a woman's body is protected from being used. Modesty provides a needed defense against usage.

5 - It sets a good example for others.

Young girls and teens need good examples of beautiful women who are modest. The attacks of immodest are Legion and we need a good counter-example.

4 - Women are worthy of respect.

Respect can be easily lost when a woman tries to promote herself by being immodest.

3 - It helps your brothers to avoid lust.

Women would be shocked if they were to enter the head of the average modern young man in a crowded room of immodest women. This isn't to blame an immodestly dressed woman for a man's sin of lust. But, men today need all the help they can get to fight lust and sin. Won't you help them?

2 - It shows true beauty.

A woman't true beauty comes from her dignity of being made in God's image. If any woman wants to truly reflect God's beauty, it starts with modesty.

1 - It is a virtue.

Modesty is a virtue that helps control behavior so we do not excite the sexuality of another. It is also a fruit of the Holy Spirit. All of us could use more virtue in our lives.

The Divine Mercy Novena Starts Today

The Divine Mercy Novena

Jesus asked that the Feast of the Divine Mercy be preceded by a Novena to the Divine Mercy which would begin on Good Friday. He gave St. Faustina an intention to pray for on each day of the Novena, saving for the last day the most difficult intention of all, the lukewarm and indifferent of whom He said:

"These souls cause Me more suffering than any others; it was from such souls that My soul felt the most revulsion in the Garden of Olives. It was on their account that I said: 'My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass Me by.' The last hope of salvation for them is to flee to My Mercy."

In her diary, St. Faustina wrote that Jesus told her:

"On each day of the novena you will bring to My heart a different group of souls and you will immerse them in this ocean of My mercy ... On each day you will beg My Father, on the strength of My passion, for the graces for these souls."

The different souls prayed for on each day of the novena are:

DAY 1 (Good Friday) - All mankind, especially sinners

DAY 2 (Holy Saturday) - The souls of priests and religious

DAY 3 (Easter Sunday) - All devout and faithful souls

DAY 4 (Easter Monday) - Those who do not believe in Jesus and those who do not yet know Him

DAY 5 (Easter Tuesday) - The souls of separated brethren

DAY 6 (Easter Wednesday) - The meek and humble souls and the souls of children

DAY 7 (Easter Thursday)- The souls who especially venerate and glorify Jesus' mercy

DAY 8 (Easter Friday) - The souls who are detained in purgatory;

DAY 9 (Easter Saturday) - The souls who have become lukewarm.

The Chaplet of Divine Mercy may also be offered each day for the day's intention, but is not strictly necessary to the Novena.

---

First Day
"Today bring to Me all mankind, especially all sinners,

and immerse them in the ocean of My mercy. In this way you will console Me in the bitter grief into which the loss of souls plunges Me."

Most Merciful Jesus, whose very nature it is to have compassion on us and to forgive us, do not look upon our sins but upon our trust which we place in Your infinite goodness. Receive us all into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart, and never let us escape from It. We beg this of You by Your love which unites You to the Father and the Holy Spirit.

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon all mankind and especially upon poor sinners, all enfolded in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. For the sake of His sorrowful Passion show us Your mercy, that we may praise the omnipotence of Your mercy for ever and ever. Amen.

---

Second Day
"Today bring to Me the Souls of Priests and Religious,

and immerse them in My unfathomable mercy. It was they who gave me strength to endure My bitter Passion. Through them as through channels My mercy flows out upon mankind."

Most Merciful Jesus, from whom comes all that is good, increase Your grace in men and women consecrated to Your service,* that they may perform worthy works of mercy; and that all who see them may glorify the Father of Mercy who is in heaven.

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the company of chosen ones in Your vineyard -- upon the souls of priests and religious; and endow them with the strength of Your blessing. For the love of the Heart of Your Son in which they are enfolded, impart to them Your power and light, that they may be able to guide others in the way of salvation and with one voice sing praise to Your boundless mercy for ages without end. Amen.

* In the original text, Saint Faustina uses the pronoun "us" since she was offering this prayer as a consecrated religious sister. The wording adapted here is intended to make the prayer suitable for universal use.

---

Third Day
"Today bring to Me all Devout and Faithful Souls,

and immerse them in the ocean of My mercy. These souls brought me consolation on the Way of the Cross. They were a drop of consolation in the midst of an ocean of bitterness."

Most Merciful Jesus, from the treasury of Your mercy, You impart Your graces in great abundance to each and all. Receive us into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart and never let us escape from It. We beg this grace of You by that most wondrous love for the heavenly Father with which Your Heart burns so fiercely.

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon faithful souls, as upon the inheritance of Your Son. For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, grant them Your blessing and surround them with Your constant protection. Thus may they never fail in love or lose the treasure of the holy faith, but rather, with all the hosts of Angels and Saints, may they glorify Your boundless mercy for endless ages. Amen.

---

Fourth Day
"Today bring to Me those who do not believe in God and those who do not know Me,

I was thinking also of them during My bitter Passion, and their future zeal comforted My Heart. Immerse them in the ocean of My mercy."

Most compassionate Jesus, You are the Light of the whole world. Receive into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart the souls of those who do not believe in God and of those who as yet do not know You. Let the rays of Your grace enlighten them that they, too, together with us, may extol Your wonderful mercy; and do not let them escape from the abode which is Your Most Compassionate Heart.

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the souls of those who do not believe in You, and of those who as yet do not know You, but who are enclosed in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. Draw them to the light of the Gospel. These souls do not know what great happiness it is to love You. Grant that they, too, may extol the generosity of Your mercy for endless ages. Amen.

*Our Lord's original words here were "the pagans." Since the pontificate of Pope John XXIII, the Church has seen fit to replace this term with clearer and more appropriate terminology.

---

Fifth Day
"Today bring to Me the Souls of those who have separated themselves from My Church*,

and immerse them in the ocean of My mercy. During My bitter Passion they tore at My Body and Heart, that is, My Church. As they return to unity with the Church My wounds heal and in this way they alleviate My Passion."

Most Merciful Jesus, Goodness Itself, You do not refuse light to those who seek it of You. Receive into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart the souls of those who have separated themselves from Your Church. Draw them by Your light into the unity of the Church, and do not let them escape from the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart; but bring it about that they, too, come to glorify the generosity of Your mercy.

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the souls of those who have separated themselves from Your Son's Church, who have squandered Your blessings and misused Your graces by obstinately persisting in their errors. Do not look upon their errors, but upon the love of Your own Son and upon His bitter Passion, which He underwent for their sake, since they, too, are enclosed in His Most Compassionate Heart. Bring it about that they also may glorify Your great mercy for endless ages. Amen.

*Our Lord's original words here were "heretics and schismatics," since He spoke to Saint Faustina within the context of her times. As of the Second Vatican Council, Church authorities have seen fit not to use those designations in accordance with the explanation given in the Council's Decree on Ecumenism (n.3). Every pope since the Council has reaffirmed that usage. Saint Faustina herself, her heart always in harmony with the mind of the Church, most certainly would have agreed. When at one time, because of the decisions of her superiors and father confessor, she was not able to execute Our Lord's inspirations and orders, she declared: "I will follow Your will insofar as You will permit me to do so through Your representative. O my Jesus " I give priority to the voice of the Church over the voice with which You speak to me" (497). The Lord confirmed her action and praised her for it.

---

Sixth Day
Today bring to Me the Meek and Humble Souls and the Souls of Little Children,

and immerse them in My mercy. These souls most closely resemble My Heart. They strengthened Me during My bitter agony. I saw them as earthly Angels, who will keep vigil at My altars. I pour out upon them whole torrents of grace. I favor humble souls with My confidence.

Most Merciful Jesus, You yourself have said, "Learn from Me for I am meek and humble of heart." Receive into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart all meek and humble souls and the souls of little children. These souls send all heaven into ecstasy and they are the heavenly Father's favorites. They are a sweet-smelling bouquet before the throne of God; God Himself takes delight in their fragrance. These souls have a permanent abode in Your Most Compassionate Heart, O Jesus, and they unceasingly sing out a hymn of love and mercy.

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon meek souls, upon humble souls, and upon little children who are enfolded in the abode which is the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. These souls bear the closest resemblance to Your Son. Their fragrance rises from the earth and reaches Your very throne. Father of mercy and of all goodness, I beg You by the love You bear these souls and by the delight You take in them: Bless the whole world, that all souls together may sing out the praises of Your mercy for endless ages. Amen.

---

Seventh Day
Today bring to Me the Souls who especially venerate and glorify My Mercy*,

and immerse them in My mercy. These souls sorrowed most over my Passion and entered most deeply into My spirit. They are living images of My Compassionate Heart. These souls will shine with a special brightness in the next life. Not one of them will go into the fire of hell. I shall particularly defend each one of them at the hour of death.

Most Merciful Jesus, whose Heart is Love Itself, receive into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart the souls of those who particularly extol and venerate the greatness of Your mercy. These souls are mighty with the very power of God Himself. In the midst of all afflictions and adversities they go forward, confident of Your mercy; and united to You, O Jesus, they carry all mankind on their shoulders. These souls will not be judged severely, but Your mercy will embrace them as they depart from this life.

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the souls who glorify and venerate Your greatest attribute, that of Your fathomless mercy, and who are enclosed in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. These souls are a living Gospel; their hands are full of deeds of mercy, and their hearts, overflowing with joy, sing a canticle of mercy to You, O Most High! I beg You O God:

Show them Your mercy according to the hope and trust they have placed in You. Let there be accomplished in them the promise of Jesus, who said to them that during their life, but especially at the hour of death, the souls who will venerate this fathomless mercy of His, He, Himself, will defend as His glory. Amen.

*The text leads one to conclude that in the first prayer directed to Jesus, Who is the Redeemer, it is "victim" souls and contemplatives that are being prayed for; those persons, that is, that voluntarily offered themselves to God for the salvation of their neighbor (see Col 1:24; 2 Cor 4:12). This explains their close union with the Savior and the extraordinary efficacy that their invisible activity has for others. In the second prayer, directed to the Father from whom comes "every worthwhile gift and every genuine benefit,"we recommend the "active" souls, who promote devotion to The Divine Mercy and exercise with it all the other works that lend themselves to the spiritual and material uplifting of their brethren.

---

Eighth Day
"Today bring to Me the Souls who are in the prison of Purgatory,

and immerse them in the abyss of My mercy. Let the torrents of My Blood cool down their scorching flames. All these souls are greatly loved by Me. They are making retribution to My justice. It is in your power to bring them relief. Draw all the indulgences from the treasury of My Church and offer them on their behalf. Oh, if you only knew the torments they suffer, you would continually offer for them the alms of the spirit and pay off their debt to My justice."

Most Merciful Jesus, You Yourself have said that You desire mercy; so I bring into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart the souls in Purgatory, souls who are very dear to You, and yet, who must make retribution to Your justice. May the streams of Blood and Water which gushed forth from Your Heart put out the flames of Purgatory, that there, too, the power of Your mercy may be celebrated.

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the souls suffering in Purgatory, who are enfolded in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. I beg You, by the sorrowful Passion of Jesus Your Son, and by all the bitterness with which His most sacred Soul was flooded: Manifest Your mercy to the souls who are under Your just scrutiny. Look upon them in no other way but only through the Wounds of Jesus, Your dearly beloved Son; for we firmly believe that there is no limit to Your goodness and compassion. Amen.

---

Ninth Day
"Today bring to Me the Souls who have become Lukewarm,

and immerse them in the abyss of My mercy. These souls wound My Heart most painfully. My soul suffered the most dreadful loathing in the Garden of Olives because of lukewarm souls. They were the reason I cried out: 'Father, take this cup away from Me, if it be Your will.' For them, the last hope of salvation is to run to My mercy."

Most compassionate Jesus, You are Compassion Itself. I bring lukewarm souls into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart. In this fire of Your pure love, let these tepid souls who, like corpses, filled You with such deep loathing, be once again set aflame. O Most Compassionate Jesus, exercise the omnipotence of Your mercy and draw them into the very ardor of Your love, and bestow upon them the gift of holy love, for nothing is beyond Your power.

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon lukewarm souls who are nonetheless enfolded in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. Father of Mercy, I beg You by the bitter Passion of Your Son and by His three-hour agony on the Cross: Let them, too, glorify the abyss of Your mercy. Amen.

---

Diary, Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska, Divine Mercy in My Soul (c) 1987 Congregation of Marians of the Immaculate Conception, Stockbridge, MA 01263. All rights reserved. Used with permission.

Read more:http://www.ewtn.com/devotionals/mercy/novena.htm#ixzz1KGFaJlFI

Everything Hinges on the Resurrerction, By St. Bellarmine

Brethren, Christ's Resurrection is the
Fundamental Truth of Christianity.

Prove to me that Christ arose not, and in a moment I am an infidel; prove to me that Christ arose, and in that instant I conceive a faith broad enough to accept all the teachings of Christ and Christ's Church.

A hope that stops not short of everlasting life for my soul and for my body too and a charity for God and my fellowman which, God willing, will procure me a happy and a blessed immortality. For if Christ rose again, then beyond all peradventure, He was God, and every word He uttered and every truth taught by the one true Church wherein He promised to abide forever, must be infallible beyond all doubt.

For Christ had said: " I have power to lay down My life, and I have power to take it up again."

Words, which, if justified by the event, proclaim the speaker to have been a God. Lazarus, and other few before and since, have been recalled to life, but always, mind you, by a power other than their own, but only God, the Arbiter of life and death, could say:

"I die at pleasure and at pleasure do I rise again."

In fact on this one truth that He should rise again, Christ staked His reputation as a man and His claim as God upon the world's credence and fidelity. All His other miracles had a distinct purpose immediately in view, whether it was that He pitied the widow of Nairn, or had compassion on His famished followers or rescued them from shipwreck And invariably He enjoined silence concerning such evidences of His Godhead, until He should be risen from the dead. Nay, when pressed by His enemies for a proof of His divinity, He refused the sign they asked, saying:

"No other proof shall be given you but that of Jonas the prophet, who after three days came forth from the whale even as I shall from the tomb, for if you destroy this temple, My body, in three days I shall raise it up again."

His position, therefore, was that His Resurrection was to be the crowning proof of His divinity and that without His Resurrection He and all His teaching and wonder-working would have come to naught. Not only Christianity, but all religion from the beginning, would have been discredited had not God's promise to our fallen parents that their seed should conquer sin and death been fulfilled in the person of the risen Saviour.

Everything Hinges on the Resurrection!

This supreme importance of the Resurrection as an historic fact was recognized by Christ's enemies and friends alike. The Jewish nation's honor was at stake, for if Christ rose again they were forever branded as the murderers of the Messias, but if He failed to rise they could take credit to themselves for having justly punished an impostor. Hence they sought by every means to prove His promise unfulfilled. The Apostles, on the other hand, seem to have preached at first as though the Resurrection was the only dogma of our faith, styling themselves the witnesses thereof and taking care to elect as Judas's successor an eye-witness of the Lord's arising.

"For," says St. Paul, " if Christ be not risen again, then is our preaching vain and our faith is also vain. Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God and we are yet in our sins, and they who have died in the Lord have perished and we are of all men the most miserable."

Whereas, I repeat, and repeat and repeat again, if Christ did rise from the dead we are bound by inexorable logic to admit His divinity, to accept all His teachings and all the teachings of His Church, and to conform our lives thereto—we are bound to fall at the Saviour's feet with St. Thomas, and repeat Thomas's all-embracing profession of faith:

"My Lord and my God."

By St. Robert Bellarmine

Do You Love Exquisite, Heirloom Rosaries?

Than You Must See The Powerful "Our Lady of Lourdes Pardon Rosary"

Jeff Gares' wife, a professional rosary maker, has graciously agreed to make limited number of heirloom, sterling silver, fresh water cultured pearls. Now this Our Lady of Lourdes Pardon Rosary is not only exquisite, but the story behind it shows why this will be a powerhouse of a Rosary.

• If you love Our Lady of Lourdes,

• Have a devotion to the Immaculate Conception,

• Want to alleviate the pain for the Holy Souls,

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• And never heard of the Pardon Rosary,

Then you need to discover the powerful story of "Our Lady of Lourdes Pardon Rosary."

Seriously, it is a must read! Go to Our Lady of Lourdes Pardon Rosary to discover the story of this powerful sacramental.

P.S. The Our Lady of Lourdes Pardon Rosary benefits the Courageous Priest Apostolate and is their only fundraiser.

A Free St. Robert Bellarmine Rosary Book

With This Weapon!

The Hidden Secrets of the Rosary

By St. Robert Bellarmine, Today his is feast day.

With This Weapon! The Hidden Secrets of the Rosary - St. Bellarmine - This is a free book by St. Bellarmine which I edited. Share and enjoy. It is really a good read.

Here is a sample.

The Fruit of the Rosary

I can recall a little chapel where you may often see a royal queen and a

lowly peasant addressing the same prayers to the same Mary, Queen of

the Rosary. We find instances in history where the Christian soldier,

defeated in his struggle for faith and fatherland, has turned the tide of

battle by an appeal to Mary of the Rosary. We see the great O'Connell

wincing under the fiery eloquence of his opponent, but preparing himself

by reciting the Rosary for that grand effort of his which procured hope

for the country he loved full well, and freedom for the Church he loved

better still. Besides these victories, who will recount its spiritual

conquests, the hardened hearts moved to repentance, the despairing souls

it has snatched from the edge of hell and returned to God! Ultimately, it

is the badge of the noblest of God's creatures, of the gentle Sisters of

Charity on the battlefield and in the hospital, and of the intrepid

missionaries in the wilderness.

The Rosary; Friend or Foe

Brethren, do we appreciate the full value of this devotion? Are we its

friends or are we its enemies? We are, you say, its friends, But alas! as

many a man will say: "I am a Catholic, but I cannot say I practice my

religion." So many of us will have to say: "I approve of the Rosary, but I

cannot say I practice it." To each I say equally: "Stuff and nonsense;

there is no Catholic but a practical Catholic, and there is no friend of the

Rosary but he who practices it often and well." "He that is not with me is

against me," is not less true of Christ than it is of the Church and the

Rosary.

9 Sure Fire Ways to Master the Art of Studying

St. John Bosco Reveals 9 Simple Ways For Highly Effective Studying

My dear sons, I want to suggest a few means for you to triumph in your studies, so I will teach them to you one by one each night.

1. The first means for studying well is to have fear of God. Initium sapientiae timor Domini — fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Do you want to become truly wise and make great achievements in class? Fear the Lord. Avoid offending Him, becausein malevolam animam non intrabit sapientiam nec habitabit in corpore subdito peccatis — wisdom will not enter the malevolent soul, nor will it inhabit the body given over to sin. The wisdom of man springs from the Wisdom of God. What pleasure can one experience in studies when his heart is agitated by his passions? How does one intend to overcome the difficulties he stumbles through in his studies without God’s help? Omnis sapientia a Domino Deo est — All wisdom belongs to God. Just one mortal sin offends God so much that all the angels and men together cannot make amends. Will God help those who insult Him so gravely? Truly wise men never offend God. Consider, for example, Saint Thomas or Saint Francis de Sales. Daily experience teaches us that the ones who succeed in studies are those who distance themselves from sin. True, there are some impious people who shine in their genius and knowledge, but perhaps they merited these gifts from the Lord beforehand as a reward for their conduct and good works, yet abused them later. On the other hand, the majority of these people do not possess true wisdom. Their minds are full of errors that they spread to others. This is not wisdom. If the Lord has permitted some impious fellow to prosper in knowledge, although he be His enemy, this will merit him a greater curse and chastisement for his having abused it.

2. The second means for studying advantageously consists in not losing even a second of time. Time, my most dear sons, is a treasure. Fili, conserva tempus — Son, use time well. In the time that you should devote to studies, give yourself entirely. Never look for pretexts to escape from class. It is painful to see students who contrive pretexts of sickness or forcefully wrest permissions from superiors to avoid fulfilling these duties. During study time or class time, do not read books that have nothing to do with the material being covered.

Suppress daydreams. Do you see that student who seems engrossed in his book? Do you think he is studying? Right, right…! His mind is thousands and thousands of leagues away…. Look at him, smiling; he looks like he is in the middle of recreation, jumping about. He is thinking about his victory over a friend. Another one thinks about the candy and the drink he has tucked away in a box. Yet another one over there harbors the thought, for example, of buying a certain book, of joking around, of some buffoonery, of going for a stroll. I don’t even mention those who are thinking about offending God; I hope there are none of that type in the Oratory. Let’s study, then, and not lose time.

3. The third means for success in studies consists in getting used to not going on in any subject, be it one grammar rule to another or one argument to another, without knowing the previous material well. Consequently, memorize what you are studying. Cicero said, very correctly, Tantum scimus quantum memoria retinemus–We know as much as we retain in our memory. Study daily in such wise that the lesson or the section of the classical author that the teacher pointed out is well engraved in your mind; I say every day because if you are not careful to learn it today, you will have to double your efforts tomorrow to catch up. Whoever is not diligent for a week will have to make up for his deficiency in five lessons, taking into account that his daily duties are already more than sufficient to take up the whole day. Due to this lack of diligence, not few have serious gaps in their knowledge; there are many things they have not understood well, and in the last months of the course they kill themselves studying, perhaps with the fear of being suspended. He who has always been diligent, however, possesses the treasure of his thoughts with certainty, and on the examination day he is not bothered or worried.

4. The fourth means for studying advantageously consists of eating in an orderly and timely fashion. Gluttony has claimed more victims than the sword. Do you want advice? Don’t live to eat; eat to live. Take little at breakfast and snack. Don’t eat until you are full. If you have a tasty morsel saved in your drawer, don’t be lured by gluttony to eat all of it at once; save some for the next few days, and it will do you no harm. Don’t think I say this out of personal interest. Not at all, for experience teaches that if you eat one less roll for breakfast, at lunch you will eat three more. Whoever goes to class stuffed with food soon feels his head overloaded, indisposed, and wearied. He vainly fights tiredness and loses time miserably, because he understands little or nothing and cannot fix his attention. The more he tries to pay attention, the worse it gets. Then he gets a headache. He is unable to do anything for several days. Sometimes the only thing he will get is serious indigestion. Be careful, then, with gluttony!

5. The fifth means for getting ahead in studies is to keep company with studious young men. Use study circles and groups. This is the best way to progress. During the breaks, stay near the assistants and your better-instructed companions; ask about geography, about the classics, about grammar or some point of history. Speak among yourselves often about things related to your duties — the lessons, compositions, and translations. How much fruit you will gain! On trips speak about similar things and don’t frequent the company of superficial or unreflective peers, who will help you lose knowledge rather than acquire it. Frivolous and useless conversations are worthless, merely distracting the mind and cooling the heart. The wise man says: "Consorting with the wise will make you wise."

6. The sixth means is an orderly recreation. Use the entire recreation period, because playing will bring new strength for studying better during class time. Do not turn your recreation time into study time, because when you have to study later during the appointed time periods, your mind will be tired and you will gain little. Also avoid playing exaggeratedly and excessively. There are some who run to and fro during recreation with such excitement that instead of entertaining themselves they kill themselves. They collide with their companions and throw them to the ground, breaking noses, kicking one another, punching another to kill time. After the recreation they are perspiring and panting profusely and, exhausted, they go to study, but… their head is still confused, and they need rest. They’ve given themselves over to the game so much that they are thinking about it during class. I am not even speaking of those who shout so much that they have a headache all day long.

I also point out those young men who walk about in cliques, speaking about outings, parties, snacks, festivities, and vacations with such enthusiasm that during class they can think of nothing else. For those who have bad conversations during recreation, I will say only that without fear of God it is impossible for them to truly progress.

Consequently, even in your recreation, be orderly. I am not saying you should not play — jump, have fun, but not excessively. When I am free from visits, I also have recreation. I play with you, I jest, I laugh, but I don’t break my head playing games. Therefore, the sixth means for studying with profit is in having a well-ordered recreation.

7. The seventh means for studying profitably is this:attack and overcome all difficulties you encounterin your subjects of study. When you find difficulties, don’t panic. What did you come to the Oratory for? To study. Hence, it is only natural that you are going to learn what you don’t already know. And to learn what you don’t know means you must force your mind, with greater or lesser effort depending on each one’s greater or lesser wit. Therefore, take courage! It is necessary never to leave a job half-done. Those who evade a difficulty that comes along do not act well if they say, "I don’t understand this!" and then go on to something else. It is worthwhile to wait until the difficulty has been conquered and overcome. To obtain this, first have recourse to Jesus and Mary, and you will see how the difficulties will disappear. Never forget, dearest sons, that this is the best way to overcome all difficulties in studies, because God is the only Giver and Father of knowledge. He communicates it to whom and as He wishes. Every day you say to the Most Holy Virgin in the Litany:Sedes Sapientiae, ora pro nobis (Seat of Wisdom, pray for us). She is the Seat of Wisdom. Go also to your teachers and assistants; they will quicken and help you with all the explanations you need. And I say more: Make the effort and be not only resolute in overcoming difficulties, but be happy when you find them, because these sharpen the wit and offer sweet satisfaction when you are able to conquer them. What contentment one experiences when he understands what seems difficult! [Amen to this,] and take into account that whatsoever one learns painstakingly will never obscure the mind again.

We should not become discouraged in encountering difficulties. Saint Jerome gives an example of perseverance with his studies of Sacred Scripture. Having been commissioned to translate the Bible from Hebrew to Latin, he retreated to a cave. After spending much time with similar studies, he was unable to resolve numerous difficulties. So he decided to put the task aside. One fine day, having left the cave, he saw a rock with a small hole in it. He stopped to consider how the little hole had been formed, and he concluded that the incessant falling of water, drop by drop, in the same spot over a long period of time had formed the hole. "Who knows," he said, "if this is not a sign from heaven for me not to become discouraged and to continue my work? If a drop of water, with time, could drill a hole in this rock, cannot I also, with constancy, finish my job?" So he continued, taking lessons from a learned master and finished his magnificent task, to the incalculable advantage of all Christendom: Gutta cavat lapidem–the drop of rain carveth the stone.

8. The eighth means to study beneficially consists of dedicating yourself exclusively to studying the subjects of your course. Pluribus intentus minor est ad singula sensus, one does not acquire knowledge leafing through many books. When Saint Thomas was asked how he had become so learned, he answered, "Reading just one book at a time."

It is necessary to mark well in your mind that studies outside of your assigned subjects must be postponed. If one is studying Latin and at the same time wants to learn English or French, which language will he dominate at the end of the course? The Latin language has such dimensions that it is more than enough to give work to even the very brightest throughout the course.

There are young men who read a lot and are unable to do anything but tangle their brains. There are many who read unassigned poetry, tales, stories, or classical prose — excellent in themselves, if you will, but which distance them from their duties, preventing them from acquiring true knowledge.

"But," you will ask, "what if I have free time after I have finished my work and studied my lesson?" Go over it again. Go back to certain rules you have forgotten…. In sum, don’t waste your time reading stories.

As I give you these counsels, I do not set aside the importance and advantages of orderly and judicious reading; but it is necessary that you have present, while reading, the following norms:

First: Do not read other books until you have finished your schoolwork, and

Second: Do not read any book without having requested advice from your teacher or other persons capable of giving it, so that you avoid the risk of reading useless books, poorly written or reprehensible, that corrupt the mind and heart, insinuating perverse maxims.

9. Continuing the list of means to study with headway, always have recourse to the protection of Mary Most Holy. Mary is the Seat of Wisdom. Thus, before studying your lesson, before beginning the author’s explanation, before doing your composition, don’t ever forget to pray an Ave Maria to the Virgin, adding the ejaculation Sedes Sapientiae, ora pro nobis.

Realize, also, that actiones nostras–our action–is prayer directed to the Holy Ghost.

________________________________

Note: This article was published in Crusade Magazine (July-August 1998, pp. 18-21) and translated by Ted Huereña from the Spanish Biografia y Escritos de San Juan Bosco by Fr. Rodolfo Fierro, S.D.B. (Biblioteca de Autores Cristianos, Madrid, 1955), pp. 553-559.

Andrea Bocelli - The Doctors Wanted Mom To Abort Me

To view this inspirational YouTube story, email subscribers will need to click on the headline and view on the site.



This is a good story to share, don't you agree?

Happy Birthday Pope Benedict XVI

So, how well do you know the Pope? Watch this very cool stop-motion video to find out.



God bless our Pope!

Divine Mercy Sunday

A Special Promise of Mercy

Our Lord’s promise to grant complete forgiveness of sins and punishment on the Feast of Mercy is recorded three times in the Diary of Saint Faustina, each time in a slightly different way:

“I want to grant a complete pardon to the souls that will go to Confession and receive Holy Communion on the Feast of My mercy” (1109).

“Whoever approaches the Fountain of Life on this day will be granted complete forgiveness of sins and punishment” (300).

“The soul that will go to Confession and receive Holy Communion will obtain complete forgiveness of sins and punishment” (699).

Archbishop Burke Wants To Hire You

Archbishop Burke's Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe
Is Hiring A Full Time Executive

Need a job? Well, our beloved Bishop Burke is hiring. How exciting a real Catholic job. Please forward to prospective buyers. Shrine website here.

Company: Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe
Location: La Crosse, Wisconsin

Title: Executive Director
Type: Religious Shrine

Terms: FT Employee
Experience: 5-10 years

Education: Undergraduate/Master’s degree
Base Pay: Unspecified

Job Details:

Archbishop Raymond L. Burke and the Board of Directors for the Shrine of Our Lady of
Guadalupe in La Crosse, Wisconsin, are seeking a faith-filled, proven leader to become
the Executive Director of the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The Shrine is dedicated
to Our Lady under her title of Our Lady of Guadalupe and currently is situated on over
100 acres, nestled into the side of a beautiful Wisconsin bluff. The Shrine was first
opened to pilgrims in December of 2002 and consists of an exquisite Shrine Church,
Votive Counsel Chapel, outside Stations of the Cross and Rosary Walk, a Memorial to
the Unborn, and several devotional areas. It is visited by over 70,000 pilgrims per year.
The new Executive Director is expected to be a person of great faith and must be skilled
in operational and financial management, strategic planning and development.

Duties

The Executive Director will be responsible for the strategic planning and operational
oversight of the Shrine, including but not limited to: strategic planning for growth, fiscal
responsibility, development, communications, coordination of pilgrimages to the Shrine,
grounds and maintenance, religious gift shop, shrine restaurant, supervision of shrine
staff and over 100 volunteers and liaison with business representatives as well as city and
government officials.

Accountable to: The Shrine Board of Directors; Archbishop Raymond L. Burke (Chairman of the Board)

Term: This is a full-time, 12 month position

Compensation: Competitive salary and benefits, in accordance with the policies of the Shrine and commensurate with experience.

Qualifications: Candidates must be called and committed to fostering a spiritual environment within the doctrinal teachings of the Catholic Church. A thorough knowledge of the apparition of
Our Lady of Guadalupe is required. Candidates should possess proven administrative
and strong written and communication skills as evidenced by previous experience. They
must possess proven interpersonal skills and have experience in donor relationships and
public communications.

Requirements:
• Practicing Catholic who has been active in evangelization of the faith;
• Knowledge of the Catholic faith and the apparition of Our Lady of Guadalupe;
• minimum BA/BS degree in a business or related discipline; Master degree
preferred;
• Experience in supervision, development, strategic planning, operational duties,
fiscal management;
• Valid drivers’ license.

Interested individuals must submit an application in order to be considered. Resumes are
encouraged as attachments but will not be accepted without the official job application
form. Application forms may be obtained via our website at
http://www.guadalupeshrine.org/Employment/index.asp or by calling the Shrine at 608-782-
5440.

Completed application forms may be submitted as follows:

U.S. Mail: Search Committee
Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe
P.O. Box 1237
La Crosse, WI 54602-1237
Email: Secretary@shrineofourlady.com
Delivery to Shrine: 5250 Justin Road
La Crosse, WI 54601

Applications should be submitted by no later than April 15. The Search Committee
desires to begin interviews in late April with a goal of making a selection in time for the
individual to begin work on or before June 1, 2010.

Please email to qualified individuals. And I would love to know if you get the job.

It Was A Great Miracle

The Lost Story of St. Polycarp, Bishop & Martyr
by Eye Witnesses

Polycarp 156 A.D. was the bishop of Smyrna, today the city of Izmir, on the west coast of Turkey. He was part of the generation of church leaders who succeeded the apostles. Tradition reveals he was taught by the apostle John and was appointed to his office by the apostles themselves.

We owe the account of Polycarp’s death to the Christians of Smyrna, who wrote it up as a letter and circulated it to all the churches. No wonder they wanted to tell the world: Polycarp’s character and personal relationship with the Lord shine out in its simple words. The apparent defeat of his death becomes a triumphant witness to the resurrection.

Polycarp was martyred before the period of the great persecutions organized from Rome by emperors like Diocletian. His story reveals the tensions that were already building up throughout the empire, as Christians rejected the gods and goddesses that everyone else was worshipping. The pagans called the Christians “atheists” for this apparent lack of religious feeling. But as Polycarp made clear to a Roman government official, the real atheists are those who don’t worship the one true God.

As the story opens in this adaptation of the Martyrdom of Polycarp, a local persecution of Christians has been going on. Some of Smyrna’s Christians have already been put to death, and search parties have been looking for the bishop, who has been persuaded to do the prudent thing and leave town. Someone has just tipped off the pursuers that Polycarp is hiding out at a farmhouse in the country.

The mounted police set out on Friday about suppertime. They carried their usual weapons, as if they were advancing against a bandit. Late in the evening, they arrived to arrest Polycarp and found that he was resting upstairs. He could have escaped to another place but decided to stay. “God’s will be done,” he said.

When Polycarp heard that the police were there, he went downstairs and talked with them. Everyone was amazed at his age and courage and wondered why there should be so much haste about arresting an old man like this. Despite the lateness of the hour, he had a table set for them to eat and drink, as much as they desired. He asked them to give him an hour to pray undisturbed, and they agreed.

So Polycarp stood and prayed out loud. He was so filled with the grace of God that, for two hours, he could not be silent. Those who listened were astounded, and many were sorry that they had come to arrest such a venerable old man.

When Polycarp had finished his prayer, after remembering everyone who had ever crossed his path—both small and great, high and low—and the whole Catholic Church throughout the world, the time came for him to leave. They set him on an ass and led him into the city.

“Save Yourself!” The chief of police, named Herod, and his father, Niketas, met Polycarp there and took him into their carriage. Sitting beside him, they tried to persuade him to change his mind: “What harm is there in saying ‘Lord Caesar,’ and offering sacrifice, and saving yourself from death?”

At first Polycarp did not answer them, but when they kept at it, he said, “I am not going to do what you advise.” Then they gave up trying to persuade him and began to make threats. They forced him out of the carriage so fast that he scraped his shin getting out. Without even turning around, as though he had felt nothing, Polycarp walked on quickly and was taken to the noisy stadium.

As he entered, a voice from heaven came to him: “Be strong, Polycarp, and act like a man.” No one saw the speaker, but our friends who were there heard the voice.

No Fear. Polycarp was brought before the proconsul. He also tried to persuade him to deny the faith. “Respect your age,” he said. “Swear by the divine power of Caesar. Change your mind. Say, ‘Away with the atheists!’ ” But Polycarp, with a solemn look at the unruly mob in the stadium, pointed to them and, looking up to heaven, said, “Away with the atheists!”

The proconsul urged him harder. “Take the oath and I’ll let you go. Curse Christ.”

“Eighty-six years I have served him, and he never did me any wrong,” said Polycarp. “How can I blaspheme my King who saved me?”

When the proconsul kept insisting, “Swear by the divine power of Caesar,” Polycarp answered, “If you vainly suppose that I will swear by the divine power of Caesar, as you say, and if you pretend that you do not know who I am, listen plainly: I am a Christian. And if you wish to learn the Christian message, arrange a meeting and give me a hearing.”

“I have wild animals,” the proconsul said. “I’ll throw you to them unless you change your mind.”

“Call them in,” Polycarp replied, “for we are not allowed to change from something better to something worse.”

“Scorn the wild beasts and I’ll have you burned alive, if you don’t change your mind.”

Polycarp said, “You threaten with fire that burns for a short time and is soon quenched. You don’t know about the fire of the coming judgment and eternal punishment that awaits the wicked. But why are you waiting? Come, do what you will.”

Power to Endure. Polycarp radiated courage and joy as he said these and many other things. Not only did his face show no sign of distress, it was so full of grace that the proconsul was astonished and sent his herald into the middle of the arena three times to announce: “Polycarp has declared that he is a Christian.”

At the herald’s announcement, the whole crowd roared with wild anger and a loud cry: “This is the father of the Christians, the destroyer of our gods, who teaches many to stop offering sacrifice to the gods.” Shouting out with one voice, they demanded that Polycarp be burned alive.

This happened incredibly fast—faster than it takes to tell the story. The mob hurried to gather wood and kindling from the shops and bathhouses. When the pyre was ready, Polycarp took off his outer clothes, unfastened his belt and tried to take off his shoes.

Immediately they began to pile the wood around him. They were going to nail him to the stake as well, but Polycarp said, “Leave me the way I am. He who gives me power to endure the fire will help me to remain in the flames without moving, even without being secured by nails.”

Aroma of Life. So Polycarp put his hands behind him and was bound, like a noble ram out of a great flock ready for sacrifice, a burnt offering prepared and pleasing to God. Looking up to heaven, he said:

Lord God Almighty, Father of your beloved and blessed Child, Jesus Christ, through whom we have received full knowledge of you, the God of angels and powers and of all creation, and of the whole family of the righteous, who live before you:

I bless you for considering me worthy of this day and hour—of sharing with the martyrs in the cup of your Christ, so as to share in resurrection to everlasting life of soul and body in the Holy Spirit. May I be received among them into your presence today as a rich and acceptable sacrifice.

For this and for everything I praise and glorify you through the eternal and heavenly high priest, Jesus Christ, your beloved Child. Through him and with him, may you be glorified with the Holy Spirit, both now and forever. Amen.

When he had said the amen and finished his prayer, the men in charge of the fire lit it, and a great flame blazed up. We who were given the privilege to witness it saw a great miracle, and we have been kept alive so that we might report to others what happened.

The fire took the shape of a vaulted room, like a ship’s sail filled with wind, and surrounded the body of the martyr like a wall. And he stood inside it—not as burning flesh, but as bread that is being baked, or as gold and silver being refined in a furnace. And we smelled a fragrant aroma, like the scent of incense or other costly spices.

Seeing that his body could not be consumed by the fire, the lawless men finally commanded an executioner to go up and stab Polycarp with a dagger. When he did this, there came out a dove and so much blood that the fire was extinguished.