St. Rose of Lima

Writings of St. Rose of Lima

The Beauty of Suffering and Divine Grace:

Our Lord and Savior lifted up his voice and said with incomparable majesty: “Let all men know that grace comes after tribulation. Let them know that without the burden of afflictions it is impossible to reach the height of grace. Let them know that the gifts of grace increase as the struggles increase. Let men take care not to stray and be deceived. This is the only true stairway to paradise, and without the cross they can find no road to climb to heaven”.


When I heard these words, a strong force came upon me and seemed to place me in the middle of a street, so that I might say in a loud voice to people of every age, sex and status: “Hear, O people; hear, O nations. I am warning you about the commandment of Christ by using words that came from his own lips: We cannot obtain grace unless we suffer afflictions.


We must heap trouble upon trouble to attain a deep participation in the divine nature, the glory of the sons of God and perfect happiness of soul”.


That same force strongly urged me to proclaim the beauty of divine grace. It pressed me so that my breath came slow and forced me to sweat and pant. I felt as if my soul could no longer be kept in the prison of the body, but that it had burst its chains and was free and alone and was going very swiftly through the whole world saying:


“If only mortals would learn how great it is to possess divine grace, how beautiful, how noble, how precious. How many riches it hides within itself, how many joys and delights! Without doubt they would devote all their care and concern to winning for themselves pains and afflictions. All men throughout the world would seek trouble, infirmities and torments, instead of good fortune, in order to attain the unfathomable treasure of grace. This is the reward and the final gain of patience. No one would complain about his cross or about troubles that may happen to him, if he would come to know the scales on which they are weighed when they are distributed to men”.

St. Rose of Lima, pray for us.

4 Things The Modesty Priest Did Right

Shocking Bulletin Post Warns Women About The Dangers of Dressing Immodestly

Imagine the surprise! You're reading the Church bulletin, hoping for donuts after Mass, when you see Fr. John Lyons's weekly address to his parish.

Dear Parishioners,

At this time we most especially need to remind girls and women to not wear immodest low-cut dresses or blouses. Women and girls should be careful that their dress is not revealing at all, even when they bend over or kneel down. Maybe some women do not know that revealing clothing is a source of temptation for most men. If you doubt this, ask a man. If a woman knows that such is the case, and still she would wear such clothing, then she would be committing the sin of scandal.

The full immodesty post is a must read to get the full context. "Immodest Dress; A Priest Cries For Modesty!" This is unheard of in today's age of political correctness. Yet, what breath of fresh air. Upon reviewing Father's immodesty reprimand you see four absolutely must haves when one is called to admonish a sinner.

4 Things Fr. Lyons Did Right To Combat Immodesty

1. He Publicly Took The Light To The Darkness.

   "At this time we most especially need to remind girls and women to not wear immodest low-cut dresses or blouses." When a coach sees a team makes a grave mistake, does he overlook it? Does he pretend the grave mistake is not there? Does he say, "Well, they don't know it is a mistake, so lets focus on something else." No, he doesn't.
   
   This next statement cannot be emphasized enough; a sin in the darkness will always stay in the darkness until light is shed upon it. Until the immodesty issue is publicly addressed this sin of immodesty will thrive in the darkness devouring poor little souls.
   

2. He Used Charity.

   In no way was Father condescending. He eased his is way into the reprimand, relating how similar his role as a Priest is to parenting. Father put us all on common ground. Did you know it is an act of mercy to correct the sinner? Think about it, to admonish a sinner is one of the most charitable things you can do for your neighbor. Did you know being "nice," when rooted in fear, can be a sin?
   

3. He Clearly Defined The Sin.

   Satan hates clear definitions. Don't believe it? Ask a pro-lifer or faithful politician if Satan uses vague words to his advantage. Fr. Lyons simply stated immodesty is anything "revealing at all, even when you bend over or kneel down." That is a clear, simple definition Satan can't tolerate.
   

   
   
4. He Clearly Defined The Why.

   "As Christians, we are not to be followers of society's standards, but the standards of Christ." Have you ever heard the line, similar to "Why are you being such a prude?" That's Satan's line and his worldly standard. God calls us to love and defend modesty and purity. Why? Because Purity is not a something, it is a somebody! God is Purity. To reject purity and accept immodesty is to reject Jesus and accept scandal. Remember, as a temple of the Holy Spirit, you are called to be "perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect."

So there it is. One Priest, took courage and formally told his flock to stop mocking our Eucharistic Lord with scandalous immodest dress. In a world longing for courage, Father John Lyons, Oblates of the Virgin Mary, put his foot down and called his faithful to holiness. May God bless Fr. Lyons, the Modesty Priest.

Related Post On Immodesty

• Immodestly Dressed Mother Comes Out Of The Closet To Reveal All!

Demons Are Real - Your Catholic Sunday Homily Minute

From the Desk of Father Mark, Your Catholic Sunday Homily Minute - 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time

My Dear People,

Demons Are Real

Since the end of the Vatican Council ll, the office of exorcism was eliminated from the Ordination Rite of Priests. Before that time, all priests were able to deliver their flock from harmful demons. Now, a priest must go through the local bishop to find an exorcist. Most diocese do not have a resident exorcist. Pope Benedict has called for all diocese to have access to exorcists. This is for the protection of the priests and his people. All diocese are now scrambling to look for an "official exorcist".

In today's Gospel, Jesus was teaching His Holy Apostles that they would be delivering souls from the clutches of the devil. It was essential to have all of the Apostles aware of the reality of the devil. When Jesus encountered a mother who's daughter was possessed with the demons, He approached her with great compassion. The young girl was delivered form all evil at a distance, simply through intercession. It was the strength of her mother's faith that healed her daughter. Never underestimate the power of your prayer. Pray always!!

For all those who make great sacrifices to bring generous contributions to God's Altar.

Entrusting you to the care of Our Lady,
Fr. Mark

Happy 474 Birthday Jesuits

On August 15, in 1534, St. Ignatius and his First Companions; Peter Faber, Francis Xavier, James Lainez, Alonso Salmerón, Nicolas Bobadilla, Simon Rodriquez, Claude Le Jay, Jean Codure, and Paschase Brouet with a desire to dwell in the Holy Land imitating the life of Christ, they first made vows of poverty and chastity in the lower chapel, of the Chapelle des Matrye (Chapel of St. Denis), Montmartre, Paris. Designated by St. Ignatius of Loyola as "The Company of Jesus" translated into Latin as "Societas Jesu", hence the name "The Society of Jesus".

The Jesuits are religious order of Catholic priests, brothers, scholastics and novices. Today, 474 years later, 20,000 men through out the world continue the work started by their founder St. Ignatius of Loyola, they are a member of a Society founded chiefly for this purpose: to strive especially for the defense and propagation of the faith and for the progress of souls in Christian life and doctrine, by means of public preaching, lectures, and any other ministration whatsoever of the word of God and further by means of the Spiritual Exercises, the education of children and unlettered persons in Christianity and the spiritual consolation of Christ's faithful through hearing confessions and administering the other sacraments.... (From the Formula of the Institute)

Recommended Jesuit Book

Ignatius of Loyola

Jesuit links of interest.
The Jesuit Portal
The Life of St. Ignatius
A History of the Society of Jesus
The Spiritual Exercises
Various Ignatian Prayers and Reflections

Post attributed to Joseph Fromm - Good Jesuit; Bad Jesuit

Your Catholic Sunday Homily Minute - Your Perfect Mother

From the Desk of Father Mark, 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time

My Dear People,

Mary, Untouched By Corruption

Mary, the Virgin Mother of God, was assumed body and soul into Heaven upon Her death. Unlike her sinful children, whose bodies corrupt after death; She remained untouched by corruption. This is a mystical gift. It was bestowed upon Her by God the Father Himself. As the New Ark of the Covenant, She became the first "tabernacle" of the Word made Flesh. What a great gift we have in Our Lady.

When we honor Her Assumption into Heaven, we honor God the Father Himself. He is the giver of all that is good and holy. God points to Her as the incorrupt vessel of grace, the THEOTOKOS, our God bearer. What great LOVE the Father shows to us through our Mother in Heaven. Come honor the Father this Holy Day. Pray in thanksgiving for all the graces poured forth through the merciful and maternal heart of Mary, our Mother in Heaven. May God the Father always be praised!

May we always give thanks to God, Our Father, for Mary our Mother in Heaven...God be Praised!!

Entrusting you to the care of Our Lady,
Fr. Mark

To Admonish A Sinner - A Spiritual Work of Mercy

Admonishing A Sinner;
The Forgotten Act of Mercy

Admonishing the sinner mean's the admonishing of one's neighbor by a private individual with the purpose of reforming him or, if possible, preventing his sinful indulgence. This is clearly distinguishable from an official disciplining, whose mouthpiece is a judge or other like superior, whose object is the punishment of one found to be guilty, and whose motive is not so directly the individual advantage of the offender as the furtherance of the common good. That there is, upon occasion and with due regard to circumstances, an obligation to administer fraternal correction there can be no doubt. This is a conclusion not only deducible from the natural law binding us to love and to assist one another, but also explicitly contained in positive precept such as the inculcation of Christ: "If thy brother shall offend against thee, go, and rebuke him between thee and him alone. If he shall hear thee, thou shalt gain thy brother" (Matthew 18:15). Given a sufficiently grave condition of spiritual distress calling for succour in this way, this commandment may exact fulfilment under pain of mortal sin. This is reckoned to be so only when

• The delinquency to be corrected or prevented is a grievous one
• There is no good reason to believe that the sinner will adequately provide for himself
• There is a well-founded expectation that the admonition will be heeded
• There is no one else just as well fitted for this work of Christian charity and likely to undertake it
• There is no special trouble or disadvantage accruing to the reformer as a result of his zeal.
  

Practically, however, individuals without any official capacity are seldom impeachable as having seriously transgressed the law in this matter because it is but rarely one finds the coalition of circumstances just enumerated.

Of course the reproof is to be administered privately, i.e. directly to the delinquent and not in the presence of others. This is plainly the method appointed by Christ in the words just cited and only as a remedy for obduracy is any other contemplated by Him. Still there are occasions upon which one might lawfully proceed in a different way. For instance

• When the offense is a public one
• When it makes for the prejudice of a third party or perhaps even the entire community
• When it can only be condignly dealt with by the authority of a superior paternally exercised
• When a public rebuke is necessary to preclude scandal: witness the withstanding of Peter by Paul mentioned in the Epistle to the Galatians (2:11-14);
• When the offender has already in advance relinquished whatever right he possessed to have his good name safeguarded, as is the custom in some religious bodies.
  

The obligation of admonishing the sinner , so far as private persons go, does not obtain, generally speaking, for the case of one who violates a law through invincible ignorance. The obvious reason is that there is then no immunity for it is their duty to instruct their subordinates. Every one, however, whether having an official competency or not, is bound to give the admonition when the sin, committed though it be from ignorance, is hurtful to the offender or a third party or is the occasion of scandal.

Admonishing the Sinner; J. Delaney from the Catholic Encyclopedia, edited by John Michael

Confessions From An Immodest Mother

Immodestly Dressed Mother Comes Out Of The Closet To Reveal All!

A Mother Is Shocked To Realize The Hidden Evils Attached To Immodesty! Read Her Amazing Story As She Charitably Relates The Struggles Of Overcoming Immodesty...

Dear John Michael,

I think you are right modesty is the lost virtue. But speaking as a woman who did not see this problem until a few years ago in regards to myself and my adolescent girls, I must tell you that women and girls simply do not see it most of the time.

Sometimes We Dress Immodesty Because Of Convenience

We wear what we are told looks good, what is comfortable, what is available on the racks and what our friends are wearing. From experience I know it helps to have "rules"...the neckline no lower than x; the hemline no higher than y; the straps no thinner than w (if straps are allowed at all, or if sleeves of three-quarter length only, or if cap sleeves are allowed, or short sleeves.....I tell you. People have many different criteria for what is modest.

Teaching What Is Immodest Is The Key

It seems silly, but the knowledge of such things is just not widely taught anymore. And when you start to figure things out (for me, it was my husband's insistence and most women will not listen to their husband on these matters in this feminist society) it was still a process and took some time to develop sensibilities, learning from loving, caring and not harsh, judgmental women, who wanted to help and knew that it could be a struggle.

Remember To Praise To The Lord

Please don't think women are doing this intentionally, at least most of the time. Forgive us for our bad judgement. When all else seems to fail, follow Archbishop Fulton Sheen and praise God for the beauty and dignity of women. We have been conditioned (and created too) to be pleasing to the eye, and we can be still beautiful when modest, actually we are the most beautiful then, of course. But the line gets fuzzy between modest and immodest dress sometimes, especially when we are in the learning stage.

Sincerely,
Anonymous

The Post That Started It All

• Immodest Dress, "A Priest Cries For Modesty!"

Here She Is, Gianna Clare!

God Is Good

Ps.127
[5] Happy is the man who has
his quiver full of them!
He shall not be put to shame
when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.

Immodest Dress, "A Priest Cries For Modesty!"

Priest Known To Refuse
Holy Communion To Immodestly
Dressed Women

"When I showed the article to the Pastor, he told me to be more charitable. So, you are getting the friendly version." Father John Lyons, OMV

Parents are often obliged to correct their children over
and over again - about the same thing. They would
really prefer not to have to do it, but if they didn’t they
would be guilty of sinning by omission. Priests feel the
same way. One of the things that we often have to
correct people about is the use of immodest clothing.

Dressing Immodestly Is A Sin

At this time we most especially need to remind girls
and women to not wear immodest low-cut dresses or blouses.
Women and girls should be careful that their dress is
not revealing at all, even when they bend over or kneel
down. Maybe some women do not know that revealing
clothing is a source of temptation for most men. If you
doubt this, ask a man. If a woman knows that such is
the case, and still she would wear such clothing, then she
would be committing the sin of scandal.

Immodesty Is Wrong At All Ages

Unfortunately, even some older women of otherwise
upright character, even daily communicants, sometimes
wear such revealing clothing. Maybe they think that
they’re beyond the age of posing a temptation (and
maybe they are). However, they are giving bad
example to others - most notably their own daughters
and grandchildren. They, too, are committing scandal.
Those who see them will think: “She’s a good Catholic,
and she wears revealing clothing. It must be okay.”

Immodesty Does Not Fit God's Standards

Someone might argue that the wearing of revealing
clothing now meets with society's standards. It may
indeed meet with society's standards; however, we can
safely say that it does not meet with God’s. As
Christians, we are not to be followers of society's
standards, but the standards of Christ. We urge every
woman to examine her wardrobe (and that of her minor
children if she has any), and get rid of all clothing that
is immodest unless it can be adapted to be worn
modestly.

What Would Mary Do?

If a woman has doubts about the modest use of a
particular article of clothing, it may be helpful to ask
herself if our Blessed Mother would wear such clothing
if she lived in this day and age. Or, to ask herself if our
Blessed Mother would be pleased with her wearing the
article of clothing in question.

Let It Be Known

We suggest that you cut out this bulletin article, make
copies of it, and give it to women and girls who need to
hear this message. Even give or send the article
anonymously, if necessary. Those who desire to do
what is right will take the correction to heart and put it
into practice.

"Immodestly Dressing"

By Father John Lyons
Headlines by John Michael
St. Peter Chanel Church Bulletin, California

Related Post on Immodest Dress

• Confessions From An Immodest Mother

What are the four things Fr. Lyons did right when addressing the immodesty issue.

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Your Catholic Sunday Homily Minute - 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time

From the Desk of Father Mark, Your Catholic Sunday Homily Minute - 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time

My Dear People,

He Feeds Us Body & Soul

Satisfaction is often equated with being filled up. But today's Gospel addresses a different kind of satisfaction. When Jesus multiplied the "loaves and the fish", He did so to manifest the Power of God the Father in Him. All power, all glory, all satisfaction comes from the hand of the Father in Heaven. Jesus understood this, His Apostles did not. They had yet to come to know the "divinity" of our Lord. Even after the Transfiguration, the Apostles struggled with the mystery of the Divine Godhead. Those fed with the loaves and the fishes had been satiated in body.

Jesus longed to satisfy both body and soul. Since God created us both in the flesh, and in the spirit, He desires to feed both as well. Each day He gives us our "daily bread"; on our tables at home, and on the sacred altars in our Churches. Jesus continues to multiply Himself daily to feed us. We may not have been with the thousands when they witnessed the multiplication of the loaves and fish; but each day we can witness the miracle of Jesus making Himself manifest on all of the Catholic altars of the world. Jesus pours Himself out for us Body and Blood, soul and divinity daily...Thanks be to God!

May we learn to know the difference between what is necessary and what is not necessary in our life.

Entrusting you to the care of Our Lady,
Fr. Mark

It's A Girl

We have a baby!

Introducing Gianna Clare
July 31st, feast of St. Ignatius of Loyola
9:01 A.M.

Ps.9:1 "I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart; I will tell of all thy wonderful deeds."

7 pounds 12 ounces
19 inches long
Thick dark hair, already starting to curl
Momma & Baby are doing great.

Stay tuned for pictures.

Our Lord Has Been Desecrated

News Alert: College Professor Requested "Catholics" To Give Him The Most Blessed Sacrament So He Can Video Tape Desecrating It. He pictured the desecrated "cracker" on his blog. The Original Story Here.

Desecration of Host Not Seen
as Free Speech Confraternity
Proposes Prayer Day in Reparation

HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania, JULY 30, 2008 (Zenit.org).- The Confraternity of Catholic Clergy is proposing Friday as a national day of prayer and fasting in the wake of the desecration of the Eucharist by a Minnesota professor.

Father John Trigilio, Jr., the president of the confraternity, a U.S. association of 600 priests and deacons, sent a statement this week asking Catholics "to join in a day of prayer and fasting that such offenses never happen again."

Paul Myers, a professor of biology at the University of Minnesota at Morris, says he desecrated the Eucharist by piercing it with a rusty nail, then he threw it into the trash.

The self-professed atheist wrote about the incident on his blog and posted a photo of the desecrated host.

The statement of the Confraternity of Catholic Clergy said it found the actions of Myers

"reprehensible, inexcusable, and unconstitutional. His flagrant display of irreverence by profaning a consecrated Host from a Catholic Church goes beyond the limit of academic freedom and free speech."

"Attacking the most sacred elements of a religion is not free speech anymore than would be perjury in a court or libel in a newspaper," added the text.

Father Trigilio told ZENIT that the congregation is asking the faithful to make a holy hour before the Eucharist on Aug. 1, the feast of St. Alphonsus Ligouri, and to fast in "reparation for the sacrilegious desecration of the Holy Eucharist."

Priest Request # 2

"A Priest's Perspective On Desecrating The Eucharist..."

Ignaciophile Baby Coming Soon

We are having a baby!

Really soon!

July 31st! The feast of St. Ignatius.

Go figure a blogger who dedicated his site to a Jesuit Saint is rewarded with a St. Ignatius baby. I am truly honored, excited and humbled with such a gift.


What is an Ignaciophile? Good question, I had to look it up.

Karen, Some Have Hats, started a new blog, called A Little Battalion; A blog for Ignaciophiles, to the best of my knowledge she coined the phrase.

Ignaciophiles = Lovers of St. Ignatius of Loyola

Joseph From, Good Jesuit, Bad Jesuit labeled me an Iganciophile. Being the wretched sinner I am, I do not deserve such an honor, but my new daughter does.

Introducing to the Catholic blogging world . . .

Gianna Clare

Pictures coming soon.

Pray for us, PLEASE!

Father John Corapi Gives You A Strict Warning

Father John Corapi
"It's Terribly Shocking"

The Catholic Church is in the process of celebrating the 40th anniversary of the prophetic and landmark encyclical of Pope Paul VI, Humanae Vitae, on human life. At the time the Holy Father promulgated the encyclical there was a general spirit of dissent in the air. This inspired document put the dissenters into yet a new orbit, even further from the center of Church teaching.

Their lack of humility resulted in disobedience, ultimately resulting in moral death for them and countless others. What has resulted from the rejection of the principles contained in this great document is a catastrophe of unprecedented proportions.

"Life begins at conception. Abortion begins at artificial contraception."

Pope Paul VI prophetically predicted that if artificial contraception were to become generally acceptable in society, then abortion would inevitably become just another means of artificial contraception. Today, not only have what is approaching one billion children been murdered in the name of 'choice' worldwide, but a host of incredible evils have followed in the wake of the rejection of the Holy Father's teaching on life.

Pope John Paul II called abortion murder in the clear and inspired language of his encyclical Evangelium vitae. If a single abortion is homicide"and it is"then the cumulative result of abortion on demand is genocide. Numbers of innocent and helpless children totaling more than the population of large countries have been annihilated.

• Can a society that elevates such an outrage to the noble status of law be pleasing to God?

• Or, will God's patience soon run out and visit an avalanche of natural disasters, wars, chaos, and economic collapse on the perpetrators of such violence and evil?

I have no doubt whatever that the Western world is headed for collapse and annihilation, and it will be by suicide, not at the hand of terrorists or enemy states, although that may well facilitate the demise.

As Abraham Lincoln asserted, "If destruction be our lot, we must ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of freemen, we must live through all time, or die by suicide."

Muslims As An Instrument Of Torture?

The Western world's wholesale rejection of the teaching of Humanae Vitae ushered in a death wish that is even now well on its way to completion. Pseudo-Christian Europe has had an extremely low birthrate for decades, while the burgeoning Muslim population is growing exponentially. With the average European family having less than 2 children and the average Muslim family having 8-10 children it won't be long until Europe as we know it will be no more. Muslims vote and they will vote to radically alter laws that facilitate gross immorality. God may use them to chastise a decadent West. I assure you they will not need bombs and bullets; mathematics will more than suffice.

We Are Part Of A Death Wish

The unspiritual person cannot see reality as it is, hence they cannot discern the advancing disaster of our rejection of both common sense and proper morality. The spiritual person must pray fervently for the Spirit of God to discern reality as it is. (i.e., 1 Corinthians 2:12-16).
Things such as artificial contraception, abortion, homosexual sex, and euthanasia all have something in common.They have no life in them. They are part of a death wish that when brought to its inevitable conclusion will result in the annihilation of the West as we know it, if something isn't done to change course immediately.

Every one of us, as disciples of Christ, must pray and sacrifice for the cause of life, and do so with earnest. The hour is late and time is now short. The battle between truth and lies, good and evil, life and death rages on toward its consummation. We know the ultimate outcome—truth, the good, and life is victorious in Christ the Conqueror.

Stand Up!

We, however, must fight the good fight. How we shall live forever is determined by how we live now. We are being called upon by the Spirit of God to be the saints of these times. How we respond to the call will dictate the rise and fall of nations, and the eternal salvation of many.

"Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go" (Joshua 1:9).

God bless you,

Fr. John Corapi

• Fr. Corapi's Spiritual Advice

• One the lighter side: Father Corapi Top 10 One liners!

• Do you have Father Corapi's Free Conversion Story?

St. Ignatius of Loyola Miracle

St. Ignatius of Loyola Still Answers Prayers.

His feast day is coming up this Thursday.

It was on All-Saint's Day that Alvaro offered up this prayer, and he continued it during the whole Octave of the Festival. On the last day, towards evening, he suddenly hoard, as it were- an inward voice, which said to him, "Rise up, and walk;" and at the same time he experienced an irresistible impulse to leave his chair.

He rose, and found that he was completely restored to the use of his limbs, that his tongue was loosed, and that his whole body had recovered its former vigor. Hastily he ran towards the hall, where the Religious were assisting at a course of theological lectures. When he entered, their astonishment was so great, that they gazed at him, believing that their eyes must have deceived them; but when the old man related to them how this miracle had been wrought upon him by the intercession of St. Ignatius, their surprise was changed into joy, and with grateful devotion, they offered up thanks to God and to His servant, and joined their voices in the solemn anthem, Te Deum Laudamus. Immediately after, they sent information to the Fathers of the Society of all that had occurred, accompanying it with an authentic attestation of the facts.

Source: History of the Life and Institute of St. Ignatius de Loyola

See if St. Ignatius is wanting to work a miracle in your life.

• Pray this St. Ignatius Loyola Novena

Your Catholic Sunday Homily - 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time

From the Desk of Father Mark, Your Catholic Sunday Homily Minute - 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time


My Dear People,

The Coming of Jesus!

What is an eternity with God, worth to you? At the end of all time, the Lord will "dredge" the world, looking for His faithful servants. Those who have been faithful, will enter His Holy Presence. The unfaithful one, will be cast into the eternal fire. Then the Holy Angels will be sent into the world, to ready it for the coming of the King. After all has been prepared, then the holy ones will enter into their eternal reward. All of the "older order" will pass away. Then, the "new order" will come to pass. What a great day that shall be.

All of creation "groans" as it awaits this sacred time. We prepare yourselves now, hoping for that day. Pray that you not waste the present, invest your future in the Lord. All of creation hungers to be reconciled with Almighty God. Ask Our Blessed Mother to keep you close to Her Immaculate Heart. Then, Mary will wrap you in the Sacred Heart of Her Son, Jesus Christ. In between the Two Hearts, we will find our PEACE! Come Lord Jesus!

May we have a strong faith, trusting that God will provide all that we need; even as we generously share what God has placed into our hands.

Entrusting you to the care of Our Lady,

Fr. Mark

Planned Parenthood Debacle - An Eyewitness Report

It's Amazing! Courage, Truth, Fear & Murder
All In One Morning At Planned Parenthood

By an anonymous prayer warrior.

A large group was assembled to pray outside of a St. Louis Planned Parenthood abortion mill. I arrived early to pray the Rosary when the Truth Truck from Troy Newman's Operation Rescue pulled up. This is when all hell broke loose.

It's Truly a Shocking Sight!

This truck has pictures of aborted babies on the sides, so large that no one can miss seeing them. And that's what it means to do, shock the public as to what abortion is. You see anytime truth confronts evil, Satan throws a tantrum.

Anyway, the truck turned right into the PP drive, pulled up in front of the doorway, and stopped! Those of us outside the wrought iron 'gates of hell' were amazed, and then thrilled. I thought, "What a gutsy move."

They Had A Gun . . .

Security came from the porch of PP and approached the driver, who was still in the truck. I wondered to myself if the security guards were armed. Then I saw the male security guy unsnap the strap over his gun. "Uh oh," I thought. This guy's a cowboy and this could get ugly. PP 'deathcorts' came out as well. One of them called the police. We were all praying like crazy.

Before the police arrived, the male security guard went to the gates and closed them. Inspired, Mary Maschmeier, who organizes so much pro-life work here in St. Louis told the guard.

"It's against the law to close those gates while people were inside, what if there was a fire and the people were trapped in the parking lot because they couldn't get out!?"

Then the truck drove around the circle inside the parking lot and stopped at the inside entrance of the driveway. When the guard opened the gates a young girl in a car pulled in but couldn't go anywhere because the truck was stopped.

Then 3 police cruisers arrived, but couldn't go anywhere either. The first cop got out and talked to the truck driver. The driver moved his truck back to the first place he had pulled up to, right at the entrance doors. After a few minutes, cars got moved and the truck exited PP property to a standing ovation from the fellow pro-life demonstrators. The driver proceeded to circle the building on the street for the next hour, advertising the horrors of PP.

They Screwed Up!

Mary spoke to the driver. He said he had pulled in to PP to 'ask for directions.' And Mary also said that he wasn't arrested because the guard had closed the gate, so he wasn't able to get out. I have to say I was so energized that this man would risk jail by doing this. I would have gone with him!

You wouldn't wanted miss this for anything! Just think, if they didn't lock the gates the Truth Truck would have drove around the block and some of the Mothers would have never seen it.

• Thanks to Tracy Mathews for her photos
• The eyewitness is a dear anonymous friend of mine. God bless prayer warriors!
  
• Edited by John Michael, St. Bellarmine"s Blog
  

Our Lady of Guadalupe, pray for us.

Family Funny - Trying to Catch Jesus

Anne Marie(Five years old): "Dad, Why did Satan try to get Jesus to eat bread in the desert?"

Me: "Because Jesus fasted for 40 days."

Anne Marie: "So, Satan was trying to catch up with him?"

St. Robert Bellarmine, The Miracle Worker

St. Robert Bellarmine

"The Fisherman of Fish?"

Our good Saint Bellarmine, a Doctor of the Church, is known for his prolific writings. He once wrote a book on how to learn Greek, a language he taught himself! His writings definitely overshadows his heroic virtue, devout prayer life and the miracles he performed.

Amazingly, This Staunch Defender Of The Faith,
Worked Miracles & Nobody Knows About It!

Do you love miracle stories? Do they not truly show the great glory and power of our Lord?

Be amazed at this, a St. Bellarmine miracle.

"Come, Fish, Come!"

One evening the Cardinal was taking a walk outside the city walls along the banks of the river where some fishermen were plying their craft, trying to catch some shad. When they saw Bellarmine coming, they ran to meet him and to get his blessing.

"Well, have you not caught any fish?" he asked.

"We are dying of hunger," one of them answered, "for we can catch nothing."

The great drag net had been raised, and only three shad had been taken, and these the first for some days past, while the license they had to pay for fishing was very heavy. They had only just lowered the net again, which was usually left some two hours in the water.

"Well," he said, "pull it up and you will catch some fish."

"I will do as you bid," said one of the fishermen, "though we have had it up so lately and caught nothing."

"Oh, then leave it awhile," said Bellarmine.

The good Cardinal went on a few steps further to a little wayside chapel of the Madonna della Grazia, which was close to where the nets were hauled up. There he knelt and prayed for a quarter of an hour, and then coming back to the men at the ropes, he lifted his hand from under his mozzetta, and, as if beckoning to the fish to come to the net, he cried,

"Come, fish, come!"

The men at once found their hand nets filled again and again.

"Now, lift up the drag net, so I can bless the bounty the Lord has given us."

The fishermen thanked him and begged him to come again and often, and when he was gone the same fortune attended them, till before evening they had nearly twice as large a haul as they ever had in the best of seasons.

Notice St. Bellarmine took this to the Chapel. Maybe, God is calling you to visit Him in the Chapel. Do you have 30 minutes so God can work a miracle in your life?

Go visit Him! You deserve it!

• Here is another St. Bellarmine Miracle.

A St. Ignatius Loyola Novena

NOVENA TO ST. IGNATIUS LOYOLA

This is it! The efficacious St. Ignatius prayer to get answers to your personal prayer request.

(to be said both morning and night for nine days)

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be to the Father (three times).

(The Litany of the Holy Name of Jesus or the Litany of the Blessed Virgin may be added.)

V. Pray for us, O Holy Father, Saint Ignatius.
R. That we may be made worthy of the Promises of Christ.

Let us pray.

O God, who, for the increase of the greater glory of Thy Holy Name, hast been pleased by Blessed Ignatius to strengthen the Church militant with new help, grant that, aided by his prayers during our warfare on earth, we may so imitate his virtues as to be happily crowned with him in heaven. Through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Amen.

Let us pray.

O Holy Lord, Father Almighty, Eternal God, who, imparting to the bodies of the sick Thy gracious blessing, dost guard Thy creature by Thy manifold tenderness, graciously assist us to invoke Thy Holy Name, that, by the intercession of Thy Confessor, Saint Ignatius, Thy servants, freed from sickness and blessed with health, may be raised up by Thy right hand, strengthened by Thy help, guarded by Thy protection, and restored to Thy Holy Church with every blessing. Through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Amen.

Related Links for Healing Prayers for Catholics

• Here is St. Robert Bellarmine's Catholic Healing Prayer of hidden ills.

• Discover the Three Secrets for Catholic Healing Prayers for the Sick

• Why do Prayers Go Unanswered?, by St. Augustine

• St. Bellarmine on Why Prayers Go Unanswered?

• More Prayers to St. Ignatius Loyola

• Catholic Healing Prayer

St. Ignatius, pray for us and for all Jesuits!

May your St. Ignatius Loyola Novena be answered quickly.

Your Catholic Sunday Homily Minute -15th Sunday in Ordinary Time

From the Desk of Father Mark, Your Catholic Sunday Homily Minute - 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time

My Dear People,

The Kingdom of Heaven Is Beyond Our Comprehension!

The "Kingdom Parables" are laced throughout the Gospels. In them, we hear Jesus speaking about God re-establishing His reign here on Earth. Jesus says, "The Kingdom of Heaven is like a farmer sowing seed in the field." The reality of God's Kingdom is so beyond where we are right now, that our minds and hearts couldn't even comprehend it, even if we tried. Only the Holy Spirit can help us prepare for the "Great Day" when the Kingdom is established again on the face of the Earth.

Jesus had to use stories to convey the depths of the mystery about His new Kingdom. It was very difficult for the Apostles to understand what Jesus was saying in these parables. They too had questions. Jesus told them that an understanding of the true nature of the Kingdom would only be granted to them. To anyone who has, more will be given. From anyone who has not, it shall be taken from him. Pray for the grace to understand how you can assist Jesus in establishing His Kingdom here on Earth.

May we allow stewardship to blossom in our hearts by generously sharing the gifts and talents, which our generous God has sowed in our own lives.

Entrusting you to the care of Our Lady,
Fr. Mark

St. Anne Novena

This is it!

NOVENA PRAYER TO
SAINT ANNE

The first part is to be prayed daily in addition to a daily prayer to St. Anne. The most efficacious time to pray St. Anne's Novena is the 9 days before her July 25th feast day. (July 18-26)

O glorious St. Anne,

you are filled with compassion for those who invoke you
and with love for those who suffer! Heavily burdened with
the weight of my troubles, I cast myself at your feet and
humbly beg of you to take the present intention which I
recommend to you in your special care.


Please recommend it to your daughter, the Blessed Virgin
Mary, and place it before the throne of Jesus, so that He
may bring it to a happy issue. Continue to intercede for
me until my request is granted. But, above all, obtain
for me the grace one day to see my God face to face, and
with you and Mary and all the saints to praise and bless
Him for all eternity. Amen.

Our Father, . . . Hail Mary . . .

O Jesus, Holy Mary, St. Anne, help me now
and at the hour of my death.

Good St. Ann, intercede for me.

St. Anne Novena Day 1

Dear St. Anne, though I am but a prodigalchild,
I appeal to you and place myself under your great
motherly care. Please listen to my prayers and grant my
requests. See my contrite heart, and show me your
unfailing goodness.

Deign to be my advocate and recommend me
to God’s infinite mercy. Obtain for me forgiveness
of my sins and the strength to begin a new life that will
last forever.

Blessed St. Anne, I also beg of you the
grace to love, to serve, and to honor your daughter, the
most holy Virgin Mary. Please recommend me to her and
pray to her for me. She refuses none your requests but
welcomes with loving kindness all those for whom you
intercede.

Good Jesus, be merciful to the faithful
servants of Your grandmother St. Anne.

St. Anne Novena Day 2

From the depths of my heart, good St. Anne,
I offer you my homage this day and ask you to
shelter me under the mantle of your motherly care. You
know, good mother, how much I love you, how gladly I
serve you, how happy I am to praise you, how eager I am
to call on you in time of distress.

Good St. Anne, be pleased to extend your
helping hand in all my wants. Listen to my prayers, for I
place my trust in your gracious bounty. Make all my
thoughts and desires worthy and righteous.

Jesus, I thank You for all the graces
which in Your infinite goodness You have lavished upon
St. Anne; for having chosen her, among all women, to be
Your grandmother on earth and exalted her in heaven with
such great and miraculous powers. In the name of her
merits, I humbly recommend myself to Your infinite mercy.

St. Anne Novena Day 3

Hail, good St. Anne, who first responded to
the needs of Mary, Mother of our Savior and Queen of
Angels. Hail to you and to your husband St. Joachim, who
watched over her infancy, presented her to the Lord in
the temple and, according to your promise, consecrated
her to the service of God.

Hail St. Anne, good mother! I rejoice in
the marvels you continually perform, because they
encourage all to seek your intercession.

Good St. Anne, by the great power that God
has given you, show yourself my mother, my consoler, my
advocate. Reconcile me to the God I have so deeply
offended. Console me in my trials; strengthen me in my
struggles. Deliver me from danger in my time of need.
Help me at the hour of death and open to me the gates of
paradise.

St. Anne Novena Day 4

Good St. Anne, you offered your pure and
holy daughter Mary in the temple with faith, piety and
love. By the happiness which then filled your heart, I
beg you to present me to your Grandson Jesus. Offered by
you, I will be agreeable in His sight.

Kind St. Anne, take me forever under your
protection. Deliver me from the temptations which
continually assail me. Above all, attend me in my last
hour. As I lie on my deathbed, be present with your
daughter to console and strengthen me.

Holy Mary and good St. Anne, show
yourselves to be mothers indeed by obtaining for me the
grace of a good death. When my soul goes forth, lead it
to God’s tribunal so that, by your powerful help and
intercession, it may obtain a favorable judgment.

St. Anne Novena Day 5

Hail, all-powerful Lady. By God’sspecial favor,
grant consolation to those who invoke you.
Procure for them the eternal riches of heaven, and like a
good mother, success in their temporal affairs as well.

Good St. Anne, obtain my deliverance from
the punishment which my sins deserve. Obtain for me
success in my temporal affairs; especially see to the
salvation of my soul.

St. Anne, by your influence with
Mary’s son Jesus, you have won the gift of
conversion for many sinners. Will you then abandon me,
who have chosen you as my mother? No, St. Anne. Your name
alone, which signifies grace, assures me of the help of
your prayers, and these prayers will surely procure
pardon and mercy from Jesus. You will pray for me now and
at the hour of my death.

St. Anne Novena Day 5

Good St. Anne, do not allow my soul, a
masterpiece of God’s creative power, to be lost
forever. Free my heart of pride, vanity, self-love. May I
know myself as I really am and learn meekness and
simplicity of heart.

God’s great love for me leaves me
cold and unresponsive. I must reflect this love through
works of mercy and charity toward my neighbor.

In your boundless charity, good St. Anne,
help me to merit the glorious crown which is given to
those who have fought the good fight against the world,
the devil and the flesh. Assist me to preserve purity of
heart and body. With Mary and her divine Son, protect me
always.

St. Anne Novena Day 7

Once again, Good St. Anne, I choose you
for my advocate before the throne of God. By the power
and grace that God has placed in you, extend to me your
helping hand. Renew my mind and my heart.

Dear St. Anne, I have unbounded confidence
in your prayers. To your blessed hands I entrust my soul,
my body and all my hopes for this world and the next.
Direct my actions according to your goodness and wisdom.
I place myself under your motherly care.

Receive me, good mother. Cover me with
the mantle of your love. Look kindly on me. By your
powerful intercession, may I obtain from God grace and
mercy. Obtain for me remission for sin and release from
the punishment my offenses have deserved. Pray that I may
receive grace to lead a devout life on earth and that I
may obtain the everlasting reward of heaven.

St. Anne Novena Day 8

Hail, St. Anne! I rejoice at your exaltedglory.
You gave birth to Mary, whose divine Son brought
salvation to our lost world by conquering death and
restoring life and hope to sinners. Pray to Him who, for
love of us, clothed Himself with human flesh in the
chaste womb of your daughter.

Glorious St. Anne, with your blessed
daughter, deliver me from everything that is displeasing
in the sight of God. Pray to your gentle and powerful
Grandson that He may cleanse my soul in His precious
blood, that He may send His Holy Spirit to enlighten and
direct me in all that I do, always obedient to His holy
inspirations.

Good mother, keep a watchful eye on me.
Help me bear all my crosses. Give me the fullness of your
bounty and sustain me with courage.

St. Anne Novena Day 9

Good St. Anne, I have reached the end of
this novena in your honor. I have asked and ask again.
Good mother, let not your kind ear grow weary of my
prayers, though I repeat them so often.

Bounteous Lady, implore for me from
divine Providence all the help I need through life. May
your generous hand bestow on me the material means to
satisfy my own needs and to alleviate the plight of the
poor.

Good St. Anne, fortify me by the
sacraments of the Church at the hour of my death. Admit
me into the company of the blessed in the kingdom of
heaven, where I may praise and thank the adorable
Trinity, your grandson Christ Jesus, your glorious
daughter Mary, and yourself, dear St. Anne, through
endless ages.

Blessed Sacrament Fathers
ST. ANN’S SHRINE
Cleveland, Ohio

Related Catholic Prayers for Healing

• Little Known Secrets For Catholic Healing Prayers For The Sick

• Here is a Catholic Healing Prayer by 7th Century Irish Monk

• Here is St. Robert Bellarmine's Catholic Healing Prayer of hidden ills.

Our Lady of Mount Carmel Free Book

Free Book Revealing The Life Of St. Therese, In Honor of The Feast of Our Lady Of Mount Carmel

The life of Saint Teresa of the Order of Our Lady of Mount Carmel

Your Catholic Sunday Homily Minute - 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time

From the Desk of Father Mark, Your Catholic Sunday Homily Minute - 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time

My Dear People,

Are You Drowning God?

What suffocates the life out of your spiritual life? What drowns the voice of God in you heart? These are the serious spiritual questions Jesus asked His Disciples in our Gospel this week. Money, worries, vices, and sin all drain our spiritual energy. We have been told, that only ONE GOD may we serve at one time. When we are so distracted by the cares and worries of this world, our focus is taken off of our God. This is when the devil does his best work.

Once distracted, the evil one can then attempt to control what we say and do. Jesus' temptations in the desert are a great example of this tactic. Each time Jesus met the devil on his own terms, He utterly rebuked him. We must do the same in the name of Our Lord Jesus. God will then become our source of strength. Only through God's power can the evil one be held at bay. Call upon the name of the Lord often. Come to know His saving power. Delight in God's mighty hand.

May the lure of riches and material goods not choke God out of your life.

Entrusting you to the care of Our Lady,

Fr. Mark

"A Priest's Perspective On Desecrating The Eucharist..."

News Alert: College Professor Request "Catholics" To Give Him The Most Blessed Sacrament So He Can Video Tape Desecrating It. Disgruntled Professor's Story Here" .


Shocking Story Prompts Priest To Call All Catholics To Action! His Advice May Surprise You. . .

Hello My Fellow Catholics,

Some of you may have heard the news through the Catholic League regarding the desecration of the Most Blessed Sacrament.

May I propose a course of action to all:

(1) Pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet for this misguided soul, a Minnesota professor, who so wishes to desecrate our Lord in His Greatest Gift in a public way in front of cameras and so on. We are called to pray for this man who desecrates our Lord in so public and so thumb-nosing an action.

- BUT -

(2) Pray a second Divine Mercy Chaplet for ourselves, when we by our sins, desecrate the Most Blessed Sacrament. After all, if Catholics, who quote unquote truly believe Christ is present in this Most Wondrous Gift, can desecrate that Gift by coming in front of Him dressed immodestly, if we can come before Him in this Wondrous Gift with petty rivalries, if we can come before Him in a state of sin from sexual misconduct, should we not ask for mercy our selves? What has this professor done that we have not done with our own actions?

Stop, Pray And Listen

People of God, I KNOW that there is a difference between what this professor is doing and what we do in our sin. And truly, we are called to take the gentle actions Christ would take to stop it. His desecration is shameful, and hurts us all. Still, this remains a moment to look at our own sins and how they wound that Gift, that Jesus who we profess to adore.

God bless,
Fr. Tim Henderson.

News Release from the Catholic League.

Permission given to email and link this post. What are your comments?

Miracles of Venerable Felix de Andreis

Unveiled - Miracles of Venerable Felix de Andreis

Father de Andreis First Miraculous Intercession - The Housekeeper!

While the body of Father Felix de Andreis was laid out in a chamber of the seminary, Bishop Dubourg's housekeeper, a pious woman who for some years had been afflicted with an incurable disease, knelt in prayer by the holy priest, fervently praying to be cured through the intercession of him whom she honored as a saint; she arose, perfectly cured. Bishops Dubourg (St. Louis' First Bishop) and Rosati have attested the truth of this fact.

The Star of Bethlehem Comes Again!

During the burial services a shining light, like a star, was seen, fixed over the church; the whole city saw it. Despite the bright light of the sun, this star remained visible in the heavens for three hours, from nine o'clock till midday. The body of the priest was not interred in St. Louis, but was taken to the Lazarist seminary in Perry county and is buried in St. Mary's of the Barrens home to the National Shrine of the Miraculous Medal. Many said that the extraordinary star followed the funeral cortege till the mortal remains were deposited in the chapel seminary.

Taken from the "Annals of the Congregation of the Mission "


On a personal note: Little Dakota's easily could have died. Then Venerable Felix de Andreis revealed himself as a prayer warrior for this little lad. Full story here.

Prayer to Obtain the Beatification of
Venerable Felix de Andreis

O Lord, the giver of all good gifts, you have shown the power of your grace in the life and virtues of your servant, Venerable Felix de Andreis. Draw others to your service by the influence of his example; and, if such be your holy will glorify him here on earth by manifesting the power of his intercession through the favor we now implore--(insert request).

Hasten, dear Lord, the day when Felix de Andreis will be declared Blessed by Holy Mother Church. This we ask of you through the intercession of your Immaculate Mother, the Queen of Saints.

Amen.

Venerable Felix de Andreis, pray for us!

• Father de Andreis, Short Bio Here.

Mom Died!

It was five years ago today.

She died a holy death. Her last words were,

"God help me!"

With the scapular around her neck and the family praying the Chaplet of Divine Mercy she took her last breaths. There were long breaks between breaths. During this last seconds Dad took the holy oil, anointed her and as she gave up her spirit her last breath was filled with a kiss from Dad.

• She was a mother to nine children.

• Matt was in eighth grade and Nancy was still in college.

• She matched Grandma and died at the age of 59.

• 2000 showed up to the visitation. The town only has 2700 people in it.

Scripture says by their fruits you will know them. Everyone knows Mom's greatest fruit was children. She thankfully had a quiver full. And her greatest fruit arguably comes after her death. Since Mom died her children have conceived or given birth to 16 children. Miscarriages took three little souls to intercede in heaven. May God bless them and their mothers.

Five years and 16 children. What a blessing Mom has been and continues to be to all of our families.

Eternal rest grant unto her O' Lord and let perpetual light shine upon her. My her soul and the souls of the faithful departed through the Mercy of God rest in peace.

Mom, pray for us.

Can I Pee On Your Mascot?

Think you can defile a University Mascot and get away with it. You would hope not.

Well, this Minnesota Professor, has some very hateful comments he posted on the University's web site thinking he can do something "similar" to our Faith. God have mercy on him!

MINNESOTA PROF PLEDGES TO DESECRATE EUCHARIST


Paul Zachary Myers, a professor at the University of Minnesota Morris, has pledged to desecrate the Eucharist. He is responding to what happened recently at the University of Central Florida when a student walked out of Mass with the Host, holding it hostage for several days. Myers was angry at the Catholic League for criticizing the student. His post can be accessed from his faculty page on the university’s website.

Here is an excerpt of his July 8 post, “It’s a Frackin’ Cracker!”: Blogger Note: Unfortunately, sometimes Catholics are not much better.

“Can anyone out there score me some consecrated communion wafers?” Myers continued by saying, “if any of you would be willing to do what it takes to get me some, or even one, and mail it to me, I’ll show you sacrilege, gladly, and with much fanfare. I won’t be tempted to hold it hostage (no, not even if I have a choice between returning the Eucharist and watching Bill Donohue kick the pope in the balls, which would apparently be a more humane act than desecrating a goddamned cracker), but will instead treat it with profound disrespect and heinous cracker abuse, all photographed and presented here on the web.”

Catholic League president Bill Donohue responded as follows:

“The Myers blog can be accessed from the university’s website. The university has a policy statement saying, ‘When dealing with others,’ faculty et al. must be ‘respectful, fair and civil.’ Accordingly, we are contacting the President and the Board of Regents to see what they are going to do about this matter. Because the university is a state institution, we are also contacting the Minnesota legislature.

“It is hard to think of anything more vile than to intentionally desecrate the Body of Christ. We look to those who have oversight responsibility to act quickly and decisively.”

Contact President Robert Bruininks at bruin001@umn.edu

Catholic League: For Religious and Civil Rights

Family Photo

Which is your favorite?

A

B

C

Leave your comments and tell us what you think.

Peace!

Gerontius, HUH?

So, my wife was testing her blood sugars this morning. All of a sudden, she asked me if there is a St. Gerontian. She said that the name just "came" to her.

My response was, "Huh?!?"

Then, she corrected herself. She saw the spelling of Gerontius in her head.

And to our surprise...

We googled the following:

• There is indeed a St. Gerontius

Feastday: May 9. Bishop of Cervia, Italy. He was murdered by bandits near Ancona while returning from a synod in Rome in 501. Gerontius’ death on the Flaminian Way led to his being honored as a martyr.

• There is a work by Cardinal Newman, The Dream of Gerontius

John Henry Cardinal Newman's renowned poem describes the death of an old man and the journey of his soul to the judgment seat of God.

• Gerontius means "old man."

• On an aside, if you are a Lord of the Rings fan, as is my wife, you may recall that Gerontius is the name of the Old Took. However, she didn't remember this even though she is reading this for the third time.... She's still in the middle of pregnancy head, or so she claims. That's been the excuse for a lot of things lately. But, that's a different story for a different time.

Moral of the Story: Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what a word that pops in your head is going to reveal.

Your Catholic Sunday Homily Minute - Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

From the Desk of Father Mark, Your Catholic Sunday Homily Minute - Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

My Dear People,

Poor Religious Formation Means A Poor Faith?

To know the difference between a childish faith, and a childlike faith, takes great discernment. Matthews's Gospel today, compels us to be childlike and innocent with respect to our faith in God. Like going through grade school and high school, we mature in all the content areas taught according to our grade level. If you are in eighth grade, you should be reading at an eighth grade reading level according to the national average. The same holds true for math, science and social studies. We progress in intellectual knowledge, as we grow older.

The same is not always true when it comes to our Catholic Faith. Many people cease growing in Faith and Spiritual Knowledge, whenever they ceased attending religious formation classes. This means that for some Catholics, their faith stopped growing when their Catholic formation stopped. While we may have gained great worldly knowledge in our secular education, we may still be in grade school in our religious formation. How can this be? Does a poor religious formation set the stage for a poor Faith? You do the math. Have you taken the path to lead to a deeper faith by studying your Faith? Where is the road of your faith leading you? Please take time to pray and grow in your Catholic Faith.

May we learn to see good stewardship as God's light yoke that promises rich rewards and great JOY.

Entrusting you to the care of Our Lady,

Fr. Mark

St. Thomas The Apostle Has Small Hands

It is shockingly small. I mean it is a good inch or two smaller than my wife's hand. You will get the significance here shortly.

While on a pilgrimage we stopped at Dubrovnik. You would fall in love with this Adriatic Sea town of which St. Blaise is the patron. The little port city is surrounded by a large defensive wall to keep out invaders and in the wall are seven statue's of St. Blaise. Pretty smart if you ask me.


Anyway, in the Dubrovnik Churches are relics. You can see more relics in one room than you will see the rest of your life. Father Mark and I were looking at the relics when we saw St. Thomas' hand.

Boy, was it small. Then it dawned on me.

"The size of St. Thomas' makes perfect sense Father."

"What do you mean?"

"If you were going to have someone probe your open wounds wouldn't you want them to have small hands?"

True Story! Seeing all of those relic and beautiful Churches is awe inspiring.

Do you use relics?

Free Blessed Father Junipero Serra E-book

Get Your Free Blessed Father Junipero Serra E-book For A Limited Time

Just Discovered! A book on the heroic virtues of Blessed Father Junipero Serra! The missionary God called to evangelize the California Natives.

Come back tomorrow to get your free download. (Still working on it) I literally just found the book and need time to prepare it. Is that fair enough? This little gem of a book will be a free download until it is published. So you better down load it as soon as possible.

BLOGGER NOTE: Boy this is taking me a long time. Please be patient and come back soon.

Blessed Father Junipero Serra,

pray for us!