I found a holy card on the table at church.  On the front it was this picture:

On the back, this is what it says:

O my God, I thank you and I praise you for accomplishing your holy and all-lovable will without any regard for mine.

With my whole heart, In spite of my heart, do I receive this cross I feared so much!

It is the cross of Your choice, the cross of Your love.  I venerate it; nor for anything in the world would I wish that it had not come, since You willed it.

I keep it with gratitude and with joy, as I do everything that comes from Your hand;  and I shall strive to carry it without letting it drag, with all the respect and all the affection which Your works deserve.
Amen.

THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH Her Doctrine and Morals Most Precious Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ 1 July 2012

The Sunday Sermon

Dear Friends,

After Our Lord’s death on the cross a soldier pierced His side with a sword. Blood and water poured forth from this wound. When the priest prepares the chalice for consecration he pours in wine and water. We ask why Blood and water and why wine and water? St. Ambrose tells us that water came forth from Christ’s side so that we might be cleansed and Blood so that we might be redeemed. Water is also used in the sacrament of Baptism to symbolize the cleansing of the soul that takes place in this sacrament. It is not enough to have just the water (cleansing) we must also have the Blood (redemption) – the price of our sins must be paid. The priest puts water into the chalice for this same reason – symbolizing the cleansing of our sins united with our redemption in Christ’s Blood. 

We, the faithful, are likewise symbolically represented in the water. We are united with Christ as the water is united with the wine. St. Cyprian says: “For as Christ has borne us all, because He bore our sins, we perceive that by the water we are to understand the Christian people, but that by the wine the Blood of Christ is shown. But when in the chalice water is mingled with the wine, the people are united with Christ; the multitude of the believing is joined to and made one with Him in Whom they believe. And this joining together and union of water and wine is so blended in the Lord’s chalice, that what has been mingled can never be separated again. Because of this there is nothing that can separate the Church from Christ, so that Her undivided love shall endure and hold to Him forever; and by the Church I mean the people in the Church, who faithfully and firmly persevere in that in which they believe.” 

When we therefore receive Holy Communion, we receive Jesus Christ. As He unites Himself with us in this manner we are cleansed and united with Him in the water that issued from His side and is mixed with the wine that is turned into His Blood. Christ Who is present upon our altars is the same Christ Who reigns in Heaven. St. John Chrysostom says: “whoever among us shall partake of this Body and drink of this Blood, let them bear in mind that in nothing does it differ from that Body which sits on high, which is adored by the angels; seated close to the unclouded Glory: it is of This we taste.” 

St. John likewise reminds us that there are many who say: “Would that I could see Him in human form; see the print of His feet, His garments? But, you do see Him, you do touch Him, you eat of Him. You long to see even His garments; but He gives Himself to you, and not merely to see, but to be touched by you, to eat, to be received within you.”

Keeping all this in mind, believing and knowing what we are doing and Who we are receiving we gain an understanding of the evil of receiving Holy Communion unworthily. St. John Chrysostom tells us: “He who has sinned, and comes to Holy Communion is lower than one possessed by a demon. For those who are afflicted by an evil spirit are not on that account punished. But, these others, should they come, unworthily, to the altar, they are handed over to everlasting punishment.” 

Let us recall the Blood and water from Christ’s side and the wine and water in the chalice and remind ourselves to cleanse ourselves in the water of Baptism and in the sacrament of Penance. As we are also symbolized in the water we are likewise united forever with Christ in the Holy Eucharist. We know that this is the same Christ worshiped and adored in Heaven by the angels and saints. As we fear nothing as much as the demons from Hell, may we always remember that it is worse to receive Holy Communion unworthily than it is to be possessed by devils.

My children, when we have a little stain on our souls, we must do like someone who has a beautiful crystal globe of which she takes great care. If the globe gets a little dusty, when she sees it, she will pass a sponge over it, and there is the globe bright and shining again.

St. John Vianney (1786-1859AD) on Confession, Penance

Do not labor for the food that perishes but for that which endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. John 6:27

Ask the Virgin Mary constantly to come to you with her glorious Son. Be bold. Ask her to give you her Son, Who in the Blessed Sacrament is truly the Food of your soul. She will give Him to you readily.

St. Cajetan (1480-1547AD)

From St. Alphonsus De Ligouri: "Thus says St. Bernard:'Look to the sins of your youth, and be covered with shame. Remember the sins of manhood and weep.' Look to the present disorders of your life; tremble, and hasten to apply a remedy."

Feast of Nativity of St. John the Baptist -Holy Mass from Waubeka, WI - Fr. Bernard OFM

BISHOP GILES, OFM - SATURDAY, JUNE 23 (ST. JOSEPH CAFASSO) 

 BISHOP GILES, OFM - FEAST OF NATIVITY OF ST. JOHN BAPTIST

FR BONAVENTURE, OFM -FEAST OF ST. JOHN BAPTIST FROM ROCHESTER, NY 

June 23
St. Joseph Cafasso
(1811-1860)

Even as a young man, Joseph loved to attend Mass and was known for his humility and fervor in prayer. After his ordination he was assigned to a seminary in Turin. There he worked especially against the spirit of Jansenism, an excessive preoccupation with sin and damnation. Joseph used the works of St. Francis de Sales and St. Alphonsus Liguori to moderate the rigorism popular at the seminary. Joseph recommended membership in the Secular Franciscan Order to priests. He urged devotion to the Blessed Sacrament and encouraged daily Communion. In addition to his teaching duties, Joseph was an excellent preacher, confessor and retreat master. Noted for his work with condemned prisoners, Joseph helped many of them die at peace with God.
St. John Bosco was one of Joseph’s pupils. Joseph urged John Bosco to establish the Salesians to work with the youth of Turin. Joseph was canonized in 1947.

Comment:

Devotion to the Eucharist gave energy to all Joseph's other activities. Long prayer before the Blessed Sacrament has been characteristic of many Catholics who have lived out the gospel well.

 

Quote:

“O admirable heights and sublime lowliness! O sublime humility! O humble sublimity! That the Lord of the universe, God and the Son of God, so humbles Himself that for our salvation He hides Himself under the little form of bread! Look, brothers, at the humility of God and pour out your hearts before Him! Humble yourselves, as well, that you may be exalted by Him. Therefore, hold back nothing of yourselves for yourselves so that He Who gives Himself totally to you may receive you totally” (Saint Francis, Letter to the Entire Order).

Patron Saint of:

Prisoners

HOLY MASS AT FILLMORE, NY- THIRD SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

A multi-faceted discourse on the immense power and intricate beauty of the Lord our God. Very interesting for any age or level of understanding.

THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH Her Doctrine and Morals Nativity of St. John the Baptist 24 June 2012

The Sunday Sermon

Dear Friends,

The Church celebrates only three Nativities: the first is that of Jesus on Christmas Day, the second is that of the Blessed Mother, the third is that of St. John the Baptist. There is a very important doctrinal truth revealed to us in this. We are conceived in sin and consequently at our birth we come forth from our mothers in the state of sin – Original Sin.

Jesus as God, of course, was without sin; so consequently His birth is one of great joy and celebration to the world. He came in all purity to take our sins upon Himself, and thus to redeem us. Mary, as the Mother of God, was privileged to be preserved from all sin. She was conceived Immaculate, so consequently her birth was without sin. Her Nativity is likewise a source of great joy to the Church and all devout Catholics.

St. John is not God nor was he conceived immaculately. However, Sacred Scripture informs us that while still in his mother’s womb, his mother – St. Elizabeth – was visited by Mary who was already carrying Our Lord in her womb. At the first sound of Mary’s voice; St. John lept in his mother’s womb. Tradition informs us that at that moment St. John was sanctified by the very presence of God. From that moment, the sixth month since his conception, he was without sin. Three months later at his birth he saw the light of day for the first time as no other new born, in the state of sanctifying grace. His birth then is a cause for celebration for us also.

For the rest of us the first spiritual joy was the day of our baptism. This day is greater than the day of our creation (conception) and of our (physical) birth. The life of the soul given in baptism (second birth) is far superior to the material life of our bodies given in our conception. The world emphasizes our birth with such pomp and ceremony that many spiritual realities are lost sight of.

We did not begin living on our birth day. Our lives actually began with our conception about nine months earlier. Hopefully, at that moment, our parents, cooperating with the grace of God and living in the state of graceful Holy Matrimony, participated in the work of God in this miraculous wonder of creation. Though this is the best scenario for us, and the life of our souls, we are still, nonetheless, conceived in the state of Original Sin. It seems much better to be conceived only in Original Sin rather than have our conception take place in the very act of Mortal Sin of our parents. Too many people are conceived with the additional burden of the fornication or adultery of their parents added to the already tremendous weight of Original Sin.

For a few of us who were given the grace to be born, and were not taken early by God, or have our lives ended prematurely by our parents (regardless of whether or not we were conceived with the added burden of our parents acts of sin in our conception) we have been given the great grace and opportunity of Baptism. With the grace of Baptism we are given our first opportunity of supernatural life. We become adopted children of God, and Jesus – the Son of God – becomes our Brother. Baptism is therefore a true second birth – a spiritual birth in the life of grace. This birth is worthy of celebration because it is similar to the Birth of Christ, Who was born without sin. This birth likewise makes Mary our mother as we are her children too. We become children of God, and since she is the Mother of God it follows that we are her children too. Not only in this manner but also because of her glorious privilege of her Immaculate Conception and birth we become like her in our second birth – Baptism (which washes us clean of sin).

Next we must consider our relation to St. John. Our baptismal life much more corresponds to his life than it does to either Jesus or Mary. We began as enemies of God in sin but, have been sanctified later by the grace of Baptism. St. John was conceived a physical relative of Jesus, but was made a spiritual relation by the sanctification that occurred in his mother’s womb. We may not be physically closely related to God, but we become spiritually related by Baptism. We say “closely-related” because we are all physically related to God for two reasons: First, because Adam is the father of us all and he is the son of God because he came directly from the hand of God. Christ is the Second Adam coming forth directly from the hand of God when He was conceived by the Holy Ghost in the womb of Mary. Secondly, we are physically related to God because it was He that gave us life through the willing or unwilling cooperation of our parents. Far more important than this physical relation, is our spiritual one given to us by the grace of our second birth in Baptism.

Therefore as we celebrate St. John’s nativity let us learn to love and honor our own spiritual nativity (Baptism). May we frequently with great joy renew our Baptismal Promises and ever strive to keep alive the life of grace given us at that time.

When I consider to good nuns that I had at the beginning of my school career, it makes me sick to see that this is what has become of the vocation to become a religious sister.  You can almost feel the heat from hell while you watch this video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=2SRPr0Gf5dA

Given by His Holiness St. Pius X, September 1, 1910.
To be sworn to by all clergy, pastors, confessors, preachers, religious superiors, and professors in philosophical-theological seminaries.
Oath Against Modernism	Sacrorum Antistitum
I (name) firmly embrace and accept all and everything that has been defined, affirmed, and declared by the unerring magisterium of the Church, especially those chief doctrines which are directly opposed to the errors of this time.	Ego N. N. firmiter amplector ac recipio omnia et singula, quae ab inerranti Ecclesia magisterio definita, adserta ac declarata sunt, praesertim ea doctrinae capita, quae huius temporis erroribus directo adversantur.
And first, I profess that God, the beginning and end of all things, can be certainly known and thus can also be demonstrated by the natural light of reason "by the things that are made" [cf. Rom. 1:20], that is, by the visible works of creation, as the cause by the effects.	Ac primum quidem, Deum, rerum omnium principium et finem, naturali rationis lumine per ea quae facta sunt, hoc est per visibilia creationis opera, tamquam causam per effectus, certo cognosci, adeoque demonstrari etiam posse, profiteor.
Secondly, I admit and recognize the external arguments of revelation, that is, divine facts, and especially miracles and prophecies, as very certain signs of the divine origin of the Christian religion; and I hold that these same arguments have been especially accomodated to the intelligence of all ages and men, even of these times.	Secundo, externa revelationis argumenta, hoc est facta divina, in primisque miracula et prophetias admitto et agnosco tanquam signa certissima divinitus ortae christianae religionis, eademque teneo aetatum omnium atque hominum, etiam huius temporis, intelliegentiae esse maxime accommodata.
Thirdly, likewise, with a firm faith I believe that the Church, guardian and mistress of the revealed word, was instituted proximately and directly by the true and historical Christ Himself, while he sojourned among us, and that the same was built upon Peter, the chief of the apostolic hierarchy, and his successors until the end of time.	Tertio, firma pariter fide credo Ecclesiam, verbi revelati custodem et magistram, per ipsum verum atque historicum Christum, cum apud nos degeret, proximo ac directo institutam eandemque super Petrum, apostolicae hierarchiae principem, eiusque in aevum successores aedificatam.
Fourthly, I accept sincerely the doctrine of faith transmitted from the apostles through the orthodox fathers, always in the same sense and interpretation, even to us; and so I reject the heretical invention of the evolution of dogmas, passing from one meaning to another, different from that which the Church first had; and likewise I reject all error whereby a philosophic fiction is substituted for the divine deposit, given over to the Spouse of Christ and to be guarded faithfully by her, or a creation of the human conscience formed gradually by the efforts of men and to be perfected by indefinite progress in the future.	Quarto, fidei doctrinam ab Apostolis per orthodoxos Patres eodem sensu eademque semper sententia ad nos usque transmissam, sincero recipio; ideoque prorsus reicio haereticum commentum evolutionis dogmatum, ab uno in alium sensum transeuntium, diversum ab eo, quem prius habuit Ecclesia; pariterque damno errorem omnem, quo, divino deposito, Christi Sponsae tradito ab eaque fideliter custodiendo, sufficitur philosophicum inventum, vel creatio humanae conscientiae, hominum conatu sensim efformatae et in posterum indefinito progressu perficiendae.
Fifthly, I hold most certainly and profess sincerely that faith is not a blind religious feeling bursting forth from the recesses of the subconscious, unformed morally under the pressure of the heart and the impulse of a will, but the true assent of the intellect to the truth received extrinsically ex auditu, whereby we believe that what has been said, attested, and revealed by the personal God, our Creator and Lord, to be true on account of the authority of God the highest truth.	Quinto, certissime teneo ac sincere profiteor, fidem non esse caecum sensum religionis e latrebis subconscientiae erumpentem, sub pressione cordis et inflesione voluntatis maraliter informatae, sed verum assensum intellectus veritati extrinsecus acceptae ex auditu, quo nempe, quae a Deo personali, creatore ac Domino nostro dicta, testata et revelata sunt, vera esse credimus, propter Dei auctoritatem summe veracis.
I also subject myself with the reverence which is proper, and I adhere with my whole soul to all the condemnations, declarations, and prescriptions which are contained in the Encyclical letter "Pascendi" and in the Decree, "Lamentabili", especially on that which is called the history of dogma.	Me etiam, qua par est, reverentia subicio totoque animo adhaereo damnationibus, declarationibus, praescriptis omnibus, quae in Encyclicis litteris Pascendi et in Decreto Lamentabili continentur, praesertim circa eam quam historiam dogmatum vocant.
In the same manner I disapprove the error of those who affirm that the faith proposed by the Church can be in conflict with history, and that Catholic dogmas, in the sense in which they are now understood, cannot be reconciled with the more authentic origins of the Christian religion.	Idem reprobo errorem affirmantium, propositam ab Ecclesia fidem posse historiae repugnare, et catholica dogmata, quo sensu nunc intelliguntur, cum verioribus christianae religionis originibus componi non posse.
I also condemn and reject the opinion of those who say that the more erudite Christian puts on a dual personality, one of the believer, the other of the historian, as if it were permitted the historian to hold what is in contradiction to the faith of the believer; or to establish premises which it follows that dogmas are either false or doubtful, provided they are not directly denied.	Damno quoque ac reicio eorum sententiam, qui dicunt christianum hominem eruditiorem induere personam duplicem, aliam credentis, aliam historici, quasi liceret historico ea retinere, quae credentis fidei contradicant, aut praemissas adstruere, ex quibus consequatur, dogmata esse aut falsa aut dubia, modo haec directo non denegentur.
I disapprove likewise that method of studying and interpreting Sacred Scripture, which disregards the tradition of the Church, the analogy of faith, and the norms of the Apostolic See, and adheres to the fictions of the rationalists, and no less freely than boldly adopts textual criticism as the only and supreme rule.	Reprobo pariter eam Scripturae sanctae diiudicandae atque interpretandae rationem, quae, Ecclesiae traditione, analogia fidei et Apostolicae Sedis normis posthabitis, rationalistarum comentis inhaeret, et criticem textus velut unicam supremamque regulam haud minus licenter quam temere amplectitur.
Besides I reject the opinion of those who hold that to present the historical and theological disciplines the teacher or the writer on these subjects must first divest himself of previously conceived opinion either on the supernatural origin of Catholic tradition, or on the aid promised by God for the perpetual preservation of every revealed truth; then that the writings of the individual Fathers are to be interpreted only by the principles of science, setting aside all divine authority, and by that freedom of judgment with which any profane document is customarily investigated.	Sententiam praeterea illorum reicio, qui tenent, doctori disciplinae historicae theologicae tradendae aut iis de rebus scribenti seponendam prius esse opinionem ante conceptam sive de supernaturali origine catholicae traditionis, sive de promissa divinitus ope ad perennem conservationem uniuscuiusque revelati veri; deinde scripta Patrum singulorum interpretanda solic scientiae principiis, sacra qualibet auctoritate seclusa, eaque iudicii libertate, qua profana quaevis monumenta solent investigari.
Finally, in short, I profess to be utterly free of the error according to which the modernists hold that there is nothing divine in sacred tradition; or, what is far worse, admit this in the pantheistic sense, so that nothing remains but this bare and simple fact to ne assimilated with the common facts of history, namely, of men by their industry, skill, and genius continuing through subsequent ages the school inaugurated by Christ and His disciples.	In universum denique me alienissimum ab errore profiteor, quo modernistae tenent in sacra traditione nihil inesse divini, aut, quod longe deterius, pantheistico sensu illud admittunt, ita ut nihil iam restet nisi nudum factum et simplex, communibus historiae factis aequandum: hominum nempe sua industria, solertia, ingenio scholam a Christo eiusque Apostolis inchoatam per subsequentes aetates continuantium.
So I retain most firmly the faith of the Fathers, and shall retain it until the final breath of life, regarding the certain gift of truth, which is, was, and will be always in the succession of the episcopacy from the apostles, not so that what may seem better and more fitting according to each one's period of culture may be held, but so that the absolute and immutable truth preached by the apostles from the beginning may never be believed otherwise, may never be understood otherwise.	Proinde fidem Patrum firmissime retineo et ad extremum vitae spiritum retinebo, de charismate veritatis certo, quod est, fuit eritque semper in episcopatus ab Apostolis successione; non ut id teneatur quod melius et aptius videri possit secundum suam cuiusque aetatis culturam, sed ut nunquam aliter credatur, nunquam aliter intelligatur absoluta et immutabilis veritas ab initio per Apostolos praedicata.
All these things I promise that I shall faithfully, entirely, and sincerely keep and inviolably watch, never deviating from them in word and writing either while teaching or in any other pursuit. So I promise, so I swear, so help me God and this Holy Gospel.	Haec omnia spondeo me fideliter, integre sincereque servaturum et inviolabiliter custoditurum, nusquam ab iis sive in docendo sive quomodolibet verbis scriptisque deflectendo. Sic spondeo, sic iuro, sic me Deus adiuvet et haec sancta Dei Evangelia.

Dear Friends,

The topic for the Catholic Radio Program for Friday, June 22, 2012 will be The Just Government. This will be the fourth program of this title. The series, in fact, will probably extend over several months. It is my intention to discuss several areas of government from the moral perspective. We have already discussed the virtues of government and the common good. This week we'll begin to discuss the history of government. I'm sure you will find this series to be quite informative.

 

A Program Note: Bp. Louis will be on the program on Friday, June 29, 2012. Fr. Bonaventure is scheduled for July 6, 2012.

 

The Catholic Faith Radio Program is broadcast live each Friday from 2 - 4 p.m., Central Time, in the studio of KRFE AM580, Lubbock, TX. It is also streamed live from our website, www.catholichour.org. Go to the menu and click on Radio Program Live.

 

Thank you for your prayers and support of this program.

 

May God bless you,

Fr. Joseph, OFM

  26. Every morning we ought to make this prayer and daily offering to God: I offer Thee, O my God, all my thoughts, all my words and all my actions of this day. Grant that they may be thoughts of humility, words of humility, and actions of humility-----all to Thy glory.

     Also during the course of the day it will be well to repeat this ejaculatory prayer: "Lord Jesus, give me a humble and contrite heart." These few words contain all that we can possibly ask of God; because in praying for a contrite heart we ask Him for that which is necessary to ensure forgiveness for our past life, and in praying for a humbled heart all that which is required to secure life everlasting. Oh, may I at the hour of death find myself with a contrite and humbled heart! Then what confidence shall I not have in the mercy of God if I can exclaim with King David: "A contrite and humble heart, O my God, Thou wilt not despise." We very often offer prayers to God to which He might justly reply: "Thou knowest not what thou askest"; [Ps. l, 19] but when we ask for holy humility, we know for certain we are asking for something which is most pleasing to God and most necessary to ourselves; and in asking for this we must believe that God will maintain His infallible promise: "Ask, and it shall be given you." [Matt. vii, 7]

“He who neglects the service of the Blessed Virgin will die in his sins. He who does not invoke thee, O Lady, will never get to heaven. Not only will those from whom Mary turns away her eyes of mercy not be saved, but there will be no hope of their salvation. No one can be saved without the protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary.”

 

St. Bonaventure (1260)

 “What can there be that is worse than hell? Yet nothing is more profitable than the fear of it! For the fear of hell gains for us the crown of the kingdom.”

 St. John Chrysostom (387)

Malediction
(As heard in the video Hard Truth)

The judges sat outside the Law
And in their pride no evil saw
In setting teeth to Satan's jaw
And feeding him our children.

When viewed in terms of cost and ease
An unborn child is a disease
A holocaust seen fit to please
Our own convenience.

A curse A curse the Law it cries.
A curse a curse on mankind's pride.
A curse on him who would deny
God's image in mankind.

Torn from out their mother's womb
Denied the sky - denied a tomb
Conceived in lust to their own ruin
A sacrifice to pleasure.

The doctors with their blood red hands
Who love their money more than man,
With greed their god they lay their plans
The butchers of mankind.

A curse a curse the blood cries out
A curse a curse the heavens shout
A curse a curse on he who flouts
God's image in mankind.

O rid us of this evil, Lord
And turn our hearts by cross or Sword.
Our nation cannot long afford
To live beneath your judgements.

A curse a curse upon their heads
O save them Lord or slay them dead
And fill our country with your Dread
And turn away Your anger.

Kemper Crabb

Most  glorious Prince of the Heavenly Armies , St. Michael, the Archangel, defend us in our battle against principalities and powers, against the rulers of this world of darkness, against the spirits of wickedness in the high places. (Ephes. VI 12). Come to the assistance of men whom God has created to His likeness and whom He has redeemed at a great price from the tyranny of the devil. Holy Church venerates thee as her guardian and protector: to thee, the Lord has entrusted the souls of the redeemed to be led into heaven. Pray therefore the God of Peace to crush Satan beneath our feet, that he may no longer retain men captive and do injury to the Church. Offer our prayers to the Most High, that without delay they may draw His mercy down upon us; take hold of "the dragon, the old serpent, which is the devil and Satan," bind him and cast him into the bottomless pit so that he may no longer seduce the nations." (Apoc. XX 2)

 

Exorcism Prayer of Pope Leo XIII

 

In the Name of Jesus Christ, our God and Lord, strengthened by the intercession of the Immaculate Virgin Mary, Mother of God, of Blessed Michael the Archangel, of the Blessed Apostles Peter and Paul and all the Saints, we confidently undertake to repulse the attacks and deceits of the devil.

 

PSALM 67: God arises; His enemies are scattered and those who hate Him flee before Him. As smoke is driven away, so are they driven; as wax melts before the fire, so the wicked perish at the presence of God.

 

V. Behold the Cross of the Lord, flee bands of enemies.

R. He has conquered, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the offspring of David.

V. May thy mercy, Lord, descend upon us.

R. As great as our hope in Thee.

 

The crosses indicate a blessing to be given if a priest recites the Exorcism; if a lay person recites it, they indicate the Sign of the Cross to be made silently by that person.

We drive you from us, whoever you may be, unclean spirits, all satanic powers, all infernal invaders, all wicked legions, assemblies and sects; in the Name and by the power of Our Lord Jesus Christ, + may you be snatched away and driven from the Church of God and from the souls made to the image and likeness of God and redeemed by the Precious Blood of the Divine Lamb. + Most cunning serpent, you shall no more dare to deceive the human race, persecute the Church, torment God's elect and sift them as wheat. + The Most High God commands you. + He with Whom, in your great insolence, you still claim to be equal; "He Who wants all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth" [1 Tim. 2: 4]. God the Father commands you. + God the Son commands you. + God the Holy Ghost commands you. + Christ, God's Word made flesh, commands you; + He Who to save our race outdone through your envy, "humbled Himself, becoming obedient even unto death" [Phil. 2: 8]; He Who had built His Church on the firm rock and declared that the gates of Hell shall not prevail against Her, because He will dwell with Her "all days even to the end of the world" [St. Mat. 28: 20]. The sacred Sign of the Cross commands you, + as does the power of the mysteries of the Christian Faith. + The glorious Mother of God, the Virgin Mary, commands you; + She who by her humility and from the first moment of her Immaculate Conception, crushed your proud head. The faith of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul and of the other Apostles commands you. + The blood of the Martyrs and the pious intercession of all the Saints commands you. +

Thus, cursed dragon, and you, diabolical legions, we adjure you by the living God, + by the true God, + by the holy God, + by the God "who so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that every soul believing in Him might not perish but have life everlasting" [St. John 3]; stop deceiving human creatures and pouring out to them the poison of eternal damnation; stop harming the Church and hindering her liberty. Begone, Satan, inventor and master of all deceit, enemy of man's salvation. Give place to Christ in Whom you have found none of your works; give place to the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church acquired by Christ at the price of His Blood. Stoop beneath the all-powerful Hand of God; tremble and flee when we invoke the Holy and terrible Name of Jesus, this Name which causes Hell to tremble, this Name to which the Virtues, Powers and Dominations of Heaven are humbly submissive, this Name which the Cherubim and Seraphim praise unceasingly repeating: Holy, Holy. Holy is the Lord, the God of Armies.

V. O Lord, hear my prayer.

R. And let my cry come unto Thee.

V. May the Lord be with thee.

R. And with thy spirit.Let us pray.

God of Heaven, God of earth, God of Angels, God of Archangels, God of Patriarchs, God of Prophets, God of Apostles, God of Martyrs, God of Confessors, God of Virgins, God Who has power to give life after death and rest after work, because there is no other God than Thee and there can be no other, for Thou art the Creator of all things, visible and invisible, of Whose reign there shall be no end, we humbly prostrate ourselves before Thy glorious Majesty and we beseech Thee to deliver us by Thy power from all the tyranny of the infernal spirits, from their snares, their lies and their furious wickedness; deign, O Lord, to grant us Thy powerful protection and to keep us safe and sound. We beseech Thee through Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen.From the snares of the devil, deliver us, O Lord. That Thy Church may serve Thee in peace and liberty, we beseech Thee to hear us. That Thou may crush down all enemies of Thy Church, we beseech Thee to hear us.

[Holy water is sprinkled in the place where we may be.]

St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle; be our protection against the malice and snare of the Devil.  May God restrain him, we humbly pray, and do thou, O prince of the heavenly host, by the divine power cast into hell Satan and all the other evil spirits who roam through the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us!  (3 times)

In the Scripture our people are shown to be made one; so that just as many grains collected into one and ground and mingled together make one loaf, so in Christ, who is the heavenly Bread, we know there is one body, in which our whole company is joined and united.
St. Hilary of Poitiers (315-368AD) on the unity of the Catholic Church

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY TO ALL FATHERS!

Bishop Giles,OFM-Saturday, June 16-
Bishop Giles, OFM-3rd Sunday after Pentecost 

HOLY MASS -3RD SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST-FR. BERNARD, OFM 
 
Here you will find the link for the latest Youtube video sermon recorded at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Chapel in Rochester, NY.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-BNgqZtsLg 

"........In other words, it is the law of things as they actually are that we must continually suffer from others;  it is the condition of our being that we shall be the victims of others' abuse of their free wills; it belongs to our position that our desires and inclinations should be continually thwarted and that we should be at the mercy of circumstances.  And it is our duty to bear that without resentment and without rebellion.  To rebel; is to assert practically that such things are not our due, that they do not belong to our position.  It is to refuse to recognize that we are fallen members of a fallen race.  The moment we feel resentment at anything painful that happens to us through the activity of men or things, at that moment we are resentful against God's Providence.

If we expect or look for a mode of existence in which we shall not endure harshness, unkindness, misunderstanding, and injustice, we are actually rebelling against God's Providence, we are claiming a position that does not belong to us as creatures.  This is to sin against humility.  It is Pride."

Reverend Father Edward Lee, In the Likeness of Christ

THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH Her Doctrine and Morals Third Sunday after Pentecost 17 June 2012

The Sunday Sermon

Dear Friends,

Our Lord associated Himself with sinners and justified these actions with the parable given in today’s Gospel. The flock of one hundred represents a completion. One hundred is ten decades. If only one is missing the hundred is not complete. For there to be peace and joy there must be completion even in the smallest part; all must be fulfilled or present.

So we see the ninety-nine left safely in the wilderness while the shepherd goes in search of the one. We must not consider that the ninety-nine are of less importance than the one, but rather that, the Shepherd can only be happy and content when all of the sheep are safe and secure in the flock. The loss of even the smallest one makes the flock incomplete and disturbs the peace and joy that can only be had when all is in order -- complete. The sinner that has fallen therefore is vital and precious in the eyes of God. This is why God left all the angels in Heaven and came to this earth to find and save lost mankind.

The ten decades also remind us of the Ten Commandments. In this light we learn that we must be faithful in every detail of each Commandment. Nothing stained in the least way can ever enter into Heaven. We must be perfect because our Heavenly Father is perfect. Every sin is a void of the grace that should be there. If we are failing in any commandment or even in only one small part of that commandment we must go after it searching and working to fill that void. We are never going to find true peace or joy until we have fulfilled all the law in all its aspects.

The silver coins present us with similar ideas. Every coin was impressed with the king’s image. In like manner every human soul bears the image of God its creator and King. When we are baptized and receive the Holy Ghost and our souls are cleansed of all sin and we are raised from the death of sin to the life of grace, the image of God upon our souls becomes complete. To insult or abuse the image of the king is considered an insult or abuse on the king himself. Likewise if we defile our souls we insult or abuse God. When we lose grace through sin, the image of God in our souls is insulted and defaced. In this manner this image born on the coin is lost with the very coin of our soul itself. So we are given this lesson that when we look into our souls and see some reflection of God missing, that it is time to light the lamp with prayer and grace from God and to begin sweeping with an examination of our conscious with the spirit of penance.

Our lives then become because of sin a constant searching and sweeping. God and the Church respectively, in a certain manner, search and sweep in an effort to restore us to God and to the Church. We must likewise do our part. It is not enough for us to passively wait to the found and saved. It is said that Christ redeemed us without our cooperation but that He cannot save us without our help. We need to do our part to fill up what was lacking in Christ’s efforts to save us. (Col 1, 24) We should actively seek to be found; we must not resist being found and returned to the flock of Christ. Above and beyond this we must make the effort to search our own selves. God has given us a conscience so that we may seek ourselves out when we have gone astray or have been lost to the life of grace.

This entire life of ours has been given to us so that we will have sufficient time to find ourselves and our way into Heaven. The Catechism teaches us that God has made us to be happy with Him in Heaven and that to reach this goal we must know, love, and serve Him in this life. In seeking the knowledge, love, and service of God we make ourselves docile and receptive of God’s graces and available to be found by Him and brought to His Church – the flock here on earth – and through the Church we are brought into the flock of Angels and Saints in Heaven.

TAKE 18 MINUTES OUT OF YOUR LIFE AND PRAY THIS NOVENA TO OUR GREAT SAINT ANTHONY!!

The Hymn 

This the Confessor of the Lord, whose triumph

Now through the wide world celebrate the faithful,

At his departure entered with rejoicing

Heavenly mansions.

Fervent and holy, prudent in his converse,

Humbly and chastely here on earth he sojourned,

Curbing all passions, and in peace and meekness,

Constant abiding.

What though the grave now hold his hallowed relicks?

He, ever living, ever interceding,

Reigns with the Blessed, nor from us his brethren

Is he divided.

Whence we in chorus gladly do him honour,

Chanting his praises with devout affection,

That in his merits we may have our portion,

Ever and ever.

Glory and virtue, honour and salvation,

Be unto him that, sitting in the highest,

Governeth all things, Lord and God Almighty,

Trinity blessed.  Amen.

HERE IS A VIDEO LINK TO THE HOLY SACRIFICE OF THE MASS THAT CAN BE VIEWED DAILY FROM OUR HOMES. PERFECT ACT OF CONTRITION, SPIRITUAL COMMUNION AND MASS.

The Beauty of God's Creation

FR. BONAVENTURE, OFM -2ND SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST VIDEO SERMON
HERE IS FR. BONAVENTURE, OFM AT THE NEW PARISH IN FILLMORE, NY 


FR. JOSEPH, OFM AUDIO SERMON FOR 2ND SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

HOLY MASS -2ND SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST-FR. BERNARD, OFM 

Blessed Andrew of Spello

 

Blessed Andrew of Spello
(Beato Andrea di Spello)Feast Day – June 3

Andrew was a parish priest in his native city of Spello, not far from Assisi, and administered his duties with the utmost zeal of a true shepherd of souls. He admired St Francis and his first companions, and reflected on how they went about preaching and doing good in the cities and towns of Italy, just as Christ our Lord and His apostles once traveled about in Judea.

In 1223, when his mother and sister had died, the forty-four-year-old parish priest came to St Francis and asked to be received among the brethren o his order. The holy founder gladly granted his request, personally invested him with the holy habit, and soon sent him out to preach.

In the year 1226 Andrew was present with other brethren around the deathbed of their Seraphic Father. In giving him his blessing, St Francis foretold that much fruit would be derived from his preaching of the divine word. The results soon verified the prophecy.

When Andrew was called to Spain to attend the general chapter of the order, a prolonged drought had dried up all the fields of Soria, where the chapter was being held. Andrew told the inhabitants that this was a punishment for their sins, and warned them forcefully to do penance. They were all moved to such deep contrition that they burst into tears. Then he entreated God to ward off the punishment, and behold, at once a plentiful rain fell which restored everything to life. In other places, too, God supported his words with the most unusual miracles; he even restored dead persons to life.

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Blessed Andrew of Spello rejoiced at the blessings which resulted everywhere from his sermons. But at the same time his reputation spread everywhere, and his humility urged him to evade the honors. With the consent of his superiors he retired to the secluded convent of the Carceri, where, engaged in quiet prayer and severe mortification, he led a more heavenly than earthy life.

One day the Lord of heaven visited him. In the grotto in which Andrew lived, Christ appeared to him in the form of a beautiful boy. But just then the little bell rang out for Vespers. At the first signal Andrew left the grotto in order to heed the call of obedience. When he returned from Vespers, he found the Divine Child still there, who said to him:

“It was well that you heeded the call of obedience; I will be merciful to you.”

Not long afterwards Andrew was granted the greatest of all graces here on earth, the grace of a holy death. Rich in virtues and merits, he died on June 3, 1254. Numerous miracles occurred at his grave in the church of the Apostle St Andrew at Spello. The public veneration accorded Blessed Andrew of Spello was approved by Popes Clement XII and Benedict XIV.

From: Franciscan Book of Saints by Marion Habig, OFM

THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH Her Doctrine and Morals Second Sunday after Pentecost 10 June 2012

The Sunday Sermon

Dear Friends,

How strange it is that God must invite us to come to Him! It seems that we should naturally run to Him. Our very nature should compel us to seek Him and follow Him even before an invitation is ever sent.

It is the effects of sin that has darkened our eyes so as not to see or desire our greatest good – God. Sin has left us wandering in darkness. We are as the blind leading the blind. We form false ideas of what the light might be and search for it in all the wrong places. Many even mistake the darkness they are in for light because they can see or know nothing of the true light.

The Son of God has come, sent by the Father, to invite us to the supper of light and truth. Many have refused to come because they have grown comfortable in the darkness of sin. Each gave a superficial worldly reason for his unwillingness to go to the supper guised as an inability to attend. There is customarily the proviso at the end of each inexcusable excuse to please “hold them excused.”

Sin comes in many forms – though all sin is turning away from God. There is the concupiscence of the eyes, the concupiscence of the flesh, and the pride of life. Each of these categories present themselves to us today in the excuses given by those in the Gospel.

“I have bought a farm” represents all those who are eager with curiosity to see and know the things of this earth and are content to remain blind to the things of God. The farm is not going anywhere. We can see it at any time. We must seek first the Kingdom of Heaven. The farm itself is a gift from God and it was given to us so that we might draw closer to God, not so that it might become an obstacle to Him. How perversely we now use God’s own gifts against Him!

“I have bought five yoke of oxen” represent the pride we take in ruling or controlling the things of this earth. This foolish pride makes us think of ourselves as rulers. A vanity ensues that is very hard to ever remove. Today it might be the pride in our automobiles, technology, etc.

“I have married a wife” shows us all those consumed with the concupiscence of the flesh. The passions and lusts of our bodies blind us to the light and overpower and consume us so that we lose all self-control. These sins become all consuming and relentlessly bear us down. Our intellects become soiled and dull, as we look for light and happiness in darkness and filth.

These are the broad categories that encompass all the sins or excuses of mankind which keep us from heeding the invitation and thus ever seeing the true light and tasting the true joys of heaven.

Christ’s parables are given to us not to entertain us, or even to just instruct us. Rather, we should become motivated to change our lives. They are designed to move our wills to that which is true, right and good. Profound truths are presented in a simple manner so that we can grasp them even in the darkness of our sins. With glimpses into the truth we make use of the opportunity to see ourselves and turn away from darkness and seek out the light.

We have reached the opposite extreme as was present in the Garden of Eden with Adam and Eve. They knew the Light and Goodness but did not know darkness and sin. Men today, on the other hand, know darkness and sin, but do not know Light and Goodness. Adam and Eve came to know darkness and sin through doubt and disobedience; we must come to know Light and Goodness through faith, and obedience. We must believe Jesus who speaks the truth to us and we must obey or hear and follow His invitation to the Supper of Light, Truth, and Goodness. Through Faith and obedience we can turn away from the ignorance and darkness of sin and enter into the wisdom and Light of Grace.

Men will never know the true pleasures and joys that God offers them unless they renounce the only joys they now imagine that they know. This requires Faith and obedience to God. Let us make that loving act of Faith and obedience to God and renounce the false pleasures of sin that we have grown attached to so that through Faith we may obtain the eternal joys of the Heavenly Banquet.

Video Sermon for Trinity Sunday - Fr. Bonaventure, OFM
Audio Sermon - Trinity Sunday - Fr. Bonaventure, OFM 

Holy Mass for Trinity Sunday -Fr. Bernard OFM from Waubeka, WI 

Trinity Sunday - Bishop Giles, OFM 
First Saturday in June - Bishop Giles, OFM 
First Friday in June - Bishop Giles, OFM 

VIDEO: Planned Parenthood’s ‘Margaret Sanger’ clinic in NY welcomes sex-selection abortion

Kathleen Gilbert

Thu May 31 08:22 EST

Abortion

“I can tell you that here at Planned Parenthood we believe that it’s not up to us to decide what is a good or a bad reason for somebody to decide to terminate a pregnancy,” said the New York employee.

Full Story

OUR MODEL OF MODESTY

FR. JOSEPH RADIO PROGRAM ON MODESTY WITH FR. BONAVENTURE, OFM- EXCELLENT!!

 Thanks to Kurt for working so hard to get the sermon for us from this Sunday.  We had been having some technical difficulties but he has finally after a lot of work, thought and sweat solved them!


HERE IS THE LINK TO THE SERMON FOR THE 4TH SUNDAY AFTER EASTER - OUR LADYOF THE ROSARY - FR. BERNARD OFM