Blessed be the hour in which our Lord Jesus Christ,

God and man, was born.

Blessed be the Holy Spirit by whom he was conceived.

Blessed be the glorious Virgin Mary

of whom the God-man was born.
May the Lord hear our prayers by the intercession

of the glorious Virgin Mary

and by the remembrance

of the most sacred hour

in which the God-man

was born,

that all our desires

may be accomplished for your glory

and our salvation.

O good Jesus!

O Jesus Redeemer,

do not abandon us

nor punish us as our sins deserve,

but hear our humble prayer

and grant what we ask,

by the intercession

of the Blessed Virgin Mary

and for the glory of your holy name. Amen.

~St. Colette~

"All the reprobate have been damned in consequence of their neglect of prayer; had they prayed they should not be lost; and all the saints have become saints by prayer; had they neglected prayer, they would not have become saints.  We must live in the persuasion, St. John Chrysostom says, that to neglect prayer, and to lose the grace of God, are one and the same thing." 
St. Alphonsus 

"The apostles and their successors are God's vicars in governing the Church which is built on faith and the sacraments of faith. Wherefore, just as they may not institute another Church, so neither may they deliver another faith, nor institute other sacraments." (St. Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica, III, 64, art. 2, ad. 3)

 


Bishop Bonaventure, OFM - Feast of Pentecost 
Bishop Bonaventure, OFM - Trinity Sunday

Holy Mass for Trinity Sunday - Fr. Bernard, OFM 

Fr. Joseph, OFM - Feast of Pentecost 
Fr. Joseph, OFM - Trinity Sunday 

Bishop Giles, OFM May 25, 2013 Sermon 
Bishop Giles, OFM - Trinity Sunday 

THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH Her Doctrine and Morals Trinity Sunday 26 May 2013

The Sunday Sermon

Dear Friends,

A central doctrine is placed before us today for our consideration, inspiration, and adoration. This is a mystery of Faith that can only be appreciated by a humble and sincere submission of our memory, intellect and will to the incomprehensible revelations of God. 

There is only one God, yet there are three Divine Persons in God: The Father, The Son, and The Holy Ghost. Each Person is separate from the Others: The Son is not the Father; the Father is not the Son; The Holy Ghost is not the Father; The Father is not the Holy Ghost; The Holy Ghost is not the Son; The Son is not the Holy Ghost. 

The Father is God; the Son is God and; the Holy Ghost is God. There is only One God. 

This is a mystery that is beyond our comprehension but which is placed before us to be believed by God and the Church. Sadly, many relying upon their own feeble intellect have chosen not to believe this Mystery and have severed themselves from the Church, grace, and eternal life. God insists upon the submission of our intellects and wills in all humility as this prerequisite to eternal life in heaven. 

We see the separateness of the Three Persons in the baptism of Jesus by St. John in the river Jordan. Jesus, the Son, came to the river, the Holy Ghost descended upon Jesus in the form of a dove, the Father spoke from Heaven. Though they Each separate from the Others, They all act as one. 

At the Incarnation, we see that the Son became Man. Neither the Father, nor the Holy Ghost became Man and was born of the Virgin Mary. Nonetheless, the Father and the Holy Ghost cooperated in the Incarnation. The Father sent the Son. We recite in the Creed that Jesus Christ was conceived of the Blessed Virgin by the power of the Holy Ghost. All Three acted as One, but only One – The Son – became Man. 

St. Augustine in an attempt to open this mystery up for us, looks to our own human nature made in the image and likeness of God to find a reflection of this separateness of persons, yet oneness of being. He finds within us a threefold power of our souls: memory, intellect and will. We see that the memory is not the intellect or the will; the intellect is not the memory or the will; and the will is not the memory or the intellect. Each is separate, but all act as one. In all our actions the memory, intellect, and will unite and act as one. 

St. Augustine further warns us that if we begin to imagine that we understand this mystery, that we are mistaken. It is a mystery and is beyond all the powers of our nature. We can see reflections of this mystery in all of creation and with the grace of God believe it, but its complete grasp is far beyond us. This distance is as from the highest to the lowest; from the infinite to the finite; from the Creator to the lowliest creature. 

This mystery and doctrine is essential for our salvation, but at the same time it is out of the reach of our fallen natures. We must be very careful not to dismiss this mystery as unimportant or insignificant. We must likewise avoid the mistake of imagining that we understand and thus become filled with demonic pride and vanity. 

It is related that St Augustine was once walking upon the shore contemplating this mystery when he happened to see an angel appearing as a small boy carrying a small pail of the ocean water and dumping it in a small hole he had dug in the sand. When St. Augustine asked him what he was doing, the boy replied that he was emptying the ocean into the hole. When St. Augustine responded that this is impossible, the boy replied it is easier for me to empty the whole ocean into this hole than it is for you to understand the infinitely mysterious Trinity of God.

God demands this faith and trust on our part as a necessity to admittance to His grace. He requires that we humbly admit and accept the limitations of our intellect. The proud and the vain will not enter His Kingdom. We must accept what He has taught us on His word alone. We must accept with full trust and confidence as little children. 

Let us in the quiet of our hearts and souls contemplate this mystery in the Being of God. In this contemplation may we be increasingly confounded in any attempt to understand. And at the same time may we ever be led to an ever increasing burning love for God in this great mystery.

What is left to us but, to adore this majestical and wondrous mystery that is presented to us for our sanctification. May we frequently during our days repeat and remind ourselves of this mystery every time we make the Sign of the Cross confirming and strengthening our faith.

How incomprehensible are His judgments and how unsearchable are His ways.

 

Audio Sermon from May 18 - Bishop Giles, OFM
Pentecost Sunday - Bishop Giles, OFM

Thursday night religion class - Bishop Giles, OFM
http://friarsminor.org/audio/ThursReligion/2013-05-23.wmv

Pentecost Sunday - Fr. Joseph, OFM

Holy Sacrifice of the Mass from Waubeka, WI-Fr. Bernard, OFM - Pentecost Sunday 

 

 About the year 1599, in the city of Posen, a very remarkable
incident took place in connection with the Blessed Sacrament. A
servant girl, who was bribed by some unbelievers, stole from the
chapel of the Dominicans three small Hosts, wrapped them in a linen
cloth, and carried them to the house of the wretches who had hired
her for the deed. The unbelievers treated the Sacred Hosts in a most
sacrilegious and shameful manner. They threw them on a table and cut
the Sacred Particles. Blood spurted out on the first one of the
sacrilegious creatures and left a stain that could not be removed.
The report of this strange occurrence soon spread abroad and crowds
ran to see for themselves. A blind woman insisted on being led to the
scene of this marvelous incident. Divinely inspired, she cried out:
"If Thou art the true God, He whom our ancestors nailed to the Cross,
restore to me my sight!" She was immediately cured, and went away
proclaiming the miracle. The guilty profaners, fearing the just
punishment of their heinous crime, wished to dispose of the
desecrated Hosts, and after several fruitless efforts buried them to
a great depth in a swamp.

One day on the octave of the Blessed Virgin, two herdsmen, father and
son, brought their cattle to pasture near this place. The father went
to a church not far off to hear Mass, while the son guarded the herd.
To his surprise the boy saw the cattle approach the swamp and kneel
down with their heads bent low. The shepherd raised his eyes and saw
in the air over the swamp three shining objects. In amazement he
perceived that they were three Hosts, and he instantly prostrated
himself and profoundly adored the God who revealed Himself by so
great a prodigy.

In the meantime, the father returned from Mass. As soon as the boy
saw him he ran to meet him. "Father," he shouted, "our oxen are
adoring the Blessed Sacrament!" "Nonsense!" replied the parent,
shrugging his shoulders, "what folly is this!" "Come and see for
yourself," protested the boy, "that I am telling the truth." While
proceeding on his way the old man suddenly paused, with feet fastened
to the ground and with eyes entranced as he beheld the astonishing
scene. There at the farthest end of the marsh three little lights
hung in the air, while the dumb beasts knelt with heads bowed to the
earth. The old herdsman, all doubts gone, knelt in adoration before
the three consecrated Hosts profaned by the unbelievers. After a
moment's prayer, the old man ran to the city and proclaimed the
wonder to all whom he met. The people, however, looked upon him as a
fool, and even cast him into prison. And now a new wonder
occurred the prison door opened and freed the prisoner. This startled
the authorities and they began to investigate. The Bishop and the
clergy were informed and went in procession to the place indicated by
the herdsman. Then the Sacred Hosts, which had remained suspended in
the air, slowly descended and rested in the hands of a saintly
priest. They were taken back to the city amidst great pomp and
splendor. Then the authorities began to debate what disposition to
make of the miraculous Hosts. While they were arguing, the Hosts rose
from their hands, ascended into the air and returned to the marsh. The
wish of Our Lord was evident. So they erected an improvised sanctuary
on the spot, and this in turn was soon followed by a magnificent
basilica founded by Ladislaus Jagellon, King of Poland. Needless to
say, thousands of pilgrims have visited the famous shrine to adore
the miraculous Hosts.

 

Saturday May 11 Sermon - Bishop Bonaventure, OFM
Sunday after Ascension - Bishop Bonaventure, OFM

Bishop Giles, OFM - Sunday After Ascension

It is a continuation of St. Thomas More's book: "A Dialogue of Comfort against Tribulation" 

Thursday Night Religion Class-Bishop Giles, OFM

THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH Her Doctrine and Morals Pentecost Sunday 19 May 2013

The Sunday Sermon

Dear Friends,

Today we are reminded of the workings of the Holy Ghost. This Third Person of the Blessed Trinity, also known as the God of Love, has been with the Catholic Church from the beginning and will continue with Her until the end of time.

The world and the devils are hard at work imitating and undermining the works of the Holy Ghost. We have often considered the anti-Christs and anti-popes, but we seldom think of the anti-Spirit. This, is however what we are dealing with more often than not. The devils present themselves as angels of light. And in this manner they introduce a false “spirituality.” They mock the true Holy Spirit in this manner, scandalizing the majority who are unable or unwilling to discern these spirits.

There is no doubt that there is a spirit moving and guiding the Modernists and every other heresy and schism, but it is not the Holy Spirit. We might call this influence upon the false religions an anti-Spirit. As the devil is labeled the ape of Christ, so do the devils mock the Holy Ghost. It is necessary that there be scandals, as our Lord has said (the false churches, false popes, false Christs, and false spirits bring a superabundance of scandals) and so we repeat with our Lord, but woe to those by whom they come. It would have been better for these men that they had never been born. In the exorcism ritual of the Catholic Church we see that the devils are called the “teachers of heretics.”

We must ever be vigilant and test the spirits making sure that we are not being deceived. The anti-Spirits, just as the anti-Christs and anti-popes, will never cease in their endeavors to lead souls away from God. The false or illusory “peace” and “comfort” that comes with accepting and/or recognizing these false religions comes at the sacrifice of true and everlasting peace and comfort with God in Heaven.

We see in the Old Testament that after the flood man doubted God’s words and began to build a tower so as to escape any future flood that God would send them, and as a punishment God divided their tongues (languages). Hence, this tower is known as the tower of babel. St. John Chrysostom tells us that the Holy Ghost came upon the Apostles in tongues of fire and gave the Church the capacity to unite all people once again. When Our Lord gave the command to the Apostles to teach all nations, they were at a loss as to who was to go where. The Holy Ghost made this clear on Pentecost by the language that was given to each one.

We find the devils imitating and mocking this gift of tongues in false religions. Men babel, swoon and faint under the influence of a spirit, and it is not the Holy Spirit. The true gift of tongues made the Apostles understood by their fellow men, the devils’ “gift” is unintelligible – it is nothing more than demonic babbling. The devils are trying to divide and conquer through their “tongues” as God divided the tongues of men in the Old Testament. God and the Church are seeking to unite in one body all the various tongues.

The devils seek to falsify and mock the workings of the Holy Ghost in this unity also. We find the anti-spirit enticing a universal acknowledgment and acceptance of each and every false religion bringing forth a unity of false ecumenism. The only religion that is denied recognition or acceptance in this new “One World Church” is the True Church guided by the True Holy Ghost.

We celebrate this Pentecost Sunday with wonder and awe of the workings of the Holy Ghost within The Church, but we are saddened at the great number in our own day that do not hear the Holy Ghost because they will not hear The Church. In declaring the freedom of their own unique spirit, unique devotion, and unique religion, they are dividing the flock of Christ; they are destroying the work of the Holy Ghost.

The Church embraces all men, but only when they believe and are baptized. Those who do not believe or are not baptized have no real unity with the Mystical Body of Christ. The belief must be all that Christ has taught us through His Church. To deny any teaching of the Church is to deny them all and therefore to deny Christ. These as St. Pius X tells us, are no longer members of the Church, they have been cut off. There is and can be no unity with these people.

In the rite of Baptism the person being baptized vows to renounce the devils and all their works in order to embrace Christ and all His works. With this the baptized person becomes an enemy of the world and of the devils and of all who are under the influence of these devils. There is not unity with these and there never will be.

True unity in the Holy Ghost can only come through renunciation of the devils and all false religions, and embracing Christ in His One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church.

 Only in the Catholic Church is Jesus truly present in the Holy Eucharist.  This is one of the great proofs that the Catholic Church is the one true Church.

St. Paschal Baylon

About the year 1599, in the city of Posen, a very remarkable incident took place in connection with the Blessed Sacrament.  A servant girl, who was bribed by some unbelievers, stole from the chapel of the Dominicans three small Hosts, wrapped them in a linen cloth, and carried them to the house of the wretches who had hired her for the deed.  The unbelievers treated the Sacred Hosts in a most sacrilegious and shameful manner.  They threw them on a table and cut the Sacred Particles.  Blood spurted out on the first one of the sacrilegious creatures and left a stain that could not be removed.  The report of this strange occurrence soon spread abroad and crowds ran to see for themselves.  A blind woman insisted on being led to the scene of this marvelous incident.  Divinely inspired, she cried out:  "If Thou art the true God, He whom our ancestors nailed to the Cross, restore to me my sight!" She was immediately cured, and went away proclaiming the miracle.  The guilty profaners, fearing the just punishment of their heinous crime, wished to dispose of the desecrated Hosts, and after several fruitless efforts buried them to a great depth in a swamp.

One day on the octave of the Blessed Virgin, two herdsmen, father and son, brought their cattle to pasture near this place.  The father went to a church not far off to hear Mass, while the son guarded the herd.  To his surprise the boy saw the cattle approach the swamp and kneel down with their heads bent low.  The shepherd raised his eyes and saw in the air over the swamp three shining objects. In amazement he perceived that they were three Hosts, and he instantly prostrated himself and profoundly adored the God who revealed Himself by so great a prodigy.

In the meantime, the father returned from Mass.  As soon as the boy saw him he ran to meet him.  "Father," he shouted, "our oxen are adoring the Blessed Sacrament!"  "Nonsense!" replied the parent, shrugging his shoulders, "what folly is this!"  "Come and see for yourself," protested the boy, "that I am telling the truth."  While proceeding on his way the old man suddenly paused, with feet fastened to the ground and with eyes entranced as he beheld the astonishing scene.  There at the farthest end of the marsh three little lights hung in the air, while the dumb beasts knelt with heads bowed to the earth.  The old herdsman, all doubts gone, knelt in adoration before the three consecrated Hosts profaned by the unbelievers.  After a moment's prayer, the old man ran to the city and proclaimed the wonder to all whom he met.  The people, however, looked upon him as a fool, and even cast him into prison.  And now a new wonder occurred–the prison door opened and freed the prisoner.  This startled the authorities and they began to investigate.  The Bishop and the clergy were informed and went in procession to the place indicated by the herdsman.  Then the Sacred Hosts, which had remained suspended in the air, slowly descended and rested in the hands of a saintly priest.  They were taken back to the city amidst great pomp and splendor.  Then the authorities began to debate what disposition to make of the miraculous Hosts.  While they were arguing, the Hosts rose from their hands, ascended into the air and returned to the marsh.  The wish of Our Lord was evident.  So they erected an improvised sanctuary on the spot, and this in turn was soon followed by a magnificent basilica founded by Ladislaus Jagellon, King of Poland.  Needless to say, thousands of pilgrims have visited the famous shrine to adore the miraculous Hosts. 

PRAYER: O sweetest Heart of Jesus, I implore that I may love Thee more and more.  Jesus meek and humble of Heart, make my heart like unto Thine.

THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH Her Doctrine and Morals Sunday after the Ascension 12 May 2013

The Sunday Sermon

http://friarsminor.org/sermons%5C13ascension.html

Dear Friends,

When Jesus came to this earth in the Incarnation, He took upon Himself our flesh and blood, but He did not leave His Heavenly Father. The Father and He are One. When we see the Son we likewise behold the Father. The opposite is likewise true; when Jesus ascended into Heaven, He did not leave us, but remains with us. He is even now one with us also.

Jesus has taken our humanity to the highest parts of Heaven. Where He goes mankind goes also because Jesus is the head of mankind. (Both as God – our Creator; and as God – our Redeemer) Through Christ not only are the gates of Heaven opened up for mankind, but men are invited to ascend with Jesus to the utmost heights of Heaven.

As Jesus walked this earth, He performed many miracles all testifying to His divinity. Nonetheless, it remained difficult for the apostles and disciples (and us) to conceive of this divinity, and they clung to Jesus in His humanity. It was necessary that Jesus should leave them and the Holy Ghost come upon them so that they could come to a better understanding and appreciation of the divinity of Jesus Christ.

St. Leo the Great says: “It was then, Dearly Beloved, the Son of man, the Son of God, became known in a more perfect, a holier, manner: when He betook Himself to the majestic glory of the Father, and in an ineffable way began to be more present to us in His Divinity, as His humanity became more remote to us. Then a more instructed faith began by way of the soul to draw nigh to that Son Who was equal with the Father, without need to touch and feel the bodily substance in Christ, in which He is less than the Father. For though the nature of His glorified Body remains, the faith of the believing began to be called whither the Only-Begotten Who is equal to the Father might be touched and felt, not by our bodily hand, but by the spiritual understanding.”

“It was because of this the Lord said to Mary Magdalene when she, representing the Church, drew near to touch Him: Do not touch me, for I am not yet ascended to my Father that is, ‘I do not wish you to approach me in a bodily manner, nor that you should know me by the feel of My Flesh: I would have you wait for what is higher; I am preparing for thee what is greater. When I have ascended to My Father then you shall touch me more perfectly and more truly, for you shall know what you touch not, and believe what you do not see.’”

The Apostles witnessed Our Lord ascending into Heaven and were instructed that in this same manner He will return to the earth. From that day until the end of time the true faithful await this second coming. At this time all the bodies of the dead will rise, reanimated with their souls, to stand before Christ as our judge. Those who have loved Jesus will be rejoicing that this day has arrived. All that has been seen and believed through faith will now been seen in the flesh. The Mystical Body of Christ (the Church) will be united with Her Head, Jesus Christ.

The world will be renewed or recreated; our bodies will be like to Christ’s Body with all His glorious attributes. With the devils and all evil now driven out, the earth will finally fulfill the desire of Her creator. The Garden of Paradise will have expanded with all its wonder and glory to encompass the entire earth.

The saints have always rejoiced in Christ’s ascension and now it is our turn. How wonderful it would have been to have seen, heard, touched and walked with our Lord when He was here on earth, but then our faith would have the obstacle of Christ’s Humanity constantly in the way of our seeing His Divinity. As it is God has chosen the exact and perfect time in history for us to live. History tells us that Jesus Christ is truly Human and our faith tells us that He is truly Divine. As we contemplate His Divinity and glory it fills our hearts with joy and entices us to do all that we can to follow Him there. As a reward for this our faith, we are given the hope to see Him in the glory of His Divine Human presence for the rest of eternity. Our souls will be filled with all their desires, and our bodies likewise will attain the fulfillment of all they desire.

As Christ, our Head has gone up into Heaven, we feel a certain loss and therefore sadness. At the same time there is great joy in knowing that Jesus is with His Father where He belongs and that soon – if we are faithful and love Him – we will one day be able to join Him forever. The sadness is also greatly mitigated because we have Christ’s promise of the Holy Ghost. Through this Third Person of the Blessed Trinity we obtain all the graces that we need to be able to believe and work so as to make this future glory, even now a present joy.

 


Bishop Giles audio sermon - Ascension Thursday

Fr. Joseph OFM Ascension Thursday 

Holy Mass for Ascension Thursday - Fr. Bernard, OFM 

The Victories of the Martyrs

The Victories of the Martyrs

The Feast of St. Stanislaus, Bishop and Martyr

 Today is an excellent day to reflect upon the guidance that every martyr receives from Divine Wisdom. Holy Scripture is full of examples of those souls who were considered fools for the sake of the service of God. This turning away from worldly vanities is what we know as "the folly of the Cross".

The All-Knowing God, the Source of Divine Wisdom

 

Posted by Bishop Bonaventure at 6:55 AM

First Friday in May - Bishop Giles, OFM
First Saturday in May - Bishop Giles,OFM
Fifth Sunday after Easter - Bishop Giles, OFM

Fifth Sunday after Easter - Bishop Bonaventure, OFM

Fifth Sunday after Easter - Our Lady of the Rosary

Bishop Giles Thursday night religion class link

THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH Her Doctrine and Morals Fifth Sunday after Easter 5 May 2013

The Sunday Sermon

Dear Friends,

We are given today some very profound instruction on prayer. “Ask and you shall receive, that your joy may be made full.”

It is not in syllables that we pray, nor is it in the length of our prayers that we pray. It is from the heart that we pray and with the intensity (earnestness and sincerity) that we pray. It is likewise not the location of our bodies that matters so much when we pray but rather the location of our hearts and minds.

We need not say a lot of words. God does not need our words to know what resides in our minds and hearts. It is in the lifting of our hearts and minds to God that we pray. And St. Paul would have us do this continually. We may have often wondered how it is that we are to continually pray. It is in frequently lifting up our hearts and minds to God that we do this. To live with God first and foremost in our thoughts -- to do all things in Him, and for Him—this is how we are to pray. When we rise in the morning, before we retire at night, before we eat, after we eat, before we dress, after we undress, before we begin a task after we finish a task, while we are performing a task – at all times we can pray. When we are about to be examined by our superior or must go in front of him when he is cross we naturally ask God for help. When we are in danger or are afraid, we naturally call upon Him.

God desires for us to make Him our intimate companion. Too often, we go before God even while on our knees, and recite many syllables while our hearts and minds wander aimlessly. We leave there not even knowing what we have prayed. If we cannot even listen to our own prayers, why should God pay any attention to them? These lengthy prayers are many times an insult to God. They can be made pleasing if we are truly struggling and fighting the distractions and temptations to wander. In this case, it is then our struggle and desire to please God that is rewarded more so than the words that are said.

God is everywhere so everywhere is an appropriate place to pray. Our bodies are temples and so at all times and in all places we are called upon to enter within ourselves and lift up our hearts and minds to God. This is easily done without ever impairing our work at hand. On the contrary, it so happens that the more we do this the better we are able to perform the task at hand.

Our joy will be full and our prayers will be heard when we rightly ask. We only rightly ask when we beg God not for material things, but for the perfect gift – eternal life. “Seek first the kingdom of Heaven and its justice and everything else will be given you besides.” The reason our prayers have not been answered is that we have not asked, or we have asked for the wrong things.

Some may argue that the text says “anything” that you ask. Eternal life is everything, all else is nothing when placed side by side with it. So if we ask for anything besides eternal life we are asking for nothing, and most often that is what God gives us. We must reorient ourselves to truly seek that our joy will be made full, and it will only be made full in eternal life. It is only full in heaven where nothing more can be added to it. We must seek this first and foremost and then without having to ask, all else that we need will be given to us.

St. Paul three times prayed that God would remove a temptation from him. He was seeking a temporary good while here on earth and God did not give him this request. This temptation was necessary for his spiritual development. He was humbled by this, and began to realize his own weakness and in this he was made strong because he relied not upon himself (because he knew he was too weak), but he relied upon God. As St. Paul transformed his prayer to one of love for God and a desire for an eternal union with God, he was then given the grace that was necessary for him to resist the temptations and thus not remove them, but overcome them because of his increase in the Love of God.

We are commanded to pray for one another and even our enemies, but most often these prayers are of no benefit for those whom we pray because they have a free will and are in opposition to their own salvation. These prayers however benefit ourselves very greatly. “And if these three men: Noah, Daniel, and Job, be in it, they shall deliver their own souls by their justice; they shall deliver neither sons nor daughters, since their iniquity has mounted up.” (Ezech. Xiv 14) Each of us must cooperate with the grace and do our own part. Without our own cooperation with God’s grace all the prayers of all the angels and saints in heaven will be of no avail to us.

We must therefore train ourselves in proper prayer – seeking through love this fullness of joy. If we truly desire and love our prayer will be heard and everything else that we need will be given us besides.

CHAPTER XII
HOW ST FRANCIS GAVE TO BROTHER MASSEO THE OFFICE OF PORTER, OF ALMONER AND OF COOK; AND HOW, AT THE REQUEST OF THE OTHER BRETHREN, HE AFTERWARDS TOOK THESE DUTIES FROM HIM

St Francis, wishing to mortify Brother Masseo, that pride should not enter his soul, because of the many graces and gifts he had received from God, and also that, through the grace of humility, he should advance from virtue to virtue, once when he was residing in a solitary convent with his first companions, who were all examples of holiness, of which number Brother Masseo was one, he said unto the latter, before all the brethren: "O Brother Messeo, all these thy companions have the grace of contemplation and of prayer; but thou hast the grace of preaching the word of God and of pleasing the people. I will therefore, in order that they may give themselves to contemplation, that thou fill the office of porter, of almoner and of cook, and that, when the other monks shall be at their meals, thou alone shalt eat outside the convent-gate, so as to be ready to say a few godly words to such as come to the convent, before they knock at the gate, and so that none other shall be obliged to go out but thee; this thou shalt accomplish, through the virtue of holy obedience." Then Brother Masseo put down his hood, bowed his head, and meekly received and executed this order; filling for some days the offices of porter, of almoner and of cook. At this his companions, who were all men enlightened by the Spirit of God, seeing him thus employed, began to feel in their hearts great remorse, considering how Brother Masseo had reached a greater state of perfection than any of them, and how all the work of the convent fell to his share, and none to theirs. Then went they all to St Francis, begging him to divide among them those charges, since they could not in conscience allow Brother Masseo to bear all the burden of the convent. At this St Francis, heeding their request, granted what they asked, and calling Brother Masseo, said unto him: "Brother Masseo, thy brethren wish to share the charges I have given thee, wherefore I will that the charges be divided among you all." Said Brother Masseo, with great humility and patience: "Father, whatever charge thou puttest upon me, be it small or be it great, I accept it as ordained by the Lord." Then St Francis, seeing the charity of the brethren and the humility of Brother Masseo, made them a most wonderful sermon on holy humility, teaching them that, the greater the gifts and graces we receive from God, so much greater must be our humility; for without humility no virtue can be acceptable to him. Then, having finished his sermon, he distributed the charges among them with great charity.

A few weeks ago, I asked Bishop Bonaventure if he would be willing to record a weekly commentary on the Bible in whatever way he chooses. Today I received this email which delights me to no end because it looks like it's going to be a reality! Our small group will be using this starting next week and we are hoping that you will gather groups together near you and do the same thing! Here is his email with the link which you should bookmark:

  A few weeks ago, I asked Bishop Bonaventure if he would be willing to record a weekly commentary on the Bible in whatever way he chooses.  Today I received this email which delights me to no end because it looks like it's going to be a reality!  Our small group will be using this starting next week and we are hoping that you will gather groups together near you and do the same thing!  Here is his email with the link which you should bookmark:

 

In the Beginning...

Indulgence for reading the Holy Bible: 

 An indulgence of 3 years is granted to the faithful who read the Books of the Bible for at least a quarter of an hour, with the reverence due to the Divine Word and as spiritual reading. 

It is my hope to fulfill the pious desires of a growing group of Catholics by giving short conferences and simple instructions and guidance in the study of Holy Scripture. We will all please Our Lord very much by this practice, so let us begin. 

Here is a commentary recorded on May 2nd, 2013: 

The Feast of St. Athanasius - Commentary

Posted by Bishop Bonaventure at 6:35 AM No comments:

 


Some years ago, a young man was unhappily led astray into the
paths of Jewish infidelity. While still in the flower of youth, his
heart was filled with dreams of glory to be attained as a
distinguished musician. One evening he was asked to play the organ in
one of the principal churches in Paris; there in that church God
awaited him, and prepared for him, not a triumph of his self-love,
but a humiliation a thousand times more glorious. Already the roof of
the sacred edifice re-echoed the sound of the solemn chants, and the
melodious tones of the organ had filled all hearts with recollection
and prayer; every head was bowed and the God of the Eucharist had
blessed His children prostrate in lowly adoration. The unbelieving
musician, alone, dared to raise his haughty brow before that God
despised by his forefathers, but in vain. A mysterious and invisible
hand bowed his head and humbled him to the ground. A miracle of grace
was effected; the young man was conquered; he knelt down a Jew; he
rose up a Catholic. His heart wounded by the Real Presence in the
Sacred Host, he left the church; soon the waters of Baptism were
poured upon him, and exchanging his fashionable attire for the coarse
serge of a monk, he bade an eternal farewell to the pleasures of the
world. A living example of the power of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in
the Blessed Sacrament, he went from city to city, and from village to
village, proclaiming the love of God, repeating again and again: "The
days of grief are departed. I have found peace of heart since I have
tasted the delights of the tabernacle of the Lord." If you would know
the name of this privileged soul, ask it at the cloister of Mount
Carmel, and they will tell you it was Father Augustine of the Most
Blessed Sacrament. If one single visit to the God of the Eucharist
transformed an obstinate Jew into a good Catholic, what may we not
hope to obtain by devout visits to the Blessed Sacrament?
PRAYER: O my Jesus, I adore Thee in this Holy Sacrament, as my Lord
and my God, as my Redeemer and Savior.