It seems unbelievable that a man should perish in whose favor Christ said to His Mother: "Behold thy son" ----- provided that he has not turned a deaf ear to the words which Christ addressed to him: "Behold thy Mother."

St. Robert Bellarmine

Dear Friends,

It has been a while since I last wrote you. For those who are not aware of the recent programming changes, we are now on the air for three hours each Friday from 1:30 - 4:30 p.m., Central Time, on KRFE AM580, Lubbock, Texas. It is streamed live from our website www.catholichour.org.

 

The program format has changed for most weeks. The exception is when one of the bishops wishes to discuss their topics for three hours! The changed format begins with the weekly announcements, followed by a segment which includes one or two current issues either in the Church or in society. The main topic of the program follows for at least two hours. The last thirty minutes are about reading and explaining the Epistle and Gospel for the Sunday which is about to occur.

 

I would like your comments on this new format, as well as on the content of the program.

 

The number of listeners continues to grow, and you are able to give The Catholic Faith Radio Program a real boast by telling your family and friends about this unique broadcast. If you're unable to listen live, the website contains a recorded copy. There seem to be many loyal persons who choose to listen to the archived copy, going so far as India and New Zealand!

 

For those who like to look ahead, the date of the next program, its main topic and guest are all listed on the the home page of our website, www.catholichour.org.

 

I would also like to mention the Sunday Mass which we have been streaming for some months. Many of you who receive my emails have been able to take advantage of this apostolate. I am happy to announce that we now have Catholics from coast to coast (literally) who "attend" Mass each Sunday morning. I was told about two months ago that we also have a small group of Catholics in Chile who watch each Sunday!

 

I realize that times are tough. Many are out of work while others are struggling. Your donations, though,  are always welcome and needed. Thank you for your generosity!

 

 

May God bless you for your loyalty and support,

Fr. Joseph, OFM

 

Feast of the Most Holy Rosary - Bishop Bonaventure, OFM

First Friday - Bishop Giles, OFM 
First Saturday October - Bishop Giles, OFM 
Feast of the Most Holy Rosary-Bishop Giles, OFM 

Fr. Joseph OFM - Feast of the Most Holy Rosary 

Holy Mass from Our Lady of the Rosary -Fr. Bernard, OFM 

 "Will you ever again dare to hear Mass sitting, whispering, looking idly about you, nay, sometimes even sleeping; contenting yourself with reciting thoughtlessly a few vocal prayers, heedless of the tremendous duty? O stupid world, that does not estimate mysteries so sublime! How is it possible that any one can remain in the presence of the altar with a distracted mind and dissipated heart, at a moment when the angels hover there trembling and astonished, absorbed in contemplating the effects of such a stupendous work?" How few there are who have not reason to accuse themselves, more or less, of this third sin against the love of Jesus in the holy sacrifice? How few have always assisted with that profound recollection and attention which the divine mysteries demand? Let us ask pardon of the Sacred Heart of Jesus for the past, and resolve for the future never to wound this all loving Heart by any sort of irreverence in the house of God. 

St. Leonard of Port Maurice

The Crown of Thorns in the lives of the Saints

I just finished listening to Brother Dominic's religion class in Kentucky on tape.  He was talking about this woman - Marie Rose Ferron - and this book "She Wears a Crown of Thorns.  I looked it up on line thinking that I could purchase the book.  The first site that came up was Amazon for the amazing price of $199.99!!!!!  Yes - $200 for a paperback book!  The cheapest I found it was $29.99 in horrible condition.  So I kept searching and found this overview which will have to do for now.  She was the 10th of 15 children.  Her mother "assigned" a Mystery of the Rosary to each child so she got the Crucifixion.  It appears she lived up to her mystery.  She is a very inspiring young lady!

The Crown of Thorns in the lives of the Saints

The Crown of Thorns

Like the Stigmata, the Crown of Thorns is a extraordinary mystical gift of God given to select victim souls, that they might participate more fully in union with Jesus for the conversion of sinners. A good portion of the Stigmatics have also bore the Crown of Thorns, such as St Julian of Norwich, St Catherine of Siena, Domenica Lazzeri [who's crown of thorns puncture wounds were once counted and there were exactly 40 puncture wounds], Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich and Therese Neumann to name just a few.

One very recent American mystic who lived in Woonsocket, Rhode Island named Marie Rose Ferron (1902-1936) was given the Crown of Thorns along with the Stigmata beginning in 1927. [Marie Rose Ferron is pictured with the Crown of Thorns marks visible in the photo above] Her case was studied extensively by numerous persons, including physicians, clergy and others from various backgrounds. One of her spiritual directors, Father Onesime Boyer wrote a popular book about Marie Rose entitled “She Wears a Crown of Thorns”, Benzinger Brothers, 1946. Concerning Rose and the Crown of Thorns we read:

“On January 10, 1928, I [Father Boyer] received a letter stating:
‘Rose has four little holes in her forehead, two in front and one in each temple; she feels as if her head were breaking open. Father Paradis and Mr. G. L. Desaulniers were with us. For them, it was, without doubt, something supernatural. While she was speaking, she fainted away three times; her mother took advantage of it to show us her wounds: they were all bleeding.'

“Once I asked Rose how the thorn stigmata were made- I wanted to know whether she found them already made after ecstasy or if she could feel them developing. When I asked her that question she already had seven of them. 'During their development,' she said, 'I feel them active. The impression is that of a hair being tightly pressed against the skin and boring a hole, as a gimlet would do.' [A gimlet is a small hand tool used for drilling or boring small holes -ed.]

“The stigmata which Rose had in the back of her head, prevented it from resting on the pillow; so she was often seen with her arm under her neck; sometimes, it was replaced by small cushions. Frequently, she would use neither; her head then was bent forward, as though she had a kink in her neck. She was seen to remain for hours in that position. While it was depressing to see her that way, she never for a moment showed the least sign of discomfort. Even when the exterior signs of the other stigmata had disappeared, if she rested on her pillow, she felt the invisible thorns penetrating deeper.

The thorn stigmata never completely disappeared. When Rose uncovered her head, we could always see them, although they were not so active as before. But when her sufferings were at their height, the stigmata turned red and a kind of serum oozed from them.
On June 23, 1929, one of my correspondents wrote:
“A Missionary came to see Rose. While he was there, Dr. McLaughlin walked in. The Missionary wanted to see Rose's forehead, he thought it would help him during his missions. The Doctor said to her: ‘Rose, I do not want to hurt your feelings, but if you do not mind, I will show him your forehead.'

With her permission, he explained to the Missionary how he knew the ridges and punctures were the stigmata of the crown. ‘Never mind, Rose,' said the Doctor, ‘I will do my best for you, I will fight for you!'
"Towards the end of November, 1929, the writer [Father Boyer] was in Rose's room, waiting till she came out of ecstasy. There was a lady with us, who had been helping Mrs. Ferron to dress her. I was then told by the mother that Rose had a crown. 'It is like two heavy cords,' she said, 'that encircle her head.' The outlines of the crown were quite visible on Rose's bandage which she always wore tightly fitted to her forehead. I was offered to see them; but I refused, more to show her that I attached no great importance to such signs.

"On January 3, 1930, Father Leonard called on her. In his notebook, he tells us that the crown consisted of two branches well outlined, produced by heavy swelling of the flesh; they were an inch apart and intersected, over each stigma.

"When the stigma of the crown disappeared, one branch of it still remained, and although it was reduced in size, it was still very visible. After her death, a photograph was taken of Rose [see photo above]. An examination of the picture will give a good idea of what the crown looked like. The other branch, which was an inch away from the one which is visible, ran parallel to it, both crossing each other right above each stigma and then winding their way around the head. The fact that the branches of the crown appeared over a year after the thorn stigmata, and yet, were aligned with the latter in perfect symmetry is most remarkable. Out of that combination emerged a beautiful crown. The frontispiece is a reconstruction of the crown to show how it appeared in 1929.”

THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH Her Doctrine and Morals Most Holy Rosary 7 October 2012

The Sunday Sermon

Dear Friends,

If we were to reduce all of the Catholic teachings and practices to one main or central point we will arrive at the first and greatest commandment: to love God with our entire being. All of this creation around us has been given to us to draw us closer to God. It is the greatest inversion or perversion of right order when we use these creatures to rebel or turn away from God. This, tragically, is exactly where mankind finds himself since the fall of our father Adam. The love of God for us could not allow us to remain hopelessly lost in the darkness of sin; and chose to become one in the flesh with us, not only to redeem us (pay the price of our sins) but, also to show us the right and proper use and understanding of all of creation.

In the Divine Wisdom, God selected and preserved Mary from ever suffering under the darkness of sin. She alone remained free and capable of seeing God’s creations as guideposts pointing consistently back toward Himself. Mary’s heart (full of love) focused always upon God; she was never distracted or led away by the created world around her. Rather than being an obstacle or distraction everything was a reminder and a reference to God. In this state we see she is and always was “full of grace.” The contemplation of Mary’s life therefore is a book open to all who will take it up as to the manner of living and loving free from sin. It is the road map for us all to return to the right order that we lost in sin. If we earnestly take Mary’s life as our guide we will soon begin to see God’s hand in everything; all of creation will sing to us of the: beauty, majesty, power, glory, wonder, etc. of God. In this state we open our hearts to receive Christ into our souls as Mary received Him into her body and soul. We become like Saint Paul who said: “I live, now not I; but Christ liveth in me.” (Gal 2, 20)

Mary’s life is the one and only perfect life of all Adam’s children and as such holds many treasures for all who will devoutly contemplate and imitate it. Mary appeared to St. Dominic and asked him to promote devotion to the Rosary. With this Rosary the Dominicans have accomplished great and wonderful things for the Church and the greater honor and glory of God, not to mention an increase in love and devotion to the Mother of God. It was through the Rosary that the Catholics won the decisive battle of Lepanto in 1571. This victory prompted Pope Saint Pius V to institute today’s feast and to decree that the Blessed Virgin may be invoked as: “Help of Christians.”

The Rosary lays out before us the principal parts and mysteries of Mary’s life. When we pray this devotion and contemplate each mystery we are drawn to see God’s love for us and the way and reasons for us to return that love. Her life is the light and guidepost showing us the Way to God and how we may accomplish this journey in our own lives.

What is most frightening is that many repeat these beautiful prayers without ever truly putting them also into their hearts. It is not God’s intention or Mary’s that we should repeat these prayers thoughtlessly. This is not praying but rather insulting to her and God. We also find in the world today a much worse evil than this cold indifference in devotion to Mary; that is, people pretend to devotion and use this as a tool to deceive and lead others away from the Church and therefore away from God and His holy Mother. Deceptive men have and are claiming to promote: the Rosary, Fatima, the wearing of the Carmelite scapular, etc while at the same time promoting disobedience and rebellion alongside heresies and schisms. Catholics have always had to be on their guards against such charlatans but it is even more necessary today because over time the devils have become even more clever than ever in appearing as angels of light. Not everyone who “prays” the Rosary is a Catholic. None of those outside the Church are pleasing to God or Mary no matter how “devout” they appear. The prayers of heretics are not pleasing to God or Mary. They are insults, mockeries etc. We may even go so far as to say that they are idolatries as they have created a false god and a false mother of that god that they now worship and adore. These prayers and sacramentals that honor Mary are turned into superstition and “good luck charms” by these deceived or misguided souls. There is no salvation outside the Church (true Church) no matter how great the “devotion” to Mary. Wearing a scapular in honor of Mary is not a guarantee of entrance into heaven. It is necessary that we also understand and put into practice all that this sacramental religious garb represents. A Roman collar does not make the man wearing it a priest, nor does a scapular or rosary make the person wearing or carrying it a Catholic.

The first Commandment forbids us to pray with heretics. Let us not be trapped into thinking that it will be okay just because they “pray” to Mary. May we rather unite only with true Catholics in this devotion so that we may attain all the graces and merits that these devotions offer us.

CHAPTER V
HOW THE HOLY BROTHER BERNARD OF ASSISI WAS SENT BY ST FRANCIS TO BOLOGNA AND HOW HE FOUNDED A CONVENT THERE
St Francis and his companions, being called by God to carry the cross of Christ in their hearts, to practise it in their lives, and to preach it by their words, were truly crucified men both in their actions and in their works. They sought after shame and contempt, out of love for Christ, rather than the honours of the world, the respect and praise of men. They rejoiced to be despised, and were grieved when honoured. Thus they went about the world as pilgrims and strangers, carrying nothing with them but Christ crucified; and because they were of the true Vine, which is Christ, they produced great and good fruits in many souls which they gained to God. It happened that, in the beginning of the Order, St Francis sent Brother Bernard to Bologna, there to accomplish many good works, according to the grace which God had given him. So Brother Bernard, making the holy sign of the cross, in the name of holy obedience, set out for Bologna; but when he arrived in that city, the little children in the streets, seeing him dressed so strangely and so poorly, laughed and scoffed at him, taking him for a madman. All these trials Brother Bernard accepted for the love of Christ, with great patience and with great joy, and seeking to be despised yet more, he went to the market-place, where, having seated himself, a great number of children and men gathered round him, and taking hold of his hood pushed him here and there, some throwing stones at him and others dust. To all this Brother Bernard submitted in silence, his countenance bearing an expression of holy joy, and for several days he returned to the same spot to receive the same insults. Now, patience being a work of perfection and a proof of virtue, a learned doctor of the law, seeing such virtue and constancy in Brother Bernard, who had endured for so many days such contempt and such injuries without losing his temper, said within himself: "Without doubt this man must be a great saint"; and going up to him, he asked him who he was, and whence he came. Brother Bernard put his hand into his bosom, and taking out the Rule of St Francis, gave it to him to read. The doctor, having read the Rule, was struck with wonder and admiration at the sublime perfection therein prescribed, and turning to his friends, he said: "Truly this is the most perfect state of Religion I have ever heard of, and this man and his companions are the holiest men I have met with in all the world; guilty indeed are those who insult him; we ought, on the contrary, to honour him as a true friend of God." And addressing Brother Bernard, he said to him: "If it is thy wish to found a convent in this town, in which thou mayest serve God according to thy heart's desires, I will help thee most willingly, for the salvation of my soul." Brother Bernard answered: "I believe that our Saviour Jesus Christ has inspired thee with this good intention, and most willingly do I accept thy offer, to the honour of Christ." Then the doctor, with much joy and great charity, conducted Brother Bernard to his house, and soon after gave to him a place as he had promised, which he arranged and furnished at his own expense, and from that moment he became a father to Brother Bernard, and the special defender of the Friars Minor. Brother Bernard, through his holy conduct, began to be much honoured by the people, so much so that those who could see and touch him accounted themselves as most blessed; but he, like a true disciple of Christ and a son of the humble Francis, fearing lest the honours of the world should disturb his peace and endanger the salvation of his soul, set out one day and returned to St Francis, whom he thus addressed: "Father, the convent is founded at Bologna, send other brothers there to keep it up and reside there, as I can no longer be of any use; indeed, I fear that the too great honours I receive might make me lose more than I could gain." Now St Francis, having heard, one after another, all the things which the Lord had wrought through Brother Bernard, rendered thanks to God, who thus began to spread abroad the poor disciples of the Cross; then sent he others of the brethren to Bologna, and to Lombardy, and these founded many convents in divers countries.