My Daily Eucharist

Thank you Sue!

A man who lived near the church wondered what the new Cure was doing in there so very early each morning. One morning, long before dawn, when the man saw a tiny candle making its way from the rectory through the darkness across the cemetery, he sneaked over to the church and peeked in to find out for himself. There was the pastor, pouring out his heart to Jesus hidden in the Blessed Sacrament! "Ah," said the man, "he is not like other men!" What did the Cure say to his blessed Jesus? Henri Gheon has given us his version of the Cure's prayer. Prostate on the floor or kneeling with outstretched hands, the Cure thus prayed or groaned or wept out his heart:

"My God, my all, You see how I love You, and I do not love You enough.

"My God, You have given me all; behold the little that I give You. Give me the strength to give more.

"My God, here is all–take all; but convert my parish. If You do not convert it, it will be because I have not deserved it.

"My God, I count my merits as nothing, but Yours are infinite. May they win for me the grace of suffering.

"My God, I consent to suffer all that You may wish for all my life... for a hundred years... and the most bitter suffering, but convert them... "

(St. John Vianney, The Cure of Ars)

The Cure Of Ars, Patron Saint Of Parish Priests
Fr. Bartholomew O'Brien

Cardinal's Great Eucharistic Love Revealed

Pope Reads Unpublished Letters at Funeral Mass

VATICAN CITY, FEB. 2, 2007 (Zenit.org).- In letters written to Pope John Paul II, Cardinal Antonio María Javierre Ortas revealed his greatest love -- the Eucharist.

During Benedict XVI's homily for the cardinal's funeral Mass today in St. Peter's Basilica, the Holy Father read passages from the unpublished letters.

Cardinal Javierre Ortas, former prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments, died Thursday. He was 85.

In 1992, when he was appointed prefect, Cardinal Javierre wrote to John Paul II: "Count on my sincere effort ... to complete the commitment entrusted to me. I envision it, gravitating completely around the Eucharist." Benedict XVI added that the last word was "written in capital letters."

"Everything revolves around that center of gravity," noted the Spanish cardinal, born in Sietamo.

On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of his priestly ordination, in response to a congratulatory letter sent to him by John Paul II, the cardinal wrote: "At the time of my ordination, in Salamanca, the priesthood gravitated wholly around the Eucharist ... It is a joy to relive the sentiments of our ordination, aware that in the Eucharist, sacrament of sacrifice, he fully actualizes his one priesthood."

Only God

Benedict XVI said today, "Cardinal Javierre Ortas wanted his personal life and ecclesial mission to be a message of hope. Through his apostolate, following the example of St. John Bosco, he made every effort to communicate to all that Christ is always with us.

"How many times he, son of the homeland of St. Teresa and St. John of the Cross, prayed in his heart: 'Let nothing disturb you, nothing affright you, he who has God lacks nothing. ... Only God suffices.'"

At 75, when he retired from the Roman Curia, Cardinal Javierre Ortas wrote to John Paul II: "It only remains for me now to implore that the Lord will use -- in the divine register -- the kindness of his vicar when in the evening of my life -- not distant -- the hour will strike for my examination on love."

Benedict XVI said that the cardinal had "left the office of prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments ... to dedicate himself to the service that must never be given up: prayer."

The Pope continued, "And now that the heavenly Father has willed to take him to himself, I am sure that in heaven, where we are confident the Lord received him in his paternal embrace, he continues to pray for us."

Quoting from Cardinal Javierre's writings, the Pontiff added: "It is wonderful to think that, regardless of the series of sins of our life, it is enough to raise our eyes and see the Lord's gesture, who receives each one of us with infinite goodness, with the greatest kindness."
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St. Gerard - Patron Saint of Mothers and Good Confessions

I found this going through my things too. What I didn't know about St. Gerard Majella was that he is also the patron saint of good confessions. Found that out at the site where I found this lovely picture of him. WEBSITE

For a Good Confession

St. Gerard, Patron of a Good Confession, who gave courage to souls whom fear and shame had overcome; who gave sorrow to their hearts, resolution to their wills, truth to their faltering lips; help me to make a good confession. Enable me to know my sins, to be truly sorry for them, and to be firmly resolved, with God's grace, never to sin again.

Help me to confess my sins humbly and sincerely, to confess them in the spirit of faith, as confessing them to Our Lord himself.

Stand by me in this confession, O gentle Saint, an angel of God


Okay, now for the prayers I found in my papers. I remember my sister gave me these prayers and I used to pray it daily. God answered my prayers but not in the way I had thought...He led us to Joey:

For Motherhood:

Good Saint Gerard, powerful intercessor before the throne of God, wonder-worker of our day, I call upon you and seek your aid. You know that our marriage has not yet been blessed with a child and how much my husband and I desire this gift. Please present our fervent pleas to the Creator life, from whom all parenthood proceeds, and beseech him to bless us with a child whom we may raise as his child and heir of heaven. Amen.


For A Mother With Child:

Almighty and Everlasting God, through the power of the Holy Spirit, You prepared the body and soul of the Virgin Mary to be a worthy dwelling place of your divine Son. You sanctified Saint John the Baptist while still in his mother's womb. Listen now to my prayer. Through the intercession of Saint Gerard, watch over my child and me; protect us at the time of delivery. May my child receive the saving graces of baptism, lead a Christian life, and together with all the members of our family, attain, everlasting happiness in heaven. Amen.

How To Regain Authority Over Your Child

I've been organizing and decluttering our home. I found a treasure trove of clips, booklets,Catholic holy cards, prayers, advice, etc. that I had saved early on in our marriage. The following is I believe, one for troublesome teens. Even though it refers to a boy, it pertains to both boys and girls:


by James W. Demers

"All parents know the warning sings. Suddenly a rebel lives under your roof. What follows is a ten point plan to re-assert authority over your child":

1. Stop trying to be his friend, he needs a parent not another peer!

2. Never let him think you need his permission to act in his best interest. You are his parent not his Fan Club president.

3. Never let a lie about the home and family go unchallenged. A child allowed to get away with one lie about home life, will create a fantasy home you don't recognize.

4. Never let him rate you, his siblings or your home on a scale of 1 to 10. Teachers who allow their students to make ratings on people and things should be confronted. It instills dangerous illusions of power. Your child as no credentials to be your critic.

5. You can win back even the most disrespectful renegade child by one single tactic. Never let him know what is coming up next, what your plans are for the weekend, for tomorrow, for the evening and even supper. Unless he asks.

6. Make him win you back. No more multiple freebies. No laundry if the clothes are not deposited. No respect unless respect is given. Discard the litany the sociologists have imposed on you.

7. Stop being just an extra on your-son-the-superstar's set. Or you will en d up powerless as his teacher.

8. Set standards he must meet. Let him know he can pass or fail. There may be no order in the outside world but you must have order in your home. Dress code, cleanliness, language, sound levels. Your standards!

9. Teach him self-denial, the secret of the saints. Encourage him to give extra change to his siblings, to pick out clothes from his close to give to charity. To part with his old comics. He'll start linking you to his inner worth.

10. Make him account for his whereabouts and activities. He is accountable to you. Don't be afraid to lure him on with the "M' word.

R + A = M or Responsibility plus Accountability equals Maturity.
Taken from Meeting Mr. B. Chapter 2, Part II of Children of Winter
5207 Victoria Ave.,
Niagara Falls, Ontario L2E 4E4

Saints Weren't Perfect, Pope Says

Feburary 3rd - Feast of St. Blase, Bishop and Martyr

Claims Holiness Is Something Everyone Can Learn

VATICAN CITY, JAN. 31, 2007 (Zenit.org).- The saints are not people who never made mistakes or sinned, but who repented and were reconciled, says Benedict XVI.

This fact is a personal consolation for the Pope himself, as he explained in today's general audience.

Addressing some 6,000 people in Paul VI Hall, the Holy Father dedicated his weekly address to focus on three of St. Paul's closest collaborators: Barnabas, Silas and Apollos.

The Pontiff explained that on occasions Paul had confrontations with them, at least with Barnabas, because of differences of opinion on specific questions.

"Hence, also among saints there are oppositions, discords and controversies And this is very consoling for me, as we see that the saints have not 'fallen from heaven,'" the Holy Father said.

"They are men like us, with complicated problems. Holiness does not consist in not making mistakes or never sinning," Benedict XVI continued. "Holiness grows with the capacity for conversion, repentance, willingness to begin again, and above all with the capacity for reconciliation and forgiveness.

"And we can all learn this way of holiness."

The Pope's address continued with the series of meditations he has been giving on the first apostles and evangelizers of the early Church.
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Prolife Bumper Stickers

The following are a few of my favorite pro-life bumper stickers. Feel free to share your favorites in the Comments section.

"CHRISTIANS: Your sins were paid for with the blood of Chrsit, your freedom was paid for with the blood of patriots, and your silence is paid for with the blood of the unborn." - from Hawaii Right to Life

"Ho'omaika'i Ke Ola Ka Pono Lehua Me Ka Make"
"Respect for Life from Conception to Natural Death"

"Abortion is Mean"

Jesus, Help Me

In every need let me come to You with humble trust, saying: Jesus, help me!

In all my doubts, perplexities, and temptations: Jesus, help me!

In hours of loneliness, weariness and trials: Jesus, help me!

In the failure of my plans and hopes, in disappointments, troubles and sorrows: Jesus, help me!

When others fail me, and Your Grace alone can assist me: Jesus, help me!

When I throw myself on Your tender Love as a Father and Savior: Jesus, help me!

When my heart is cast down by failure at seeing no good come from my efforts: Jesus, help me!

When I feel impatient, and my cross irritates me: Jesus, help me!

When I am ill, and my head and hands cannot work and I am lonely: Jesus, help me!

Always, always, in spite of weakness, falls, and shortcomings of every kind: Jesus, help me and never forsake me.

Novena Prayer for Healing - Our Lady of Lourdes - Begins Today

The following is from St. Michael Center for the Blessed Virgin Mary

The Power of Prayer for Healing

February is the month of healing and suffering. Hearing the words suffering and healing, we often think of people who are sick and needed to be healed through prayers and medical assistance. But let us also remember that all people experience suffering though it is not through grave sickness. Emotional and psychological problems can be considered as suffering.

Pope John Paul II's constant attention to the poor is one of the characteristics of his pontificate. In his 1984 apostolic letter "Salvifici Doloris" he addressed the Christian meaning of human suffering.

February 11 is the Feast day of OUR LADY of LOURDES, the late Pope John Paul II who is very much devoted to Blessed Mother believes in the intercession of Mary. In line with this in 1992, the Holy Father instituted the World Day of the Sick, to be observed every year on Feb. 11, liturgical memorial of the Virgin of Lourdes. In 1993 he established the Pontifical Council for Health Care Workers.

The online Novena can be found HERE

The Presentation of the Lord - Candlemas

Artwork by Fra Angelico

Taken from the Gospel of the day:

Luke 2:22-40

“Now, Master, you may let your servant go in peace, according to your word, for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you prepared in the sight of all the peoples: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel.”

Prayer

Our Lord and Master, may our eyes always see your salvation and be renewed in it day by day.
We hope in you who will bring to us the day of perfect union with your perfect love.
We ask this through you Son, Jesus, Our Salvation and Our Joy!
by Easter Almuena

In Hawaii, some churches continue the tradition of the blessings of the candles at the Mass.

It is customary to bring candles from home to be blessed -- at least 51% beeswax candles that one uses for devotional purposes (candles for the family altar, Advent candles, etc.) -- so they can be lit after dusk on All Saints' Day (1 November), during the Sacrament of Unction, and during storms and times of trouble. A bit of very old poetry summarizes the use of blessed candles to ward off troubles:

To learn more about this feast day of our Lord, please visit Fisheaters

Leticia's March for Life 2007 Video

H/T to Jean

Leticia did a marvelous job with this video!